Crisis averted - Thanks Internet!

And just like that, Sony joins Microsoft in pulling a 180 thanks to the entire Internet kicking up a stink.

Now just wait until they remove all offline features from the game :D Or is that just way too cynical?

Sony announces DRIVECLUB PS+ Edition; Is Evil Sony back?

Well that didn't take long now did it? After their massive smackdown of Microsoft and Xbox One at the last E3 Conference, it looks like Evil, $600 PS3 get-a-second-job Sony is slowly starting to creep back.

Now that DRIVECLUB is finally back from the dead, Sony has started building the hype and releasing information leading up to the October 8th release date. Check out the first info dump trailer below.


Hidden in among all the nice fluffy stuff like getting a whole bunch of content for free, and being able to get a Platinum trophy in the PS+ edition, is the little chestnut which has lit the flame of the Internet:

"If you’re an active PlayStation Plus subscriber and have been playing the PlayStation Plus Edition, but decide you want the full DRIVECLUB experience, you can purchase a one-time upgrade for €49.99/$49.99/£42.99. This will give you access to all five locations, 55 tracks, 50 cars and all 50 tour events, as long as your PlayStation Plus subscription remains active."

What. The. Fuck?

Is this the same champion of the people Sony which emerged at the last E3?

The Playstation Plus service has been built on offering gamers value for money through free and discounted content. The "free" content has always been clearly only "free" while the subscription remained active. This was known and accepted. What was also always clear and known, and explicitly defined by Sony was that any content purchased with a PS+ discount was yours to keep regardless of subscription status. 

This is a game changer.

Now various Internet zones, NeoGAF, Reddit, even the Playstation Blog have blown up. But Sony seems to be sticking firm. Sure, we got this Tweet

but to me this is like Chief Wiggum typing it up on his imaginary typewriter. What the fuck is there to clarify? Who exactly is he going to speak to? This isn't some accident or mis-communication. This is the plan, clear and simple, right there in black and white. Sure you can buy the full physical copy, but this seems sneaky, manipulative and downright shady.

You just knew Sony had to turn the screw at some point. You thought you were going to keep getting Tomb Raiders and Borderlands and Bioshocks free forever? Sony gots to get paid yo. Looks like it didn't take long for Sony to go from David to Goliath.

Check it out - New Slayer track!

Metal legends Slayer debut their first recording in five years. This is in addition to announcing they have signed with Nuclear Blast Records. 

You can get a free copy of the track directly from Slayer @ http://www.slayer.net/au/implode or check it out here in the meantime.

No Hanneman, no Lombardo, Paul Bostaph back in and Gary Holt filling in. Thoughts?

A film you should see

Title: Out of the Furnace (2013)
Director: Scott Cooper
Writers: Brad Ingelsby, Scott Cooper
Starring: Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Willem Defoe, Woody Harrelson, Sam Shepard, Zoe Saldana, Forest Whitaker
Running Time: 116 min
 

Out of the Furnace may at first appear to be a crime drama set in the underbelly of a small American town, in the vein of classics such as No Country for Old Men, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead or Fargo. And it is that. And it's a very good film in this genre. But it's also a timely and poignant look at the state of America as it is today.

Christian Bale plays Russell Baze, a factory worker at the town mill, struggling to make ends meet but seemingly content with his lot in life, which includes his girlfriend, played by Zoe Saldana. His brother, Casey Affleck, is an army vet, returned from Iraq and gambling money he borrows from local crime shark John Petty, played by Willem Defoe. 

Russell's life quickly gets turned upside down. Fast forward a few years, and he is out of prison, his girlfriend has left him for the local sheriff, Forest Whitaker, and his brother is on the road to self destruction. Seemingly at the crossroads, his brother begins illegal streetfighting to make money, and engages Willem Defoe to organise a fight with a crime gang higher up the food chain, led by Woody Harrelson. When his brother goes missing, Russell Baze will stop at nothing to find him.

At face value this is a great noir crime-drama. The acting is superb, as you would expect from a stellar cast such as this. Woody Harrelson is particularly menacing as a psychotic crime/drug lord. But what gives this film that extra weight is the current climate that America finds itself in. This is a slice of life of millions of Americans today. Casey Affleck's portrayal of an Iraq War army vet is haunting. When Christian Bale mentions to him there is no shame in working for a living, he explodes. "I've given my life for this country. What has it done for me?" He has faced the horrors of war, sacrificed his all for his country, only to find nothing waiting for him when he returned. He is alone, broke, with no hope and no prospects.

Christian Bale's character seemingly accepts his lot in life. His father is dying, but he has a job and a girlfriend. However one mistake and the system strips everything from him. Now he has nothing. His dad dies while he is in prison. His girlfriend leaves him while he is in prison. He manages to get his old job back, but word is the factory will soon close, it's cheaper to import steel from China. As he drinks at the bar, the TV shows a politician shouting that it's time to elect Obama, for the country to change. The world on the screen is a million miles from the reality these people live in. 

Out of the Furnace is not a political film. The points are made subtly, and can be ignored as just scene setting, which is perfectly fine. It's a great crime/drama with a great story and wonderful acting. However, when taken as a whole it is a much richer experience. The constant feeling of foreboding in the atmosphere, the bleakness of the setting, the melancholy of the characters. This is a story of America. This is a quite brilliant movie.

Check out Bruce Timm's kick ass tribute for Batman's 75th anniversary

Bruce Timm, Kevin Conroy and Batman, back together again! The best 3 minutes of your day today I guarantee.

Movie Review - Pompeii

Paul W.S Anderson isn't the sort of director you would have expected to be helming a disaster movie, but then again, Pompeii isn't your typical disaster movie. It's not an epic tearjerker like Pearl Harbor or Armageddon, nor is it a special effect laden epic like The Day After Tomorrow. There is romance, and specials effects, but Pompeii actually works best as an action movie. Not a great one mind you, but decent enough.

Everyone's favourite new heartthrob, Kit Harrington a.k.a John Snow from Game of Thrones, is a child when the Romans, led by Keifer Sutherland,  slaughter his entire people during a Celt uprising. Years later, he becomes a gladiator slugging it out in the squalor or Londinium's arenas, before being noticed for his devastating skills and transferred to the coliseum of Pompeii. On his journey to Pompeii, he has a brush with the daughter of Pompeii's ruler, Cassia, setting the scene for a burgeoning romance. Keifer Sutherland also returns to Pompeii, now as a Senator, looking to invest money in Pompeii, but more interested in Cassia.

All of these events of course lead up to the fateful night when the mountain of Vesuvius would erupt and destroy everything before it's path. The problem is that all of this is rather cliche, predictable, and presented in an entirely unremarkable fashion. The romance is rather rushed and seems a little forced, the scenes of Roman life are rather amateur and the destruction that takes place at the end is also a little disappointing considering the level of special effects we have come to expect from movies like this. 

This movie really would have worked much better without the requirement for having Pompeii as the backdrop. As a B grade Roman set action movie, this is actually alright, and certainly Pompeii's best asset. The story of the Roman's slaughtering the Celt tribe, the child survivor growing up and becoming a gladiator and seeking revenge on the Romans is definitely cliche, but works well enough. And Paul W.S Anderson definitely seems to show his best work during the gladiatorial scenes. The battle re-enacting the defeat of the Celts is suitably impressive and leaves you wanting more. Still, some of the acting, dialogue and general lack of care for any sort of authenticity or depth of characters leaves a lot to be desired. 

If you're a fan of disaster flicks, you'll probably want to give this one a miss. There's just not enough disaster there and the lead up will struggle to keep your attention. If you're a fan of ancient Rome, you'll probably want to avoid this as well. You'll be disappointed by the lack of interesting characterisation, depiction of Roman life and general level of authenticity. Everything here you will have seen done better elsewhere. If you're a Paul W.S Anderson fan, or an action movie fan, you might want to see this. There's just enough violence, battles, and cheesy dialogue to keep you going. Probably not what the makers of Pompeii were going for, but at least it is slightly redeeming.

6.5/10

Comic of the Week - Monster & Madman #1

Writer: Steve Niles

Artist: Damien Worm
Publisher: IDW
Release Date: March 13, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

Steve Niles delivers another masterful tale of horror in his new 3 part series, Monster & Madman. An alternate take on two of two most famous horror characters from the past, Frankenstein's Monster and Jack the Ripper. 

The first issue tells the alternate version of events of Frankenstein's Monster. How he escapes the clutches of his master, and tries to escape his fate by starting his life anew. 

Rather than a standard story of horror or suspense, what we get here is a story of pain, suffering and misery, but ultimately hope for change. The Monster is torn with anguish, the pain of life, the pain of the past, and the pain of realising what he is, a monster. However, through the course of the journey which takes the Monster from the icy waters of Norway and onto the high seas, we come to find that monsters come in all forms, and looks can be deceiving.

The artwork by Damien Worm is absolutely masterful. Sketchy and bleak but beautiful and haunting, he sets the tone perfectly for a story told through the eyes of a monster. The ugliness of the world, of those that inhabit it, and of the monster himself is conveyed perfectly. 

The last page of this issue sets the story for the second character in the title, the Madman, Jack the Ripper. I'm curious to see how this will play out, but in a way I'm actually a bit sad we aren't getting an entire series dedicated to Frankenstein's Monster. I really like this take on the character and would definitely like to see more. Nevertheless, this is a great issue and very highly recommended.

Comic of the Week - Starlight #1

Writer: Mark Millar

Artist: Goran Parlov
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 6, 2014
Cover Price: $2.99

Mark Millar launches the all new Millarworld Universe with the debut of a new original series, Starlight. And just like that, he knocks it out of the park. This is an amazing first issue, and such a brilliant way to start off a new series.

Starlight introduces us to Captain Duke McQueen, All American square jawed fighter pilot, who made a little sojourn to another universe, saved the fate of an entire planet, and came home. Now those days are over, and with the passing of his wife, we see an empty man, struggling to lead a normal life while reflecting on the glory of the past, both from his intergalactic adventures, and of the memories of his wife.

The artwork from Goran Parlov is nothing short of breathtaking. Millar wasn't kidding when he said it almost hurt him to look at it. The panels are large, bright, and so simple yet so filled with emotion and gravitas. Much like Millar's writing. He doesn't fall into the trap of so many comic book writers, throwing in unnecessary plot lines, confusing dialogue, or a million ideas at once. He keeps it simple, but still manages to evoke such strength and weight in the storytelling. The constant juxtaposition between the space scenes that hark back to the Golden Age of comics, where chisel jawed men in bright spandex fought for the fate of the universe, the modern day scenes showing a shell of a man, going through life's motions, struggling to carry on, and the flashback's showing times spent with his wife really make this issue special.

This is such a great comic, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's going to be interesting to see where things will go, and hopefully with this being a Millar title there will be a lot more interesting scenarios. Nevertheless, this issue is so good it can almost stand alone. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

New Watch_Dogs trailer and release date

Finally we get to see just what this game is all about. Now that we know more, and we're getting closer to release, I have to say I'm a little less excited. Some of those early gameplay reveals were amazing, now the game looks decidedly more, average, shall we say. Thoughts?

Review - Soundwave 2014 Festival

And so it came to pass, the last ever Soundwave festival to be held in Perth. At least that's what's been said. I still hold out hope that we will see Soundwave back again in Perth next year, but the rather unimpressive headline acts for this year aren't a great sign for the festival's longevity in general. Green Day and Avenged Sevenfold are hardly in the same esteem as some of the amazing headliners that have graced previous Soundwaves (Metallica, Iron Maiden, Faith no More) to name but a few. Nevertheless, there were still plenty of quality acts on offer across the seven stages.

The Black Dahlia Murder

One of the overriding themes of this year's festival was fun. So many of the bands looked like they were having a great time, and none epitomized this more than The Black Dahlia Murder. Though they were on early in the day, their enthusiasm was overwhelming, especially from their front man. They drew a healthy crowd and turned out a quality set, albeit with a slightly murky sound.

Testament

The thrash metal legends finally made it to Perth shores, and though they played a short set, they were amazing. Greeted to a rousing reception, I was more than a little taken aback at how much the crowd enjoyed their set and how much respect they got, considering just how long they've been around. Chuck Billy was in fine form, their sound was super heavy and loud, and they belted out quite a few classics. I wish they would have played for much, much longer, these guys deserve so much more.

GWAR

I must admit, this was the absolute highlight of my day. Every year Soundwave has managed to make a dream come true for me, and this year it was seeing the absolute madness that is GWAR. They are more than a band, they are a cult, and they were amazing!.They beheaded the Prime Minister, cut the tits off the Queen, and sprayed enough fake blood to absolutely drench the first 10 rows. This is metal mayhem at it's best! Their sound was a little on the murky side, but their stage show was everything you could hope for. Totally subversive, over the top and 110% amazing.

Satyricon

A close second to GWAR in terms of dreams come true, who would have thought you would see a legendary band such as this grace the shores of Perth? Well it happened, and they were great. Their sound was superb, Satyr was in fine form and giving it his all, as were the rest of the band. Their short set definitely leaned toward newer material, but this being a festival and all, it made sense. Finally hearing the cult Mother North live and in person will be a treasured memory. Apart from a small hiccup at the start of Black Crow on a Tombstone, this was a near flawless set and easily one of the best of the day.

Down

As we headed into the evening, some of the bigger bands, at least in terms of current fan base, began to take the stage, and the crowd really piled in under the covers for Down, or at least for Phil Anselmo. 

Whatever you may think of the man, you can't fault his enthusiasm or performance. He certainly gave it his all. Maybe he did carry on a little too much, and gave off a little too much attitude, but  the set was epic. The band were on fire, fucking heavy and delivering bludgeoning riff after riff. I was surprised at just how well their sound came across live and just how heavy they could get. Phil's vocals were a bit all over the place but good enough and his energy more than made up for it. The epic closing rendition of Bury Me in Smoke with Satyricon and Living Color on stage was a perfect way to end what was an epic, energetic and slightly chaotic set.

Gojira

The final band of the day for me, and you couldn't end things better. This is the second time I've seen Gojira at a Soundwave, and they've exactly the same both times. That is, so fucking heavy, with a perfect sound that just drives you to bang your head. They had a relatively small but very devoted crowd, with a lot of people probably struggling to keep it together after Down, but those that were there were treated to another brilliant Gojira performance. The fact they can be so heavy and tight, and yet have a stuido quality sound is amazing. 

Notable exceptions

As with every festival, there's some tough decisions to be made, and this year was no exception. Some of the bands I would have loved to have seen but didn't due to scheduling included: Clutch, Baroness, Graveyard, Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan and Thy Art is Murder.

Conclusion

And so another Soundwave comes and goes, leaving a trail of rubbish, sore heads and deaf ears. I sincerely hope this isn't the last year in Perth for this great festival, but if it is, at least we can all agree that it's been an amazing ride.

First look at the new Batman game from Rocksteady

Here's your first look at the all new, next-gen only Batman title from Rocksteady. Featuring the Batmobile!

I have to say I'm actually pretty excited. This is looking pretty awesome.

Your thoughts?

The Order: 1886 - First gameplay footage finally revealed!

Finally we get to feast on one of the most hyped and anticipated, yet barely known about titles for the PS4. Does the fact it's a cover based shooter make you any more or less excited? I still think it looks great and very promising, enough the keep the hype train going for now at least.

Comic of the week - The Remains #1

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: A.C. Zamudio
Publisher: Monkeybrain Comics
Release Date: February 26, 2014
Cover Price: $0.99

The Remains is a new 4 part series for fans of horror and the supernatural. This issue really surprised with some excellent writing and artwork, and an interesting set up for the rest of the series to work with.

The story is told to us from the eyes of a young girl named Birdie, who along with her younger, mischievous sister Abigail, live and work on a farm with their mum and dad. Birdie tells the story of a stranger arriving at the farm looking for work and seemingly causing a series of events which is destined to change the farm and the lives of those living on it forever.

The storytelling, art and characterisation here is outstanding. We get a taste of the harsh reality of life on the farm, for the kids, the dad, even the poor dog which spends it's day chained up until it's let loose for it's one job on the farm, a gruesome scene of him killing rats. The two girls are both well rounded characters, with the older and wiser Birdie understanding the difficulty her dad faces running the farm and with his ailing health, and also her strong distrust of the new stranger, contrasted with the younger and childish Abigail, who would rather be playing with the dog than doing chores or forcing him to kill rats. 

The stranger is obviously cast as mysterious and potentially malicious, but so far all we have to go on that is Birdie, so it remains to be seen what role he has to play in this story as it unfolds. I'm already cannot wait for the next issue. If you're at all a fan of the mysterious, supernatural or horror this is a must read.

Belated Top 10s - Games

Well now that Top 10 lists are back in fashion (did they ever go out of fashion? -- Ed) it's time for our, rather belated we must admit, top 10 lists. Today we start of with games. 2013 wasn't the greatest year for gaming, with the current-gen consoles winding down with the lead up to next-gen, and the next-gen launch being rather mediocre. Yet at the same time, it feels like there was more content this year than any other, with seemingly more indies, downloadables and free-to-play titles than ever before. So without further adieu, let's take a look at our top 10.

10. Lego Marvel Super Heroes (PS4) - You wouldn't find too many people admitting to this, or any Lego game for that matter, being one of their favourites, but I'm only being honest. I love all the Lego games, add dozens and dozens of Marvel heroes and you have yourself a winner. There's really not much else to say other than you already know whether you like this game or not.

9. Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (PC) - The Call of Juarez games have been a mixed bunch over the years, with the franchise seemingly losing it's way, only to make a resounding come back with this title. It's easy to take people by surprise when nobody really expects much from you and this is certainly what CoJ: Gunslinger did. But you still have to give the crew at Techland props for getting it so right with this title. A great story, and novel storytelling, combine with fun and exciting gameplay, and great graphics and level design. The duel mechanics are a unique aspect that is executed perfectly and altogether this is a great little game.

8. Rogue Legacy (PC) - You might call it rogue-lite. You might scoff that it's "too easy". For me, this game is the logical iteration on the roguelike formula because it gives the rest of us a chance. Not everyone can deal with the amount of abuse and punishment a true roguelike dishes out, and this game gives you a reward for all the time and effort you put in. Does that diminish the feeling when you do complete it? I don't think so. This game is still a challenge, but a relatively fair one. The controls are super tight, the graphics hark back to the good old days and the unique twist on the repeated deaths is more than just a gimmick. This is a great platformer that manages to brilliantly straddle the line between challenge and frustration.

7. Dust: An Elysian Tail (PC) - It's hard to believe that this game was created almost entirely by one person. With sumptuous hand drawn graphics, fun combat and enough RPG elements to make progression fun and rewarding, this is a great Metroidvania-lite, in a year with some other great entries to the genre. I say lite, because the difficulty isn't overly punishing, but the story, characters, art style and combat make this game great fun to go through.

6. The Swapper (PC) - A unique spin on puzzle games with a clever mechanic and some real head scratching scenarios, set within a beautiful backdrop that oozes an eerie sort of tranquility. The ability to move on to a different puzzle if one has you dumbfounded allowing you to return later and solve it instantly means you're never stuck for too long, and leaves you slapping yourself once you see just how, seemingly, easy the solution was all along.

5. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (PC) - We were a little late to get on the Brothers bandwagon, but with the game available for a nice price during the recent Steam sale, we couldn't fight the hype and praise any longer, we had to see it for ourselves. This is a fantastic game. Without any (coherent) dialogue, a beautiful story unfolds and delivers some real emotional punch. The art style is wonderful, taking on a darker tone at times while retaining the fairy-tale feel, and then of course there is the unique control scheme which some may find a little harder to grasp than others. This is a game to be played in one sitting, and will leave you feeling happy, sad and everything in between by the end.

4. Tomb Raider (PC) - Talk about a comeback. Lara Croft rises from the dead with a bang. Gone are the oversized polygon breasts and clunky mechanics. Welcome to the 21st Century Lara. While this game may owe a lot to titles like Uncharted, and, well, Uncharted 2, it does more than just copy, it forges it's own path and creates an entry that more than stands on it's own. The graphics in this game are amazing. Truly next-gen, well before the console next-gen even thought about getting started. The gameplay mechanics are simple but executed perfectly. The combination of exploration, adventuring and combat is perfect, and the story, while not brilliant, is still very good.

3. Bioshock Infinite (PC) - Will this be the last Bioshock? If so, what a way to go out. While I will admit the combat in this game lacked a little something compared to the original Bioshock, it more than made up for it with the brilliant mind fuck story which demanded you keep playing. The art style, and the brilliant contrast between the picturesque and tranquil world of Columbia and the extreme violence you carry out within it made for a compelling experience.

2. DmC: Devil May Cry (PC) - For all the kicking and screaming from the Internet about their beloved franchise, it turned out to be in vain. This is such a great game and a great entry in the Devil May Cry franchise. With a perfect and deceptively simple control scheme and combo system, the combat in this game was so much fun. Easy to pickup, just the right amount of difficult to master. The insane level and enemy design and the story with just enough real world parallels and video game crazy are a perfect match for Dante. He is the ultimate anti-hero after all. Sumptuous graphics and art direction, all running at a buttery smooth 60fps without needing a beastly PC. Forget the haters, this is a brilliant game and props to Ninja Theory for sticking to their guns and delivering their vision with aplomb.

1. The Last of Us (PS3) - It just had to be, didn't it? There's a reason this game has garnered so much attention and praise. Simply put, it's amazing. Naughty Dog are at the absolute peak of their powers and this game proves it. The unflinching story and it's brilliant delivery, the the amazing cinematic set-pieces, the absolute immersion and tension you feel in this game are unparalleled. So much of the brilliance in this game is from the things that aren't the main focus. All the small details that went into creating such a realistic world, the eeriness you feel as you walk through the desolate world and try to piece together what once was, as you scour every nook and cranny trying to scavenge every little bit you can find, as you try to survive at any cost.

Faulty Playstation 4 DualShock 4 controllers - The ongoing saga

Since getting a launch day PS4 console (29th November for those of us in Australia) I have gone through 3 faulty controllers. Seems I'm not the only one either:

NeoGaf discussion -  http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71116

Whirlpool - http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2199377

It looks like there are 3 main problems with the faulty controllers, and yours may develop one or all of the issues described based on use.

1) Peeling rubber on the analog sticks - This seems to be the most complained about issue. It looks like certain controllers have a problem where the rubber on the analog sticks is not sealed properly and erodes through use. Eventually the rubber will thin out to a point where it will split and then the rubber will start to completely come off.

2) Sticky shoulder buttons (R1 + L1) - This seems to be a very common issue too and pretty self explanatory. It looks like some people have fixed this issue by getting rid of some dirt or grime caught between the button which caused the problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRu3qKcUECk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyFqkm7oIEk

3) Broken R2 / L2 trigger - This one has less complaints but is the very issue which affected all 3 of my controllers. Again it looks like some dirt or grime is the culprit as it sits inside the trigger button and underneath a spring. The friction of the spring on the grime seems to eat away at the plastic hinge holding the trigger, eventually breaking it.

So what can you do?

If you live in Australia, you are entitled to return your controller at the place of purchase for a replacement. We have contacted Sony Support and this is their official response. If any retailer declines remind them of their obligations under the new Consumer Protection Laws.

In the meantime, I also suggest some grips for your controller. You can pick up some decent ones for cheap on eBay. Personally I feel this isn't really something I'm happy with but I really want to avoid the hassle of any more returns. 

Hopefully you've got yourself a working controller, or if you didn't, managed the get it swapped for a fault free one. I'm on my fourth controller now but this one appears to be a good one. Let us know in the comments if you have experienced any of the issues described above, and how well you feel Sony have handled them.