Forza Motorsport 5: Meet the SRT_01E electric racer

Your eyes don't deceive you. At first glance, it does look like today's Formula 1 cars but what you notice here is something different. It was born alongside the new age motorsports and this new age of motorsport can only mean one thing; zero emission motorsport. That's right, the FIA Formula E is coming and this is the primary machine for the opening match; the Spark-Renault SRT_01E.



The year 2014 gives birth to a brand new generation of motorsport. The FIA Formula-E Championship is a brand new FIA single-seater championship and the world's first fully-electric racing series. The inaugural season starts from September 2014 to June 2015, spanning 10 different locations from London, Beijing, and Miami.

The Spark-Renault SRT_01E is the first ever open-wheeler electric racing machine to be homologated by the FIA and this zero-emission racer aims to turn the tables of what is achievable in electric motorsport while balancing cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

It was built by the newly-established Spark Racing Technology while the monocoque chassis, built from carbon fiber and aluminum, was done by Dallara. The electric powertrain and electronics was sourced by McLaren Electronics System while the battery was sourced by the Williams F1 Team, producing 200kw of power while linked to a 5-speed Hewland sequential gearbox with fixed ratios.

In the opener of the FIA Formula E Championship, 10 teams, with two drivers each, are competing in the first season. The teams are AMLIN AGURI, ANDRETTI FORMULA E, AUDI SPORT ABT, CHINA RACING, DRAGON RACING, E.DAMS-RENAULT, MAHINDRA RACING, TRULLI, VENTURI, and VIRGIN RACING. There are selection of aces taking part in the opener; aces of all kinds such as motorsport icons, F1 testers, former Formula 1 racing drivers, even female drivers. The opening match will be in Beijing, the capital city of the People's Republic of China, on the 13th of September.



Of course, it looks like a Formula 1 car but because this is a zero-emission racing machine that runs solely on electric power rather than prehistoric fossil fuel, this is a total difference to experience but I really want to know what's like to be behind the wheel of the Formula E car and to find out, I went to the Top Gear Test Track for some experimentation.





As I noticed it, the SRT_01E is a very serious racer with some very serious zero emission technology. Sure I may not hear something at the start until the whirring of the electric motor kicks in on the move, but unlike a Formula 1 car, this Formula E car won't attack you like extremists on a spaceship and when it comes to handling, the aerodynamics really done its sorcery and it handles like a boss! I was very impress to have an electric car that can handle like a Formula 1 car and if I'm going on the opening match, this could be a very exciting match to see. It may be a serious motorsport but it's probably one of the most exciting to see.

 

After taking a lap round the Top Gear Track with the Formula E car, I still believe testing it here is not quite enough because next time, I will travel round the world and see if the Formula E car tackles through the world's best courses in Forza Motorsport 5.

Let's Do The News! (August 28, 2014)

Things we learned so far...

- It is confirmed that the Filipino boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao, will be training Chinese boxers to help ease the tensions between the Philippines and China. He mulls demonstrating his boxing know-how through a training academy in China that will be named as the Manny Pacquiao Boxing Education Institute.



- IS THIS THE NEW SUZUKI ESCUDO? A new model is set for its 2014 Paris Motor Show debut!

Is this the new Escudo?

- Based on the current analysis, the search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean has been refine while the investigation will not go on unless the wreckage and the black boxes are found.

- On the Ukraine Crisis: Pro-Russian separatists are advancing through the southeastern part of Ukraine as reports stated that the rebels took control the town of Novoazovsk, on the Sea of Azov.

- The Ebola outbreak will continue to get worse according to a top US public health official and it would need an "unprecedented" response to bring it under control.

- Renault has unveiled a racecar to be used on the brand-new Renaultsport Trophy one-make race series next year. The new R.S. 01 comes with the chassis built by Dallara and it comes with the same VR38DETT engine from the Nissan GT-R. This midship racer weighs 1100kg and it can do 0-60mph in under three seconds.

RenaultSport R.S. 01

- The Enzo Pastor murder case starts to unravel as reports told that the PNP has the suspect behind the murder of the racing driver two months ago. Businessman Doming de Guzman III was arrested in Muntinlupa City since August 26 while PO2 Edgar Angel was arrested on the 23rd of August. Also, Enzo Pastor's wife, Dalia, was involved in the murder case as reports told she had an affair with de Guzman.

- Video streaming site, Twitch, was acquired by Amazon for US$970 million dollars.

- The Pyramid Head from the Silent Hill horror game franchise gets its very own figma! Out this April, it's priced a 4,444 Japanese Yen plus tax. Preorders are open for booking so here's your chance to have a piece of Silent Hill!

Figma Red Pyramid Thing

TTFN!!!

Asphalt 8 mobile racing game unveiled its "Dubai update"

Asphalt 8 Airborne's Dubai update

It's been a year since Asphalt 8: Airborne hit the smartphones on the App Store and Google Play and most racing game fans still won't stop playing the most extreme installment of the Asphalt mobile game franchise from developer Gameloft.

Now, they've released a brand new Dubai Update on A8! This update features a brand new Dubai location with different variations ranging from DUBAI, THE ROSE OF THE DESERT, and THE MIRAGE.

Also, keep an eye out for time-limited special events featuring 5 brand-new cars to this update such as the Nissan GT-R NISMO, Jaguar F-Type, SSC Ultimate Aero XT, the Mercedes-Benz Biome Concept, and the unsung Dutch supercar known as the Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS. As A8 rules apply, the fastest in the special events will earn an early access to this car before its available for almost everyone in a couple of days or weeks.

A new season is added and for this 9th season called BEYOND, only cars tuned to the max are allowed to take on the toughest challenges yet. These challenges are made specifically to the car, which is tuned to the max, and if you want to beat those, get yourself ready with your car armed to the highest potential!

If you have a Twitch account, you can stream your A8 action but this Twitch feature is only available for those who owned the latest-generation of smartphones and tablets (for example, the iPhone 5/5c or the iPad 4th gen). A Twitch account is required to access this feature.

Asphalt 8 is available to download for free at the App Store or Google Play now.

THE iDOLM@STER MASTER ARTIST 3 Prologue ONLY MY NOTE

THE iDOLM@STER MASTER ARTIST 3 Prologue
ONLY MY NOTE

With the PS3-exclusive THE iDOLM@STER ONE FOR ALL getting along smoothly with iM@S fans new and old and with thanks to the 9th anniversary concert they've been saving with, looks like the folks from NIPPON COLUMBIA had better way to celebrate these occasions with a brand new chapter of the iM@S MASTER ARTIST chapter of CDs.

To set things off, MASTER ARTIST 3 kicks of with a Prologue titled "ONLY MY NOTE" and at first glance, you might think that this is a 5-track CD but oh no because on track 3 of this brand new CD, there's a non-stop medley featuring the songs you might heard from this month's DLC. We're talking the solo songs scenario stuff and the new DLC solo scenario songs can now be listened for the first time as a non-stop medley featuring all of 765 Production idols! You name them! Harkua, Iori, Makoto, Takane, Azusa, Miki, Ami and Mami, Yayoi, Hibiki, Yukiho, Ritsuko, and Chihaya!

This CD comes with two brand new M@STER VERSION tracks on never-before-heard songs like ONLY MY NOTE and アクセルレーション and with this CD, this will surely kick off the new chapter in the history of iM@S.

Look forward for the arrival of THE iDOLM@STER MASTER ARTIST 3 CD range very soon!

TRACK LISTING:
01. ONLY MY NOTE（M@STER VERSION）
02. アクセルレーション（M@STER VERSION）
03. アイドルマスターOFA・DLC2014年8月ソロ新曲メドレー
04. ONLY MY NOTE（M@STER VERSION) オリジナル・カラオケ
05. アクセルレーション（M@STER VERSION） オリジナル・カラオケ

Let's Do The News! (August 27, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- Four strong aftershocks occurred in the San Francisco North Bay Area early morning including a 3.9M aftershock that caused extensive damage to Highway 29. According to the USGS, the first aftershock occurred at 5:33AM with M3.9, then a second aftershock occurred at 5:35AM with M2.7. A third one occurred at 6:12AM with M2.8, and the last occurred at 6:45AM with magnitude 3. So far, no casualties are reported.

- The president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, told that the "roadmap" to end the lingering conflict between the Russians and the Ukrainians will be prepared after holding his first direct talks on the crisis with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk.

Photo courtesy of AFP

- An American man, who is believed to be fighting alongside the Islamic militants in Syria, named Douglas McCain, was killed in battle. This report was confirmed from the White House.

- Despite the LPA has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility, expect cloudy with a high chance of rainshowers in Metro Manila, according to PAGASA.

- After numerous animals died for unknown reasons, a zoo located in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia was closed, as told by city mayor Yordanka Fandakova. Three Indian bisons, two yaks, and a camel were found death and the cause of death remain unknown.

- The second-generation Volvo XC90 was finally revealed and this new model will spark a new milestone for the Swedish carmaker. Because all Volvos are heavily focused on safety, the new XC90 is beyond compare as it gains "the most comprehensive and technologically sophisticated standard safety package available in the automotive industry", such as automatic braking, self-driving on the stop-start traffic, "run off-road" protection package, pre-crash protection, whiplash protection, blind-spot info, and road-sign reading. Two engines are available such as a brand new 2.0L turbodiesel and a PHEV model which comes with a twincharged 2.0L engine connected with an electric motor that churns a combined output of a mighty 395HP.

2015 Volvo XC90

- It's almost back-to-school, and G. Hannelius shows off some back-to-school inspired nail art for you to try on the latest G. Nails clip presented by SweetyHigh and M Magazine.

- Sebastian Vettel tries out the Infiniti Q50 Hybrid, better known to you and I as the Nissan Skyline V37, on Russia's newly-completed Sochi Autodrom, the venue for the first ever Russian GP on the F1 2014.

Sochi Autodrom meets Skyline and Vettel

- Actor Dennis Roldan is found guilty as charged from allegedly kidnapping a young Filipino-Chinese boy nine years ago.

TTFN!!!

Gotta Get Ready For The Next Battle?! Pokken announced

Pokken Tournament

Pocket Monsters (or PokeMon from all over the world), a famed video game franchise loved by kids from all ages worldwide since 1996. Tekken, one of Namco's flagship titles which involves hardcore fistfights and white-knuckle thrills and this franchise is on its 20th birthday this year.

PokeMon and Tekken, not two words you often hear in the same sentence and that's because PokeMon are targeted for the little kids while Tekken are targeted for the grownups who love fighting games and it's gonna be a good thing because last night, Bandai Namco Games collaborated with Nintendo and The PokeMon Company to create next year's arcade fighting game featuring some of the roughest and toughest PokeMon assembled and it's forged by the creators of the Tekken and Soul series. What do you get? Pokken Tournament.

Like it said, this arcade fighting game is set for its 2015 debut and it's targeted for PokeMon fans in their 20's. We're not sure if this is going to be a Japan-exclusive arcade game like the PokeMon Tretta but still, PokeMon fans are surely "ready for the next battle".

Scoop: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/pokken/?a001=news

Let's Do The News! (August 26, 2014)

Things we learned today...

- On the issue of the Ukrainian Conflict: Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko will hold talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin at a summit in the Belarusian capital of Minsk despite the escalating tensions between the two countries over the fight against pro-Russian separatists.

- Back at the Libya Crisis: There was a report stating that the United States was caught "off guard" by multiple air strikes against Islamic extremists around Tripoli. The attacks were reportedly carried out by the UAE from Egyptian bases.

Photo courtesy of: EPA

- North Korea threatens the United States once again by launching a preemptive strike following America's involvement with the military exercise with South Korea.

- US and Chinese officials will hold talks about the rules of conduct after the US alleged a Chinese fighter plane got too close to one of its planes. The US Defense Department sparked fury against the Chinese military after a Chinese fighter jet done a "dangerous" intercept on the US patrol aircraft in the South China Sea last Tuesday but the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson denied the claim. There has been four cases of Chinese aces acting dangerously in the skies this year according to US officials.

- Yoshihide Suga, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, remains undecided about Russian president Putin's visit to Japan this fall. The Asian country will have to consider different factors including the Ukraine situation before giving Putin's visit the green light.

- Japan's professional soccer league, J-LEAGUE, is considering a punishment over a top-division team over a discriminatory gesture by a fan. Last weekend, a teenage fan of the Yokohama F. Marinos team waved a banana at an "import" player of the Kawasaki Frontale team. It is believed that in other soccer leagues, waving monkey food, like bananas, on black players is considered an act of racism.

- The Ford Highboy Roadster from 1932 is the latest highlight from the Jay Leno's Garage webisode! Check it out!



- COMELEC rejects the idea of not having an elections this 2016 following the issue regarding Philippine President Benigno Aquino III's re-election.

- Don't worry. Studio Ghibli won't be gone to the history books but the madmen from FOX's Animation Domination High-Def mashed up some Ghibli stuff for parodic reasons and for parodic reasons, FOX ADHD bids goodbye to Studio Ghibli. Take a look... (STOP: The following video has scenes not suitable for all audiences. STRONG PARENTAL GUIDANCE is advised)



TTFN!!!