Product Specs:
- SteelSeries Z Engine allows full customization of each key
- Pre-defined profiles for more than 150 games
- Anti-ghosting capability: Up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes
- Special gaming key area
- Interchangeable Keysets
- Internal hub with 2 USB ports
How the ZBoard works
This is the first proper gaming specific keyboard I’ve ever used so I’ll be honest and say I am a real noob when it comes to keyboards like the ZBoard. I’ve used gaming keyboards before but none quite like the ZBoard which can be skinned and used specifically for a particular type of game you’re playing, in this case – Aion. This hardware isn’t new so I guess as a gamer, I’m still learning about hardware too, even after all this time. What I can say is that the ZBoard is extremely KICK ASS when it comes to being able to play a game efficiently.
Distributor: Sony Brand: Logitech Hardware: Gaming Headset Model: G35 Price RRP: $182.00 (price may vary depending on store).
[starreview tpl=16]
This is our first product review at Game Culture and hopefully the first in a long line of gaming products we’ll be reviewing for real gamers. The issue so many gamers have is that the market is permanently saturated with so many different products, it’s next to impossible to decide what is best to buy for your gaming needs. I’ve reviewed dozens of different gaming peripherals in the past, and most products if not all will come with their pros and their cons.
If you’re a hardcore gamer, you’ll be looking for a couple of things that pretty much become non-negotiable. You’ll want comfort for those marathon gaming sessions, you’ll want durability (throwing gaming peripherals around the room sometimes does happen, oh yes), you’ll want performace and you’ll want value for money. Some of these aspects are interchangeable. Some are not.
The Logitech G35 Headset has many pros, very few cons. After spending several hours using this headset on my PC, I’ve come to the conclusion that despite it’s heavy-looking appearance, it felt very comfortable to wear. Although, you might not consider wearing this headset for more than a few hours at a time (which is really the only major draw-back).
The sound quality is great but the USB sound controls could be something you’d want to consider well before purchasing. Although the headset boasts 7.1 surr0und sound ability, the USB panel may negate your epic piece of sound card hardware as a matter of design. The cool thing about the the Logitech G35 (at least for me) was the ability to morph your voice. The software you receive with the headset enables a voice morphing capability that can alter the sound of your voice through the mic – it’s gimmicky but hella fun and very handy for those female gamers who may feel like altering their voice online (try it out in vent, it’s very funny).
There are also three customisable buttons (the G1, G2 and G2 buttons respectively) that allow you to map software applications so you can launch the app from your headset. This is exceptionally handy for launching VoIP software such as Ventrilo (which comes automatically preset).
The G35 is pretty sturdy in design and extremely flexible with three adjustable head bands. Special care has been taken to mute out all excess background noise with noise cancellation as well as extra padding around the ears for both comfort and sound reduction.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a headset that is built for PC gaming, the G35 gets a tick on almost every level. Perhaps not the right headset for home theatre or audio/music specialists who love their music and movie watching but perfect for the gamer looking for a headset that (literally) does it all.
Platform: Xbox 360 Publisher: 2K Games Developer: Gearbox Software Rating: R18 Players: Single player and co-op Genre: FPS/RPG Released: 23rd October, 2009
Website: http://www.borderlandsthegame.com/
[starreview tpl=16]
The cover of Borderlands should just about sum it all up: the image of what looks to be a mutated human with his fingers pressed to his head as if to imitate blowing his own brains out. Oh and yeah, there’s also what looks like some type of brain matter splattering out in a yellow mass behind him. With a rating of R18, you just know that you’re going to be in for one hell of a freaky ride with Borderlands.
Borderlands is set on a planet called Pandora that has a very funky kind of western-type, steampunk vibe going on. You’ll see and discover elements of futuristic technology (such as weapons) but some of the environment and buildings give off a very western-like feel.
The gameplay is split between four different character types which introduces the RPG element (as each character has individual strengths and weaknesses) and in single player mode you get to choose who you want to play. Bearing in mind that the game can play out differently for each character simply due to their differences and skills. You’ve got the choice of either a grunty tank (Berserker) type, a Hunter who specialises in long-range weapons, the Siren who possesses magic ability and the Soldier.
If you’re familiar with RPGs you’ll understand how most of the game progression is structured in Borderlands. But leveling up isn’t simply a matter of just killing things. You’ll be required to complete missions (which can involve killing other NPCs, beasties etc) and strategise your way through some of the more difficult encounters.
And this is where the co-op game mode is really great. Although Borderlands starts off slow, things can get pretty difficult early on if you’re running in and just shooting everything. With group co-op gameplay, the entire dynamic of the game changes and working as a group definitely has its advantages, especially in the more difficult missions.
Borderlands isn’t all about shooting although you’ll be definitely working your way through the ammo. The gameplay is similar in style to Diablo, where you’re constantly having to search the environment for money and whatever you can get from the bodies. Killing and looting everything in sight will soon become a force of habit.
It’s difficult to determine how well a game will do when it pushes the boundaries of blending two distinctive genres like shooters and RPGs together. But Borderlands is developed with both types of gamer in mind and the missions, storyline, characters and game mechanics cater for this exceptionally well.
And If you think romping around through Pandora with your mates will be a blast in co-op mode, Borderlands has more than just oodles of weapons to acquire and fancy powers to use – you can even get mobile with vehicles.
Downloadable game content will be available for Borderlands on the Xbox 360 from the 24th of November in New Zealand so it’s well worth considering if they’re already pumping out the expansions. Fans of running and gunning might find Borderlands is something a little more challenging and RPG fans looking for a a break from the fantasy world will definitely get it with Borderlands.
Platform: Xbox 360 Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Ubisoft Montreal Rating: MA Players: 1 Genre: Action/Adventure Released: 20th November, 2009
Website: http://assassinscreed.uk.ubi.com/
[starreview tpl=16]
Florence Italy, 1459 during the height of the Renaissance period is home to Ezio, the latest character in the story behind Assassin’s Creed 2. Fans of Assassin’s Creed will probably know that ACII differs a fair bit from the previous game. Altair, the dark and brooding Assassin from the first game is gone and is replaced by Ezio who has a whole new background, history and timeline to discover that includes conspiracy, betrayal and murder.
Platform: Xbox 360 Publisher: Activision Developer: FreeStyle Games Rating: PG Players: 2 – 4 Genre: Music Released: October 30, 2009
Website: http://www.djhero.com/
[starreview tpl=16]
Activision have had a healthy run with their ‘Hero’ brand releasing various guitar hero games to sate almost any musical appetite. But for the most part, Guitar Hero as a brand is really about rock/metal music and guitars (with the added expansion of Guitar World Tour). Enter ‘DJ Hero’ – a completely new venture into the world of hip-hop beats and dance music.
DJ Hero differs from Guitar Hero simply because it’s no longer about guitars. The focus has been taken away from the guitar riffs and rock music to the DJ’s turntable and the underground hip-hop dance scene. The music certainly reflects this as the tracklist consists of songs remixed from original tunes taken from bands old and new. It’s a brave move from Activision, taking onboard developer FreeStyle Games to offer a new type of music sim game to the loyal guitar hero masses. But will they like it?
Not to count myself out of that hardcore group(ies) of guitar hero lovers, I’ve certainly found that whilst GH definitely has its appeal and place in the genre of social gaming, there’s plenty of room for new products.
DJ Hero is fundamentally the same as GH apart from the obvious difference where you’re now using a turntable instead of a guitar. And that’s the biggest learning curve you’ll have playing the game. The buttons on the turntable work exactly the same way as the buttons on the guitar. The major exception is when you’re required to ‘crossfade’ the tracks with the crossfader and use the ‘Euphoria’ button (which replaces the Star Power control in GH). There’s also an ‘Effects’ button but that’s largely used when you advance in skill.
Tutorials are pretty much the same as GH so you can learn about the new skills and all about the turntable as you go. You can also try out some songs when you play. But the music is definitely DJ Hero’s defining asset, with tunes that have been remixed and created exclusively for DJ Hero by some very prominent artists including Eminem, Daft Punk, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Grandmaster Flash.
One of the main challenges GH fans may be used to which is now absent in DJ Hero is failing songs as you play them. You’ll never fail a song in DJ Hero so you won’t be penalised exactly the same way. Which is good and bad. Without this challenge to face, it makes it alot easier to advance in skill but on the other hand, there’s quite a lot more to do in DJ Hero than just match coloured buttons to its corresponding button on screen. With the ‘crossfader’ you’ll be using the buttons to scratch as well as crossfading specific sounds in the song. There are also more advanced techniques such as adding ‘effects’ and rewinding the song back to certain parts of the song that give you extra bonuses.
So DJ Hero is still very much like GH in the sense that you’re competing for the highest score you can achieve on any particular song and that competitiveness is a fundamental element that keeps the game interesting. But on the other hand DJ Hero has very different elements not to mention the track list and music style that really does place it in its own unique arena.
The tracklist consists of the following songs remixed (taken from Wikipedia):
You’ll notice that some of the tracks have additional areas where you can jam out with someone else on guitar. This is a very cool addition to the game and is a whole lot of fun, especially if you’re at a party or having friends over.
DJ Hero may not be everyone’s idea of musical fun and there’s a very good chance that Guitar Hero fans won’t take to the product the same way they have with GH expansions. It is however cool to see Activision trying something new and giving gamers the choice to try something unique and refreshingly different rather than expanding the already exhaustive GH stable of games. There will also be DLC for Xbox 360 available as there has been in the past for GH.
Nice one Activision, thumbs up! 
Platform: PSP Publisher: Rockstar Games Developer: Rockstar Leeds Rating: G Players: 1 Genre: Music Released: October 2, 2009
Website: http://www.rockstargames.com/beaterator/
[starreview tpl=16]
If you’ve ever wanted a taste of what it’s like to record and create your own music in a studio, Beaterator is one of the closest things you’ll get to it. And don’t at all be fooled by the fact that the game is for PSP. They say “good things come in small packages”. Beaterator is jam packed with so much to do and experiment with, you’ll be jamming out and creating music for hours on end… really.
With the tutorial presented by Timbaland, the master of mixing and producing hit music, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own in no time at all. And it’s well worth doing the tutorial because you could easily become a little ‘dazed and confused’ with all the possibilities and options in the game.
For instance, starting off with just a drum track can offer so many different opportunities to add or edit. It’s not just a matter of laying down a track in one place and repeating it (although, if that’s how you wish to create your music, there’s nothing stopping you). The music loops are set up specifically for this purpose and many popular songs today are created by doing the exact same thing.
It’s nice to also be able to choose a different genre to work with, especially if pop music isn’t your thing. You can access the different options from the main menu and choose your genre. Although I found a few of the options there a little limited, there’s still more than enough to get you started.
The one thing that really blew me away when creating the sounds using Beaterator is just how one particular aspect of a loop can change the sound dramatically when you alter it’s frequency, pitch or omit it altogether.
Beaterator has two main areas for creating sounds and loops which are ‘Live Play’ or ‘Studio’. With Live Play it’s easier to ‘dive straight in’ and start mixing tunes right away. But the learning curve for creating everything yourself may be a tad high for people who really aren’t good with alot of information and menus. Beaterator has an incredible amount of depth and options to create the music but the interface can be a little challenging if you’re intending to by-pass the tutorial.
Live Play allows you to use pre-recorded templates to create music. You can change each ‘loop’ using the R and L buttons to create even more diverse sounds. There is a variety of genre’s to choose from including Rock, Pop and House. Studio is where the true creation process begins. You can create and edit every sound in the database (of which there are dozens). You can edit tempo, length of a beat or loop, and even add your own sounds. Everything you create can be recorded and altered accordingly. The Song Crafter allows you to add in your own sounds to create your own loops – the possibilities are endless.
Beaterator is a fantastic piece of software that crosses the line between ‘game’ and utility bringing the world of digital music production to the PSP. For its size, the Beaterator software packs in a truckload of content and deserves serious consideration from all music fans. For the wee price of $49.99, you’re getting alot more than your money’s worth.
Platform: PC Publisher: NCSoft Developer: NCSoft Rating: G Players: Thousands Genre: MMORPG/Fantasy Released: September 18, 2009
Website: http://na.aiononline.com/
Our first look at Aion revealed some of the basics of the game including races, tradeskills, classes and general gameplay up to level 25. After level 25, the game has the potential to really change especially if you’re a pvp player who enjoys hunting other players down in battle.
We’re almost at the level now where PvP gameplay is an integral part of the game and is actually one of the main motivators for playing Aion. So if you’re keen to find out exactly what game play for Aion is like after you get your ‘wings’, read on…
Once you’ve got your wings, there’s no turning back…
So you’ve reached the pinnacle level 25 and you’ve done the quest to enter the Abyss (you’re given three quests to choose from). You’ve heard all about how level 25 changes everything and you can finally PvP and kick some serious Elyos (or Asmo) butt! Afterall, what good are wings if you can’t kill people using them?
Having your wings is great but if you were anything like me and you didn’t read any of the previews of the game prior to release, you’re probably going to be just a little disappointed. You’ll get wings and you’ll be able to fly but none of it comes free. Your first initial set of wings will be free upon access to the abyss but everything else (including staying airborne) is going to cost you – big time.
Look ma, I can fly!
Flying comes with consequences, the biggest of which is running out of flight time in the Abyss. And unless you were one of the special people that forked out for the Collectors Edition of the game, you will have to pay something close to 1 million kinah to gain your upgraded wings after level 30. This in itself is a huge downer… especially when you’re in a group situation and you’re hunting Elyos or Asmo enemies. You’ll really feel it when you can’t keep up with your party because you either a) don’t have as much flight time as they do due to not having upgraded wings or b) you lack the money to buy pots (potions) that can boost your flight time.
As we previously mentioned, Aion is very much a traders game. If you’re not into selling and buying items you collect in-game on the broker, you’re going to find life extremely challenging in Aion without the monetary support to keep pushing to the next level.
PvP in the Abyss – all it’s cracked up to be?
In short, the answer is yes… and also no. In other MMOs such as Warhammer, worrying about having to fly to keep up with your pvp guildmates was not an issue so Aion is very much a unique game as far as PvP experience is concerned. You’ll be challenged with raiding parties of Elyos or Asmo hunting you down anywhere you decide to go in the Abyss (as it’s a freely accessible area for all players over level 25) which can be both exciting and extremely frustrating.
If you’re a lower level ‘noob’ trying your wings for the first time and grinding xp, you’ll be constantly reminded of the fact that it’s not only the wandering or respawning mobs you need to be careful of. If you forget to keep your eyes on the map (like a ‘radar’ that shows incoming threats as red dots) as you grind away, it’s likely that you’ll be jumped by a raiding party of Elyos or Asmo’s looking for easy Abyss kills to rank up their AP (Abyss Points). This in itself is not so great and could potentially be a flaw in the game much like the consistent class imbalances were in Warhammer.
I eat green berets for breakfast!
It would be nice to see NCSoft introduce something similar to the ‘Chicken’ affect in Warhammer which prevented high level enemy players dropping in on you at any time and pwning you without even a second thought. As this has happened to me many times, I can tell you that after dying consistently for an hour or so this way, you soon lose the taste to level up in the Abyss alone. It may sound like a whole lot of whinging but at the end of the day, keeping the game balanced will only enhance the player experience, not hinder it.
Revenge however, can be oh so sweet, especially when your raiding party has used a ‘rift’ to access the enemy territory. If a rift between the two areas opens up and you can locate the rift, you are free to access enemy territory. This of course offers plenty of opportunities for you and your hunting party to ‘gank’ (destroy) as many of the enemy as possible without them even putting up much of a fight. The element of surprise is particularly handy in such situations.
So although being consistently hunted in the Abyss has it’s downfalls, there are always ways in which you can get revenge if you truly feel the need. However, introducing level restrictions may help to make the game a little more balanced as far as PvP is concerned.
Advancing tradeskills
At higher levels, tradeskills can become ridiculously expensive. Players have reported to have spent more than 1 million kinah on one tradeskill alone just to level up. I find this extreme to say the least and overall, I’m not too impressed with the expensive cost of everything. Travel alone can be expensive and forget buying items – everything in the way of items is horrendously over-priced. Unless you’re into buying your kinah online illegally through a gold selling website, you’re going to find it difficult to even get close to rare items in the game (other than scoring one yourself from a raid or a group PvE situation).
LFL (Looking for Legion)
As a New Zealander playing primarily on a US based server, finding the right type of legion (guild/clan) has been tedious. At level 31 I am still without a legion to call home despite being offered to join a legion several times a day everytime I play. I’ve avoided it for the most part because joining a legion based in the US is going to be a major bummer in terms of playtime. Not to mention raids when you are 16 – 18 hours ahead of everyone else. It’s just too difficult to manage the time around other people located so far abroad. There are however some Aussie guilds on the server I play on so there is hope for me, yet.
Being part of a legion definitely has its rewards. You will more than likely find gear is easier to obtain through a legion, and grouping up with guildmates is far more enjoyable than having to go ‘LFG’ everytime you need help with a quest or want to level up in difficult areas. If you’re into raiding and PvP gameplay then you should definitely consider joining a legion. Solidarity in numbers will always have its advantages over solo gameplay, especially in the Abyss.
Imagine how much these wings cost...
Do all roads lead to Aion?
Aion is definitely a game developed with the true MMO gamer in mind. While casual MMO gamers may enjoy the experience of Aion, it’s doubtful whether the true essence of what Aion is all about could be enjoyed without dedicating a serious amount of time to the game. That means that unless you’re really sure of being able to be ‘hardcore’ enough to play on a consistent basis, you’re probably not going to get the full enjoyment out of what Aion has to offer.
So it’s safe to say that after my experiences in the game, Aion is a very good MMO but not without it’s potential ‘flaws’ or perhaps areas for improvement. On that note though, it’s good to see that the Aion community has a direct link to the developers of the game via the official website and even better to see that NCSoft listen when the gamers speak. The gold spamming issue we spoke of in the first part of this review has more or less been resolved and the queuing system that was set up on some servers to help with the overloading has too. As far as the future of the game is concerned, it’s really anyone’s guess but I’d like to harzard one and say that Aion has a fairly bright future if the NCSoft staff continue to listen and work with the Aion community on future improvements.
Game Culture Rating:
[starreview tpl=16]
Platform: PC Publisher: NCSoft Developer: NCSoft Rating: G Players: Thousands Genre: MMORPG/Fantasy Released: September 18, 2009
Website: http://na.aiononline.com/
Editor’s Note: This review is intended for gamers who are already familiar with Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games.
Gamers the world over are referring to Aion as the ‘WoW Killer’. Although I only played WoW for six months, I can definitely attest to Aion being one of the closest games to ever be worthy of carrying that mantle.
Since Aion is a rather expansive MMORPG, it would be silly to try and tell you everything about a game that has only been out for a week and currently has a level cap of 50. So, we’re breaking it down into several parts, this being part one and roughly a review of levels 1 – 20.
Like most MMORPGs, Aion requires a combination of grinding (killing mobs for experience) and questing to level. This is the most arduous part of any MMO and unfortunately, it can’t be avoided, even in Aion. So if you were looking for an MMO that doesn’t require repetitive killing of mobs and quest chains to level, move on.
Background/history of Aion
Without spending too much time on this area, Aion at its most basic is an MMO that focuses on two races of Atreia – the Asmodian and the Elyos. Asmodians look more like demons whilst Elyos look a fair bit like angels. After level 25, the game is really suited for players who enjoy combat, especially Player vs Player or battles between the races on a grand scale.
Quests/grinding
The folks over at NCSoft have done a wonderful job with the quest chains, setting up quests that are easy to follow and relatively quick to complete. There is also an indicator in your quest log that tells you what quests are active, their difficulty level (indicated by colour) and where the quest is located. Finding quest NPCs is also ridiculously easy. You can use both the in-game map to assist you as well as obvious markers (big arrows) above the heads of the NPCs that tell you where to collect quests. Quests are also divided into two groups; campaign quests and normal quests. Campaign quests are indicated by yellow markers and normal quests by blue.
Classes/Sub-classes/Races
The classes in Aion are again very similar to those of other MMOs notably, EQ, WoW and Warhammer. Aion starts off relatively simple with only four main character classes to choose from with each branching off into a sub-class upon completion of level 10. At level nine, your character will undergo the ‘Ascension’ which is where you choose your path (specialty).
The four main classes are Priest, Mage, Scout, Warrior.
The Warrior is a master of weapons and combat. The sub-classes are Gladiator and Templar. The Gladiator is a true master of weaponship, able to wield practically any weapon as well as polearms. The Templar on the other hand is extremely adept at defense whilst also being able to dish out damage to opponents.
The Priest develops into either the Chanter or Cleric. The Cleric is pretty self-explanatory – a dedicated healer and the most proficient healing class in the game also able to wield sheild and mace. The Chanter is a healer but one that also concentrates energies on buffing other players, improving morale and generally enhancing other players’ abilities.
The Mage subclasses are Spiritmaster and Sorceror. The Spiritmaster controls spirits that it can summon at will whilst also being able to attack opponents with powerful offensive elemental spells. The Sorceror is a master of the elements, relying on high damage dealing spells.
The Scout class breaks off into sub-classes Assassin and Ranger. Assassins deal in death by stealth, hiding themselves from targets and evading danger. The Ranger is proficient in long-distance damage with the bow and arrow but can also wield a sword and dagger for close-combat attacks.
The environment and travel
The environment of Aion is very picturesque. The first thing you will notice about the world of Aion is its vibrant colour and meticulous animated detail. Whilst this doesn’t entirely make a game more playable (for some, it is the only thing that matters but for others, not so much), it’s nice to be able to play a game that doesn’t make your characters look like pixelated paint-by-number images on the screen. Kudos to the developers and animation artists as they’ve done a fantastic job here.
The travel system in Aion is a huge step up from other MMOs. It’s easy to get around (although a little on the expensive side at first) and the world is quite expansive, starting off with several small villages and eventually leading to full-scale cities such as Pandaemonium. Navigating through the cities is also exceptionally easy for newcomers to the game with the map displaying every area of the city clearly as well as comprehensively.
Having more than one city in an MMO is a fairly new experience for me as a gamer. It’s quite refreshing to see so much content in a game that has barely been in development since 2007.
Money/Economy
The monetary system of Aion is simplistic with ‘Kinah’ being the only denomination used in the game. Money can be acquired from quests, killing mobs and from trading.
The trade system and economy of Aion is well-structured and easy to use. Without knowing anything at all about the economic structure of the game, a newcomer can begin trading and making money as soon as they hit level 10 (which is when you can travel to the city and get access to the broker).
It’s an essential part of any MMO to have money to spend. In Aion, you will need a relatively plentiful amount of money if you intend on travelling alot (as it can be a little on the expensive side) or upgrading your gear. You’ll also need a fair bit of income to sustain tradeskills in the game should you decide to try them.
Tradeskills
I’ve always been fond of tradeskills in MMOs since my EQ days so learning about the tradeskills in Aion was a necessity. There are quite a few skills available to learn and there is no limit to how many you can learn on any one character. Some games limit this ability so it was great to see this hasn’t been the case in Aion. You’re also not restricted by class so you can learn any skill you like.
The tradeskills are Gathering (also part of the Aether/Vitality gathering skill), Armoursmithing, Weaponsmithing, Cooking, Handicrafts (sewing), and Alchemy. To start off you will need to have around 3,333 kinah to learn each skill. And then you’ll need money to buy ingredients to increase your skill. The quests for increasing your skill in any one tradeskill have been simplified in Aion to the point where it’s very easy to upskill. You can acquire quests from the trademaster called ‘Work Orders’ which are simply repetitive quests that require you to make something for someone (the government or another NPC). You will also be required to gather ingredients from hunting mobs or using the ‘gather’ skill to acquire raw materials such as iron and silver ore, or materials from animals such as skin for making clothes or fibre from plants.
Hint: If you’re wanting to learn the gathering skill, try levelling up as you quest. It’s very easy to do and will save you time in the long run.
In part two of the review we look at PVP combat, guilds (or Legions), the group system and other various elements of gameplay past level 20.
Game Culture Rating: [starreview tpl=16]
