Kerbal Space Program

Have you ever wanted to travel to the stars, put your feet on alien worlds or even just experience zero gravity? Then the Kerbal Space Program is the game for you.

Recently I have been bitten by the space bug, almost going mad with rocket fever and sporting a mad scientist laugh. Building my very own rockets that will carry either; live Kerbal's or drones to orbit and beyond. You'll be able to build anything that you can imagine with the available parts. I must stress, this IS a game that is being currently built and constantly updated. Having said that, this is one of the best space building simulators on the market, based on real physics, which means if it wouldn't fly in reality, it just won't cut the mustard here either.

Featuring multiple staging, so you can go higher and faster, eventually reaching a stable orbit after decoupling stacks and booster rockets, that run dry on fuel. Weight plays a huge part in breaking free of the gravity of the Kerbal home world. However, you should be warned, running the engines above 90% long enough will overheat the engines and you will have barbequed Kebal's falling back down on to the launch pad.

This is not just a game of reaching space, it's about building an entire space program, from building rovers to take to other worlds, to docking craft in orbit to make space stations. It's all within your grasp. Everyone has at least heard the audio from Neil Armstrong's first step onto the surface of, what was at the time, an alien world, our very own Moon. "That's one small step for a man, One giant leap for Mankind", which is true even for the Kerbal's. This would be a giant leap for anybody who managers to achieve this accomplishment, trust me it is every bit as hard for you as it was for NASA and the Soviet Union.

Once having achieved landing on the Kerbal moon (the Mun,) you may want to start to explore the solar system you inhabit. Naturally, there are scientific devices that you can fit to any craft to further the Kebal's understanding of how their universe works, some of these devices are gravity detectors, communication arrays, thermometers and much more. This will be a massive part of the campaign. At this stage, you have the sandbox option to build and do what you desire, with disregard for budgets and mission perimeters. But the campaign offers a learning curve for even advanced players and I highly recommend starting at this point.

This may look like a space only simulator, well this is not the case as you can build space planes also to return your Kerbalnaughts back from your shiny new space station. In the event of catastrophic failure, you can fit parachutes to the command capsule to return them safely to the planet.

The graphics tie in well with it's main concept of space flight, as can be witnessed in any setting within the solar system. The developer Squad employed a procedural graphics engine, that delivers stunning graphics up close or from orbit. You'll see the tiny blue pearl increase in detail, and even see some mountain ranges from orbit as your craft returns home.

I personally like the feature that allows you to apply and modify, to perform slingshot and gravity braking maneuvers which have been used by NASA, the Soviet Union and the European Space Agency. This WILL make or break mission objectives, being able to set the ship to burn the rockets for the required time to complete the change in orbit.

Overall Squad delivered a FUN and exciting game, which you will teach a thing or two you may not have known before about physics or space. Playing around with ideas and finding the rocket setup that is best suited to you is a good experience, and being able to rectify these small issues at an early time in your space agency, will pay off many dividends as you progress to alien planetary exploration.

Squad delivered a great overall game, even though it's still in heavy development. They are allowing the use of, and encourage the sharing of community made mods, be it space planes or rockets and even part packs to expand, the available catalog to create rocket monstrosities of your own to unleash upon the waiting stars.... Will you achieve the Kerbal's ultimate goal, To colonize the solar system and beyond?

Kid safe and great real world physics, I could not ask for any more out of a good space simulator

I RATE THIS GAME 8.5 / 10 

  

Pickers

I love picking.

Not in the vulgar sense in which men do, but finding a bargain, a diamond in the rough, bagging a bargain, and other various motivational one liners that depict my love for shopping. What better way to combine shopping, looking through junk and making a quick faux buck? Pickers is right up your shopping aisle.

If you're a lover of American Pickers, Canadian Pickers, Aussie Pickers or the Antiques Roadshow, you'll simply love Pickers. The aim of the game is to visit various sites such as basements, small country traders, even junkyards, and find hidden gems to sell. You have thirty days to turn over your items via sale or auction within your virtual store. Your goal? To have the biggest turnover at the end of the month.

You'll visit sites such as Ray Akins bus, and simply click on items that catch your eye. You'll be tipped off at the start of each new day of picking, to which items are currently trending. If you're able to find seven items that come under that category, you'll receive a bonus that will add onto your turnover. You don't need to grab all seven items at the one location, you can visit any of the unlocked locations in one day. The day coming to a close when you've purchased your seven items, and head back to your store, Rusted Gold.

Once you've picked your items, it's time to haggle. Most inhabitants of each location will want top dollar for their wares, but the savvy picker will need to use common sense of what each item is worth. The more purchased at the one location, the more you can haggle for a lower price. You also have an expert on hand, and can ask what the item's possible worth is and how much potential profit it may provide. Some items will be in poor or unrestored condition, but can be restored back at Rusted Gold for a small fee. Incomplete items are popular with the market, but you will need to find both pieces before selling, in order to make a healthy profit.

At each location, you'll find mini treasure hunts, such as the one above. Clicking and marking off items on the list provided, and receiving a small finders fee for each piece. Often the end reward is far greater, obtaining a free and often rare item for your store. 

Pickers is a simple game that you can save at any point, making it great for those who can't spend hours playing. It's certainly addictive and provides various levels from the amateur or casual picker, right up to the professional level. There is nothing quite like finding a bargain... Even virtually. Even click happy kids will find this entertaining.

7 / 10 Divalicious stars.

FARCRY 3

FACE YOUR INSANITY!

Stranded on an island at the edge of the world, your friends are taken captive, and psychotic warlords are on your trail. Fighting to escape this beautiful but dangerous paradise, you'll have to confront who you really are....

A tropical Island holiday with friends and family went horribly wrong, in a world of beauty a hidden darkness lies waiting like a coiled snake to strike.

You'll be at the mercy of the most feared and deadly creatures known to humanity and then there's the islands inhabitants, who are just insane. Some of these creatures are what I have faced, after leisurely strolling through the jungle they are as follows;

Snakes, Saltwater Crocodiles, Bull Sharks, Leopards, Samaritan Tigers, Komodo Dragons, Cassowarys, Goats, Boars, Pigs and Rabid Dogs. What makes this interesting, is that not only are you hunting, you're also the hunted. You will have to stalk your prey, be it a Goat or Boar. But be on guard, because in an instant and from nowhere, you may be attacked by a pack of Komodo Dragons or even a ferocious Tiger. So this is fair warning, you are NOT king of the jungle, so play it safe out there, stay frosty and you might survive.

You'll have to craft wallets, ammunition pouches and weapon holsters. This is achieved by the above... Hunting animals and skinning them to get the materials you need to create, for example, an arrow quiver to hold your arrows. If you have an excess of skinned hides, you can sell the items you don't want at the local village store.

The locals are mostly people of Islander origin, some of which are Rakyat tribal warriors, fighting off the pirates that threaten their way of life. They are terrorized with a multitude of horrible crimes, including drug manufacturing and trafficking, slave trading and mass murder, just to name a few.

The story starts with the hero Jason Brody, who is a young man feeling directionless in his life and unsure of what essence eludes him. The fearless, and athletically apt Jason is perfect for the jungle warfare that awaits him on Rook Island. On holiday with friends and his brothers, Jason quickly finds himself and his brother captive by pirates, you struggle and manage to escape, but at a massive cost to Jason Brody. The most insane member of the pirate faction is Vass, who clearly struggles with multiple drug addictions and is on a dangerous downward spiral into complete and utter madness. Because of this, he makes one fatal mistake.. He lets you live. Make him regret that decision and make him pay. 

As the storyline progresses, you'll find your self tripping out more than a hippie at Woodstock. This has to be the most psychedelic tripped out game that I have played on a long, long time, caused by the Rakyat ceremonies that are initiated by Citra the warrior Goddess of the Rakyat. Drinking the poison will induce the ceremony and some really weird stuff will unfold before your eyes, but I'm not about to spoil the surprises that await the hardy naturalist adventurer, who dares for confrontation in the wild.

The heavily modified Dunia graphics engine, which uses Cry-Engine as a base, performs flawlessly to bring Rook Island to life in all its beauty. From dizzying the heights in hang gliders, or swimming in the crystal clear waters, the graphics details are incredible. However, this game is not just all polish and no substance. You can, and probably will, loose yourself within the jungles of Rook Island for many hours on end hunting and gathering, as this is a major part of the upgrade system.

Multiplayer is fun, and simple enough to navigate for gamers familiar with FPS (First Person Shooter) platforms. Finding a match here in Australia can be difficult at the best of times, but each time I connect, I manage to find a decent session with little to no lag whatsoever. Included with Far Cry 3 is a map editor, so you can create endless maps to challenge your mates.

The overall realism of the latest game in the Far Cry series, cements it's spot in the rankings of my all time favorite games. The best thing, in my opinion, about this game, is the sheer immersion that it can make you feel. This is by no small part, achieved by using stunning graphics and sound. A deep storyline that in time, may lead you to care about the characters and the fate of the inhabitants of Rook Island.

Did I ever tell you the definition of Insanity? 

No, I just told you where to look...
Far Cry 3

I RATE THIS GAME 8 / 10