Where have we been you ask?

Well for my part, I started at Hypertext Media Communications as a fuil-time, all-day and all-night, tech journalist which has meant much less free time to be able to write for myself (but if you’re interested then you can see what I’ve been up to over at htxt.africa).

As for Gary, he’s neck deep in his the research phase for his PhD in biochemistry which, as you can imagine, has kept him rather focused on that part of his life.

Returning to The Tech Duel will give me a creative outlet to write some of the things that I can’t easily say about the tech industry from the confines of a job that requires me to uphold the image of my employer.

So look out for some new things from me, potentially some controversial things, hopefully some fun things, but most of all, the things that make The Tech Duel a labour of love for me, the wonderful world of technology.

The post The Tech Duel is back appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Watch the gameplay demonstration of XCOM: Enemy Within that was first shown at gamescom and PAX Prime 2013. Lead designer Ananda Gupta shows off some of the new weapons, abilities, enemies and maps included in the expansion to the 2012 Game of the Year award-winning strategy game, XCOM: Enemy Unknown. This video features gameplay that was designed specifically for presentation purposes. As the commander of XCOM, build and expand your base, recruit and train your soldiers, and research alien technology to advance your capabilities in fierce battles against a terrifying alien invasion.

The post XCOM: Enemy Within – Gameplay Demonstration appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Grand Theft Auto V takes place in Los Santos: a sprawling sun-soaked metropolis full of self-help gurus, starlets and fading celebrities, once the envy of the Western world, now struggling to stay afloat in an era of economic uncertainty and cheap reality TV.

The post Grand Theft Auto 5 – Official Trailer appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Discover DedSec, the most famous hacker group in the universe of Watch Dogs and hear their message of truth: “The ctOS system is flawed, it is time to wake up!”

The post Watch Dogs Dedsec Trailer appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Experience Titanfall’s fast-paced, vertical combat with this new, cinematic multiplayer gameplay video featuring Attrition Mode on a new map called Angel City.

The post Titanfall Gamescom 2013 Gameplay Demo appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Animal Crossing New Leaf challenge reboot

You’re leaving me? I mean, you’re leaving the town? Seriously? Wait, can I persuade you to stay? That was easy. (Am I that persuasive, or is this game designed to flatter me?)

Apparently the old mayor was a Turtle, a geriatric, ancient turtle. No wonder these people love me, this guy is freaking crazy. Oh never mind… he has an island, I like this guy, apparently there’s cool stuff there for me. I can only go tomorrow? What kind of bull$&%# is that?

I paid off my house (again!)

I bought an upgrade to my house (again!) (yay!)

I’m in debt (again!) (lots more debt!) (CR@p!)

Okay, this week I promise to be better… every day (really every day?). Yes every day. Animal Crossing New Leaf will not beat me… I will win the battle of attrition. It is only a matter of time.

The post Animal Crossing New Leaf Blogger Challenge Diary: Week 3 begins appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Day 3 Day 5

They’re all looking at me. Why are they looking at me that way. Sure there are some weeds around, but they can pull them out right? (what do you mean I have to do all of it? I’m the mayor for F$%& sake)

Weeding, weeding, weeding…

Holy cr@p sticks, look at all that fruit. I get special pricing today on Oranges?!?

I’m rich, like the Bill Gates of Animal Crossing. Except I still owe nearly 100k on my new bigger home (which is tiny by the way, I thought the mayor got swanky residences)

They gave me an axe? Who was stupid enough to give me an axe? Can I change into first person mode? It’s not for combat? Seriously why am I playing this game.

Must catch more fish and bugs, fish are awesome.

I hit rocks to get money? This makes no sense, I mean really/ Who thought… MONEY, I’m rich again.

Why is this owl always asleep? And then I wake him up and he takes all my hard earned finds. Can’t I just sell all the fossils? I can? But what will be in the museum? Damn it…

Okay, the weekend is coming. My town will prosper on the weekend… I will not be the mayor who failed… not this mayor.

The post Animal Crossing New Leaf Blogger Challenge Diary: Day 3(ish) appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Click here to vote for me on the Nintendo SA Facebook page and you could win a Nintendo 3DS with the game preloaded worth R2700.

Day 2

I left my tent and it turns out it’s a house now… I HAVE A HOUSE! I’m no longer that creepy guy camping out in the middle of the orchard. I’m now that creepy guy with a house in the orchard.

Then it happened… the visitor.

She came in the dead of the night (well more like 2 in the afternoon) and pillaged my oranges (my town has them and hers doesn’t, as if that matters). She left me a present of a basket of fruit (is that customary payment for pillaging?). Apparently you plant the fruit (she told me so).

I CAN HAZ ALL THE TREEZ. Oh, wait there are more? (Why are there so many trees?)

Now I have a fishing rod, I’m catching fish. I HAZ ALL THE… (There are so many fish)

I have a net and I’m catching bugs. I HAZ… (damn it soooooo many bugs)

I wan’t a bigger house now mine is almost full of awesome things like a gumball machine and a retro style TV set. I go to upgrade my house but I have debt, I have a home loan, my character is a cog in the financial economy that imprisons the… Oh wait it’s interest free and I can pay it off whenever I want. Awesome.

Someone said I look tired. (Of course I’m tired have you not read what I did today?)

I’m off to sleep, tomorrow holds the promise of more awesome addictive fun.

The post Animal Crossing New Leaf Blogger Challenge Diary: Day 2 appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Click here to vote for me on the Nintendo SA Facebook page and you could win a Nintendo 3DS with the game preloaded worth R2700.

Day 1

I woke up on a train (why am I on a train?), some crazy cat thing named Rover is quizzing me about where I’m going and whether I think my name is cool or cute? (why is there no ‘rugged and manly’ option?).

Arrived in my town (Karakura Town if you were wondering) apparently I’m the mayor (I like this place already). I’ve set up a house (okay it’s a tent) and now I’m shaking trees to get fruit (my town grows oranges, I’m so proud)

Got stung by bees, apparently they live in the trees. Realised that their bee hives are worth 500 Bells a pop. Started saking more trees.

Sold everything I found and learned how to fish and dig up fossils. Apparently I’m super talented.

Paid a deposit for a house (10 000 Bells are you joking!?!?) but it will only be ready tomorrow.

Off to bed now, I need a good night’s sleep. (I have a town to run you know.)

The post Animal Crossing New Leaf Blogger Challenge Diary: Day 1 appeared first on The Tech Duel.

Click here to vote for me on the Nintendo SA Facebook page and you could win a Nintendo 3DS with the game preloaded worth R2700.

If you’ve never heard of the game, here is the trailer:

The post WIN: Animal Crossing New Leaf Blogger Challenge & Me (A mouthful of a challenge) appeared first on The Tech Duel.