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Welcome to E3 2014: Watch it live here

Sai Mealing
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Welcome to E3 2014: Watch it live here

At last one of the biggest weeks in the geek calendar has finally come around again. The world’s gaming press and major developers and publishers have all descended on the Los Angeles Convention Center again to deliver four days of enticing footage and non-stop marketing spiel.

E3 Day Zero is like Christmas Day in the games industry. A press and investor-only event, it is a day that doesn’t exist on the official show schedule but it’s also when most of the major publishers and format owners deliver their keynote speeches and present many of their latest ideas and new titles for the first time outside of closed doors.

This year’s show promises to be an exciting one with all of the new major console launches out of the way and a reduced emphasis on the Xbox 360 and PS3. It should be the time when we can really start to see what the PS4 and Xbox One have to offer and should build excitement for the new games that are due for release this Christmas and beyond.

Courtesy of Twitch we are able to bring all of the major press conferences to you live via this page.  We will also be doing a round-up of each one and offer our opinions on what’s on display so stay tuned for that.

Any times shown in the video feed below are in Pacific (Los Angeles) time but as we are mainly a UK-based community, the UK press conference schedule is as follows:

Microsoft Xbox: Monday 9th June at 5:30pm

EA: Monday 9th June at 8:00pm

Ubisoft: Monday 9th June at 11:00pm

Sony PlayStation: Tuesday 10th June at 2:00am

Nintendo Direct: Tuesday 10th June at 5:00pm

There will also be live presentations and the world premiers of Battlefield: Hardline from EA, Assassin’s Creed: Unity from Ubisoft and Battlecry from Bethesda among others so stick around for those too if you can.

Please note that in past years there have been issues with overloaded traffic on the live streams. Hopefully things should work out better this time considering the growing popularity of Twitch and support for live E3 coverage but if you do experience any freezes or lag then reducing the video quality on the stream usually helps.

Feel free to let us know what you think of the presentations and games on show and have a great E3 everyone.

Minecraft Creator Notch Debuts A New… Game?

The_Dark_Mike
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Minecraft Creator Notch Debuts A New… Game?

If you don’t know anything about Minecraft you probably had a lobotomy in the last 3 years. The wildly successful game has sold over 50 Million copies worldwide and is smashing records at every given opportunity.

Its creator, Markus “Notch” Persson has been working on a new game for a while now, after the legally tied-up prototype for “scrolls”, Notch has released a new Alpha for his latest concoction, Cliffhorse.

 

We don't know either, sorry.
We don’t know either, sorry.

Yeah. The name, much like Minecraft, is pretty self explanatory: you play a horse on a precedurally generated set of cliffs. So far that’s it. No news as of yet as to the plot, gameplay, why it’s a horse and what Notch is thinking, but an educated guess is that lightning strikes twice and Cliffhorse becomes a Godzilla hit.

As for some gameplay footage, thanks to YouTuber MrLegendaryFin for this lovely… playthrough? (can you call it that? Is this even a game? How do flies land upside down? )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WigUc_P2kmE

Surviving in The Forest: The top-selling PC game that proves there is still life in survival horror

Sai Mealing
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0
Surviving in The Forest: The top-selling PC game that proves there is still life in survival horror

 

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After watching the world crash around you, you awake on a wrecked plane only to be greeted by a local wearing nothing but some leaves around his waist. Confidently, he looks into your eyes, picks up the child lying next to you and then turns around and leaves. Like it or not, you’re in his world now and you’re going to play by his rules.

In the space of two weeks, The Forest has gone from being a small blip on an ever-increasingly crowded indie radar to the number one selling game on Steam. To put that into perspective, Steam currently represents at least 75% of the online PC games market and The Forest was released within three days of the global launch of Watch_Dogs.

Like Watch_Dogs, The Forest is also mostly developed in Canada however it is the work of a team of ten people rather than a significant number of Ubisoft’s global workforce and keep in mind that Ubisoft have over 2,000 people in Montreal alone. That The Forest has been released under the Steam Early Access program and is in fact still in public alpha makes this even more impressive.

There are times when The Forest's scenery looks nothing short of breathtaking. This is an indie game that does a terrific job of not looking like an indie game.
There are times when The Forest’s scenery looks nothing short of breathtaking. This is an indie game that does a terrific job of not looking like an indie game.

The premise is pretty simple. You and a small child accompanying you are the only survivors of a plane that crash lands on an island populated by cannibalistic tribesman and mutant abominations. The story behind the island and it’s occupants is yet to be explained but right now that only makes things even more intriguing. The Steam Community and other forums are presently full of discussions speculating whether this is all the result of decades of inbreeding, genetic experimentation or possibly something even worse.

The game is mechanically very similar to the likes of Rust but only from a single player and more focused perspective. It’s implied that the kidnapped child is your son but when you awake the choice of whether or not to pursue the kidnapper is left entirely up to you. Survival is the key and after briefly stopping to wolf down an airline meal and retrieve an axe from the corpse of an unfortunate flight attendant, you basically want to get your arse out of there as quickly as possible before more of the kidnapper’s friends arrive (and they will).

The axe soon becomes your best friend and is useful for everything from hunting wildlife and chopping down trees to fighting the hungry enemies who view every encounter with you in the same way that other people might view walking past a McDonalds. Wood is used to build camp fires, traps and rudimentary buildings in which to shelter from the elements and it’s vital to get build a dwelling for yourself as soon as you can. Pussying out in the plane wreckage isn’t really an option unfortunately and will just cause you to starve to death after you’ve finished off the last of the airline peanuts and plastic trays of left over dried out steamed vegetables.

Traps can be used as tools both against your enemies and as a source of food but it's usually best not to admire your handiwork for too long.
Traps can be used as tools both against your enemies and as a source of food but it’s usually best not to admire your handiwork for too long.

As night time falls, the landscape changes and that’s when your enemies really come out to play. By far and away The Forest’s most impressive feature at the moment is the enemy AI. Endnight Games have bucked recent trends and created an entirely single player experience rather than the quasi-MMO approach of their rivals however the The Forest’s inhabitants are no less terrifying as a result.

When I first disembarked from the dilapidated cabin I was soon surveyed from the hills by a group of five who seemed to draw slowly closer and quietly observe me as I haphazardly smashed abandoned suitcases and pilfered the contents. Before long a ring leader had emerged, looked me up and down, stared at my axe and then let out a scream so piercing that I removed the Turtle Beach headset I was wearing at the time. I stood still and stared right back at him until he retreated into the distance but all the while his companions were climbing the nearby trees, swinging between branches and surrounding me from every direction.

This was perhaps the first time in a while that I have felt truly intimidated by a game. While they don’t quite feel completely realistic to the point of living and breathing, by carefully squaring up to me in this way, these enemies seemed far more unpredictable and dangerous than any I’ve witnessed since the pinnacle enemy AI of Killzone 2. Endnight have managed to succeed in an area where so many with multi-million dollar budgets have failed and have created rivals capable of competing in a violent and horrific form of virtual chess rather than just waves that charge foolishly in your direction.

Lastly, The Forest’s take on player death is another reason why the internet can’t stop discussing this game at the moment. Defeat in the wilderness will render a player unconscious and cause you to awake in the a darkened cavern that acts as the cannibal’s lair. It’s impossible to describe the caves in much detail without introducing spoilers but needless to say that the creatures and scenes that dwell within are likely to scare the shit out of even the most hardened player. There are rewards to be found for those with the guts to go exploring in the dark but in all likelihood most people are just going to want to escape as quickly as possible.

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The best advice that I can give you regarding the caves is to stay the fuck out of the caves.

As an Early Access title, The Forest has it’s flaws at the moment and that is why I’ve opted to offer a preview here rather than a review. The game is a work in progress and the current build has a lot of issues with performance, collision and physics in addition to not including a proper save feature. The enemies are also extremely hard to kill right now and battles with two or more cannibals will almost certainly result in your demise. It’s likely that the finished product will be very different from what is on offer at the moment though and the readiness of the community to support this project speaks volumes.

After briefly dropping to number two when The Witcher 3 became available for pre-order, The Forest quickly regained the top slot in less than 24 hours, indicating that sales aren’t currently showing any signs of slowing. Impressively, the game seems to have additionally succeeded without relying on viral marketing support from certain well-known members of the YouTube community, something for which many other recent indie horror titles have faced criticism.

If Amnesia kicked off the indie survival horror renaissance then games like The Forest are doing a damn good job of continuing it into the new generation. The Forest takes elements of Minecraft and Rust and then puts a Cannibal Holocaust spin on them to create an experience that many others are likely to look to for inspiration in the near future. We will be back again with a full review when the game is finished but PC fans should take note that this is a game to watch and the community and industry-backed hype is only likely to increase as development continues.

This preview of The Forest is based on preview alpha code provided by Endnight Games. The available version at the time of publication was alpha v0.01b. The game is currently available on Steam via Early Access and the finished product does not currently have a confirmed release date. 

Official Trailer:

The Geek Pride Comic Blog – 08/06/2014

Ben Fee
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The Geek Pride Comic Blog – 08/06/2014

Welcome back to the Geek Pride Comic Blog. This week we talk Batgirls, crossover ‘events’ and Grant Morrison.

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Laura Maier Swainston: Rover Red Charlie both broke my heart and restored my faith in humanity… or, I guess, caninity. That’s about it.

Ben Fee: Red Rover Charlie has been eyeing me for a while but…well…dogs.

LMS: It’s like if Disney movies had the balls to be realistic… the series is over now, so I’d say wait for the TPB. It’s pretty intense, in the best possible way .

BF: Good shout. I’m always a little sus about stuff from Avatar press. Reminds me of those underground comix I used to read as a nipper.

LMS: Yeah… they vary wildly in quality, but when it’s a recognisable name (as in the case of Moore, Gillen and RRC writer Ennis) you can’t really go wrong .

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Becca Harper: I picked up the first 5 issues if Pretty Deadly. I really wanted to live with it being a female creator but if I’m honest I didn’t get past #3. I’ve never been a fan of the western genre and it just didn’t hold my attention. I’m even considering putting them back on eBay, which is unheard of from me.

Andy Haigh: I like the Western genre but the narrative style really put me off.

LMS: Kelly Sue’s deep thoughts at the end of each issue make the series

BH: I didn’t even look if I’m honest. It did inspire into digging out some 90’s X-Men. In each issue it seems that on every other page a mutant must remind the reader of their mutant powers and there are so many more thought bubbles, you know just in case we forget the plan firmed in the page before, quit thinking and kick ass mutants. Plus Wolverine is all like “I’m the best there is at what I do” I know already, you told us in the last issue. Still, much fun to read.

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Mike Orvis: I haven’t actually read it, but I have also backed Torsobear on Kickstarter today. It’s a noir story with toys. It looks bitchin’ and includes one of the most underrated comic book writers of the last decade, Cy Dethan .

BF: Torsobear looks amazing. I love the Kickstarter video. Ok, I’m backing it too. Man, I need to produce something like that…

MO: Ahem, WE should do something like that. Wanna do a webcomic?

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BF: This week I picked up the fantastic Wool, which is like a thriller/mystery set in a Fallout vault. So happy.

Callum Tyndall: The wool series is excellent, first and third books in particular. The second one wasn’t quite as good.

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CT: Not got much reading done this week but finally finished off Forever Evil and felt mildly disheartened by the somewhat disappointing end.

MO: Shut up Callum.

BF: Ha! I know Callum, I hate when you invest in a long series and then you’re like “what the fuck did I waste all that time and money on?”

CT: I’m still enjoying the New 52 and I like the Justice League series but Forever Evil has been a bit iffy. I liked parts but then the end was a bit sudden and unimpressive and just seemed vaguely weak. I’m essentially just waiting for Umbrella Academy  Vol 3 though this year. I’m hoping it’ll be this year anyway.

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AH: I just got my copy of Storykiller by Kelly Thompson it’s not a comic but it has some awesome art by comic people. It’s a bit like Buffy or Fray really crossed with Mike Carey’s The Unwritten if you’re looking for a comparison. You should check it out.

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MO: I read Batgirl Vol 3 and let me tell you I for one do not appreciate paying for 2 issues of Gail Simone wonderment , an issue of Batman and then 50 pages of Mean Girls: Gotham edition. #bringbackourgails

BF: Batgirl is shit. Be a man and read Batwoman.

MO: Simone’s Barbara Gordon was one of the most earnest Batgirls I’ve ever met. I loved her. Batwoman is on my list.

BF: I have issues after Stephanie.

MO: Ben, I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty tired after dodging the obvious pun.

CT: Got to be honest, not as invested in batgirl as I probably should be but I have no time for Stephanie whatsoever. Annoyed me as spoiler, annoyed me as robin and never really got on the level of the other batgirls

BF: It’s all about Cassandra Cain. She was bad.ass.

CT: Yeah, I don’t really like that she’s pretty much just disappeared from the story

BF: New 52, man. Everything gets got. Expect if Grant Morrison’s involved. He was all like “Fuck your new continuity, I’mma bringin’ back Betty Kane, bitches.”

CT: Morrison is cool. Mental but cool.

AH: Big fan of Morrison but not his superhero stuff.

BF: I think he definitely breathes new life into the crusty spandex, but you’d need to actually enjoy the genre in the first place. Can’t actually wait to see what he does with The Trial of Wonder Woman.

CT: The actual main problem I have with Morrison’s stuff is the art that often accompanies it. Can’t remember who the artist is for the life of me, Frank Quitely I think. It’s a unique style but just does not do it for me at all.

AH: The art can make or break a comic even if it is subjective.

CT: Exactly. Morrison does great writing and Quitely’s art is a very subjective thing for me but it really does just put me off the work. It’s why I’m not reading the Batman and Superman duo comic. The weird, sort of Japanese style just reminds me of the Wolverine ‘Snikt’ storyline, in which it worked, but it just doesn’t for Batman and Superman, they look odd.

AH: Aside from the subpar writing the art for Constantine is for the most part dire compared to pretty much any issue of Hellblazer. John Constantine just doesn’t look right done in a superhero art style.

CT: Yeah I picked up volume 1 and wasn’t hugely impressed. It’s just not mystical enough.

AH: I read the first issue and thought it was just dire really. So many first issues just assume people are going to mindlessly pick up the next issue.

CT: When the New 52 kicked off I picked up a load of first issues but due to cost I’m basically just subscribed to justice league now and occasionally picking up the volumes of the other titles. Red Hood and the Outlaws I’ve really enjoyed and I’m currently waiting for volume 4 of but so many title are so meh.

AH: I never really read any DC outside of Vertigo besides Batman before the 52 kicked off. That was all the collected stuff like No-Man’s Land, Hush, Killing Joke, Knight Fall all the classic stuff. I picked up several when the 52 started then half of the stuff I liked got cancelled or it just started going nowhere the major problem with superhero comics in general. Pretty much anything that isn’t well established and doesn’t feature Batman, Superman or Wonder Woman will get cancelled, it’s pretty much guaranteed. I’m currently picking up Jonah Hex, Swamp Thing and Harley Quinn from DC.

CT: Yeah, the smaller titles do tend to fall by the wayside. But on top of justice league I’m really enjoying red hood and suicide squad as well.

AH: I used to pick those up but I ended up picking them up out of habit. If Ales Kot stayed on Suicide Squad it could’ve been really interesting but he only did like 4 issues or something. I can’t stand the way stuff gets dragged into yet another “Event” too.

CT: I would prefer it if they did it as single title events. The way the bat family all played into death of the family for example was awesome and worked well but I just don’t know if it was actually necessary to have more than the batman single story line. It didn’t lose anything by just reading that.

CT: It’s just such a pain trying to keep up with events. I didn’t even try with forever evil. It was ambitious and hugely marketable but an event that runs in every single title is just so impractical for readers.

AH: I find it hard to not just feel like the Big Two are just making a mug out of their fans with most events, like the suits are just sat there rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of making so much money. There’s a fine line between worthwhile narrative possibility and shameless corporate marketing stunt.

CT: Pretty much. Some events are good but it’s such a scheme in that it costs so much to try and keep up with all the titles during the run of an event. It’s so much cheaper to just get a collected volume once the event is over.

More fun and games next week, but in the meantime check out more from today’s contributors here:

Ben Fee; Callum Tyndall; Andy Haigh; Mike Orvis; Laura Maier Swainston; Becca Harper

Peyton Reed Announced As New Director for Ant-Man

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Peyton Reed Announced As New Director for Ant-Man

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After Edgar Wright’s abrupt departure from the hotly anticipated Ant-Man movie due to “creative differences” with Marvel, there has been plenty of speculation about who would step into his shoes.  Well the search for a replacement is finally over as Marvel have announced that Yes Man director Peyton Reed will be directing Ant-Man.  Despite denying claims of his involvement less than a week ago, Anchorman 2 writer Adam McKay has also been confirmed as a contributor to the script.

Ant-Man will star Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Corey Stoll and Patrick Wilson, and Marvel have announced the synopsis for the film:

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

“Ant-Man” has a July 17, 2015 release.

Armistice – A review

Cristina Bogdan
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Armistice – A review

Now, perhaps you’ve heard of Armistice before, maybe under it’s old title of Warhouse, but if you haven’t, here’s a little background. Armistice is an independent UK movie, written by Benjamin Read and Luke Massey, who I’ve determined, after watching the film, are both incredibly twisted (in a good kind of a way). I think that might apply to everyone involved actually, and I’m all the happier for it.

Armistice surprised me, I have to admit that. I expected something different, less gripping perhaps, since I have a hard time imagining a film that focuses on solely one character and does so successfully, but after the  90 minutes flew by, I realized I didn’t even notice the passage of time.

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**HERE BE SPOILERS!**

Armistice is for the most part a one man show, with Joseph Morgan‘s A.J. Budd as the main character, a Royal Marine trapped in a house of horror. The funny thing is that even though he has to face what we come to perceive as a monster every single day, the creature isn’t the worst thing about the house. I think that is where the brilliance of the movie comes into play. It’s basically preying on our own fears, removing the main character’s freedom, limiting his choices and slowly stripping him of his humanity. A lot of the time we’ve become desensitized to violence, to cruelty, even to the things that go bump in the night, but this isn’t actually about that. This is about our own fear of becoming our worst nightmare and that’s something we’ll never quite get over easily.

Long story short: A.J. Budd wakes up in a strange house, puts on his uniform and gets ready to leave, only to find himself attacked by a strange creature. The process repeats itself every single day, like clockwork, with little variation. Everything other than the creature and the way it dies stays the same. The food, the drinks, the perpetually locked door to what he perceives as freedom. Nothing ever changes until he encounters the diary of someone that had been trapped before in the house, Sterling, played by Matt Ryan. His own tales of horror provide A.J. with some insight as to who or what the creature that haunts him is, and how he could find the way out. I think the particular  revelation that stems from this find is possibly the only predictable thing about this movie, but everything else redeems that little flaw.

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It’s almost amusing how we actually learn more about Sterling through his written words than we learn of the main character, though that could be just my own perception. Still, A.J. is the one most viewers will sympathise with, the one that we’ll struggle to understand, through jumbled bouts of hysteria, mixed with periods of depression and anger towards everything that’s happening and that he can’t stop or change. His unwillingness to give up is what reminds us that despite everything going on around us, resilience is one of the most preeminent human attributes. Joseph Morgan does an amazing job at taking us with him as he struggles towards his freedom, each emotion raw and unfiltered. His anger and desperation aren’t pretty, nor is the depression that seems to settle in as the futility of his actions slowly sinks in. Top marks for that. Matt Ryan has a lot less screen time, yet he makes the most of it. Sterling’s own insanity, his own anger and desperation fuelled actions are brought to life with a sort of subdued grace, but aren’t any less impressive. There’s less impetuosity, though as days trickle into months and years, that changes. The deterioration of the human spirit is ultimately the thing that Armistice portrays and it does so brilliantly.

The limited budget and the time constraints are obvious when it comes to the creature, the Fallen that torments our hero, though as the film slowly unveils its mysteries, the choices made to portray the “monster” the way it’s brought to life become obvious. I’ve come to expect the unexpected from Benjamin Read and he didn’t disappoint this time around either. Little money usually means a less than stellar film, however the atmosphere it manages to create is enough to sustain the mystery and the tension that kept me glued to my seat.

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Armistice is a movie that you’ll either come to love or that you’ll hate passionately. I’m not saying it’s in any way elitist, made for a select few, but the way the story is built up, it’s just not something that most people will enjoy. The word horror has become associated with blood and guts and gore, and while Armistice isn’t free of these three elements, the focus is more on the slow disintegration of someone’s psyche, trapping us in the same head space that A.J. finds himself in and less on the more physical aspects of things. That’s not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s perfectly alright.

I won’t tell you what the big reveal is at the end, you’ll have to figure that one out for yourselves, all I can do is tell you to do your best to get your hands on a copy of the movie, because it will surprise you and if you weren’t a fan of the actors before, you will be after watching. Also, a little hint, there’s a post-credit scene, so stick around for a little longer once you’re done watching.

 

 

New trailer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Andy Haigh
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New trailer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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Feast thine eyes on a new trailer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.This is the third game in the series of the critically acclaimed RPG from developer CD Projekt RED based on the fantasy novels of the same name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.

Set to a soaring score the atmospheric trailer re-introduces Geralt of Rivia, one of the few remaining “Witchers”, monster hunters that possess special abilities. Geralt is a legend among the Witchers known as “The White Wolf”. The Witcher 3 continues Geralt’s story as the White Wolf finds himself charged with finding a girl who is being hunted by the otherwordly army known as The Wild Hunt who are bringing fire and ruin to the land.

The Witcher games are well known for their engrossing medieval world featuring a more mature approach to characters, relationships and sex, with moral choices than can have a major impact often long after the initial choice was made.

The Witcher 3 is set to feature a vast open world, which CD Projekt Red have stated will feature,

A mature, non-linear story drawn from player decisions, full of unexpected events and believable, memorable characters, with their own motivations and ambitions. Living eco-systems – Communities behave with realism, the flora and fauna form
a living ecosystem, and they all react to in-game events…Dynamic combat – Unique, intuitive combat system blending a wide range of tactical elements with the most spectacular and dynamic combat sequences ever seen in a computer role-playing game

Brydge+ Keyboard for iPad by Brydge: Go. Do More.

Ben Fee
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Brydge+ Keyboard for iPad by Brydge: Go. Do More.

So I’ve had my iPad for a few years now and, even though other gadgets have come and inevitably gone, I still use it for everything. I mean, it’s so versatile; playing games, browsing the internet, listening to music, stalking social media, and a 101 apps for everything in between. My only gripe would be that stupid bloody pop-up keyboard. The shift key winds me up something rotten and then having to scroll through three different layouts to find a hashtag? Forget about it. I can’t get through anything longer than a Facebook status without wishing I’d just gone and turned the desktop on.

If you’re of the same mindset, then allow me to recommend the Bridge+ Keyboard for iPad.

The Bridge+ Keyboard is, as you might expect, a keyboard, and one that you can slot your iPad into and turn it something very close to a laptop. And, boy, is it a thing of beauty. Made from a single block of aerospace grade aluminium (how cool is that?) and sporting satisfyingly chunky keys that actually move when you press them, the Brydge+ Keyboard looks like it was designed by Apple and you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a MacBook Air when closed with an iPad docked. Which brings me to the gadget’s strongest feature among a gaggle of strong features: the hinge mechanism. Where other iPad keyboards balance on a flimsy dock or just rest on a stand, the Bridge+ uses a patent pending hinge that grips the iPad firmly and allows it to be tilted forward or backwards to obtain the perfect angle for whatever you’re doing. On the underside, the hinges lift the solid base like legs on a desktop keyboard, raising it to the perfect typing angle. Unobtrusive and powerful, the hinges epitomise the keyboard’s air of ergonomic efficiency, a philosophy that is evident everywhere from the array of iPad-specific shortcut keys, including volume control, playback and brightness, to the much needed power of the built-in speaker.

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Already pretty fab for watching movies or television, the need to find a pillow or handy pile of books to prop it up combined with the fairly feeble speakers made it just that little bit too inconvenient to really enjoy video apps like Netflix or BBC iPlayer, but with the solid stand, beefed up sound system and innovative controls, the Brydge+ really turns the iPad into an ideal little mini cinema, perfect for lazing in bed or taking on your travels.

The only downside I can think of here is that, once docked with an iPad, the weight jumps to just over a kilo so some of that portability is lost. Also, it doesn’t protect the back of the iPad unlike some other keyboards that might otherwise lack the Brydge+’s practicality and style. But then, let’s face it, it’s designed to turn your iPad into a laptop. If you want protection, stick it in a safe. If you want an iPad, a notebook, a mini home theatre and an incredibly stylish bit of kit, go buy a Brydge+ Keyboard. Your iPad will thank you.

The Bridge+ Keybaord is available in two aluminium models, one without speakers, and a low cost polycarbonate model with built-in speakers which frankly just looks bad-ass. All models come with a variety of shims to fit iPads 2, 3 & 4 as well as a micro USB charger and a quick-start guide.

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BUY NOW FOR FATHER’S DAY!!

As you read this, Brydge+ are currently running a sale with the premium aluminium & speakers model down from £89.24 to a cracking £58.90. That’s not bad, even if you aren’t a daddy! Check out the site here for more Father’s Day bargains!

Grublin Games launches Kickstarter for Waggle Dance

Andy Haigh
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Grublin Games launches Kickstarter for Waggle Dance

 

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Grublin Games following the success of their last Kickstarter Cornish Smuggler which smashed its goal have another innovative project they need your help with – Waggle Dance.

The game is a strategic board game for 2-4 players, set in a beehive where players control worker bees to build their hive, produce more bees, collect pollen, return it to the hive and make honey.

There are numerous ways to go about achieving your goal, focus on pollen collection, increasing your bee population, expanding your hive, seeking favour with the queen or splitting your resources to achieve all of these. Whilst it might lack the sci-fi and fantasy trappings normally associated with most tabletop games there’s still plenty of room for strategic manoeuvres and it’s a refreshing change to see something that doesn’t revolve around combat.

The game which features Pollen Cubes, Hive Hexes and Bee Dice, amongst other things, was designed by Mike Nudd and features art from Mateusz Szulik. It has been designed for gamers everywhere independent of language save for a concise rules sheet.

So why design a game around bees? Mike Nudd had this to say,

“The theme of using bees and honey really appealed to me. I have long held a deep respect for the creatures to the extent that I will try to save exhausted bumblebees I find on the pavement by feeding them sugar and water. I appreciate that their role in natural cycle of things is important and I am concerned about the consequences of bees around the world going extinct. If I can in some small way generate enthusiasm for bees and draw attention to these issues then so much the better..”

For more details and to pledge your support for the project visit Waggle Dance on Kickstarter

Stephen Amell Proves Himself Fit Enough to be The Green Arrow

Becca Harper
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Stephen Amell Proves Himself Fit Enough to be The Green Arrow

When this cropped up on my feed last night I was truly amazed. If you have seen any of Arrow then you are fully aware just how fit Stephen Amell is, that episode when he is training on the Salmon Ladder…oh my. There is no doubt that this is an actor that takes his role seriously and is willing to put in the hours and hard grind to hone that body to be as close to super heroic as it can.

This video on his facebook page yesterday, in which we witness see the delectable Amell training at the Tempest Freerunning Academy, in preparation for series 3 of Arrow, it is honestly very impressive. And yes Stephen, you’ve definitely you still got it.

 

Post by Stephen Amell.
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