Anno 2205 Preview: Sci-Fi SimCity or Something More?

Anno 2205 Preview: Sci-Fi SimCity or Something More?

November 16, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

When you think of city-building, SimCity comes to mind. But while it's not as high profile, the Anno series has also been doing just that since the late 90s. The latest entry in the series, Anno 2205, has a lot in common with its predecessor, Anno 2070. It shares the same forward looking sci-fi trappings as Anno 2070, while previous games were based on historical settings.
Despite the almost 200 year gap between the setting of both games, Anno 2205 appears similar to its predecessor. This isn't much of a problem since it looks futuristic, shiny and pleasant on the eyes. From buildings that wouldn't look out of place in Star Wars to flying cars, there's a lot to wonder over. It's a game that's steeped in detail, making it fun to watch.
(Also see: EA Shuts Down SimCity Maker Maxis Emeryville)
Playing Anno 2205 though is an entirely different thing. Like most city builders you'll go through the motions of constructing apartments for your workers, harv..

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 ([year] edition) review

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2026 edition) review

July 16, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

Remember when people used personal computers – desktops and laptops – to check email, view video and keep tabs on Facebook? Back in that far-away era, I'd have several windows open for Web browsers, a word processor, a photo editor and sometimes a reader for PDF documents.
I miss that capability on mobile devices, particularly on full-size tablets with a decent amount of display space. With iPads and Android tablets, I'm typically limited to one window displayed at a time; other apps run in the background, out of sight. With Windows 8 tablets, I can run two windows side by side, but I'm constrained in what I can do with them. It gets better with the Windows 8.1 update due out next week, but it's still not the free-for-all I had with PCs.
So I marveled at a pair of multitasking features that come with Samsung's new tablet, formally called Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition. Sporting a 10.1-inch display, measured diagonally, the Note tablet goes on sale in the U.S. ..

Samsung Galaxy Tab global 7 - [year] review

Samsung Galaxy Tab global 7 – 2026 review

April 10, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 was a success and proved that there was room in the Indian market for a hybrid device, which combined the best of both phones and tablets. The Galaxy Tab 3 series is hoped to mark a comeback for the company in the tablet segment, after quite some time.
The South Korean giant unveiled the Galaxy Tab 3 series with three new tablets for the Indian market, and rather than experimenting with an odd screen size, this time the company has gone back to its roots and come out with a 7-inch tablet and two 8-inch tablets. We got the chance to play with the new Galaxy Tab 3 211 (7-inch) tablet. Will the new Galaxy Tab 3 211 carve a niche for itself or further muddy the already distinctly murky 7-inch tablet segment? We try to find out in our review.
Design/ Build
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 211 is built along the lines of Samsung's high-end smartphones. Out-of-the-box, the tablet looks like a blown-up version of the Samsung Galaxy SIII or Galaxy Grand smartphones. But un..

The New Hitman Game Hasn't Changed Much, and That's Good

The New Hitman Game Hasn’t Changed Much, and That’s Good

April 10, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

The newest game in the Hitman series is simply called Hitman, with no subtitle or number. Until now, not much was known about the game, which is due in December. Developer IO Interactive has decided that instead of releasing the entire game in one go via both physical and digital distribution, Hitman will be out digitally first. According to the developers, the world of Hitman will be ever-changing, with a regular stream of content pushed out to keep players in a “live and ever expanding world of digital assassinations.” The ambiguity of the phrasing led many a gamer wonder if this would end up like some games in early access, with features stripped out until the final update. It's a move that would have compromised gameplay completely.
At Gamescom 2015, Square Enix walked us through a level in Hitman allaying our fears and showing us what lies ahead for series protagonist Agent 47. The mission we played saw us assassinating Viktor Novikov, an spymaster-oligarch. The level place ..

Fable Legends Shows You Don't Have to Kill to be a Hero

Fable Legends Shows You Don’t Have to Kill to be a Hero

April 4, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

In most video games, support heroes – the ones that keep the others alive to do the actual fighting – are usually side characters that are usually ignored. Team Fortress 2 is one of the few games where the support characters are a treat to play.
NDTV Gadgets chanced upon Fable Legends on the Xbox One at Gamescom 2015, at Microsoft's showcase and think this action driven take on the RPG series might stand out in this regard as well.
(Also see: Fable Legends to Be Free-to-Play on Windows 10 and Xbox One)
Fable Legends features four heroes versus one villain. The heroes have to face waves of enemies and traps set by the villain. All the main characters are playable through online multiplayer, but you can also play alone with AI partners.
In our preview session we were thrown into the role of Celeste, one of the support classes in Fable Legends, along with two other human players and a third person playing the role of the villain.
Our mission took place in a forest, where we foun..

Cuphead Is Possibly The Most Beautiful Game You Will Never Finish

Cuphead Is Possibly The Most Beautiful Game You Will Never Finish

March 25, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

Despite its old-school Walt Disney cartoon-inspired looks, Cuphead is anything but beautiful. The characters look charming, sporting expressions and animations that remind us of simpler, care-free time, an era when TV used to be about Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny. The actual experience is a far cry from those days though.
At Gamescom 2015 We played the game at Microsoft's press conference and came back with our egos battered to submission. And we weren't alone. Everyone who played the game before us had trouble clearing a single level. None of them could. Neither did we. Much like titles such as Super Meat Boy and I Wanna Be the Guy, Cuphead is tough as nails, and that's great.
With gameplay in the mould of classics like Contra, you'll find yourself running and gunning from one boss or another when you're playing the game.
In most cases, you'd wish that you could progress by just running instead because there is so much to take in from the game. The leve..

HP ElitePad 900 [year] review

HP ElitePad 900 2026 review

April 10, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

The HP ElitePad 900 is a Windows 8 tablet that targets enterprise users. It was announced in October 2012 but reached the Indian market only last month. Windows 8 is the first iteration of the desktop operating system that was optimised for touch use. In fact after the release of the OS, hardware makers decided to offer hybrid devices that mash keyboards and touch screens together in different ways.
The USP of the EliteBook is its optional accessories, also called “Smart Jackets” that extend its capabilities with additions such as extra battery life, connectivity ports, a keyboard, a stylus or memory-card slots. We try to find out if the tablet can become your only computing device replacing the laptop.
Design/ Build
The HP ElitePad 900 is one of the more sleek Windows 8 tablets that we've come across. Its form factor is pretty similar to the iPad barring the thickness. The ElitePad is even a little lighter than the current generation iPad. The tablet is mostly made of aluminium ..

Penta T-Pad WS707C review [year]

Penta T-Pad WS707C review 2026

November 28, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

The Indian tablet market seems to be growing at a rapid pace. As per a recent report by Cyber Media Research, there were about 3.11 million tablets sold in India in the year 2012 and the research company is quite bullish about expectations for this year.
The category that is seeing the maximum number of launches in the recent past is the Android Jelly Bean tablets under Rs. 10,000. Pantel Technologies, which manufactures tablets under the Penta T-Pad branding, have also launched their T-Pad WS707C in the Indian market for Rs. 7,999. So will this tablet stand out from the clutter? We find out in this review.
Build and Design
The Penta T-Pad WS707C sports a 7-inch (1024×600 pixels) capacitive touch screen display. The screen with a broad black bezel takes up most of the front. There is only an earpiece on the right bezel (while holding the tablet in landscape mode), while the front camera is on the top left corner. On the top panel are the volume rocker keys and the power/ standby button..

Asus MeMO Pad ME172V review

Asus MeMO Pad ME172V review

May 23, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The tablet market in India seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. The Taiwanese tablet maker Asus is now trying to get a slice of this pie with the launch of the Asus MeMO Pad ME172V. This is the first sub Rs. 10,000 tablet that the company has launched. It is a 7-inch tablet that runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). It is powered by a 1GHz VIA WM8950 processor. The company is targeting to capture 15 per cent market share in the country banking on this tablet.
It is noteworthy, that Asus is known more for its popular Nexus 7 tablet that the company has launched in the global markets in conjunction with Google.
In the recent past, we have seen Indian brands such as Videocon, Lava and international brands like Acer and Swipe launch their Jelly Bean tablets too under the price bracket of Rs.10,000. So is Asus MeMO Pad ME172V a compelling challenger in this category? We find out in this review.
Build & Design
The Asus MeMO Pad ME172V is a 7-inch tablet that sports an elegant look. Though t..

Lava Etab Xtron [year] review

Lava Etab Xtron 2026 review

July 10, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

As more Indian brands explore the Android tablets segment, consumers are getting access to devices that sport decent specifications, and run the latest version of the OS, at attractive price points. We've recently seen Acer launching a 7-inch budget tablet running Jelly Bean, and now we have Lava launching its first Jelly Bean tablet, the Etab Xtron, in the Indian market, for Rs. 6,499. We take an in-depth look at the tablet.
Build
Unlike the Acer Iconia B1, the Etab Xtron exudes a feeling of durability, with its solid build. The 7-inch tablet looks compact yet sturdy. The front of the tablet features a 7-inch screen, which is surrounded by a large bezel. You'll also spot a front shooter right at the middle.
The back of the tablet is made of polycarbonate but has been given a brushed aluminium finish. The frame extends to the front, and adds to the design of the tablet. A microSD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack sits on the top, while there are no ports on the bottom.
Th..

Videocon VT10 review [year]

Videocon VT10 review 2026

July 10, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The tablet market in India seems to be booming and most Indian smartphone makers are eager to get into this lucrative opportunity. Videocon is no different. The company has recently launched its first tablet in the form Videocon VT10.
It comes with a 10-inch screen with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels. The tablet runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The tablet is priced at Rs. 11,200. So what you are getting is a 10-inch tablet for around Rs. 10,000 market price. Is this a good deal? Let's find out in our review
Hardware/ Build & Design
The Videocon VT10 is a 10-inch tablet, which comes with a white and silver casing. The device looks very plasticky. The silver colour on the back is a bit glossy and makes the tablet looks very tacky. Most of the front is taken up by the screen with white borders all around. The front facing camera lies just above the screen.
The screen is a fingerprint magnet and one needs to constan..

Dead Among Us Review: Zombie Archery Made in India

Dead Among Us Review: Zombie Archery Made in India

March 12, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

Like military shooters, games featuring zombies are a cliche. From survival horror staples like Resident Evil to modern masterpieces like Uncharted, you'll be hard pressed to find a game that doesn't have the undead in one form or another. And at the other end of the spectrum, there's Rolocule. The Pune-based studio has made games like Motion Tennis Cast and Bowling Central. While these two titles cemented its position as one of the better niche developers focusing on motion controlled games on Android and iOS, its latest game Dead Among Us is perhaps its most accessible yet, as you don't need a Chromecast or Apple TV for this one.
(Also see: Turn Your Android Phone Into a Tennis Racquet with Motion Tennis Cast)
Unlike Rolocule's earlier games, Dead Among Us shows a definite attempt at creating some sort of narrative. There's been a virus outbreak and everyone you know is dead or worse, turned into the walking dead. Conveniently, your character is a gold..