According to research conducted by Knorr, vegetables are often portrayed as inferior to meat-based items in many popular games. This translates to weaker health restoration benefits, with some games offering a +15HP boost for meat compared to a mere +10HP for cabbage. In more extreme examples, a beef steak can provide over nine times the health gain of a bean stew.

The campaign kicked off with a livestream on Twitch, featuring Blevins and other streamers playing games with mods that buff the power of vegetables. This sparked a conversation within the gaming community, with viewers expressing frustration over the current portrayal of veggies in games. Comments like “we are all here for veggies!” and “them veggie give superpowers” reflect a growing desire for a more balanced representation of food options.

Barrie Forrester, a South African streamer known as TheCaramelGamer, is a key player in the campaign. He emphasizes the importance of educating gamers about the benefits of a balanced diet, both inside and outside the virtual world. The #ModTheVeg petition has already garnered over 19,000 signatures, showcasing the community’s support for this veggie-powered revolution.

While the campaign is a collaboration with Knorr, it raises a critical question about the potential influence video games have on dietary habits. The focus on in-game mechanics and the enthusiastic response from gamers suggest that the way food is presented in games can have a real-world impact.

Voted by TIME as one of the best innovations for 2023 with Parents.com recognizing the active play system as an innovative and family-friendly addition to the average home.

The diminutive cube that will soon take over living rooms everywhere hosts a 12,3MP ultra-wide-angle camera capable of detecting player movement and translating it into accurate onscreen action. The active play system connects to TVs via HDMI and includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 64GB of storage onboard. Games can be downloaded via Wi-Fi and stored on the play system allowing for travel and complete offline playing.

The Nex Playground will include 4 titles at launch with a limited quantity and will retail at R3 499. The 4 titles included are Whack-a-Mole Deluxe, Party Fowl, Starri, and Go Keeper. The first is a spin on the classic physical arcade game for several players at once. Party Fowl is a series of fun family challenges, while Starri is a controller-free take on popular dance and rhythm games that will be instantly familiar. Go Keeper will make parents and kids take turns at saving strikes and penalty kicks in a fantasy football simulation.

The fun doesn’t stop there. Nominal subscription payments of R399 per quarter or R1199 per annum open up a new world of activity. The subscription provides instant access to a rich catalogue of 20 games, with more new games launched every season, allowing your whole family to move, bop, bounce and marvel at how much fun it can be to get off the couch, be active and keep moving. 

Of course, these activities needn’t be confined to those with small children. Many of the experiences can act as social ice-breakers, getting normally staid adults out and interacting in ways they’ve neglected since childhood.

Adults can also look forward to meeting their virtual fitness coach who will guide their workout experience within the NexGym fitness title. NexGym is an innovative AR fitness experience that is perfect for those active home workouts. 

The Nex Playground will be available from local retailers Incredible Connection and Takealot with pre-orders starting today (21 March) with official sales on 29 March 2024. Activations with giveaways are up for grabs during the Easter Weekend (Friday 29 March and Saturday 30 March) at Gateway Mall, Canal Walk Mall and Mall of Africa.

Red Bull Kumite South Africa will bring together 16 of the best Street Fighter competitors to battle live for the bragging rights of winning the first major Street Fighter 6 tournament. 15 players will be invited directly, with one additional player qualifying through a Last Chance Qualifier. This year’s event will be held across the 1st and 2nd of July, with the main stage being an enclosed cage where opponents will be locked in until a victor is found! 1,000 fans can attend the LAN finals, which will be streamed live directly from the University of Pretoria.

Red Bull Hit the Streets 2022 champion Jabhi “JabhiM” Mabuza commented, “Red Bull Kumite coming to South Africa is MASSIVE! For years, Africans couldn’t travel to showcase their skills to the world due to visa issues and money; now the world is coming to us. Our local players will be very happy to play in an internal tournament for the very first time with international commentary. I am very excited to see how my brothers and sisters react to the news and to see their faces when they play in the tournament at the last chance qualifiers.”

The players who will be participating in the standout tournament will be announced in the coming weeks. There will be 15 direct invitees, with the 16^th player qualifying through a Last Chance Qualifier. Prospective players can sign up for their chance to participate in Red Bull Kumite South Africa here.

Fans from all over the world can attend the live finals at the University of Pretoria Sports Centre to see some of the biggest names in the fighting game community come together to battle. Tickets will be on sale from 17:00 on the 12th of May and can be purchased at Computicket.  

Originally held in Paris from 2015 to 2018, the prestigious competition was moved to Japan in 2019 as a nod to ‘the spiritual home to Street Fighter’. In 2021, Red Bull Kumite took place in London and Las Vegas before arriving in South Africa in 2023.

This event has joined forces with industry-leading partners to bring the very best hardware to competitors. Red Bull Kumite South Africa welcomes AGON by AOC, the global leaders in gaming monitors, as Official Monitor Partners for this event, bringing exceptional visual clarity with ultra-high resolution rates to competitors.

Watch the Red Bull Kumite South Africa event live on July 1 and July 2 on Twitch and YouTube.

• Starbucks: Customers can recharge with a complimentary coffee weekly on FNB.
• Udemy: giving FNB customers affordable access to hundreds of online courses.
• GuardMe: a medical and personal armed response service at a tap of a button on the FNB App.
• eBucks Games: a world of ad-free games with no monthly subscription.
• FNB Connect ‘Hero Device Deals’: High end smartphones, laptops and iPads from Apple, Samsung and Lenovo at a price point that is cheaper than buying from retail stores.
• SLOW Lounge: FNB announces the official acquisition of the SLOW Lounges.

Jacques Celliers, CEO of FNB, says, “Our expanded lifestyle solutions demonstrate our commitment to delivering contextual innovations to our customers via our trusted digital platform. In keeping with our status of providing customers with the best value-added services in financial services, we are once again shifting into high gear in our efforts to offer customers exponential help. We are delighted to have like-minded partners as we are significantly scaling our unique ability to enable customers to manage both the financial and lifestyle facets of their lives by using the power of our integrated platform.”

Raj Makanjee, FNB Retail CEO, says, “As South Africa’s largest provider of transactional banking services, we are acutely aware of the areas where our customers spend the majority of their money. As a result, our new solutions and partnerships are informed by a combination of our big data and analytical capabilities, which enables us to meet our customers’ needs. By providing integrated solutions and low-cost devices for accessing education, security, entertainment, and staying connected, we help customers manage their money and lifestyles more effectively. We continue to expand our solutions beyond financial services, building on the success of lifestyle offerings such as nav», fuel rewards and eBucks Travel, as well as FNB Connect.”

FNB’s new lifestyle solutions and partnerships offer several industry-leading benefits, including:

Starbucks: Recharge with a free Starbucks coffee on FNB

Individual customers of FNB and RMB Private Bank can now recharge with a complimentary coffee or hot beverage of their choice once a week up to R37. Customers can unlock this benefit by doing 5 FNB Pay (including Apple Pay/Samsung Pay/FitBit Pay/Garmin Pay) or Virtual Card transactions on a weekly basis.

Udemy: Learn anytime and anywhere with Udemy courses and pay only a R50 activation fee upon enrolment.

FNB and Udemy curated a world-class library of 400 online learning and self-development courses for FNB and RMB Private Bank customers across categories including finance, IT, marketing, personal development, teaching, and more. eBucks members can enrol in up to six courses per year for a discounted activation fee of only R50 per course with no course fee.

To sign up for a course, within the FNB mobile app, go to the eBucks Partner section and select Udemy. Udemy courses can be completed anytime, anywhere and customers have lifetime access to their courses.

GuardMe: Armed response and access to medical emergency services with the tap of a panic button

FNB and RMB Private Bank customers now have access to GuardMe, powered by AURA, a 24-hour personal security service. Customers can register to access to 250 armed-response service providers, 2,500 armed-response vehicles, and over 5,000 armed-response personnel via the FNB or RMB Private Bank App.

eBucks Games: A world of ad free games with no monthly subscription and you can use eBucks to play

eBucks Games provides customers with access to a secure and safe mobile gaming platform that contains no advertisements or pop-ups, customers can add other members to their profile regardless of whether they bank with FNB or RMB Private Bank. Customers can access these games using almost any device.

There are no monthly subscription fees and a large selection of both free and paid games. Customers can also play alone or challenge other players to tournaments, with prizes worth up to R250 000 in the latest gaming consoles, airline tickets, and vouchers. 

Acquisition of FNB SLOW Lounge

To top it off, FNB officially announced the acquisition of SLOW Lounge Business after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals. Airport SLOW Lounges have provided enormous value to FNB and RMB Private Bank customers flying through OR Tambo, Lanseria, King Shaka, and Cape Town International airports since their inception. Apart from flight discounts that customers receive, they also get additional SLOW Lounge visits when booking their flights via the FNB or RMB Private Bank App.

The Korean giant’s UltraGear gaming monitors have long been an industry staple, delivering cutting-edge hardware, ergonomics, and sleek designs to gamers across the world. With two exciting new additions to the already impressive range, LG seeks to give gamers everything they need and more to improve their game. The new UltraGear monitors were unveiled on 06 October 2021 during a media virtual launch and they will officially launch to all consumers on 13 October 2021.

The UltraGear Gaming event was centred around the theme Be the Game Changer with LG Range of UltraGear Monitors…a fitting concept when considering the features of their newly released 24GN600-B and 27GN650-B monitors.

Continuing with the brand’s goal of improved usability, the new UltraGear monitors house the latest gaming hardware and next-level specifications, all packed into a beautifully crafted, sleek, and ergonomic design.

The 24GN600-B full-HD monitor comes in at 23.8 inches and offers incredible speed – IPS 1ms comparable to TN Speed – which means smoother gameplay and a faster response time. This is further supported by an ultra-fast refresh rate of 144Hz for rapid responses. And with HDR10 True Colours, players can immerse in realistic gaming environments with rich, true-to-life colours and contrast. The cherry on top of this monitor’s seamless gameplay is AMD FreeSync Premium, which reduces screen tearing and stuttering.

“We know that in gaming, every split second counts. This is why we have developed a range of gaming monitors that are fast enough to keep up with whatever you throw their way,” explained Grant Kruger, Business Lead ID/IT at LG Electronics South Africa.

The larger 27-inch 27GN650-B monitor also boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, outstanding colour accuracy, and dynamic contrast. It’s also NVIDIA-tested and G-SYNC® compatible, meaning that gamers can enjoy smoother visuals on screen, and frames take a lot quicker to load. Its screen is virtually borderless and can easily be adjusted to every gamer’s unique comfort needs.

When it comes to ensuring larger-than-life gameplay that almost perfectly replicates real-life, LG’s UltraGear range of gaming monitors packs quite the punch, allowing gamers to experience gaming innovation beyond boundaries.

The nostalgic muscle car comes complete with working steering, dark-blue bodywork, white racing stripes, bonnet scoop, printed Mustang grille badge, GT emblems, and five-spoke rims with road-gripping tyres.

It measures over 10 centimetres high, 34 centimetres long and 14 centimetres wide, the set gives budding builders the chance to customise their all-American icon to their own specification thanks to a collection of optional add-ons – while retaining its instantly recognisable symbol of the Mustang pony logo.

Additional customisation options include a supercharger, rear ducktail spoiler, beefy exhaust pipes, front chin spoiler and a nitrous oxide tank for an authentic muscle car build experience. The authentic replica model also allows owners to store items in the boot or lift the bonnet to reveal a detailed big block 6.4-litre V8 engine with battery, hoses and air filter detailing.

The LEGO Creator Expert Mustang is recommended for ages 18 and older and comes with 1470 individual official LEGO pieces and is available for a price of approximately R2 500.

Those looking to order either an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S will definitely want to write that down, because we’re guessing that pre-orders will sell out quickly. Microsoft has also shared a comprehensive list of retailers that will be offering Xbox Series X/S pre-orders, covering a number of regions around the world.

The list of retailers can be found below:

• AVO (Nedbank)
• BT Games
• Esquire
• Game
• Game 4 U
• HI
• Hi-Fi Corp
• Incredible Connection
• Loot.co.za
• Makro
• Nexus Retail
• PnP
• Raru
• Sportscene
• Takealot
• Total Sports
• ZAPA

There is one place some of us would like to visit once the international travel ban has been lifted…Something along those iconic destinations like the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and London Eye to name a few. To cater to these needs in the interim, Ubisoft will be launching a game not only dedicated for us techies but those with the constant urge to see the world, so thankfully for now the closest we can get to visiting London right now is by pre-ordering their latest upcoming and long overdue offering which is known as Watch Dogs: Legion.

The Watch Dogs series was originally launched in 2014 as the video game industry’s best-selling new IP at launch. The hacker series extends to other entertainment media, including books and comics. The next opus in the franchise, Watch Dogs: Legion, will launch on October 29, 2020. If you use any of these platforms Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Stadia and Windows PC than you surely are in for a good time come October. To add more meat to the bone Ubisoft is allowing players who purchase Watch Dogs: Legion on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 an opportunity to upgrade their game to the next-gen version (Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5) at no additional cost.

This instalment of the Watch Dogs series introduces a new “Play as Anyone” feature, which is a never-before-seen gameplay innovation that allows players to choose any character they want throughout the city of London to reinforce their resistance movement by recruiting anyone in the open world with their own different backstory, personality and unique skillset. Players can recruit anyone they can see in the open world to be part of their DedSec Resistance with a peak capacity of up to 40 characters at a time.

Indeed this is one game that promises to deliver as the previous ones before it did not disappoint at all. In addition to the standard version, Ubisoft announced the game will also be made available in the Gold, Ultimate and Collector’s Editions. We’ll share more as we near the official release.

The new addition to the franchise will be known as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla which the game developers certainly had the best interests of fans alike at heart.  This upcoming edition promises to gives fans a new look into the series through a heroic Norwegian Viking known as Eivor who relives the previous centuries invasion of England.

Driven from her country of birth by wars and dwindling resources, Eivor is portrayed as a Norse Viking raider who gathers her clan in search of a new home. Through her quest to becoming one of the greatest forces, she is faced with strong resistance by towns and settlers she tries to conquer. As towns are burnt down in her gruesome quest, Eivor is not only faced with challenges from enemy forces but also internal conflicts from her own clan and must go through extreme measures to maintain the glory of her people.

 Ask us and the general consensus is that this certainly is amongst the top games to look out for this summer. Ubisoft has certainly outdone itself with it’s premium game line-up this year with more “ACE” titles up it’s sleeves which will be announced on TWFLD together with the overall impression and gameplay upon launch.

The game release is set for the 17th November 2020 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, as well as on Ubisoft’s very own subscription service for now. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions will be made available once the consoles are released.

One publisher who clearly won’t be participating in Smart Delivery is 2K Games with NBA 2K21.

Now take this, imagine a gloomy summer day with your mates at the courts shooting hoops than you experience a sudden epiphany when you see one of your boys pull a signature Anthony Davis move. Initially, NBA 2K20 comes to mind, however, you start wondering to yourself, who exactly will be featured on the cover of the upcoming 2K21.

When one thinks of gaming, particularly the dunking and high flying one, only one thing comes to mind. Get your mind out the gutter. I’m sure you smiling right now because basketball is on top of your mind…Right? Of course, there have been other imitations and almost perfect like console games, however, truth be told, one name and one name only which has been dominating for close to two decades is on top of your mind. I’m sure you sitting there rather puzzled and asking yourself which other game could be better than the current NBA 2K20 which by the way is one of the games made available at no additional cost to for PlayStation Plus members.

Throughout the years the series features some of the greatest athletes representing different eras of the basketball game. Today one could easily agree that Damian Lillard is one of the MVP’s dominating the court, however, let’s not forget the Thanos of the National College league himself, Zion Williamson who is a standard-bearer for the next generation of NBA superstars.

The next instalment of the franchise promises to pack quite a few aces up its sleeves. This year there will be a few versions of the game.

On the cover of the current-generation version which will be the initial launch edition of NBA 2K21 is five-time NBA All-Star and Portland Trail Blazers’ standout Damian Lillard. The next-generation version is set to feature, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson who lands the cover for the PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X version. For gurus of the franchise, the top-notch version known as the Legend edition will be replaced by what will be dubbed as the Mamba edition which will also be celebrating the life of legendary Kobe Bryant who made a major global impact both on and off the court. It also boasts very unique and never before used covers on both the current and a new next-generation cover.

What we particularly like and have come to love about the NBA franchise is their consistency and ability to improve from their previous versions. The realistic graphics are amongst the best when it comes to sports gaming, they give off a real world like and lively feel to the game.

NBA 2K21 will be available worldwide on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC from the 4th September 2020. NBA 2K21 will also be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as a launch title.

Be sure to tune in when the game launches for a much more detailed first impression of NBA 2K21. Everything related to game-play, features and game soundtracks will also be revealed then.

One can expect to get their hands on NBA 2K21 for R 1 149.95 on current-generation platforms; the pricing for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X version of NBA 2K21 will be available at a later date. NBA 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition will be available for R 1 649.95 for both current and next-generation platforms.

Before all of that though, virtual football was and still is being thrust into the limelight. Although the sport has been building a significant fanbase over recent years, leading to the organisation of successful competitions around the world, the current pandemic has introduced a wave of new fans who are looking for new sources of entertainment online.

eSports fanatics have unsurprisingly increased in recent weeks, reaching 11 million people, this is in the case of #LaLigaSantanderChallenge, a tournament organised by LaLiga and Spanish influencer Ibai Llanos. Naturally, with this increase in the audience base, the hunger for eSports content is also on the rise, a fact that has prompted a new series of programmes from LaLiga and its partner Electronic Arts.

‘eLaLiga Santander Zone’ has subsequently been launched. Described as a new twice-weekly show that offers news and entertainment, eLaLiga is targeted mainly at a younger audience and is about EA’s world-famous FIFA 20 video game. 

This initiative, developed along with EA Sports, aims to bring the eSports sector closer to all followers of LaLiga competition and will feature contributions from well-known professional football players, as well as representatives of the 34 clubs that already participate in LaLiga’s professional eSports league, eLaLiga Santander.

Using an online format, ‘eLaLiga Santander Zone’ is directed by Rodrigo Fáez, a well-known Spanish sports journalist who currently works for ESPN and runs his own YouTube channel with more than 200,000 followers. The programmes include interviews with eLaLiga Santander players, professional LaLiga players, eSports influencers and football commentators, as well as showing the funniest aspects of the FIFA 20 game.

To find out more about ‘eLaLiga Santander Zone’ then check here.

Marvel’s Avengers has been delayed from May 15th to September 4th. That gives Crystal Dynamics around four months to put the finishing touches on the game, but maybe more importantly, the delay puts more space between it and Cyberpunk 2077, which is scheduled to launch on April 16th and is expected to be one of the biggest games of the year.

In a statement published to Crystal Dynamics’ website, the developer seems to suggest that this decision was made in part to address fan feedback. “When we set out to bring you our vision for Marvel’s Avengers, we committed to delivering an original story-driven campaign, engaging co-op, and compelling content for years to come,” Crystal Dynamics co-heads Scot Amos and Ron Rosenberg wrote. “To that end, we will spend this additional development time focusing on fine tuning and polishing the game to the high standards our fans expect and deserve.”

“The worldwide teams working on Marvel’s Avengers sincerely appreciate the support you’ve shown us,” the two continued. “We thrive on your enthusiasm and feedback and we can’t wait to show you more. We apologize for the delay. We’re confident it will be worth the wait.”

We got our first real look at Marvel’s Avengers at E3 2019, which came after a few years of build-up. Reaction to the footage that was shown and gameplay demos that were later offered was somewhat mixed. That may have prompted Crystal Dynamics to to push the game back, but the statement from Amos and Rosenberg doesn’t really delve into specifics.

For the release of Marvel’s Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Edition and Deluxe Edition will be available alongside the Standard Edition. Further, players who pre-order any version of the game will receive guaranteed access to the Beta (at participating retailers), a Marvel Legacy Outfit pack, and an exclusive nameplate to sweeten the deal.

Marvel’s Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Edition features a full color 12” statue of Captain America. Designed by the artisans at Gentle Giant, this deluxe high-quality PVC statue captures every texture and detail on Captain America’s uniform. Marvel’s Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Edition also includes a copy of the Deluxe Edition, an exclusive SteelBook® case, Hulk Bobblehead, Mjolnir Keychain, Black Widow’s Belt Buckle, Iron Man’s Prototype Amor Blueprints, Kamala Khan’s Honorary Avenger Pin, a commemorative Avengers group photo, and 72-hour early access before the September 4, 2020 release date.

In any case, Marvel’s Avengers is one of Square Enix’s biggest releases in 2020, and now it looks like we’ll have to wait longer to play it.