Finalists announced for inaugural Business & Finance ESG Awards

The finalists for the 2022 Business & Finance ESG Awards have been announced today, with companies from all across the country vying for coveted titles. The winners will be revealed at a black tie gala luncheon at 12 noon on Thursday, June 30th, at The Round Room in the Mansion House, Dublin. Attracting more than 100 entries from 80+ companies nationwide, the ESG Awards aim to recognise and celebrate individuals and groups who are actively striving to address environmental, social and governance issues.

In the light of growing climate change concerns and the increasing importance of sustainability, more and more businesses are recognising the need to adopt ESG into their company’s DNA. As such, the ESG Awards are intended to commend and encourage this trend by recognising the organisations and individuals who are excelling in their efforts and setting the standards for ESG excellence.

Nominations were invited across 15 categories, with Biodiversity Initiative; Diversity, Equality & Inclusion; Social Responsibility Project; and Circular Economy, proving most popular, attracting more than double the average submissions. This reflects the increasing interest in practical applications of ESG through biodiversity and circular economy initiatives, as well as social impact and HR driven projects for company employees.

The finalists for the inaugural ESG Awards are as follows:

  • ESG Company Award (Enterprise): AIB Group plc, Dole plc, SSE Airtricity, Wisetek, Ryanair

  • ESG Company Award (SME): Mobility Mojo, Foxford, Irish Residential Properties REIT Plc, Repak, SIRO, Speed Fibre Group

  • ESG Company Award (Startup): Coopman Search & Selection, Ethico, Sustainable PR, Sustainability Works

  • Sustainable Supply Chain Award: Bus Éireann, Dairygold Co-operative Society Ltd, Wisetek

  • Biodiversity Initiative Award: Carbery, Hanley Energy, Host in Ireland, Intel, Nature Partners (The Nature Trust), Keelings

  • Net Zero Carbon Award: Aviva, ABP Food, Arthur Cox, Fujitsu, Schneider Electric

  • Energy Efficiency Initiative Award: Dairygold Co-operative Society Ltd, Dole plc, E. Flahavan & Sons Ltd, Schneider Electric Ireland Limited

  • Circular Economy Award: BiaSol, VivaGreen Group, Portwest, Refurbed, Spotlight Oral Care, Wisetek

  • ESG Finance Award: AIB Group plc, Initiative Ireland, Sustainability Works, Vivid Edge

  • ESG Investment Award: AIB Group plc, Aviva, Ethico, Mercer, VentureWave Capital Limited

  • Diversity & Inclusion Initiative: Cpl Group, Mobility Mojo, SIRO, William Fry, Woodie’s, Version 1

  • Social Responsibility Project: Allergy Standards, Arthur Cox, Dalata Hotel Group Plc, Marino Software, Fujitsu, TELUS International Ireland

  • Employee Experience Award: Bord na Móna, GIY Ireland, Woodie’s, SIRO, Version, Woodie’s

  • Good Governance Award: AIB Group plc, Ballyhoura Development CLG, Dole plc, Mobility Mojo, Future Planet, Speed Fibre Group

The judging panel – who had a tough task to whittle entries down to just a handful in each category – includes notable business leaders such as Faye Walsh Droillard, Founder of Wake Up Capital; Kathy Ryan, Head of Responsible Investment at Irish Life Investment; Margot Slattery, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at ISS; and Anne Heraty, Non-Executive Director for Cpl. In addition to the 15 categories, the judges were also tasked with selecting the Overall ESG Company (Grand Prix Award) and the ESG Leader Award, neither of which were open for submissions. The winners in these extra categories will also be presented at the awards ceremony.

Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony, Ian Hyland, owner and publisher of Business & Finance, said the best of the best will be recognised at the event:

“The growing impetus to ensure ESG standards are met by companies has introduced a whole new range of technology solutions, ideas and products that are changing the way we do business. The Business & Finance ESG Awards was established to honour those who are setting the standards for ESG excellence. We had some really fantastic entries and all finalists deserve our congratulations in reaching this stage. We are looking forward to celebrating their success at the gala luncheon on June 30th.”

Tesco Artane Welcomes All-New Tesco Mobile Offering

Tesco Mobile, Ireland’s largest virtual network operator, is expanding in response to customer demand with the latest of its new Tesco Mobile areas now open in Tesco Artane Castle.

Bringing the best of Tesco to mobile, it’s never been easier for savvy local shoppers to connect with trolley loads of perks, great value price plans and deals on all the leading brands. With over 400,000 Tesco Mobile customers across Ireland already enjoying 99% network coverage, this is supermarket mobile.

This new Tesco Mobile fixture in Artane will increase the total number of Tesco Mobile concessions in Ireland to 41, with this latest announcement following the opening of new Mobile areas in Killarney Park, Oranmore, Longford and Cabra Tesco stores, with plans to introduce a dedicated Tesco Mobile phone shop in more Tesco stores over the coming weeks.

The latest Tesco Mobile bill pay offers (running from  2nd – 29th June 2022) include:

  • Samsung Galaxy A33 5G Free on €30 Save €49.99 was €49.99 plus Free Galaxy Fit2*Introducing the Galaxy A33 5G, a do-it-all Galaxy smartphone featuring an Awesome 6.4″ FHD+ Infinity-U display, rear mounted quad camera array with 48MP main shooter and all day 5,000mAh battery. The Galaxy Fit2 is designed with style and comfort in mind whether its tracking your steps are monitoring your sleep patterns.

 

  • Apple iPhone XR Red Free on €30 save €249.99 was €249.99A sleek and bold smartphone that has that all-important all-screen design. Both water and splash resistant, the iPhone XR Red has 64GB of memory to ensure you’re always ready for adventure. The iPhone XR Red produces studio-quality photos and stunning 4K video; perfect for a photoshoot with friends or capturing important family moments.

Tesco Mobile pay as you go offers (running from 21st April – 15th June 2022) include:

  • Samsung Galaxy A03 Was €179.99 Now €139.99 Save €40: The Samsung Galaxy A03 is a game-changer with a 6.5-inch Infinity-V Display and HD+ technology, content looks sharp and crisp. The Samsung Galaxy A03 is super comfortable to hold with it’s curved design and has a screen that is easy to navigate. Then Samsung Galaxy A03 features a 48MP Main Camera for amazing photos and has a wide range of photo editing features to get the perfect snap.

  • Samsung Galaxy A13 €159.99 Save €40.00 was €199.99: Featuring a beautiful 6.6″ FHD+ display with 8MP selfie camera, the Galaxy A13 has it all; from a colossal 5,000mAh all-day battery to a rear quad camera array with 50MP main shooter supported by 5MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth and 2MP Macro sensors. All of that, plus an awesome battery that lasts two days.

Whether it’s the chance to switch or upgrade your phone with an unbeatable bill pay plan for less, the freedom and flexibility to prepay for what you want when you want it, or a sim only offer that rewards you with savings on your monthly bill, there’s something for everyone available in-store, with a dedicated team of Tesco Mobile experts on hand to help you make the right choice for you.

Commenting on the announcement Geoff Byrne, Chief Operating Officer at Tesco Ireland said “We’re delighted to bring Supermarket Mobile to Artane in the form of a dedicated Tesco Mobile phone shop within the Tesco store. We know the network is popular amongst our customers here, so we’re pleased to give them the chance to engage face-to-face with our Mobile colleagues and better understand the offers that are right for them and their family.

 “The shopping experience of our customer is central to all we do, with supermarket mobile it’s about adding value to our daily connections and making leading brands available for less, as well as Clubcard benefits.”

Not only does supermarket mobile believe in convenience, it’s also big on savings with Tesco Mobile customers who register their Clubcard to their Tesco Mobile account are rewarded with double Clubcard points every time they pay their monthly bill or top-up, with the chance to turn €5 in Clubcard vouchers into €15 to pay their monthly bill or to buy top-up, because every little helps.

In line with Tesco’s sustainability strategy, the store features the latest in technology to continue the brand’s ambition to achieve net zero in its own operations by 2035. Designed to reflect carbon efficiencies, receiving an A energy rating due to the inclusion of the latest in LED lighting, the store is also fully powered and heated by energy-efficient technology.

To see a full list of Tesco Mobile locations, visit www.tescomobile.ie.

The number of 5G ready phones grew by 60% in 2021

The number of 5G ready phones is growing rapidly. According to a MoneyTransfers analysis, they grew from 251 to 401 in 2021. That represented a 60% jump. However in Ireland 5G has been a failure with little uptake despite the premium rates been dropped and as a 5G customer myself I find it a waste of money and hardly have a 5G signal.

Jonathan Merry, MoneyTransfers’ CEO, has shared his thoughts on the findings. He said, “We expect the number of 5G ready phones to grow over the coming months. Companies are either releasing or announcing the production of new models. Besides, the technology behind these devices has improved since their initial release. So it’s no surprise that sales are rising rapidly.”

Why 5G?

The ballooning internet traffic is fuelling the demand for enhanced data transmission capacities. 5G tech betters 4G/LTE data transmission by up to 20 times. It’ll also increase the connection density by 10X that of the current tech.

That’ll support nearly a million connections per square kilometer.

Moreover, the tech eases HD media streaming in overpopulated or poorly covered areas. Again, it’ll facilitate the integrated management of a myriad of devices. Further, it’ll lower battery usage, cost, and battery consumption.

Other areas that’ll benefit from the technology include machine learning and the internet of things. These two have wide applications in our lives. In America alone, 5G tech is expected to impact the economy by nearly $484B.

Who’s leading in 5G adoption?

According to a Viavi solutions study, about 2,000 cities in 72 nations have 5G connectivity. China leads ten other nations with the most 5G ready sites. So you can enjoy the technology in up to 356 cities in the country.

The U.S comes in second with 296 cities, and the Philippines rounds off the top three. Here you can enjoy the technology in 98 of her cities.

Read the full story here: The number of 5G ready phones grew by 60% in 2021

Lero researchers and Irish start-up on a mission to eliminate 1.35 million road crash deaths using AI and robotic technologies

Researchers at Lero, Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, are teaming up with automotive perception company Provizio to develop artificial intelligence tools to end traffic accidents on the world’s roads which result in 1.35 million deaths annually.

Provizio founder and CEO Barry Lunn said the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that annually, more than 1.35 million die in road traffic accidents, with more than 50 million people maimed, and the cost to the global economy is estimated to be just shy of €2 trillion annually.

“Preventable human error has a role in more than 90% of road accidents. The numbers have not changed for more than 20 years. Unless we initiate change, this worldwide problem will continue unabated. We started Provizio to solve this problem firstly, and then we will pave a path to safe, sustainable and ubiquitous autonomy. With the right focus, we believe that robotics and drivers can work together to reduce both road deaths and accidents to zero – 1.35 million to zero drives everything we do,” he said.

Lero researchers Dr Ciarán Eising and Dr Pepijn Van de Ven, in association with Provizio, will focus on the fusion of data from onboard cameras and radar sensors to help eliminate traffic accidents for all drivers – human and robotic.

Every decision to move that an autonomous car makes, based on its sensor inputs, is potentially a life or death one. The time-critical nature of the car’s operation means that only the car can make these decisions safely and reliably.

“A critical challenge to the successful deployment of autonomous vehicles is the difficulty the vehicle has in viewing and understanding the environment in which it must safely operate and understanding its location within that environment,” explains Dr Eising

Dr Van de Ven said they would be working with Provizio to deploy the technology on Provizio test vehicles and make developments commercially available to car manufacturers worldwide.

Our researchers will spend time with Provizio on the Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) in Shannon to learn about Provizio’s technology and deploy the technologies developed,” he added.

Provizio founder Barry Lunn said: “We started Provizio to solve the global road death pandemic. For the last 20 years, international regulatory policy has focused on trying to make us better, more responsible drivers. This approach has failed consistently.”

“We are building augmented, guardian angel technology to make us all better and safer drivers. We are using unparalleled ‘beyond-line-of-sight’ sensor technology coupled with artificial intelligence ‘on-the-edge’ to perceive, predict and prevent accidents,” he added.

Sennheiser brings the speed of sound to Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar

Sennheiser and AMG, the high-performance subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG, have entered into a new collaboration that sees the future of driving performance and the future of audio intersect in the new Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar. The AMG ONE will give drivers an authentic Formula 1 racing experience, with stunning MOMENTUM audio quality on the road by legendary audio expert Sennheiser. ​

The two-seat Mercedes-AMG ONE will bring the most modern and efficient Formula 1 hybrid technology almost one-to-one from the racetrack to the road. Combining overwhelming racetrack performance with exemplary efficiency, the AMG ONE will produce more than 1,000 hp, at a breath-taking maximum speed of over 350 km/h.

​To augment the driving experience by enabling a joyful listening experience on the road and attenuate engine sound, the Sennheiser AMBEO Mobility division will provide owners of AMG ONE with optimised, smart-controlled MOMENTUM True Wireless earbuds.

“MOMENTUM True Wireless is the perfect match for a car as powerful as the Mercedes-AMG ONE, as they enable users to enjoy incredible high-fidelity sound even in noisy environments thanks to their advanced Active Noise Cancellation feature. And when greater situational awareness is needed, the Transparent Hearing feature lets the wearer blend in outside ambient sound at a touch” explained Frank Foppe, Sennheiser True Wireless Product Manager.

​Ergonomically designed for the best possible fit and to reduce fatigue, as well as offering up to 28-hours battery life by charging on the go from the supplied case, the earbuds are co-branded with the AMG-Mercedes and Sennheiser names.

At Sennheiser, we love pushing boundaries and setting new standards for the listening experience. And emotion is driven by sound, in both the audio and the automotive worlds. Driving a F1 engine while enjoying premium music quality is the kind of unthinkable user experience that our AMBEO Mobility team is built to address”, added Veronique Larcher, Head of Sennheiser AMBEO Mobility. As sound is one of the most thrilling elements of any high-performance car, the collaboration between Mercedes-AMG and Sennheiser for the AMG ONE came naturally: Both parties are assuring an outstanding experience to fully meet customer’s expectations for premium quality.

​Please find more information about this project here.

Dell introduces new PC repair app with Augmented Reality

Dell Technologies has today unveiled a new app that allows users to replace common parts on selected Dell computers through an Augmented Reality (AR) experience with step-by-step instructions.

With smart phones already ingrained in everyday lives, Dell created a free application available on both IOS and Android that provides a step-by-step augmented reality experience to help customers replace parts on their Dell systems.

Dell’s AR Assistant guides users through servicing and repair procedures for more than 100 Dell PCs and servers in seven different languages. Dell is currently working to add over 20 additional systems by the end of the summer.

The app’s development was fast tracked during the early months of the pandemic when technicians were unable to visit people’s homes. Currently the use of the Dell AR Assistant is dependent on proper diagnosis first, then ordering parts through our technical support team. Dell’s plan is to make parts more readily and easily available for sale online for an even easier customer experience.

Dell provides product manuals and related resources online – and has for well over a decade. This includes downloads for software, drivers, BIOS, firmware, OS and security patches. The Dell AR Assistant is a natural extension of the manuals – in an easy-to-follow, customer-friendly format that can accessed from anywhere. AR Assistant users can see their devices and how to repair them using mixed reality and informational overlays on the machine being repaired, leveraging a smartphone camera. The app also has an augmented clone technology on select systems, which displays a cloned server in any desired space and allows a full 360 degree interaction with amazing realism.

Tara Gale, Client Solutions Country Lead, Dell Technologies Ireland, said: “Repairability continues to be a priority for us at Dell Technologies. As we know users want more control over their devices – including repairs. As a longtime champion of repairability, Dell has changed the game with a first-of-its-kind augmented reality app for IT repairs, the Dell AR Assistant. Our aim is to enable consumers to easily repair devices themselves where they are able to – and ultimately we’re looking to reduce repair time for issues that can be resolved by the users themselves, with a little help from Dell. We are excited to extend repairability to our customers directly and help them extend the life of their systems. Ease of repair is a win for our customers and the environment – and we’re proud to enable the next generation of consumer repairability with the Dell AR Assistant.”

The Dell AR Assistant also upholds Dell’s wide-reaching and longstanding commitment to sustainability. By making parts more accessible, replaceable and reusable, products can exhaust fewer resources and let users keep more circular materials in the economy. This is in line with Dell’s core tenets – repairability and sustainability – which were also reflected in Concept Luna, announced earlier this year.

For more information on the Dell AR assistant, visit Dell’s FAQ or take a look at quick demonstration of how the app works here.

For those not interested in making the repairs themselves, Dell has other repairs options – visit the Dell Tech Support page for more information.

Tech Review – ESR metal kickstand phone case and camera lens protector for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Need to spruce up and protect your Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra well a company called ESR has some ideas which does just that, cases for the S22 ultra are not hard to find however lens protectors is a newish thing these days and something you do need to look into, I found out the hard way with my iPhone 13 pro earlier this year and had to fork out a pretty penny to get one of the lenses repaired which cracked somehow and with the phones out now today with huge humps on the rear or lenses simply not protected perhaps now is time more should look into offering lens protection.

The case first of all is simple and clean and offers full protection of the device front and rear, this does also work when the lens protectors are fitted so there is no worry here thinking the case won’t fit of you get both. The case also comes with a metal kickstand and it is not plastic in which many cases with a kickstand are so there is a better offering here straight away, all ports are available as expected and it does work with wireless chargers too, you have no need to remove the case from your phone and enjoy media both horizontally and vertically. There is a lip on the front which enables you to leave your phone face down, the keys work well too with nice travel and function well all the time. You also get additional grip with the case which is helpful and you should check these new Samsung phone cases for sale.

The lense protectors are great and an easy install to with how this was presented it looks like the whole camera hump was removed in the pack and you simply sit on top of the existing set up on your phone and apply some pressure and peel off and that is it, for a first time install myself it was nice to see and I would recommend anyone that has phones that have a similar lens setup to invest in this product.

Check out the video for more.

Buy

Metal kickstand case             Lens protector

https://amzn.to/39q0RHF https://amzn.to/3No0vQF

Video review

 

OFX announces the establishment of its European HQ in Dublin with 15 jobs

International money transfer and foreign exchange services provider OFX has announced the establishment of OFX Payments Ireland Limited as its European HQ in Dublin. The announcement comes as the company is targeting Ireland and the EU as growth markets for its business. OFX recently announced Maeve McMahon as its CEO and growth leader for the region.

OFX expects to create an additional 15 jobs at the Dublin base to manage its European operations. The Irish based operation will include compliance, risk, finance, operations, and sales. Following the successful migration of the European business from the UK entity post Central Bank of Ireland authorisation, the Irish operation will be responsible for managing the European portfolio.

OFX offers an innovative and competitive alternative to banks for businesses who trade across borders and to consumers who send money overseas. The establishment of the European HQ in Dublin comes at a time when other financial organisations are leaving the market and customers are seeking alternative service providers.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the company has eight offices across the world with more than 650 staff. OFX helps businesses and consumers make international money transfers at great rates in over 50 currencies, across 170 countries. Through its ‘digital + human’ business model, OFX complements its simple, self-service online platform with 24/7 localised customer support. Customers can speak to staff (called OFXperts) anytime, day or night. OFX also specialises in currency risk management for SMEs who trade overseas, helping businesses to protect themselves from the risk associated with volatile currency markets.

The Irish operation, OFX Payments Ireland Limited, is a wholly owned subsidiary of OFX Group Limited and is located at Fitzwilliam Court, 2 Leeson Close, Dublin 2, D02 YW24, Ireland. A team of key senior personnel have already been hired including the CEO, Head of Risk and Compliance, Compliance Associate, Head of Finance and Operations, a Finance and Operations Manager and several Business Development Managers and Executives.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Seán Fleming TD, said “I’m delighted that OFX has chosen Ireland as its location for its European Headquarters. These new positions are particularly welcome as the Government seeks to grow Ireland’s status as a global hub for fintech. Ireland is a really attractive destination for financial services, due in a large part to our strong talent pool and expertise in the sector. The very best of luck to the entire team and I look forward to following their success into the future.”

In Dublin at the announcement global CEO of OFX Skander Malcolm said “We are excited by the opportunities for growth in our business in Ireland and across the EU region. Establishing an office in Ireland is a key part of our strategy for growing in the region and gives us an excellent base from which to manage our operations. OFX is about helping businesses access great exchange rates and trade across borders with ease. And we want to help businesses protect themselves and manage risk in their currency transactions. In the volatile environment we’re currently in, this is even more important.”

IDA Ireland’s Head of International Financial Services, Kieran Donoghue, said: “This investment by OFX is a welcome addition to the already strong online foreign exchange, international money transfer and payments ecosystem which has developed here. As an innovative and fast-growing financial services company, OFX will further enhance Ireland’s reputation as a location for Financial Services, Technology, Content and Fintech companies from the Asia-Pacific region. I wish to thank OFX for their investment and wish them every success and our continuing support as they develop their business from Ireland.”

9 Video Games for Students Who Want to Unwind After a Hard Day

There’s nothing like coming home after a hard day and chilling. When we were children, the best way for most of us to relax and unwind was by playing computer games. Remember running straight to the computer right after coming from school and spending the whole evening playing some games with your friends?

Well, for some, this didn’t change. Even though our parents used to scold us every time we wanted to spend some time playing games, some of us still have this little kid inside who wants to spend time in front of the computer.

Of course, now it is much harder to make some time for playing because of the amount of homework. Thus, students might think, “I wish I could just pay someone to write my paper on EssayPro?” and this is the brightest idea! So why don’t you seize this opportunity and use the advantage of services that are designed especially for students so that they can simplify their student lives and make time for the things they like?

Contrary to the widespread belief about “rotting brains,” playing video games helps keep the mind in shape, teaches useful everyday skills, and develops logic and attention. In addition, games help to chill out and relieve stress. In this article, we want to share some cool video games that will brighten up your dull evening after a hard day. 

Fuser

If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an endless party and create your awesome mixes in front of a gigantic crowd to earn popularity and recognition, this one is the perfect match for you. You just need to create a character – a cool DJ and then tour around the world. Fuser’s plot is not a complicated one. 

The basic gameplay concept is very easy to understand. Just run a few recordings on your DJ console to add parts of different songs into the mix as the music plays. Then, make sure they are perfectly timed and meet the audience’s preferences and interests. And when you have unlocked enough music, you can grab a box of records from two dozen songs, create your own freestyle mix, and share it with other players.

The basic idea is to place new tracks at just the right moment to play the mix. You will be gradually introduced to the basic mechanics. At first, you just change the records in the process of creating the mix according to the demands of the audience. And gradually, the process gets more complicated.

You will have to hit the rhythm clearly and combine the colored instrument symbols for the best result. By the way, the game features both real-life tracks and artists, as well as Harmonix-created fictional artists and their works.

Racing Games

It’s hard to believe, but ten years ago, racing seemed like a dying genre. Today, there are many titles on the market, from simple arcades to more complicated ones with fine-tuned physics and photorealistic graphics. 

We found 4 best racing games at the moment:

  • Forza Horizon 5

Year after year, the Forza series hits the top of the racing games, and 2021 was no exception. The fifth part of this famous racing series is packed with content. This time, players are allowed to drive in sunny Mexico. The size of the available space surpasses all that the studio Playground Games have released so far. The variety of locations will not disappoint. It has a lot of interesting tracks, allowing you to enjoy the sights of Mexican nature during the races.

  • F1 2021

F1 2020 was the best Formula One game ever, including everything every fan of the format wanted. It was hard to think of what else the developers could add to release an updated version. But the designers from Codemasters studio made miracles. The F1 2021 is an improved version of the previous one by almost all parameters. 

 

There is a story mode, but the campaign takes about 5-6 hours. The plot adds a lot of excitement to the process because there is an opponent that really motivates you to win. You shouldn’t expect any revelations from the storyline. But it is a race, so it would be silly to count on more.

  • Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered

The original NFS: Hot Pursuit was released back in 2010. Since then, the genre hasn’t stopped evolving, and several great franchises have appeared on the market. Can a game that is more than 10 years old compete with the newest representatives of the genre? Sure it can. The Hot Pursuit remaster came out in 2020, but even today, it deserves a place among the best races on the market. Once again, the game confirms that it was one of the best parts of the Need for Speed franchise. 

  • Hot Wheels Unleashed

Hot Wheels Unleashed is a typical arcade game. The good thing is that you don’t need a lot of time to get used to the controls. In a couple of hours, you will hold down the accelerator, cleverly bypassing opponents. But it has its own nuances. The ability to control your car well during the jumps will allow you to avoid unnecessary collisions and sometimes even cut the road. Fast, beautiful, and at the same time, an unusual race. If you prefer arcade games, you should definitely try Hot Wheels Unleashed. But fans of realistic races will probably get bored with this one pretty quickly.

Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds

The visuals of Cross Worlds certainly can’t be complained about. It’s still the same trademark Ghibli style, despite the fact that the studio has once again worked on the cutscenes. This point alone is enough to attract the attention of anime gamers and make them look away from Genshin Impact, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and the like. 

The effect is fixed by the graphics on the Unreal Engine 4. Koreans have tried to keep the magic of Ghibli with its characters, whether they are people (characters and NPC) or mobs. Except that the locations are often rather plain. The verdict is a beautiful one.

The soundtrack is also on par. How else could it be if the composer of the Cross Worlds was Hisaishi Joe, a loyal associate of Miyazaki Hayao of the music world? If you like anime with subtitles, you can safely enjoy the Japanese voiceover while playing.

The Sims

For more than fifteen years, The Sims series has brought joy to millions of people from different countries. The series has become a globally recognized phenomenon in the field of interactive entertainment. The Sims allows playing with life, creating virtual characters, controlling their lives, and telling exciting stories.

The Sims fan community is one of the most active gaming communities in the world, with over 20 million fans across social media. Over the past year, fans have downloaded hundreds of millions of content created by other players.

Because The Sims has unique gameplay and amazing gameplay content created through creative alliances with leading brands and popular artists, everyone can find something of interest in them on any gaming platform.

 

source: https://unsplash.com/photos/J7Spe1GTCUw

Genshin Impact

This is an open, delightfully beautiful fantasy world full of mysteries and riddles, funny creatures, and fascinating stories. The opening movie shows two heroes – brother and sister – fighting against some goddess. At a certain point, the characters (the brother and sister) will meet an unknown goddess who will later send one of them to the world of Teyvat. The hero loses his memory and knows only that he/she must find a relative.

The developers have not been shy about calling themselves “otaku,” which is a common word for anime fans. Admittedly, they truly understand the peculiarity of the anime culture, so Genshin Impact can rightfully consider itself the king of the genre at the moment. In a year of existence, Genshin Impact has broken every conceivable record of profit and popularity. 

Summing Up

If you want to unwind yourself and spend time with pleasure, you can just play video games. Don’t overthink that playing is just a waste of time. Instead, it will help you to get rid of your daily routine and stress. Give a shot at the games listed above by choosing the perfect one for you.