September Magazine

ARE THESE THE

GREATEST GAMES EVER?

We look at the most prolific AAA titles of all time!

See page 18

PREVIEWS: Assassin’s Creed: Unity COD: Advanced Warfare Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Mario Party 10 The Order 1886 Batman: Arkham Knight & TONS MORE!

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WORBLA’S DECO ART . WONDERFLEX WORBLA’S FINEST ART FOSSHAPE . KOBRACAST

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18 42 100 118 WELCOME TO LIVE! I’ve never been a Top Gun pilot but every September it seems retailers get set for that Christmas rush that’s a bit like afterburners kicking in. We go through the relatively quiet middle of the year and look forward to the rush of pre Christmas releases. Seems an interesting problem for publishers when you think about it.

You have the Christmas shopping period not too far away and that means people buying gifts and for some of us we’re hoping for games and fun stuff to turn up in our Christmas stocking. But therein lies the challenge. How many new games can a gamer afford? After all if there is a dozen great titles headed our way in a 2-3 month time slot will the average gamer pick and choose? Likely yes. So some games won’t be bought, they’ll go on the wish list for later. Likely when the price drops in February or March. But the AAA titles are the ones that sell, as long as they are good.

The challenge for publishers is to produce another in the series of a popular game that excites fans and doesn’t disappoint by being a simple re-skin of last years title.

With that in mind, we decided to look at the AAA titles that come out almost yearly and see just how good they really are. Plus we preview Halo 5 Guardians and Master Chief Collection and the exciting new Nintendo Amiibo. There’s plenty more to read so strap in and kick in the afterburners, it’s going to be a heck of a ride into Christmas 2014!

Feature: “AAA games”

Previews & Reviews

Retro

Cosplay

THE LIVE TEAM Publisher: Rob Jenkins (Gametraders Operations Centre) Art Director: Giselle Capozza (Gametraders Operations Centre) Game Review & Preview Editors: Nick Getley & Kylie Tuttle (Sticky Trigger) Retro Writer: Paul Monopoli UK Writer: Elliott Buddo US Writer: Serwa Aboagye Sticky Trigger Writers: Kylie Tuttle Nick Getley Alex Holmes Sam Babu Nick Pearce Aaron Milligan Ben Rachow Elliott Buddo Bridget Sweeney Sean Fox Miranda Nelson Tim Arnold Matthew Raspe Sasha Karen

AVAILABLE 9 SEPTEMBER

THE SIMS 4.. JUST AROUND THE CORNER! For most readers, the latest in The Sims franchise - The Sims, will be out by the time you read this. If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll likely love the latest Sims game to hit PCs. With powerful creation tools and new emotion based gameplay, Sims 4 offers you the chance to be involved in your “sims” whole life. Featuring new story modes, better creation tools and more involved connection with your sims, it promises to absorb you totally and for hours.

MOTO 360 ANDROID WEAR WATCH Rumours have been flying around concerning a possible iWatch for months now and while there may or may not be an announcement on September 9th, Android fans too have something to celebrate with the new Moto 360.

It’s due out in 2014 and has a likely price of $249.99 US - more news on that one soon

FIFA 15!

Out September 25!

Yes it’s just around the corner, the latest in the FIFA franchise, bringing football to life in stunning detail.

Crowd chants, commentators, next gen visuals, and better player control make FIFA a must have blockbuster for September. Available on PS3 and PS4 plus 360 and Xbox One, Vita, 3DS, and Wii.

WHAT’S NEW?

HABU: YOUR MUSIC BASED ON YOUR MOOD “Build the perfect playlist in one tap” That’s the promise of Habu by Gravity Mobile. You install the app and tap a song and it builds a playlist based on mood. Habu also helps you learn a bit about yourself based on what music you have. I tried it out on my work iPhone 5s and then realised that I don’t keep really any music on this device as my library is stored on my Classic iPod with 160GB… but never fear, Habu let’s me “Discover” music from a list it has and if I like it I can buy it on iTunes and even find similar songs. So time to try it out. I selected “Brooding” as my mood and the first 5 songs it suggested were: Layla - Derek and the Dominioes Jeremy - Pearl Jam Shout - Tears for Fears Take My Breath Away - Berlin Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana.

I’ll let you decide if they are brooding songs but I liked some of these songs. Habu is on iOS and Google Play. www.habumusic.com/

IPHONE 6?

By the time you read this there may be a new iPhone announced

by Apple. Rumours suggest 2 new phone sizes, a 4.7 inch and a 5.5 inch. There is a September 9th event so we’ll know more then. iPhone 6 promises to be bigger than the iPhone 5S & 5C (shown above)

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gaming in the US

ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY – DEATH OF THE FEMALE ASSASSINS Ever since the release of the first Assassin’s Creed game in November of 2007, I have been an avid fan of the franchise. In fact, it was the original Assassin’s Creed which inspired me to delve deeper into the industry side of video games simply based on the revelation that the game was being produced by Jade Raymond. Before Assassin’s Creed, my teenage self always dreamed of being paid to play video games. I didn’t know exactly what that meant at the time, but once I read more about this game I loved so much, I discovered that a woman was the face behind its production. Yes, a woman. To this day I still greatly respect and revere Jade Raymond as an industry professional because her involvement and visibility during the production of Assassin’s Creed inspired me to learn more about the industry I loved. But not only that, she truly inspired me

ditional production work, my heart broke.

Assassin’s Creed: Unity is the seventh instalment of Ubisoft’s heroic series and, from what we’ve seen so far, promises to be a worthy successor to the exceptional Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag. Set in Paris on the eve of the French Revolution, Assassin’s Creed: Unity provides an epic stage for the story of Arno Dorian – our new protagonist. In addition to the game’s gorgeous Parisian landscape, Ubisoft’s production team has improved free run mechanics, added intriguing new side missions, deeply enriched the NPC behavior system, and detailed the city structures to an impressive level of realism. However, despite having the time and ability to develop each of these characteristics, the one thing Ubisoft’s development team

course of three years. That’s three more studios than were involved with Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, and there were definitely female assassins in that game; granted, they were NPC’s, but the physics and animations remained. Additionally, it’s not like Ubisoft has never developed an Assassin’s Creed title with a female protagonist. Assassin’s Creed: Liberation introduced an excellent female assassin in the form of Aveline.

In my opinion, there’s no excuse here on the part of Ubisoft. The introduction of co-op in Assassin’s Creed: Unity inspires a new level of inclusivity within the Assassin’s Creed universe. Personally, I cannot wait to gather my friends together and slay our way through the bloody French Revolution. But I would be lying if I didn’t say I’ll be a

“PERSONALLY, I CANNOT WAIT TO GATHER MY FRIENDS TOGETHER AND SLAY OUR WAY THROUGH THE BLOODY FRENCH REVOLUTION..” to chase my aspiration of becoming involved with video games on the production level; a goal I had never thought to be obtainable. So when news broke recently that Ubisoft abandoned the idea of women assassins in Assassin’s Creed: Unity’s co-op due to the pressure of ad-

didn’t have time for was female assassins. Understandably, adding the additional animations and physics of female characters would have been added work for the team, but let’s not forget the production of Assassin’s Creed: Unity has been spread across ten different Ubisoft studios over the

bit disappointed I can’t do that with a character who reflects my likeness.

I play video games to escape my real life and live out wild fantasies.

As a female gamer, that suspension of disbelief is greatly disillusioned when I’m forced to interact as a male protagonist; especially within

the context of multiplayer or co-op.

Sexism in the industry is not a new topic. It’s actually a topic I’m sure everyone is sick and tired of hearing about; but if you’re sick and tired of hearing about it, just imagine how sick and tired 45% of the American gamer population is of being repeatedly underrepresented and often misrepresented within this industry.

Almost half of the entire American gamer population is female, yet only an estimated 4% of games have exclusively female protagonists.

Female gamers are an exceptionally present part of the industry’s audience, yet developers continue to ignore the opportunity to exploit that market share. As female gamers, we’re not looking to change the world – we just want to play games as characters that look and feel the same way we do. Is that too much to ask? Ubisoft is the studio which inspired me to acknowledge my video game industry ambitions, even as a woman, so hearing this lack of commitment on the part of my favorite developer was quite hurtful. Of course I’ll still be playing Assassin’s Creed: Unity the day it releases, but I can’t help but already be disappointed in its untapped potential.

Written by Serwa Aboagye Twitter: @serwaaboagye

gaming in the UK

THE UK GAMING SCENE ROLLERCOASTER For those who didn’t read my last article, I explained the purpose of delaying the release of a game and the possible benefits it brings. Sometimes the devs just need to iron out a few things; maybe they underestimate the time constraints or even want to add more content than was originally planned. For whatever reason a game must be delayed, it usually results in audience backlash. It is unfortunate that we must now add Evolve to the list of delayed games, being pushed from October 21st all the way to February of next year. Particularly displeasing for me, who’s birthday just so happened to be mere days after its intended release. Woe is me!

To add to the list of blights (or blessings) UK based YouTuber and Destiny enthusiast MoreConsole has

to know that this information may mean that the Iron Banner will return at a later date for all to enjoy.

Meanwhile, gamers are still recovering from the shockwaves created by the announcement of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s new project going by the name of BloodBorne. In the typical Miyazaki style, players will be met with extremely challenging gameplay. In case you’re wondering, Miyazaki is the director of PS3’s Demon’s Souls and the multi-platform Dark Souls, both massive cult hits that were particularly well received here in the UK. However, unlike previous titles that hinged on defensive tactics, BloodBorne encourages players to aggressively destroy their foes before they can amass in number and swarm.

the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 on November 11th of this year. For quite some time most knew about the possibility of a simultaneous release alongside Unity. We just didn’t know what it was. There was toying between the names Rogue and Comet, speculations that it would be set in Russia, name it and it was probably a theory to match it. This new instalment thrusts players into the role of an Irish Assassin turned Templar who hunts down his former brethren with the signature weapons we all know and love in addition to the returning naval combat, this time armed with a nippy little ship called the ‘Morrigan’.

The UK gaming scene has been wracked with grief and overcome with joy this month, a rollercoaster of emotions that has us spiralling

“THE UK GAMING SCENE HAS BEEN WRACKED WITH GRIEF...” revealed that characters created in the recent beta of the game will not carry over on release. The good news is that everyone starts on even terms. The bad news is that we can’t rock the gear we got from the Iron Banner event. Here’s me thinking I could look like I walked straight out of a heavy metal album cover, alas I will have to wait. But if you didn’t catch the beta you may be pleased

Some may have been disappointed with Miyazaki’s absence during development of Dark Souls II. Now that we know what he was working on, the hype can finally return along with all of our tears that FromSoftware seemingly thrive on.

into the final quarter of this year, a hotbed of incredible releases. As per usual, I would keep an eye on a few releases such as:

Nothing is true…except for the announcement of new Assassin’s Creed title Rogue, set to release for

•

•

Destiny (Sept)

•

Evolve (Feb, boo!)

•

•

Dragon Age: Inquisition (Nov) Assassins Creed: Rogue (Nov) BloodBorne (TBA)

That concludes my monthly findings; catch me next time for more spiffing info on our gaming scene and so forth.

Written by Elliott Buddo www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

AVAILABLE 4TH NOVEMBER 2014!

PRE-ORDER NOW!

AAA G feature article

We often see stories in the media discussing “AAA games”, AAA being universally considered the top tier of video games in terms of overall quality. But what is a AAA game, exactly? Well the short answer is “a high-quality title with high budget”, but people often argue the criteria of what makes a AAA game a AAA game.

According to Wikipedia “AAA is not an acronym, but a grading scale, but some like to see it as an acronym to more simply show what attributes a game uses. One common way of perceived AAA as an acronym is like so, each “A” has a meaning regarding an overall quality. One “A” is given to games that are considered to be successful (critics or reviewers give it a perfect, or almost perfect score), another “A” is used when a game brings “innovative Gameplay” (a gaming characteristic so unique that differentiate the game from all the rest), and finally, the last “A” defines “Financial Success” (game sales that generate a huge profit). A title consider to be AAA is therefore a high quality game and is expected to be among the year’s bestsellers.”

With that in mind, Sticky Trigger has dusted off some old cartridges, cleaned the fingerprints off some game discs to analyse what allows some of gaming’s most prolific titles wear the proud banner of “AAA”.

SPECIAL REPORT

GAMES

MAX PAYNE The Max Payne series is a personal favourite of mine, it also happens to be a shining example of a AAA series. In it, players assume the role of disgruntled New York cop Max Payne as he experiences the worst night of his life. Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne both presented the game’s story in graphic-novel style sequences with a film noir feel to them. Max himself would narrate the game both ingame and in the cutscenes, and his cynical and gritty perspective was a welcome change from other games at the time.

Graphically, Max Payne was very impressive when it was released in

2001. It looked crisp, detailed and featured believable character models and shooting physics. Perhaps the most impressive and innovative feature of the Max Payne series, is the ability to initiate “Bullet Time”, a slick and very Hollywood film-like slow-motion feature that allows the player to dodge gunfire and deliver precision shots. The Bullet Time feature coupled with state of the art “Ragdoll” physics, where bodies realistically (at the time) reacted to gunshots. If the player was using a pistol, they might double over when hit in the stomach, if they were using a shotgun, they might fly over stairways and off platforms, buckling against scenery and slumping

SPECIAL REPORT: aaa games

against walls realistically. There are many reasons why Max Payne, Max Payne 2 and Max Payne 3 are beloved AAA titles; they contain thoughtprovoking and emotional stories, a fully-realised anti-hero protagonist, slick action sequences and brilliant graphics. When Rockstar Studios developed Max Payne 3, I was worried that the game would rely on features that while once innovative, were commonplace in other games now. In a ballsy move, they eliminated the graphic novel sequences and replaced them with a truly unique take on cinematic cutscenes, once again proving that they understand the importance of a game having its own unique identity.

Written by Nick Getley

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

THE ELDER

SCROLLS My favourite game series of all-time, The Elder Scrolls is the ultimate RPG series. While it has slightly simplified over time and lost a lot of what has made it unique, it continues to grow in popularity as well as stand as a shining example of a brilliant AAA RPG series. 2011’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was easily the most successful in the series, largely due to the series long being a favourite among RPG fans, and a very wellorchestrated marketing campaign. I remember being in a movie theatre and seeing a live-action (real actors,

and not animated) trailer for Skyrim play. It looked amazing and it created quite a stir in the cinema, people turning around to ask me more about the game as I was familiar with it.

What else makes the Elder Scrolls AAA? For one thing, each and every game has always looked gorgeous, in fact, sometimes too gorgeous.

When The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind released on PCs in 2001, a large number of PCs couldn’t actually run it. Many gamers spent hundreds of dollars upgrading their PCs to expe-

SPECIAL REPORT: aaa games

rience the game, which went on to win many awards and receive countless nominations. I spent over 1200 hours on Morrowind and its expansions, and while the combat may seem simple, there isn’t one aspect of the game I would consider weak.

Since the series’ debut in 1994 with The Elder Scrolls: Arena, each and every one of the Elder Scrolls games (with the exception of some poorlyreceived mobile games) has outperformed its predecessor, and cemented the fact that The Elder Scrolls is AAA RPG royalty.

Written by Nick Getley

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

Red Dead

Redemption Red Dead Redemption took one of Rockstar’s sleeper hits and gave it an open-world makeover. While Red Dead Revolver was a fantastic game, it was made at a time when Rockstar were still finding themselves as a developer. Red Dead Redemption however, contained some of the best gameplay, production values and story found in any Rockstar game.

While Rockstar games have always had fun stories, Red Dead Redemption’s actually evoked emotion, as it

focused on a brilliant troubled protagonist and was also free from a lot of the references and tributes to classic cinema that the Grand Theft Auto series is known for. Instead of Scarface meets Goodfellas, we got a completely original story (compared to Rockstar’s previous games) about a former criminal trying to leave his old life behind. Now a family man pursuing life as a rancher, John Marsten is forced to make difficult moral choices numerous times throughout the game. His decisions

SPECIAL REPORT: aaa games

won’t just affect him though, he has a wife and child to protect, numerous friends and associates as well as the government agents who wish to control him.

Everything about Red Dead Redemption screams AAA quality.

Graphically, the game is gorgeous, the story is Rockstar’s best one to date and the gameplay is near-perfect. You couldn’t ask for a better game offering the Wild West experience.

Written by Nick Getley

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

SPORE

(MAXIS/EA GAMES – 2008 - WINDOWS, MAC OS X, IOS)

SUPER MARIO 3

Super Mario 3 was the 8 bit AAA title that still amazes gamers today. After the thrill of playing Super Mario Brothers on our NES and seeing all those fancy scrolling levels, the average Nintendo punter was a Mario fan. After the slapped together version of Super Mario 2 ( a reskinned version of Doki Doki Panic on the Famicom) gamers were wondering what the moustached plumber had up his sleeve.

Mario 3 brought the series to new dizzying heights, with the Plumber returning to form. We had Tanuki suits which made us fly, Overworld maps, mini games, magic flutes and hours of sublime platforming entertainment. The tight controls that just felt right, the rich colourful sprites

and worlds, the cheery music. It looked all shiny and different, but it felt so familiar.

Mario 3 delivered, and it still delivers to this day. Players all over the world are still finding new things in the game, secret areas, bizarre glitches or just trying to be the quickest in the world finishing the game via speedrunning.

The anticipation for this game was huge too. We all were treated to its first appearance in the movie (Advertisement more like it…cough…) The Wizard. A film that had the protagonists competing in a tournament of the new mysterious game….Super Mario 3! Such was Nintendos cunning, to unveil its new AAA game via

SPECIAL REPORT: aaa games

a movie!! Aside from the main game the film was littered with Nintendo paraphernalia, power gloves, Nintendo Playchoice arcade cabs…you name it, it was there. But the spotlight was of course on Mario 3. Gamers flocked to the cinemas to see the latest incarnation of their hero. They “oohed and aahed” as the “mute gaming kid” in the film somehow was a genius at the game and oddly knew how to get the warp whistle on his first try of the game…. So aside from a sub-par film, we ran out of the cinemas and began the “begging of the parents” for a copy of the game.

Mario was back, and in style, and as per usual, setting the benchmark and innovating to keep gamers, and other developers on their toes.

Written by Tim Arnold

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

SUPER

MARIO GALAXY

3D Mario games have always been a wonderful AAA outing, and the Super Mario Galaxy series definitely took the famous plumber to new heights. Mario took to the stratosphere and beyond, taking that giant leap for plumber-kind in 2007 with Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii, and again in 2010 with Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Nintendo Wii again, to critical acclaim. The series is powdered with vibrant levels, wacky bosses, and a breath-taking soundtrack played by an orchestra,

which for a Nintendo game is uncommon, and definitely added more to the games in the franchise.

Good music can be found in many places, but amazing music can take a AAA game that one step further; music helps make a great level in a game simply epic. One track that can make for epic levels is the Gusty Garden Galaxy theme. It first appeared in the first Super Mario Galaxy, was used for background music in an E3 trailer for Super Mario Gal-

SPECIAL REPORT: aaa games

axy 2, in Super Mario 3D World, in Mario Kart 8 as part of the music that plays in the Cloudtop Cruise level, and even played in the background for the reveal of Super Mario Galaxy character Rosalina for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

If one thing was to be taken from the Super Mario Galaxy series, it was the Gusty Gardens Galaxy theme; its prevalence in AAA titles seven years after its debut goes to show the influence AAA titles have on future titles.

Written by Sasha Karen

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

METAL GEAR

SOLID

Metal Gear Solid director (he’s directed all the games) Hideo Kojima recently complained that he got upset recently watching Breaking Bad that he got upset because so few games, if any, attempt that level of artistic statement and endeavour.

Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid series is, ironically, one of the most auteur driven series out there, and is totally distinct with its use of heavy real world theme such as genetics, memeitics, racism, war, revenge, and a side of totally surreal humour.

Following the decades long exploits of legendary soldiers Big Boss (Metal Gear Solids: 3, Peace Walker, and V) and Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solids: 1,2 and 4) Metal Gear pre-

sents a narrative that, while at times as confusing as anything this side of Resident Evil, is also one of the most poignant, moving, and thrilling narratives of video games. Kojima’s style may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Metal Gear Solid stands out from the crowd of grey styled military shooters and the like.

Metal Gear Solid’s characters are memorable, and the gameplay gets better with each iteration and redefines stealth gameplay each time.

Truly blockbusters in every sense of the world, each Metal Gear game places you as the action star in the best version of whatever action movie comes to mind. Metal Gear Solid also delivers some memorable boss

SPECIAL REPORT: aaa games

fights using interactivity and visuals in a way that only video games are able to do, Pscyho Mantis, The End, and Liquid Ocelot being among the most memorable. If you’re looking for one to play straight away I’d suggest playing in order of release, or you can start with MGS 3 as it is the earliest entry in the series chronology – but starting with 1 is a great place to start, and even almost 20 years later you’ll be amazed at its ambition and level of immersion that AAA games even today can’t match.

My personal favourite of the series is MGS3, a game so wonderfully executed simultaneously in gameplay, graphics, and story creating an experience you will always remember.

Written by Alex Holmes

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

THE LAST

OF US

Video games are a young medium.

Like films at their outset and, more recently, comics before them, video games have struggled to find acceptance as an art form worthy of serious critical consideration. The Last of US is video games’ answer to the question of “is there a Citizen Kane of gaming?” The thing about video games that critics often forget is that it is the only interactive medium.

The Last of Us maximises the impact of the player being immersed in the game. Playing as Joel we are given power over life or death in the beautiful post-apocalyptic world that developers Naughty Dog have cre-

ated. As the 50 year Joel escorts 13 year old Ellie across the former United States post deadly plant plague, it is the player that stands in Joel’s shoes – like him, we know the old world and we watch and learn how Ellie, raised in this new world, acts and reacts seeing what is different from our own childhoods, and what remains poignantly the same. We – and Joel – are responsible for Ellie’s safety, and we act out the story. Very rarely do video games truly use their medium’s unique ability to truly interact with the story, but The Last of Us shows what really can be accomplished. The game also possesses stellar graphics, and fantastic game-

SPECIAL REPORT: aaa games

play – both essential to making the game as immersive and as enjoyable as it is. It really is a game you can only understand if you’ve played it – simply watching it, or even reading about it will never give you the same emotional depth of actually playing it. You won’t get, that is really get, the ending unless you’ve played and truly experienced The Last of Us, something few games can attest to.

Most AAA games seem content to spend their enormous budgets on big moments and little plot, but The Last of Us shows that when done right the power of a AAA budget can create something truly special.

Written by Alex Holmes

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

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BLOODBORNE Strange afflictions? Check. Scary world where danger lurks on every corner? Check. Horrifying monsters that kill you over 30 times, but you still say to all your friends that this is one of the best games ever? These are the general criteria for a Souls games, and it looks like Bloodborne isn’t straying too far away from the formula.

Bloodborne is an upcoming action role-playing game from developers From Software, and publishers SCE Japan Studio, made exclusively for the PlayStation 4. From Software is best known for their collection of dark fantasy games, Demon’s Souls, and sequels Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2, with Bloodborne’s director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, also involved in Demons Souls and Dark Souls. For the gamer with a masochistic streak, Demon Souls and the Dark Souls series were games of choice, as every bad decision and wrong move was mercilessly punished by the difficulty of the game. The high difficulty and skill threshold has earned the Souls series a place in modern gaming history as some of the hardest and most frustrating, yet addictive games we’ve seen yet. With a pedigree such as that, Bloodborne has a lot to live up to (or die repeatedly to).

Bloodborne has been explicitly stat-

ed to not be a sequel to the Souls’ series, and as such it is placed in a different universe where they’ve moved away from a medieval aesthetic and into a setting that is reminiscent of Victorian Gothic horror. It is set in the city of Yharnam, known for a magical remedy to a strange and terrible affliction that has drawn scores of infected to now inhabit it’s sprawling passageways and dark corners. The player’s character is one of these infected, and they must now fight and survive against the sickening monsters and terrifying plague.

While the monsters and bosses in the Souls series were no pushovers, Bloodborne director Miyazaki has stated that ‘When you face an enemy, you’re going to face death’, with each battle a struggle to stay alive. They plan to do this by treat-

will also become smarter and will patrol around the city, rather than merely spawn into place, and will lurk in dark recesses, ready to jump out and rip you apart. The environment will also signal danger in other ways, with the sounds of huge and hulking beasts in the distance to announce their coming arrival. And like with the Souls series, you may also find allies who may return your own compassion to lend a hand.

The dark, gloomy atmosphere of Bloodborne might not give players cause to praise the sun, but that might be the game’s intent. From what’s been shown so far, the game will be far bleaker than the Souls

“BLOODBORNE HAS BEEN EXPLICITLY STATED TO NOT BE A SEQUEL TO THE SOULS’ SERIES..” ing combat with more finesse. The player character will be dual wielding weapons, with a scythe in one hand and a shotgun in the other, moving away from the passive play style many Souls players used to defeat enemies from afar. Enemies

series, and while it will be judged by the shadow of the developer’s previous games, it may carve out a new piece of gaming history for the next generation.

Written by Miranda Nelson

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

FORMAT: PS4

RELEASE: TBC 2015

RATING: CTC

preview

WWE 2K15 It might at times that the best wrestling games have been and gone.

WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain, WWF No Mercy and WCW vs nWo: World Tour are just some of the brilliant wrestling games that the past has had to offer, but for one reason or another, the previous console generation just couldn’t find a hit title. I for one feel the lack of a decent real-life WWE roster hurt any chances of a decent WWE video game. There was also a distinct lack of innovation in the WWE titles under THQ’s banner.

All that changed with WWE 2K14, the first WWE title from 2K Sports.

While long-time WWE video game developer Yuke’s stayed on to develop WWE 2K14, 2K must have sicced The Undertaker onto them, because they developed one heck of a return to form. Moves were more balanced, animations were faster and some of the DLC was actually want fans truly wanted. It’s safe to say then, that when the series’ makes its currentgen debut, it’s going to be a slobberknocker.

Developer Yuke’s is looking to appease long-time WWE fans and fans who love creating their own wrestlers, as the campaign mode will apparently have two distinct modes: one a historical campaign which covers some of the biggest rivalries in WWE his-

tory (Austin Vs The Rock, perhaps?) and another that finally brings back a story mode for your own created wrestlers. I’ve been hoping against hope that Yuke’s would revisit what I consider to their crowning achievement in WWE games: An over-thetop wrestling story featuring you, and that looks to be exactly what is going to be present in WWE 2K15. Time to get excited, folks!

Speaking of rivalries, rumours have been circulating that Yuke’s will be revisiting one of the greatest rivalries of all time in WWE 2K15: that of the WCW Invasion era, where WCW and WWE Superstars clashed in and

icing on the cake, err... the blood on the mat.

The latest screenshots released for WWE 2K15 are looking very impressive, and not just because the series’ is making the leap to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. No, no, it is looking better than most other current-generation games! WWE Superstar John Cena looks photorealistic; I nearly couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw the shots. I’ve been playing the WWE wrestling games since the Sega Master System era, I’ve played every Yuke’sdeveloped WWE game, and this is the first time where I’ve been genu-

“JOHN CENA LOOKS PHOTOREALISTIC; I NEARLY COULDN’T BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I FIRST SAW THE SHOTS.” out of the ring in a bloody war. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but if this were to happen it would be the

inely blown away by the graphics.

It’s still in development, but WWE 2K15 already looks fantastic.

FORMAT:

PC, XB1, PS4

RELEASE:

28 OCTOBER 2014

RATING: CTC

It’s not just the way that the wrestlers look that’s taking a huge step forward, but also the animation.

This is largely because the game is being joint-developed by Visual Concepts, who have specialised in sports game animation since the NES era. They have worked on many groundbreaking titles, including Desert Strike, Sega Soccer Slam and NBA 2K. With WWE 2K15, Visual Concepts have motion-captured over 50 days of motion capture animation, that’s five times the animation data found in WWE 2K14. Here’s hoping there are multiple animations for every move, so that the game feels more spontaneous compared to earlier entries.

Wrestling fans should be practically drooling over WWE 2K15! All that’s left is for a healthy offering of Hall of Famers (Sting and Hulk Hogan are confirmed!) and for Yuke’s to revamp the Create-A-Wrestler Mode, which has been using the same clothes and visual options since WWE Smackdown! on the PlayStation 1.

WWE 2K15 is shaping up to be the greatest wrestling game in years, and it could well be the greatest wrestling game ever. Now can you dig that, sucka!?

Written by Nick Getley

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

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ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY For those times when you just need to do some stabbing, Ubisoft is getting ready to deliver our yearly dose of Assassin’s Creed. So what will Unity bring to the table on release in October? Let’s take a look.

Fans and critics argued at length about the possible location for this instalment, with the final result being Paris, France. You play as Arno Dorian, a man who is looking to redeem himself for his part in the death of his father. Some of his ancestors were assassins and he inevitably finds himself drawn to join the order, even though he does not agree with their entire philosophy. This all takes place just before the French Revolution, a rich historical era with plenty of spots to slot the assassin order right in. Arno is promised to be considerably wittier than his predecessors, though I’d only class Edward Kenway as having any sense of fun at all, so that’s not exactly big competition.

But we all know how the story goes by now: dangerous man becomes assassin, kills a bunch of people, gets betrayed, completely derails society by killing some historical figure only for the Templars to eventually own the world again in the modern day.

Where Unity will hopefully set itself

apart is by tweaking the mechanics. Up until now, Assassin’s Creed games have been almost strictly single player affairs. A multiplayer mode was introduced in Brotherhood and continued through the following games but that wasn’t why people picked up the game. However, since the cooperative play in the Wolfpack training mode for Assassin’s Creed III was so well received, players will have the option of teaming up with others to complete mission’s ingame in Unity for the first time.

Loners rejoice, though, because you don’t have to do this. The co-op missions aren’t going to be mandatory.

You can even complete them solo if you want to. I’m glad the option is open just in case. Unfortunately, the big disappointment of the co-op mode (just in case you missed the online furore) is that there won’t be a playable female assassin. On the one hand, it makes sense within the mode because you are meant to be playing as Arno even in this mode

games and as playable characters in multiplayer matches. It kind of seems like they dropped the ball a bit here.

Let’s not get bogged down here.

There are plenty of things to be excited about. This is the first entirely next-gen Assassin’s Creed title and it really takes advantage of the power. The game map of Paris has been leaked and it is HUGE. You want crowds? How does a crowd of 30,000 people sound? Plenty of people to hide amongst. Eagle vision does even more than tagging targets, as it did in Black Flag.

Now you’ll be able to tell how many guards are in a building. Those pesky stalking missions have been reworked so that you don’t desynchronise immediately if you’re caught; it simply sends you on a different path to possible completion.

And perhaps the greatest change of all: a dedicated crouch mode. No more will you have to gingerly slide along a wall with no ability to pop up

“THIS IS THE FIRST ENTIRELY NEXT-GEN ASSASSIN’S CREED TITLE AND IT REALLY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE POWER.” but on the other hand, it’s just a bit of a letdown. Female assassins have been featured as NPCs in previous

from behind a bench. There are no words to describe how necessary this feature is.

FORMAT:

360, PS3, XB1, PS4

RELEASE:

30 OCTOBER 2014

RATING: CTC

There’s no doubt that Ubisoft has set a pretty big challenge for itself by promising a new Assassin’s Creed title every year. Now comes the announcement that Assassin’s Creed Rogue, a PS3 and Xbox 360 only game, is coming out in November as well. Is it possible that one could get a little sick of them? I’d definitely be a willing test subject for that experiment!

Written by Bridget Sweeney

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

PRE-ORDER NOW!

Available October 28 on PC, PS4 & XB1

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BORDERLANDS: THE PRE-SEQUEL All the frantic fun of the Borderlands universe will be shot straight to the moon in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel as a crazy cast of characters (including everyone’s favourite Claptrap) unite to kill things and get loot.

The Borderlands franchise has made a name for itself as a role-playing shooter, with twisted humour and stylistic design. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is almost a home-grown effort as its being developed by 2K Australia, with just a little help from the developers of Borderlands and Borderlands 2, Gearbox Software.

rowing from their both previous titles, from writing, to aesthetics, to the characters themselves. For the eagle eyed Borderlands enthusiast, they might have already spotted that all the playable characters in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, are NPC’s who have appeared in the franchise in one way or another. It also sees the return of former, or more accurately future antagonist, Handsome Jack, as he attempts to capture the Hyperion Moonbase with the aid of his henchmen, the game’s four main characters, Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap.

The game is set on the moon, telling the tale of the moon and Hyperion moon base that players could wistfully gaze up into in previous Borderlands games. By setting it here, the developers are hoping to satisfy the player’s desire to go where no Vault

Gearbox CEO, Randy Pitchford, has stated that Handsome Jack’s inclusion would show how some acts ‘can be morally ambiguous’, with people doing ‘bad things for possibly the right reasons’. As a pre-sequel, it will take the player from Handsome

and the Mechromancer.

Other additions to the game, such as new gameplay and weapons mechanics, are being implemented, such as the ability to use ice weapons, an elemental effect which was previously not used in the franchise.

As an extension of the influence of the Australian developer, there will be a healthy dose of Australian humour and culture injected into the final product, with cricket themed side missions, references to Mad Max and the inhabitants of the moon essentially just being Australians themselves.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel aims to mix up some of the old with a lot of the new, and provide a perfect tie in to both the first and second games while being able to stand

“AS AN EXTENSION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPER, THERE WILL BE A HEALTHY DOSE OF AUSTRALIAN HUMOUR..”

Hunter has gone before, by setting it before the events of Borderlands 2, and allowing the events and action to ramp up to a point before where Borderlands 2 kicks off.

Despite being the ‘pre-sequel’, the game looks to be injecting new life into the franchise, while also bor-

Jack’s original morally good intentions to morally ruined individual he becomes by the beginning the Borderlands 2.

The playable characters come with new classes and a range of skills that are hopefully in the same realm of cool and zany as the Gunzerker

alone as a fully fledged Borderlands game in its own right. With a release date set for later this year, expect lasers and loot to be flying at you very soon.

Written by Miranda Nelson

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

FORMAT:

PC, 360, PS3

RELEASE:

16 OCTOBER 2014

RATING: CTC

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CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE Finally I can say that the COD series has gone next gen. Sledgehammer Games working with Activision, has finally built a new engine for the Call of Duty franchise. And it looks amazing. Set in the future, COD Advanced Warfare deals with the usual terrorist threats and world in jeopardy storylines. Bad guys doing bad things, send in team of tough guys, insert many explosions and action filled cut scenes and boom, Single player campaign done.

Being the multiplayer leader amongst the FPS franchise, COD fans are only worried about one thing - Does it play well? From what has been released gameplay wise, even this hardened COD vet is impressed. The idea of it being in a futuristic setting was a tad concerning at first, what… so many others taking that route in the past, but upon seeing it in action, I think it’s a good step forward.

The arsenal is impressive, the ability to jump in a mech suit(think Titanfall) Guns have cool LED ammo screens (Think Halo…wait a minute…), smart grenades with homing options and most notable the mini jet packs which propel the player into the air kind of like a Buzz Lightyear, but angrier…

Looking at techniques used in the campaign, one instantly begins to

think of potential strategies for their online skills. Jet Pack jumps whilst quick quick-scoping. Jet packing up to obscure parts of the map to set up camp for a snipe fest, throwing a smart grenade into a room where the other team is camping… oooooh there’s gonna be some fun times had.

Visually, Advanced Warfare looks stunning. Lighting and particle effects are very slick, coupled with the updated character models. Panning around the ruined cityscape, looks as close to photo realistic as it can currently get, thus drawing the player in to the zone. As of writing the Multiplayer hasn’t been revealed, but is slated to have the standard game modes such as free for all, Team Death Match and potentially a zombies mode!

Seems the guys are throwing some effort into this release after the subpar entries of recent COD games such as Ghosts and Black Ops 2.

well-acted and dramatic rollercoaster of a campaign. The story telling aspect in the COD series finished with the conclusion of the Modern Warfare series with the tales of Soap and Price and since has failed to grab me emotionally since.

So here’s hoping that with a new gen and a clean slate, things start to pick up again.

Needless to say, it’s going to be a huge release for the new systems and after the bitter disappointment of Ghosts, im hoping it’ll restore everyone’s faith in the series.

Call Of Duty Advanced Warfare is set to hit our shores on November 4 on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, and PC.

“IT’S GOING TO BE A HUGE RELEASE FOR THE NEW SYSTEMS AND AFTER THE BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT OF GHOSTS.” Kevin Spacey amongst others are cast to star in the campaign mode, so you can be assured, it will be a

Written by Tim Arnold

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

FORMAT:

PC, 360, PS3, XB1, PS4

RELEASE:

4 NOVEMBER 2014

RATING: CTC

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YOSHI’S WOOLLY WORLD In January 2013 Nintendo announced during one of the online direct videos with a small trailer that a new Yoshi 2D/3D Side-scrolling platformer called Yarn Yoshi was on its way in 2014 for the Wii U, from the same team who made Kirby’s Epic Yarn on the Wii. At this year’s E3 we were finally told of the games official name - Yoshi’s Wooly World and due for release in early 2015.

Using a similar art style to Kirby’s Epic Yarn, the characters and world are all made of wool. Visually the game is very cartoonish but with so much detail you can make out individual strands of wool, there has been a lot of effort into making use of the wool theme and it shows in the gameplay as well. With Takashi Tezuka the director of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Story (one of my favorite games ever made) on Nintendo 64, is supervising the development of the game at Good-Feel, and the game being the first home console Yoshi video game since the release of Yoshi’s Story in 1998 you know the end result is going to be something special.

Yoshi uses his tongue to swallow enemies just like always but this time instead of eggs they turn into balls of wool he carries behind him, they have multiple uses such as throwing at enemies tying them up in wool,

creating platforms to climb up to so you can proceed through levels, creating Mario warp pipes, solving puzzles or finding hidden secrets. Yoshi will have the capability of using woolen transformations to progress through the game one example we have seen Yoshi can transform his legs into wheels. Collecting gems seems to be the main collectable in the game, along with flowers and clouds making an appearance once again.

Another great addition, but not surprising given Nintendo latest platforming adventures is the ability to play two player co-op. You can actually swallow your partners Yoshi to solve certain puzzles by shooting them too hard to reach places or spit them at enemies! The puzzles are similar to the Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light or The Legend of

Zelda: Four Swords games to make the experience rely more on team work. The game will also support Nintendo’s Amiibo figurines! So, who doesn’t want to own a Wooly Yoshi?

Overall expect to see the same type of gameplay we expect from this game, there is no time limit, it’s a rather play at your own pace style of game and the enemies are not that threatening but I’m sure as we get closer to release Nintendo will some us some more gameplay options that differ this game from the previous Yoshi games with Takashi Tezuka promising the game with be a challenge as you progress and especially if you want to find all the collectables.

Written by Nick Pearce

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

FORMAT: WIIU

RELEASE: TBC 2015

RATING: CTC

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MARIO PARTY 10 It wouldn’t be a Nintendo console without the Mario Party franchise gracing the console at some point and usually in multiple sequels. The N64 had Mario Party 1, 2 and 3. The GameCube had 4, 5, 6 and 7! And the Wii had 8 and 9, with the GBA, DS and 3DS all getting one each.

Now it’s the Wii U’s turn! And why not! With the lack of software from third parties I’m sure we will also see Mario Party 11 on the Wii U but that’s for another article! Let’s see what Nintendo has for us in the 13th version of the series.

Announced at E3 2014 in June with a 90 second trailer, the game reuses the vehicle mechanic to travel around the boards which was first seen in the GBA version, and once again players have the goal of collecting Mini Stars and also item shops make a return from Mario Party 7. However, in addition to the traditional Party Mode, a new mode called ‘Bowser Party’ has also been confirmed. In this mode, up to five players are supported at once with a player using the GamePad to play as Bowser, to defeat the other four players using wii remotes while they play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario or Yoshi and possibly more to be announced later. In Bowser mode mini stars are replaced by hearts, the goal of Bowser is to deplete all the other players hearts, while Mario

and his friends try make it to the end of the course with at least one heart between them. Bowser will roll multiple dice, depending on the number of other players available.

So far, two boards have been shown off for party mode, the first being an amusement park with Peach’s Castle and several attractions resemble Yoshi Park from Mario Super Sluggers. The second is in the sky where players try to take down airships looking a lot like Meringue Clouds from New Super Mario Bros. U. To date, the mini games include: •

Fruit Scoot Scurry - A minigame in which players need to collect as much fruit as possible in a Layer-Cake Desert type area.

•

Beeline Shrine - A minigame in which players must jump to avoid bees.

•

Cheep Cheep Leap - A minigame in which players (in their invincible form) must jump to hit Cheep Cheeps.

•

Petey’s Bomb Battle - A Boss minigame in which the players must throw Bombs at Petey Piranha.

With a lot more to be unveiled in the coming months this is shaping up to be another great entry in the franchise, along with Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad’s: Treasure Tracker and Yoshi’s Wooly World Amiibo support is coming for Mario Party 10 in 2015. This is one game to look forward to for any multiplayer fanatics out there wanting there board game fix in early 2015!

Written by Nick Pearce

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

FORMAT: WIIU

RELEASE: TBC 2015

RATING: CTC

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THE ORDER 1886 From the studios who brought you God of War and Daxter comes The Order: 1886, an action-adventure game where an ancient order of knights battle monsters in Victorianera London. During the course of history, a small number of humans began to take on beast-like traits.

Humans feared these half-breeds and war broke out. Though man outnumbered the beasts significantly their animal strength gave them the upper hand in combat.

Humanity found hope in King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, who despite putting up a decent defense against the monsters, are losing the battle. Through a mysterious turn of events, Arthur discovers Black Water, a mysterious substance that significantly extends their lifetimes and grants them miraculous healing abilities. Despite this new development the knights continue to struggle against the beasts, that is until the Industrial Revolution. Inventors are far ahead of their time, developing advanced technologies such as thermal imaging, zeppelins, and wireless communications. New weapons harness the power of electricity, envelop the half-breeds in mounds of molten metal, and sport dual functionality such as proximity mines and fragmentation grenades.

By 1886, the war still goes on, but

the humans almost have martial law.

A new threat emerges with the lower class rebelling against the rich and the social order, with the knights supporting the well-to-do upper classes and nobles. The game features four main protagonists from the same squad, who each has a given name, and the adopted name of one of the original Knights.

The oldest is Sebastian Mallory, the second to bear the name of Sir Percival, and the descendant of Thomas Mallory, who in the 1400s wrote Le Morte d’Arthur, the definitive Arthurian Text. A close friend of Grayson, he is one of the best Knights in the history of the order.

Grayson is the third to bear the title of Sir Galahad, and has battled the order’s enemies for centuries.

He views Mallory as a mentor, Lafayette as a friend, and Isabeau as a potential love interest. Other than that, little is known about him so far.

Isabeau D’Argyll is one of the young-

prentice and if not for her commitment to the order, his lover. Marquis de Lafayette was a French military officer who fought in the French and American Revolutions. His tactical expertise brought him to the order’s attention, and Mallory approached him and convinced him to join the order. Although the group’s youngest, his globetrotting has given him a whimsical outlook on life that grounds the squad. As an apprentice, he does not yet bear the name of a Knight.

The Order: 1886 has been in development since 2010, with the idea for the game being inspired by Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 2: Honor Among Thieves. Not a great deal is known about the gameplay at this point (as Ready at Dawn have been very selective about how much is shown in previews) but the game sounds impressive on a technical standpoint.

Ready at Dawn have created the RAD 4.0. engine to run the game, which is free from the limitations of

“READY AT DAWN ARE KEEPING THE ORDER A SOLELY SINGLE-PLAYER AFFAIR.” er Knights in the order, but is much older than her appearance of being in her late twenties. The latest Lady Igraine, Isabeau was Grayson’s ap-

developing for the PS3. There’s no porting over of assets here - everything is being developed for the PS4 exclusively.

FORMAT: PS4

RELEASE: TBC 2015

RATING: CTC

In addition to the RAD 4.0 engine, Ready at Dawn has created a new physics engine. Called ABEL, this allows for more realistic depictions of real-life materials and object compositions. What does this mean? Metal will behave like metal, balls will bounce realistically and items that are made up of many parts will also behave that way, particularly when destroyed. Wooden doors for instance, will begin as a singular solid object but shatter into chunks and splinters when shot or exploded. It’s all very impressive stuff!

While many developers are shoehorning in multiplayer when it isn’t particularly needed (new Tomb Raider, I’m looking at you), Ready at Dawn are keeping The Order a solely single-player affair. While it’s possible they might create a multiplayer mode before the game’s release, their primary objective is giving The Order the best possible story it can have before any additional modes. PS4 owners, add this game to your list of games to keep an eye on.

Written by Nick Getley

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

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POKÉMON OMEGA RUBY AND POKÉMON ALPHA SAPPHIRE Pokémon trainers and gamers will be able to travel back to the land of Hoenn for the first time in over ten years this November in the next instalments of the Pokémon series; Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire for the Game Boy Advance, released in 2003.

The tried-and-true turn-based role playing game combat hasn’t been changed by developer Game Freak, but what has been introduced and improved has had Pokémon trainers cheering.

Taking off from Pokémon X’s and Pokémon Y’s Mega Evolution to further evolve a Pokémon during battle is Primal Reversion, which is said to devolve a Pokémon to a prehistoric state. Primal Reversion can be performed by the legendary Pokémon of the earth Groudon and the legendary Pokémon of the ocean Kyogre to become Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, the Pokémon on the covers of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire respectively.

Speaking of Mega Evolutions, more Pokémon have been given the ability to mega evolve in these upcoming titles. Joining Blaziken are the other final evolutions of the games starters, Mega Sceptile and Mega Swampert. In addition, there’s also

the sneaky Mega Sableye, the yet to be released Mythic Pokemon Mega Diancie, the fierce Mega Metagross, the incredibly fluffy Mega Altaria, the speedy Mega Salamance, and the kicking Mega Lopunny.

Receiving an upgrade from Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire in this game are Secret Bases, the ability to create a, well, Secret Base in the landscape of Hoenn. You can share these bases through StreetPass or with QR codes, and battle your friends! Decorate your base, and establish the battle rules for your friends to fight you with, and it’s like your very own gym! You can also recruit people you like as Secret Pals, where a representation of their character can hang out in your base.

Coming in from Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl and Pokémon Platinum are Secret Base flags, where you can steal your friend’s flags from their own bases.

Back in 2003, Pokémon Contests were introduced; where Pokémon trainers tried to win the crowd’s approval to see who could be the coolest, the toughest, the most beautiful, the smartest or the cutest. These contests appear again, this time as the Pokémon Contest Spectacular.

Also involved in the Pokémon Contest Spectacular is the Cosplaying Pikachu. After acquiring, this Pi-

kachu can dress up in five different outfits and gaining exclusive moves not normally known; Pikachu Rock Star gets Meteor Mash, Pikachu, Ph.D. gets Electric Terrain, Pikachu Pop Star gets Draining Kiss, Pikachu Belle gets Icicle Crash and Pikachu Libre gets Flying Press. When the games drop, The Pokémon Company International has even announced that for a limited time, there’ll be an online event where Pokémon trainers can download a shiny Beldum holding a Metagrossite, giving it the ability to mega evolve later in the game.

If this is going to be your first trip to Hoenn, your first trip in a long time or you never left, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire is already shaping up to be a wild ride. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire release exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS on November 21th, 2014.

FORMAT:

NINTENDO 3DS

RELEASE:

28 NOVEMBER 2014

RATING: CTC

Written by Sasha Karen

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

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KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.5 REMIX Thanks to the success of the first and the wonderful people at Square Enix the next Kingdoms Hearts HD collection is on its way and features some of the best games of the series. Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD includes the final mix versions of Kingdoms Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep as well as Kingdom Hearts Re: Coded as a movie compilation. For KH fans this is an amazing opportunity to relive some of the best moments of the series and for new comers, an excellent to get up to speed before the long awaited Kingdom Hearts III. An exclusive release for the PS3 the 2.5 collection is said to feature even more graphical updates than the previous 1.5 collection and also includes a completely remaster of the amazing soundtrack that has become a staple of the series.

The first game in the collection Kingdom Hearts II, which is considered to be the most popular entry in the series, follows the events after the original Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. It explores the story of a young keyblade wielder Roxas and his mysterious connection to Sora and their battle against the secretive Organistion XIII. The game features the best parts of the original and adds fantastic new elements including dual keyblades, bigger boss battles, and

unique stages that transform Sora and his companions completely.

This game is a must play for any action rpg fans.

The second game featured in the collection is Kingdom Hearts Birth

by Sleep. Originally released for the PSP the game follows the story of three young apprentice keyblade wielders Terra, Aqua, and Ventus who journey through the realms in search of the missing Master Xehanort all the while trying to remain true to each other. Birth by sleep visits many classic Disney settings including the Castle of Dreams from Cinderella, the Mysterious Tower from Fantasia, and the Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White. Birth by Sleep was also the first KH game to utilize the deck command combat system that

is also featured in the 3DS game Dream Drop Distance.

The final game in the collection Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded is featured as a compilation of cinematics that tell the story of Sora and his friends as they attempt to unravel the mystery of Jiminy Crickets journals and the mysterious entry “Their hurt will be mended when you return to end it� by reliving the events contained within them in a digital recreation of the various Kingdom Hearts locations. The collection is set to be released on December 9th for the PS3 and may be the final entry in the series before the long awaited Kingdom Hearts III.

Written by Sam Babu

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

FORMAT: PS3

RELEASE:

9 DECEMBER 2014

RATING: CTC

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ALIEN: ISOLATION In Space no one can hear you scream, but they will hear you loud and clear the first time Alien: Isolation scares the pants off you! This new survival horror entry to the Alien franchise has been developed by Creative Assembly, who are looking to recreate terrifying cinematic atmosphere of Ridley Scott’s original film Alien. To this end the game only features one of the terrifying Xenemorphs, and worst of all it can’t be killed!

Set 15 years after the original movie (and 42 years before the second) the game follows Amanda Ripley as she investigates the disappearance of her mother and searches for the flight recorder of Nostromo. The game is set aboard the space station Sevastopol, a decommissioned trading station on the very fringes of human controlled space. When players arrive on board the Sevastopol, they will quickly discover they are not alone. The station inhabitants are all but helpless against the creature and it falls to the player to make their way through the station relying on their own wits and instincts to survive.

Alien Isolation is all about survival and forces the player to act accordingly. The Alien has been designed to be a reactive hunter meaning that it will attempt to find the player based

on sight, sound, and even smell. It will even learn from each encounter as it notices smaller details such as open lockers or airlocks that indicate its prey is near. Al Hope the Creative Lead on this project has said that while the player can run quickly through the game, but doing so will increase the risks, while the stealthier option could see players stuck in lockers and under tables forced to wait for the heart wrenching minutes to pass by before the creature abandons the hunts.

The game however does offer a few items that can be used to help the

ing player won’t be able to focus on the tracker and what’s in front of them at the same time.

The game itself also looks really great with the character models and lighting effects all contributing to an amazing and immersive experience that is sure to send chills down your spine. However best of all is the inclusion of the ‘Last Survivor’ and ‘Crew Expendable’ which features the original cast of Alien and with the original actors lending their voices to the game and allows players to take control of none other than Ellen Ripley herself as she

“..FEATURES THE ORIGINAL CAST OF ALIEN AND WITH THE ORIGINAL ACTORS LENDING THEIR VOICES TO THE GAME..” player including flares, flare guns, flame throwers, and of course the iconic motion tracker. However each item comes with disadvantages as well. For instance the motion tracker will have a depth of field effect mean-

tangles with the Alien on board the Nostromo. Alien Isolation is set for release on the 7th of October on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

FORMAT:

PC, PS3, PS4, 360, XB1

RELEASE:

7 OCTOBER 2014

RATING: CTC

Written by Sam Babu

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

PRE-ORDER NOW!

TBC 2015 - PC, PS4 & XB1

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BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT Batman: Arkham Knight is the fourth game in the ever popular Arkham series, but is in truth, the official cap of developer Rocksteady’s Arkham Trilogy – published last year, Origins was developed by a different team, and featured Roger Craig Smith as the voice of Batman. Well the Kevin Conroy, the definitive Batman voice, is back and so are Rocksteady with a game that looks like that Batman game we deserve and the one we need right now. Arkham Knight looks to realise – finally – a living, breathing, labyrinthine Gotham City for the Dark Knight to explore and protect.

There’s a reason Arkham Knight is only going to be on next gen consoles (and eventually PC) – the PS3 and Xbox 360 (and sadly the Wii U) just can’t handle the size of the game, which is five times larger in scale than Arkham City. As many as 50 enemies can be on screen at a time, allowing Batman to take on entire riots of criminals. The graphics bring the kind of fidelity that we expect from the new generation machines – Rocksteady are quoted as saying there are as many pixels in one character model from Arkham Knight as there were in the entirety of Arkham City. Batman never looked better, and Gotham city has never been a more vivid and atmospheric playground for the caped crusader.

The biggest addition to the Caped Crusader’s arsenal this go round is the Batmobile. Half Burton, half Nolan, all total badass Batman’s vehicle of choice provides a fantastic and iconic method of travel in Rocksteady’s Gotham, and can be remote called by the Dark Knight whenever it’s needed. The Batmobile drives like you would expect it to as well – when colliding with walls the vehicle won’t slow down and the walls will suffer cosmetic damage.

Not content with bigger and better gameplay and graphics, Rocksteady look to be attempting to cap their trilogy with their biggest story yet featuring the titular Arkham Knight as a brand new Batman villain. Normally specially created villains for superhero games are quite average but given Rocksteady’s fantastic treatment of Bat-lore thus far it seems fair to grant them the benefit of the doubt when giving something back to the stories that have given them (and

at the height of his powers going up against his now united rogue’s gallery, as well as dealing with the emotional aftermath of the ending of Arkham City. To make things even worse, come Halloween Night fan-favourite villain Scarecrow returns to wreak Havoc on Gotham and Batman will once again have to go it alone against many formidable foes.

When Batman: Arkham Asylum came out in 2009 it seemed inconceivable that 5 years later that a superhero game would be one of the most anticipated games and biggest franchises of 2015 – both critically and commercially. Yet here we stand awaiting Rocksteady’s epic conclusion to their already masterful trilogy excited as we would be for the next Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty, Mass Effect, or even Uncharted. It can’t come soon enough.

“BATMAN NEVER LOOKED BETTER, AND GOTHAM CITY HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE VIVID AND ATMOSPHERIC PLAYGROUND..” the players) such a rich world to create with. Set one year after Arkham City, Arkham Knight sees Batman

Written by Alex Holmes

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

FORMAT:

PC, 360, PS3, XB1, PS4

RELEASE:

4 NOVEMBER 2014

RATING: CTC

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CODE NAME: S.T.E.A.M Intelligent Systems is Nintendo’s goto subsidiary when it comes to making turn-based strategy games. The developer is the creator of both the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series, and is also well known for being the developers behind the Paper Mario games. And it looks like Intelligent Systems is ready to strike strategy gold again with the upcoming Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. for Nintendo 3DS. The most unique aspects of Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. would have to be its artstyle and setting; which are far different from the norm of Nintendo games. The world of S.T.E.A.M. is set in 1800s, in an alternate timeline from ours where great advances in steampunk technology have been made. The visuals of S.T.E.A.M. are cel-shaded, but the design of the characters are heavily influenced by

the Alien Menace), an international team of warriors formed by President Lincoln, who are tasked with fighting the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired alien invaders that have recently shown up.

The game starts off at the American embassy in London, where Captain Henry Fleming of S.T.E.A.M. is situated, when a massive alien, known only as “Devastator”, attacks and forces Henry to meet up with his squad and defeat the invaders attacking London.

Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.’s gameplay is a mix of two main genres: TurnBased Strategy and Third-Person Shooter, drawing some parallels with the Valkyria Chronicles franchise.

Each character on your team has what is known as a Steam Gauge, which powers your movement and weapons. Although you can move freely, the levels are tile-based, and

out several paths before deciding the most efficient direction to take.

Each character also has a unique ability that can be used without steam, at the price of only being able to be used once in a level. Unlike Intelligent System’s other strategy titles like Fire Emblem, the goal is getting to the exit at the other end of level, rather than killing every alien on the map.

Each squad mate has his or her own unique stats, weapons and abilities, each of which makes a difference to your team and effects how you would approach the enemy. Some units are better for attacking, while others are more suited to a support role. Choosing the right team for the right level is critical for success. The game also has a mechanic known as Overwatch. If a unit has enough steam

“IT’S UNIQUE VISUALS AND SETTING MAKE IT STAND OUT AGAINST OTHER NINTENDO IPS...” the Silver Age of Comic Books and the work of American comic artists such as Jack Kirby and Bruce Timm.

And the cutscenes are done in an “animated comic” style, complete with onomatopoeia appearing visually for sound effects. You play as the team members of S.T.E.A.M. (which stands for Strike Team Eliminating

moving from each tile to the next will drain one part of your Steam Gauge. Firing a weapon costs a lot more steam, and so you must plan your movements and attacks wisely to make the most of your steam. A usual feature is that steam use is not permanent until you attack or finish your turn, meaning you can scout

leftover from the player’s turn, he can attack the enemy on their turn.

This adds an extra layer of strategy that makes steam management even more in-depth. Should you try to use as much steam as you can in a level, or save some up to attack during the enemies turn? It’s up to you. It also makes you think more

FORMAT:

NINTENDO 3DS

RELEASE: TBC 2015

RATING: CTC

about where you move on your turn, as the enemy can also make use of the Overwatch mechanic.

Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. looks like it’s shaping up to be a solid strategy title. It’s unique visuals and setting make it stand out against other Nintendo IPs, and we can look forward to fighting the alien menace on 3DS in 2015.

Written by Jacob Getley

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

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HALO 5: GUARDIANS & MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION Cue the low drone of that famous Gregorian chorus, the drone rising in volume as pitch as it morphs into a chant. Then it happens, the beating of the drums as those powerful violin and cello chords spring to life, that’s right. It’s the sound of a new Halo instalment on the horizon Slated for release in Spring 2015, Halo 5: Guardians is the second instalment in 343 Industries “Reclaimer Saga”, following on from the events of 2012’s Halo 4. The specific name of the title was announced at this year’s E3 event by studio head Bonnie Ross, as was the “Master Chief Collection”, consisting of remastered editions of Halo: Combat Evolved (including 2011’s Anniversary campaign) through to Halo 4. There is something very clever

ligence) by name of Jameson Locke – who will be a playable character in the upcoming instalment – has been tasked by the Arbiter (a Covenant Elite protagonist who entered the franchise in Halo 2, for those of you playing at home) to locate John AKA Sierra-117 AKA the big chief with the green helmet… Master Chief.

So while one might easily suggest that the Master Chief Collection is a shameless plug for money – to which you would be right – it would also be succinct to say that it’s putting the audience in the shoes of Agent Locke whose task has also had him review the Master Chief’s battle history. Touché marketing, touché. It also helps that the events of the upcoming Halo web series “Halo: Nightfall”, produced by Ridley Scott, will be taking place between Halo 4

Master Chief Collection will also receive access to the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta, which will be showcasing Halo 5’s frame rate of 60 frames per second and will take place between December 29th 2014 to January 18th 2015. 343 Industries Creative Director Tom Longo has stated that the beta will contain “7 maps, 3 modes, 11 sandbox weapons that are going to be included and 7 armour sets that you’ll be able to customise your Spartan with.” Meanwhile Executive Producer Josh Holmes has described the beta by saying “We’re looking at small maps that are really tailored to 4v4 combat… No one’s gonna have a different load out than the other person, which means every member of the red team is gonna be the same as every member of the blue

“AS THOSE WHO WILL PRE-ORDER THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION WILL ALSO RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE HALO 5: GUARDIANS MULTIPLAYER BETA..” about the forthcoming release of the Master Chief Collection and its connection to Guardians. Though little is known about the story for the latter, the premise that has been revealed in its campaign trailer is that an agent of ONI (Office of Naval Intel-

and 5. Not only that, but it will also be serving as an origin story for Agent Locke, thereby creating a powerful lead up to his video game debut.

However the hits just keep on coming, as those who will pre-order the

team” which should provide a very unique window to fine tune the competitive multiplayer elements of the game before the full game’s release in November 2014.

Written by Sean Fox

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

FORMAT: XB1

RELEASE:

11 NOVEMBER 2014

RATING: CTC

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NINTENDO AMIIBO

WHAT WILL NINTENDO’S FORAY INTO THE “TOYS TO LIFE” FRONTIER DO FOR THE WII U?

If you’ve been going to retail game stores in the last few years it is likely you’ve seen shelves lined with figurines for both Activision’s Skylanders series and the Disney Infinity games. These figurines are part of a recent development in gaming known as “Toys to Life”, where people purchase figurines of the characters they want, and place them on a device to make that character appear in the game via NFC (Near Field Communication). Although the concept has proven success and both the Skylanders and Disney Infinity games have been a hit, none of the big three console giants have attempted to have their own slice in this market. Until now.

This year at E3, Nintendo announced that they are joining the Toys to Life fray with their new range of figurines known as Amiibo. Confirmed for sev-

counterparts, Amiibo will function differently for each game. Some information that will please gamers worried about the welfare of their wallets is that Amiibos are not used to unlock characters in games, meaning you won’t have to shell out a fortune to play as the entire roster of one of the compatible games.

So far the only game that we have confirmation on the role of Amiibos is Super Smash Bros for Wii U, and their role is quite unusual in deed.

When an Amiibo is placed on the Wii U gamepad, the character represented by that figure will be summoned into the game. This character will be able to fight for you, against you, or against other Amiibos. The interesting feature that makes the Amiibo character different from a CPU is that it will adapt and evolve over time; fight it with the same

their game.

So what about the other games Amiibo is compatible with? What role could they possibly play? Senior Product Marketing Manager of Nintendo of America Bill Trinen confirmed at E3 that Mario Kart 8, Mario Party 10, Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker, and Yoshi’s Woolly World would all be compatible, and the vastly different nature of these games makes speculation on their role all the more intriguing. Mario Kart 8 stands out for being an Amiibo-compatible game despite the fact that the game will be almost six months old by the time Amiibo is released on shelves. Given the competitive nature of the game, could Amiibo figures play a similar role to their role in Smash Bros; characters who adapt and learn strategies? This could open up all sorts of

“..THE CHARACTER REPRESENTED BY THAT FIGURE WILL BE SUMMONED INTO THE GAME..” eral Wii U games (and later 3DS via an NFC adapter), these figures won’t require a portal device for the Wii U; instead they’ll simply be placed on the gamepad to be used. Like Skylanders and Disney Infinity, Amiibo will feature a range of characters, this time from Nintendo’s famous library of all-stars, but unlike its

approach often and it will learn to combat your fighting style. Amiibo characters can level up and become more powerful, and you can customise your Amiibo fighter to change his special moves and modify its stats.

The data is stored within the figurine, so you can even take your Amiibo to a friend’s and summon it to battle on

new challenges when racing, such as challenging smarter CPUs who regularly take short cuts or block incoming attacks with a well-fired Green Shell. Maybe Amiibos could also have the ability to store your time trial ghosts, so you can bring them over to a friend’s so they may challenge your best lap times.

Mario Party 8 is also another completive title that Amiibos will play a role in. Their role is a little harder to guess, but it can be assumed that they would store data from your Mario Party stats. Maybe there are special minigames that you can only play with only using an Amiibo, or maybe like Smash they make the AI more aggressive. Bumper Balls could become real intense now!

Curiously, Amiibos are also planned to be used in non-competitive titles.

The new upcoming Yoshi platformer Yoshi’s Woolly World, is one of these games. Since there appears to be no competitive mode in the title, what would Amiibos do? A CPU-controller second Yoshi could be summoned to help out in levels?

Are there going to be special minigames like in previous Yoshi games, this time focusing on Amiibo? Even stranger a title to be compatible with

is Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker, a single-player game. Potential applications for Amiibos here could be storing your best course times to send over to a friend, or maybe create a rival Toad who you race to beat the course.

So far, Amiibo is shaping up to be an interesting and unique addition to the Toys to Life category of gaming. The great thing about them is that Nintendo seems implementing them in unique ways to enhance the experience; making them an optional feature, rather than being something you need to buy to have a complete game. Their role could prove to be a boon of success for the Wii U, and we’ll all find out whether this is true by the end of the year.

Written by Jacob Getley

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

AVAILABLE 2015! PC, 360, PS3, XB1 & PS4

PRE-ORDER NOW!

board games

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY BOARD GAME REVIEW

Gandolf once said “I’m looking for someone to share in an adventure” and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Board Game by Cryptozoic allows just that. An unique and challenging game based on the motion picture of the same name, it is a cooperative game that allows for 1 to 4 players to take on the companion’s adventure across two games boards. Along your journey you and your companions will be faced with limited resources to use but are they enough or will you use them wisely enough to survive the many obstacles along your path.

After many years of playing board games The Hobbit is the first that I have played which is cooperative.

ers win the game. To overcome the obstacles in your path at the start of each players round they role the four dice and assign the pictures on the dice rolled to a specific event on the current board. Each event has a specific number of pictures required to complete. If the correct number of pictures are rolled the event is cleared and the next player can move on to the next event. If the required is not met you lose a resource from the board. Once all 6 resources are lost the game is over. The 14 companion cards are also dealt to the players and along with the 6 resources available to use at the start of the game these help to complete the events.

While rolling the dice is all down to luck, this is where the skill, strategy

needed to be cleared. If you are lenient with these and allow multiple rolls then these can be passed if not then the rate of losing a resource card increases tenfold.

I found the rules of the game aren’t explained well enough and this puts a disappointing feel to playing it the first couple of times. Once you have deciphered the rules and are up for the challenge the game is quite enjoyable. The quality of the materials used to make the game are very good. The board, cards and token are all printed clearly and brightly on thick cardboard.

As a whole I found The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey as an enjoy-

“ONCE YOU HAVE DECIPHERED THE RULES AND ARE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE THE GAME IS QUITE ENJOYABLE.” Players win or lose as a team. While some may see this as a drawback and feel the competitiveness and difficulty is taken out of the game this is not the case. The game is challenging, requires strategy, planning and the competitiveness against it is very strong. The game is set across two boards that include events that happen in the movie which must be overcome before a board can be completed. If the objectives on both boards are completed the play-

and competitiveness come into the game. Both the resources and companions can only be used once and it is best to discuss with your teammates before you do. If these are not used wisely the game will win. The game constantly ramps up the difficulty with event cards that will up the number of pictures needed to clear an obstacle or by needing to complete them straight away. The instant event cards aren’t explained well enough to know how they are

able game to play with others. It is a cooperative game that allows you to discuss strategy and planning with others for the 40 minutes it takes to complete. If you want to try out a different spin on board games defiantly give this one a try and it’s also great as it can be played alone allowing you to remember epic sections of a great movie.

Written by Jess Wilson

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TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS NEO (JPN)

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TRANSFORMERS: GENERATION 1

TRANSFORMERS: Unicron

TRANSFORMERS: Beast Wars

References Generation 1 as Distant history

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Original voice actors as Optimus Prime and Megatron

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TRANSFORMERS: RBOTS IN DISGUISE TRANSFORMERS: BEAST MACHINES

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collectibles

KOTOBUKIYA MARA JADE Kotobukiya have continued their Star Wars Bishoujo statue line with the release of Mara Jade from the extended universe. And what a gorgeous statue she is! Kotobukiya are just continuously taking things to the next level, and the quality on show here with their latest release is amazing.

PACKAGING The packaging is no surprise, and follows the same black/gun metal Star Wars design as other related Star Wars products. The box art is pretty stock standard, with various photos of the statue, and of course the amazing prototype Bishoujo artwork by renowned artist Shunya Yamashita. This is one statue that I believe well and truly lives up to, and exceeds, the beauty of the artwork.

ASSEMBLY Similar to many Kotobukiya statues these days, some assembly is required, but is not overly difficult. The right gloved hand needs to be inserted into the arm. The left “force push” arm, right up to the wrap around her bicep area, also needs to be inserted. Overall, the arms on Mara Jade were very easy to insert.

A choice of two lightsabers is provided, with the purple being my favourite. Placing the hilt into her hand is a little tight, but no real issue. Regardless, I love the fact that she has the option of being displayed as a Jedi, or as one with the Dark Side - a girl gone bad is just that little bit sexier for me :) The base art comes with the respective Rebel and Imperial insignia, of which I chose the latter. Inserting her feet into the base is very easy, and I love how the clear plastic doesn’t distract any attention away from her high-heeled boots. And what lovely boots they are! I mean, they cover the longest legs leading up to the best derrière in the galaxy! :)

There’s no assembly required for the pistol in its holster. It is unfortunate though that it is not removeable, as that would’ve been a nice extra touch. But it still looks great, as does the brown leather look of the holster and belt.

For the other accessories, the blue lightsaber is nice enough, but I think the purple just has that extra presence on display. The cape itself is quite nicely molded and painted, with nice flowing lines and great shading.

The goggles aren’t particularly great though.

As you can see from the photos, I chose to simply use the small scarf around her neck that pegs in just at the top of her chest. The display options include also adding the goggles, but I thought that looked a little too busy, and I didn’t like the way the googles sat on her chest. Also the full cape can be used instead of the scarf. It looks great from the front, and matches the prototype artwork.

STATUE I loved the previous Jaina Solo statue for its playful pose and just gorgeous facial features. But this Mara Jade takes all that to the next level and beyond!! The pose here perfectly conveys that strong force push dynamic pose in the artwork.

molded details, and different shades of blues that accentuate that gorgeous female figure. The knee high boots are painted in a more metallic style that makes them stand out from the more matt-like finish of the body suit.

One of my favourite features has to be the red hair, and how it’s sculpting is various shades of translucent red/orange plastic. From all angles the hair is just outstanding, and it frames another beautiful Bishoujo face from Kotobukiya. The paint app on the skin is again flawless - I love the creamy smoothness and subtle shading.

The brown paint app on the belt and her shoulder/back harness is nicely done too. I love how the belt lays on her hips, with the holster slung to the side. The statue overall is so beautiful, it looks every bit as amazing from the rear as it does from the front, if not more so! But really, this statue is pretty damn awesome no matter which way you look at her!

The outfit itself is also beautifully done, with lots of different textures,

For me, this is another home run for Kotobukiya in the Bishoujo line. I

haven’t been collecting their statues for very long, but in the short space of time that I have, I can safely say that there is no other company that makes statues of such quality at such an affordable price!

Together with Jaina Solo, these two look simply stunning. I cannot wait to see who they announce to be next in the Star Wars Bishoujo line (Slave Leia pretty please!). I just hope they don’t take another year or so to release the next one! Most highly recommended!

For the full video review, head on over to the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel! I hope you can check it out, subscribe, like, and comment with your own thoughts! :)

Written by Khai at Kool Kollectibles www.koolkollectibles.net www.facebook.com/KoolKollectibles www.youtube.com/user/ckly76

“TOGETHER WITH JAINA SOLO, THESE TWO LOOK SIMPLY STUNNING. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHO THEY ANNOUNCE TO BE NEXT IN THE STAR WARS BISHOUJO LINE..”

COLLEC collectibles

SAN DIEGO COMIC CON

I unashamedly envy those that were lucky enough to score a ticket to this year’s San Diego Comic Con, because they definitely got to see in person some of the most amazing prototypes and teaser announcements from some of the world’s leading companies in pop culture collectibles.

Some of my favourites from the likes of Hot Toys, Sideshow Collectibles, Pop Culture Shock Toys, and Kotobukiya took the opportunity to showcase the figures and statues that they have been working on over the past few months. And what was on display was absolutely stunning!

For me, Hot Toys and Sideshow really stepped it up this year and their announcements were breathtaking.

Sideshow started off with their teasers for their new classic Star Wars figures, including the long-awaited

the new C-3PO, and it looks to have a pretty nice weather paint app to complement Artoo’s dirty desert look as well.

ing the whole Justice League in this style displayed together would make for one awesome centrepiece in any collection!

Other great classic trilogy figures on show included another fan favourite trooper in the TIE Pilot. Other companies had released versions in the past, but they didn’t scale well with other 1/6th scale figures. But this new one from Sideshow looks like it will fit in perfectly.

But their biggest teasers were for the Marvel line, with Deadpool and Wolverine shown as the first characters to be released from that Universe. And they look incredible! The classic cartoon style has been really captured by Sideshow on these ones! Deadpool’s outfit looks to have lots of texture and molded detail, and the headsculpt snarl on Wolverine, along with the classic brown and yellow outfit just screams iconic!

After their previous release of Bossk the bounty hunter, speculation was that the Rebel pilots would be next as the outfits were very similar. And sure enough, Sideshow announced the new Luke Skywalker figure in his classic orange Rebel pilot outfit from the Battle of Yavin. The helmeted head and outfit detail looks awesome.

For gamers, Sideshow also showed off their new Starcraft figures with Raynor and Tychus shown. The attention to detail in the Terran armour is a sight to behold! The fig-

“..BUT THEIR BIGGEST TEASERS WERE FOR THE MARVEL LINE, WITH DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE..”

Biker Scout and Speeder Bike from Return of the Jedi. Fans have been begging for that for years, and Sideshow have finally listened!

They recently listed a new R2-D2 for preorder, so the obvious question was where was the droid’s partner in crime? Well, the finally showed

Aside from Star Wars, Sideshow also showed off some amazing new figures in their comics lineup, both from classic DC and Marvel lines.

Their comic styled Batman and Superman figures are coming out soon, but at SDCC they showed prototypes of Green Lantern and Flash that looked very nice togther! Hav-

ures might be about 16” tall, which will make them dominate pieces in any gamer’s collection.

Hot Toys was not be outdone of course, and they pulled off so many surprises, going back to some classic action flicks with prototypes of the long-awaited Back to the Future

CTIBLES

collectibles in Marty McFly and the Delorean.

Perhaps even more amazing was the Battle Damaged Robocop figure.

Their regular version of Robocop from the 80s movie is coming out in August, but it lacks the Peter Weller head sculpt. Well Hot Toys remedied that with a separate release to cover the scenes in the movie where Robocop comes under some heavy damage. The prototype head sculpt of Peter Weller was scary realistic!

Continuing their classic sci-fi figures, Hot Toys also showed new versions of Ellen Ripley from both Alien and Aliens, including the Power Loader!

They had released similar figures a few years ago, but their quality and technological advancements have

come a long way since then. These new figures take 1/6th scale realism to a whole nother level!

But of course, Hot Toys has been associated with Marvel figures for many years now, winning multiple awards as one of Marvel’s most outstanding licensees. And the biggest Marvel movie right now is of course Guardians of the Galaxy. So Hot Toys wasted now time in showing off the latest prototype figures featuring the whole team.

Each one looks to be an outstanding figure in its own right, with the Groot/Rocket 2-pack, Star-Lord, and Gamora up for preorder already.

Drax should not be too far behind, so early 2015 will be an incredible time for Marvel fans.

So all in all, Sideshow and Hot Toys showed off some incredible collectibles this year. Hopefully when they come down to Supanova later this year, so of these will be brought down to showoff to Australian fans for the first time.

Of course, lots of other manufacturers displayed their wares too. Stay tuned for another report next month on the latest offerings from the likes to Kotobukiya, Pop Culture Shock Collectibles and more!

Written by Khai at Kool Kollectibles www.koolkollectibles.net www.facebook.com/KoolKollectibles www.youtube.com/user/ckly76

“..SIDESHOW AND HOT TOYS SHOWED OFF SOME INCREDIBLE COLLECTIBLES THIS YEAR..”

SEPTE

HO TO MU HA COLLEC

EMBER

OT OYS UST AVE CTABLES! See in store for pricing. Get ‘em at

retro

THE GENESIS OF FIFA Welcome to September, the month where EA unleash FIFA ’15 on the unsuspecting gaming world! Actually, with FIFA games being released every year, the word “unsuspecting” may not be completely correct there… This is true of a lot of EA sports titles, though FIFA was one of the first to receive annual updates. I though this month we might have a look at the history and evolution of the FIFA series throughout the 90s.

Let’s get started!

Up until the FIFA series was released, the home gaming market was dominated by soccer titles such as “Match Day”, “Kick Off”, and “Sensible Soccer”. One could argue that these games were all a little bit samey in their style and presenta-

tems of the day, including the Super Nintendo, Amiga, 3DO and PC. With this new style of gameplay and the FIFA license, the game far exceeded EA’s expectations and sold in excess of 500,000 units in the first 4 weeks. The revolutionary 3D viewpoint, the outstanding graphics and tight control system ensured the game was worth the hype.

The first update, “FIFA 95”, was released a year later alongside other updated EA sports titles such as “NHL Hockey 95”. There was very little new content, and the game remained similar to the original “FIFA International Soccer”. With a few minor tweaks it was really only of interest to those who didn’t purchase the

point the teams and player names in the FIFA series were works of fiction, invented by the creative minds at EA. With the release of this latest edition real teams and real player names were implemented, adding a new dimension for those who wanted to see their favourite team go right through to the finals.

“FIFA 97” expanded on this further by implementing motion capture to ensure the movement of the players was correct and smoother than ever before. It was also the first game to feature 6 a side indoor soccer as well as commentary, a staple feature of the series today.

1998 bought with it another World Cup, as well as another edition of

“IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST GAME TO FEATURE 6 A SIDE INDOOR SOCCER AS WELL AS COMMENTARY..” tion. The original “FIFA International Soccer” was released in 1993, after much hype, on the Sega Megadrive.

While most traditional soccer games at that time, such as the aforementioned titles, offered an overhead viewpoint, FIFA offered a unique isometric 3D perspective, similar to classic games such as Head over Heels or Sweevo’s World. The game was later ported to the popular sys-

original release.

With the release of “FIFA 96” the series received its first major change, with the next gen consoles receiving 3D real time graphics. Sadly the underpowered Super Nintendo and Megadrive versions received what could only be seen as a minor update to “FIFA 95”. “FIFA 96” also offered another major change. Up until this

FIFA. This time an additional title was added, and “FIFA: Road to the World Cup 98” was born. As well as further refinements and real life FIFA teams, the game featured a soundtrack that featured Song 2

by Blur. “FIFA 98” was also the final version released for the Super Nintendo and Megadrive consoles.

As you can imagine, “FIFA 99” fol-

“THE ORIGINAL “FIFA INTERNATIONAL SOCCER” WAS RELEASED IN 1993, AFTER MUCH HYPE, ON THE SEGA MEGADRIVE. WHILE MOST TRADITIONAL SOCCER GAMES AT THAT TIME, SUCH AS THE AFOREMENTIONED TITLES, OFFERED AN OVERHEAD VIEWPOINT, FIFA OFFERED A UNIQUE ISOMETRIC 3D PERSPECTIVE, SIMILAR TO CLASSIC GAMES SUCH AS HEAD OVER HEELS OR SWEEVO’S WORLD.”

lowed the previous year’s edition (I’m sure you can all see a pattern forming at this stage). For this version the graphics were given a significant update, including facial expressions for the players, as well as expressing their individual heights.

Finally we come to “FIFA 2000”. This version was released in October 1999, whereas all previous versions of the game had been released around June or July. While the game featured over 40 teams of current and retired players, the new game engine did not impress the critics of the day. While the game was never panned, it was considered to be inferior to previous releases.

Further FIFA released have improved on the graphics and gameplay in a variety of ways. Maybe you have a favourite, or would maybe you’re just looking forward to “FIFA 15” being released this month. Hit up the Facebook fan page and let us know!

Written by Paul Monopoli

retro

STREET FIGHTER 2 THE BEST AAA RETRO GAME It’s really hard to stress just how much of a global phenomenon Street Fighter II was during the 1990’s and the impact that it not just on gaming culture, but on pop culture as a whole. It was the game that defined the 2D fighting game genre and it was responsible for yet another surge in arcade gaming. If you stepped foot in any arcade at the time, you would almost certainly be greeted with scores of people crowded around the latest iteration, watching on as two warriors battled each other and patiently waiting their turn to take on the victor and to prove to everyone else in attendance that they were the best of the arcade.

For me, this is the game that defined my teenage years and from

in? A big part of it had to do with the mystique and mysteriousness of the game. With its unique six button setup and complicated moves list, it was unlike anything else available at the time and mastering one of the eight original playable characters took time and skill...and if you didn’t have the skill, then you could kiss your sixty cents good bye when it was your turn at the machine!

Rule 3 – NO THROWS! Under no circumstances were you allowed to throw your opponent. Do so and you would be branded as ‘cheap’ and ‘dirty’. If you threw your opponent by accident, then you must allow them to throw you back.

Just like in the film ‘Fight Club’, there was also a Street Fighter ‘sub culture’ of the arcade that had some unwritten rules that went along with it:

Rule 4 – No hitting in dizzy or ‘stars’.

If you hit your opponent enough times in a row, you would cause them to go into a ‘dizzy’ state where they could not attack and you could inflict free damage. Once again, this was frowned upon and also considered to be dirty and cheap.

Rule 1 – Want to play? Put your coin or token on the cabinet and get in line buddy, because you are going to be waiting awhile (it wasn’t uncom-

Obviously, there was no way to officially enforce such a strange set of criteria, but people generally went along with it and even to this day,

“...WITH ITS UNIQUE SIX BUTTON SETUP AND COMPLICATED MOVES LIST, IT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE...” what started as a love affair, has now turned into a lifelong obsession.

Step into my gaming area and you’ll be greeted with all manner of console and computer ports, merchandise with everything from statues, figures, DVD’s, a Monopoly board game and even an arcade machine running any number of the various games in the series. So what was it about Street Fighter that drew me

mon to wait up to three hours just to have your turn)

my friends and I still observe some of the above!

Rule 2 – Mercy Rounds. The winner of the first round must provide the loser with a mercy round, allowing that person to take the second round and ensuring that each match would go for at least three rounds, providing each player with the maximum amount of time on the machine.

So with long lines of players and the complicated rules that went along with the arcades, how was someone supposed to get better?

After learning via a gaming magazine that Street Fighter II was being ported to the Super Nintendo was like a dream come true: to be able

“IT WAS ALSO THE PERFECT EXCUSE TO GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS FOR LONG SESSIONS OF FIERCE BATTLES AND FURIOUS TRASH TALKING SO WE COULD DETERMINE WHO TRULY WAS THE KING OF STREET FIGHTER II!”

to play at home whenever I wanted for as long as I wanted and on my terms was a god send! So for the next six months, instead of using the money that my mum would give me to buy lunch, I would instead put it into a money box that I dubbed my ‘Super Nintendo Fund’ and saved feverishly until I had enough to buy a SNES with Super Mario World and then proceeded to beg and beg and beg my parents to buy me a copy of Street Fighter II: The World War-

rior for my birthday. It was pure bliss and would go on to further cement my love of not just Street Fighter, of gaming in general and a period of my life that I will always look back on fondly!

While the Super Nintendo port (and the Mega Drive port that would soon follow) would never be a replacement for arcade original, it went a long way to help me become a better player. It helped me to learn bet-

ter spacing and execution skills that I could transfer to the arcade and also gave me the confidence to take on random challengers. It was also the perfect excuse to get together with friends for long sessions of fierce battles and furious trash talking so we could determine who truly was the king of Street Fighter II!

Written by Mark Cassar (Guest writer from retrodominaton. com for stickytrigger.com)

retro

STREET FIGHTER 2

THE ARCADE GAMERS DREAM COME TRUE...

In 1992 the arcade scene was reinvigorated with the release of one game. A game, although drawing on inspiration of older classics like Yie Ar Kung fu and International Karate, took the genre of 1 on 1 fighting games to the next level. Prior to its release, the arcades has come host to wave after wave of shoot ‘em ups and side scrolling beat ‘em ups and the gamers wanted more. More control, more challenge, more depth.

The ability to choose a character and make them their own with their own personal fighting techniques.

A game that would pit one player against each other in a battle for supremacy of the arcades. This game was Capcom’s Street Fighter 2.

It was an exciting time indeed, no ar-

had the one protagonist to choose from, Street Fighter 2 had a whopping 8. Each with theit own fighting styles and personalities. These characters all had their own tales to tell with ending sequences illustrating their journey, whether Russian Dancing with President Gorbachov , getting married to the love of their life or just walking heroically into the sunset looking to better themselves further. For the first time our heroes had depth.

Control schemes as well had arcade goers “finger tied” as the quarter circle joystick motion was introduced to do moves such as fireballs and hurricane kicks. Players would hone their skills day in day out and perfect their timing and tactics.

there it is, the one with the swarm of people around it”.

There was always “that guy” who was the street fighter master, who’d spent all his pocket money on playing. He was the towns best and no one could better him. Crowds watched in awe as he’d stroll through the game and take out the last boss with one credit. Occasionally he’d offer tips and sometimes help you get past a tricky opponent.

Sadly I wasn’t that guy. I was the spotty kid off to the side watching, quietly, taking it all in… one day…

I’d take that mantle of “Best player”!

There were also the glitch guys, non-regulars who’d pass through town who knew tricks that weren’t normal, like Guiles Handcuffs move

“THE AMOUNT OF 20 CENT PIECES I’D SUNK INTO STREET FIGHTER 2 BACK IN THE DAYS...” cade, video store or even the local fish n chip shops were without this exciting new machine with its revolutionary 6 button configuration. Street Fighter 2 was the beginning of something beautiful and still chugs on to this day with more modern iterations.

What was so different about it? First things first the roster of 8 larger than life charactes to choose from, whereas International Karate only

“I got next” was the term used for when you wanted to play next as you placed your coin along the glass pane of the machines control panel, usually in a long uniform line along with other hopefuls waiting patiently in line. To this day, I cannot remember seeing such a buzz around one game. “where’s the Street Fighter machine?” you’d asked upon entering the arcade. “Oh wait don’t worry,

and having the ability to have the machine glitch out and reset. These too were feared opponents, as you knew they knew the game inside out.

The amount of 20 cent pieces id sunk into Street Fighter 2 back in the days, I honestly think I could have bought the actual machine twice over. Every piggy bank was

“IT WAS AN EXCITING TIME INDEED, NO ARCADE, VIDEO STORE OR EVEN THE LOCAL FISH N CHIP SHOPS WERE WITHOUT THIS EXCITING NEW MACHINE WITH ITS REVOLUTIONARY 6 BUTTON CONFIGURATION.”

raided and parents were hassled for small change, as soon as you had your 60 cents, off you’d run down to play some more. It certainly was a special time for me and many other gamers in that era.

But imagine… Oh!!! Imagine if we could play it at home!! We could practice for hours on end and not need the wheelbarrow of small change to do it! This was just a dream for us Street Fighters, but...the dream came true.

Enter the Sega Mega Drive and Super Nintendo. The 16 bit powerhouses that would make these wishes come true.

When the announcement in the magazines was made that Street Fighter 2 would be coming to the home console market, the gaming world went wild. “It’s happening!!! It’s really happening!!!” we’d cry. Flicking through pages of Hyper and Mean Machines, drooling over the preview pics of the ports each system was getting, the fans were at fever pitch.

Street Fighter was a system seller, those who were still dabbling with their 8 bit machines quickly updated just to have the ability of playing Street Fighter in the luxury of their own home. The game sold in droves and gamers joysticks were never the same.

My friends and I would have mini tournaments to see who the ultimate player was, or we’d just settle for playing versus for hours on end. Fun Fact, Street Fighter is the only game that’s caused me to have blisters on my thumbs. The week end would come and we’d start in the morning, occasionally stop for lunch and continue until our parents were growling at us to come and have dinner.

Amazing battles were fought, grudge matches had, and mortal enemies made. This was the best.

Then we got Championship Edition…..Cue more blisters and epic battles.

Street Fighter 2 for me is a game that brought together a lot of great things. Firstly, it was the closest we had to “having the arcade at home”

which was the thing every gamer wanted back in the day. But most importantly, it forged great friendships amongst players. You’d talk strategies, techniques and always had a “go to“ sparring partner to test stuff on. But most importantly, it got us playing together. An art form that’s sadly lost in the digital age. Playing over an internet connection with your friend chatting to you through your headset is one thing, but noth-

ing beats having your mate sitting next to you on the couch, couple of beers, a bowl of chips, epic battles and plenty of laughs. It’s not uncommon for me to still do the same these days. Ultra Street Fighter 4 and a room full of mates, makes for a great night in.

So, there it is. Street Fighter 2, the single most important game in the 90s and the King of all AAA titles re-

leased in the yesteryear.

I salute you!

Hadouken!

Written by Tim Arnold

www.stickytriggerentertainment.com

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ARTIFICIAL IN feature

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE? Artificial intelligence, the human like intelligence of machines, is what keeps our phones running and our games exciting. It is defined as the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making and translation between languages.

Surprisingly the concept of artificial intelligence has been around since ancient history. It is a part of the Greek mythology of intelligent beings, or as we know them robots, such as Talos, guardian of Crete the bronze robot believed to be gifted by Hephaetus to Minos. Interestingly this links in with the ever popular game, Skyrim, were Talos is a con-

it is a part of our games. Skyrim is not the only game that has or incorporates AI; there is Halo, which has Cortana an intelligent artificial character, and of course perhaps the most obvious one ‘The Sims’. The Sims has you controlling a family or person of your creation however whilst they must follow your commands they can with free will enabled go about their lives without you.

Movies have been incorporating the idea of intelligent machines since as far back as the ‘Wizard of Oz’ (1939), which has an intelligent tinman that longs for a brain. Which funnily enough is a bit of a contradiction. Some movies are based completely around AI such as iRobot, Transformers, Wall-e, Terminator and Her. Each of these movies in

in 2010 by Apple as an application available on the apple store. ‘She’ is an intelligent artificial assistant that uses natural language user interface to answer questions and perform commands. Depending on what you ask Siri you can get some pretty funny responses. You can even ask Siri about ELIZA who was an early example of primitive natural language processing not unlike Siri herself.

Siri is not the only recent development in AI nor the most impressive.

There is Ellie who is in fact a robotic ‘psychologist’. ‘She’ reads the linguistic and behavioral nuances of human reaction and uses cues such as where they are looking and the pitch of their voice to asses their

“...THERE IS ELLIE WHO IS IN FACT A ROBOTIC ‘PSYCHOLOGIST’.” stant presence, with a few quest’s linked to him and there is even the ability to worship him. There is even a quest, which requires the player to travel below the city of Marakarth into the Dwarven ruins where the Gods once lived with their large intelligent robots.

Artificial Intelligence is so entwined in our world that sometimes we don’t even recognize it. It is a part of our movies but also as mentioned above

their own way focus or heavily feature intelligent robots and you could argue they display the longing and the danger of this level of artificial intelligence.

Although the artificial intelligence we have now is no were near the level that these movies and games display, in the past decade some serious progress has been made. Perhaps the first thing that will pop into your mind is ‘siri’. Siri was introduced

feelings. She can even diagnose depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Artificial intelligence has come far since the words were first coined in 1955 and even further since Greek mythology. With intelligent assistants on our phones like Siri and an artificial therapist available to talk to my question is, what’s next?

Written by Emily Langford

NTELLIGENCE

ARTIFICIAL IN feature

WILL GAMES GET SMARTER? AI IN GAMES AND POPULAR CULTURE

AI or artificial intelligence, is defined

by Wikipedia as “the intelligence exhibited by machines or software.”

While it’s also the study of intelligent agents, we’re looking at it purely from a software or hardware perspective.

mode versus online with other players. Responses are different and believable. So how do developers create better AI? Maybe the question should be, can developers create a better AI?

Games have been programmed to emulate a form of intelligence when characters in a game respond in certain ways. Some games do it amazingly well, like The Last of Us and Grand Theft Auto. Others fail miserably with characters reacting in ways that doesn’t make sense. Racing games feature AI in the way other drivers react to your moves on the track. Older games sometimes featured AI that was so simple you could ask a character a question, walk away, come back and they’d react in

The field of AI was founded on the claim that our intelligence could be simulated by a machine, either robot, computer or other “intelligent” device. Early computer programs like Eliza simulated AI by processing a users response to the scripts programmed into Eliza’s code. They were very simple forms but were so well programmed that some users were taken in and thought they were communicating with a real computer intelligence. More recently programs like A.L.I.C.E take the possibili-

1950 paper - Computing Machinery and Intelligence.

AI has been featured more recently in movies such as Her, where the main character played by Joaquin Pheonix falls in love with his OS (operating system) played by Scarlett Johannson. Set in the future, the movie overcomes the potential weirdness of a man loving his computer OS by clever use of the way the system is portrayed and the way it behaves. At present, we are a long way off having computer systems anywhere near that intelligent.

Other AI based movies include 2001: A Space Odyssey based on the novel by Arthur C Clarke, where the computer system HAL, doesn’t

“GOOD AI INVOLVES YOUR GAME EXPERIENCE TO BE BELIEVABLE” the same way a thousand times just as if it was the first encounter.

The challenging thing for game designers is to create character responses that seem natural and not simplistic. Good AI involves your game experience to be believable.

When good graphics and sound work with a believable story line and believable characters you are more immersed. Consider the difference between playing Call of Duty in story

ties further with better logic and responses to your questions. But they are not perfect, they don’t yet exhibit enough intelligence to pass what’s called The Turing Test. This is where a human engages in a conversation in natural language with a machine and, should the human not be able to tell whether they are talking to a machine or a human, then it would be said the machine has passed the Turing Test. The test was proposed by mathematician, Alan Turing in his

follow orders by the humans. Wargames featured a very young Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy who hack into a defence system causing havoc. AI, released in 2001

by Steven Spielberg, features Haley Joel Osment playing an artificial boy as well as Jude Law. While AI in movies makes for an interesting and sometimes provocative story, it’s in games where we will truly see the possibilities. Imag-

NTELLIGENCE “IMAGINE WALKING INTO YOUR HOME AND ASKING YOUR OS WHAT EMAIL HAS COME IN, CHATTING ABOUT THE NEWS AND PLAYING GAMES WITH SUCH AN EFFECTIVE INTELLIGENCE THAT THE SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF IS TOTAL.” ine walking into your home and asking your OS what email has come in, chatting about the news and playing games with such an effective intelligence that the suspension of disbelief is total. Sure, accessories such as the Oculus Rift and, in the future, body stimulating gaming accessories will increase the reality of gaming, but it’s the artificial intelligence, the way they computer based opponents respond that will take gaming to new and as yet, unexplored levels of immersion.

For now, we can play human opponents and enjoy the challenge of either competing or working together in game environments, but in the future we may see us being immersed in game environments with game characters that seem all too real. Is this a good thing or bad? Like social media, the possibilities for good are there, but there will no doubt be those who try to abuse the system or use it for their own personal gain.

For now we can only wonder what the future of gaming holds.

Written by Rob Jenkins

Poster for Her, copyright believed to belong to the distributor of the film, Warner Bros, publisher or graphic artist - sourced from Wikipedia.

AI movie poster from Wikipidea.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY comic books

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 1: COSMIC AVENGERS REVIEW BY SCOTT F. SOWTER The Guardians of the Galaxy are possibly one of Marvel’s most obscure teams. Of course for us comic book lovers we have been enjoying their tales since 1969. However they have gained far more popularity thanks to the new hit film of the same name from Marvel Studios which has been cleaning up the box office over the last few weeks and has met with over whelming critical acclaim.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Avengers is the 2013 reboot of the series featuring the characters from the 2008 team including Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Racoon, Groot and Drax the Destroyer but for good measure also adds Tony Stark him-

This first volume sets the stage for things to come and re-introduces us to the characters. The first chapter is essentially Peter Quill’s back-story and could not be better executed.

This chapter is worth the price of admission alone! It is fantastic, tender and heartfelt. From there the story just takes off with an alien invasion of London and lots more fun!

I’ve been a long time fan of Brian Michael Bendis, his writing is just fantastic and it is easy to see why Marvel keep getting him to write out the big event stories, the guy just knows how to make things epic. Yet he can always sucker punch you with some remarkable depth and heart.

us care about these misfits one of whom is a talking tree.

The Guardians of The Galaxy have always worked because they function more as a dysfunctional family then a team of heroes, ala The Avengers. It leaves room for humour and tender moments you may not get with a group of heroes who only really see each other when a big bad guy is in town. It allows them to grow together and form genuine relationships that we readers get to enjoy. This comic executes that perfectly and is a must buy! On a side note if you haven’t seen the film yet GET ON IT NOW!!!

“THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HAVE ALWAYS WORKED BECAUSE THEY FUNCTION MORE AS A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY THEN A TEAM OF HEROES, ALA THE AVENGERS.” self, Iron Man into the mix. Personally I couldn’t be happier to see Peter Quill and Tony Stark having a drink together.

Steve McNiven brings a nice flash style to the art and really makes it pop! He is able to bring the humour and complexity needed to make

MARVEL COMICS WRITTEN BY: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS ART BY STEVE MCNIVEN

8/10

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Brought to you

Every month we bring you the worlds best c news as part of our new Cosplay Liv

LAYLIVE

u by Gametraders..

cosplayers, interviews, tips, photographs and event ve website (www.cosplaylive.com.au) and expo.

Inside: Interview with: SeyeCo Images Amazon Mandy Soltography + more!

Special Report: SMASH wrap up 3 Simple Tips on posing

SEYECO IMAGES - cosplay photographer

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/SEYECO-IMAGES/181615431856948

SEYECO IMAGES - cosplay photo

ographer

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SEYECO IMAGES cosplay

SEYECO IMAGES

COSPLAY PHOTOGRAPHER FROM CANADA!

Tell us a bit about how you got into cosplay photography.

I have always been into anime/comic/sci-fi, so in 2009 I went to my first convention with my camera in hand.

I was nervous at first asking Cosplayers if I could take their photo, but after my first couple shoots I just fell in love with the Cosplay World.

It was such an unbelievable experience that at that moment I knew this was something I wanted to do professionally.

Do you do other styles of photography?

Yes, I also do portfolio work for models and makeup artists, and then the usual weddings, engagements, and families, I also work with a Bunny Rescue charity that I volunteer my time and cameras for calendars and photo shoots to raise money for their amazing rescue. Also I work part-time as the Nikon instructor at our university teaching techniques and the use of equipment needed to produce studio and natural light portraits.

What is it that you love about cosplay photos.

The fantasy, how many of us have always wanted to be captured or thought of as their favorite charac-

ters from a comic, tv show, or movie? I love bringing that to life with my cameras and with Cosplay I bring the Cosplayers favorite character they portray to life.

What goes into a shoot on the day?

Well for most conventions I love to shoot outdoors, I prefer to put the Cosplay into “their” world. I usually get to a convention the day before so I can scope out the grounds to pick out the best locations for each Cosplayer.

Most Cosplayers book online with me and I always ask for a detail of their Cosplay so I know who the character is and what locations would be best suited for them. There have been instances where a shoot will not work during the day so I have a completed wireless studio that I bring to locations with me for night and evening style shoots.

media along with my website to get noticed outside of the convention scene.

How do you find cosplayers to pose for you?

What tips do you have for people wanting to do a photo shoot with cosplayers?

At first it was difficult, unless you went to a convention you didn’t really have ways to contact them. I would do a couple photos and give out business cards, exchange emails, however as I went to more and more conventions I started utilizing social

Research the characters the Cosplayer will be portraying, you have to remember this is “their favorite character”, they know them and know how they should act, by learning about the different characters yourself you relate with them and can

help guide them as the photographer into getting the pose they have in mind. Recently I have booked more Mass Effect and Dragon Age shoots, I went and bought the games (played them all)read books, looked up forums, all so I can see the character, know the mood of the character, and then bring that out in the Cosplayer.

color, and more recently adding slight effects to the photos. I shoot mainly in RAW which gives me a huge amount of data to change a photo slightly if it didn’t come out exactly as I envioned, but I always try to capture the moment as it is, no deleting, no touch ups, and slight modifications.

What about post processing, what sort of things do you do?

Finally where can readers go to see some of your work?

Well I love playing around with Contract, removing partial amounts of

I am most active on my Facebook Page SeyeCO Images, so PLEASE

head on over and give it a like to follow my adventures. I am also on Twitter @SeyeCO_Images and have a website (www.seyecoimages.com) where I constantly have specials and calendars showing which conventions I will be at next.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/SEYECO-IMAGES/181615431856948

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Cosplayers featured: Merry Band of Misfits, Amonymous Cosplay, Fantasy’s Heart Cosplay, Becka Bee, B Dismembra’d & Akaiite

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/SEYECO-IMAGES/181615431856948

AMAZON MAN cosplay

AMAZON MANDY COSPLAYER FROM USA!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into cosplay..

Well, I run a full time business sewing commissions for people, everything from cosplays to gowns. I keep busy outside of cosplay with a lot of interests and hobbies, from running and working out to spending lots of time with my golden retriever, Molly!

I love to travel, bike, and try to enjoy life every day!

I always loved going to the local comic convention each year, and one year my friends kind of dared me to wear a female version of the Joker, since I loved the character so much.

I did it, and fell in love with cosplay! It was such an easy way to meet people, find people who share the same interests and fandoms, and I learned cosplay was also another great excuse to travel! I was hooked.

And what were your early cosplays like?

It was definitely trial and error. I couldn’t read patterns, so I made most things by endless pinning and fitting onto dressforms, and my own body.

I also hadn’t learned to finish seams, so many of my first costumes were pretty on the outside and a mess inside. But I think that’s what many of

us need to go through, trial and error as we learn from our mistakes and get better!

Do you make your own costumes and how long do they take?

I make my own costumes, that’s so much of the fun, to me. I love the creative process. The time it takes depends on how complex they are.

Some I can literally make in a couple of days, some take weeks. And when I’m swamped working on commissions for others, mine get delayed a lot. I think my favorite part would be making props for things.

Do you attend any “cons” and what’s coming up this year for you?

Oh yes, that’s where I get to see many of my friends! This year I’ve attended Katsucon and Megacon, and in the near future I’ll be going to DragonCon and hopefully Anime Weekend Atlanta! After that, I’m unsure, they tend to get decided on rather last minute!

Any funny situations you can share from a con?

I think one of my most outrageous moments from a convention was when me and some girlfriends got into a bit of a ‘joke’ costume involving

wigs and bathtowels, and had “tub races” in large plastic tubs through the lobby of the hotel. Everyone was getting in on the fun, it was such a ridiculous time...until hotel security came roaring in! I think I made more friends that hour at a convention that I have at one time ever in life!

Photography is a big part of cosplay, have you done many shoots?

Oh...yes...I can’t even count them. I am lucky enough to know many very talented and kind photographers, and we benefit each other so that I have nice photos of my costumes and they can show off their amazing talent!

Sometimes, when I finish a costume and I don’t have a convention coming up or any shoots planned, I even just ask a friend if they’ll take photos privately, so I at least have some to show. You work with what you have!

What goes into a typical shoot, tell us a bit about preparing and then the day of the shoot.

I do my best to just let photographers come to me with what they would like to shoot. It’s pretty rare I ask one to shoot a costume, I prefer them to be really interested in the costume or character so it’s as much for them as it is for me. Once we agree on

NDY

Photographer: Jason@i360 | www.acparadise.com/acs/display.php?a=23081

what costumes we’re shooting, we figure out a place and time. If it’s at a convention, it tends to be much easier because obviously I’ll already be getting dressed, and no one has to go far. The tough part will be finding good places for photos, so many conventions are in hotels where the scenery leaves a lot to be desired.

If shooting outside of a convention, it’s a little more frustrating. Between you and me, I hate taking up a lot of a day getting ready for/traveling to a shoot! :laughing: It might be hot or cold out, and you might have to paint yourself or put on tons of layers, and you better hope whatever costume you’re wearing can fit into a car or at least be put on at the location! But photos from those situations often turn out better, because neither party is rushed and you have endless scenery options (even if the public ends up staring at whatever you’re doing)!

Thanks for being part of Live Magazine - where can readers go to find out more about you?

Thank YOU for the opportunity! I have a few places I can be found...

For the most updates and current news, my Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/CommissionsByAmazonMandy is the best. My Twitter and my Instagram are both AmazonMandy, and I have a webpage that I update with all of my new content about once a month at www.AmazonMandy.com.

Thank you!

Photographer: LJinto | www.flickr.com/photos/ljinto/

“I MAKE MY OWN COSTUMES, THAT’S SO MUCH OF THE FUN, TO ME. I LOVE THE CREATIVE PROCESS. THE TIME IT TAKES DEPENDS ON HOW COMPLEX THEY ARE. SOME I CAN LITERALLY MAKE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, SOME TAKE WEEKS.”

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/COMMISSIONSBYAMAZONMANDY

Photographer: Bob Barker

Photographer: LJinto | www.flickr.com/photos/ljinto/

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/COMMISSIONSBYAMAZONMANDY

Photographer: Robby Idol | www.facebook.com/robbyidolcosplay

Photographer: LJinto | www.flickr.com/photos/ljinto/

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SOLTOG cosplay

SOLTOGRAPHY

COSPLAY PHOTOGRAPHER FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA!

This month we’re talking to Sol Abdo who is the owner of Soltography, he’s an enthusiastic cosplay photographer based in Melbourne. Sol, tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into cosplay photography.

First off I would like thank you for contacting me and giving me this interview.

My name’s Sol I work a 9 to 5, I play video games competitively, I own my own photography business and am also a co-founder of ShadowLogic which is a venue for anyone to come chill and compete in regular tournaments, I am also the co-founder of Shadowloo Showdown which is the biggest fighting game tournament in the southern hemisphere hosted annually in Melbourne, Australia.

I myself have been a comic book & anime fan since I was very young but didn’t really know what cosplaying was till a friend dragged me along to one event (which was Manifest in 2011) and was blown away by seeing regular people dress up as some of my favourite characters growing up and ever since them I’ve very much enjoyed shooting cosplayers as most are fantastic people and a pleasure to work with.

You describe yourself as an up and coming photographer, tell us how you got started. What gear did you first use, how did you go from absolute beginner to where you are now?

Well I got started thanks to my brother (Bosslogic) who at the time was studying photography and seeing how he was going about it and the work he was producing really inspired me to pick up the camera and see what it was all about, funny enough my first “camera” was actually my Nokia 6260 but even with just that I would photograph anything ranging from people to flowers and plants basically anything I could see I would want to take a shot of it!

I have been on and off with photography from just a hobby to actually trying to pursue a career in it because of many factors involving work, financial reasons and some personal reasons too but thanks mainly to both my brothers and a few certain photographers who till this day still inspire my photography (Gilad Benari, Elena Kalis, Andrey Yakovlev, Lili Aleeva, Mario Testino, zemotion and Marco Grob) Photography is challenging and it stretches those who want to get good at it, what keeps you motivated and pushing forward?

GRAPHY

As with most things in life nothing comes easy and a lot of things are a challenge but to me that’s what I find most satisfying and rewarding is pulling through those challenges and difficult periods.

For anyone pursuing photography if you’re serious about it then it’ll never stop being enjoyable, to me it’s something I do for work, to clear my head for when I have too much on my mind basically photography to me is like that comforting friend you can go to at any given time.

Things that keep me motivated are as I stated above, I have a family who supports me 100% in what I do and from when I first started till now the same batch of photographers still inspire me to keep pushing on to get better and better, improvement in photography is endless in my opinion and that’s one of the most enjoyable and unique things about it.

If you have a challenging shoot, how do you cope with any pressures or post shoot struggles?

so having them feel as comfortable as possible with you is always good. Remember first impression is key!

As the photographer you need to have a cool and composed head at all times, thinking while frustrated rarely ever works so as long as the problems you receive aren’t completely out of your control (such as weather etc). A good photographer will always have a plan B, C and so on for whatever situations he or she experiences.

2 - Pick a good moment when approaching the cosplayer, you don’t want to be approaching them while they’re eating or busy with a group of people.

For those who may be interested in shooting cosplay what ís 5 tips you can share?

I would say main rules I go by with cosplayers when I want to use them in a shoot or just take a quick photo at a convention are: 1 - To have good people skills, as with all photography the subject is putting their trust in you as the photographer

3 - Try and find the best possible location with what you have to work with in your surroundings (the convention venue), of course only if the cosplayer is willing to let you take them to said location, that extra few minutes you took to take your subject to that location can turn your photo from a good photo to a great photo!

4 - Try and always have a business card on you if you have one, if not get one! There’s nothing more rewarding than a cosplayer using your images as display picture on their social media or just sharing it on there, so after you’ve politely gone and taken the photo of

“AND WAS BLOWN AWAY BY SEEING REGULAR PEOPLE DRESS UP AS SOME OF MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS GROWING UP AND EVER SINCE THEM I’VE VERY MUCH ENJOYED SHOOTING COSPLAYERS AS MOST ARE FANTASTIC PEOPLE AND FUN TO WORK WITH.” WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/SOLTOGRAPHYINC/SETS/ the cosplayer, generously offer them your card and say that the photos can be seen on such and such.

5 - Always have your settings on your camera ready to go! You want to be judged with how you present yourself as the photographer and it’s never a good look for the photographer to fiddle around with his or her camera settings while the subject waits around for a few minutes especially at a convention where other photographers and regular people will want to be taking photos of the cosplayer. Obviously you will need to do some little adjustments from time to time as each subject is different but have your settings as such that those changes will be minimal and quick!

Finally for readers to see more of your work, where should they go?

You can find me mainly on

www.flickr.com/photos/soltographyinc/sets/ www.500px.com/Soltography www.facebook.com/Soltography.Inc

WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/SOLTOGRAPHYINC/SETS/

WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/SOLTOGRAPHYINC/SETS/

WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/SOLTOGRAPHYINC/SETS/

WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/SOLTOGRAPHYINC/SETS/

PHALEURE cosplay

PHALEURE

COSPLAYER FROM USA!

This month we’re talking to Phaleure Cosplay who is based in Baltimore, Maryland. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in cosplay.

I am a Chemical Engineer by trade and spend my 9 to 5 creating power plant simulators, and day dreaming about video games I want to play, confections I want to bake and cosplay I want to make.

I have been an avid video gamer since middle school playing mostly JRPGs, real time strategy games, fighting games and MMORPGs, but it was my ultimate love for Final Fantasy X that inspired me to get into Coplay. I created my first costume back in 2005 and have never looked back since.

You make a lot of your costume, tell us what sort of products you use to create costume items.

One of my favorite things to do when getting started on cosplay is take a stroll through Home Depot and let unconventional materials inspire my design. I have used everything from paper mache’, to shower curtains.

No material is off limits! My favorites which make an appearance in most costumes are EVA foam, insulation foam, sintra, resin, and worbla.

You’re using Worbla and featured a tutorial on colouring Worbla, is it a difficult process?

I got the idea to try and integrate color into the material of the worbla because when armor pieces begin to rub together, they basically sand the beautiful top coat of paint off of your armor and reveal the cardboard brown color of raw worbla underneath. If you are running around a convention snapping photos you probably don’t have time to run up to your room and touch up your paint job every time you start to see some worbla. The thought is that if I can make my worbla black or purple or insert-desired-color-here underneath that when paint inevitably begins to rub off it isn’t as apparent. It isn’t a difficult process and basically takes advantage of the fact that worbla is basically saw dust imbedded in pcl plastic. You can dye and color pcl plastic to any color, so it would follow that you could do the same to worbla. In the tutorial you mentioned I used a wax crayon, but I have also had success using powdered dyes and pigments as well.

Let’s talk about the characters you cosplay, who are some of your favourites?

I am a huge, no, SUPER HUGE fan of the Soul Calibur series. It was

one of the games I played growing up that I still play and am inspired by to this day. I have made 3 costumes from the Soul Cal games and expect I will be making many more in the future. My absolute-favorite character to play is Talim, I love her flowy and playful move set. I have cosplayed two of her costumes so far and they are some of my most memorable and iconic costumes. Sadly Talim is no longer a recurrent character in the games, but I couldn’t not cosplay from the new game, so I decided to make Pyrrha Omega’s costume instead. I thought it would be a challenge to create her demonic arm out of silicone, so I used Pyrrha as an excuse to delve into some SFX work.

While I adore console games I am also an avid PC gamer, and find myself very drawn to the Blizzard line of products. I have a T5 Death Knight cosplay based off of one of my characters in World of Warcraft. I played WoW for most of my highschool and college career, and even met my Fiance’ playing the game. So I can’t help but love wearing the costume, because it’s like a stroll down memory lane.

But, I think my all-time favorite costume is Sarah Kerrigan’s ghost armor from the Starcraft II game. I wore my Kerrigan costume to Blizzcon (A Blizzard sponsored show in Anahiem)

E cosplay Photographer: Ash B Images | www.facebook.com/AshBphotos

“I AM WORKING ON A VAPOREON GIJINKA COSTUME (A HUMANIZED VERSION OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE POKEMON) FOR DRAGON CON. I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN MAKING THIS COSTUME BECAUSE MY REFERENCE IS FAIRLY LOOSE AND THERE IS TONS OF ROOM FOR ME TO ADD MY OWN DETAILS OR TOUCHES TO REALLY PERSONALIZE THE COSTUME.”

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PHALEURE last year where the World Championship Series Finals of Starcraft II was being held and got some of my favorite progamers, youtubers and announcers to sign my armor.

I even got Neil Kaplan and Robert Clotworthy, two voice actors or major characters in the actual game to put their John Hancock on my costume.

Although I think I have retired the costume, I will never throw it away, because it is just too special to me now.

What “cons” do you go to and what ones are coming up that you’ll be going to?

Being Baltimore based I am pretty lucky to be very close to some major conventions that happen in Both Baltimore (like Otakon, Baltimore Comic Con, and Brony Con) as well as ones that happen in D.C. (Katsucon, MagFest, AwesomeCon, Anime USA). I try my best to attend most of the local conventions when I can.

But I also love traveling and seeing new places. I normally travel to attend Blizzcon, and Dragon Con, but have also found myself in Cali for Fanime, Chicago for Anime Central, and Ohio for Ohayocon.

This year I will also be taking a bus up to New York with some friends to hang out at NYCC. There are tons of other conventions I have really want-

ed to check out including Pax East, SDCC, and Colossal Con. Hopefully there will be time and funds next year to visit those conventions, but for the time being my upcoming schedule looks like: Dragon Con followed by Baltimore Comic Con in September, NYCC in October, Blizzcon in November, MagFest in January, and then Katsucon in Feburary. Phew, that sounds like a packed schedule – can’t wait!

What costumes are you working on at the moment?

I am working on a Vaporeon gijinka costume (a humanized version of one of my favorite pokemon) for Dragon Con. I am having so much fun making this costume because my reference is fairly loose and there is tons of room for me to add my own details or touches to really personalize the costume. I have also been using my progress on the costume as content for some (hopefully) useful youtube tutorials.

People seem to be really excited about the progress photos I have been posting, so I am really excited to finish it and let everyone see what all of the pieces look like when they come together.

I am also working on yet another Blizzard Entertainment costume. I

am working on an Orc Warrior costume. The particular reference is the Warsong Commander from the card game Hearthstone, which I have been particularly obsessed with for the past 6 months. I am really excited about the costume because it involves some special effects makeup (orc nose and ears, as well as sculpted dentures), and some radical armor making techniques. Of course I will use the ever popular worbla, but I am also throwing in some leather work, and chainmail details to really bring the character to life. I normally try to pick costumes to cosplay that challenge me to learn new things.

This one, I am particularly excited to make.

How long would you spend making a costume?

Depending on the design I can spend anywhere from 1 month to 4 months working on a costume.

Sometimes I like to have fun playful costumes that are easy to wear for long periods of time and to socialize in, and those costumes generally don’t take very long to construct, but for a costume like my Death Knight armor, or for the Orc that I intend to make for Blizzcon, it might take closer to 4 months, particularly when you include the time investment in researching your reference, and construction techniques.

Photographer: SoulFire Photography | www.facebook.com/SoulfireStudio

Your video tutorials are really detailed but easily understand where can readers go to see more of your tutorials?

A few years ago on a whim, to test out a new camera I received as a gift I got for my birthday I filmed myself working on a piece of armor for my Kerrigan costume. The video was very experimental, but I uploaded it on Youtube and it became very popular and I got a lot of positive feedback from viewers and even requests for more videos. I have made graphical tutorials for cosplay in the past and they have also been very popular among the community, but I recently decided that I wanted to take more time to explore using You-

tube as a venue for my tutorials, and have uploaded an entire series of videos detailing the construction of one of the worbla and sequin bracers I constructed for my Vaporeon costume.

The tutorials are found on my youtube channel www.youtube.com/ Phaleure, but I always upload a link to my videos on my facebook page www.facebook.com/Phaleure, so if you want to get all of my graphical tutorials, like the one for coloring worbla, or my video tutorials, AND all of the juicy tips I include when I upload my copious cosplay progress photos that would be a good place to start!

And finally where can we send readers who want to find out more about you?

I try to be as available to the community as possible! Along with my youtube channel and facebook page, I also have an Instagram: www.instagram.com/Phaleure and a twitter: www.twitter.com/Phaleure Are you starting to notice a pattern here?

I love to meet new people and adore chatting, and talking shop, so if anyone is so inclined they can also e-mail me at phaleurecosfx@ gmail.com.

Photographer: BGZ Studios | www.facebook.com/BGZstudios

Photographer: BGZ Studios | www.facebook.com/BGZstudios

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PHALEURE

Photographer: Jack Liu | www.flickr.com/photos/alucard_leashed/

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PHALEURE

SMASH! cosplay

SMASH! SYDNEY MANGA & ANIME SHOW

MANGA & ANIME SHOW!

BY BLAKE ROBERTSON “WWW.THEBLAKEIMAGE.COM.AU”

The SMASH! Manga and Anime Show was back to thrill Sydney fans of Japanese pop culture for another year at Rosehill Gardens this month.

The attendee’s favourite attractions including the famous maid café, Gunpla Builders World Cup and interactive workshops drew out the crowds in full force. There were many cosplayers amongst the crowd, no doubt excited by the various cosplay themed events, photobooth and competitions. All eyes were on international cosplay guest Reika who visited her Sydney fans from Japan as the World Cosplay Summit Preliminary showcased our local cosplay talent.

Art and craft workshops ran all weekend as useful panels on fashion, art, music, costuming and anime drew those interested in immersing themselves deeper in Japanese pop culture. Famous animator Toshihiro Kawamoto and actress Kotono Mitsuishi excited the Sydney audience with their presence as those keen on shopping took advantage of the large selection of vendors wares. Most left thoroughly pleased with their purchases in keen expection of Smash! 2015.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY THE BLAKE IMAGE WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEBLAKEIMAGE WWW.THEBLAKEIMAGE.COM.AU

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY THE BLAKE IMAGE WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEBLAKEIMAGE WWW.THEBLAKEIMAGE.COM.AU

COSPLA cosplay

3 SIMPLE TIPS ON POSING BROUGHT TO YOU BY COSPLAY LIVE

You’ve poured your blood (renegade sewing machine), sweat (heat guns are super powerful) and tears (watching Firefly on repeat while creating will induce an emotional response) into your cosplay creation for nearly a year.

It is your pride and joy, with every fibre of your being energised with the thought of wearing it out on the floor of your favourite convention.

However, the final piece of the puzzle on that convention floor is the pose you pull for photographers. You’ll never see a Judge Dredd with slumped shoulders, nor a Duke Nukem without a muscle flex and never a surprised kitten without jazz hands. Here are three simple tips to make sure you shine on that con floor.

1.

BEFORE GOING INTO A COSPLAY EVENT, LEARN 2 POSES/FACIAL EXPRESSIONS FOR YOUR CHARACTER.

Cosplayers consistently underestimate how much of a celebrity they’ll be on the floor of a con, a Jack Skellington cosplay can expect to be requested for a photo upwards of 3 times a minute from as many different attendees. These numbers, by Murphy’s Law, are tripled if the cosplayer is desperately trying to make their way to the bathroom.

cosplaying a Disney Character, watch the film and pause it at a memorable pose that your character pulls, practice that pose in the mirror until it become muscle memory. The same for a fighting game character, if their signature move is a high kick your hours upon hours of posing practice will not only give you a great core muscle workout, but your photo memories will be timeless.

With so many photo opportunities, as a cosplayer you’ve got to bring the goods to the photo, and the simplest way is prior planning. If you’re

By learning two poses you’re also giving a bit of variety to the crowd of camera phones and DSLRs. Who doesn’t want to be the crowd favourite?

AYLIVE 2.

IT’S OKAY TO SAY NO TO A PHOTO.

Experience as a cosplayer and organiser of cosplayers has taught me that cosplayers are some of the most good-natured and accommodating people on this here Earth. The other lesson is that cosplayers love to be seen, after all it’s a chance to show off your talent and passion.

However, there is no social contract requiring a cosplayer to stop what they’re doing and pose for everyone who requests it. An example I see too often is a cosplayer, in a hurry to get to a panel/screening/workshop/ bathroom when they’re stopped and asked for a photo. Naturally, the cosplayer says yes and poses in one of two poses they’d learnt before the con. Yet, the asker pulls out their phone and fumbles with the settings for a couple of minutes before they take a photo, before realising the flash setting wasn’t at their desired selection and the process begins again. While this may not seem like a big deal, it is an inconvenience that when multiplied many several times over impacts heavily on a cosplayer’s ability to keep a schedule, espe-

cially if that schedule includes appointed panels and organisation.

At the end of the day, it’s a two way street.

Cosplayers have prior planned their pose, ready for a photo and the photographer has prior planned their camera phone setting ready for a quick snap.

COSPLA 3.

A WEAPON POSE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE COSPLAY POSE.

Does your character use a weapon, be it firearm, plasma-arm or the classic morphing of steel into something fancy? When posing with this weapon, the final touch is to pin down how they pose with it. This all comes down to, once again, prior planning and a mirror.

The rule of thumb for a bladed instrument is to have your knuckles in line with your bladed edge and pointing at the target upon which you are to strike.

If your weapon involves a trigger and your pose is relaxed with your barrel pointing at nothing in particular, remember the phrase trigger discipline. A discipline that has your trigger finger positioned outside of the trigger guard. With firearms, the finger is only on the trigger when it is pointed at your target ready to fire. Not only will this benefit a distinct look between two poses (one relaxed, the other firing) it will add depth and research to your cosplay.

Production companies and video games developers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their designers to get the look just right. With some prior planning and a mirror, you can do them proud.

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Cosplay Live Expo and Afterparty is dedicated in giving cosplayers the tools to bring their cosplay to life in way never before experienced, from creation to posing tutorials. To find out more, visit

www.cosplaylive.com.au

“ cosplay: tips & tricks

HOW TO GET THE BEST PHOTOS WITH YOUR COSPLAY TIP BY ROB JENKINS FROM COSPLAY LIVE

There’s a lot that goes into getting great cosplay photos. You need a good photographer or at least someone who is enthusiastic and is willing to learn, after all we all do start somewhere. Apart from the photographer and the gear we can give you more info each month on that plus check our “Photography Tips” page for even more tips, you also need to master your character.

I was shooting on the weekend and some of the cosplayers were soldiers.

They had amazing costumes and looked totally realistic. We got them in our Cosplay Live Studio for some shots and here’s where things got really interesting. JM, the photographer was testing lighting and when it was right asked a simple question: “ Ok, can you do some poses or move around in character?”

Well with that the soldier cosplayer transformed from regular guy in military look clothing and props to full on cosplayer in character mode. He moved

just like a soldier does. Think Black Hawk Down or the later Rambo movies. The poses, the energy and the costumes and props just worked together brilliantly. It’s what good cosplay photography is all about.

So from a photographers perspective, to get great photos the cosplayer and the photographer should know the character. Now I”m the first to admit I don’t know every character I shoot. But I do ask the cosplayer to tell me about who they are. For cosplayers you need to study your character, know their moves, their thinking and how they respond. Most cosplayers I have photographed do this with amazing accuracy and it makes photographing them a joy.

The more you “act” out your character, the better the photos.

This shot by me from the weekend shot just outside as I didn’t shoot the studio at our Cosplay Live meet up. I added some texture and toning but it’s the cosplayer that makes the photo with his realism.

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