Author: Jim O Brien/CEO

CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.

How the Metaverse Could Be a Game-Changer for NFT Gaming

Metaverse-based NFT game development is the talk of the town as advanced technology and virtual gaming are introduced, and users enjoy the most unreal and unexpected experiences related to video game NFTs. The technology to build these new games makes them more entertaining and offers a better gaming experience. This article discusses what makes metaverse NFTs a buzzword and why immersive technology could be a game-changer in NFT gaming.     

The Metaverse and NFT Gaming 

The prospect of developing NFT games designed explicitly for the metaverse offers endless possibilities for the gaming community. That’s because NFTs are digital replicas of items that can be bought and sold in real-life or in-game virtual items, creating a new marketplace for developers and players. Moreover, the ability to access and play select blockchain games on the metaverse using NFTs is an added advantage because it allows players to incorporate their in-game rewards into the metaverse.    

What Is the Metaverse?

The metaverse, a virtual space that integrates virtual and augmented realities, has taken the world of video game NFTs by storm as it offers a surreal virtual experience. It gives users the feeling of “living the moment in real life” and takes them anywhere in the world in real-time. The meeting point between the metaverse and the NFT games like Chainers is that NFTs have become a medium of exchange in the gaming industry. As developers include virtual items in the upcoming games, it creates a more efficient experience and rich virtual factors attractive to gamers.  

Fueled by the blockchain revolution, the metaverse games offer a more rewarding experience as part of advanced technology and extend gaming to resemble a real-life experience. The metaverse’s immersive factor sets new benchmarks by giving the gaming experience more usability. Considering that significant multinationals across the globe are lining up to invest in metaverse video game NFTs, this should be the right time for anyone interested in becoming a part of the future to dive in.  

Trends for Metaverse

A close look at the metaverse and NFTs shows that the three have numerous overlapping similarities, and it’s the blockchain that all share in common. The basics of the NFT games show common elements, especially concerning the fact that the metaverse relies on blockchain for decentralization. The same technology is the foundation of NFT technology. As a result, blockchain NFT games that have consistently used NFTs are gradually becoming popular on metaverse platforms.   

It’s important to mention that the projected transmission toward metaverse games status begins when one considers its potential. Already, virtual concerts are becoming a great hit, with millions of people attending them. For records, 27 million people participated in the Travis Scott on Fortnite virtual concert in 2020. With such numbers, experts predicted that the metaverse would likely evolve into an $800 billion market by 2024.

With pundits predicting that there will be up to 32.8 million shipments of virtual reality and augmented reality devices by 2024, it’s easy to project that adopting the metaverse will become a reality. Moreover, big tech companies are already pouring millions of dollars into metaverse development projects, with firms like Meta investing over $10 billion into the space. Looking at all these trends and predictions, it’s easy to see why the emerging integration of the metaverse and NFTs point to a possible notable highlight with excellent prospects.      

NFTs and Metaverse in Gaming 

The NFT gaming process has already succeeded in making it possible for developers to create popular games using the play-to-earn concept. NFTs enable combining gaming economies that allow the developer and the player to earn from their time and effort with real ones. As a result, people are already making real money from the virtual world.   

The virtual universes offering NFT games as a part of their menu are already gaining high momentum. As users bask in those benefits, the metaverse, with its immersive and 3D capabilities, promises a higher level of communication, enjoyment, entertainment, and self-realization. Unlike NFT games, where people can only play, the metaverse games introduce opportunities for users to play and also to “live” in the virtual world. 

The Future of Metaverse in NFT Gaming 

The play-to-earn model used in NFT games has already trailed the blaze in helping players have access and ownership of gaming products and exclusive in-game content. By introducing the idea of video games and NFTs into the mix, earning metaverse tokens is only likely to increase trade volumes besides boosting interaction among players by including a real-world-like gaming experience. It is, therefore, safe to state that metaverse is expected to transform the blockchain gaming experience when you consider the following factors: 

  1. Metaverse is becoming a mainstream subject: Since Facebook rebranded to Meta, metaverse has become a buzzword, and discussions around the space have boosted the awareness and popularity of VR gaming.  
  2. More money is pouring into the space: Apart from Meta, which invested $10 billion, other big tech firms like Microsoft and others have poured more money into Metaverse development. 
  3. Metaverse virtual worlds: Metaverse virtual worlds are already receiving formidable mentions whenever the existing metaverse blockchain games and NFT games get mentioned concerning future gaming trends. Players enjoy the immersive experience of the three-dimensional virtual worlds and the additional prospects of socializing and creating virtual art.  
  4. Metaverse entertainment: The metaverse’s interactive nature has already made it a good candidate for entertainment activities, with people celebrating events like concerts, weddings, and cultural festivals virtually. 

Conclusion 

The future of the metaverse in the gaming space has shown the potential to go beyond the scope of relaxation, entertainment, and opportunities for virtual collaboration to include video games using the play-to-earn concept. Moreover, extending the game paradigm to include NFT and metaverse features that enable players to recognize distinct player identities makes the metaverse game-changer even greater. Since NFTs will continue to serve access tokens in gaming, the sky’s the limit for NFT game development for the metaverse. 

Posterplan Ireland and Mindshare team up for Lynx Africa campaign

Out of Home (OOH) media specialist Posterplan has joined forces with Mindshare and Unilever to elevate Lynx Africa to “GOAT” status.

Having sold over 400 million units of Lynx Africa to date and being sprayed over 21.5m times every week, Posterplan and Mindshare worked closely with Unilever to truly cement Lynx Africa’s well-earned “greatest of all time” (GOAT) status.

The out of home campaign launched on the 8th of May and is running until the end of June with multiple bursts. The campaign follows Lynx’s newly unveiled limited-edition packaging for its iconic Lynx Africa variant and it will be seen on high-impact unmissable formats across Ireland. As the key insight was to maintain relevancy amongst younger consumers, we placed the campaign in key areas that indexed highly with our audience. To build brand fame, premium placements including a takeover of Micromedia’s Camden Corner also plays a key role in the campaign. The takeover is comprised of both classic and digital elements – a large banner that wraps the top of the building and a digital billboard at consumers eye-level driving engagement. The campaign was further supported by other cover and frequency driving formats.

Susan Murtagh, Account Director at Posterplan Ireland, said: Posterplan is delighted to team up with Mindshare & Unilever to promote the nation’s number-one male fragrance. As the brands main objective was to continue evolving in line with the younger age cohorts and recruit the next generation of shoppers, we created an OOH campaign that identified and targeted key areas that were popular with the next generation – driving brand fame and impact.

David Duffy, Account Director at Mindshare, said: “We’re excited to see Lynx Africa’s ‘GOAT’ campaign come to life across the nation. With the experience and expertise of Posterplan we’ve put together an unmissable campaign utilising multiple stand out formats. We’re particularly keen to see the bespoke high impact Camden curve format, which is sure to grab attention and re-enforce Lynx Africa’s ‘GOAT’ status”.

Jenny King, Marketing Manager, Lynx, says: “As the nation’s number one male fragrance, we’ve elevated Lynx Africa to G.O.A.T. status. We’re continuing to evolve the brand in line with Gen Z’s values, interests, and aspirations to recruit the next generation of shoppers by getting closer than ever to their world. Optimising our OOH plans is crucial for Lynx so that we continue to maintain relevancy amongst younger consumers.”

Digital Visibility Unleashed: Why You Need to Harness the Power of SEO

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, where every business is vying for online attention, it’s crucial to harness the power of search engine optimization (SEO) to stay ahead of the competition. With billions of searches happening on search engines like Google every day, imagine the tremendous potential of directing even a fraction of those searches toward your website. 

SEO acts as a powerful driving force that not only boosts your online visibility but also helps you connect with your target audience, increase brand awareness, and ultimately drive more conversions. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or a budding entrepreneur, understanding and implementing SEO strategies is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. Here’s why you need to harness the power of SEO.

Increased Online Visibility

In an increasingly crowded online marketplace, gaining visibility is the first step toward achieving digital success. This is where the power of SEO truly shines. By optimizing your website and content with relevant keywords, meta tags, and backlinks, you can propel your online presence to new heights. 

With effective SEO techniques, search engines recognize your website as a valuable resource and rank it higher in search results. As a result, more potential customers can discover your business, leading to increased website traffic and brand exposure. However, you will need a reliable team to work with to optimize your website with SEO. For instance, SEO in Brisbane experts will offer dedicated SEO strategies to generate more organic traffic to your website, improving its visibility. By harnessing the power of SEO, you can ensure that your business stands out in the digital realm and reaches the right audience at the right time.

Organic Traffic Generation

SEO plays a pivotal role in generating organic traffic by improving your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) without relying on paid advertisements. By optimizing your website’s structure, content, and user experience, SEO helps search engines understand and prioritize your web pages, leading to higher rankings. As your website climbs the ranks, it attracts more organic traffic from users actively searching for products or services like yours. 

Organic traffic brings targeted visitors who are more likely to engage with your content, convert into customers, and become loyal brand advocates. Harnessing the power of SEO ensures a steady stream of qualified organic traffic that can fuel your business’s growth and maximize its online potential.

Competitive Edge

SEO provides a powerful tool to outshine your competitors and establish your brand as an industry leader. By implementing effective SEO strategies, you can enhance your website’s visibility, attract more qualified leads, and surpass your competitors in search engine rankings. A higher ranking not only increases your brand’s credibility but also creates a perception of authority and expertise in the eyes of potential customers. 

Moreover, by optimizing your website’s user experience, load speed, and mobile-friendliness, you can provide a seamless browsing experience that sets you apart from competitors. With SEO as your secret weapon, you can stay ahead of the game, capture your target audience’s attention, and achieve unparalleled success in your industry.

Cost-Effective Marketing

In an era where marketing budgets can quickly spiral out of control, cost-effectiveness is a crucial consideration for businesses of all sizes. This is where SEO shines as a remarkably efficient and budget-friendly marketing strategy. 

Unlike traditional advertising methods that often require hefty investments, SEO offers a cost-effective approach that delivers long-term results. By optimizing your website’s content, structure, and keywords, you can attract organic traffic without paying for each click or impression. 

Additionally, SEO allows you to target specific keywords and demographics, ensuring that your marketing efforts are focused and yield higher conversion rates. With its low cost and high ROI potential, harnessing the power of SEO enables businesses to maximize their marketing budget and achieve sustainable growth without breaking the bank.

Improved User Experience

SEO goes hand in hand with enhancing user experience on your website. By optimizing your site’s load speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall usability, you create a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience for your visitors. A well-structured website with intuitive navigation and relevant, high-quality content keeps users engaged, reduces bounce rates, and increases the likelihood of conversions. 

Search engines prioritize user-friendly websites in their rankings, so implementing SEO best practices not only boosts your visibility but also improves user satisfaction. By harnessing the power of SEO, you can create a positive first impression, build trust with your audience, and ensure that users keep coming back for more.

Building Credibility and Trust

In an online world filled with scams and unreliable information, building credibility and trust is crucial for businesses. SEO plays a significant role in establishing your brand as a trustworthy and authoritative source. By consistently appearing at the top of search engine results, users perceive your website as reputable and trustworthy. Effective SEO strategies, such as creating valuable and informative content, earning high-quality backlinks, and optimizing user experience, instill confidence in your audience. 

Furthermore, positive user experiences, low bounce rates, and high engagement metrics signal to search engines that your website offers value, further enhancing your credibility. By harnessing the power of SEO, you can position your brand as a reliable industry leader, garner trust from your target audience, and cultivate long-lasting relationships with customers.

Long-Term Results

In a world where instant gratification often takes precedence, it’s important to recognize the long-term benefits that SEO brings to your business. Unlike temporary marketing campaigns that yield short-lived results, SEO is a strategy that delivers sustainable and lasting outcomes. By consistently optimizing your website, creating valuable content, and earning reputable backlinks, you lay the foundation for continuous organic traffic and improved search rankings. 

While SEO requires time and effort to achieve desired results, the long-term impact is invaluable. Once your website gains authority and visibility, it becomes a valuable asset that generates ongoing organic traffic, leads, and conversions. Embracing the power of SEO ensures that your business thrives in the digital landscape for years to come.

In a digital world where competition is fierce and online visibility is essential, harnessing the power of SEO is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for businesses of all sizes. From increased online visibility and organic traffic generation to gaining a competitive edge and building credibility, SEO offers a multitude of benefits. Moreover, its cost-effectiveness and ability to provide long-term results make it a wise investment. By embracing SEO, you can propel your business to new heights, connect with your target audience, and pave the way for sustainable success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

AlphaTheta Corporation announces the release of rekordbox for iOS and Android ver. 4.0. 

AlphaTheta Corporation announces the release of rekordbox for iOS and Android ver. 4.0.  

rekordbox is a DJ application trusted by countless professional DJs around the world, and this major update to  the mobile app enables you to start DJing with just an iPhone or iPad.  

Download rekordbox for iOS or Android ver. 4.0 and you can start mixing music from various sources, including streaming  services such as SoundCloud and TIDAL (subscriptions available separately).  

Get started on the rekordbox mobile app for free, even if you haven’t DJed before. Then, when you want to take  things further and play more professionally, you can connect gear such as the DDJ-FLX4 – the definitive DJ  controller for beginners – to get the most from the rekordbox mobile app. 

However you choose to use the rekordbox mobile app – with your iPhone, iPad, or connected DJ hardware – you  can be sure the features and effects in the app will create high-quality sounds in your sets. And once you’ve  mastered the basics of mixing, you might choose to take out an in-app subscription which enables a host of more  advanced performance features and effects.  

You can find out more about rekordbox for iOS and Android ver. 4.0 here or download it from the App Store or Google Play. The app is free to  use, with an option to take out an in-app subscription that enables more features.  

In-app subscriptions are required for additional features, even if you subscribe to a plan from rekordbox.com 

KEY FEATURES  

DJ for free with only a smartphone 

Simply download rekordbox for iOS or Android ver. 4.0 to your smartphone for free and you can start DJing. Prepare your  playlists in Portrait mode, then turn the screen to enter Landscape mode and use the controls on the virtual decks  to mix, scratch, and add effects to the music. 

Seamless integration with the DDJ-FLX4  

The DDJ-FLX4 combines with the rekordbox mobile app to make the perfect setup for beginner DJs and those  who’ve experimented with mixing and want to take it to the next level. You can connect the DDJ-FLX4 to your  mobile device via a USB cable or Bluetooth®/MD so you can practice at home, play for friends at parties, and  share your mixes on streams and social networks. 

Support for various streaming services  

Link the mobile app with your accounts for streaming services from SoundCloud and TIDAL (subscriptions  required) to directly browse their catalogs and mix and scratch tracks from your playlists along with music stored  on your device.  

Compatible with pro DJ gear and cloud connectivity 

When you’re ready to step up, you can connect your iPhone/iPad to professional equipment such as the CDJ 3000, XDJ-RX3, or XDJ-XZ, then use the hardware to play the tracks saved in the rekordbox mobile app. Plus,  you can sync up to 10 tracks with your cloud-based rekordbox library for free with Cloud Library Sync.^ This  feature is invaluable if you want to use one rekordbox library across different devices, enabling a seamless DJ  workflow. For example, you might use your PC/Mac to prepare tracks and playlists, then use your phone to play a  gig.  

Reliable performance, trusted by professional DJs 

The rekordbox brand is trusted by professional DJs around the world. All scratching and effects sounds, as well  as app performance, are accurate and high quality. If you take out the mobile in-app rekordbox subscription, you  can get your hands on even more advanced functions, effects, and customization options – the same features  used by the pros. 

^By subscribing to Creative and Professional rekordbox plans, you can enjoy unlimited use of Cloud Library Sync. 

Visit the official rekordbox website for the software’s specifications: rekordbox.com 

CWSI named Company of the Year at the Tech Excellence Awards 2023

CWSI, Ireland’s most experienced mobile and cloud security specialist, today announces that it has been named Company of the Year at the 2023 Tech Excellence Awards. The awards, which are the premier awards for the technology industry in Ireland, have been running for more than two decades and recognise excellence in the design, implementation and support of technology solutions and services in Ireland.

CWSI received the award during a black-tie ceremony at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire, in front of over 450 attendees. It was recognised for its impressive growth and expansion across Ireland, the UK and increasingly in mainland Europe. Over the past year, CWSI received significant new investment to fund ambitious growth plans to make strategic acquisitions, launch innovative new services and increase headcount including senior business leaders joining the team.

Having secured the funding, CWSI proceeded to acquire two companies in mainland Europe in quick succession. It acquired BLAUD, a Dutch mobility and security specialist based in Utrecht and mobco, a modern workplace and mobility specialist based in Belgium and Luxembourg. Both companies have been successfully integrated into the CWSI group.

These acquisitions served to further accelerate CWSI’s growth. In 2022, CWSI services reached 500,000 active end-users, and it plans to double this to 1 million by 2025 through its enhanced service proposition, expertise and geographical reach.

In addition to its Company of the Year award, CWSI was also shortlisted alongside eir evo for Public Sector Project of the Year for their work together on securely mobilising An Garda Siochana.

Ronan Murphy, CEO and co-founder, CWSI, said: “We are so proud to have been named 2023 Company of the Year at the highly prestigious Tech Excellence Awards. The past year has been hugely successful as we grew from strength to strength with the addition of so many new customers, team members and of course BLAUD and mobco bolstering our European presence. We remain a very ambitious company with continued growth plans and we’re very excited for the future.”

Skillnet Ireland Announces the launch of IRDG Innovation Skillnet in collaboration with IRDG

Skillnet Ireland, the national talent development agency, and IRDG, Ireland’s business-led innovation network representing companies working together to achieve excellence in innovation, today announce a new partnership which will empower businesses to succeed through innovation with world-class skills training.

Since 1992, IRDG has identified and pioneered key areas of innovation skills training for industry in Ireland including Design Thinking, Lean Product Development, Applying Technological Innovation (5G, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, IoT) as well as Innovation Strategy and Management.  Businesses that are members of the IRDG Innovation Skillnet Business Network, will have access to ways of upskilling their workforce within these areas as well as other relevant elements of industry innovation.

Commenting on the new initiative, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, said: “IRDG Innovation Skillnet’s mission is to raise the level of technical education in innovation, to develop and to deliver world-class training for existing and emerging leaders. It will support the adoption of ISO innovation management frameworks within businesses across the country to redefine effective innovation practices and equip industries with the skills to continually renew their business in a world of permanent change and flux.”

Dave Flynn, Director of Business Networks, Skillnet Ireland, said: “Strengthening our innovation capabilities is crucial for maintaining our competitive edge in an increasingly lean, green, and digital landscape. We are pleased to partner with IRDG on this national imperative in this, the EU Year of Skills,”

Dermot Casey, CEO of IRDG, added: “We will help organisations establish the leadership, internal culture and support required to successfully make innovation an ongoing activity that produces results – rather than leaving it to pockets of work or to chance inspiration. Globally we expect we’ll see an emerging profession of Innovation Management over the next decade and through the IRDG Innovation Skillnet and we look forward to being at the forefront of that progression.”

The IRDG Innovation Skillnet will work with businesses to;

  • Develop world-class innovation capabilities and resilience to change

  • Deliver innovation strategies effectively and create cultures of innovation

  • Navigate uncertainty and reduce the risk involved in innovation

  • Rise to the challenges of digitalisation and sustainability

Ireland’s Tech Sector is Leading One of the World’s Biggest Industries

The Irish tech sector may not get the attention it deserves when it’s compared to Silicon Valley or London, but it’s more than a match for even these two hubs in certain areas. One area where Ireland has led the way for a few years now is gaming and, specifically, casino gaming. Thanks to major players in the industry calling Ireland home, many of the casino world’s best innovations emanate from our shores.

The best example of this is Flutter Entertainment. Based in Dublin’s Belfield Office Park, Flutter is among the largest online gambling companies in the world with a value of more than €30 billion. The company made Dublin its international headquarters in February 2022. The decision was prompted, in part, by the fact it owns one of Ireland’s biggest gambling exports, Paddy Power, and its sister site, Betfair.

Merger Makes Flutter a Gambling Powerhouse

Paddy Power and Betfair merged in 2015 to create Paddy Power Betfair. Many acquisitions later, including a takeover of The Stars Group, facilitated the switch to Flutter Entertainment. Under this banner, these sites, most notably Betfair, have become places where customers can find the best casino promotions in the UK. From free spin welcome bonuses to daily cash drops, Betfair and its stablemates have become synonymous with value and entertainment.

However, as we’ve said, they’ve also become tech hubs under the Flutter Entertainment banner. Go to the live casino lobby, for example, and you’ll find branded tables overseen by human dealers. These live dealer tables not only offer classic casino games such as blackjack and roulette, but they also feature game show-style offerings like Spin A Win.

Yes, these games were designed by Playtech and Evolution Gaming. However, the branded games have been developed in collaboration with Flutter Entertainment. Moreover, Flutter has given these games a place to sit and, in turn, where they can be accessed by millions of customers. Sticking with gaming, you’ll notice that Flutter-owned casinos also have daily jackpots. These progressive prize pools are designed to drop prizes at random intervals. This innovation has since been copied by other online casinos.

Innovations in All Areas

Gaming isn’t the only area where Flutter has changed the game. For example, Paddy Power Sports pioneered one-touch live bets to reduce the time it takes customers to lock in wagers. This innovation basically removed the confirmation process, so the bet could be locked in with a single tap. Another innovation from Paddy Power was Track My Bet, a system that allows customers to monitor wagers made inside betting shops via their computer or mobile. It’s not just online gambling butone of the world’s biggest industries worth more than €100 billion where Flutter has pushed the envelope.

Its headquarters in Dublin was given a €15.5 million makeover ahead of becoming the company’s international nerve centre. As well as housing 1,700 employees, the 164,000 sq. ft building has an onsite convenience store run by artificial intelligence technology. Add to this, leisure spaces and a live roof that’s home to three beehives, and Flutter’s HQ is as innovative as the gambling products it produces. For Ireland, that’s good news. With companies such as Flutter Entertainment leading the way, the local tech sector is gaining worldwide acclaim, and rightly so.

 

Why TV production companies need to keep their eye on the dollar

You might imagine that the world of TV and film production is a million miles away from international exchange rates. When you picture a TV production company, you immediately think of creativity, comedy, and pitch meetings around a large table with takeout food and long hours. It’s certainly a long way from the cliched suited and booted traders working the stock and currency markets.

What you may not realise though is that production companies care a lot more about exchange rates, particularly the strength of the dollar, than you might think.

Let’s think in the most candid terms. TV and film production comes down to money. As much as we like to think it’s about the creative idea, it’s ultimately about funding and production costs. If there isn’t the money or a project is too expensive it’s simply not going to get made.

It’s vital that production companies take into account all the economic factors that can impact their costs and profitability. TradingView’s DXY chart is a valuable tool for keeping an eye on the dollar rate compared with some of the most important currencies in the world.

How exactly does the strength of the dollar impact production companies and how they make their money? The first way that it can play a role is via investment, as this tends to fall when the economy is unstable. This is due to the increased levels of uncertainty around what the immediate future holds, causing more risk to investors. 

You need to consider where the investment is coming from. If a foreign investor is looking to put money into a US-based production company for example, the strength of a dollar against the investor’s home currency is going to determine how much the investment is worth. The dollar has been performing well over the last 12 months as the Federal Reserve increases interest rates to tackle inflation, but as other countries catch up with rate rises, this could level the playing field.

If the production company makes money through subscriptions, the value of these vary too depending on the strength of the dollar. Take for example a US-based company using a subscription fee model, charging a monthly fee of €9.99 to Irish customers. If the value of the dollar increases by 10%, the value of those subscriptions falls too. Add in the fact that US cable subscriptions in the first quarter of 2023 fell to their lowest levels since 1992 and you can see why income might feel unpredictable.

The good news is that this works both ways – a stronger dollar means goods and services from abroad become cheaper, as you have more buying power for your money. 

This could definitely be a good thing if you’re a production company based in Ireland and looking to sell TV programmes or films into the US, as it makes your prices more competitive compared to your American counterparts. 

Wherever you’re based as a production company, you can see why it’s so vital to have an understanding of how the dollar is fluctuating both now and in the medium term.

Your business really does depend on it.

The Best Fight Game Franchises

Fighting games were one of the first video game genres to hit the arcade. The genre was so successful, that it is even going strong today. Most new gamers are drawn to the genre because of how easy the concept is to get your head around. Two players face off, and the last one standing is declared the winner. However, a series of unique moves and multipliers make it a great game for experts to master. Therefore, a lot of fighting games last longer in players’ hands than most people would expect.

That is one of the reasons why the fighting game genre has lasted for so long. However, a video game genre won’t grab the attention without some characters for people to gravitate towards. As such, there have been plenty of fighting game franchises throughout the years. But which are the best?

Street Fighter

The arcades were doing well in the mid-80s; however, a new game was about to enter the circuit that would change things forever. While some fighting games like Heavyweight Champ and Karate Champ had started the fighting game genre, many would argue that it was the arrival of the first Streetfighter game in 1987 that truly perfected it.

Released by Capcom, this new game saw players progress through highly stylized worlds with some weird characters that all had their own unique moves and personalities. Players could use the karate champ, Ryu, or the big electric monster, Blanka, to eventually take out the cruel dictator known as M. Bison. The personality and character designs were enough to catch the imaginations of young kids, but the gameplay was the first real display of the easy-to-play yet difficult-to-master ethos that has defined the fighting game genre. The success of Street Fighter 2 on home consoles is also responsible for catapulting Street Fighter into the mainstream as one of the best video game franchises ever.

Mortal Kombat

If Street Fighter is the family-friendly fighter that anyone of any age can play, then Mortal Kombat is the edgy older brother in the fighting game genre. Released in 1992 by Midway, the first Mortal Kombat gripped arcade gamers with its gritty visuals and violent gameplay. It seems strange now, but video game violence wasn’t a thing that was discussed until this game came out.

While Street Fighter established the fighting game formula, Mortal Kombat perfected it. The moves were harder to pull off, the characters were meaner, and the brutal fatality moves that ended each fight were so gruesome that many parents banned their kids from the arcade so that they weren’t exposed to such violence. In fact, it is this reputation for gore and chaos that has kept the franchise going to this day. The franchise is so big that it has even supported an ongoing film franchise.

Injustice

After the Mortal Kombat games expanded into the realm of franchise crossover when they collided with the DC Universe in Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe in 2008, fans were left clamoring for more fighting game action from some of the DC superheroes. Fans loved pitting characters like Scorpion and Sonya Blade against the Joker, but everyone knows that Batman should always be the one fighting his arch-nemesis. As such, Injustice: Gods Among Us was born.

Accompanied by a tie-in comic book series, the Injustice games took some of the more serious aspects of the Mortal Kombat series and put them through the DC Comics lenses. With a lot of the brutality and gore toned down, players could take control of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, or The Flash to enjoy some of the best fighting moves that players had seen in decades. While there have only been two games in the series so far, the DC franchise isn’t going away any time soon. This leaves the Injustice games as a very promising well for developers to return to.

Marvel Vs Capcom

Of course, the pairing of DC and the Mortal Kombat franchise was done in response to the success that Marvel and Capcom had when they first joined forces in 1998. It was almost as inevitable a Pdftools becoming one of the industry-leading PDF services. The first game in this franchise was first sent to arcades, and both entertainment companies have gone from strength to strength ever since.

The Marvel Vs Capcom games take everything about the family-friendly edge of the Marvel Comics and original Street Fighter Games and slam them together. All the games in this series have a classic arcade aesthetic, with players being able to use household names as fighters, such as Spiderman, Captain America, Mega-Man, and the aforementioned Ryu. Again, this is a franchise that fans of either title company can just pick up and play.

Tekken

Almost everything in the 90s had to have a streetwise edge to it, even the newest fighting games. As such, the first Tekken game was released in arcades in 1994 but was quickly ported to the PS1. Soon after. This console launch made Tekken the coolest and most up-to-date video game franchise in people’s eyes. Couple this with a flair for the intense and a killer soundtrack, and Tekken quickly found a niche in the genre.

The characters in the game were made up of break dancers, martial artists, and tiger-headed thugs, with each one moving to reflect their design and background. This development made the special moves in Tekken feel much more fluid and impressive than in older titles. Also, the distinct style allowed the series to deviate from the established fighting game formula in games such as Tekken Tag and Tekken Revolution. The franchise is so successful, in fact, that Capcom felt it necessary to release Street Fighter X Tekken in 2012. 

Conclusion

The best fighting game genres are all up for debate, of course. However, if you were to ask a group of individual gamers about their favourite fighting game, you can almost guarantee that their answer would contain a game from one of the franchises mentioned above.