NAG April 2011 Issue Out This Week

Like NAG has printed proudly on the post on their website: it’s the birthday issue this month. NAG has been around for thirteen years. NAG is officially a teenager now!

You might notice a redesign of the magazine this issue - apparently this happens every year. Not to mention that NAG online has had a new lick of paint done as well. And the new look is going down much better than some other new sites that tried the same thing recently.

As you can see by the cover, Duke Nukem Forever features heavily in this issue. Miktar Dracon even attended the T*tty City event in Las Vegas a while back, so there’s much to report on there.
I was just having a look over on the forums, and the general consensus is that this is one of the best covers ever featured on NAG magazine – perhaps bar the white birthday issue from a few years back. I think this might well be better than that, though.

Pippa Tshabalala, who has taken a beak from hosting the shows on DSTV - The Verge and PlayR – also has a column in this issue. I wouldn’t say this is really the reason why she took a break from the show, but I am hoping that she makes it back, sooner rather than later. Having to put up with Thomas Gumede for the past month….

There’s not much that catches the eye when it comes to content inside the magazine (apart from Duke Nukem Forever), unless you count a review of the crazy Bulletstorm.
One thing I noticed is that the contents on the DVD are not listed in the PDF which you’ll find on the website. So you’ll have to wait until you buy it to see what’s on it. Sucks.

Oh, and while you’re at it, you might want to have a look at the brand new NAG Facebook page. Yes, there’s all ready an existing group on Facebook, but from what I’ve read, the group’s content will slowly be migrated over to the new page. Don’t know what all this is in aid of, but another new thing to check out.

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Sources:
NAG April 2011 issue
[NAG] April 2011 issue

NAG April 2011 Issue Out This Week

Pippa Taking a Break From The Verge

Pippa Tshabalala has been hosting the show known as The Verge for over the past two years now as far as I can recall, even though I only really started watching sometime in 2009. The show in it’s original form began in December 2008.

The Verge made a return in January 2011 after going on another break over the Christmas holidays. This was the second break The Verge had taken in about six months or so. The previous one was a break from June until August 2010.

But now just when the show has been on for just over a month again, Pippa said on last Wednesday night’s episode that she is leaving for a spell, soon – some say for two months. This means obviously that she won’t host The Verge or PlayR. On a side note she claimed that she would also be writing a column for NAG magazine soon, the first of which would appear in the birthday issue of NAG next month.

But Pippa said that there would be a replacement host on the shows for next several weeks. There I was, praying to a god who may or may not exist, that it isn’t Mo. PLEASE. Thankfully it isn’t. But it is someone else. And when I saw who it was, I cringed.

In the past there have been some rather pitiful attempts by the public to audition for a spot as a host on The Verge. And now it seems I’ve found the reason why this was being done. Pippa might only be leaving on a short break, but in the future, who knows, it might be more permanent.

Anyway, back to the substitute here. Pippa says that he has some crazy gaming skills, and for some reason I was expecting, in a cruel twist of irony, to see Michael James of NAG magazine to pop up on the screen. But it wasn’t. It’s a guy who is actually more obnoxious and irritating, and even unfunnier than Siya, and the entire Crème Cartel on Vuzu. I couldn’t believe it.

This guy, Thomas Gumede, will be hosting the show. Watch the promo to see exactly why some think that this will be the downfall of the show. The lunatics are running the asylum…

I think I saw him on the show at one stage playing on an Asus laptop, and when Pippa was asking him what the game was like and all (CoD: Black Ops, I think), he didn’t even know what to say. And they expect this guy to host the show?

I wish we could get some better shows on gaming here. Ginx Files and GameFace turned out to be a bit disappointing. What about G4TV in the states? Is that any good?

I kind of wish that it’s some sort of cruel joke or that it’s all a dream. It’s times like this when I really, really miss Cybernet.

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Source: The Verge

Pippa Taking a Break From The Verge

The Last Episode of The Verge for 2010

I just looked through my news feed on Facebook, and saw a post from The Verge’s Facebook wall. It declared that tonight, the 15th of December is the last live episode of The Verge for this year.

Now they say it’s the last live episode, but the show will continue to run until next year when live shows will resume I suppose. Pippa says that they’re recorded and are new ones especially for when The Verge is off the air. As for PlayR, that isn’t a live show, but a recorded or taped one (and actually my favourite one at that – less slip ups and so on from Pippa).

As for tonight’s episode, it’ll feature Red Dead Redemption’s DLC, Undead Nightmare, and NFS Hot Pursuit.

The Verge will resume its live shows on the 17th of January 2011.

- The Verge currently runs from 10:30 PM for a half hour, Mondays and Wednesdays. PlayR is on Thursdays.

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Source: The Verge on Facebook

The Last Episode of The Verge for 2010

The Verge Returns: Coming Back This Week

Just over a couple of months ago, the somewhat popular show about video games on Vuzu, called The Verge, went off the air for a hiatus which was said to last a couple of months.

During this time two new shows made an appearance on the channel: GameFace and The Ginx Files. PlayR, the taped version and predecessor of The Verge, continued to be shown as well. There were also a number of changes to the days when these programs were shown, in addition to the changed timeslots before that.

Anyway, this week, Monday the 2nd of August, sees The Verge return to regular, live programming, you might be pleased to hear.

For the past two months or more, we’ve been forced to sit and endure reruns of past episodes. I’m still left wondering why exactly it was that the break took place in the first place, and I’m also still anticipating some changes that may have been made to the format or appearance of the show – such as the disappearance of that bar with all the SMSs and messages that shows up at the bottom. But fat chance of that happening anyway.

You can follow updates on The Verge at their Facebook page, Twitter, and the main website.

The Verge Returns: Coming Back This Week

The Verge Going off the air at the end of May

If you watched the live broadcast of The Verge last night, you would have heard Pippa Tshabalala say at the end of the show that The Verge is going off the air.

Not to worry too much though, seeing as it’s a temporary break which will last for two months. The May 31st edition of the show, next Monday, will be the last one, only to resume again in August.

The other shows such as PlayR, The Ginx Files, and GameFace will continue to be broadcast.

Reasons for the hiatus weren’t really given, but one could speculate that The Verge is possibly undergoing a change of format. The Verge has all ready been pushed back to a later time slot on Vuzu [22:30 instead of 21:30], and was also dropped from four days a week to two [Mondays and Wednesdays]. It’s also, as I mentioned, a live show, whereas PlayR is taped. The Verge has been showing since the 1st of December, 2008.

Anyway, this is just pure speculation on my part. I’ve checked the official website and the Facebook page to see if any word has been put out, but nothing at the moment.

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Source: The Verge

The Verge Going off the air at the end of May

Vuzu Adverts Sound Conspicuously Like GLaDOS From Portal

I was quite amused the other night while on Vuzu [Channel 123 on DSTV] to hear a type of voice I found recognisable: GLaDOS from Portal. It wasn’t exactly the same, and it lacked the usual dark humour, but the way it sounded was more or less the same.
Have a listen. Then listen to GlaDOS.
I mean, I can’t really think why they would do this other than trying to be funny or creative. There are gaming shows on the channel, like PlayR, The Verge, and more recently, the new additions like The Ginx Files and GameFace, originally British shows, presented by Julia Hardy.
But the strange GLaDOS-sounding voice was talking more about entertainment this time.
Maybe Portal had more of an influence than I thought. Maybe I’m just paranoid. Yes, probably.

Vuzu Adverts Sound Conspicuously Like GLaDOS From Portal

The Verge Gets new Time Slot, New Gaming Shows on Vuzu [TV News]

 

There was apparently a forum thread over at the Vuzu forums last week, with another one more recently that suggested that The Verge, a local TV show about gaming on Vuzu, Channel 123, will be moving to a new time slot.

The live edition of The Verge on Thursday, had Mo Nagdee as the host, and he confirmed that The Verge will indeed be moving to a new time slot as of next month. April 1st [yes, I know] will see The Verge moving to 10:30 PM, instead of 9:30 PM.

In addition to this, The Verge will not be showing four times a week anymore. It will be Mondays and Wednesdays, with PlayR showing  on Thursdays. Mo says that Tuesdays and Fridays will have something else in it’s place, but related to the shows in some form. But it’s a surprise…

Some people on the Vuzu forums are confused about what times and days the shows will be on, but that’s easy to fix, seeing as you can check the Vuzu schedule. In fact, the names and details of the new shows are right there to see. That’s right. There are two new shows. They’re called The Ginx Files and GameFace.

Thursday 01 April

22:30 - PlayR

It is said that there are over 500 million video gamers in the world and PlayR has the latest games. Also exclusive news and previews to keep viewers up to date with the fastest moving entertainment medium on the planet.

Friday 02 April

22:30 - The Ginx Files [New Show]

A rich compendium of back to back videogame reviews, features, facts and comparisons, covering both new and classic games.

Monday 05 April

22:30 - The Verge

The Verge is your interactive dose of gaming and technology TV, featuring new releases and in-depth coverage of every platform from consoles to PCs and mobiles. Presented daily by Pippa Tshabalala and Muhammed Nagdee.

Tuesday 06 April

22:30 - GameFace [New Show]

It is time to look at what's hot and what's not in the world of video games. Julia Hardy reviews and compares some of the latest releases as chosen by you. Also featuring news on the state of gaming around the globe.

Wednesday 07 April

22:30 - The Verge

So there you are. There are four shows all in all. The Verge is on Mondays and Wednesdays. PlayR is on Thursdays. The Ginx Files is on Fridays, and GameFace is on Tuesdays. No new shows for the weekend, but there are usually always repeats of the above shows on those days as well as during the week at various times.

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Sources: Vuzu – The Verge

The Verge Gets new Time Slot, New Gaming Shows on Vuzu [TV News]

The Verge is Dissing Assassin’s Creed Again

I don’t mean to sound like this, like some sort of disgusting fanboy, but just wait a minute while I get this off my chest.

I liked Assassin’s Creed a lot, and Assassin’s Creed II is one of my most anticipated titles for this year (well, it was, until the PC version was delayed until 2010). So, it irks me a little when I have to listen to some people run it in to the ground all the time.

On The Verge, Pippa called Splinter Cell: Conviction “Assassin’s Creed: Modern Warfare”. OK, so that might be more of a dig at Splinter Cell: Conviction, but still. Then I had to listen to Muhammed “Mo” Nagdee, one of those deplorable sports fanatics, who only appears on the show when FIFA 10 or some racing game bonanza is on the card, run his mouth off with some other guy about how Assassin’s Creed didn’t “do it for him”, and other nonsense.

Then the other day “Pipsqueak” Tshabalala was doing a little intro on the latest Assassin’s Creed II trailer (the one with the prostitutes), and coughed and muttered under her breath, “Prince of Persia rip-off”.

Strike three.

Tshabalala is trying too hard to be cynical and whatnot these days. I think the whole tattoos and bad girl image is fake, myself, and she’s usually uttering some nonsensical rubbish on The Verge and PlayR. I wish they’d get someone else. She’s starting to get on my nerves. When the show goes off air, she’s pulling faces and making funny noises. She’s clearly insane or immature, or both.

And not to mention her hairstyle. She looks as though she cuts her own hair...blindfolded.

The Verge is Dissing Assassin’s Creed Again