SPLICED LIFE /
ISSUE 01
convention / rage 2013
The Digital
Shadow
Watch Dogs is a game about privacy
and data monitoring. Put like that it
sounds really boring actually, hang
on let me rephrase. Watch Dogs is a
game that follows the story of Aiden
Pearce who hacks into integrated
security systems in order to expose
the government’s control of the
population’s information. Although
the concept of the game has been in
development for years, it’s interesting
that it’s being released now when
there is so much attention focused on
the idea of data tracking, especially in
the United States and Europe.
In today’s society this is an
extremely pertinent topic, and has
come to be especially relevant in
recent months as we debate online
information sharing. The paranoia that
ensues both in real life and within the
game is very real when you think about
the extent to which governmental
institutions can track not only our
personal details but our habits,
conversations and friends through our
online, always connected identity.
"Roaming the floors, you’ll find yourself
pushing your way through enthusiastic
crowds, their excitement palpable, and
their fanboyism infectious."
Wham, bam,
what a LAN!
rAge plays host to the largest
gaming LAN in Africa. Over 2,000
gamers hook their computers up
to a single high speed network to
spend the entire three days, or 54
hours, playing games. The NAG LAN
servers are powered by Intel and
kilometres (yup, you read correctly)
of networking cables are connected
by HP switches. The NAG LAN is one
of South Africa’s most anticipated
gaming LAN events, with gamers
from all over the country desperate
to get their hands on a limited
number of tickets that have to be
purchased over a month in advance.
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