LIVE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE
EXCLUSIVE SDCC 2016 POP! VINYLS now available at Gametraders! Page 90
VR
Virtual Reality Special Feature
Page 6
Pops, Board Games, Trading Cards, Retro, Video Games, Comics, Cosplay & tons more!
RETRO
HUGE Retro Section! Page 58
WELCOME
It’s been a busy time in gaming and pop culture here. Announcements of new hardware, new games and pops have seen fans getting excited about life for a gamer/geek. A title we proudly wear. There a lot happening in the world of hardware with a new Xbox One S coming soon and also a new PS4 upgrade rumoured. There’s the long awaited Nintendo offering - the NX, but nothing new regarding looks and capabilities. But one thing that is new, exciting and confirmed is the new virtual reality systems by the big players - Sony, Oculus and Vive. So we took a look at what’s coming out, got to play with a smart phone VR system and loved it. We also got excited like many of you, with the Harry Potter script that’s been released and hence we celebrated with a SDCC pop on the cover.
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INSIDE 6 18 48 138
Feature: The Future starts in 2016 Game Reviews
Geek Out
Cosplay
THE LIVE TEAM August is also retro month for Gametraders, we’re going to be promoting retro in stores and sharing a bunch of fun ads and clips on our social media from the golden days of gaming. Look out for the Gamer Diaries by Retro Editor, Paul Monopoli along with our usual sections- comics, board games and collectables. Lot’s of good reading inside this month - hope you like it. Keep warm! Rob Jenkins.
Publisher: Rob Jenkins (GTHQ) Art Director: Giselle Capozza (GTHQ) Game Review & Preview Editors: Nick Getley & Kylie Tuttle (Sticky Trigger) Retro Editor: Paul Monopoli Comics: Scott Sowter Cosplay Editor: Anny Sims & Tiffany Dean Sticky Trigger Writers: Kylie Tuttle Nick Getley Alex Holmes Aaron Milligan Ben Rachow Bridget Sweeney Sean Fox Sasha Karen Jason English Johnny Scene
AUGUST GAME RELEASES! DATE
TITLE
FORMATS
10/08/2016
No Man’s Sky
PS4
11/08/2016
Teddy Together
3DS
19/08/2016
F1 2016 Limited Edition
PS4, XB1
23/08/2016
Deus Ex Mankind Divided
PC, XB1, PS4
25/08/2016
Assetto Corsa
PS4, XB1
25/08/2016
Madden NFL 17
PS4, PS3, XB1, 360
30/08/2016
World of Warcraft Legion
PC
30/08/2016
God Eater 2 Rage Burst
PS4, PSV
SEPTEMBER GAME RELEASES! DATE
TITLE
FORMATS
01/09/2016
NHL 17
PS4, XB1
03/09/2016
Metroid Prime Federation Force
3DS
08/09/2016
XCOM 2
PS4, XB1
09/09/2016
The Elder Scrolls Online Gold Edition
PS4, XB1
13/09/2016
Recore
XB1
15/09/2016
Bioshock The Collection
PS4, XB1
15/09/2016
NBA 2K17
PS4, XB1, PS3, 360
16/09/2016
Forza Horizon 3
XB1
28/09/2016
Dragon Quest 7 Fragments of the Forgotten Past
3DS
29/09/2016
FIFA 17
PS4, XB1, PS3, 360
30/09/2016
Final Fantasy XV Day One Edition
PS4, XB1
Dates are correct at time of publishing. Ask staff for details.
FEATURE
THE FUTURE STARTS IN
2016
VR is here to stay… this time.
This is the year of VR, or virtual reality based entertainment and most likely also the start of VR education too. The big players are Sony with their Playstation add on, Oculus with their Oculus Rift headset that will work with a high end PC and VIVE from HTC and Valve. There’s also Microsoft’s HoloLens and rumours have it that Apple too are working on some sort of hardware.
Why is VR so big this year and so important? If VR goes the way the big players are hoping, it’ll be a revolution in entertainment and education, the same way the computer chip was for gaming when the first consoles came out. So too with the Intel 80386 chip that powered PCs back in the mid 80s and then followed by the 486 that really (to me at least) kicked off PC gaming. 3D graphics cards helped push games to new levels of immersion, developers like iD Software with Doom and Quake that offered real time 3D rendering and amazing game play that let you feel like you were really in the game. Sure you were playing on an old CRT screen but turn the lights off, put on the headphones and play and it really was immersive.
VR
Unknown to most of us, VR started out in early 1800’s with stereoscopic viewers and in 1939 the View-Master by William Gruber came out letting you place the lenses to your eyes and see pictures in 3D. In the early 90s a series of gaming machines using the new Virtuality headsets found their way into arcades and were networked to allow players to play over a network. They also had a stand up system that featured a headset that was kind of clunky and very expensive. But it was a start... We’ll skip forward to 1993 and Sega announced a headset for their Genesis console that had wrap around glasses and head tracking plus stereo sound. It was never released commercially as it caused motion sickness and headaches. In 1995, Nintendo released the Virtual Boy at $180 that was a commercial failure - the graphics were black and white with red and so really didn’t excite the public in numbers needed. This year however, is when it all comes together for consumers. In the past systems either we too expensive or didn’t work well. The promise of VR is it must be
affordable entertainment that is incredibly immersive and has the potential to be a revolution in our gaming and entertainment. But it’s not just entertainment where VR is headed. Consider the possibilities for teachers: “Students, put on your headsets, we’re heading to ancient Greece today..” Architects will be able to design in new ways, doctors will learn how to operate by wearing headsets and having their teacher show them intricate procedures. Travel companies will give you amazing tastes of your next holiday, “Just put on this headset and take a look at the Great Wall of China, Miss Smith.”
And of course there is the adult industry we’ll leave that alone…
THE VR EXPERIENCE At it’s most simple you put on a VR headset and load up software and focus your lenses so for your eye site, you can see clearly. Let’s start with smartphone based VR. We tested the VR Box and it’s a plastic headset that you slot your smart phone into. But first download some software - we used the Apple App Store and found a few fun games to try first. As a starter you could try the Google Cardboard app - as the VR Box works on this sort of platform. Once you have an app loaded you’ll see your smart phone screen split into two. Then you put on the headset and your eyes press up against two lenses… sort of like binoculars - you can fine tune the focus and then you’re ready… sort of. Some apps need input and the VR Box controller is not great and doesn’t work brilliantly. But other apps don’t need a controller. Here’s a few we tried:
Jurassic Virtual Reality You wander among dinosaurs, and as you look around (turning your head with the headset on) you will see your view changing in real time .. just like you are there. It’s kind of cool seeing these big creatures walking around and for a free app, worth a try. It’s got good ratings on the app store and you can find more by visiting their Facebook page: facebook.com/lunagames/
Roller Coasters There’s a bunch of them, they are fun but limited. You sit in a roller coaster and look around as you zoom around the track. Not much interaction but fun… for a few minutes.
InMind VR
This was a favourite. You are flying through a body zapping things by simply looking at them and holding the lock of the targeting system. Fast, easy to play and brilliant graphics - get this it’s free. Find out more at the developers site: inmind.nivalvr.com/
Youtube Yep head over to Youtube and check out the many demo’s and fun videos that are a mix of straight 3D and some with VR interaction. If you do a search you’ll find some videos that allow you to look around which, while not really interactive, are a bit more immersive. There’s a ton of great VR experiences including apps on the app stores. If you’re on Android, head here and start exploring… Try this site for a mix of iOS and Android: tomsguide.com/us/best-cardboard-vr-apps,news-21859.htmld
For Android:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.samples.apps.cardboarddemo&hl=en
If you’re on iOS then try the app store simply search for Virtual Reality and you’ll get a ton of options.
VR
vr box review Packaging: Well packaged and delivered within 2 days of ordering - we’re based in Australia so it arrived very quick. Packaging is solid and protects the unit.
Inside you get: The VR Headset
favourite was InMind VR where you fly through a human brain and zap the neurons that cause mental disorder. The graphics are amazing and as you wiz along on a set path you can turn and look around and when you see a neurone, you focus on it and when it locks - your system zaps it. It’s a free demo/game that shows the potential of simple VR gaming. We also tried the various rollercoasters, a jurassic game when
dinosaurs wander around, an aquarium game and a bunch of videos from YouTube. Yes we even tried the Sports Illustrated game which as a simple 3D video of a model talking in a lush pool environment. The VR Box is affordable and fun and if you’re wanting a cheap entry into smart phone VR that is wearable - we’d suggest you give this a try.
A bluetooth remote controller Product manual QR code card to set up the device Cleaning cloth Rubber pads you apply to the headset - these are so you can set it up according to your phone - Android or iPhone etc.
Connecting your phone: There really isn’t anything to connect but you do need to slot your phone into the front of the unit. I took off my phone cover and slotted it in to see how it fitted. It’s a touch tight but it fits. I was worried about scratching the phone - the are are some soft bumper pads you attach to the tray that you slide your phone into so as to prevent scratches, but I’d still take care. After fiddling with the unit, it was time to get some apps to try - my
VR
Types of VR system and what they offer Smart Phone: head mount system Firstly you need a set of glasses - they can be a simple of Google Cardboard (and many of the apps you find on app stores work on this system. The glasses come in simple cardboard as seen in our screen shot from Google’s site up to proper head sets with foam around the head and straps to hold in place. We got hold of the VR Box system and it’s a good cheap option that fits well, and gives you reasonable lenses to focus with. It fit our iPhone 6s Plus fine and sliding in your phone was simple. It came with a fairly useless controller so we preferred using apps that allowed you to look, and lock on to a target to interface with.
VR
If you’re a developer, Google provides software development kits for developing on both Android and iOS. Interestingly in the first 19 months of Google Cardboard they’ve shipped over 5 million cardboard viewers (source Wikipedia) and that doesn’t take into account the dozens of 3rd party until like the VR Box. Our view: It’s fun and interesting and gives a glimpse into the possibilities. Getting a viewer whether it’s a Cardboard or a 3rd party system is simple in Australia or anywhere - we suggest buying from a reputable site like Amazon or a seller on Ebay with good
reveiws/ratings. The key is buy one that fits your phone. And you don’t need to spend a fortune. The Verge has a great buyers guide so head on over: www.theverge.com/a/best-vr-headset-oculus-rift-samsung-gear-htc-vive-virtual-reality
Cost for VR Box is roughly $35 but you can shop around on eBay and see what the prices are. Then there is the console based VR system like the Playstation VR...
Playstation VR Sony’s system will b out in October and have a retail price of $549.95 plus you need the PS4 too. Sony’s pitch on their website is enticing: “You’ve played games that have made you lose track of time. But what about games that make you forget where you are? That’s what PS VR will do, immersing you in the game with an unparalleled sense of presence.” The Playstation VR is plug and play and promises smooth 120Hz, 360 degree vision with 3D audio plus you can wear glasses! Games like Resident Evil 7 Biohazard look creepy and immersive and sees you exploring a very creepy location that seems to have a small population of things you really don’t want to run into at night or whilst wearing a VR headset. Same with “Here
They Lie” another horror themed game but to get a real feel on what’s coming check the trailer: https://youtu.be/69XFqRfzl_k Sony take advantage of their Move System that can be used as a gun as well as the Dual Shock controllers. The graphics are HD and you’re totally sucked into the game according to YouTuber ChampChong who does a good review here: https://youtu.be/9xbzkjwLjUg The Playstation VR is likely to be the most popular of the more expensive systems at least initially due to the large PS4 user base. Important: Sony’s system needs space - with an Arstechnica post featuring an anonymous post of the Sony VR system, pamphlet you will need about 2.9 meters to play.
HTC Vive Described as “room-scale” gameplay with precise motion tracking” by the HTC Vive website, this system is a fully immersive VR system that runs off PC and Steam games. The Vive needs space so you need a room that you can walk around in, a positive in that you feel more involved and a negative if you don’t have much free space. Like the Oculus and the Playstation VR, Vive will have some fun and immersive games and en-
tertainment experiences for you to enjoy including A10 VR, Alien Isolation and Earthlight. Some details are: PC based system from Valve and Steam. Comes with 2 “base stations” Vive calls them Lighthouse Boxes - that need to be connected to power. Long cords comes with system, plugged into your PC. Two controllers that are used in the games. You need larger areas to play you set up a “play space” that is worked out during set up. This is the area the system calculates that you need to play in. The Vive slips over your head and has side and back straps. Glasses - technically you can wear them but some reviewers have said it’s a tight fit. You need a PC with grunt, at least Core i5 according to Techradar and an Nvidia GTX970 or AMD R9 290 graphics card. Ideally you need - 1.5m by 2m space size, some games may need more. The Lighthouses need to be no more than around 5m apart and need power. You get a 5m cable that plugs into your PC. Cost in Australia is $899 plus PC and shipping.
Oculus Rift Manufactured by Ocululs VR and now owned by Facebook this is different to the Vive in that you use it seated. It doesn’t come with the controllers - Oculus Touch, they are out later this year and will be an additional cost. Oculus also have some exciting games coming as well as entertainment experiences and with Facebook’s backing, this could be the system that gets massive uptake. Why? They have an audience they can sell to with Facebook user numbers somewhere around 1 billion world wide. I can’t imagine Facebook forking out the 2 billion dollars they paid for Oculus and not integrating it with the worlds’ biggest social media site. Like the other systems, once you’re plugged in you’re in a different world, totally immersed in an experience that is only limited by the developers. Games such as Eve: Valkerie look mind blowing and will definitely change the way we enjoy our gaming. Unlike the Vive, you use the Oculus system sitting down. Some
will see this as a negative but it can be a positive. You need less room to enjoy and for simple applications or games, it means simply putting the system on and playing. It comes with an Xbox controller. Cost in Australia - around $900 but wait until the release date. Yes you will need a PC with grunt. According to Oculus you will need: Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD R9290 or equivalent. Intel i5 - 4590. 8 gig plus RAM. HDMI 1.3 output for video. 3 x USB 3 ports plus 1 USB 2 port. Windows 7 at least - 64 bit. Want to see more including game trailers? Visit: www3.oculus.com/en-us/rift/
“It’s too early to predict who will be the front runner in VR but for now, if you’re on a tight budget, grab a Google Cardboard compatible system and start enjoying the future”
Virtual Reality is here and this time it won’t go away. Billions are being invested and those billions need to generate returns. The potential is massive. Not only for entertainment but for dozens of applications from education to travel to medical. It’s too early to predict who will be the front runner in VR but for now, if you’re on a tight budget, grab a Google Cardboard compatible system and start enjoying the future.
VR
potter fans
The fastest selling book in ages isn’t a book... 2 million copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script sold in first 3 days but it isn’t a book and for many fans that’s a big issue! Even though J. K. Rowling has pointed this out repeatedly, some fans are might upset that this work by playwright Jack Thorned is a collaboration between him and the author based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. It’s a play that is playing at the Palace Theatre in London and has seen rave reviews by critics including The Sunday Times who said “The magical marvel we’ve been waiting for.” The Independent said “A theatre production of immense wonder.” and the Daily Telegraph in the U.K said, “British Theatre hasn’t know anything like it in decades.’
So the critics are sold, but what’s it all about? It’s a two part stage play that’s been written by Jack Thorne and is based on an original story by Rowling, John Tiffany and Thorne. It’s the first official Potter story for the stage and is set nineteen years after the events of the last novel and follows Harry and his son, Albus Severus. Harry is working in the Ministry of Magic, Ron and Hermione are married and have two children and Draco Malfoy too has a child, Scropius who befriends Albus just like Ron and Harry made friends on the train in the first of the Potter books. The Granger-Weasley’s daughter, Rose also heads off to school and disapproves of the friendship between Albus and Scorpius. You can read the total synopsis on Wikipedia but as the official website for the play says: “It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Mag-
ic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.” Only showing in the U.K at the moment there’s been now word on the production heading to Australia. Fingers crossed! Check page 90 for some of our exclusive SDCC 16 Pops available at Gametraders including Newt Scamander who’s featured on the cover! Check with your local store on availability.
www.harrypottertheplay.com
gameS REVIEWS & PREVIEWS reviewS:
MIRRORS EDGE CATALYST HOMEFRONT: THE REVOLUTION ODIN SPHERE LEIFTHRASIR UNCHARTED 4: A THIEF’S END
S
MIRRORS EDG
DGE CATALYST review
REVIEW
MIRRORSEDGE CATALYST ‘Mirror’s Edge Catalyst’ is a game that I desperately wanted to fall in love with. A reboot of 2008’s Mirror’s Edge, Catalyst was meant to be fresh start for a game that holds so much potential, one that tells a more compelling story while delivering much improved gameplay. Unfortunately, the narrative is extremely underdeveloped, while the gameplay becomes so competitive that by the time I had completed the game’s story, I was more relieved that it was over, rather than having enjoyed it. Perhaps I should start at the beginning.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst tells the story of Faith Connors, who is being released from prison for her crimes committed as a runner. Faith is brash and impulsive, and it’s that same impulsiveness that landed her in prison. Faith is eager to return to The Runners, a gang of free-runners led by Noah, who also raised Faith after the murder of her parents. The city of Glass’ resident crimelord, Dogen, has pulled some strings to see Faith’s release, and as a result, Faith owes Dogen a debt. As Faith leaves the prison, she is met by Icarus, another runner. Icarus is sent by Noah to ensure that she doesn’t end up as just another citizen of Glass, who are constantly monitored by strict
security measures to the point of hardly having any free will of their own. Every citizen of Glass is connected to the city by a Beatlink, which tracks them and reports an suspicious activity to the authorities. Icarus hands Faith a Beatlink, which she then puts on. The Beatlink is quickly hacked, which allows Faith to disappear off The Grid.
From there, Faith makes her way back to Noah and the Runners, though as the name of the game suggests, events will unfold that will drastically alter the lives of Faith and her friends, as well as the city of Glass itself. During her first “run” for The Runners since her release, Faith disobeys direct orders from Noah and acquires an encrypted drive from Gabriel Kruger, the leader of KrugerSec, who are the authority in Glass on behalf of multiple conglomerates known as The Families. Desperately seeking to reclaim the stolen information, Kruger assaults The
Runner’s hideout, killing multiple runners and arresting dozens more. Noah is missing, presumed dead, and The Runners are scattered, leaving Faith and Icarus to uncover the mystery behind the encrypted drive and the Families – though nothing is what it seems. Faith will discover a plot that goes back 20 years, one that involves the murder of her parents, the disappearance of her sister, and will culminate with complete control of Glass, as well as the surrounding lands of Cascadia itself. While the game’s narrative certainly sounds serviceable, it’s in its delivery that failed to engage me. There is zero character development, the plot tists are boring and predictable, and Catalyst falls victim to the same fate as so many other open-world games: a lack of focus. There are so many side-missions and activities to partake in that the story gets lost in a mix of time trials, movement puzzles, security hub hacks, package deliveries and
collectibles. It’s almost as though the story itself took a backseat to crafting the game world and developing Catalyst’s engine. The story could be a hell of a lot worse, and there are certainly moments where the story missions themselves are extremely entertaining, but the actual plot itself is fairly disappointing. That’s not to say the story doesn’t have some enjoyable moments, though none of these are through its characters or events – moreso the missions that take place in a unique area that you only get to experience once. Riding a surveillance drone to the ground from a skyscraper’s roof is certainly enjoyable, as is climbing Glass’ tallest building after it has been devastated by a bomb blast. I just wish the narrative itself received as much attention as some of its more unique missions and gameplay. Speaking of gameplay, Catalyst is a much more refined game than its 2007 predecessor. Built from the ground up with a new engine, Catalyst is an openworld game that looks prettier, runs smoother, and offers a new and improved protagonist with a plethora of new moves. Players can run, jump, slide, vault, climb, hang from structures, and even unlock a pretty cool grappling hook that opens up more exploration opportunities. Faith can also hold her own in a scrap this time around, and is able to punch and kick her enemies, as well as dodge and
counter them, and use her abilities as a runner to defeat KrugerSec’s various grunts. One of the game’s features that never fails to impress me is the ability to fight while running, with the player attempting to build up their Runner’s Focus and avoid taking too many hits. This allows you take out baddies on the move, by pushing them into obstacles or off of buildings, or using them to break your fall. Of course, what developer can resist crafting an immense openworld without filling it to the brim with collectibles? Certainly not DICE, as Catalyst will see players collecting recordings, packages, computer chips and other goodies littered throughout the environment. At the beginning of the game, I was activley seeking out the collectibles, though eventually made the decision that if I was able to grab a Data Leak or Control Chip without it taking up too much time or ruining my run that I would. There are just too many of them to care about, especially as they only offer a small amount of experience. I stopped impulsively collecting things after the game’s second act, and I was still just shy of being max level by the end of the story. Visually, Catalyst is a mixed bag, as I appreciate the art direction being a great deal of the environmental design, but the experience is marred by texture pop ups and the occasional framerate stutter. The textures themselves are also remarkably lowres, like a PC game from a few
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GBVMGXXFMw
years ago that has had all the setting bumped down to low. I’m not sure if the graphical issues are present on the PlayStation 4 and PC versions of the game, but the Xbox One version definitely has its share of problems. I will say that the soundtrack to Catalyst is very impressive, providing the world with atmosphere, and gravity to the narrative’s events. It understand at this point that it sounds like I didn’t enjoy my time with the game, though for the most part, I did – just didn’t love my time with it. There are moments where the gameplay is truly unique, intense and even exhilerrating, though these moments are lost amongst all the backtracking, collectible hunting, movement puzzles and trial and error gameplay. Even with fast travel, players will re-visit the same areas over and over until they are simply going through the exact same motions every time. I’m also disappointed as a fan of the original game. Suffice it to say, I feel Mirror’s Edge fans deserved more than this after 8 long years. Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is by no means a bad game, though it is one that could have been so much better. Several of the game’s elements feel at odds with each other, though I do feel the ground work has been laid should EA and DICE wish to develop a sequel. Let’s hope there is a more engaging narrative should there be a sequel.
7.5 / 10
PROS: BRILLIANT SOUNDTRACK DECENT VOICE ACTING LOTS OF NEW MOVES MORE FLUID GAMEPLAY THAN MIRROR’S EDGE
CONS: STORY IS BORING AND PREDICTABLE TEXTURE POP-UPS AND OTHER GRAPHICAL ISSUES LOTS OF BACKTRACKING, EVEN WITH FAST TRAVEL
WRITTEN BY NICK GETLEY
WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM
HOMEFRONT
T: THEREVOLUTION review
REVIEW Once, when I was around six or so, I ate some wax and string and tried to poop out a candle. I have fonder memories of that unfortunate experience than I do of my time spent with Homefront: The Revolution. Cards on the table – Homefront: The Revolution isn’t a good game. Like, at all. You’ve certainly heard the negative press surrounding the title by this point and may have, like me, dismissed at least some of it as being vitriolic hyperbole. Having endured a tumultuous development where it was shunted between different studios after Deep Silver’s acquisition of the franchise from the now defunct THQ, certain quality concessions were to be expected but nothing prepared me for the sheer magnitude of technical ineptitude on display here. Homefront: The Revolution just reeks of a game that was pushed out in order to meet some arbitrary release date, apparently eschewing even the most basic of Quality Assurance. The end result is a terribly optimised and obnoxiously jingoistic propaganda piece that squanders any opportunity it has to make a poignant commentary upon contemporary issues such as foreign policy, immigration and capitalism used as a method of control. Instead what we get is a game that trivialises any vaguely interesting points it raises by framing them with an obscenely patriotic and xenophobic mindset where the “hero” comes off more as a
HOMEFRONT: THE REVOLUTION member of a terrorist cell than a freedom fighter. Admittedly I initially found the central concept of the narrative fairly interesting. Homefront: The Revolution takes place in an alternate timeline where America and the rest of the world is reliant upon the resources of technological powerhouse North Korea; everything from mobile phones to military hardware comes from the same source, the APEX corporation, and America gleefully uses APEX equipment to assist with their military incursions around the globe, seemingly ambivalent about the mounting debt that these efforts consistently incur until, inevitably, they accrue so much debt that they have no choice but to default. North Korea responds by activating a backdoor program hidden in their technology to systematically disable of all the United States’ defenses and then stages a takeover using their KPA forces in order to quell the anarchy that’s resulted from the country’s sudden descent into a technological and economic dark age. One of the most glaring issues with the story is how
the KPA are portrayed as some draconian invading force yet we rarely see any real evidence to support this. Aside from a few obligatory scenes in the streets of soldiers dragging citizens out of their homes and an opening sequence where your fellow resistance members are brutally murdered during an interrogation scene, you’re never really given an insight into just why the KPA are considered such an oppressive force; instead they seem to be merely patrolling and attempting reintroduce order to the fallen city of Philadelphia in the face of the chaos which is consistently perpetrated by yourself and your fellow resistance members. The narrative is full of chestbeating rhetoric and jingoism and very little else, and the constant reference to the KPA soldiers as “Norks” is appallingly racist. The acts perpetrated by the resistance are rarely as heroic as the game tries to make them appear and, for all intents and purposes, I was left with the impression that it was the side I was fighting on that were the true monsters in this story; this would have been an interesting conceit if the developers had followed this by
forcing players to confront the ramifications of the unsavoury acts they’re participating in under the pretence of liberating the city, much like Spec Ops: The Line so masterfully pulled off, but Dambuster seems oblivious to this dichotomy and instead simply offers players a lacklustre retread of Red Dawn.
that frequently dips to unacceptable sub-20 levels making it almost impossible to maintain any sense of accuracy during intense firefights. Enemies will spawn inside your safehouse where you can’t attack them or even inside walls, making missions requiring killing all enemies within an outpost impossible to complete.
But for all of the lazy tropes and obvious flaws inherent in the narrative, chief among them forcing you to play a stoically silent protagonist who could avoid so many life threatening situations if he’d just open his damn mouth, it’s in the technical performance department where Homefront: The Revolution suffers the most. Despite having multiple patches applied since its release, the game is still plagued by a myriad of glitches, bugs and technical issues, most glaringly a frame-rate
There’s a ridiculous amount of texture pop-in and screen tearing and, perhaps most annoying of all, the game freezes for three to four seconds whenever you reach a checkpoint, access a storefront or check your armoury. Every. Single. Time. Facial animations are robotic and the audio consistently fails to sync up with the onscreen action and the character models are recycled ad nauseam through-
out the game. Despite all of this, the game actually doesn’t look all that bad from an aesthetic standpoint, but the performance issues serve to detract from any good will the artistic direction may garner. The combat mechanics are so unrefined that you’ll often waste an entire clip just struggling with the inaccurate aiming system before being gunned down by the completely untouched soldier still sitting square in your sights. The game encourages that you use the environment and stealth mechanics whenever possible but the engine is so gloriously broken that it’s almost impossible to pull off effectively. You can use a motorcycle to cover large distances and this can seem like a handy addition at
PROS: THE WEAPON UPGRADE SYSTEM IS FAIRLY SOLID THE GAME OCCASIONALLY LOOKS PRETTY GOOD MULTIPLAYER CAN BE FUN
CONS: BORING, REPETITIVE MISSIONS MULTIPLE PERFORMANCE ISSUES UNINSPIRED, OVERTLY XENOPHOBIC NARRATIVE
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkAYv-ay4Bc
4/1 0
first, until you realise that by doing so you’ll alert any KPA patrols in the immediate vicinity and be peppered with a barrage of bullets. This would still be somewhat manageable if the bikes didn’t control like they were fitted with tyres made of soap and the roads were coated in Teflon but as it stands you’re usually better off just hoofing it. After you play for a bit, the map becomes a busy mess of outposts to liberate and missions to undertake, so much so that you’ll soon feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of content; this could usually be considered a good thing but the repetitive nature and sheer blandness of the objectives on offer only serve to make progression feel like an unrewarding slog, especially as
reclaiming an area doesn’t seem to diminish KPA presence in any noticeable way. Mission markers are also difficult to locate at times, compounding the frustration, and the “Hearts and Minds” mechanic where you gain the support of civillians is an interesting idea in theory but doesn’t amount to much in its execution. The multiplayer component is probably the mode where players will find they’ll spend most of their time and, comparatively, suffers fewer problems than the campaign; still, when held up against its contemporaries, there’s nothing here that is particularly special and a relatively solid, if uninspired, multiplayer mode doesn’t go any way towards redeeming the overall poor quality of the game.
Homefront: The Revolution is, paradoxically, almost impressive in how many areas it fails in. What makes the entire experience worse is that somewhere, buried beneath the technical issues and gung-ho narrative, there are the bare bones of what could have been an enjoyable shooter if only Dambuster and Deep Silver allowed for more polish and development time. Sure, it may not have been a contender for the FPS crown but it surely wouldn’t have been as agonising to play through as it is in its current state.
WRITTEN BY sean warhurst WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM
ODIN SPHERE
E LEIFTHRASIR review
REVIEW
ODIN SPHERE LEIFTHRASIR
I’m playing as a Valkyrie, a daughter of King Odin, and right now I’m in a lush forest cutting my way through the faeries that are the enemies of my father. My weapon is a spear tipped with a Psypher, a crystal capable of harvesting the souls of the dead, and with each sprite or pixie I mow down a tiny blue spirit wafts into the air.
I could absorb these souls and use them to level up my weapon’s skills, but right now I’m engaging in a bit of on-the-spot agriculture. Souls can also be used to grow plants, and with each soul I liberate the plant I am nursing grows a little higher. Finally, with the area cleared of enemies, the plant begins to bud: a live sheep pops out and starts to sprint away from me. I hunt it down and with one stab from my blade it pops into a lamb chop, ready for a nearby chef to grill into a healthy, exp-rewarding meal. Growing and cooking are integral to Odin Sphere’s character raising system, with every item of food consumed giving your health a permanent buff. A morsel could provide something as tiny as 4 hit points, but a carefully prepared feast could grant as much as 50. It is possible to gain levels just by killing enemies, but the extra exp and health from growing your own fruit and
sheep is too rewarding to pass up. Plus, the lovingly rendered plates of food are their own reward, so beautiful they make you feel a little hungry.
Odin Sphere is a PS2 classic, legendary for its gorgeous handdrawn graphics, and Leifthrasir is a HD re-release that goes beyond simply tidying up the graphics for modern TVs. The original Odin Sphere was cursed with crippling slowdown, and fortunately Leifthrasir has expunged this from the often hectic fights. Leifthrasir has also dramatically revised the gameplay, switching out the original’s methodical and deliberate guard-based play for a kinetic ballet of hyperactive dodges and special attacks. Odin Sphere is loosely based on Wagner’s ring cycle, the story of an end of days where the old Gods die and give birth to something new. Odin is a manipulative King with an army of clever dwarves and warrior Valkyries at his command. His neglected daughter Gwendolyn is the vanguard of this army, determined to earn her father’s love by dying in his service. Odin seeks control over a dangerous artifact called the Cauldron capable of forging new Psyphers, fearsome weapons that will give him perpetual dominion over the realm of Erion. Odin’s power play plunges the continent into civil war, with
each faction scrambling for the magical ring necessary to activate the Cauldron.
Gwendolyn is the starting character, a nimble acrobat capable of gliding and launching longdistance dive attacks. The four other characters are unlocked as you progress through the game and have both individual, overlapping stories and tweaked styles of play. For the most part the characters specialise in different forms of armed combat, but one later character fights with a crossbow, turning the game into a shoot-em-up. Each character has their own levels, so whenever you start a new character you end up repeating the same cycle of grinding either by combat or growing food, although the process does become much faster as you progress through the game. You can’t pick a favourite, either, because all characters become necessary for a finale where each has to conquer their own powerful final boss. Combat takes place in looping stages, with hordes of enemies approaching from all directions. In some 2D action games it is possible to do crowd control by moving to the edge of the pack, but here enemies love to flank. Fortunately you have a powerful dodge move for getting out of trouble and special attacks provide either super armour or invin-
PROS: FANTASTIC HAND-DRAWN GRAPHICS KINETIC COMBAT YOU CAN PLANT A SHEEP TREE TO GROW SHEEP
CONS: HEAVY ASSET RECYCLING GAMEPLAY CHANGES REMOVE CHALLENGE
cibility. On top of that you have a horde of alchemy flasks to toss at enemies (pleasantly, status effects such as poison or burning do in fact work on many bosses). Your block gauge does deplete – slowly – but you have so many powers and tools at your disposal that you hardly need it. The switch of focus from blocking to dodging is the greatest change in Leifthrasir, a shift as dramatic as the change from Dark Souls to Bloodborne. In the original Odin Sphere movement was precise and methodical, slight lag before jumping and
attacking committing you to tactical action. Attacking and blocking would both quickly drain your stamina, forcing a style of play where you hop in for a few hits and then break away to recharge your stamina. Leifthrasir’s combat is more spectacular, but is stripped of the original’s challenge. Easy dodging makes it almost too easy to slip out of trouble, and generous invincibility in specials makes fighting back risk free. In the original, the many difficult bosses in Gwendolyn’s story demanded multiple attempts and
careful planning, but here they are handily overwhelmed in an avalanche of flasks and special attacks – awesome opponents reduced to exquisitely rendered punching bags. And if you do manage to die – which takes a little determination – you are simply dropped back outside the stage where you fell. The gameplay is much friendlier to the player but inevitably also less rewarding. Other changes have sidelined formerly key mechanics. In the original, it was necessary to pause during combat to absorb
souls, making yourself vulnerable, but here they drift towards you automatically. You can also now store souls and release them, so it is no longer necessary to grow plants during battle. I had fond memories of growing sheep in the middle of combat, and tried it once for nostalgia’s sake, but quickly discovered that juggling multiple priorities like that was now pointless because the game gave you no incentive to take those risks. The original could be ruthless with sluggish players, with food too long on the vine becoming over ripe and food too long on the ground rotting, but the game no longer gives you so much pressure to balance competing objectives. Worse, there is no longer any real reason to grow food, because you no longer need to bring your own ingredients to kitchens. Coins are all that is necessary to purchase one of the game’s lavish meals, removing any strategy or planning from acquiring powerful health and experience bonuses. There is still a travelling cook who asks you to bring your own ingredients, and he does provide a little extra experience for new recipes, but this mechanic now has to compete with the simple and mindless approach of going to a shop and paying for a stat boost. Rather than being strapped for supplies, I was forced to do an annoying amount of inventory management, because my I was always finding more items then I could reasonably use.
Even if the game play has been dramatically altered, the graphics and sound are only enhanced in this new edition, as lavish and striking as when it was first released. Characters and monsters are hand-drawn and are both beautiful and full of personality, with each area featuring its own distinctive menagerie. Many stages use multiple layers of graphics to provide a sense of depth, attention to detail that was above and beyond for its era and still holds up now. The music is just as beautiful and memorable as the graphics, with the main theme of Odin Sphere in particular lingering in the mind. Five characters exploring the same areas and fighting the same enemies does mean that there is heavy resource recycling, and after Gwendolyn’s chapter provides a giddy introduction to most of what the game has to offer the next battles and stages can feel like more of the same. However these is just enough fresh content rationed out to stop the experience from becoming stale, with new bosses always providing delight. Bosses in this game are a particular highlight, luxuriant screen-filling behemoths who provide many of the most chaotic, vibrant moments, even if the revised game play has made them dramatically less fearsome. Odin Sphere is a game of sensuous pleasures, whether beautiful graphics and music, endless mouth-watering depictions of food, or its lithe and pretty char-
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PUirdRXn_s
8.6 /10 acters. Leifthrasir is a reworking of the original Odin Sphere to make it more impressive to watch and easier to play, but at the cost of dislodging the mechanics that made the original tough but rewarding. As much has been lost in game play as has been gained in presentation. Fortunately this re-release contains the original release as an optional extra, so new players can try both versions. Determined players may also find longevity in new punishing difficulty settings and a special boss rush mode. Leifthrasir is the definitive version of Odin Sphere, not for its improvements, but for including the old along with the new.
WRITTEN BY
JOHN ROBERT LOMBARD WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM
UNCHARTED 4:
: A THIEF’S END review
REVIEW
UNCHARTED 4:
A THIEF’S END
It’s been five real-time years since Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception and, much like the gamers who grew up with the series, Nathan Drake is now older and arguably wiser but still ever ready to dive back into the fray for one last adventure.
Touted as the final instalment in the highly revered series, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End serves as both a fitting swan song to the series as well as an example of the technical prowess of the PlayStation 4 when its potential is fully capitalised upon by a developer. After an intense seafaring opening sequence, Uncharted 4 kicks off with a prelude to the main story where we’re introduced to Nathan’s heretofore unseen brother Sam against the backdrop of an escape by the young duo from the orphanage where Nathan has been living alone since his brother’s expulsion. This opening chapter works twofold, seamlessly introducing the character of Sam as well as shedding a bit more light on Nathan’s troubled youth, before
the narrative flashes forward to a dingy prison which the brothers have infiltrated in a quest to locate that ever elusive “big score”, a stockpile of pirate treasure that will set them up for life. Expectedly, however, things soon turn pear shaped and, when the dust settles, the younger Drake is left standing alone. This is where we reach the true crux of the story, with a noticeably older Drake splitting his time between trawling for underwater salvage, living in marital bliss with wife Elena and reminiscing about the high stakes adventures of his past. Content to eke out a meagre living far removed from the globetrotting treasure hunting that defined his earlier years, it’s the return of a familiar face that finally shakes him out of his self-imposed retirement and forces him to embark on what promises to be another adventure serial inspired quest for bountiful riches and adrenaline pumping action set-pieces, although the motivations driving him this time are far more altruistic in nature than in previous instalments.
To delve into the story any more would dispel the joy of experiencing it yourself but, rest assured, the quality of the narrative is of the level that fans have come to expect from Naughty Dog, albeit one that’s slightly more focused on characterisation this time around. After the high octane opening prison sequence, things are dialled back a bit to explore the motivations and dynamic between the characters and it’s not until around one-third of the way into the game that the action really begins to ramp up. Your mileage will vary on this decision depending on personal preference but, for me, it felt like a natural evolution, from a storytelling perspective, from Naughty Dog’s pathos laden The Last of Us and effectively allowed me to reacquaint myself with series stalwarts as well as become comfortable with the new characters before things hit the fan… Which they inevitably do in spectacular fashion. The over-the-top blockbuster moments are bigger and better in this sequel, from participating in an explosive prison break to in-
tense firefights on the street that lead into one of the most pulse pounding car chase sequences I’ve ever played, Naughty Dog’s knack for crafting visually impressive action packed gameplay moments is on clear display throughout your journey. From a technical standpoint, Uncharted 4 is one of the most visually lavish productions available on the market and may just be the best looking PlayStation 4 title to date. The graphical fidelity has to be seen to be believed, rendering almost photo-realistic vistas across a variety of exotic locales ,but as impressive as these efforts are, it’s the smaller details that really make Uncharted 4 such a joy to behold; Sam squinting as you shine your torch in his face, Nathan’s naturalistic physicality as you ascend the side of a craggy cliff face, the cascading of pebbles, each driven by their own physics programming, when you let off a shot at a sloping section of the ground, how characters will position themselves so that they’re standing using the heels of another character for ballast when they switch positions upon a narrow ledge – All of these seemingly minute elements serve to create the impression that you’re playing in a fully realised and realistic representation of the world. Gameplay wise the mechanics are practically identical to that of previous instalments, only more refined; there are a few new additions such as Drake’s piton and
grapping hook and a winch you can use to traverse inaccessible areas in your vehicle, but for the most part it’s simply more of the tight and intuitive platforming and combat mechanics that anyone who has played the previous instalments will be instantly familiar with. Unfortunately, some of the gripes I had with the earlier games also make an unwelcome return, such as the bullet-sponge enemies with pinpoint precision and mapping the cover button to the evasion maneuver, creating sketchy moments where you’ll try to roll to safety and find yourself frustratingly sticking to the nearest pillar. The gunplay has always been arguably the weakest link in the Uncharted games and, whilst it’s been tweaked for the better this time around, it can still grate at times. You can use stealth to dispatch most of your enemies, which alleviates the difficulty somewhat, but at times you’ll be thrust into scripted moments where you have to face off against a phalanx of enemies and it’s these moments that will most likely cause the most frustration. The environments feel more epic and open than ever before but if you peel back the surface the game reveals itself to be as linear as the previous games, although personally this never really bothered me – I never expected an Uncharted game to offer the level of freedom of an open-world title and by restricting the player Naughty Dog en-
sure that they maintain the necessary level of control needed to present a compelling and engaging gaming experience, but I can see some people taking umbrage at these limitations on player agency.
access to performance buffs, supernatural forces and even NPC sidekicks. Judicious use of these perks can quickly turn the tide of battle and make for many neckand-neck matches that come down to the final kill.
Uncharted 4 also boasts a robust multiplayer component that plays to the strengths of the skills used in the campaign and offers up a unique online experience that stands apart from the glut of generic team-based shooters. The modes available are fairly straightforward, featuring your usual suspects of Naughty Dog’s take on Capture the Flag, Control and Team Deathmatch, but the integration of the cover mechanic and the traversal system makes for an experience where strategically waiting for the perfect opportunity to open fire and taking advantage of the increased verticality and mobility afforded by the grappling hook takes precedence over simply racking up headshots.
Boasting stellar performances from Nolan North and series newcomer Troy Baker, gleefully exchanging the series’ trademark witty banter in even the hairiest of situations, a story that’s more rooted in character dynamics, familial obligation and packing an emotional punch amongst the prerequisite jaw dropping action setpieces, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a gaming masterpiece that effortlessly merges its cinematic elements with solid and fulfilling gameplay.
The maps feature elaborate shortcuts and hiding places that take advantage of these mechanics and feature a nice variety of locales from the main game. There’s a wide selection of classic characters from all four games to choose from plus a perks system that gives players
For those of us who have followed the lovable rogue on his many adventures, it’s kind of a bittersweet closing of the curtain, in that we might never get to experience a series as impeccably accomplished as this… But, as the old adage says, don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy that it happened. I know that I, for one, can confidently say that my experience with this saga has been one of almost unmitigated joy and yes, I’m just thankful that I got to experience it.
PROS: SUBLIME STORYTELLING ENGAGING AND SATISFYING GAMEPLAY SOLID MULTIPLAYER UNPARALLELED GRAPHICS ENDEARING PERFORMANCES FROM THE CAST
CONS: COMBAT CAN BE A LITTLE ROPEY AT TIMES CERTAIN PUZZLES CAN BE A LITTLE SIMPLISTIC
9.3 /10
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Rx-Bbht5E
WRITTEN BY Sean Warhurst WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM
geek o WORST VIDEO GAME SEQUEL EVER?
your say
WHAT GAMETRADERS STAFF LOVE...
the gamer diaries:
HONEYMOON retro
WANT, HAVE, NEED
COLLECTABLE POKEMON TCG CARDS
EXPLODING KITTENS
ONE BAD DAY comics
BOARD/CARD GAMES
collectables
out
your say
WORST VIDEO GAME SEQ “Do reboots count? If so Star Wars Battlefront.” - Sam Wiliams “Flatout 3” - Angela Haines
“DRIV3R ... what a disgusting mess, what a disaster, the whole ordeal was riddled with a bunch of paying off magazines for positive reviews and other shady shenanigans.” - Kiefer Mackowiak
“Mercenaries 2”
“Dark souls 2 was not even close to the first games greatness.”
- Tristan Thorpe
- Jack Hill
“Homefront The Revolution the newest game it had biggest glitches constant game crashes.”
“Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 - Ruined my excitement and childhood memories with bugs, glitches and bland missions.”
- Pierro Awad
- Joseph Ung “Lost planet 2, I don’t even know what they were trying to do.” - Joel Phillips
“Final Fantasy X-2...gameplay was horrible, storyline dreadful and battle system appalling. Just using the characters in Final Fantasy 10 to sell the game and unfortuanltly I was so excited about it I bought it.....huge dissappointment” - Rob Brown
“Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” - Jake Dyball
“I have 25 years worth, but I’m going to choose the worst & most disappoint one. Resident Evil 6! I loved Resident Evil since the first game on PS1 & while Operation Raccoon City was bad, it wasn’t made by Capcom... but RE6 was! The story was uninspired & terrible, the enemies were bullet sponges & that includes the Zombies who should have died from the headshots, the quick time events were frequent & didn’t give you much time to react to them, the mechanics felt sloppy compared to RE4 & RE5 and to top it off... they didn’t add PS Move support to it! Yeah, I like the PS Move support on the RE5 Gold Edition & Wiimote controls on RE4 for Wii! Resident Evil 6 had a legacy to live up to & threw it in the bin to attract the “core” gaming audience that play Call of Duty. I could have picked on a retro game, but none compare to this bucket of dolphin urine. Also had to censor this for the Gametraders Magazine readers.” - Jean-Paul Bartolomei
QUEL EVER? YOU SAID... “Paper mario sticker star hands down. should’ve been called “paper toad sticker star”.” - Andrej Drenoski “Devil May Cry 2 What did Dante???” “Assassins Creed Unity how could a game as good as black flag be followed up by such a terrible game. The controls sucked and it was so broken ubisoft gave early season pass holders free games. Even after all this time and patches its still glitchy and freezes or causes you to fall through buildings off the map for no reason another thing about the games all the outfits look hideous. Also microtransactions need I say more when the game was designed to make you spend money not just here you go heres a slight improvement or advancement... so yeah worst sequel ever.” - Jarrad Bradbrook “Duke Nukem Forever... this game single handedly destroyed the Duke Nukem franchise and I doubt we’ll see another entry in the series anytime soon thanks to this turd of a game.” - Nathan Pointing
they
“Mortal Kombat 4, the change from 2D to 3D with polygonal graphics really ruined this game for me. Thankfully the technology and graphics improved in time for the sequels.” - Michael Morgan
do
to
you,
- Lauren Alam “Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky.
“Yeah Tony Hawks pro skater 5. Still went on to finish it but still buggy as all hell. Even giving free doc and adding the TMNT didn’t make me want to play again.” - Jimmy Sharpay
I’ve never played a game with a story so aggravating. I disliked it from the get-go, and it only got worse as I played. I couldn’t even finish this game, no matter how many attempts I did. I loved Blue Rescue Team, and found this/these to be horrible in comparison, story-wise. While there were slight improvements over Blue Rescue Team, they weren’t justified to make up for the horrible story. Worst thing about it is that almost everyone else enjoyed this game, and bashes me for not liking it.”
“If you could call it a sequel the fb evil genius. Just awful.”
“I tend not to play sequels. But I am horrified spyro was sold out to what ever mess skylanders is. The ps2/ps3 trilogy was beautiful. They should have left spyro there or completely remastered. Skylanders could have done without him.”
- James Mattila-Hine
- Erin-Rose Devlin
- Matt Bird
your say
WORST VIDEO GAME SEQUEL EVER? YOU SAID... “Ghost Recon 2, just wtf” - Andrew Flook “Final Fantasy X-2. It just felt so out of place from the previous titles.” - Andrew Flook “I’d have to say Payday 2” - Brandon Smith “Resident Evil 6. Feels broken.” - DeVin AzzoPardi
“Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. The sequel felt more like DLC rather than a whole game. The mechanics were tweaked & it played better but they literally had 2 of the same levels & then one level makes you go back the way you came through to finish it. Very sloppy, lazy game design that is just a quick cash grab. It was one of the contributing factors that led to LucasArts downfall apart from a number of terrible Kinect games.” - Simon Che Rodriguez
“Driver 3 or Driv3r. Whatever you call it.”
“Bomberman Act Zero. This abomination is completely devoid of the classic fun of the original.”
- Tyler Hussey
- Nige Margetts
REPLACE YOUR TIRED TOGGLE FITTED IN-STORE FOR $24.99! If your N64 controller has a tired toggle, replace it at Gametraders. Bring your old controller in for on the spot replacement!
OR DIY $19.99 TOGGLE ONLY Ask staff for details. Trade & Save on anything in-store!
WANT, HAVE, NEED
HERE’S WHAT GAMETRADERS STAFF \Welcome to a new section of Live, “Want, Have, Need” - it’s where we talk to those brave souls on the front line of retail. Those who face the daily challenges of answering customer questions, knowing how to find the hidden treasure, beating the last boss fighter and so on… our staff.
“Pop vinyls! It’s like having a small piece of your favourite superhero or villain! Pops are so cute!” “Anything retro, you’re not a true gamer if you don’t love the retro stuff.” - Annie from Gametraders Chermside.
- Dannielle from Gametraders Chermside.
“Our larp swords are so tempting to buy everytime a new one comes in, just because mock sword fights with them at home are very entertaining. Mind you, making sure customers stop their sword fight in store before other stock gets damaged (or other customers **gasp**), it could possibly be a full time job.” - AJ from Gametraders Chermside.
“No Man’s Sky! I’ve made my preorder for this and cannot wait for the game to be released. One of our customers was saying there are so many planets in this game that apparently a calculation has been done and to visit every planet if you play every day would take DECADES. I recognise at this point this is hearsay, but I’m still pretty keen to get into it. I’ve just finished Fire Watch and am hungry for another game with gorgeous graphics too, so this seems right up my alley!”
“Mini NES, because 30 games in one cute little bundle with all the best of the Nintendo games from that console. Also Pokemon Go! Getting people out, about and reliving the best times of their childhood hunting with friends! Gotta Catch em’ All! The resurgence of Harry Potter merchandise in preparation for the new book! It’s so nice to see that this is the year of revival for all ours childhood loves!” - Staff from Gametraders Marion
“I’m mostly excited about the Magic the Gathering Eldritch Moon set that’s out tomorrow! So many new Magic cards with new mechanics.
- Taylor from Gametraders Live Penrith.
2 new planeswalkers (Tamiyo and Liliana) and 3 new mechanics (Meld, Escalate and Emerge) are really going to change up standard tournaments we run in-store. I’m currently building a blue/white spirits deck and a mono black zombie deck. Going to get in as much sealed practice as I can before the Sydney GP!” - Staff from Gametraders Seaford “The big hype is the exclusive SDCC Pops - the San Diego Comic Con Pops along with the NES Nintendo Mini.” - Staff from Gametraders Macarthur Square (Campbelltown)
There’s a quick look at what our team are loving this week at Gametraders. Want to know more about what’s happening - check out the stores’ Facebook pages and join so you keep up to date with the latest releases. Also subscribe so you get our free magazines and catalogues.
BOARD/CARD GAMES
EXPLODING KITTENS Exploding Kittens is a card game for people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats.
In this highly-strategic, kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette, players draw cards until someone draws an Exploding Kitten, at which point they explode, they are dead, and they are out of the game -- unless that player has a Defuse card, which can defuse the Kitten using things like laser pointers, belly rubs, and catnip sandwiches. All of the other cards in the deck are used to move, mitigate, or avoid the Exploding Kittens. This NSFW version of the game contains the full version of Exploding Kittens, but the artwork on each card has been replaced with
content too horrible/amazing to be used in the original Exploding Kittens game. The NSFW Edition can be played with 2 to 5 players or combined with any other deck to play with up to 9 players. Created by Elan Lee (Xbox, ARGs), Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal), and Shane Small (Xbox, Marvel), Exploding Kittens is the most-backed Kickstarter project ever, and the most-funded game in Kickstarter history.
Get it at Gametraders!
“Exploding Kittens is the most-backed Kickstarter project ever, and the most-funded game in Kickstarter history.�
retro the continuing story of retro editor, paul monopoli’s gaming journey...
The Gamer diaries: We last left the Gamer Diaries in 1995, during the 16th year of my life on this earth. We will continue into 1996 next time, but for now I wanted to focus on an important event that recently happened in my life. I was lucky enough to marry the most amazing woman I have ever known on the 14th of May this year. My wife had been a close friend of mine for 11 years prior to our nuptials, so she was already fully aware of my love of video games, among my many other quirks. You might be wondering why you are reading about my wedding in the pages of a gaming magazine. Well, it’s not the wedding that I wanted to share, but rather the honeymoon. No, not THAT part of the honeymoon. I don’t think my
RETRO
wife would ever forgive me if I did that, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to read about it either. My gorgeous wife knew that I had wanted to go to Japan for a while, so that was where we went. Being that it was Japan and that I like video games, I’m sure you have probably already guessed that I went retro game hunting. “Plus I wanted to know all about Japan as I’d love to visit myself...” - Editor I kept a diary of my video gaming experiences while we were over there. Though the diary begins on the 20th, we actually left Adelaide on the 19th. After a stopover in Melbourne, we continued to Japan, and the diary picks up at this point…
20 MAY 2016 We arrived in Narita Airport at 9:30AM after an exhaustive, overnight flight. I don’t sleep well on planes, so I was pretty tired when we landed. We passed through customs, had some food at the amazing food court at the airport, and took our time planning our next move. I checked out Google Maps and figured that to get to our hotel we should probably go to Ueno station. That was a miscalculation, and one which forced us to walk for 40 minutes through a large marketplace with our heavy luggage dragging behind.
I had planned for our initial stay to be close to Akihabara, and we walked past the electric town on the way to the hotel. We could have gotten off the train there and the walk would have been half the length! After much apologising to my wife we arrived at the hotel and had a much needed shower, as it had been more than
24 hours since the last one! After freshening up and settling in to the hotel we had a bit more energy, so decided to head back to Akihabara and check it out. Walking into Akihabara, we were amazed by the sight of the Shosen Book Tower, a massive book store that was filled with people. It’s amazing how book shops in Australia are becoming scarce, yet the Japanese are still avid readers. I bought 3 volumes of the Dragonball SD manga, a copy of Dragonball Super volume 1 and a Dragonball 30th anniversary art book. A little further along the street a “Book Off” sign caught my attention. For those who are unaware, the “Off” chain of stores are second hand retail outlets. “Book
Off” specialises in books, DVDs, CDs, and video games. Upon entering I was greeted with video game accessories along the wall, and shelves full of games. I found Parodius Dai, one of the titles I had on my list of games to look out for, but at 4000yen it was a bit pricey. I did want to get one thing out of the way on my first day here; I wanted to visit the so called ‘holy grail’ of video game stores, Super Potato. Google Maps was being a little difficult, though we found it. It is true that there are shelves and shelves full of retro games, consoles, computers and peripherals. It is also true, however, that the prices are a little steep here.
one picture and immediately went to head back down the stairs. My wife asked “are you sure you don’t want to play something?”, but I declined. There are plenty of arcades in Akihabara, most of which won’t suffocate you with second hand smoke. I had a list of games and systems that I wanted to buy, and an MSX computer was on it. I found a Panasonic A1F computer for 17800yen, and a quick scout on EBay determined that this wasn’t a bad price. There was a label on it, hinting that the disc drive might not work. MSX computers have a disc drive with a rubber belt, similar to the Amstrad CPC. After having already changed the belt on my Amstrad disc drives, I knew it wouldn’t be a problem if I had to do the same for the MSX. After some consideration I decided to leave the computer for now, as there were 2 of them (plus 1 boxed for 10000yen more), as I wanted to gauge prices by checking out other shops first. After going through both levels of the shop, my wife and I decided to head up to the arcade. After climbing the stairs I was immediately repelled by the smoke that filled the room. It is legal for businesses in Japan to allow smoking, though Super Potato will only allow you to do so on the arcade level, not in the shop levels. I took
After checking out some model shops, many of which were celebrating the anniversary of the Dragon Quest franchise, we went to find food. Along the way
I could hear the 8-bit tones of the Legend of Zelda theme. My wife and I paused and noticed that there was a plush Mario slumped over a chair next to some stairs. The sign out the front said Retro Game Camp. Not being the most observant person in the world, I didn’t notice that this was one
of two stores, the other of which was across the road. We quickly headed down the stairs, as they were very narrow and someone was waiting to go up as we were going down. Retro Game Camp had a plethora of overpriced software, with some very overpriced hardware. I did pick up a copy of Snoopy’s Concert on Super Famicom for a reasonable price, so bargains can be had, even in the more expensive stores. In the corner were some consoles without prices. I would assume that these are not for sale, but I can’t read any form of Japanese, so I wouldn’t know. Among these consoles was an original Nintendo Pong unit in very nice condition. I wouldn’t have minded buying that actually… After walking past 3 Sega arcades and Taito Game Station, all on the one street, we found dinner and headed back to the hotel.
21 MAY 2016 I was mulling over whether to buy that MSX at Super Potato or not. It was a second generation MSX (known as the MSX2) and it had a disc drive, though it only had 64k. After the MSX2 was released, the MSX2+ and MSX Turbo lines followed it. Did I want a computer with more RAM, or one of the later MSX computers? What were the advantages or the later models? I had some research to do. Meanwhile, a friend of mine who was also currently in Japan suggested we investigate Nakano Broadway, a large shopping complex. After another quick trip to Super Potato we boarded the train for the shopping centre. Upon leaving the train station we were met with a swarm of people moving in and out of a long passage that was filled with shops. We wandered along the strip, though I only saw one game store. We thought that this group of shops was all there was to see, until we reached the end of the passage and were met with a large shopping complex. It was filled with a variety of stores, though Mandarake was present on most of the levels. Mandarake are a chain of second hand outlets that specialise in toys. The Nakano Broadway website told me that there was a Mandarake retro game store, along with a couple of other places to check out.
I found a retro game shop a couple of floors up that had a bin full of 100yen titles. At this point I thought “this is more like it!” I was disappointed to find that they were full of sports, horse racing and RPG titles. I ignored the 100yen bin and picked up several other games, including Fatal Fury for the Game Gear. The prices were still pretty decent, and they had some of the games that I wanted. My wife left me at the game shop to check out other stores. After wandering around, checking out the various Japanese toy shops, I stumbled upon the Mandarake retro game store. I was impressed with the layout of the shop, with each game being kept in a protective case, regardless of its condition (though this is also to prevent
At the front of the shop I saw some extremely rare items that almost entice you to come in, though they were listed as “not for sale”. I theft).
spent over an hour scouring this shop, then on the way to meeting my wife I picked up a junk Saturn controller at another store for 300yen. Physically it looks new, and controllers are easy to fix if it is broken. We wandered back to the hotel to plan what we were going to do tomorrow. My wife expressed interest in doing some shopping in Shinjuku, and I finally decided that I would buy that MSX computer.
22 MAY 2016 If you ever see me out and about, you will inevitably notice that I carry a satchel. This is because I wear glasses, and it’s far easier to carry my glasses case, prescription sunglasses, wallet, card wallet, diary and umbrella (if it looks like I’ll need it) all in one place. It’s a much better solution than having bulging pockets. Why am I telling you this? Well, my satchel served me well today, as I decided to buy the MSX computer. I can upgrade the RAM, or buy a cart to increase it at a later time. My wife suggested that we get it after we finish at Shinjuku, but I wanted her to be able to shop around without the need to rush back to Super Potato. I purchased the MSX, and it was a perfect fit for my satchel. I ended up carrying it around during the shopping trip, and though my shoulder was a little sore at the
23 MAY 2016 There were no weekend crowds, but the happiest place on earth is still VERY busy! You may not think it, but this is the place to go if you really want to experience old school gaming. After we went on all the rides, checked out the parade, did some shopping, and watched the daily fireworks show, I found the Penny Arcade. This area of the theme park features an array of
end of the day I didn’t complain. It was during this visit to Super Potato that I noticed a collection of mint-in-box, Japanese Atari 2600 cartridges near one of the store entrances. Other than that, the day was pretty devoid of video games. We decided that our next 2 days would be at Disneyland and DisneySea, as that would place it on a Monheavy, wooden games from an era where their electronic equivalents would have been considered the work of science fiction. There was a very early version of skee-ball, a soccer game, a marble maze game, a fortune teller and more. Surprisingly, this area draws a reasonable crowd of kids, many of whom would have grown up thinking that the Playstation 1 was an old console.
day and Tuesday. This should mean that we avoid the weekend crowds!
24 MAY 2016 Today we went to Disney Sea. This place is as big as Disney Land! Nothing to report on the video games front, but my wife and I had a good day.
25 MAY 2016 I found the Mandarake shopping complex in Akihabara and went straight for the retro games section. This place is bigger than the one at Nakano Broadway, with the shelves chock full of titles. I was looking for MSX games for my new computer, but every place I have been to so far has crazy prices on them! I picked up a copy of Air Zonk for the PC Engine for 2000yen cheaper than Super Potato, as well as some other titles. I eventually picked up a reasonably priced copy of Castlevania for the MSX at the other Retro Game Camp store, which we finally found. It was a good $50 cheaper than EBay prices, so I snapped it up right away. My wife bought a copy of Beauty and the Beast for the Super Famicom. Sofmap are a chain of stores in Japan with large electronics sections. Cheap prices can be found on games that are at the end of their lifecycle. Monster Hunter 4 on 3DS was available for 125yen (around $2AU), with Monster Hunter 4G being sold for 250yen. I would have purchased these, except my knowledge of Japanese is near non existent, plus I own Monster Hunter 3 on the Wii
U and I never have time to play it. I thought that the room in my luggage would be better spent on games that I would play, and could understand. Akihabara has 3 giant, multilevel Sofmap stores on the same street, each specialising in different areas, though with many similarities.
I had been told that if I had an interest in vintage computers, then ‘Beep!’ was a store that I needed to visit. Using Google Maps, I tracked down the shop only to find that
it was closed on Wednesdays. I wasn’t disappointed for too long, as right next door is the Surugaya Retro Game Store. This little shop is crammed full of retro equipment. Along the back, on top of the game shelves are a bunch of unsorted consoles. Among them was a Sega Megajet for 17,000yen. The Sega Megajet was a variant of the Megadrive that was used on airlines. It wasn’t boxed, but the price was half that of those found on EBay. We were coming back tomorrow for Beep! so I decided to leave it for today. We ARE doing this trip on a budget, so I need to keep track of my finances.
Along the way to our next stop we stumbled upon a Trader store. Trader sells second hand goods, and we found 2 stores in Akihabara, Trader and Trader 3 (which we found a few days later). I have been told that there are 4 Trader stores, but we didn’t find the other 2. Here, I found a Japanese Sega Master System for 15,000yen, a bargain compared to EBay and Japan Yahoo Auctions sites. It was advertised as having damaged controllers and no manual. As with the Megajet, I left this console for another day. I also saw a PC Engine Duo RX, one of the consoles on by bucket list, for 50,000yen. I figured that I HAD to find one cheaper elsewhere, and moved on. Trader also had a ‘junk bin’ where untested or poor condition games and peripherals can be purchased at low prices. My wife found an Alice in Wonderland cartridge for the Famicom in the bin and purchased that, while I bought a boxed copy of Sailor Moon R for the Super Famicom. That one wasn’t in the bin!
prices in excess of $1200AU. This unit was 70,000yen, which isn’t a bad buy. I waited in the wings while negotiations were on, toying with the idea of buying the console if a lower price couldn’t be agreed on. In the end the customer purchased it for 70,000yen, but had to go to an ATM to get more money.
While researching places to buy games, I found an article that mentioned a small retro gaming shop called ‘Friends’. It’s a bit out of the way, and if you blink you’ll miss the entrance. The article describes it as a small “mom and pop” shop, which is exactly what it is. The ‘mom’ was sat behind the counter, cleaning cartridges with the utmost of care. The ‘pop’ was nowhere to be seen, only emerging when a customer tried to negotiate a lower price on a PC Engine LT. The PC Engine LT is a PC Engine ‘laptop’ that fetches
That night I tested my MSX by playing Castlevania. I had difficulty, as without a controller I had to use the keyboard, which was slow to respond to commands. This version of the game differs greatly from the NES, which is a straight platformer. The MSX release is a platforming puzzler, something I wasn’t expecting. You are required to find hidden keys to unlock doors that will allow you to progress through the level. After playing Castlevania I soaked my sore feet and went to bed.
This is something I should highlight. If you go to Japan most of the shops will only accept cash. Large places, such as Sofmap and Mandarake, will take EFTPOS, but smaller stores tend not to. It is also a good idea to carry cash on you when you go out for dinner, as you will find the same is true of restaurants, and some of the best food can be found in smaller places. The prices at Friends were quite steep, moreso than at Super Potato. The PC Engine Duo RX I was looking for was 55,000yen, with a yellowed model for 30,000. I like my consoles in good condition, so I left empty handed.
26 MAY 2016 I am a huge Dragonball fan, and as such I wanted to play Dragonball Heroes at an arcade. I already owned the
3DS port of the game, but there is nothing like playing the original version. The game requires you to purchase a ‘Hero License’, which is a card that stores all of your save data, as well as player cards. The player cards are used in the game itself, and almost every Dragonball character and transformation is represented. There are even some non-cannon cards, such as a Goku and Mr Satan fusion. The problem was that I had difficulty finding a Hero License to get started. The arcades would have vending machines that supplied various cards for various games, but Dragonball Heroes was out of stock. Luckily Akihabara is full of card shops, so I was able to track down a Dragonball Heroes GT starter pack. This contained the Hero License, plus 5 cards to use in the game. Along with this I purchased a bunch of extra cards from a shop in the Radio Kan Kan shopping complex.
I went to Gigo Sega, where I knew they had a few Dragonball Heroes machines. Having played the 3DS version of the game, I was already familiar with the menu and game mechanics. Each time you play, the arcade machine will give you a new card to use in the game. I only had 3 games, as I didn’t want to keep my wife waiting. After these games we ventured out to Hachioji. I had read about a shopping complex that was comprised solely of ‘Off’ stores. It has a Book Off, Hard Off (mainly hardware), Hobby Off (mainly toys, statues and cards) and Mode Off. Mode Off is a clothing shop, so I thought that my wife would be able to shop there while I searched for video games. Upon leaving the train station we were presented with a Book Off just up the road. I grabbed a cheap copy of Sonic Advance 2 and a couple of other titles, but there were no other Off stores. A Google Map search showed that the complex I was looking for was a 20 minute walk away. We headed through the suburbs and arrived at our destination. My wife and I
checked out Book Off together, but she eventually left to investigate Mode Off. In Book Off I left with 2 large bags full of DS titles, and more, then walked into Hard Off and was taken aback by the amount of consoles and games that were on display. It was confusing seeing two large shops in the same shopping complex, owned by the same company, selling the same products. I walked away with another bag of games, and a Nintendo64 memory expansion for 500yen. They had a bunch of them, and I regret not buying more. After this my wife and I checked out Hobby Off. I have never seen so many Godzilla toys in one place before! There were some newer arcade machines at the back, various toys and collector cards galore. Before heading to the train station we stopped off for dinner. I had the most amazing Japanese curry at this restaurant, but I can’t remember its name!
27 MAY 2016 Today we went back to Beep! only to find that it was still closed. There was a collection of people at the top of the stairs that lead down to the shop, so I assumed it would soon be open. I went next door to the Surugaya Retro Game Store and finally purchased the Megajet. When Beep! opened we
was amazed at the amount of old computers that were on display. ventured downstairs and I
There was an FM Towns, Sharp X68000, PC-98, MSX computers and many more. They also sold consoles and arcade boards near the back, with some home-brew MSX games available for sale. My MSX computer didn’t come with its controller, but I managed to find the matching Panasonic one here for only 2000yen.
I saw a Sega Mark 3 for 19,000yen. This was a higher price than the Master System that I saw at Trader. The main difference between the consoles
is that the Japanese Master System features onboard FM sound, something that is missing from PAL and US versions of the console. FM sound was available for the Mark 3 as an add on, but the price of the unit was as much as the Master System! I decided to go back to Trader another time and buy it, but today we had other things to do. My wife had found a chibi Sailor Moon figure at Radio Kan Kan the day before, and wanted to try to find the set. While here, I found a bunch of Dragonball Heroes cards at a card shop called ‘Yellow Submarine’ to add to my deck. I was trying to get at least one of each character for my folder, and the strongest heroes for my team. That evening we went to Tokyo Tower which was currently featuring a One Piece exhibition. We went all the way up to 250 metres and the scenery at night time was amazing.
28 MAY 2016 As well as having an extensive console collection, I also own an arcade machine and collect arcade boards. I had found a shop called G-Front which sold arcade equipment, and discovered that it was right next door to Friends, where I had been a couple of days earlier. We made our way back there and I
purchased a copy of Puyo Puyo Sun for the Sega ST-V arcade system for 1000yen, and King of Fighters ’99 for 1500yen. My wife suggested that we check out Friends again, but there was nothing new to be seen. I also dropped by Trader to check out the PC Engine Duo RX and Sega Master System. I wanted to hold out on the PC Engine, but was still pretty sure I wanted the Master System My wife wanted to check out Harajuku, so we made our way to the shopping district. I did not see any retro game stores in the area.
29 MAY 2016 Today my wife wanted to check out the famous Shibuya Scramble. I found that there was a Mandarake and a Yahoo Off at Shibuya. Yahoo Off is simply a Book Off that was rebranded with the Yahoo logo. While the Mandarake store had no video games I did score a cheap copy of Ikaruga for the Gamecube at Yahoo Off. We were walking along and out of the blue my wife asked me “are they dressed as Mario Kart characters?” I looked over, and there were a bunch of people on the road, in go-karts, dressed as Mario characters. Considering this part of Japan is really busy, I’m not sure I would have been game to drive around on a kart!
30 MAY 2016 Today was our last full day in
I decided to purchase the Sega Master System from Trader. It turns out that the Akihabara.
controllers were not actually broken. In Japan the Sega Master System has a joystick that screws into the middle of the directional pad. It was assumed that these were missing, but they were hidden away with the AV cable, so there was no damage and the console was complete. As for the
manual, I have a lot of consoles that don’t have their manuals, plus it would have been in Japanese & I wouldn’t have understood it anyway. No great loss there. At Trader I asked for a tax free transaction, but they didn’t offer this service. There are stores that do, and If you go to Japan you should always ask if the store does tax free to save yourself a few yen. It’s not a huge saving, but what you get back can be spent on more games, right?
Later that day we went back to the Shosen Book Tower, as they have a section dedicated to learning Japanese. We purchased the first 2 books in the Genki Language series, did one more sweep through the shops of Akihabara, with my wife finding some more Sailor Moon figures, then we had an early dinner and got to sleep.
31 MAY 2016 The morning saw us leaving the hotel and riding on the Shinkansen to Osaka. The train station has a Seven Eleven with prepacked box lunches. I purchased a teriyaki chicken with rice, yellow bean, mince and pickled vegetables. For 800yen, this was an amazing meal! When we arrived at the hotel in Osaka it was still pretty early in the day and we weren’t exhausted yet. We decided to take the train to Den Den Town and investigate. Den Den Town is considered to be a small version of Akihabara, though the buildings are more spread out. Upon leaving the train station and turning left we saw another Super Potato. Everyone talks about the Super Potato in Akihabara, but there are more of them in Osaka. This particular store had several PC Engine Duo RX consoles on display at 48,500yen. This was cheaper than Tokyo, but in general the prices of consoles were a lot more expensive. Software was a few hundred yen cheaper. We walked to the main street and quickly found another Super Potato. This one also had cheaper games, but more expensive hardware. Some of the best prices I saw for software were at a place called Atoo Media Recycle Shop. I picked up some PC Engine games for 300yen, though the PC Engine Duo RX I had been chasing down was priced at 90,000yen here! On a side note, Atoo do offer tax free shopping, so I highly
recommend going there at least once. The final game shop we found was Retoro Game Revival (not a misspelling). This place is run by a couple of older men who do not speak any English, so be sure to carefully select your purchases and have payment ready. They have a large selection of MSX
computers in the upstairs part of the shop, but they are a good 10,000yen+ more than I paid for my system. We also checked out some card shops, where I bought some more Dragonball Heroes cards, and my wife found a couple more Sailor Moon figures.
1 june 2016 Today we visited Port Osaka, the home of the Kaiyukan Aquarium. Though not video game related, this is a ‘must see’ place if you’re in the area. Across from the aquarium is a small shopping centre with an arcade. The Lego Discovery Centre is also located here, but the pamphlet states that you cannot enter without a child. We didn’t know if this was a joke or not, but it looked legit, so we didn’t go. We did find a Luigi’s Mansion Arcade game. I was not aware that this existed until I walked down the stairs and saw the poster at the bottom of the stair case. The cabinet is concealed with a curtain, presumably to create the illusion of being in the mansion. You pick up the vacuum cleaner controller that has a button on top for the flashlight on and the button on the bottom that activates the ghost trapping suction. I had a game on my own while waiting for my wife to finish some shopping, but she joined me for two further games afterwards. The aquarium involved a lot of walking, so after dinner we made our way back to the hotel to relax.
2 june 2016 Today we went to Universal Studios, which again, was not video game related. The Back To The Future ride had closed on the 31st of May. That’s right, I missed it by TWO DAYS!! I was devastated!!! The whole area was shut off, so I was unable to even look at the DeLorean that was allegedly on display. Still, my wife got to spend lots of time at Hogsmead, embracing her Harry Potter fandom.
3 june 2016 Today was our final full day in Osaka, and our luggage was weighing us down. A post office was up the road from our hotel, so I mailed back a big box of video games, 2 of my wife’s Rozen Maiden dolls, my Dragonball books, and our language books. Our next two stops are Kyoto, which is nearly devoid of any retro gaming, then back to Narita for 2 nights. I decided to just give up and pay 48,500yen for the PC Engine Duo RX at the Super Potato by the train station. After that I took one final look at both Super Potato stores, Atoo and Retoro Game Revival for PC Engine games. We also took one more look for Sailor Moon figures for my wife. She wasn’t after the whole set, just the inner guardians, transformed and untransformed. We couldn’t find Usagi, so ended up buying her online.
4 june 2016 Kyoto is one of the most peaceful places I have visited on this trip. Interestingly enough, everything closes at 5PM or 6PM, whereas in Tokyo and Osaka they remain open until 8PM or 9PM, sometimes later. Supermarkets are the exception. We are staying at a guest house called Hennka that is up the hill on the very fringe of the town, with a view of the city on one side and nothing but hills and trees on the other. Nothing video game related to report, but I just had to mention how amazing this place is after the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and Osaka. On a side note, I am so glad that I posted a box of stuff back. Our luggage was so much lighter!
5 june 2016 Today we visited the Toei Studios in Kyoto, the home of many samurai movies. There
was an animation museum full of memorabilia from Dragonball, Sailor Moon, One Piece and more. It’s a nice, cheap place to spend the day.
6 june 2016 I wish we had spent more time in Kyoto. The guest house was amazing, and the hostess was lovely. We’ll be sending her a present when we return to say thank you. Off to Narita via the Shinkansen for our final two nights. They say that Japanese hotels are tiny, but the Nikko Narita has a lot more of a Western feel to it. The rooms are quite large, and very comfortable.
7 june 2016 Our last full day in Japan saw us head off to Narita Mall. We were planning on going back to Akihabara, but decided to stay in the local area. Narita Mall has a large Book Off, with some very reasonable prices. I walked away with a few Gameboy Advance games for 108yen, boxed & in nice condition. I picked up Bomber King on the Famicom for 250yen, boxed but without manual. I also grabbed a bunch of Dragonball Heroes cards for 30yen each! Total bargain!
8 june 2016 We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I purchased extra luggage allowance, though I didn’t need to. My wife wasn’t over 20kg at all, and I was only 3kg over the limit. Oh well… We had some more of the amazing airport food and my wife purchased some mochi to take home to her parents. We relaxed and reflected on the trip. We plan to return in 2 years time, after we’ve had a chance to learn a little of the language with the textbooks we purchased. Our flight isn’t until later on tonight, so I suspect I’ll be really tired when we arrive back in Adelaide.
9 june 2016 So tired… totally called it! Sadly my Sega Megajet was ever so slightly cracked in the luggage. It’s barely noticeable, but it does slightly affect the opening of the cartridge port. I was initially devastated, but have gotten over it… Now I have to wait 2 months for the video games I sent to arrive!
16 july 2016 Day 2 of AVCon saw me hosting the Super Video Game Trivia Challenge, a couple of tournaments, but there was some stuff external to the convention that left me really tired and, quite frankly, annoyed. Upon arriving home I saw a post office card inserted into the door frame. The tracking number ended in JP, and as I wasn’t expecting anything else from Japan I could only conclude that this is our Japanese loot! Receiving it early was a nice surprise, though not being here for it sucked… Our post office is only open Monday to Friday 9-5 unfortunately. My wife will try to pick it up on Tuesday. Her job is a little more flexible with that sort of arrangement than mine.
19 july 2016 My wife arrived home with the big box that I remember lugging from our hotel in Osaka to the post office. I opened it up to find games I don’t even remember buying! There is the stack of cheap DS games I picked up at Hachioji Book Off, some Super Famicom titles I picked up along the way… So much stuff! I suppose I can conclude this edition of the Gamer Diaries - Honeymoon 2016. For more of the stuff I do check out retrospekt.com.au, follow Retrospekt on Facebook or check out my Twitter account @ dizrythmia!
WRITTEN BY paul monopoli
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collectables
COLLECTABLE POKÈ With Pokemon GO setting the universe on fire and even having a President playing (yes the President of Israel, Mr Reuven Rivlin recently posted a picture of a Meowth in the presidential residence in Jerusalem), we thought we’d take another look at the most collectable of Pokemon TCG cards.
Firstly we need to talk about “grading cards” that is defining the grade of your collectable card. Doing some research we found most collectors recommend PSA Grading - PSA grading is the (and I’m now quoting from their About section on their website) the largest and most trusted third-party grading and authentication company in the world. PSA is the preferred choice of collectors, dealers and auction houses worldwide. PSA has processed over 20 million cards and collectibles with a cumulative declared value of over a billion dollars. Founded by PSA in 1998 in response to widespread counterfeiting, forgery and piracy of autographed collectibles, PSA/DNA is the world’s leading third-party authentication service for autographs and memorabilia. PSA stands for Professional Sport Authenticator and they have a Grading Process page you can visit
here so if you’re wanting to grade a rare card, they show you the process: psacard.com/services/psagradingprocess
Now that we’ve got that out the way, here’s a couple very valuable Pokemon Cards: The Charizard card 1st edition Shadowless PSA 9. This card is so rare it sells for around $2,400 to $3000 on Ebay. Yes that much. If it’s a genuine PSA grading 9 or 10, it raises the value of the card particularly if it’s in mint condition. Pikachu Illustrator Cards: Apparently there are only 5 of these in circulation. They are described and the rarest Pokemon cards known and their value keeps rising year after year. The card is unique in that rather then having “Trainer” at the top of the card it instead has the title “Illustrator”. As you can see from the image below the title Illustrator is at the top of this Japanese card ( we got the image from bulbapedia under “fair use”) and it was awarded to a few winners of contests in 1997. Three winners who had to illustrate a card for the Illust Artist
Contest - where readers of CoroCoro Comic were invited to draw their favourite Pokemon and submit to the contest. The 3 winners were given 20 printed copies of their illustrated card along with a copy of this rare card. According to Bulbapedia: “A further 20 entrants received the Excellence Award, each of them awarded a copy of this card.” So this one is mighty rare. Pricing on Ebay? We can only see one and it’s got a listing of $100,000 with 210 people watching. Wow!
ÈMON TCG CARDS!
If you’d like to know some more about rare cards take a listen to DJ Gigabyte who we interviewed last year. His video on Youtube is pretty descriptive and this guy knows his cards: https://youtu.be/rtEhemPg0zM
comics
ONE BAD DAY
Every now and then a comic book comes along that shocks the world. One that transcends the very nature of the medium and takes it from being just a comic book to a place of high regard. Let’s talk about THE comic that did this. The Killing Joke. The Killing Joke was released in 1981, written by mastermind writer Alan Moore and drawn by Brian Bolland. It launched with fury into the world and became quite controversial. It took us into the dark gutters of Gotham City and gave us a look inside the head of Gotham’s most infamous resident. The Joker. That’s right The Killing Joke is really the first time we got a peak at who the Joker might have been before the make up, the smiles and the murder. Of course we don’t know if this story he tells to Batman is really true, but he presents the tale of a failed stand up comedian who, through some bad choices winds up having the worst day of his life, ending with a vat of chemicals and one hell of a laugh. This comic brings us the only really back story for the character. It gives you just enough to get you interested but doesn’t give enough to blow the mystique of DC’s best character.
The story itself is one of the most messed up comics out there.
Suddenly you are taken to the darkest story in the entire Batman universe. The moment the Joker shoots Barbra Gordon (Batgirl/ Commissioner Gordon’s daughter) in the spine, rendering her a paraplegic. He then strips her naked and takes photos of her. The Joker then kidnaps Jim Gordon and forces him to look at the photos of what he had done to his daughter. It’s one of those singular moments that highlight who the Joker really is. The Killing Joke became an instant classic when it was released and brought a horrible and graphic sense of reality to superhero comics. The story was highly controversial at the time and some may argue still is. Children were reading Batman and this was no children’s story.. Evil wins. NOW! The main event! The Killing Joke has just been adapted as a DC Animated feature film! It will hit shelves on the 3rd of August 2016. We can safely say this is the most anticipated movie DC have done so far. To take one of their best comics of all time and animated it with the great Mark Hamill reprising his role as the Joker for one last time. The world is dripping with excitement at the prospect of this film being released. I am beside myself excited. It is fantastic that in 2016 people are still looking to these seminal stories and drawing in-
spiration from them. Also that in 2016 filmmakers are able to get away with a lot more honest, frank and graphic content that they would never have been able to once upon a time. The world is finally ready for THE KILLING JOKE! So when you get to see the film or maybe pick up the comic for a re-read. Just remember that madness is only one bad day away!
BY scott f. sowter
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GAMETRADERS LIVE MILDURA August 14th MTG Eldritch Moon Game Day start 12.30pm August 26th FNM Launch Party Conspiracy: Take The Crown Pokémon both TCG & VG, MTG FNM, MTG Constructed Tournaments, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Star Wars X-Wing, Warhammer 40k, Cardfight!! Vanguard, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros & Ultra Street Fighter IV Tournaments, plus heaps more. For event details and times, please check: www.facebook.com/GametradersMildura/events
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S STORE EVENTS
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MACKAY Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 4pm Magic the Gathering - Friday 6pm MTG Monday Night Modern - Monday 6pm Pokémon - Monday 4pm Board Game Night - Monday 6pm
MORAYFIELD Magic the Gathering Modern - Wednesday 7pm Magic the Gathering Commander - Thursday 7pm Magic the Gathering Standard - Friday 7pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Thursday 7pm & Sunday 2pm Pokémon - Saturday 12pm Magic the Gathering Learn to Play - Saturday 12pm LARP Tournaments - Saturday 6pm
NEW SOUTH WALES BLACKTOWN Advanced Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 10:30am Magic the Gathering - Thursday 6:30pm & Sunday 10:30am
MACARTHUR SQUARE (CAMPBELLTOWN) Yu-Gi-Oh - Wednesday 5:30pm
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GAMETRADERS LIVE PENRITH Cardfight!! Vanguard - Saturday 5pm Magic the Gathering - Friday 7pm Pokémon - Saturday 12pm X-Wing - Wednesday 7pm Dragon Ball Z - Thursday 6pm Force of Will - Friday 7:30pm Buddyfight - Saturday 12pm My Little Pony - Saturday 5pm Demo board games from Wednesday through to Saturday.
GAMETRADERS LIVE HORNSBY Magic the Gathering (Standard) - Monday 4pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Tuesday 4pm & Sunday 12pm Pokémon - Tuesday 4pm & Sunday 2pm Magic the Gathering (Draft) - Wednesday 4pm & 7pm Hearthstone Fireside Gathering + Tournament - Wednesday 6pm Board Games - Thursday 7pm Magic the Gathering (FNM) - Standard Fridays 4pm & 6pm (Standard, Modern, Draft) Super Smash Bros - Saturday 1pm Magic the Gathering (Commander) - Sunday 2pm For more special events and tournaments please visit: www.facebook.com/GametradersHornsby
SOUTH AUSTRALIA INGLE FARM Yu-Gi-Oh - Saturday 12pm
MARION Pokémon - Saturday 2pm Cardfight!! Vanguard - Tuesday 6pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Wednesday 6pm Magic the Gathering - Friday 6pm
SEAFORD FREE Monday Night Magic - (Standard/Constructed) 6pm (5:30pm registration) My Little Pony - Tuesday 5pm (4:30pm registration) Video Game Tournaments - Tuesday 6pm (5:30pm registration) Dungeons and Dragons - Wednesday 6pm (5:30pm registration) Board Game Nights - Wednesday from 5-8pm Dragon Ball Z TCG Tournament - Thursday 5:30pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Thursday 6pm (5:30pm registration) Cardfight!! Vanguard - Friday 4:30pm Friday Night Magic - Draft 6pm (5:30pm registration) Pokémon - Sunday 1pm (12:30 registration)
MT. BARKER X-Wing Night - Thursday 6pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Saturday 4pm Magic the Gathering - Sunday 1pm
SALISBURY Magic the Gathering - Friday 6pm (5:30 registration) Yu-Gi-Oh - Monday 6pm (5:30 registration) & Saturday 1pm (12:30 registration) Pokémon - Sunday 1pm (12:30 registration)
GAMETRADERS STORE EVENTS
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Tournaments are subject to change. Please check with your local store on tournament times before attending. Visit www.gametraders.com.au/facebook to find your local stores Facebook page.
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COSPLA soylent cosplay cosplay interview
what a big camera PHOTOGRAPHER interview i got superpowers PHOTOGRAPHER interview
ATTENTION TO DETAIL WITH MIKE ROLLERSON
HOW TO SURVIVE A CON WITH FALCON VISUALS
AY WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN MY CON BAG BY CHATTY ANNY
COSPLAY
SOYLENT www.facebook.com/SoylentCosplay
Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88
Welcome to LIVE Magazine Jennifer, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us! Would you mind telling our readers a bit about yourself?
Since you’re a professionally trained make-up artist as well as a cosplayer, how does that influence your cosplay?
that, it’s always very rewarding to walk around a convention showing off your shared fandom and your hard work with your best friend.
Sure! My name is Jennifer, also known as Soylent Cosplay, and I’m 23 and live in Queanbeyan, Australia. I’ve been cosplaying for roughly 5 years now, as primarily video game and comic book characters. I first started back in 2011 because I really enjoyed the idea of donning a costume and becoming someone else. I’ve always been interested in changing the way I look, so doing cosplay just seemed like the next step to scratch that itch! I also really enjoyed the challenge of making a character come to life as realistically as possible.
My makeup background influences my character choices quite heavily, I think. I don’t think I’ve ever been satisfied with just doing a beauty makeup for a cosplay – probably because that’s something I could do everyday if I wanted to. I love the challenge of an alien skin tone, or elf ears, or scars, or horns, or prosthetics – just all of that! I love bringing the fantasy and the fiction into reality. I adore special effect makeup and creature makeups in movie or TV shows, so I’m exploring that through transforming myself. When I cosplay, I always want to be either a better version of myself, or someone completely different that embodies the traits I’d love to see in myself. Perhaps it’s just that better version of myself happens to come from another world haha!
What projects are you currently working on, or are excited to start working on?
You’ve cosplayed from a broad range of genres, but what costume would you say you have the most connection to cosplaying? In terms of an emotional connection – as strange as that sounds – Liara T’Soni is definitely at the top. When I was first thinking of cosplaying Liara I wasn’t 100% sure I could pull it off. However, when I did my first makeup test and got a very positive reaction, it really gave me that drive to create her as accurately as I could. I wanted to give her the credit I thought she, and the game Mass Effect, deserved. So, although the costume isn’t the most comfortable to wear, she makes me feel strong and confident when I do and that’s what I look for the most when I’m picking characters to cosplay. She also happens to be my first ‘proper’ cosplay that I was truly proud of, so there’s a bit of sentimentality in there too.
You often cosplay alongside your partner, Jarreth – how does that differ your cosplay experience from cosplaying solo? Cosplaying with Jarreth is definitely a different experience from going solo. It’s not more or less fun exactly, it’s just fun in a different way! It’s always exciting to be part of a couple or a group in cosplay because it really drives home the feeling of cosplay comradely. So cosplay with your partner just adds another fun layer to that! Of course it’s also more difficult as I usually make both of our costumes and need to do double the makeup when we wear them. But, despite
ONLINE:
I’m currently working on a Cirilla cosplay from Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Sydney Supanova, which I’m quite pleased with so far and can’t wait to wear. Another couple of cosplays that I’m planning soon are San from Princess Mononoke and Widowmaker from Overwatch. What was your first convention, and your first costume? Ok, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I did my first ‘costume’ back in 2008, when I attempted to make my own Naruto cosplay from scratch. I wore it to Animania – which was a very small convention at the time – with a small group of friends who were also willing to wear very badly made costumes so we could be a group. There’s only one photo from that convention, and I have it hanging on my wall to remind me where I’ve come from haha! Where can our readers find you after this? Please feel free to check out my work on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/soylentcosplay which is updated the most frequently. And outside of that I also have: Deviantart: soylent-cosplay.deviantart.com, Instagram: www.instagram.com/soylentcosplay_jen
and Twitter! twitter.com/Salviar
www.facebook.com/soylentcosplay soylent-cosplay.deviantart.com www.instagram.com/soylentcosplay_jen twitter.com/Salviar
Photographer: Lorenzo So | www.facebook.com/lorenzosophotography Photographer: Maddic Photography | www.facebook.com/maddicphotography
Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88
Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88
Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88
Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88
Photographer: Hannah O’Neill | www.facebook.com/hannahoneillphotography
COSPLAY
what a
BIG camera
KRIS EZERGALLIS
One of our favourite people to talk to is the talented and much respected Kris Ezergallis from What a Big Camera. Kris is a professional photographer equally at home on location or in the studio and focuses (sorry about the pun) on people photography. He’s been into cosplay for years and has established himself as one of Australia’s premier cosplay shooters. We caught up with Kris and asked him what’s coming up in 2016? 2016 I’ll be trying to follow both the Supanova and OZ Comic Con tours, along with SMASH! and perhaps AVCon if there’s time and money. I’ll also be trying to find time to do as much local photography as possible.
This year is promising for superhero movies and that usually has a flowon effect into cosplay. What’s new in gear? There’s a few people bringing high power flash gear to conventions now, and shooting high speed sync in daylight. It’s amazing to see the variety of results people are getting with similar boxes! Nikon have just announced their new monster but for the first time in forever I’m not keen on the numbers. Hopefully this year will see a few more prime lenses appear in my bag, and maybe some cool new battery flashes. I’ve got my eye on the Profoto B2 set.
Tell us about your style of photography and what changes you’re seeing in cosplay photography. It’s cool to see a lot more cosplay people trying their hand at modelling in other styles that they enjoy. There’s also a few publishing houses recognising their cosplaying fans booking them for promotional work. Photo styles are developing really quickly and the competition for recognition is bringing out the best in people. There are people excelling in many areas. There’s a resurgance in narrative rich photos taking advantage of natural and created scenery and posing to tell as much of the story as possible. As people start to recognise the long term investment in big lenses there’s a lot of super shallow depth of field photos that are really isolating the subject from the clutter of conventions. The most exciting trend is towards the ultra contrast of high power flash photos and the vast variety that different photographers are producing. Can you share 5 quick tips: Consider if your photo is going to be interesting to look at. Scan the edges of the frame, try to avoid any distractions. Look for an unusual angle. Take inspiration from the art world, not just other cosplay photographers. Time your social media posts for when your audience is awake.
www.facebook.com/WhatABigCamera
COSPLAY
I GOT SUPER
POWERS
Cosplay Photography www.facebook.com/GotSuperpowers When did IGSP start and how did it come about? Nathan: IGSP started from our passion for pop culture, especially comic books and anime. We started as a blog reviewing comics, anime, toys and video games. We started by casually photographing cosplayers at cons, then we caught the photography bug - and thing has never been the same since. We have some really amazing cosplayers here and they’ve been the fuel to keep us going! Angelo: I believe it was December 2010 when we officially started. It was just Nathan and I at the time. That’s when we launched the brand, the website property and started shooting at cons. I Got Superpowers originally started purely as a blog review covering comics, anime and video games. Little did we know that cosplay was a huge part of it all. We didn’t even consider ourselves cosplay photographers! Now you’ve grown - why and how did that happen? Nathan: Why - I believe that’s due to our passion and the support of the cosplay community. How - We met plenty of great cosplayers at cons but there were not many cosplay photographs floating at the time. We then decided to give more focus on the cosplays at cons and provided a mean for these cosplayers to show their work through our social media channels and website. Angelo: Fast forward a little bit, we eventually decided to focus on cosplay photography. As we discovered
it to be a fascinating creative outlet. And we wanted to take it further. The key was doing something that nobody else in South Australia was doing at the time. That was to photograph everyone at cons, give everyone the time and attention they deserve and showcase them on a digital platform that everyone can recognise. Charlie: I joined the team in late 2014, I was fairly fresh to cosplay as a genre and the team took me under their wing and have helped me develop my confidence thus adding another string to the teams bow. We now hit conventions together and know that we will cover the majority of community at local conventions. Elle: I joined the team in late 2015, but Angelo and Nathan originally approached me at Oz Comic Con in 2012! I remember trying to politely decline because I felt bad that I didn’t even own a charger for my camera! Thankfully, the issue has since been resolved and I feel much better about my ability to participate today, haha. You’ve photographed some of the most popular cosplayers across the globe, can you tell us about some of those shoots. What about those just starting out - do you still work with those cosplayers? Nathan: It’s been amazing and humbling. Working with these cosplayers has been a source of inspiration and keep me motivated to better myself as a photographer. It’s also a privilege to be able to work and grow together with some amazing local talents on a regular basis!
Being a non-profit organisation, each IGSP photographer has the freedom to take up any projects that interest them - IGSP works with cosplayers on all levels. Angelo: It’s been an amazing journey. We would have never thought that we would be able to do what we do today. And it still remains a challenge for the most part because not all of us have the resources to travel interstate or overseas on a regular basis. But we’ve been lucky so far that our local cons have attracted big names to come to South Australia. That is the beauty of why we do what we do. We’ve managed to stay true to our humble beginnings and choose to help out those who are trying to make a name for themselves. It’s a nice feeling when you know that our hard work has influenced if not directly contributed to the creative growth of an individual cosplayer who would then go on and do bigger and greater things. Charlie: What a blessing being part of IGSP has been. To have had the opportunity to work with some of the faces I have is down to IGSP’s good reputation and solid brand. I never imagined in the beginning that I would get the chance to work with Yaya Han, that for me was a highlight and it will stay with me for a long time. I also like to meet new people to the scene, working with them and seeing them encouraged by the images we can create together. Elle: While I do produce a lot of work featuring cosplayers that I’ve established a relationship with over the years, I’m always on the look-out
I Got Super Powers: Nathan, Angelo, Charlie & Elle
and trying to pull new faces aside to add to my list of collected cosplay souls. Tell us about how you prepare for a con. Do you pre book shoots with people? Like guests etc? On the day - what gear do you take? Nathan: I sometimes prebook shoots with people based on request, but not in general. All the guests have been very accommodating with my shoot requests without bookings. To me, con is unique opportunity to meet a wide range of cosplayers, so I usually pack light, ie. my camera and flashgun/ small modifier, so I can move around easily. This also gives me the flexibility to use the environment and have fun! Angelo: We normally don’t pre-book. Now that we’re a larger team, it’s really up to the individual if they want to pre-book someone. We’re pretty liberal on how tackle a con. Each member is free to do as they please in addition to some key task(s) that they’ve been assigned prior. I like to be mobile, so I take only what I need and portable. For example, I bring my flashguns instead of studio lights. Charlie: I take a run and gun kit. I like to be able to walk the con and have what I need to hand to shoot quickly. My must have is a hand held reflector. I do like to touch base with a few people to plan shoots so that I have some structure to my weekend. Elle: I’m actually quite shy as well, so up until very recently I’ve just been heading in and nervously asking people at random. I’ve only just started to entertain the idea of scheduling sessions with cosplayers and guests through Charlie’s inspiring initiative! Fortunately I work with natural light, which means I can travel pretty light
for convenience! My con kit consists of my camera, one kickass portrait lens (almost weighing 1kg by itself) and my trusty reflector.
nect in person as much as possible as well, for example we might catch up for lunch or have a chat in passing between shots.
During the day - how do you all work as a team? So it’s the end of the day, do you guys sit and talk about the day or?
What about post processing - do you have a set guide so you have that IGSP look?
Nathan: We have plenty of opportunity to shoot what we want during the day. We go to the con with an idea how we’re going to tackle the day as a team, and we do our best to keep each other updated regularly throughout the day. At the end of the day we share about our day and bounce off each other’s ideas and experiences. Angelo: Communication is key. We try to keep in touch and constantly remind each other of what’s next on our agenda. And since everyone has a specific task, we can collectively achieve a lot during the weekend as a team. For sure, we love to talk and share what we discovered that day. And we look at each other’s work and offer some advice on how we could have achieved a better result. Charlie: Conventions are fast paced. We don’t get much down time, we do try and take a lunch break together. We discuss plans in the run up to a con, may it be shoot plans and cosplays we have an interest in. Once the day is over its home to back up our shoots and prepare gear for the following day and select a few images for same day sharing on our social media. Elle: We always try to stay connected with each other throughout the day by using the Facebook group chat. The day quickly becomes action packed but we still try to con-
Nathan: We don’t have a postprocessing guide as that would be counter-productive to your personal development as a photographer. Each member of the team has a unique approach to photography and we very much encourage that to continue to strive to be the best you can be. The “IGSP look” comes from us having a similar approach and attitude to cosplay photography to begin with. Angelo: There are no specific filters or techniques that we use if that’s what you’re asking. We encourage each member to do what they do best. To enhance and improve their own unique style and voice. We recognise that the photographer’s journey never ends. And the only way is up. There are important factors that we consider when we recruit new members. It’s this very process that when done right, then there is no need for an “IGSP filter”. Charlie: IGSP has a strong identity for quality work but this doesn’t mean we all work to the same formula when it comes to our post work. The main objective is to enjoy your work and produce images that you are proud of. Elle: We are encouraged to maintain our own personality when it comes to the presentation of our images, which is just one of the ways the I Got Superpowers platform shows its support for the integrity of its photographers as individual artists. Do you deliver to the cosplayers or how else do they see what you
have done? Finally any tips for new photographers attending cons. And where can readers go to see more? Nathan: Tips for new photographers: 1. Develop your own unique style, and 2. Respect the community. For con shots, our Facebook: facebook.com/gotsuperpowers and Instagram (@gotsuperpowers) are the places to go. Angelo: I believe that we’ve built a strong brand that people will automatically know where to find our work. Our official IGSP sets can be found on our website and everything else on our social media channels.
Love what you do. Discover your own style. It takes time. Contribute to the cosplay community. Build not break. And be nice. Charlie: When it comes to convention work we post to our social media, sets that we shoot are more of a communication process that starts with collaborating with the cosplayer and planning out the creative vision together. My tips to any new photographers considering shooting at conventions are: 1) Enjoy what you do. 2) Keep true to your own style. 3) Communicate well. 4) Be respectful of your models. 5) Encourage each other.
ONLINE:
Elle: For personal/private sets it’s based on communication but with convention work the images usually just go up as fast as I can process them! Tips for new comers? Can’t go wrong with doing some research before you go! For example, have a look online for inspiration, take a walk around the grounds so you have a better idea of where to shoot whom, and you can’t go wrong echoing Charlie’s points to be respectful and communicate well! Our sets can be viewed at igotsuperpowers.com
www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers www.igotsuperpowers.com
&
“ bigger
It’s a nice feeling when you know that our hard work has influenced if not directly contributed to the creative growth of an individual cosplayer who would then go on and do
greater things. - Angelo Beltran
COSPLAY
detai
attention to
We headed back to the States and San Diego to talk to cosplay and event photographer, Mike Rollerson. Mike is one of our all time favourite photographers for a number of reasons. Firstly, Mike’s just a great guy. He also has a specialty in cosplay and that is horror themed cosplay. It’s his attention to detail that makes him stand out from the crowd. Mike, this latest series based on Resident Evil is amazing, tell us how and why you started this project. I’ve always been a big fan of the horror genre and the Resident Evil series was one of my first introductions and really left a lasting impression. One of the things I loved about the Resident Evil series most was the Umbrella Corporation - the pharmaceutical company who created the T-Virus that turned people into zombies. I’ve always wanted to put together an Umbrella Corporation set complete with costumes, props and laboratory setting. A few months ago I put together some ideas and set out to make it finally happen. I knew I wanted to create the purewhite laboratory setting and picked up a few lab coats and decorated
them with Umbrella Corporation logos, I designed a few props (in-tact and broken t-virus samples, syringe guns loaded with the different virus’ from the series, steel briefcases with the Umbrella Corporation designs, medical trays and respirators) and either had them customer-made or put them together myself. In the end, I had a set of around 30 different props and costume pieces to finally make the shoot happen. I wanted to keep the laboratory setting and put together a small set complete with effects lighting and fog machines to achieve different effects. The entire shoot was a blast and I loved the variety between all of the different prop pieces, the mix of the evil corporation while keeping a pure-white laboratory setting for the location and getting the opportunity to finally put these different props to good use. While the props aren’t all functional (no actual t-virus was used), the majority were medical-grade products that were crafted together to give the most realistic appearance. I had a great time working with a team of very talented people (the model and prop-builders) to finally make this shoot happen.
ONLINE:
with mike rollerson
www.facebook.com/MikeRollersonPhotography
www.mikerollerson.com
COSPLAY HOW TO SURVIVE A CON: GEAR & PEERS by
FALCON VISUALS
1 35 24 Murphy knows it: anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Therefore, we should prepare ourselves. To have a happy and productive convention, we should check every item in our camera bag and know with whom we will be sharing the floor.
1.
3.
2.
4.
Check your gear. At home, several times. Have a plan in place if something decides not to work at the Con.
Have back up gear. Using a 2 light setup? Bring a third flash. Working with zooms? Carry a cheap 50mm.
Have back up methods. Using radio triggers? Revisit your manual, so you remember how to use the built-in infrared system. Using the built-in infrared system? Carry a remote flash cable.
Ask for help. If something is not working reach out to your fellow photographers. Many times I have been saved by the generosity of my peers. From a loaned camera (thanks Dustin), to loaned triggers (thanks Chris) and sound technical advice (thanks Thomas).
PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
5.
Be helpful. A fellow photographer seems lost? offer some guidance. Someone run out of batteries? Give away that extra pack of AAs. Carry an extra sandwich or bottle of water, so you can share a quick picnic with that other photographer that understand why the CaNikon D5MkVIII is only camera worth using in the whole world.
COSPLAY what should i put in my
www.facebook.com/ChattyAnny Hurray, you’re heading to your first convention! It’s going to be so much fun seeing friends, meeting guests and getting to see so many cool things the convention has on – but wait, first we have to pack a bag to take. So what are we going to put in it? In this article I’ll be going through the essentials to bring to any convention, as well as my personal suggestions on what would be a smart idea to be carrying around on the day. First off, don’t assume that anything you need will be at the convention. While it’s probably like there will be food and drink stations, or an outlet to charge your phone, that may not always be the case. Be prepared ahead of time, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry. When picking the bag you have with you, remember that slash-proof and zipclose bags are less likely to be stolen from and keep your bag within your reach at all times.
THE ESSENTIALS Water bottle; It’s likely you’ll be doing a lot of walking around possibly in strange clothing or high heat (looking at you, cosplayers) and being hydrated is going to make your weekend that much easier to deal with.
Phone and portable charger; While some conventions have charging stations for your phone set up, it’s not a common practise and you don’t want to be stranded
somewhere with no way to contact your roommates. Since we use our photos for so many things, such as maps, cameras and devices to contact people, it’s just smart to have a back-up in case your battery runs low.
Camera and spare battery; For some people this is their phone, but if you want to get some HD snaps of you and your friends you may want to bring along a separate camera of your own. A spare battery is never a bad thing and isn’t too big inside your bag.
Wallet with cash; Many stores on the convention floor only take cash, so make sure you have some out before the convention as lining up for half an hour at an ATM isn’t a fun experience.
Contact lens case and fluid; If you are wearing contact lenses, make sure you bring along a way to take them out of your eyes. Our eyes are very sensitive, so if you’re a cosplayer wearing circle lenses you’ve worn a million times before, there’s still a change they’ll randomly start irritating your eyes. Make sure you have a place to store those lenses and a way to take them out just in case, and Make-up; Throughout the day at a convention, your make-up is sure to wear off. If you’re getting photos done you don’t want to see an amazing image where the only flaw is you’ve got panda eyes! Make sure you bring whatever products
you need to touch up throughout the day and you won’t ever regret it.
Program/map; A convention is likely to give you a map of their setup and it can save you and anyone you need to meet time by having a familiarity with where everything is. Who knows, you might see a hidden gem set away somewhere on the map you wouldn’t have come across any other way!
Keys; Keys to a room or a car are just smart to have on you at any point. If there are a few of you staying together and only a few key cards, make sure you’re in contact with someone with those cards at all times.
Sanitary products; Deodorant, pads and tampons are always a good idea to be bringing to a convention just in case. Even if you don’t use them, they’re all light and won’t be a strain on your bag.
Hand sanitiser; Nobody wants con plague, so keeping clean after touching anything is a must. Even washing your hands you can be sharing germs, so be on top of it or face a gross uncomfortable week after the con.
Anything you need signed; While you can buy things to get signed at the convention, if you want anything special signed make sure not to forget it at home – I’ve been there, and it sucks.
Photographer: Nathan Tan | www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers
THE RECOMMENDATIONS Sewing kit; At most Australian conventions nowadays we have cosplay helper stations set up where a volunteer will have a multitude of things that might help with a breaking costume, but it’s always good to have something on hand in the perfect colour of your costume just in case. Make-up wipes; Chances are your make-up for a costume might not be what you’d usually wear out in public, so having wipes around to remove your tiger stripes or neon purple skin might save you some embarrassment heading out to dinner after the con.
but it can be annoying trying to track down a single band-aid for a tiny cut on your hand. Better to have it all in your own con bag instead.
Wig styling equipment; as with make-up, your wig can go a bit awry during the convention. Having a wig brush or whatever you used to style your wig on you can give you the peace of mind to enjoy running around without destroying your costume.
Change of clothes; If you’re not
Duct tape; Essential to MacGyver-
too keen on wearing your leotard on public transport, it might be a good idea to bring along some muggle clothing to wear to and from the convention.
ing your poor breaking costume into photo finish perfection.
Snacks; Food at conventions can
kit, the helper station is very likely to have hot glue but as someone who has had their entire shoe break at a con, you might not be able to easily make it to that station. Having a hot glue gun around is a good way to quick fix your costume on the con floor without the stress.
get pretty pricey, and if you’re stuck on the other side of the hall waiting in line for a panel you don’t want to lose your place waiting for an hour to get a packet of chips. Bringing along something small and energyfilling like a protein bar or a bag of nuts can be great – just be careful not to bring something that might set off someone’s allergies.
First aid kit; Having some disin-
Business cards; If you’re a cos-
Hot glue gun; As with the sewing
fectant, painkillers, band-aids or any strapping for any injuries you might have or might receive at the convention is a smart way to look after yourself; if anything serious occurs, you must receive medical attention rather than try and look after it yourself
player or photographer, exchanging details over photos can be timeconsuming. If you have cards printed and on you, there’s an easy way to make sure no spelling mistakes occur in transfer and you definitely receive your photos!
Photographer: Nathan Tan | www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers
HOW RATINGS WO The Australian Classification CTC
CTC - Check the classification. The content has been assessed and approved for advertising unclassified films and computer games. Any advertising of unclassified films and games must display the CTC message on posters, trailers, on the internet, and any other types of advertising. G - General. The content is very mild in impact. The G classification is suitable for everyone. G products may contain classifiable elements such as language and themes that are very mild in impact. However, some G-classified films or computer games may contain content that is not of interest to children. PG - Parental Guidance. The content is mild in impact. The impact of PG (Parental Guidance) classified films and computer games should be no higher than mild, but they may contain content that children find confusing or upsetting and may require the guidance of parents and guardians. They may, for example, contain classifiable elements such as language and themes that are mild in impact. It is not recommended for viewing or playing by persons under 15 without guidance from parents or guardians. M - Mature. The content is moderate in impact. Films and computer games classified M (Mature) contain content of a moderate impact and are recommended for teenagers aged 15 years and over. Children under 15 may legally access this material because it is an advisory category. However, M classified films and computer games may include classifiable elements such as violence and nudity of moderate impact that are not recommended for children under 15 years. Parents and guardians may need to find out more about the film or computer game’s specific content, before deciding whether the material is suitable for their child.
ORK: Board
There are two separate Boards that are independent from the government and from each other. There is the full time Classification Board that decides the classifications of films, video games and certain publications and the Classification Review Board that meets only to review a decision of the Classification Board when there is a valid application for review. The Board bases its’ classifications on six elements: Themes, Violence, Sex, Language, Drug Use & Nudity Below are a list of classifications you’ll find on games and movies:
MA 15+ - Mature Accompanied 15+. The content is strong in impact. MA 15+ classified material contains strong content and is legally restricted to persons 15 years and over. It may contain classifiable elements such as sex scenes and drug use that are strong in impact. A person may be asked to show proof of their age before hiring or purchasing an MA 15+ film or computer game. Cinema staff may also request that the person show proof of their age before allowing them to watch an MA 15+ film. Children under the age of 15 may not legally watch, buy or hire MA 15+ classified material unless they are in the company of a parent or adult guardian. Children under 15 who go to the cinema to see an MA 15+ film must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian for the duration of the film. The parent or adult guardian must also purchase the movie ticket for the child. The guardian must be an adult exercising parental control over the person under 15 years of age. The guardian needs to be 18 years or older.
Parents and guardians may need to find out more about the film or computer game’s specific content, before deciding whether the material is suitable for their child. R 18+ - Restricted to 18+. The content is high in impact. R 18+ material is restricted to adults. Such material may contain classifiable elements such as sex scenes and drug use that are high in impact. Some material classified R18+ may be offensive to sections of the adult community. A person may be asked for proof of their age before purchasing, hiring or viewing R18+ films and computer games at a retail store or cinema. There is also an X 18+ for adult films and these titles are only available for sale in the ACT and the Northern Territory. Sometimes games are refused classification. This can cause gamers to be frustrated, citing that the R18+ classification should take care of adult content. But still some games don’t get classified until the publishers/developers have addressed the concerns of the Classification Board. Want to know more? Visit the Australian Classification website www.classification.gov.au
CTC
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