​Christmas 2016 seems to have one huge buzzword in the shape of VR. The big three options have to be the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Playstation VR. These cause an issue in rather expensive systems to make them work as well as a £300+ outlay for the viewers themselves. Thankfully though Google have been working with VR for a while in the shape of their Cardboard App (available on the App Store and Google Play) and while it does not offer the experience of the top end systems it can still bring a huge smile to users faces.

This has a great deal to do with the upgraded Cardboard experience that is now available to users and the major selling point in functionality terms of the Star Wars VR viewer. Thankfully there is no need to to worry about the upgrade as you can scan a QR code on the viewer and be directed straight to the suitable download for you.

​There is another twist in the tail of the Star Wars VR viewer and it's a rather simple and ingenious one. The worry of your phone dropping out of the flap that holds the phone to the lens a Rubber Band. It is not a normal version of a turned teacher’s nightmare instead it is wi
der but more importantly it is a perfect fit for the viewer. My phone never fell out despite heavy use by both myself and my 6 year old son (the most rigorous play test I could give it).

All in all at around £15rrp this viewer is a lovely option for entry into the world of VR, it may not give you the huge immersive games that are now being developed but for tonnes of fun at a low cost this is rather hard to beat.

​
Introducing the new Aiptek i70 MobileCinema, perfect for business and holidays, the small Wi-Fi projector is the perfect companion for frequent travellers, due to its integrated battery and Wi-Fi support, it is instantly usable without any cables. Data from iOS- or Android devices can be transmitted via Airplay or Miracast to the projector, while other devices can be connected via Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and a free app “EZ-Cast” or via mini HDMI.

​Lightweight it is just 132 g and compact at 85 mm x 85 mm x 17 mm (L x W x H). It projects 70 lumens of brightness a sharp and high-contrast image of up to 80 inch diagonal with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels on the wall.

-Get great savings on the latest drones just in time for summer-
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Get this year’s must-have drones for less from the UK’s first dedicated drone store,DronesDirect.co.uk, where there are huge savings to be made and all from the comfort of your armchair.
There are savings of up to 24% across selected products, including 2016’s hottest drone, the DJI Phantom 4. Many of the drones in the range are available with exclusive extras, such as free Android tablets with certain drones and accessory bundles.
DronesDirect.co.uk also boasts the only dedicated custom-built Drone Zone in the UK, where it’s possible to fly before you by, under the expert guidance of store staff in a free flying lesson in the 420 square metre flying zone.
Drone Decisions

​Now my main MOBA experience is with Smite, for those who do not know this is a game in the same genre as HotS but you play from a third person perspective. Nonetheless lots of mechanics like the objectives and healing fountains are similar in both games. There is a tutorial which is quite entertaining and worth playing especially if you are new to the genre but for the most part this is a rather accessible have to say the least.

At times I will admit to being overwhelmed by technicalities and playing like a tower instead of moving like the Ranged Assassin Valla is supposed to be. This was pointed out to me by the boys in nice enough terms thankfully and this is probably why my introduction went so positively.

We did play a bot game to start with but with 15 minutes of play time I played my first online game. Playing with two high level players such as Phil and Jamie was eye opening, as they went about the task of destroying the opposition and thanks to their dominance it allowed me to make mistakes and not cost the team the game. 

Did I enjoy myself? In a word yes, I will not say I'm smitten but I did enjoy myself and being able to communicate while playing was a big bonus. I will be trying to get a few more games in before next week as I try to go from a Zero to a Hero of the Storm.

It's a rather odd feeling waiting for a digital pre-order to be released. The anticipaion, the constant checking of Audible both on your phone and the website all just so you can grab a book the moment it becomes live.

Rather oddly the release is not at midnight (in the Uk) instead I had to wait till around the half eight mark for the book to go live.

​When i started the Legend of Drizzt series i did not realise the books were still being prodiced, I will happily admut to this oversight and I'm very happy R.A.Salvatore is still producing the books to a high standard.

​So the book has now downloaded and the review will be up as soon as possible.

​Published by; DC Comics
Written by; Sterling Gates
Pencils Inks, Colors by Bengal
Cover by Cat Staggs

Review by Paul Fiander

Forced exposition can sometimes kill the insight into a character that a creator was attempting to fashion. The heavy handed approach of throwing everything at you in a ham fisted manner feels belittling to readers but there is also the risk of not telling your audience anything and losing them. I am of the don’t tell until you need to camp but I always appreciate the art of well crafted exposition. In this Sterling gates is doing a great job with The Adventures Supergirl, her brief descriptions of trying to think in earth units of force and speed feel genuine to the character of Kara. An over thinker trying to live up to the expectations of a nation/world not to mention her older (though born after her) cousin. Her slightly erratic train of thought is easy to follow and gives you the information you need without dragging you of the characters present dilemma.


As we left Kara she was dueling with Rampage and had just seen a D.E.O. helicopter complete with her sister Alex onboard (is it just me or should Alex start thinking of keeping her feet on the ground) taken out by the rather large alien criminal. This issue follows straight on from that point and the reasoning behind the exposition gives us an easy access point into the current situation. The action of the scene is fast and allows Bengal to literally explode out of the screen. Once the opening is said and done though it’s the glimpses of the Danver sisters we get that allow the artist to really flex his creative muscles. From a boot to a automatic weapon everything is lovingly created to give a seamless visual experience.


The weekly release schedule is a challenge but so far the creative team seem upto the task. Whether this series is your companion to the TV show or your only consumption of Supergirl you will not be disappointed.

For those that know me Chess is the first game I ever really felt at home playing. The one on one battle filled with strategy and misdirection is still to this day the best game in the business. So to say when I saw this little beauty it was love at first sight would be an understatement.

The use of Neil Gaiman's Sandman motif gives the pieces a style all of their own, making this a unique set to own. The Sandman is one of Vertigo's best titles and if you have not dived into the series I really suggest you do. As for the set it comes in at $249.99 and that is a rather hefty wedge of cash but for a set like this it's a fair price (I have a marble set that was roughly the same cost). One thing is for sure after playing long into the night you find your sleep disturbed by more than just missed opportunity to steal tour opponents Queen.

​- Price $249.99
​- Material: Resin/Wood
- Age: 14+
- UPC: 7-61941-32711-2
- Designer: Kevin Nowlan
- Sculptor: Paul Harding
- Wood Board
- Pieces have faux marble finish

2,500 of the British Public were polled on behalf of the car sales site JCT600 for their favourite Bond Cars and honestly the result at least for me came down to which Aston Martin would be number 1. It turns out the DB5 topped the list with four other Aston's in the list. The only car to break the stranglehold was the Jaguar XKR from Die another Day. 

The Aston Martin brand is now so intertwined with the Bind franchise it would have felt inconceivable for one of their cars not to top the list. Though in the books Bond's top car would have probably been his Bentley 1930 Bentley 4½ Litre which he drove in Casino Royale after he totalled his Bamford & Martin 1.5 litre Side Valve Short Chassis Tourer.

Still it's safe to say with the Aston Martin DB10 set to star in the upcoming Spectre movie the Bond/Aston Martin relationship is alive and well.
​We will be bringing you our reviews on the film in the coming weeks.

1. Aston Martin DB5 (film: multiple)
2. Aston Martin DBS V12 (film: multiple)
3. Jaguar XKR (film: Die Another Day, 2002)
4. Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (film: Die Another Day, 2002)
5. Aston Martin DB Mk III (book: Goldfinger, 1959)

Researched sourced via  JCT600

A bit of a change to our regular programming as we relaunch the Random Chat with episode 28.
This episode is looking at the Humble Bundle and why its a great thing.

Lists are one of the easiest way to create an argument on the internet. So a list of Comic Book characters is always going to turn up a few surprises. The list below was created by  Best Offers Bingo as they sampled over 1,200 of their users. Now we do not have demographics as in age and sex but it appears this is a very male dominated list.


It's interesting that the top are two thirds of the DC trinity with Wonder Woman appearing at number 5. Unsurprisingly Spider-man is the highest Marvel character and its great to see Hellboy appearing on the list even if it's at number 13. 

“Travel expands our minds and helps push our imagination,” said Matthew Carroll, vice president, Marriott Hotels. “Our guests want to be in inventive spaces that help foster their creativity and thinking. Vroom combines storytelling with technology, two things that are important to next generation travellers.”


VR Postcards will be available to guests partaking in VRoom Service at select properties, as well as to the general public via Samsung Milk VR premium video service, accessed via the Samsung Gear VR headset. In addition, Marriott again worked with Framestore’s Virtual Reality Studio to develop the technologies and techniques used in creating the VR Postcards experiences. 

“VRoom Service is one of the first business applications of Samsung’s Gear VR technology,” said Matt Apfel, Vice President, Strategy and Creative Content at Samsung Media Solutions Center America. “We’re tremendously excited to be collaborating with an innovative brand like Marriott on creating the future for travellers.”

Marriott Hotels has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation in technology and travel to create spaces and experiences that inspire and foster its guests’ best thinking.  Last year, the brand introduced the first-ever immersive 4-D virtual reality travel experience with The Marriott Teleporter. In recent months, Marriott delighted travellers with its mobile innovations global roll-out, its industry-pioneering two-way chat feature Mobile Request on the Marriott Mobile App.  Its announcement this summer of the first-of-its kind partnership with Netflix changed the future of in-room entertainment. Guests and travel enthusiasts can visit www.travelbrilliantly.com to experience the countless ways Marriott Hotels continues to meet the needs of today’s travellers.

Anyway earlier this year I ignored my usual displeasure and together with a host of other BC team members popped to Bluewater on opening day to see Avengers Age of Ultron. Honestly after the film I was underwhelmed but decided that I would buy the film, one to keep my Marvel film collection up to date and two so I could reassess the film in the more comfortable surroundings of my house. 

Now though there is the choice of which format to choose. In recent times I have opted for digital purchases due to a lack of discs and the convenience of digital titles. The fact I can watch on phone, pc, tablet or Chromecast makes buying from Google Play a no brainer in my opinion. I'm sure if I was an iOS user iTunes would be my preferred option but as I'm not it isn't. 

The great thing about getting a digital product was the fact the film was released a week early. The price of £9.99 for SD and £13.99 for HD was acceptable. I plugged for the HD version and got to watching. I watched the film on all my devices but the syncing was first class and jumping between 3 devices during one viewing left me with no issues. There is also the nice touch of pausing a scene and getting the actors names on screen. This almost eliminates the where is she from? Conversation that generally goes on after nearly every film.

There is of course a downside to digital; you don't actually ever have the product in your hand. What would happen if Google went bust? Would this copy of the film be mine or would my money would be wasted. These are questions I do not know the answers to but I'm sure if Google collapsed I would be worried about more than just my film collection. You can always download your purchases but that eliminates the multiple device flexibility. The other issue is the lack of features, there is no obligatory blooper roll, deleted scenes or audio commentary that will appear in the physical versions. This to me is not a worry but I'm sure some film fans will set this as a major reason to avoid this version.

All in all I'm very happy with the purchase, I will happily go to the cinema to see the occasional film but I have become accustomed to my choice of digital viewing. Now it's just time to watch it again and start my review.

So far I have put a decent amount of time into the table (though this number will rise considerably in the coming weeks) and its fair to say it is a fun ride as you would expect. It feels very reminiscent of the Darth Vader table in terms of aesthetic though it plays faster and has some great bonus missions. My particular favourite is the Particle Ball that acts like a pendulum to give you bonus points every time you hit, the real joy of it hough is when it releases to start a multiball. The trick with it is to make sure you return it home for a nice score bonus when you are done. 
My one concern is the underfoot bonus mission, as is common now you get to play a smaller secondary table but with my table perspective (view 4) it feels unplayable. Now maybe this is just my ineptitude but I will keep playing to find out.

Overall this is a nice addition to the Zen Pinball Roster and should be getting some rather high scores in the coming weeks I'm sure.

Zen Studios
Digital Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Steam, Mac, iOS, Google Play, Amazon
Release: July 14 – 16, 2015