David Bowie features in new Lego Rock Band
Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment has announced that the legendary rock star David Bowie is being immortalised in a Christmas edition of the blockbuster video game LEGO Rock Band, to be released in November 2009.
The chameleon-like performer has reinvented himself several times, but never previously as a mini LEGO figure and now, sporting a dapper shirt and 1980’s style mullet, he joins the illustrious list of stars and performers who’ve featured in the interactive family music action game in the past including the father of punk rock Iggy Pop who also provides the voice-over in tutorials.
The game is compatible with the existing Guitar Hero and Rock Band equipment and allows up to four players to use instrument controllers to play lead, bass, drums and vocals on well-known rock songs. Players can use Lego bricks to customise their mini-figurine avatars and notes are represented by coloured Lego bricks.
The whole family can metamorphose into rock gods as they as they attempt to play guitar, drum or provide screaming vocals on classic rock songs like Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love a Bad Name,’ Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’ and of course, Bowie’s cool 80’s classic ‘Let’s Dance’ as well as favourites selected with the younger audience in mind including Elton John’s ‘Crocodile Rock’ or Ray Parker Jr’s ‘Ghostbusters’. The idea is to successfully complete the songs to earn Lego studs which may be used to enhance players’ avatars, vehicles, entourage and “rock den”. There will also be a chance for competitors to demolish buildings and summon up storms with their demon playing and vocal prowess. With a new Super-Easy mode added for young players the game works across the generations and unites families.
LEGO Rock Band will be released on Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and DS on 27th November 2009.
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Obscure: The Aftermath is to be released on 9th October
Enter the world of Obscure: The Aftermath if you dare! The keenly awaited survival-horror game Obscure: The Aftermath for the PSP system is out on 9th October when it may be downloaded through PlayStation Network for the PSP Go System and previous PSP models.
Inspired by the current trend for slasher teen horror movies, the vividly graphic action follows the plight of a group of friends at a university party. Inevitably the innocent celebrations turn to carnage and destruction as the friends discover a mysterious black flower that has the ability to induce terrifying dreams and ultimately they find themselves fighting for their very survival.
One of the best things about Obscure: The Aftermath is that it’s one of the few horror games available to play with two players. You become embroiled in the gruesome action by helping the characters to survive by solving riddles and battle monsters with a deadly array of weapons. Also featuring a spine-chilling soundtrack, the fully optimized controls include a redesigned menu and a co-op mode that means the second player can join in at any time.
“This is a heart-pumping, thrill-seeking teen horror title that is loaded with dark humour, intense combat and an unusual blend of genuine gore,” said Roger Smith, executive vice president of Playlogic Entertainment. “Combine that with stunning visuals, a unique story-driven plot and Obscure: The Aftermath delivers a truly horrific experience that will no doubt send a chill up your spine!”
Rated for players of 16 and above and developed by Hydravision Entertainment, Obscure: The Aftermath retails for £19.99 in the UK and €29.99 across Europe.
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Risk Balance of Power - a boardgame of reward and consequence from Hasbro
Do you have what it takes to play this classic boardgame, Risk: Balance of Power, Hasbro’s two-player war-game, now relocated in the combat zones of Europe where you lock head to head with your opponents in an intensive and fast-moving battle?
You’ll have to summon up all your resources of tactical cunning and subterfuge to defeat the enemy and hold on to your capital city whilst achieving three goals revealed to players at the beginning of play. The map of Europe is divided into six regions made up of 30 territories. Like the original Risk game, your army grows in number in accordance with the amount of territories, regions and cities that you occupy.
With two modes of playing – Basic Training and Command Room decided by your skills and victories, you will need to earn Risk Rewards by conquering a territory in order to raise additional army units which are denoted by small, flat arrows. At the same time you will also need to defend your capital city and take command of your troops, directing them through punishing terrains and challenging weather conditions.
The ultimate challenge in strategy with rewards and consequences, as well as being a work-out for the brain, the game is educational too. Risk: Balance of Power is for anyone over the age of 12 and has an SRP of £19.99.
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Concept 2 Model E
The Best rowing machine ever made just got a makeover!
For a start it looks stylish with a sleek light metallic gray finish, accented with dark blue. But don’t let its style belie the toughness and stability of the Concept 2. Air resistant, it sits 20 inches off the floor for ease of access – of essential importance to anyone with back or mobility problems. It also is fully enclosed and incorporates a stainless steel track and nickel plated chain and effectively emulates the smooth sensation of rowing on water.
Another great thing about the Concept 2 is that it comes with a wireless compatible PM4 performance monitor, featuring Suunto heart rate technology that can be easily reached on the extended console arm. With automatic operation and an easy menu operation you can accurately monitor your heart rate, track distance, speed, pace, calories and watts with five display options. Several motivational features are available including an option of rowing against a virtual rower so you can learn about techniques, rowing challenges and a training forum. It’s also possible to pre set workouts and review past ones with a multiple language facility available.
But in case you’re worried about fitting all this technology into your house, the Concept 2 Model E Rowing Machine only requires an area of 9×4 feet with a 500 lb capacity. It’s easily assembled and can be separated into two parts should you want to store it or transport it anywhere, plus caster wheels make it fully mobile. It has a fully rechargeable battery pack and increased memory capacity If you’re going to buy one rowing machine in your life, make sure it’s this one.
Electric Six
Heavy metal meets burlesque in a series of outrageous concerts taking place in December performed by the six-piece band, Electric Six.
This genre blending outfit must be seen in all their perverse, politically incorrect, bizarre and grotesque glory. With their glorious combination of disco, glam and arena rock, pop and synth, the Electric Six never cease to amuse and abuse.
Their first single Danger! High Voltage was released in 2003 when it struck a chord with the good old UK public always up for something a bit different. Sales were helped by the rumour that Jack White of The White Stripes featured on the single, a fact that the band refuses to either confirm or deny. A second single, Gay Bar, probably the most popular to date, made it to number 5 in the charts.
Often courting controversy, in 2005, Electric Six covered the Queen track, Radio Gaga releasing a video that portrayed Freddie Mercury as a ghost with a backing band of poodles. Although Queen’s guitarist, Brian May allegedly liked it, drummer, Roger Taylor professed that he was seriously “unimpressed.”
However, it’s lead singer Dick Valentine’s piercing vocals that give Electric Six its edge. His shrieking falsetto plunges every now and then into punk rock anarchy. Despite lyrics that have been described as “disaffected, angry, ironic and lustful, expressing macho flippancy and tongue in the cheek pomposity”, Dick Valentine claims that about 90 per cent of the songs are about “absolutely nothing.” Nevertheless, whilst almost every song contains references to war, nuclear and fire (one of the reasons why the latest album, Fire, gained its title) others aim to shock with controversial titles including “She’s White” and “Naked Pictures (of Your Mother).”
“I’m a man torn between vengeance and fashion,” claims Dick Valentine. Go and see Electric Six in action – you’ll be tantalised, mesmerised and outraged.
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65 Days of Static
Tour dates have been confirmed for the post-rock group, 65 Days of Static in September and November. The quartet from Sheffield is doing three gigs following the release of their live album, Escape from New York, at Digital in Brighton on 10th Sept, Manchester Academy on 17th November and Heaven in London on 18th November.
This largely instrumental group love playing live; in 2005 they complained that they had only played 91 shows in a year. Their penchant for touring means that they’ve developed a huge fan base appealing to the cognoscenti and hipper elements of the underground scene with critical praise from the musical press. In 2006 they played at the Summer Sonic festival in Japan and last year they supported The Cure on their North American tour.
With three critically acclaimed albums, The Fall of Math, One for All Time and The Destruction of Small Ideas, plus the recent live album, 65 Days of Static’s brand of music defies genres, mixing heavy progressive-guitar with live drums, keyboard and drum and word samples.
Live, their performance is riveting. Creative and atmospheric music combines with nervy, angry energy, frenetic drums and euphoria while guitar instrumentals either provide an onslaught or beautiful interludes accompanied by electric violins and melodic keyboard.
If you haven’t yet heard this highly creative band play you should do so now. Get your tickets today.
Jools Holland
Put these dates on your calendar! Gifted rhthym & Blues performer, Jools Holland is joining up with blues/rock guitarist, Dave Edmonds for a run of shows that must not be missed.
Jools Holland’s Later… with Jools Holland, is the most influential music show on TV today with his Hootenanny now essential viewing on New Year’s Eve for the majority of people. No-one is in any doubt that without the inimitable co-ordination of Jools himself, introducing and interviewing a fascinating mix of classic and new performers, the show just wouldn’t be the same.
One of Britain’s most versatile and talented performers, Jools was playing Boogie Woogie and Blues piano by the age of eight and formed the iconic rock band Squeeze at the age of 15, eventually selling out stadiums in the US and generating millions of record sales. As presenter of The Tube, the performer’s laid-back style was inspirational for the new style of music programme. As if that wasn’t enough he launched the mighty 12-piece Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in 1990 and has ever since been selling out shows all over the continent and UK, receiving an OBE for his contribution to music in 2003.
Dave Edmunds is a guitarist, singer and record producer famous for his number 1 UK single I Hear You Knocking and linked with the pub-rock movement of the early 1970s as a producer has worked with an impressive array of artists like Paul McCartney, The Stray Cats and Status Quo. He also continued to release solo albums whilst collaborating with Nick Lowe in the band Rockpile.
Together these two towering giants of the musical world promise to provide a night of unsurpassed entertainment. Get on down there; it’ll be a Hoot (enanny).
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Blackberry Bluetooth Watch
Making the BlackBerry even more accessible, the Blackberry Bluetooth watch will allow you to receive calls, access your emails, texts, update your Facebook at the lift of a wrist.
As fans of the Blackberry already know, including Barack Obama, the Blackberry is the definitive gadget of the decade. Now RIM says a new Blackberry Bluetooth watch is being released in the very near future. The watch will be backed up by a new branded headset in a black chrome shell with BlackBerry logo and buttons complete with noise reduction technology, thus enabling you to talk to your bank manager whilst on the move.
In the words of Antoine Boucher, vice president of RIM; “The form of silicone liner Alpha 1 is an extremely convenient; it may be the best solution on the market”
The Blackberry Bluetooth Watch will give alerts when emails, texts, Facebook posts and tweets are incoming and enables voice activated control. There’ll also be a wireless connection to upload and transfer music and videos– oh, and it’ll let you tell the time too.
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Exilim EX-H10 camera from Casio
Combining cutting edge Japanese technology with stylish, ultra slim design, the Exilim EX-H10 from Casio is one of the first “Superzoom” cameras with prices starting from £229.
A 10x optical zoom allows users to get close to subjects without compromising on image quality with the result that the Exilim EX-H10 is superb for shooting in small spaces or for photographing large subjects. The ultra-wide 24 mm wide angle lens provides a wider field of view making the camera also suitable for landscape photography. With a CCD-shift image stabilisation mechanism, a high-definition movie function is initiated just by pressing a dedicated button and will record at a size of 1280×720 pixels.
An exceptionally clear LCD screen on the back of the Exilim EX-H10 allows the user to view pictures and videos easily. With an integrated Make-Up mode that recognises faces and adjusts focus and exposure accordingly, subjects can be beautified by a function that also softens facial shadows caused by sunlight and photographers can choose from twelve levels of skin beauty using different strengths of image processing. The results can then be viewed in the LCD MONITOR before shooting. With high speed image processing capability, images can also be cut and pasted on to various still shots or a digital camera image can be created where only the main subject in the photo is moving without the need of a PC.
Casio have also enabled reduced energy consumption by means of improved circuitry, optional controls and a battery life that allows users 11 consecutive hours of viewing or 1,000 shots on a single charge.
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ZOTAC's ION ITX-F is now available
ZOTAC International has now launched its new high-end ION ITX-F series, expanding on its acclaimed ION ITX series motherboards.
The award-winning ION ITX series has always been popular because of its user-friendly characteristics and according to marketing manager of ZOTAC International, Carsten Berger, the new ION ITX-F series incorporates all of the features of the awarding-winning ION ITX and more: “ZOTAC always listens to user requests for features,” says Mr Berger. “End users loved our ION ITX series motherboards but some requested PCI Express expansion. We listened and thus the ZOTAC ION ITX F series was born.”
With integrated PCI Expressx16 expansion, the ZOTAC ION ITX-F series ensures the smooth delivery of all your daily computing requirements, plus high-definition video playback powered by a powerful NVIDIA® ION™ graphics processor and energy saving dual-core Intel® Atom®330 processor.
Blu-ray movies can be watched in vivid and enhanced detail courtesy of the NVIDIA® Pure Video® and NVIDIA® CUDA™ technology allows the ION graphics processor to edit and enhance videos with minimum energy consumption.
The high-performance graphics processor and dual-core processor means that the ION ITX-F series is as suited to home-theatre PCs as it is to the desktop and can be connected to multiple display units including analog or digital monitors and high-definition televisions with HDCP ready HDMI, DVI and VGA outputs.
The Onboard PCI Express 802.11n WiFi gives swift network connection without wires and with wires, onboard Gigabit Ethernet ensures speeds of up to 1000Mbps. It’s time to come out and play with the mother of all motherboards!