Written by Raoull

Game: Spellforce Platinum Edition (Breath of Winter, Shadow of Phoenix expansions included)
Developer: Phenomic
Publisher: JoWood (now distributed by Good Old Games - GOG.com)
Game type: RTS/Fantasy (somewhat roleplaying)
DRM: None (if purchased from GOG)
Release: 2005
Rating:12+/Teen
Players: 1 for campaign with cinematics (you may play the campaign with more people online, but you won't get the cinematics a.k.a. the storyline)
Multiplayer is available over internet or LAN.  Skirmish up to 8 players on 4 teams or play co-op through the story

First I'll get all the boring things out of the way.
 
Graphics and physics:
Spellforce uses the Krass engine and the graphics are good for the game's age and genre (2005 and mainly RTS). Units can be a bit blocky, but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the game unless you're SUPER picky.  As far as physics goes, it's pretty much as good as it'll get.  There are projectiles that function fine, units can't stack on top of each other in order to attack.  It all feels very... realistic if you will.   The interface in enough to provide information but minimal enough to not get in the way (it provides resource info at the top and a minimap/hero info at the bottom, as well as building plans and unit plants on the bottom border).

Click here to read the rest of this review.

Written by Ulysses

While it’s little surprise (some) gaming publishers are mercilessly sapping as much as they can from their consumers (Ref: Wired’s Top 10 Raw Deals For Gamers, dated 26/06/2009), there’s only two hot, contentious topics that persists to divide gamers and publishers: It’s DRM & Piracy. Regardless of everyone’s abject nature, hostility or even affinity for either subject, it’s clear that both are here to stay, either in one form or another.

In some instances, DRM has branched off – even distanced itself – from the traditional persona of ‘Copy Protection’ into a (digital distribution) service that aims to restricts the content of information from its loyal customers. Two recent examples that highlight this trend are Stardock’s Demigod, which relies on their Impulse system to access all of the features non-existent within the physical version, and EA’s The Sims 3, where both ‘Sim Points’ as well as EA’s Download Manager are offered as a means for consumers to purchase extra content online. (Ref: EA’s New Motto, dated 23/06/2009).

For many gamers living with limited internet access this poses a problem and, therefore, the argument is raised: Is it fair to limit, even restrict, the (digital) contents of a game upon release, even if means alienating your ‘offline’ consumer base in order to stop the machine of piracy?

Written By Ulysses

Genre: FPS, Mecha
Developer: Monolith Productions
Former Publisher: Monolith Productions
Current Publisher: Good Old Games
Rating: MA15+ (AUS)
DRM: None

Nothing spells “high-camp drama” as eloquently as Shogo: Mobile Armour Division (Shogo), a mecha-based, sci-fi, first-person shooter inspired (probably) from a few badly-written and poorly-produced versions of Gundam Wing. Perhaps that was a little too heavy-handed, especially towards the critically-acclaimed Gundam franchise, which has served the anime industry for almost twenty years. Surely there’s some level of amusement percolating under the steamy mass of tired plotlines and corny characters developed with humoured intentions. Unfortunately, Shogo fails to qualify not even to be graced nor blessed under the tacky “Samurai Pizza Cats Banner” of pure, unadulterated fun.

Gamers, should they dare risk their hard-earned dollars, take on the role of Sanjuro, an Officer of the United Corporate Authority. As great backstories come, he’s a man who had lost his brother, Toshiro during the interstellar war to acquire the planet Cronos from The Fallen, along with his best friend, Baku, and the woman of his life (God rest her soul) Kura. Add a spice of some catchy jPOP melodies and soon enough revenge, at least for now, becomes the impetus driving this game. Fortunately for Sanjuro, he’s found solace in Kura’s sister, Kathryn who’s also an Officer of the UCA, much to the chagrin of The Admiral, who just happens to be Kathryn’s father. It’s a nice little setup for our not-so-loveable-yet-he-tries-to-be-loveable hero.

Click here to read the rest of this review.