gladget magazine june 2012

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Taking Shanghai

HP reveals all...

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Diablo 3Max Payne 3Ghost Recon: Future SoldierSniper Elite V2Resistance: Burning Skiesand more...

High-tech warfare in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

Max Payne is back!

Evil returns in Diablo 3

The Payne

To Hell...

Silent Killers

www.gameccamag.comTaking fun seriously!

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InsideTHIS MONTH’S COVER

HP are working on making computing available to all...

See the feature on page 8

g l a dg e t c o n t en t s • i s s u e 20 • J un e 20124

From the Editor

Taking ShanghaiHP’s Global Influencer Summit 2012

Photography PrimerStrapped for time...

ReviewsThree graphics cards, and more...

DVD SeenSome new movies for the collection

Money to BurnA bit of history?

Inner WorkingsMaking faces...

PC BuilderRAM essentials...

MSI R6970 Lightning Graphics Card

HP Compaq 8200 Elite All-In-One Business PC

MSI Z77A-G45 Motherboard

Epson Home Cinema EH-TW9000W Projector

MSI N570GTX Graphics Card

Logitech Mini Boombox

MSI R7970 2PMD3GD5 Graphics Card

Apacer Black Panther DDR3-1600 RAM

Diablo 3 (PC)

Max Payne 3 (X360)

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (PS3)

Resistance: Burning Skies (PSV)

Rev

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Editor:Walt [email protected]

Writers:Alex ScanlonCharlie FrippDylan BouchRob Edwards

Letters:[email protected]

Competition Entries:[email protected]

Newsletter Subscriptions:www.gladgetmag.com

Design & Photography:Katia Taliadoros

Marketing Contact:Katia [email protected]

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Copyright © 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2012

GLADGET Volume 2 Issue 20June 2012

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

technology. simply.

All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

Adobe CS5 CREATED USING

MASTER SUITE

It has been a busy month for the Gladget Crew. And it all started out with a trip to Shanghai. I

must be honest; while overseas trips are something that happen quite a bit in this game, Shanghai wasn’t a city that I ever thought I would visit. There’s something mystical about the idea, because the city has been used so often as a place of mystery and intrigue.

In truth, it is a place of massive sky-scrapers, weird architecture, smog, tons of people and immense energy. The ancient and modern rub shoulders here, in one of the most populated places on the planet. And amid all of this, HP held their Global Influencer Summit 2012, which was the reason we were there. Check out the feature on page 8.

We will be running a few more features based on this event in the

coming months, because it wasn’t just about new products. Journalists from around the globe were treated to inside looks at the way HP thinks and operates, all of which is really rather interesting.

On a personal note, if you’re planning a trip to visit the Far East, Shanghai is something of a must-see city. From the financial towers of the Pudong district through to the ancient Old Shanghai City, there is a lot to see, do and experience here. And get your haggling skills in order, because shopping in Shanghai is all about negotiation. Assisted by pocket calculators and driven by a desire to make a sale, shop keepers in certain areas of the city can be bargained with to a massive degree. In fact, if you don’t get a huge discount, you’re probably being ripped off.

And while you are there, be sure

to check out the Yuyuan Gardens and City God Temple, a working Taoist temple dedicated to the god of Shanghai. Our photography section this month is a rather extensive collection of pics taken on a dash through the Yuyuan Gardens… free time is always a little limited on these kinds of trips, unfortunately.

Back home, the technology market is a little quiet still, as many new products are poised for release – but haven’t seen the light of day just yet. Still, we have managed to put together a bunch of reviews for you. The issue has a rather strong PC flavour this month, and includes three graphic card reviews.

Before we head off into the issue, a quick thanks to HP and Baird’s Renaissance, who were behind us getting to Shanghai. Great job, guys! g

by Walt Pretorius

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Taking ShanghaiHP’s Global Influencer Summit 2012

“We’re very proud of the things that we have done well. And we’re very proud of the fact that we’ve earned our customer’s trust and their business. It has made HP the clear leader in both printing and personal computers. We’re using that position of strength as an opportunity to define the markets where we compete.”

Steve Hoffman

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When the view outside your hotel window shows you ferries and barges plying their way on the

Huangpu river, with the historic Bund district reflected in its waters, you know that you’re in one of the world’s largest and most populous cities: Shanghai. This massive metropolitan area in Eastern China is a thriving hive of activity, where ancient buildings rub shoulders with modern glass behemoths to create an atmosphere that is energetically charged, and a skyline that is unmistakable.

Amid the hustle and bustle of this dynamic city, HP presented their Global Influencer Summit 2012. Held at the Shanghai Expo Centre, in the business-oriented Pudong district, the event hosted scores of attendees from around the globe. Over two days, HP took the opportunity to unveil some new products, as well as discuss their global strategies, with particular attention paid to the booming Chinese market.

With numerous products unveiled, as well as break-out tracks dealing with various aspects of HP’s business (ranging from industrial design and testing through to case studies performed on the effect of printing on the lives of ordinary people), the event displayed not only what HP will be bringing to the market in the next few weeks and months, but also gave a glimpse into the company’s philosophy.

“David Packard very famously said once that market share leadership can never be objective; it is the result of doing many things well,” Steve Hoffman, Vice President and Chief of Staff, Printing and Personal Systems, said during the final presentation. “We’re very proud of the things that we have done well. And we’re very proud of the fact that we’ve earned our customer’s trust and their business. It has made HP the clear leader in both printing and personal computers. We’re using that position of strength as an opportunity to define the markets where we compete.”

And competition seems to be what drives the company forward. Naming many business and technology partners, Hoffman went on to explain that the company relies on innovation to strengthen their position in the market, and maintain previous victories.

“We have the ability to listen to our customers, be inspired by them, and drive innovation in the market,” he said.

This aspect of the business is very clearly seen in the range of Ultrabooks that HP

Steve Hoffman


Steve Hoffman


will be producing over the next few months. The introduction of product lines like the HP Spectre, HP Envy and HP Folio will help secure their presence in this exciting new notebook trend. The Spectre and Envy lines, for example, will all feature Beats Audio, a high performance technology developed by HP in collaboration with musician Dr Dre. HP CoolSense technology will help keep the units cooler by adjusting performance and fan speeds. ImagePad implementation will ensure precise multi-fingert touch and gesture recognition (in time for the release of the anticipated Windows 8) and high-definition images will be made possible using HP TrueVision HD Webcams. Even the convenience of a backlit keyboard will be available to users of the Spectre and Envy lines.

The all-metal Spectre features a closed width of 14.5mm and a weight of only 1.395kg, making it an extremely portable device. This is supported by a battery life of up to eight hours, as well as a clear 13.3 inch display and a wide array of ports, including Ethernet, USB3.0 and HDMI. Part of the weight reduction results from 256GB of solid state storage, which will also deliver faster performance.

The Envy range is made up of both Ultrabooks and Sleekbooks, a term that HP is using for devices that fall into a middle-ground between Ultrabooks and more traditional notebooks. With sizes ranging from 19.8mm when closed and a weight of 1.79kg, the Envy Ultrabooks and Sleekbooks offer screen sizes of either 14 or 15.6 inches, with battery lives of up to eight or nine hours, respectively. Because they play in a wider field, they also feature sub-woofers to compliment the built-in Beats audio, making them more than just workhorses.

The Spectre and Envy ranges should be available this month.

Innovation needs to start somewhere though, and despite the fact that HP have, historically, been responsible for many new ideas and technologies, keeping innovation rolling is a challenging task in the modern world. To this end, HP Labs work on new ideas that will keep the company more than current.

John Apostolopoulos, Director, Mobile & Immersive Experience Lab, HP Labs, gave an insight into the research and development that goes into the products HP produce.

“HP Labs is the Central research arm of the Hewlett Packard company, he explained. “ Very few companies in the world have a research

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Jacob Rosenberg

lab. We work very closely with our business unit to make innovation that matters.

“You’re probably familiar with some of the innovations from HP Labs, but there are other innovations that you use every day that you don’t know come from HP Labs. For example, many of you flew here and, as soon as you landed, you wanted to use your smart phone to check email, use GPS to find your location. Well, the reason those things work are because of technologies created at HP Labs. Another invention you may be familiar with is the pocket calculator. That helped make mathematical calculation affordable, and accessible to many more people around the world.”

But it was the upcoming innovations that he mentioned that were truly exciting. Two in particular stood out; the memristor and flexible screens. Memristors, basically, combine resistors – necessary for virtually every electronic device – with memory storage, offering the potential for massive storage at a fraction of the space. And flexible screen technology – well, almost indestructible, flexible screens may well be a wave of the future… and not as far flung a future as you may think.

Another technology mentioned by Apostolopoulos was eprint, the recent innovation made by HP that allows people to print from anywhere that they can email from. However, the printer is still bound to a location in this case, which is where the newly announced HP Officejet 150 Mobile All-In-One makes quite a difference. First shown during the opening presentations by John Solomon, Senior Vice President, HP Imaging and Printing Group, the Officejet 150 offers the perfect solution for those who need to take their printing, scanning and copying with them wherever they go. A Blurtooth system will allow connectivity with a wide variety of devices, while the rechargeable lithium-ion battery will provide enough charge for 500 pages of printing.

Also unveiled by Solomon was the HP LaserJet Enterprise 500 MFP M525, a large multi-function printer that sports a massive 20.32cm full colour LCD touch screen. This screen will allow this business printer’s users to edit, zoom and preview images before printing, as well as giving access to a wide variety of HP Quick Sets functions, for fast, streamlined workflows.

Both of these devices will be available within

Ryan Friedlinghausg l a dg e t f e a t u r e • i s s u e 20 • J un e 201216


Ryan Friedlinghaus

this month.As part of the overall presentation, HP

called on well-known personalities to deliver testimonials regarding their experiences with HP products. Film-maker Jacob Rosenberg, the Director, CTO and Partner of Bandito Brothers, explained how HP assisted him to work effectively in the field. Fashion designer and former Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Anya Ayoung-Chee, told of how she uses HP products to allow not only effective workflow, but also to express her design creativity. Car modification expert and CEO of West Coast Customs, Ryan Friedlinghaus, explained how HP devices fitted into the process – and workspace – of his operation.

HP had news for them, too, in the form of the HP Z220 Workstations, customisable and powerful workhorses that will be able to handle all tasks given them, including video editing, mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD), architecture engineering construction (AEC), education, healthcare and government. In fact, the Z220 range are designed to fill gaps where standard PC computing is reaching its limits.

For those on the go, the HP EliteBook 8770w offers similar power in a portable package. The generous 17.3 inch display will allow for even the most demaniding on-site work situations to be handled beautifully. Those needing a little more portability without compromising power can look at the 15.6 inch screen 8570w, or the 14” screen 8470w. These powerful mobile solutions can handle the most arduous of task, including video editing, post production, 3D animation and audio production. All should be available within the next few months.

Over the two days, HP showed a dedication to innovation and growing the global PC market by delivering reliable and powerful devices to all territories. They also affording attendees a valuable look into the company’s ideas and methods, which we will look at in subsequent issues of Gladget.

HP have aspired to be market leaders, and their showing in Shanghai went a long way to show why they have the powerful position they enjoy. Smart products and driving technology forward are hallmarks of this leading company, and the Global Influencer Summit 2012 showed that, as well as making promises for many exciting developments to come from these industry veterans, across all fields of computing. g

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by Walt Pretorius

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Sometimes the luxury of planning each shot simply doesn’t exist.

A Nick of Time

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Adobe CS5 PRESENTED BY

MASTER SUITE

I once heard someone say that a ‘real’ photographer never uses automatic camera settings. I strongly disagree. It’s a bit more

complicated than that.A real photographer knows what the different

elements of taking a photograph are, and how to use them when trying to create the perfect photograph. But they also know when they need to forego the luxury of time, and when automatic settings will enable them to capture images that cannot be planned.

See, getting the perfect photograph can take a lot of time, but when you don’t have it, you need to make do – using either fully automatic settings, or making use of priority settings (like aperture or shutter speed priority) to get the job done.

A recent trip to China afforded one hour to take photographs in the Yuyuan Gardens, a famous site in Shanghai. This labyrinthine complex was built around 500 years ago, and is a photographer’s paradise, thanks to the incredible mixture of architecture, water and flora. One hour is not a lot of time to see everything on offer, let alone take as many photographs as possible of what may well be a once in a lifetime experience. And not taking photographs here would be the ultimate photographic sin…

Even if time had been less limited, automated settings are important in a site like this; the Gardens are literally crawling with tourists. The few seconds it might take to make an adjustment may mean the difference between a ‘clean’ photograph and one featuring a tour group. Sure, you can wait for them to clear out, but – once again – this particular trip was on a very tight schedule. Every second counts in these situations.

It is a good idea to carry extra memory cards and shoot photographs in RAW format under these conditions. While the files may be larger (hence the need for extra memory cards) they can be adjusted and tweaked more effectively.

All of the following images were shot with automated settings (most being either fully automatic, or with aperture priority). g


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g l a dg e t r ev i ew • i s s u e 20 • J un e 2012

MSI R6970 Lightning Graphics CardAn awesome mid-fielder

HP Compaq 8200 Elite All-In-One Business PCSave space, preserve power

Epson Home Cinema EH-TW9000W Projector3D projection

Apacer Black Panther DDR3-1600 RAMSuper-RAM

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Reviews

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While it might have been a busy month at Gladget’s offices, the hardware industry seems to be really rather quiet...

Still, we have brought you a number of reviews, with a strong PC flavour. From all-in-one PC systems to top notch RAM, and a whole bunch in-between, you will find it all in this issue of Gladget g

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Bolting!A fast and powerful graphics option

by Walt Pretorius

g l a dg e t h a rdwa r e • i s s u e 20 • J un e 201238

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Graphics cards are not hard to find these days. There are a great many makes out there, although they all rely on only two chipset

manufacturers to power their basic architecture – AMD Radeon or Nvidia. In essence, though, a chip is a chip. Whether you are an AMD or Nvidia fan is really up to you (fans of either make will sing praises of their chosen brand, while maligning the other, of course). What is almost more important than the chipset, these days, is who is behind building that chipset into the board that you will put into your PC. And to that end, there are many players, all claiming to make the best brand around.

See, while the chipset delivers the core performance of a graphics card, it is the bells and whistles added by manufacturers that make the real difference – these ‘peripheral’ technologies can have a massive effect on the card’s performance.

MSI manage to make a very solid graphics card offering, with a wide variety to choose from (we have

three on review in this issue.) They also manage to fall into a price category that is quite reasonable, when cards bearing specific chipsets are compared to others from competing manufacturers. They’re not the cheapest, but they certainly aren’t the most expensive, either.

Take, for example, the R6970 Lightning. This card is well priced, for what’s you’re getting, and delivers an exceptionally good performance.

With a Radeon 6970 chipset at its core, this monster sports 2GB of GDDR5 memory, which is around double what most other manufacturers put onto their cards. We’ve seen more on MSI cards, but this number certainly is respectable. Even 1GB is respectable. But that added RAM gives the performance of this card quite a boost.

With more power comes more heat, of course, but this card has twin fans (using the Twin Frozr III specification) as well as a nickel-plated copper base, 8mm heat pipes and an increased heat dissipation area thanks to high density fins. The fans themselves also have a unique structure, which adds even more cooling power.

g l a dg e t h a rdwa r e • i s s u e 20 • J un e 2012 39

AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: MSIDistributor: Pinnacle AfricaOnline: www.pinnacle.co.zaRRP: R4845

PROS:• Excellent performance• Runs cool

CONS:• A little pricey

A little more expensive, but still a great option for Radeon fans.

TECH SPECS:• Radeon 6970 chipset• 2GB VRAM• 2 x DVI • 2 x mini Displayport• HDMI out• Twin Frozr III

85Score

This all means, of course, that the card is big. Really big. It’s not a mammoth, but it is certainly one of the bigger cards we have seen in a while.

Added heat dissipation and military spec components, including solid capacitors, super ferrite chokes and highly-conductive capacitors mean that this particular GPU is great for overclockers. This is supported by the inclusion of MSI’s Power 4 architecture and included Afterburner technology, which allows the user to overclock pretty much on the fly.

We have no complaints about this card. Sure, it isn’t cheap by most standards, but the price isn’t unreasonable by comparison, and seeing the performance that this card has to offer is enough to make you eye the piggy-bank and hammer meaningfully. You could do far worse than the smooth frame rates and generally cool operation that this device offers. Even under strain, the temperatures that it generates are far from alarming.

If AMD is your flavour and you want a card with a ballsy service delivery, this is a great option. g

One PieceOK, three with the mouse and keyboard…

by Rob Edwards


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Space is often an issue these days, whether at home or at work. We end up using so much with everything we clutter our existences with that

sometimes – just sometimes – there isn’t enough space for the really important stuff. What is important varies from person to person, of course, but for us hardware junkies, a PC is pretty important. But what if the PC can save space as well?

That seems to be a question that HP asked. We are seeing a number of All-In-One PC solutions come from that company, including the Z1 Workstation (which we hope to be able to review soon) and this, the HP Compaq 8200 Elite All-In-One Business PC. That’s quite a mouthful, but it really is the most space this device will take up.

All-In-Ones are a sort of hybrid between desktops and notebooks; they’re designed to sit on a desk, and do not have integrated input devices. But they pretty much have everything else built into a single unit. They look,

for all intents and purposes, like really big monitors, but they are so much more.

Powered by a second generation Intel processor (i3, i5 or i7) this PC has power, as well as performance granted by up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM. Hard drive storage comes in a variety of flavours, with up to 1TB available as a hard disk, 160GB as solid state or 320GB self-encrypting.

The most prominent feature is the 23 inch, full HD LCD screen, which really dominated the visual aspect of the design. There is a web cam mounted at the top, and a sturdy stand that allows from -5 to 25 degrees of tilt in the vertical plane. Along with that comes a set of internal stereo speakers, as well as headphone and microphone jacks.

All the bells and whistles are built into the same housing as the screen, and are accessible from the sides of the unit. These include the likes of a Blu-ray combo drive, a 6-in-1 card reader, 7 USB ports (three of which are USB2.0 built into the sides, and four are standard USB


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: HPDistributor: HPOnline: www.hp.co.zaRRP: R12 499

PROS:• Space saver• Good performer• Nice screen size

CONS:• Not very expandable

A good option for those who want to save space without compromising on performance.

TECH SPECS:• Intel 2nd generation CPU• Up to 8GB RAM• Up to 1TB HDD• 23” screen• 7 USB ports• Webcam

89Score

built into the rear) a LAN connection port, and so on. Basically, everything that would be required for effective computing.

It’s not really the kind of PC you’re going to try run games on, as the name implies. And, quite frankly, it lacks punch in certain areas, that make it more of an office PC than a creative PC (a gap that the Z1 fills.) But, as such, it is an excellent device.

Having made laptops for years has taught HP a lot about compact computing, and that knowledge shows here. While not as compact as a notebook, it also has a bit more punch. This hybrid idea is great for those that want to save space without compromising performance, although the other end of the scale is that it is not as versatile (in terms of hardware) as a normal desktop PC. That shouldn’t matter, though… if you choose your initial set-up correctly, you will not run into any problems.

A great space saver, packed with HP reliability. g

All-RounderA motherboard for all seasons…

by Alex Scanlon


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Performance motherboards are seeing a blurring of the lines. While, once upon a time, there were almost tangible distinctions between various

classes of motherboard – like gaming boards – those lines are quickly becoming less easy to define. Take, for example, MSI’s Z77A-G45 motherboard. It is, at a glance, more of a multipurpose board. But the performance of the device keeps it very viable as a strong gaming board, too.

Sure, it is not a focussed gaming board, and there are still focussed gaming boards out there, but someone who wants their PC to do more than run the latest games won’t go wrong with this device. Even those who don’t play games will find merit in this mobo… not least of which will stem from the on-board graphics option, which eliminates the need for a dedicated graphics card, and thereby lessens the system cost considerably.

The watchword for this board really is ease of use, combined with solid performance and reliability. The ease of use stems from things like the mouse driven

Click-BIOS II and Control Centre II instant overclocking system (supported by OC Genie II technology), while reliability comes from military class III components(MSI’s usual collection of solid capacitors and super-ferrite chokes among them.)

With overclocking having such a strong relation to gaming, there’s no surprise that the Z77A-G45 throws gamers another bone, too. This comes in the form of PCI Express Gen III, which allows for a blazing 32 GB per second transfer speed via a dedicated PCI Express expansion slot on the board.

More speed is also squeezed out of its two front and two rear USB3.0 ports, as well as the two included SATA 6 ports (all in addition to the expected USB2.0 and SATA 4 ports, of course.)

Ports abound on the board, too; video output is handled by D-Sub, DVI and HDMI ports, while 7.1 audio is provided on-board, too, partnered with THX TruStudio Pro technology. The back of the board is a little shy on USB2.0 ports, with only four rear ports on offer, but the


AT A GLANCE:


PROS:• Versatile• Good performer• User friendly

CONS:• Not focussed

This motherboard will take care of all your PC computing needs beautifully…

TECH SPECS:• Socket 1155• 4 x USB3.0• 2 x SATA 6• DVI output• HDMI output• 1 x PCI Express Gen III

85Score

two USB3.0 ports do make up for that. LAN and optical audio ports are also provided, but these are pretty much a standard for any motherboard these days.

Quite simply, this is a fine all-rounder. It possibly lacks some of the focus that dedicated motherboards have on offer, but this is hardly noticeable. The military class III components are a nice touch, and the single PCI Express Gen III expansion slot is awesome, provided your graphics card is worth the effort.

And it is a board that should last you long after your next upgrade is due, with a claimed life of 12 years under strain, and 40 years under normal load. That all depends on how much overclocking you’re planning to do, of course.

The fact that it is an Intel socket 1155 compatible device also adds versatility to an already great all-rounder, with compatibility with a number of processor builds (i3, i5 and i7) meaning that the user can really make this board exactly what they need it to be. And that’s never a bad thing. g

3D!A big projector, in all senses of the word…

by Rob Edwards


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So you need a big picture, for whatever reason? Well, a projector is a good choice in those cases, provided your set-up supports a protected

display, rather than a more traditional screen display. But what about 3D?

Not everyone likes 3D. I must admit, it isn’t my favourite way to view… well, anything, really. I avoid 3D movies, and I seldom play video games or watch Bluray disks in 3D. But there are a lot of people who do, and those that want to make the change to projector viewing don’t have too many choices in that regard. Epson, though, has a solution.

We have seen many Epson projectors before, and they are all generally great quality. The Home Cinema EH-TW9000W is no different. It provides the viewer with exceptional image quality… and then takes things further. This projector is capable of 3D. Yep, a 3D projector.

In the box you will find, in addition to the huge projector unit (and we mean huge) two pairs of

powered 3D glasses. One would assume that, seeing as how cinemas (and LG screens, thanks to their Cinema 3D technology) don’t need powered glasses that a 3D projector wouldn’t either. Oh, well. They’re not ideal, but they do the job really well, when all is said and done.

The projector can become an integral part of a hime entertainment system, as the name implies. This is thanks to a large variety of signal input ports, ranging from HDMI through to component cable and PC inputs. This kind of versatility is priceless, particularly when you consider that this projector makes for a rather steep financial investment. No projector is cheap, but this behemoth is one of the pricier we’ve seen from Epson.

The visuals are powered by a 3LCD system, which delivers full HD 1080p images. Image quality is supported by ultra high contrast and DeepBlack technology, delivering better than expected projector visuals. It can also project in daylight, thanks to its 2 400 lm colour output. It can also be used vertically (although we’re not sure why) and two image sources can be


AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: EpsonDistributor: EpsonOnline: www.epson.comRRP: R38 209

PROS:• Great image• Versatile• Powerful

CONS:• Big• Expensive• Powered glasses

It’s big and powerful, and the images look great in 2D and 3D…

TECH SPECS:• 3D• 3 LCD• DeepBlack technology• 2 400 lm• Multiple inputs• Full HD

90Score

viewed simultaneously, thanks to a form of split-screen technology. It even has a 2D to 3D conversion system, is compatible with wide screen and supports numerous 3D sources.

In short, it is a very fine projector indeed, no matter if you’re viewing 2D or 3D images. It also has a wider degree of ‘forgiveness’ for varying conditions, and its daylight performance is farbetter than one might expect from a projector.

But it has two major downfalls. The first is the price, which is really not something that is unexpected. As said before, projectors are expensive, and this one has a lot more tech built in that the run-of-the-mill device. The other is size. It really is huge and heavy. It is not the kind of projector you’re going to want to transport, because that would simply be a massive pain. Then again, it is not the kind of projector you get hold of with that purpose in mind – this baby is designed to be set up and left there.

If you have the cash and the inclination, this is a superb device. g

Cooler…A more affordable Nvidia option

by Walt Pretorius


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The graphics card market is extremely hot at the moment. Actually, it always has been. And it is dominated, in part, by two major players, in the

form of Nvidia and AMD Radeon. But their dominance comes with the help of manufacturers who build their chipsets into the cards themselves. Without these palyers, the end-user would have far fewe choices.

Here’s a card for those who prefer their cards to be Nvidia flavoured. Now call me a fence sitter, but I find merit in both manufacturers, with each offering slight variations(like AMD’s Eyefinity and Nvidia’s physics and 3D support). But, if you are going to get picky, and Nvidia is your thing, MSI’s N570GTX is a pretty good way to go.

Sure, it lacks the 3GB of RAM and punchier performance of the N590GTX we looked at a while back, but let’s be honest… a 570 chipset and 1.28GBof GDDR5 are nothing to sneeze at these days.

The card makes use of MSI’s newish Twin Frozr III technology, which delivers around 40% better cooling

than Twin Frozr II. This is, in part, due to the propeller design used in the twin cooling fans that this baby sports. They deliver around 20% more airflow, thanks to a whole bunch of clever engineering, which means better circulation and, ultimately, cooler operation. The fans can also be set in two modes; Performance, for maximum cooling, and Silence, for a balance between noise and heat. Is the card gets very hot, the fans will kick up a bit more racket, tough… keeping the card from frying is more important than you being able to hear the birds sing outside your window, after all.

Further cooling is provided by multiple heat pipes and a high-density heat sink, which effectively increases the area that heat can dissipate from.

In addition, the card features a direct contact design, which allows the heat to travel the shortest possible distance when moving away from the processor. The base plate is made of nickel plated copper, which works well in moving the heat away.

So, with a performance that is generally cooler than


AT A GLANCE:


PROS:• Good price• Great performance• Runs cool

CONS:• More VRAM would be nice

It may not have tons of VRAM, but a 570 GPU is nothing to sneeze at…

TECH SPECS:• Nvidia 570 GPU• Twin Frozr III• 1280MB VRAM• 2x DVI• Midi HDMI output

82Score

chipset manufacturer reference devices, the N570GTX is primed for overclocking. This is further supported by MSI’s usual use of military class II components, including solid capacitors, super ferrite chokes and highly-conductive capacitors. These are pretty much an MSI standard, but they do make a difference.

Overclocking is made easy with the included Afterburner software, which allows for overclocking of the GPU, memory and PLL… all of which add up to a highly improved performance.

This isn’t the most powerful card we have seen from MSI, but it does strike an excellent balance between price and performance. It is also a reasonable size, which means better overall airflow in your PC case… never a bad thing. It runs on a mimimum of a 550 watt power supply, which is also pretty good for those who cannot upgrade everything including the kitchen sink.

It is a versatile and capable card, when all is said and done, and one that won’t break the bank quite as harshly as other models. A solid option for Nvidia fans… g

Boomin’!Better audio on-the-go...

by Alex Scanlon

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People love taking their music with them. We have noted this before… just like we have complained before about those folks who seem

to think that the speaker on their smart phone is a good way to share music. It’s not. It’s annoying.

Rather get yourself one of these… there are a number of good reasons for it. One, it’s made by Logitech, and they know their stuff when it comes to audio. The sound on this diminutive device is great. Next off, it’s Blue Tooth enables, which means that any device capable of Blue Tooth connection – tablets, smart phones, laptops and so on – can be paired with it, for better audio delivery. Thirdly, it has a speaker-phone built in.

There are also things like the ten hour battery life from the rechargeable battery and the small size making it extremely portable. It even has an auxiliary jack for non-Blue Tooth devices, adding lots of versatility.

Seriously, dump the smart-phone speaker and save up for one of these. I, for one, would be happier hearing your choice of music decently reproduced, at very least.g

AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: LogitechDistributor: LogitechOnline: www.logitech.comRRP: TBC

PROS:• Good sound• Versatile• Stylish

CONS:• None, really

A far better option than your smart phone speaker, and versatile too!

TECH SPECS:• Blue Tooth Enabled• Rechargeable• Auxiliary input• Speaker phone

80Score

For EveryoneA graphics card that suits all tasks perfectly…

by Walt Pretorius


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Most graphics cards have a very distinct gaming focus. It doesn’t matter what chipset they are running – be it AMD Radeon or NVidia. They

are there to get the highest frame rates out of modern video games. And there’s nothing wrong with that; the video game market is a mammoth industry, and even if there has been something of a decline in PC based video gaming (overseas, at least, because it is still very strong here in South Africa) there are millions of people playing video games on the PC platform, and upgrading their PCs on a more-or-less regular basis as a result.

So the drive for better graphic processor chipsets and the accompanying cards is pretty much constant. But video gamers aren’t the only people who need high-end graphic performance. Many industries and enthusiasts also need the power of a good graphics card.

Judging by the packaging, that’s partially where MSI’s R7970 2PMD3GD5 graphics card is aimed. It sports a powerful Radeon 7970 chipset, supported by a very

generous 3GB of GDDR5 RAM. That’s performance right there, and no gamer would turn their nose up at those basic specifications. However, this card offers a lot more than just gaming performance.

The biggest, most obvious difference between this card and the other two we review this month is the fact that it doesn’t make use of MSI’s Twin Frozr III cooling system. Rather than two large fans, this card only has one, which looks more like a turbine than a fan, quite honestly. The casing is also very different – even the packaging is more down-played. And when you flip it over and look at the card’s features on the back of the box, you get even more of the idea that this card is meant for multi-purpose use, as opposed to being focussed on video games.

It supports real-time video capture, for example, which is not really something that gamers will be after, necessarily. In addition, it can be controlled wirelessly by Android and iOS devices… we’re guessing that’s to use some of the cards other functions. No gaming application there, really.


AT A GLANCE:


PROS:• Powerful• Looks good• Various functions

CONS:• 1 DVI port• Expensive

It’s very capable, if a bit expensive, with tons of power on offer…

TECH SPECS:• Radeon 7970chipset• 3GB GDDR5 RAM• 2 x mini DisplayPort• HDMI out• 1 x DVI• Real-time video capture

88Score

Whatever the case may be, this is still a very powerful graphics card, no matter what the application may be. Another ‘missing’ component that we’ve grown used to with MSI (at least according t the documentation) is military class components. That said, it does make use of solid capacitors, so the assumption that all the usual bells and whistles are present is probably a safe one. Either way, these capacitors help prolong the device’s life, to a claimed 12 years under strain and 40 years running normally. And, as to be expected, it is overclockable, with a relatively easy tweak to the GPU voltage delivering a lot more power. The overclocking is supported by MSI’s easy-to-use Afterburner software, which makes squeezing a little more juice out of the card a doddle.

On the downside – there is always a downside – the card only has one DVI port. Still, it makes use of Eyefinity technology, so there are 2 mini DisplayPorts on board, as well as HDMI output.

It is an expensive card, but it does perform all round tasks well. g

StealthyWFast and efficient, Just like its namesake

by Alex Scanlon

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RAM is RAM, right? Wrong! The assumption that all RAM is created equal can lead to more than just a little heartache. This is particularly

true if you’re trying to put together a top end system… RAM that underperforms can create a bit of a nasty bottleneck.

If you make use of this RAM, though, underperformance is not really something you will need to worry about. This is high quality DDR3-1600 RAM, after all, with each module offering a capacity of 4GB (for a total of 8GB perset) so it flies along quite nicely. Apacer have a great track record with RAM, after all.

And it looks good too. The solid metal heat-sinks are a stylish black that looks great in any case, particularly if you have a side window to show off your machine’s innards.

So, good performance, good looks and good heat dissipation- they all add up to make this particular product a great one. And the RAM gets shipped in matched pairs, to ensure even better performance. It’s an all-round win for those who want more from their RAM than just running Windows.. g

AT A GLANCE:

Manufacturer: ApacerDistributor: Pinnacle AfricaOnline: www.pinnacle.comRRP: TBC

PROS:• Looks good• Fast• Heat sinks

CONS:• A bit more expensive, but not by much

Not just ordinary RAM… it’s fast and cool.

TECH SPECS:• DDR3-1600• 4GB per sim• Heat sink• Paired

90Score

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I had a nightmare the night before I installed Diablo 3. I dreamed that the graphics were 8-bit, and that all the menus were in Chinese. Perhaps that

dream stemmed from the fact that I was concerned that the return of the popular Blizzard franchise would fail to live up to more than a decade worth of waiting and anticipation. Can any game really live up to the kind of expectations that the passage of so much time generates?

In the case of Diablo 3, the answer is something of a mixed bag. While the game is, for the most part, absolutely awesome in every sense of the word, the execution and delivery of the title seems to show that Blizzard have, on a level, lost connection with gamers out there. It is a danger that anyone, in any industry that deals with end users, can encounter. That’s because we forget what it is like to be a ‘normal’ person, with

‘normal’ capabilities and ‘normal’ resources. For example, Blizzard undoubtedly have an internet connection the size of a sewage pipe leading to their systems. Most ‘normal’ people don’t.

So the decision to make Diablo 3 a game that requires a constant internet connection was a poor one. Single player games need a connection, too, which is a nasty route to follow, whatever the reasons may be. Even in countries that have a far better internet infrastructure than South Africa, problems have been cropping up with this system. Added to that is the fact that their servers simply couldn’t handle the initial player load, which displays a possible lack of forethought by a company that has plenty of experience running online titles, including World of WarCraft and StarCraft. And then, just to worsen the situation, they decided to do a six hour maintenance session on the server on the first Sunday after the game’s

g amec c a r ev i ew • i s s u e 17 • N ovembe r 2010g l a dg e t v i d e o g ame • i s s u e 20 • J un e 201254

Nine parts pleasure, one part pain...by Walt Pretorius

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release… a day that many players relied on to get to grips with the title.

How did all of this happen? We can’t be sure. But what is certain is that they have generated more than a little ire among their end-users, particularly when considering that Diablo 3 is not a cheap game by any stretch of the imagination. And that is particularly sad, because – server and connectivity issues aside – Diablo 3 is a fantastic title. And while we did experience a few issues with connectivity and servers during our review process, the overall experience that the game provided was excellent. Hopefully all the bad press generated by online issues won’t tarnish its name too much, because once those servers are finally sorted out, the experience will be priceless.

Diablo 3 returns the player to the world of Sanctuary, 20 years after the events of the previous game. With almost

all of the Lords of the Burning Hells defeated, the world has known some peace. But when a burning comet falls from the sky and Belial and Asmodan begin trying to take over Sanctuary, all hell – literally – breaks loose.

The player takes on the role of a hero bent on saving Sanctuary. As such, the player can select one of five character classes – Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, Witch Doctor or Wizard. Each character class is unique in terms of skills and abilities, and while players will certainly find their own favourite class, each is as capable as the other.

The characters show some of the new directions that Blizzard have taken in creating this game. One cannot help but wonder if they looked at elements of games that followed Diablo 2 – like Titan Quest – and tried to improve upon them. The characters, for example, can be either male or female (like in Titan Quest) rather than

g l a dg e t v i d e o g ame • i s s u e 20 • J un e 2012 55

the fixed sexes of characters in Diablo 2. Developing the characters has also changed a bit. There are the expected tons of random weapons and other equipment, but the skill tree idea is absent. Rather, the characters earn set skills as they advance through the game. These skills are further modified by runes that are unlocked with increasing character levels (they don’t need to be found in the game world).

Initially, this system seemed to be a step backwards from the variety granted a player by Diablo 2’s skill tree system. All it really does, though, is remove a degree of customisation from the characters; in game terms, this system allows for an extremely fluid and versatile play style. The player can switch between the two attack, four active and three passive skills pretty much on the fly, and runes can be equipped as and when their modification effects are needed. It’s smooth and crisp, and keeps the game going at a frantic pace almost constantly. Reducing

the number of skills that can be equipped at a time also helps keep the game a little easier to play.

Levelling up has been kept extremely simple in this title, due to the fact that all a player really does when a new level is achieved is acknowledge the newly earned skills and runes, and equip them if they like. Stats are pretty much handled automatically, which seems to strip a bit of control away from the player, but in truth adds to keeping things fluid. Besides, the randomly generated equipment gives the player a large degree of control over stats, with many items buffing either strength, dexterity or intelligence (and subsequently buffing the character’s abilities).

The control scheme for this game couldn’t be simpler, but it belies a degree of depth that hasn’t been seen before in the franchise, or in games like it. The player can, for example, ‘train’ and equip three followers, as well as train up artisans who can provide them with valuable

g l a dg e t v i d e o g ame • i s s u e 20 • J un e 201256

services, like making equipment. The latter process costs a lot of in-game gold, so it can be seen as something of a grind, but grinding has been something that Diablo has always handled well, thanks to randomly generated levels.

In addition to those, the player will also run into random encounters… and this is where Blizzard got really clever. See, some encounters are found at certain difficulty levels, but not at others. This keeps the game fresh through all four difficulty levels, which is great. The achievement system that has been built in also gives the player something to strive for through the course of these difficulty levels.

Each player may also have up to ten characters saved, with the expandable stash and gold (as well as artisan levels) shared between all their characters. This simple idea adds a lot to the game, allowing players to save ‘useless’ equipment for their other characters. And while it seems that this gives an unfair advantage to new

characters, the system extends to everyone, keeping things fair.

Unwanted equipment can still be sold in-game, or can be sold using the auction house. At the time of writing, only the in-game gold auction house is active, but having used it to sell and buy numerous items, we can safely say that it is a fun idea. An issue does arise from the fact that vital equipment, including crafting supplies and gems, can simply be bought, removing something of a challenge from the game. There is a bit of a point there, sure, but the fact is that it requires in-game gold to buy the stuff. While you might not have to adventure through the game to find the items you buy, you still have to earn the gold… and while doing that, you may find some of the items you need along the way.

As the player moves on to higher difficulty levels, finding gold and awesome equipment gets easier, because there is more of it about. On the other hand, the difficulty increase


is a fairly steep ramp-up, so it gets harder, too. And more satisfying… beating off a boss at a higher level is very satisfying.

But dying is something that will happen in the game. Thankfully, except for hardcore characters (which do not respawn when they are killed… dead is dead) the game doesn’t punish death too much. The player will experience a short delay before they can respawn at the nearest check-point, with some damage applied to their equipment. Too many deaths really just results in the player having to head back to town to get their equipment fixed. This is an area in which Blizzard have shown a good understanding of how to keep players playing the game. Dying and respawning is frustrating enough without punishing the player heavily. At this level, the frustration turns into a desire to succeed, rather than one to walk away from the game.

During multiplayer boss fights, the player won’t simply respawn, though. They can be resurrected by other players,

which adds another level of challenge, because it takes some time to do so. In fact, casting a town portal also takes time, and if the character is hit during either of these actions, the casting is interrupted. It equates to added strategy, which is a good thing. Even quaffing health potions can be seen as more strategic, because the player has to go through quite a long cool-down period between each potion. The game does provide health orbs and health wells, though, which provide instant healing when touched (and heal the entire party, too, which is a nice touch.)

There are numerous other improvements and tweaks that add to the experience. For example, the player simply has to run over gold and health orbs to pick them up. Identifying rare items is automatically available to the player. Finding a friend in the field is as simple as clicking on their customisable banner.

Blizzard have created a game that really is a treat in Diablo 3. From the good graphics and great sound (which bring the massive, chaotic battles to thunderous life) through to the


simple yet effective control scheme, from the variety offered by random levels and items to the improvement of storage and artisans, from the variations between difficulty levels to the five exciting character classes, Diablo 3 is a brilliant game. There are very few titles that can boast the variety and longevity of this title, and the game dynamic allows the player to feel true immersion in the title, without the need to remember a huge number of controls. Diablo 3 is a game that you can get lost in, a title that you can savour and enjoy, even after numerous play-throughs. The savagery of the game world, both in terms of plot and the high degree of in-game violence, is compelling - the player feels the need to be a hero, really, and to best all those nasty evil-doers. The cast of supporting characters also add a bit of depth to the immersion; they feel ‘real’, at least in context of Sanctuary, and they provide amusement in addition to sometimes expanding the back story and setting.

There is literally tons to do in this game, whether it

be engaging in bloody battles or hunting achievements, collecting items or dying clothing and armour different colours. Diablo 3 will keep its devotees going for years, quite literally...

The good does outweigh the bad here, without a doubt. The issue is that the bad can scupper the experience, at least temporarily. Still, that hasn’t stopped millions of people from playing the game, whether in single or multiplayer games (made easy through Battle.Net’s robust friend system). Although the problems that crop up from time to time are annoying, it is easy to forgive them after just a few moments of actually playing this title. In time, the connection and server issues will likely be sorted out… there has already been a reduction in lag issues and connection problems. Hopefully, before long, Blizzard will sort all of those niggles out, which will allow Diablo 3 to achieve the greatness it is destined for... a greatness that is hampered by only one aspect of the title. g

AT A GLANCE:


Accessibility

PrejudiceDrug UseSexLanguageViolence

16+Parental Advisory

Casual

Hard-CoreMedium 97

Score

If it wasn’t for some issues with constant online play, we might have broken our ‘highest score ever’ record here...

Developer: BlizzardPublisher: Activision BlizzardDistributor: Megarom

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Max Payne 3 is the oh so long awaited sequel to Remedy’s Max Payne 1 and Max Payne 2. I mention the name of the developer specifically

because this game is not made by Remedy, but rather by Rockstar Games, creators of the GTA franchise.

The original games were dark, gritty tributes to the film noir genre, and perfected the slow motion diving of bullet time in the era of The Matrix.

But will Max Payne 3 live up to its hype? Or will it slam head first into the ground? With such a strong legacy to live up to, as well as a change in developer, I approached this game with both anxiety and anticipation – eager to step into Max’s tortured mind once more, but worried about what I might find when I did.

Max Payne 3 begins a new chapter in Max’s life. He

is older as the game is set eight years after the events in Max Payne 2, he is no longer living in New York, and is now working as private security in Brazil, as opposed to being employed by the NYPD.

Max has also developed an addiction to alcohol and painkillers, and considering the way he pops those babies in game, this shouldn’t really surprise anyone.

He’s working the private security detail in Brazil, protecting members of the wealthy Branco family, when, as is pretty usual around Max, things go horribly wrong. What follows is a gun-toting, painkiller popping conspiracy that culminates in piles of dead bodies and loads of slow motion diving.

Story wise Max Payne 3 is gripping, and completely in tune with the style of the previous games. Sure, the


I tried to forget... but there was something that kept me going back for more... by Pippa Tshabalala

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Bullet Time & Painkillers

setting is not that same, and Max is not out to avenge his fallen loved ones, but you get the very real sense that this is just another chapter in Max’s life as opposed to a story that is completely independent. And while the story may not be the same, as a character Max is most definitely influenced by his past.

The plot jumps backwards and forwards in time, so you are continually uncovering new elements to the tale and discovering how Max got to the position he’s in now. You both see and feel the opulent lifestyle of the people Max works for, contrasted sharply with the poorer, seedier side of the city, and you become achingly aware that money doesn’t appease the resentment that can fester in anyone’s heart, rich or poor.

When the wife of his employer is kidnapped, Max is hell


bent on saving her, not just because he’s being paid to do so, but rather because he has a saviour complex. After all, what better way to absolve his guilt over his wife’s death than to save the wife of another?

The game not only puts you in Max’s shoes, it puts you in his mind. You become Max Payne – alcoholic, drug addict, hired gun, man with a dark and dangerous past who is struggling simply to keep his head above water and will latch on to any reason to do so.

Sure, it’s all tortured souls and drama, but the story has lost none of its appeal, if some of its film noir look and feel, and Max is as complex a character as ever.

The complexity of this game doesn’t stop at character development however. The grainy, desaturated look of the previous games is gone from Max Payne 3, replaced with

bright, oversaturated colours and somewhat nauseating patterns at times. This doesn’t detract from the game however, it is always indicative of Max’s state of mind. Walking through a club drunk, suffering from multiple injuries and popping painkillers to control the physical and emotional pain would likely be completely in line with looking at flashing disco lights and wanting to puke your guts out.

This is not dirty, smoggy New York. This is Brazil, and the look of this city is very different to the one Max went on his killing spree in, and this is aptly reflected in the visual style of the game.

Another great touch that illustrates Max’s perception of reality are the colour shifts and bursts, which are very prevalent throughout the cutscenes but even make an

appearance in game. The cutscenes themselves, which can go on for a little too long at times, as well as being for the most part unskippable, are nevertheless essential to the telling of this story, as they provide not only a hint of the relationships Max has developed with people over the years, but situational context as well.

James McCaffrey, who voiced the original games, returns not only to voice Max once again, but also for the added role of motion capture. It is small touches like these that keep the Max Payne franchise together as a cohesive unit, not just as separate games in a linked franchise.

Don’t get the impression that this game is all looks and no substance however; not only are the story and visual quality of this game above average, but the use of bullet time is as advanced and slick as ever. Rockstar have not


AT A GLANCE:


only kept the beauty of the original slow motion dive, but they’ve enhanced it and added their own sense of dynamic interaction.

Depending on how comfortable you are with the controls, you can choose not only between an Easy, Normal and Hard mode, but you can also customise the shooting style.

Want to have more control? Choose a completely manual aim and shoot. Want to have just a little bit of help without going completely noob? Easy enough, use a slightly automated assist that will lock on to your target but will allow you to select which body part you want to incapacitate. Such as their head. Which explodes quite convincingly in slow motion I might add.

The fighting is smooth, the motion capture mostly

convincing, although granted at times there are some rather stiff movements, and the bullet time impeccable. One or two gripes about weapon switching also rear their ugly heads, such as the changing between dual Berettas and a shotgun for example, which is clumsy and often requires you to put down one weapon and then pick it up again if done in the wrong order.

Overall however, Max Payne 3 is an experiential feast of a game. Sure maybe one or two things might bother you, but I can’t for the life of me think of anything that wouldn’t make me buy this game.

Rockstar might have delayed this game for years, but with good reason. Max Payne 3 is a fitting sequel. I might even go so far as to say a masterpiece if I - I mean Max – wasn’t quite so cynical. g

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Max Payne 3 captures the spirit of the original games and adds its own bottle of whiskey to the punch. Bullet Time FTW!

Developer: Rockstar Publisher: Rockstar Distributor: Megarom


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Personally, I like feeling like an invincible superhero when I play games. Sure, just about everyone hates it when their in-game persona gets plugged

by an unforeseen headshot, but it’s not just not dying that thrills me. I like feeling like a super-soldier, like a gung-ho love child of Rambo and Conan the Barbarian, charging through levels and laying waste to hordes of hapless, near retarded enemies. Maybe it’s because I am a control freak. Maybe it’s because I don’t like losing, ever, at anything. Whatever the case may be, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier affords me that awesome feeling, while still requiring a sensible approach. And that’s even better than mad run-and-gunning…

Future Soldier displays the idea that better equipment makes for a better soldier perfectly. Set twenty years in the future, this game puts the player in the role of a

Spec Ops soldier, a member of a four man team sent in to do all kinds of dirty, deniable jobs for the powers that be. From African semi-desert to Baltic snow-scapes, the game tours the world, consistently giving the player a thrilling combat experience. As a member of this particular crew, the player has access to extremely high technology, which gives a definite edge over the enemy. When the player can see heat signatures, track enemies through walls and rely on optical camouflage, there’s little that an AK-toting bozo with cool shades can do to stop them.

The tech is a big thing in the game, almost a central theme. The player will be able to take advantage of various kinds of technology that not only give an edge, but give the player – at times – the ability to dominate the enemy is every possible way. Thanks to the high level mil-tech on hand, the four team members can take on small armies,


High tech wins the war…by Walt Pretorius

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and they often do through the game’s single player campaign.

Veterans of the Ghost Recon series will notice, though, that the game dynamic has shifted from a strategic one to a more cinematic one. This game is more accessible, because it allows the player quite a lot of leeway when it comes to approaching missions. And that high tech makes you almost unstoppable.

Most of the levels are pretty linear. Allowing the player a limited amount of freedom within restricted level areas. There are even parts that are on-the-rails, like escorting VIPs through danger zones. While this may sound a little lame, the fact is that these sections provide some of the more thrilling sequences in the title, near set-pieces that get the pulse pounding. In short, it is a game that takes a lot of the tactical responsibility away from the player,


giving them the gift of being a bad-ass instead.Not that there isn’t a tactical element to the game. The

tech is, in some ways, fallible. The optical camouflage, for example, might render the character near invisible, but it only works when the player is crouching or moving stealthily. The in-game excuse is that this is because the technology is still in prototype phases. The reason, though, is so that the player cannot charge around like some Predator clone, killing enemies who cannot see him at all.

And even though the camo might need to be handled sensibly, there are other things that tip the scales in the player’s favour more often than not. Deployable sensors will sniff out enemies, for example, and the player can rely on a variety of vision modes to gain the upper hand. Some of these items are limited in terms of the amount that the player can carry, but restocking crates are generously

supplied throughout the levels, so the player will never have to worry about wastage.

The player’s team mates are beer-swilling, tough-talking, car-loving, metal-listening tough guys, right out of a clichéd war movie. In fact, the clichés abound here, at least in terms of plot. But that still doesn’t ruin the experience, which is compellingly exciting from start to finish.

The team mates are also smart enough to not need micromanagement. They will ape the player’s activities for the most part – moving when he moves, crouching when he crouches, and so on. They deliver a fair amount of support in a fire fight, too, managing to stave off enemies without stealing the player’s thunder. Also, the player can use them to do funky things, like getting them to

simultaneously pop tagged enemies.There is a downside to the high tech gear and smart

team AI, though – the game just feels a little too easy. Sure, it is a more cinematic experience, designed to feel more like an action movie than a tactical game, but the player’s ability to dominate enemies so totally does minimise the challenge of the game.

The gun-smith section of the game, accessible before each mission, allows the player to fully customise weapons. This is a boon to the game, particularly if you’re a gun nut. As new guns and parts get unlocked, the player can even go retry missions with different configurations, adding a good degree of longevity to the title.

Multiplayer carries quite a strong emphasis in this title, but the multiplayer modes aren’t too much to write home


AT A GLANCE:


about. There is an obligatory Horde mode (called Survival mode), as well as a few competitive modes. The four modes have variations, but they aren’t so fresh as to stand out above the crowd. Still, they’re enjoyable, and the implementation of the high-end tech makes playing with friends a lot of fun.

I have mentioned the lower focus on tactical game play a few times in the review, but it does bear mentioning that this isn’t really that much of a weak point in the title. While those that want to plan every step of an operation may find the game lacking, the truth is that Ubisoft managed to keep a very high degree of entertainment going through Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. And that’swhat gaming is really about, now, isn’t it? Having fun.

There’s tons of it to be had here, that’s for sure. The

action is a good mix of stealthy take-downs and all-out gun-battles, with each mission providing the player with a fresh experience. The game avoids repetition beautifully, and gives the player just enough control, without the burden of brain-straining responsibility. It is a wonderfully entertaining, massively exciting military shooter that leaves behind boggy dynamics in favour of a more fluid, faster-paced approach. It is, despite its lack of a whole lot of tactical depth, a very fine military shooter, and one that gets a solid recommendation for those who want a lot of action that, while not mindless, is not overly taxing in terms of nitty-gritty planning. In short, it is a breath of fresh air in the genre, and most certainly for the Ghost Recon franchise. And it’s well worth playing, because it is extremely satisfying to be a bad-ass Future Soldier… even if you don’t get to plan all the details. g

Accessibility



Casual

Hard-CoreMedium 88

Score

Although not tactically deep, this game is still a fun military shooter.

Developer: UbisoftPublisher: UbisoftDistributor: Megarom


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A few years ago – not too many, mind you – people scoffed at the idea that one could play a first-person shooter title on a console. But with the

advent of HD consoles, FPS titles have really come into their own on these platforms. It really is a question of having the right tool for the right job.

And the PS Vita seems to be the right tool for bringing the job of playing FPS games on a hand-held platform. Once again, previous hand-helds did not offer the functionality needed to effectively recreate a game that resembled an FPS, but the Vita is more than just a run-of-the-mill hand-held. It allows for many more control options, thanks to elements like touch sensitive areas and gyroscopes. As such, it opens up many doors for developers, particularly those who implement the control ideas creatively.

Nihilistic’s Resistance: Burning Skies is the first FPS game for the Vita (which really is fitting, seeing as how the

Resistance franchise started with a PS3 launch title.) It is the second ‘serious’ combat game for the Sony device, with Unit 13 having beaten it to the punch.

In this new instalment of the Resistance franchise, the player assumes the role of Tom Riley, a fireman working on the US East Coast. His day pretty much gets ruined when the initial wave of Chimera invaders show up, and he has to evolve from fire-fighter to alien-fighter in short order, all the while trying to find his family.

While setting the game at the beginning of the Chimera invasion is a nice idea, the overall plot is pretty standard Resistance fare; personal sacrifice in the face of a horrific onslaught, and all that. We have seen the story a few times before.

The novelty of the game comes from the platform, though. Using the Vita as the basis for this title, Nihilistic have managed to create a game that really is rather unique, for


Small screen shooting has arrived…by Walt Pretorius

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the Vita, for the franchise and for the genre. And they have kept the hand-held’s strengths and weaknesses in mind in developing the title.

Key to the title actually working are the dual analogue sticks, which function exactly like one would expect. Their small movement range does seem a little tricky at first, but once you get into it, they’re just fine. Also key is the touch screen, which has been implemented quite cleverly. The player will be able to tag enemies, open doors and use special weapons using the screen. It does necessitate moving your thumbs off of the sticks every now and then, but this is made up for by a slightly slower, less frantic pace in the game.

In short, it actually works well. It’s not perfect, but it is a great start to FPS playing on the Vita. While Burning Skies does display a few issues, none of them are deal-breakers. Overall, the experience is really rather enjoyable.

This is made more so by an interesting take on weapon


Accessibility



Casual

Hard-CoreMedium 80

Score

As the first FPS title for the PS Vita, this title is a step in the right direction…

Developer: NihilisticPublisher: SCEEDistributor: Ster Kinekor


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modifications; the player gets to use multiple weapons, of course, including old favourites like the Bullseye and Auger, along with some new guns. Using a weird tech, the player can apply two modifications to a weapon at a time, provided they have unlocked the tech using weird blue cubes. This adds a fast-paced strategic element to the game, as well as making the weapons far more versatile.

Graphically, the game looks good, although the looks aren’t up there with titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss. We did expect a little more, to be honest, but we weren’t disappointed. The sound, though, leaves a lot to be desired here and there.

Burning Skies even offers a multiplayer option, which is fun, but a little forgettable.

On the whole, this title is a good step in the right direction. It goes to show that with the right kind of approach, anything is possible. g

Movie of the Month


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Brain power!


Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

DIRECTOR:Guy Ritchie

STARRING:Robert Downey Jr. Jude LawJared Harris

FPB Rating: 13V

90Scor

eDISTRIBUTOR:Nu Metro

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson team up again for another mystery adventure of crime, fighting, and disguises. As Sherlock Holmes investigates several murders, which end up being linked to professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), he uncovers a deeper plot to all these crimes… all while still trying to get Dr. Watson to his wedding. A Game of Shadows is a step up from the first movie but still keeps with the same era, wardrobe and set designs. The Sherlock Holmes distinct fighting style still carries through, as well as his eye for detail and every clue. Guy Ritchie did a great job directing, supported by an excellent story by Michele Mulroney. Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law again work well together and perform perfectly. Jared Harris was excellent in his role as a criminal master mind trying to take over the world. The return appearance from Rachel McAdams is short, but still as good as she was in the first film. Overall a better film and a must see. g


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You kind of know what to expect when there’s a spelling mistake in a film’s title. The Traveler is a tale about a mysterious man who shows up at a police station on Christmas Eve, confessing to a murder. Six, in fact. As he tells the tale of each murder, one of the cops dies in exactly the way he is describing. They soon figure out that the man telling the tales is somehow responsible for the killings.Yes, it drops its twist that early. And where it could have been a really entertaining thriller with a supernatural twist, the director seems to have realised that the script hold no surprises late in the film, and decided to replace substance with gratuitous, graphic violence. Sometimes even inexplicably graphic.Val Kilmer is the biggest name here, and he is not bad as the titular character. In fact, the acting is not bad at all. But everything else is. The Traveler might appeal to a teenage slasher-fan market, but the promises it makes early on are not delivered upon at all. Which is sad, because the concept if actually pretty good... g

The Traveler

DIRECTOR:Michael Oblowitz

STARRING:Val KilmerDylan NealCamille Sullivan

FPB Rating: 16LV

60Scor

eDISTRIBUTOR:Ster Kinekor

Dominic Purcell must have this thing about breaking out of Prison. The Prison Break actor once again plays someone who get out of the big house, but this time he isn’t an innocent man falsely accused… in fact, he’s something of a psycho. And he handles the role rather well. Purcell is convincing as the killer, Harmon Porter, who is intent on stalking and murdering a college student after his escape.It’s a pity, then, that the rest of the cast come across as forced and wooden in their roles. There are some seasoned actors here (the kind of actors who you say “where have I seen that one before” about) but all of them manage to inject no depth, warmth of believable emotion into their characters.The story loops around plot holes with the grace of an inebriated hippo, veering away from what might have been an entertaining thriller and bee-lining for the realms of cheap B-grade slasher. And while B-grade can be enjoyable, Escapee isn’t, because it plays out far too slowly. The tension it tries to build up gets drawn out, making the film a chore to watch. g

Escapee

DIRECTOR:Campion Murphy

STARRING:Dominic PurcellMelissa OrdwayDanny Nucci

FPB Rating: 16V

50Scor



A quiet and innocent women, Alyce (Jade Dornfeld), desperately wants to be more like her friend - more outgoing and liked by her peers. After accidentally knocking her friend(Tamara Feldman) off of her apartment building, she is haunted by the fact and turns to alcohol and drugs of all kinds. After Alyce learns that her friend is not dead, she goes to the hospital to end the pain. After the relief from this pain, drugs lead her to a life of murder and vengeance on all those that cause her pain and suffering. At first the film starts off really slow, but while thinking it will be a psychological disaster it actually surprised me – turning out to one of the most hard-core movies this year. This film will terrify you, make you jump and almost turn your head away. Jade Dornfeld is superb… at first you think that she wasn’t meant for the part, but she actually took the part on perfectly and showing her decent acting skills. Writer and Director Jay Lee took a great story and made a great movie, and the director of photography – he does have some strange filming methods but it does work for this awesome twisted film. This is a film about how someone can go mad… really psychotic and great. g

Alyce

DIRECTOR:Jay Lee

STARRING:Jade DornfeldTamara FeldmanJames Duval

FPB Rating: 18LVSD

72Scor


A married couple move to a cabin in the woods; the wife has cancer and is about to die. The husband, Henry (John Muscarnero), who deeply loves his wife, is having trouble letting go. During a jog in the woods one day Henry comes across a girl being assaulted and rescues her. The girl, Alicia (Mary Kate Wiles), stays with the couple until her family can fetch her. She starts getting between Henry and his dying wife… will Henry fall for Alicia? John Muscarnero does a decent job at acting depressed and alone, but also being the writer he does understand the role well. The plot is slow, weak and not very interesting. Mary Kate Wiles does well as her conflicted character trying to take Henry away from his wife, Tracy Coogan, as the dying wife, delivers perhaps the best performance of the film. The camera work and use of natural lighting was excellent, with eerie classic piano as the background music. Overall the film is slow, and quite depressing, but with good cinematography and music.g

Forbidden Attraction

DIRECTOR:Michael Escobedo

STARRING:John MuscarneroTracy CooganMary Kate Wiles

FPB Rating: 16LV

55Scor



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Due to government budget cuts, a prisoner is set free after a 23 year drug related crime sentence. After he is released he gets offered a job by an old friend as a security guard at a scrip club. For keeping his mouth shut for 22 years his former boss offers him another job, a hit that needs to happen to pay off his debt; he has few options. Frank (Kenny Johnson) the soft criminal that has nowhere to go and no one to turn too, was too soft for the role, and was played up by other performances from Erin Daniels and Rainn Wilson (The Office – America, actor and director). The story is weak and with a title like Few Options, the viewer will most certainly know what is about to come. Some of the script is stretched over a few scenes, dragging the story out even more. Few Options doesn’t apply to the viewer. Although a sub-par story, the acting isn’t too bad… but this is still not a blockbuster to collect. g

Few Options

DIRECTOR:George A Pappy Jr

STARRING:Kenny JohnsonErin DanielsRainn Wilson

FPB Rating: 18

45Scor


The Thing is the prequel to the 1982 horror film… Scientists discover a alien space craft buried beneath the Antarctic ice and find an alien creature with it. After the scientists remove the thing from its icy deathbed they realise that it’s still alive… that’s when the Antarctic mission goes south. The thing can change itself into any form, taking a human body and using it against the scientists. Mary Elizabeth Winstead , the lead actress, leads the disaster with her open mouth straight face look, despite which the supporting actors did well. Post production editing and music are ok and the special effects good enough but The Thing could have been handled much better. This is a movie you can wait for, or don’t need to see at all. g

The Thing

60Scor

e

DIRECTOR:Matthijs van Heijningen

STARRING:Mary E.Winstead Joel EdgertonUlrich Thomsen

FPB Rating: 16LV

DISTRIBUTOR:Nu Metro


When a foreigner to the Middle East comes to Thailand to become a professional Maui Tai boxer, he arrives in Thailand and becomes an unlucky tourist, being robbed by a transvestite and being stood up by his friend and new manager. With nowhere to go and no money, he stumbles across a rundown fighting camp, where the culture shock isn’t the biggest knock he’s going to take. Without subtitles you really get the feeling how Ahmad (Ahmad Rashid Al –Sulati) feels in a foreign country with nobody to turn to. This film is not very good; the fighting is below average and perhaps the better part of the film. The cinematography is poor and lacks a steady hand during most scenes. The urge for Ahmad to shout at everyone that he thinks doesn’t understand him gets annoying, but the strange thing is that the people who do speak English, speak very well. This is not a good fighting film, maybe a half decent foreign film without subtitles.g

Aukmen

DIRECTOR:David Ismalone

STARRING:Ahmad Rashid Al –SulatiYing-Julaluck IsmaloaneKaoklai Kannorasing

FPB Rating: 16LV

50Scor


When a man about to be sent to prison brings his whole family together on the eve of his incarceration, you can be pretty certain that some odds stuff is going to come out. But the events that take place in the family home that evening add a whole new level to the idea of a dysfunctional family.A Night for Dying Tigers is a good film, when all is said and done, but it isn’t one that will leave you with any form of good feelings when you have done watching it. The acting is good, the direction is solid and the concept is interesting. The cine does a few weird things, but even this is OK. What makes it a difficult film to watch is the cast of utterly reprehensible characters on offer; from the man’s wife and mistress through to his incestuous brother and sister, there really isn’t anyone in this film for the viewer to identify with… or even like.A Night for Dying Tigers is heavy in the way that only an arty drama can be. You have been warned. g

A Night for Dying Tigers

DIRECTOR:Terry Miles

STARRING:Jennifer BealsGil BellowsJohn P. Ferguson

FPB Rating: 16LSD

60Scor


Collectables


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Bird’s eye-view


Earthflight

CREATOR:Various

STARRING:Lots of birds

FPB Rating: PG

88Scor

eDISTRIBUTOR:Nu Metro

COLLECTABLEOF THE MONTH

We have often seen documentaries about birds, but Earthflight has a different approach that makes it fresh and rather awesome. This BBC Earth series shows not only the ways of birds, but also shows the world around them, from their point of view.It is an interesting take on the idea, and features some footage that is interesting and rare… baboons hunting flamingos, for example… did you even know that they did that? Herons waiting for dolphins to force fish onto river banks… another great example. What makes Earthflight so great, though, is the footage. Using cutting edge techniques, the series shows bird and their surroundings in all their glory. Birds are even employed as camera-men. With cameras mounted on the birds’ backs, the resulting footage is awe-inspiring.Earthflight is only six episodes long, with each episode visiting a different area, and using different migrating birds as a tie-in to travelling around continents and revealing incredible sights.Narrated by David Tennant, Earthflight is really very unique. It provides a breath of fresh air in the wildlife documentary market, and manages to stick to the new idea that impressive footage is everything for this kind of series. Bird lovers and wildlife enthusiasts can confidently put this on their ‘must own’ list. g

HistoryOld materials, old tech…

by Walt Pretorius


What would you do if you got one of those emails proclaiming you to be the winner of the Ultra-Crazy No-Ticket Super-Lottery,

and it turned out to be real? Let’s say that the prize money was GBP5 million. At current exchange rates, that would work out to a touch more than 65 million South African Rand.

Would you feed the poor? Would you set up a charity for AIDS orphans? Would you help people in their frail twilight years?

Maybe a little less selfless, then… would you buy a pretty awesome mansion (and have some change left over)? Would you collect awesome cars? Would you buy an iPad 2? Well, if you were shopping at Stuart Hughes, you could pretty much just afford an iPad 2…

The iPad 2 Gold History Edition (perfectly named, because iPad 2 technology is pretty much history already) will set you back a cool five million British Pounds. Not because it is super high-tech. It’s an iPad 2. Come on.

Rather, it is because this particularly flamboyant device (of which there are only two being made, so hurry while stocks last) is gold and diamond encrusted. The body of the iPad – well, the back of it, anyway – is made of 2kg of solid, 24 carat gold. Nice. There goes

easy portability. Then, it is encrusted with 16.5 carats of diamonds, with an additional single 8.5 carat diamond worked into the front panel. The Apple logo at the back contains the lion’s share of diamonds, weighing in at 12.5 carats.

And now for the history bit… the front face, surrounding the unmodified iPad screen, is made of ammolite. What is ammolite, I hear you ask. Well, it’s a kind of stone. The world’s oldest stone, in fact, at over 75 million years old. And – get this – the ammolite has inlaid tyrannosaurus-rex thigh bone set into it. This bone is also pretty old at 65 million years, although the ammolite still wins the age race.

Why would you want this? Would you like to be able to tell your friends and family that it is special because it is old?

Well, yes, it’s an iPad 2, it’s old, so what? Every part of the device belongs in a museum, from the materials to the tech. Except for the diamonds and gold. They belong in a bank vault. And the owners. They belong in an institute for the financially insane.

Seriously, go for the mansion. Use the change to buy a normal iPad 2. You will feel less of a fool when it is replaced by a new one, which Apple seem to do every fifteen minutes or so. g

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by Charlie Fripp

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Smile for the CameraYou might be familiar to more people than you think

It has featured prominently in some films, while it has taken a bit of backseat feature in other television episodes, but facial recognition has been not only used

in Hollywood productions… it is actively being used in the work place.

While television shows like CSI and the casino drama Las Vegas make use of facial recognition to search a database of known offenders, the technology is also being used by security firms to keep track of high-risk individuals, and for hi-tech access control to sensitive buildings. Facial recognition is also being used in most notebooks and laptops as an extra level of online protection.

But how is it possible that software can scan a user’s face and determine if they are friend or foe? Does it take an image of the user’s face and compare it to the one in the database, or is it more technical than that? In short, how does facial recognition work?

The earliest forms of facial recognition didn’t fair too well when field-tested, with most of them only registering around a 60% success rate. Although it might sound impressive,

60% is very low when considered it needs to make a 100% positive identification to be able to be used in court or to track a dangerous person.

For the software to work effectively, it has to first of all differentiate the face from the background or a crowd of people. Once it has “captured” the face, it will start a series of complex processes to determine that it has the right object.

Just as with fingerprints, each face in the world has unique features that the program will be able to pick up, such as different peaks and valleys that make up facial features – many of which is too small for the naked eye to see.

Each face has about 80 distinguishable areas, which includes the distance between the eyes, width of the nose, depth of the eye sockets, the shape of the cheekbones and the length of the jaw line.

With anything technological and digital, a copy of the face is made creating a numerical code, which is called a faceprint, but the most prominent technology used today is


3D Facial Recognition. While it works on the same basics, it does a couple of things differently in order to increase accuracy and reliability.

The technology still makes use of capturing a person’s facial features, but focuses more on the distinctive features of the face such as the curves of the eye socket, nose and chin. The selected features are more rigid, don’t change a lot over time, and are most apparent.

Keeping track of all the data and the measurements, the software compares the image to its database, and even has the ability to recognise someone at a 90 degree angle while functioning pretty well in low-light conditions.

Depending on the software, it can capture an image from a live video feed or from a 2D picture. Once the subject’s face has been detected, it starts to calculate the head’s position, size and pose. Then it starts measuring the finer details of the face – which is on a sub-millimeter scale, and creates a template.

Just as with the earlier software, 3D Facial Recognition software then translates the template into a series of

unique numeric codes. Once it has been captured, the match-making process starts to look for an identical face in the system, matching the parameters measured from the subject.

If a potential suitable image is found, the verification and identification processes jump into action. The image will be screened against one other image (1:1) in the database, as in the capture will be compared to an image from the database at the Department of Home Affairs.

If the purpose of the image is identification, then the image is compared to all images in the particular database resulting in a score for each potential match (1:N). It’s the same principle as when the CSI techies upload a fingerprint into the AFIS system, giving them a result of possible matches.

Facial recognition software has helped to solve many crimes, keeps people safe and protects the information that might be on a laptop, and the technology is only in its infancy. Hopefully we will see systems in the future that can instantly identify perpetrators, and keep everyone out of harm’s way. g

to allow them to run properly, it requires a ‘place’ to store bits of data that will need to be accessed quickly. Sure, the data is stored on the hard drive, but RAM allows the CPU to access functions more quickly when information is stored there. Think of it as a sort of notepad where the CPU can make notes for quick reference, and you will have a fair idea of what its function is.

The information stored by the RAM is only kept there temporarily. When the system is powered down, the RAM is cleared of all data (although research into RAM that will save data even without power is underway). Restarting a computer that is running slowly is often an effective technique to speed things up, because this action clears

When people talk about their PCs, they will list a few specifications to show how impressive the machine is. One of those specs will be

RAM, a number that is thrown out with great confidence, even when the person doing the bragging doesn’t really know what the significance of that number is. But RAM is a vital component of the PC set-up, and having a big number there really is impressive, when you know what it indicated.

Every program needs RAM. The acronym stands for Random Access Memory, and it refers to devices that allow temporary data storage. When programs are run on the PC< and the CPU sorts through all the information


by Alex Scanlon

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Go BigLots of RAM is a good thing

the RAM of any unnecessary information it might be storing.

Because of the way RAM works it is one of those components where more certainly is better. Providing the system with a bigger ‘notepad’ means that it will run more smoothly overall; less time will be spent clearing the RAM while vital operations are being performed, and more data stored on the RAM means smoother operation. One of the biggest bottlenecks in PC performance is the result of not having enough RAM installed, and because it is (even at the high end) relatively inexpensive, putting as much RAM as possible into a machine is not a bad idea.

The amount of RAM you would need really is determined

by the programs you intend on running on your PC. System requirements lists will give an indication of how much RAM is required but, with that said, going over the minimum is a good idea.

Not all RAM performs the same – some higher end RAM offers lower latency, for example, allowing faster access to data. This is generally considered high end RAM, and will cost a bit more.

How much RAM you want to get is up to you, of course, but always try to ensure that you buy RAM in pairs… matched pairs, sold together, are the best bet.

Next month we will take a look at storage and optical drives. g


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