Sam Woolf

A New Dimension

3D printing has always seemed to me one of those futuristic technologies too far removed from the realms of everyday life to actually be viable. I’d be outright lying if I claimed to have a solid understanding of how the process works, but from what I can tell it involves formulating a computer aided design, pressing print, and then watching your three-dimensional creation take shape.

Thankfully, for those of us who are less creatively inclined, you don’t even have to draw up the original design yourself. Sites such as Thingverse and Pinshape have literally thousands of 3D print files that are free for users to download and use to their hearts content. Everything from visual spectacles, such as figures and ornaments, to more practical creations such as phone cases and fully functional musical instruments. So long as you have the kit, you can go 3D printing crazy!

‘So long as you have the kit, you can go 3D printing crazy!’

In addition to this undeniably cool novelty of being able to print your own consumer goods, 3D printing is even getting to the stage that certain specialist 3D printers are able to make food.
Foodini, for instance is an upcoming open capsule model 3D printing device that is capable of printing virtually any foodstuff. All you do is prepare your ingredients, place them inside the device, and then you can relax as all the nitty gritty details of actually cooking the food are sorted for you. Again, this idea sounds cool if nothing else; who wouldn’t want to have their own personal mechanical chef in the kitchen? But the advantages of being able to 3D print food extend far beyond an improved quality of domesticated life. In fact, 3D food printers may offer a permanent solution to certain global food crises.

Traditionally prepared food is problematic in a number of ways. It takes up excessive amounts of space, is dependent on weather and climate, and is frequently wasted. As such, an ill-timed drought or food will often prove disastrous for secluded regions that rely on steady yields of locally farmed food.

Comparatively, 3D-printed foods are portable, nutritionally dense, and reliable. What’s more as the technology gets cheaper, so too does it become more viable as an option to combat malnutrition and hunger worldwide. Even the poorest people around the world will normally have access to rice, but this carbohydrate merely forms a singular part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. It is not sufficient to make up a person’s diet on its own. Nevertheless, there are millions of people across the world who live solely on a diet of rice. However, if we throw 3D printing into the mix, then a solution to this problem becomes clear. Through the advent of a mass produced dissolvable stock cube that is rich in nutrients and vitamins, malnutrition on a global scale could one day be a thing of the past.

‘3D-printed foods are portable, nutritionally dense, and reliable’

3D printing even has its potential benefits with regards to climate change. Roughly 18% of greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock. However, companies such as Modern Meadow are working towards a future in which artificially created proteins, made through 3D printing, are the norm. Just imagine: artificial meat that has never been a part of any living animal. A lot of these ideas for 3D printing are still in their conceptual stages, and the technology – whilst always getting cheaper – isn’t quite at that consumer price point just yet. You won’t be finding a 3D food printer in your mate’s house anytime soon I imagine. But it is becoming increasingly clear to me that my initial view of 3D printing as a futuristic novelty was misled. Instead, now I see 3D printing as a well of potential just waiting to be tapped.

No Laughing Matter

We all have those crazy irrational fears. Some people are scared of enclosed spaces, others are left petrified at the concept of public speaking, there’s even a fear of long words – ironically referred to as hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. Yet one of the most well-known phobias is that of clowns.

Logically, coulrophobia (the fear of clowns) makes little sense. There is arguably nothing more innocent than an entertainer of children whose job it is to dress up in brightly coloured clothes and perform exaggerated slapstick routines incorporating balloon animals, squirting water flowers, and juggling batons.

Nevertheless, there has always been a certain ambiguity surrounding the clowning profession. The emotions and intentions of the performers always remain a mystery, masked behind the unrelenting smiles. A clown may well be all smiles on the surface, but who really knows what is going on underneath? Fundamentally, it is this- the not knowing – that has generated an aura of creepiness around clowning. Furthermore, the stereotypical image of the scary clown is no stranger to the horror genre with properties such as Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Batman reinforcing the idea that clowns are hiding something more sinister than just their identity underneath their makeup. Being scared of clowns may be illogical, but there is nothing illogical about feeling uneasy when presented with the unknown.

However, in some cases this uneasy feeling has been recently replaced with full-blown horror. Originating in the US, a craze involving individuals dressed as creepy killer clowns has steadily been gaining steam over the last few months. The first sightings came following an incident from a small town in South Carolina back in August. According to a witness, an ominous figure could be seen wearing “a scary clown mask, red curly wig, yellow dotted shirt, and blue pants and shoes” as he attempted to lure children into the woods.

The emotions and intentions of the performers always remain a mystery, masked behind the unrelenting smiles

Thanks to the viral nature of trends spreading through the internet, copycat clown sightings shortly followed in neighbouring states and quickly escalated to terrifying heights. Clowns outside-and-in, clowns following children to school, even threats made through social media with one individual going so far as to tweet “We will be at all High Schools this Friday to either kidnap students or kill teachers going to they cars…”.

In the US alone, creepy clowns have been sighted in over 20 states, with 30 arrests having been made, and 4 schools put on lockdown over fears for the safety of students and staff. Fears that sadly have been realised following an alleged dispute over a clown mask which resulted in the tragic stabbing to death of an American teenager.

It would also appear that – in spite of originating in the United States – that craze is by no means a wholly American venture. Creepy Clowns have started popping all over the place from Canada to Australia, with some recent sightings having taken place in the UK. One of the first of these sightings – which took place on 30^th September – involved the arrest of a Newcastle teenager who had been carrying a blade and terrorising children. An axe wielding clown was also sighted in Loughborough by a witness who stated “I have never been so terrified in my life.” Closer to home, it seems that the craze has even come to Exeter with sightings having been reported around the city.

In light of these sightings the Metropolitan Police have issued a statement urging individuals to “remember to act in a responsible manner and understand that they could be prosecuted if a criminal offence is committed”. Undeniably there are mounting concerns with regards to public safety. However it could be argued that the real victims of the situation are those professionally involved with clowning itself.

Some retailers in the US have begun pulling 'scary' clown masks from the shelves. (Image: publicdomainpictures.com) — Some retailers in the US have begun pulling ‘scary’ clown masks from the shelves. (Image: publicdomainpictures.com)

Contrary to the belief that there is no such thing as bad press, actual clowns have not exactly benefited from all the attention inherent with a viral trend of this nature. All due to a near rampant state of hysteria, Clowns have been rejecting invitations to perform at public events, had lined up work cancelled, and are even avoiding going out in public over fears of backlash. To an extent it is understandable why many have faced arrest for going out dressed as clowns. As one student stated ““It is very difficult to differentiate between an innocent or hostile clown, since either type has a creepy vibe anyway”. But, it should go without saying that people should not face arrest and discrimination based on the attire associated with their career choices.

A big question mark surrounds the whole occurrence. What started the initial craze of people dressing up as creepy clowns? Why, nearly 2 months after the first incident, is it still going on? Is there even a deeper meaning? Some have theorized that the craze is some sort of viral marketing campaign ahead of next year’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s It. Others suggest that the clowns do in fact have malicious intent. But then there is always the possibility that the entire debacle is merely a prank in poor taste gone viral.

The scary thing is, nobody knows for sure. As a witness from the US puts it “We don’t know if it’s a prank, of if they’re really trying to harm people”. Ultimately, just as there has always been a certain ambiguity to actual clowns, the creepy clown craze shall remain shrouded in mystery for a while yet.

Blast from the Past: Endless Ocean

During the last generation of consoles, the Wii was widely regarded to have inferior graphics when compared to its competitors. Aesthetically speaking, despite some truly stunning titles – most notably the Super Mario Galaxy games – the plucky 480p console couldn’t compete with the HD powerhouse consoles of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. The Wii of course was never about graphics, it was about gameplay experiences; Wii Sports, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Play, these were games that you played when you wanted to have a good time with mates, not when you wanted to gaze in awe at your television screen. That being said there were a few exceptions; one of the most interesting being Endless Ocean.

Developed by Arika and released to the Wii in 2007, Endless Ocean is a game all about the experience of scuba diving… and that’s all there is to it. All you do in the game is dive underwater and explore the depths of the ocean. You can go spelunking in submerged crystalline caverns or delve deep in to the dark depths, but beyond exploration there really isn’t much to the game. Similar to series such as Fallout or The Elder Scrolls; Endless Ocean gives you this vast game world to explore at your own pace but unlike those series there are no enemies, no power ups, and no obstacles in your way. Endless Ocean ignores the conventions of modern gaming and instead urges players to just relax and lose themselves in its vibrant marine world dominated by colourful coral reefs and vast stretches of open water.

Endless Ocean ignores the conventions of modern gaming and instead urges players to just relax and lose themselves in its vibrant marine world

The game’s proposal of captivating players with its underwater environments is certainly an ambitious one given its underpowered platform, yet somehow it still manages to blow me away 8 years after its release. Listening to Hayley Westenra’s angelic rendition of Prayer whilst nosediving down into darkness only to see a gigantic whale emerge from the inky abyss, left me wide eyed and open mouthed the first time I played through the game. The game’s beautifully tranquil soundtrack, subtle lighting effects such as light glittering down through cracks in submerged caves, and sheer scale all combine to make Endless Ocean one of the most visually impressive games of its generation.

Not to mention the impressive range of aquatic creatures that you will encounter from the minuscule sea cucumber and dime a dozen Blue Tang (aka Dory from Finding Nemo), to the gargantuan whales and foreboding sharks, contribute surprising longevity to the experience. There’s even a mechanic that allows you to befriend dolphins and have them accompany you on future dives. With regards to presentation, the only time that the game shows its standard definition roots is when the player leaves the water and returns to his/her boat. Whereas the underwater animations are fluid and lifelike, above the waves low polygon character models that move in a bizarrely robotic manner serve as an unwanted break from the relaxing immersion that the rest of the game works so hard to achieve.

Despite the chilled tone of the game, there are still things to do as well. You can accept jobs via email to photograph specific kinds of fish or take clients on dives with you. Also there are a few overarching objectives such as the Pokémon inspired scrapbook which calls for the player to catalogue every kind of fish and marine animal in the ocean.

The main plot which takes you to the most interesting locations that the game has to offer, can also be tackled by the player at any time. The objectives of Endless Ocean feel like guidelines on how to play and never impede on the player’s own personal play style. Ultimately it’s all about the discoveries that you make.

Unfortunately, that is also the game’s biggest flaw. Scuba diving is by nature a slow paced activity, so it makes sense that a game based on the activity would be equally as slow. If the notion of swimming through the oceans and discovering new kinds of fish doesn’t excite you then Endless Ocean will ultimately put you to sleep. Also another annoying trait of many Wii games was the forced implementation of motion controls. In Endless Ocean, players point the Wii remote at the screen and move the pointer around to change the direction that the diver is swimming toward. It’s intuitive, but it does take some getting used to and initially feels a bit clunky.

Games + Tech societies

So you’ve arrived at (probably) the best university in the world, and you want your gaming fix while you’re here. Don’t worry, Exeter has many societies to help make sure that that itch is scratched. If you want any information about any of the societies click the title of the society, this will take you through to the society’s guild page.

Retro Games Society

Known for their weekly fun-filled arcade sessions consisting of the best nostalgic throwback games of the past few decades, Retro Games Society is the place to be if you want to meet fellow gamers studying at the University. You’ll get to meet likeminded people, travel back to a simpler time of polygons and pixels, and experience titles such as Star Wars Battlefront II, TowerFall, and Crash Team Racing. The society also organises the occasional movie night to watch such videogame related movies as Wreck It Ralph and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Pokémon Society

Credit: UoE's Pokemon Society — Credit: UoE’s Pokemon Society

The Exeter Pokémon Society celebrates Pokémon in all of its forms. Whether you’re an experienced trainer or merely a rookie wandering around playing Pokémon Go, veteran of the main series games or fan of the anime, Pokémon Society is the place for you! This year they plan to host events such as 3DS tournaments, movie showings, Pokémon GO pub crawls and an event to coincide with the midnight release of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon in November. This fresher’s week the society is planning to have a casual meet-and-greet, a scavenger hunt, a showing of Pokémon: The First Movie and to then to go out in style with a Pokémon GO Pub Crawl.

e-Sports Society

If you’re interest in gaining and insight into and possibly becoming a part of the fast paced emerging field of e-Sports, then e-Sports society may just be the place for you. From Overwatch and Rocket League to Heroes of the Storm and even the occasional fundraising LAN party it’s all here for you to get stuck into. The society is also part of the National University e-Sports League (NUEL) and often sends teams to compete in official competitions. If the big leagues aren’t for you though, there are also frequent social sessions featuring both online and offline games.

Games Society

Who said that games have to be all about fancy high definition displays and button mashing? With the Games Society members get the opportunity to do away with all the modern annoyances of the video game industry and instead focus on board games, card games, and roleplaying games. Playing games can be a very isolated experience, but with the Games Society, games help to promote social links between students and local players. Meeting on a weekly basis and featuring games such as Dungeons and Dragons and A Game of Thrones, the more traditional gaming sessions held by the society really can be a great way to unwind and socialise.

Poker Society

How’s your poker face? Do you know your straight flush from your royal flush? If you’ve always wanted to get into the game of poker but never ended up getting round to it, or if you’re a seasoned pro looking to put your poker face to the test, then the Poker Society have you covered. The society – which welcomes players of all skill levels – holds a casual weekly £5 buy in tournament as its main event but there is also a poker league which awards members who do consistently well in these tournaments, and the chance to get to travel to the UK Student Poker Championship.

Chess Society

Chess: the game of kings. Played for over a thousand years by millions of people across the world, the game can best be summed up as easy to easy to pick up, difficult to master, and even harder to put down. With the Chess Society members can spend time socialising through friendly matches, honing their skills through competitive battle, and even working towards representing the University on the society’s official team. You don’t have to be a grand master though, the society welcomes players of all skill levels.

SID (Technical and General Support for Students)

Ok, so this one isn’t a society, BUUUUT they are super useful. Located in the forum, the Student Information Desk will be your main port of call for any technical or general problems you may have during your time at the University. Whether it’s as simple as the Wi-Fi not working on your devices or a lost student card as a result of a night out on the town, SID will do their best to help you. During term time the desk is open 8am – 8pm, Monday – Friday, and 10am – 3pm, Saturday. The desk can also be reached through telephone (0300 555 0444)

Let the TV-ideo Games Begin

TV shows come in all shapes and sizes nowadays. Whether you’re looking for some high thrills and chillingly tense dramatic moments, a week-by-week competition in which the colourful contestants get voted off one at a time, or just some easy Sunday night comfort viewing; chances are there’s something for you. In fact, in recent years with the advent of subscription based streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, it’s never been easier to find something good to watch on the telly.

it’s never been easier to find something good to watch

With all this being said however, if you’re a gamer and you happen to be on the lookout for a TV show based off of your favourite pastime, then you may struggle. Yes, there are shows that have been inspired by video-games, and shows that make numerous references to video games. There are even some TV show characters – such as the quirky quartet from The Big Bang Theory –who spend a fair amount of their time button mashing. But as far as full-blown mainstream video-game shows are concerned, the track record isn’t great. GamesMaster for instance, which predominantly featured game reviews, ran on Channel 4 from 1992-1998 and was pulled due to changes in management. Later there was a show called Thumb Bandits also on Channel 4 which satirically responded to gaming news. However this attempt was met with mediocre reviews and ran only from 2001-2002. And finally, the children’s programme Bamzooki, which ran on CBBC from 2004-2010 and pitted various virtual creatures against one another in a series of increasingly difficult challenges, is the only other show that springs to mind. Though to actually label Bamzooki as a video game show does seem a stretch.

Certainly then, the idea of a successful show hosted by one of the country’s most popular stand-up comedians, that focusses primarily on video-games would appear far removed from reality. That is, until now. Starting in autumn of 2016, six episodes of Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit will air on Dave as part of the channel’s own line of original programming. The show, which is set to be hosted by comedian Dara O Briain and video game journalist Ellie Gibson, will pit two celebrities– captained by comedians Steve McNeil and Sam Pamphilon respectively – against one another in a five round competition consisting of “increasingly competitive, hilarious gaming contests”. The games featured in these challenges will range from retro classics such as Donkey Kong and Tetris, to expansive modern gaming experiences such as Grand Theft Auto and Mario Kart. According to Dave, there will even be some “larger-than-life game-inspired physical challenges” that will take contestants out of the virtual world and pit them against each other in the real world.

hopefully come autumn, gamers will have that one worthwhile videogame tv show

Go 8 Bit will not actually be the first original programme hosted by O Briain on Dave. Dara Ó Briain: School of Hard Sums – a mathematical comedy game show – ran from 2012-2014 and was met with generally positive reviews. I personally caught the odd showing of School of Hard Sums and definitely found it to be worth my time. It was funny, it utilised maths in mind-blowing ways that I never thought possible, and surprisingly it entertained me. This was particularly shocking to me given my leftover disdain towards the subject following my disastrous AS results. Therefore, I have nothing but high hopes for Go 8 Bit. The creative team behind the show seem promising, and celebrity guests will appeal to a mainstream audience hopefully securing its longevity. Only time will tell, but hopefully come autumn, gamers will have that one worthwhile video-game TV show to get stuck into.

Holey Hairdryers

When the name Dyson is mentioned to me, a number of words spring to mind. Innovative, stylish, pioneering. Certainly, the company that brought us cyclone driven hoovers, energy efficient hand dryers, and seemingly magic bladeless fans, is no stranger to the world of popular and revolutionary technology. At the very least Dyson have some of the coolest sounding products out there. The Airblade for instance sounds more akin to a private jet than it does a public toilet. So with a name like Supersonic, what can we expect from Dyson next?

If you guessed hairdryer then you’re correct. Currently scheduled for a June 2016 release, the Dyson Supersonic is a set to blow the competition away with its deceptively powerful motor and sleek design. The design of the product is actually very striking at first glance. Compared to most conventional hairdryers that have motors in their heads and end up feeling top-heavy as a result, the all new V-9 motor of the Supersonic is located in the base of the handle. The result is a comparatively small head which in turn contributes to an overall lightweight and compact design. In a world with ever-rising excess baggage costs on flights, this is great news for any holiday makers that usually bring their hairdryers with them. Also, as there is no motor in the head of the hairdryer, Dyson magic can once again ensue. I don’t think anyone will ever quite get over the novelty of owning a hairdryer with a hole in the head that you can look all the way through.

The supersonic is far more than aesthetic novelty

The Supersonic is far more than aesthetic novelty however. It was created by Dyson to solve many of the problems often associated with hairdryers. Worried about your hair burning whilst it’s being dried? Annoyed by the fact that you can’t maintain a conversation whilst using typical hairdryers? Well, Dyson have you covered. A combination of acoustic silencers and extra blades within the motor contribute to an overall quieter device. According to Dyson, the hairdryer also makes use of intelligent heat control. This means that the temperature of the air being expelled is checked 20 times a second and is never allowed to get so high that it will damage the user’s hair.

In addition, this controlled temperature does not mean that that the Supersonic takes forever to get the job done. Thanks to the signature Air Multiplier technology commonly found in Dyson’s hand dryers the volume of air is amplified 3 times as it passes through the Supersonic meaning that you should be able to dry your hair much faster.

So it ticks all the boxes. It’s efficient, near silent, and won’t burn your hair. Unfortunately the Supersonic does have one major drawback: the price. More likely to burn a hole in your pocket than it is your hair, when the Supersonic releases in June it will set you back £299. But if you’ve got three hundred quid spare this summer, value your luscious locks above all else, and are the type of person who gets excited by the words ‘Dyson Hairdryer’ then it may just be worth looking into.

Nintendo announce details surrounding the NX and next Zelda

Nintendo’s highly anticipated video game system codenamed NX finally has an official release window. An announcement made by the company on Wednesday reveals that the console will release worldwide in March 2017. Nintendo stated:

For our dedicated video game platform business, Nintendo is currently developing a gaming platform codenamed ‘NX’ with a brand-new concept. NX will be launched in March 2017 globally.

Prior to the announcement it had been widely speculated that the NX would see a 2016 launch in time for the profitable festive period. However now it appears that Nintendo fans will have to wait just that little bit longer to get their hands on the next generation of Nintendo hardware. Bizarrely, the NX won’t even be making an appearance at E3 this year and instead will be officially revealed later in 2016.

That’s not to say that Nintendo doesn’t have some interesting plans for E3 this year though. The company also revealed that the upcoming Legend of Zelda game for Wii U has been delayed yet again to 2017 and will also release in tandem on the NX platform following the system’s launch. In addition, the game will be the only playable title that Nintendo will be bringing to E3 this year.

With only Zelda at E3, and Paper Mario Colour Splash being the only first party Wii U game currently scheduled for 2016 things did just get a whole lot darker for Nintendo fans. But the situation isn’t entirely without merit. Fans can still look forward to the launch of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon on the 3DS just in time for Christmas. Also, an apparent lack of games now may indicate that the majority of Nintendo’s developers are in fact working on NX titles. This could just be the calm before the storm so to speak.

A Long time ago, but not that far away… Console Wars!

If the gaming industry were seen as a schoolyard; Nintendo would be the kid off on the side doing its own thing, PC gaming would be the head teacher overseeing everything, and Sony and Microsoft would be the two children squabbling over which of them has the most up to date toys. This phenomenon of companies battling it out, campaigning for their console to be deemed the most popular and successful, is seemingly one exclusive to this century. For the past fifteen years the situation has remained relatively stagnant with only Sony, Microsoft, and sometimes Nintendo, all jousting for first place in the Console War. It’s difficult to imagine a situation in which consoles manufactured by other companies could break into the industry. Further still, millennials will find it harder to believe that at one point, it wasn’t just the current big three involved in this competition. If we return to our metaphorical schoolyard; we will find an expelled student waiting just outside the school’s gates, remembering past glories of good grades and innumerable friends. This student goes by the name of Sega.

Metaphors aside, the Console War hasn’t always just consisted of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. In fact, for as long as there have been video game consoles, there have been companies competing to have the most successful one. Even during the 1970s Atari’s Home Pong and other systems of the time were locked in a bitter rivalry for supremacy. It wasn’t until the 16 bit era however, that the Console War really started to heat up.

SEGA CAME VIRTUALLY OUT OF NOWHERE AND ACTUALLY MANAGED TO GIVE THE BIG N A RUN FOR ITS MONEY

By the end of the 80s Nintendo had achieved dominance over the gaming industry with over 90% of the market share. And prior to the 90s it seemed that nobody would dare challenge this autonomy, but then along came Sega. Through an all-out promotional campaign full of phrases like “blast processing”, and the cunningly implemented slogan: “Genesis does what Nintendon’t.”, Sega came virtually out of nowhere and actually managed to give the big N a run for its money. Whereas the Super Nintendo Entertainment System appeared colourful and friendly with its cheery Italian plumber, Super Mario, the Genesis was cool and trendy with the radical blue blur that was Sonic the Hedgehog. By 1994 sales of the Genesis actually accounted for 55% of all console sales in North America.

THE LACK OF COMPETITION ULTIMATELY LIMITS INNOVATION AND DIVERSITY

By the mid-90s the battle between Sega and Nintendo had not only initiated countless debates amongst gamers over which company had the best console, but it had also changed the industry for the better. A situation in which one company has a monopoly is never a good thing. The lack of competition ultimately limits innovation and diversity. Take Sega for instance; they were making games for the genesis that were radically different to the Nintendo norm. Classics like Sonic the Hedgehog 2, licensed sports games such as NBA Jam TE, or the full gore version of Mortal Kombat; these were games that never would have seen the light of day on the SNES. The Genesis in particular then showed that gaming as medium had the potential to be just as entertaining for adults as it was for kids.

Despite the fact that things didn’t end in the best manner for Sega’s consoles, with 1998’s Dreamcast being their last, the company proved that there was room for more than one popular games system. To this day, the competition in the industry is promoting a healthy growth and expansion as separate companies continue to strive for the most innovative and worthwhile gaming experiences.

Sequel-ation: The Batman Arkham Games

The year was 1939: Frank Sinatra had just made his recording debut, a plucky little film known as The Wizard of Oz had just seen its premiere in Hollywood, and through Detective Comics #27 the world was introduced to Batman. Ever since this initial appearance, Batman has featured in everything from movies and TV shows, to novelizations and even live theatrical performances. Granted, there have been a few slip-ups over the years – namely Joel Schumacher’s disastrous Batman and Robin – but for the most part the caped crusader has a pretty solid track record. Even in the world of video games, there have been several memorable Batman games dating all the way back to the pixelated 8-bit era. However, it wasn’t until 2009 with the release of Batman Arkham Asylum for the PS3 and Xbox 360 that Batman games truly became great.

PRIOR BATMAN GAMES HAD CAPTURED CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE DARK KNIGHT’S CHARACTER, BUT OFTEN FELT ONE-DIMENSIONAL

Arkham Asylum was the first game that really made players feel as if they actually were Batman. Prior Batman games had captured certain aspects of the Dark Knight’s character, but often felt one-dimensional by focusing on only one mechanic such as stealth or combat. In Arkham Asylum however, Rocksteady studios had managed to blend stealth, combat, and even puzzle solving in a way that didn’t feel out of character.

At the start of the game, having just captured the Joker, Batman is on his way to deliver him to Arkham Asylum. Upon arrival however, it transpires that the Joker had actually planned to be captured and has set a trap for Batman within the mental facility. From this point on it’s up to the player to explore the asylum, uncover the Joker’s sinister plot, and confront other villains that Batman has locked away in the asylum over the years such as Bane, Poison Ivy, and Victor Zsasz. Despite its inherently strong base plot, these “other villains” could arguably be seen as the highlight of the experience. They made the whole narrative feel more epic, and the Scarecrow segments in particular offered up enthralling gameplay and some truly inspired gothic nightmare visuals.

When not depicting some of the more iconic Batman villains, Arkham Asylum also allowed player to take on the hundreds of escaped inmates by either brutally beating them to a pulp, or by sticking to the shadows and picking them off one by one. In addition littered throughout the asylum were countless riddles and puzzles left by the Dark Knight’s intellectual equal – The Riddler – which not only served as the collectables of the game, but also encouraged players to explore every nook and cranny. All of this combined to make Arkham Asylum one of the most beloved games of all time, in fact for a while, Arkham Asylum actually held the Guinness World Record for the most critically acclaimed super hero game ever… That is, until the sequel came along.

Again developed by Rocksteady, Batman Arkham City released to near perfect review scores in 2011. It retained the same core mechanics as it predecessor, but also expanded upon the size of the over-world. Now, diverse side missions, detailed Easter Eggs, and cleverly hidden collectables were around every corner. The game also allowed you to play as Catwoman, Robin, and Nightwing in addition to the Dark Knight.

But the best aspect of Arkham City was its setting. Whereas in the original game, the restrictive walls of the Asylum had created a tense and compelling atmosphere, Arkham City takes place in a radically different environment. An entire section of Gotham City has been sealed off now houses a plethora of dangerous super criminals. The city was simply fascinating to explore – not least due to the fact that the game allowed Batman to glide above the streets, using his grapple hook to gain and control momentum. One minute you’d be flying high above a gang of burly brutes, the next you’ be slipping silently through snowy streets, and before you know it you’ll come face to face with some of the most iconic villains from Batman’s history including Mr. Freeze, Two-Face, and Ra’s al Ghul.

The game that followed Arkham City was not actually developed by Rocksteady. Instead, 2013’s Batman Arkham Origins – which was a prequel to Arkham Asylum – was developed by WB Games Montreal. Whilst the game did have the same basic format as Arkham City, and even introduced a few new mechanics such as a fast travel system, ultimately the reception for Arkham Origins was mixed. The plot, which saw a younger Batman attempting to take down eight professional assassins, despite being unique, was executed poorly. In addition, the lack of attention to detail, and general absence of technical polish meant that Arkham Origins was seen simply as a rehash of Arkham City that brought very little new to the table.

THE LACK OF ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AND GENERAL ABSENCE OF TECHNICAL POLISH MEANT THAT ARKHAM ORIGINS WAS SEEN SIMPLY AS A REHASH OF ARKHAM CITY.

Following the lukewarm response to Arkham Origins however, there was a high level of anticipation for another “real” Batman title developed by Rocksteady. And with the release of Batman Arkham Knight for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2015 fans got exactly that…sort of. Unfortunately, upon its release the PC port of the game was unplayable due to game breaking glitches and countless technical bugs. When focusing on the console versions of Arkham Knight however, the reception of the game was much better than that of its prequel predecessor.

The biggest gameplay revelation in Arkham Knight came with the inclusion of the Batmobile. Players could now drive around the streets of Gotham in the iconic vehicle, whilst also using it to solve environmental puzzles, partake in time trials, and do battle with an army of unmanned drone tanks. In addition, the combat, stealth, and gliding mechanics were refined even further, and it should come as no surprise that this is currently the best looking game in the series by far – achieving near photorealism at times. Ultimately though, despite its numerous refinements and improvements, Arkham Knight fell just short of the prior games developed by Rocksteady. Many felt that the Batmobile had shoehorned into the game far too much, and the main villain of the game was somewhat underwhelming.

THE POSSIBILITY OF A ROCKSTEADY DEVELOPED SUPERMAN GAME IS HIGHER THAN EVER

With regards to a possible future entry into the Batman Arkham series, it is quite unlikely that we will be getting one anytime soon. Rocksteady have gone on record multiple time in stating that Arkham Knight was the last game in the series that they would be working on. However that doesn’t mean that we won’t be seeing another Rocksteady game based off of another DC Comics character in the near future. In fact with the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in cinemas, the possibility of a Rocksteady developed Superman game is higher than ever. There were actually a number of Easter Eggs in Arkham Knight – such as a voice message left for Bruce Wayne from one Lex Luthor – that may foreshadow a Superman game also. But the most convincing evidence actually comes from the Man of Steel himself. Superman hasn’t exactly had the best run when it comes to video games, in fact between Superman: The Man of Steel, Superman 64, and the collection of other less than stellar titles that the Kryptonian has featured in over the years, it could be argued that there has never been a good Superman game.

Due to a combination of fan-service, well thought-out mechanics, and compelling original storylines, the Arkham series will be remembered as one of gaming’s best. Rocksteady proved that great video games based off of pre-existing characters are entirely possible with the series, and I believe that should they chose to create a Superman game: it will be well worth the wait.

Top five Pokémon spin-off games

For the past 20 years Nintendo and Game Freak have been presenting their unique take on the RPG genre with the main series Pokémon games. From the original Red, Blue, and Yellow to the more recent Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire the games have captivated millions with their creative creature designs, charismatic settings, and addictive gameplay that is best summarised as “easy to get into, difficult to master and even harder to put down”. But the series doesn’t just consist of turn based RPG games; in fact over the years the Pokémon spin-off games have covered a range of genres. Some of these games are actually really good, so here’s my list for the top 5 Pokémon spin off-games.

Pokémon Shuffle (Android, iOS, and 3DS)

Let’s start off the controversial choice. Yes this is a free to play game that is effectively a Candy Crush clone, but at the same time if you’re a Pokémon fan it’s a great game to just have in your pocket when you have 5 minutes to kill. It’s basically a puzzle game in which you fight against various Pokémon by matching three or more of the same Pokémon on the bottom of your screen. If you win a battle you have a chance to catch the Pokémon you were just fighting and then add it to your ever-growing collection. The Pokémon that you use in battle can even grow stronger as you use them more often and have their own unique abilities.

The PokéPark Games (Wii)

I’ve always wanted to play a game that would let me have real time Pokémon battles and with PokéPark Wii and PokéPark 2, that’s kind of what I got. I say kind of because that’s only one aspect of the PokéPark games. Besides getting to partake in battles with various Pokémon from around the PokéPark you’ll also be encountering legendary Pokémon, solving a few basic puzzles, and playing loads of classic Wii mini-games. In the original you only get to play as Pikachu, but in the sequel you get a few more playable characters which was a very nice addition. My only real complaint is the somewhat clunky control scheme and the fact that the games can get a bit repetitive at times.

The Pokémon Pinball Games (Gameboy, and Gameboy Advance)

Taken on face value, these games appear to be nothing more than generic pinball games with the Pokémon name slapped on to sell more copies. Even if this was the case that wouldn’t necessarily make for a bad game as it’s very hard to make a bad Pinball game. As things stand however, the Pokémon Pinball games are actually very creative as they allow you to capture and evolve various Pokémon from throughout the series. This combined with the ability to travel to numerous locations from the main series games, and some really catchy music, make the Pokémon Pinball games ones that I will more than likely still being returning to for years to come.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Games (Gameboy Advance, DS, and 3DS)

This dungeon crawling spin-off series has seen more entries than any other spin-off series, and there’s a good reason why. Set in a world in which Pokémon can talk and have formed their own societies, players choose an avatar from a selection of different Pokémon at the start of the game, and then begin their perilous journey. You’ll get to explore randomized dungeons and battle countless other Pokémon along the way as you uncover the mysteries of the surprisingly complex plot. The battling is a mixture of real-time and the turn based battles of the main series games and is definitely the highlight of the experience.

Pokémon Snap (Nintendo 64)

This on-rails first person camera shooter takes you to Pokémon Island and sets you the task of snapping pics of over 60 different Pokémon across the islands various courses. There’s a volcano course where you’ll come across fire type Pokémon, a river course where you’ll encounter water type Pokémon, and various other themed courses that are simply oozing with charisma. It’s a bizarre concept that you wouldn’t expect to work, but somehow despite the game’s brevity, it manages to be an addictive wild ride and one that Pokémon fans should not miss out on. It was also the first Pokémon game to feature fully 3D Pokémon character models, which back in 1999 was simply mind-blowing.