Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, GamerFest, has announced its long awaited return, with 5,000 visitors expected at the RDS, Dublin this October 22nd & 23rd.
Originally established in 2017, GamerFest is a diverse and inclusive celebration of all things gaming and esports that has been developed with a community-first approach, welcoming visitors from across Ireland, the UK and Europe.
Central to the event has been the GamerFest Live Stage which sees a huge variety of gaming content across the weekend including esports tournaments, special guest appearances and gaming challenges.
Visitors to the event can also expect a wide array of gaming entertainment including the latest titles, VR gaming and technology, expo hall and market place to grab the latest gaming equipment and gear. Esports tournaments will continue to be a huge part of GamerFest with a full list of tournaments, schedules and prize pools to be announced over the summer.
The festival is also planning to showcase the best in Irish gaming content creator talent with the launch of a new Creator Zone where visitors will get the chance to meet their favourite Twitch and YouTube creators at the event. Further announcements regarding special guests will be made by the organisers over the coming weeks.
Speaking at the announcement of the event, GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey was excited to see the return to live events for the Irish gaming community. “It’s obviously been a really tough couple of years for everyone involved with live events and we certainly haven’t been immune. But to see the excitement and anticipation amongst our community for the return of GamerFest is just incredible. We can’t wait to see everyone again at the RDS this October.”
GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this October 22nd and 23rd with tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.
We are living through a golden era for gaming on the go. From full blown handheld consoles to versatile smartphones, gamers can enjoy a wealth of experiences across a range of form factors.
Of course not all portable gaming gadgets are created equal, so here are the top contenders to take for a spin in 2022.
Nintendo Switch OLED
The Switch is fast becoming one of the best selling consoles of all time, and the recent hardware refresh which added an OLED screen in place of the older LCD panel is much appreciated.
While the power under the skin is much lower than other consoles, the portability combined with the quality of the first party games is hard to match. There’s also ample support for third party titles, whether you’re into arcade classics or modern shooters.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
One of the world’s most powerful mobile devices, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the pinnacle of what can be achieved in the smartphone space right now, and has received rave reviews as a result.
It’s got enough grunt to make light work of even the most demanding gaming experiences, and being an Android-based handset it also supports every other conceivable format of play you could imagine. So whether you’re into online first person shooters, or you want to spin the reels at some of the best Irish casinos in the market, this Samsung flagship has got you covered.
The price is the main downside, but on the right pay monthly contract it becomes more manageable as an option.
Realme GT 2
You might not have heard of mobile brand Realme, but its latest release is definitely going to help it make its mark, thanks to the sheer value for money it represents.
For gaming, the 6.6 inch QHD screen is a welcome inclusion. And with the Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, it is no slouch in the number-crunching department either.
Add in the hefty 5000mAh battery, and it’s easy to be impressed by just how much bang for your buck you get with this wallet-friendly phone.
Soundpeats Free2 Classic Earbuds
The name may be a bit of a mouthful, but we loved the cost-conscious Free2 Classic Earbuds from Soundpeats. And for gaming on the go, where you don’t want to disturb other people with the audio from your interactive entertainment, having wireless audio accessories like this to hand is essential.
Don’t expect market-leading sound quality, but also don’t be fooled into thinking that because these are affordable earbuds, they’ll also be unable to deliver a decent experience. Compared with equivalent budget products, they are a breath of fresh air, and with bonuses like integrated touch controls and Bluetooth call support, they’re good for more than just gaming.
Razer Kishi
If you are a fan of the idea of the Switch, but you don’t want to carry around a portable console as well as your smartphone, then the Kishi controller accessory from Razer is a good investment.
This is a tried and tested solution for adding physical controls to a touchscreen device, and it adds in a pair of analogue sticks, a D-pad, face and shoulder buttons to transform the way you can play.
Versions of the Kishi for both iOS and Android devices are available, but compatibility is not universal, so do check carefully to see if your phone is supported.
So with 2022 well underway, now’s the perfect time to gear up on portable gaming gadgets, and as you can see there are options in all price points.
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.
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.
During Sony’s State of Play independent developer, Studio Sai, revealed a first look at their upcoming apocalyptic dating-action game debut, Eternights, coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC early next year.
In Eternights, players will make the most of life during the apocalypse, saving the world and finding love along the way. The reveal trailer gives a glimpse at the game’s unique blend of love story and adrenaline-driven combat, brought to life with beautifully crafted 2D animated cut-scenes.
A mysterious entity has infected humans, turning them into dangerous monsters obsessed with violence and power. As they stand between you, a cure, and the world you want, you must race against the clock to fight for your survival and for those you love. But with scavenging, dungeon crawling, and dating all on the to-do list, what will you do first? The choice is yours, but everything has a deadline, and the clock is ticking.
In Eternights, players will encounter perilous dungeons steeped with mystery and danger, overcoming traps, puzzles and dancing mini-games to beat their deadlines and make it through on time. When not exploring dungeons, choose a confidant from a cast of five quirky and loveable characters. As you grow closer, explore their unique stories, and unlock new skills and spells to aid you in battle.
Eternights will be available for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC (via Epic Games Store and STEAM) in early 2023. For more information visit http://www.eternights.com/
Indiepublisher Ratalaika Games is delighted to be working with developer The Bworgon their debut title TEN – Ten Rooms, Ten Seconds is now released for PC (Steam) / Playstation 4 + 5 / Xbox One, Series X and Series S / Nintendo Switch for £4.99 / $4.99 / €4.99.
Are you looking for an addictive, satisfying and challenging game that you can pick up and play any time? Whether you’ve got a few minutes to spare or you’re in it for the long haul, TEN – Ten Rooms, Ten Seconds is the game for you.
Simply addictive – Don’t Judge a book by its cover
You have TEN seconds to live, or die.
TEN – Ten Rooms, Ten Seconds is a simple yet challenging single player game that takes place across ten floors of an underground facility. Each floor contains ten rooms, and each room seals the player in for ten seconds while various traps try to kill them. But there’s hope – the player can collect ‘tokens’ which can be spent in safe rooms at the start of each floor to unlock upgrades and abilities to help them survive.
The game’s focus is on a “learn from failure approach”. Each room is technically a puzzle, and as players learn from their mistakes, they’ll discover their own solution, overcome each floor’s gauntlet and make it to the next level. Although simple on the surface, it’s reminiscent of similar challenging games of its kind like Super Meat Boy, and also takes influence from more modern games such as those in the “souls like” genre.
For trophy hunters or casual players, there’s an easy/casual mode that allows for optional invincibility so you can simply enjoy the story (which really starts to take off around the midway point).
For players who really want a challenge, there’s an optional ‘Hell Mode’ which offers up more threats in each room.
Game Elements:
Fast-paced, adrenaline fuelled gameplay
Mysterious and rewarding story
Deadly and varied bosses
Upgrade and skill system
Killer soundtrack by dBXY Collective
An onslaught of cannon fire, bizarre monsters and more
Today, many brands globally are incorporating gamification elements in their business apps. App gamification has become a standard feature used as an effective marketing tool today. It has not only improved customer engagement but also fostered loyal relationships.
App gamification is the process of adding game-like features and activities to an app. The elements hook the customers to your product or service with an aligned business plan.
If you are unsure of where to start, you can see professional help from UI & UX design services. The experts will help you design appealing interfaces with exceptional user experience.
This article discusses how a gamified app can increase user engagement. You will also learn about the benefits that encourage customer loyalty.
What Is App Gamification?
When it comes to marketing your app we can confidently say that app gamification is a new approach in the industry.It involves adding game elements in apps that are not designed for games. The reward systems motivate users to buy specific products or services. Hence, this experience engages the customer and keeps them coming back to enjoy the rewarding thrill.
Due to its competitive edge and high returns, many organizations have adopted this strategy. You can find app gamification in education, retail, healthcare, and financial sectors.
How App Gamification Works
As mentioned above, app gamification entails incorporating gaming features in business applications. You can use gamification to promote your business by offering customer incentives. Apart from customers, your employees can also enjoy the gaming activities. For instance, they can complete certain actions or buy products to earn points. When the users reach a particular goal, they get rewards. It could be discounted prices or freebies.
You can allow customers to participate through your business app, website, or social media. With many digital platforms available, gamification is now a popular marketing strategy.
How App Gamification Increases User Engagement
Let us now explore how gamified apps increase user engagement.
Behavior Reinforcement
One of the huge factors that make gamification a successful technology is behavior reinforcement. It is an approach that rewards user behavior after accomplishing certain tasks. It is similar to playing a game and proceeding to new levels as you earn points. When you use gaming elements in your marketing strategy, customers feel more engaged and want to participate to enjoy the rewards later.
Thus, rewarding behavior is quite powerful since it provides a thrilling user experience. Once you give your customers free products after reaching a certain goal, they will return for more action.
Moreover, you can include contests and challenges with impressive rewards. It will foster strong brand loyalty because of the interactive experience you offer the customers.
User Control
When you gamify your business app, you give your customers a controlling feeling. App gamification gives them the freedom to choose and interact with the game without restrictions.
The customers will explore the game features and decide what they want to play. This allows the users to set their own goals and work towards seizing the rewards. As a result, the customers feel in control and enjoy an exciting gaming experience.
Competitive Performance
Another principle behind app gamification is user competitiveness. Many people love competing and thrive in achieving the desired goal. The gaming elements in your business app will satisfy the competitive desire and hook the users.
Once the customers receive a reward for an impressive performance, they will come back and compete again. Or they will want to be the best by outranking other customers playing the game.
You can increase engagement by introducing score goals with rewards for customers who reach the goal. Health and fitness apps usually have a platform for sharing the best scores for users who attain a specific threshold. The app owners encourage sharing the scores on social media, which boosts brand engagement.
Visible Growth
The mechanisms of gamification allow users to experience their progress. They can understand where they are in the game level and the remaining section.
Many people love progress, and this applies to gamified apps. You can implement the growth aspect in your business app, gaining many followers. This approach results in high lead generation because the users will associate your brand with progress.
Customers experience growth while having an enjoyable gaming experience. You can introduce gaming leaderboards that display the user levels and scores. So, the customer will know how many points they have remaining to get to the top score.
What’s more interesting is that you can set your company goals and motivate the customers to attain the scores. However, it is essential to set realistic goals to avoid chasing the users away.
When the users strive to beat the scores, they interact with your brand and enhance positive associations. So, whether the users will claim the incentives or not, the gaming elements will still be useful to your brand identity.
Gamification Marketing
Unlike traditional marketing, app gamification is more interactive and fun. Many companies use the game approach to gain high user traffic and conversion rates. You can never go wrong in using game-based marketing for your business.
Gamification marketing attracts users’ attention and keeps them yearning for more. This result is achieved because of the games’ engaging and highly addictive nature.
Still, the gaming elements must have a direct connection to your business. Otherwise, your game-based marketing campaigns might flop.
Benefits of App Gamification
Many companies are adding gaming elements into their business programs today. Here are some of the major benefits of gamification:
Increases customer engagement.
Boosts brand identity.
Offers important customer data.
Enhances customer loyalty.
Foster good relationships with new and existing customers.
Offers impressive rewards and customer incentives.
Conclusion
App gamification is taking the industry by storm. Many organizations are adopting the approach to attract and retain customers. The reward system is effective since users love competing with and getting prizes.
All in all, gamification is a perfect way to increase user engagement and boost lasting relationships. So, ensure you hire skilled professionals to help you build an excellent app for your business.
Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV, ‘Frontier’) today unveiled the first behind the scenes video for F1® Manager 2022, the major new officially licenced F1® management simulation game. F1® Manager 2022 will launch in summer 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation® 5, Xbox One, PlayStation® 4, Steam and the Epic Games Store.
In “Episode 1 – Be the Boss” players are introduced to the role of the Team Principal, the individual at the heart of every F1® team. Team Principals are responsible for overseeing every facet of the team, from recruiting and retaining world-class drivers and staff, to engineering car components and setting the all-important race weekend strategy. In F1® Manager 2022 players will drive every decision, both short and long-term, as they aim to lead their team to glory in the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship™. Frontier CEO and Founder, David Braben, introduces the episode before handing over to Game Director, Andy Fletcher, who leads players through a ‘factory tour’ of F1® Manager 2022alongside Art Director, Matt Dickinson, and members of the development team.
As explained by Ross Brawn, Managing Director – Motorsports, Formula 1®, stepping into the shoes of a Team Principal will be a fascinating insight into a different side of F1®. Players will discover how they can take charge of their chosen 2022 F1® constructor, defining their own management philosophy as they seek to meet and exceed the expectations of their team’s board. Managing their budgets effectively, team bosses will have to balance short-term gains against long-term progression by designing and manufacturing new components for the current car, whilst keeping one eye on the following year’s design. Investing in facilities, drivers and key staff members will all be important considerations as players put their own stamp on one of ten official 2022 F1® teams.
This commitment to replicating the sport is emphasised by Frontier’s focus on offering a broadcast-quality presentation across race weekends, led by David Croft, Lead F1® Commentator at Sky Sports, whose iconic voice appears in-game alongside his fellow commentator and former Formula 1® driver, Karun Chandhok. As previously revealed, these are not the only familiar voices players will hear, as the voices of all 20 drivers from the 2022 season feature on an innovative team radio system, responding to the commands of their race engineers. A successful Team Principal will be expected to effectively manage tyre allocations, whilst charting a course to the podium in dramatic races that can change at any moment. Will players be the first to risk slick tyres on a rapidly drying circuit? Or will a poorly-timed safety car or red flag scupper expectations? F1® Manager 2022 presents a wealth of in-session data, offering Team Principals the ability to fine-tune their in-race strategies, as they influence the pace of each driver and manage their ERS deployment during key windows to shed those final vital tenths.
In future behind the scenes videos players can expect a deeper look at detailed art and audio work, including mapping 3D facial driver scans, motion-captured pit crew and creating bespoke audio profiles for each circuit. Players should keep one ear to their team radio for future behind the scenes content and further news on F1® Manager 2022 in the coming months.
F1® Manager 2022 will launch in summer 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation® 5, Xbox One, PlayStation® 4, Steam and the Epic Games Store. The game is available to wishliston the PlayStation store, Steam and via the Epic Games Store. Players can see the announcement video here.
PowerA,global leaders in video gaming accessories, is delighted to announce its new Ms. Chalice controller design in commemoration of Cuphead’s upcoming DLC – The Delicious Last Course. The new controllers, that showcase the ever-charming and adorable tritagonist Ms. Chalice in all her colourful glory, are available now for PowerA’s Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S and the Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch.
The new Cuphead design radiates all the animated, eccentric energy of the franchise. Its bright yellow hues are complemented by mint green accents, making for an extravagant and vibrant colour combo. The front faceplate is polished off with detailed, cartoon artwork from the game starring Ms. Chalice who rightfully takes pride of place. Cuphead may be ruthless, but with the new Ms. Chalice design, at least you’ll suffer defeat in style.
PowerA’s Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S boasts two mappable advanced gaming buttons and immersive dual rumble motors. For those who prefer Nintendo’s plucky handheld, the design is also available for PowerA’s Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch. This controller also features advanced gaming buttons for button mapping on the fly, motion controls for added immersion, and two precision tuned thumbsticks.
Whether you are most at home on Nintendo Switch or Xbox Series X|S, PowerA’s new Ms. Chalice design is the perfect way to prepare for Cuphead’s banquet of DLC content set to release on June 30th 2022.
For more information on the Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S and the Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, please refer to the PowerA website.
PUBG MOBILE, one of the world’s most popular mobile video games, has announced a collaboration with Prime Video, Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Sony Pictures Studios to bring players exclusive content from the Emmy-nominated subversive superhero series, The Boys.
In conjunction with The Boys season 3 premiere, streaming June 3rd on Prime Video, players will be able to grab a number of exclusive collaboration items, including the iconic super suits of Homelander, Starlight and Soldier Boy, as well as weapon skins, backpacks, a unique Supes parachute and much more.
Beginning on June 8th, players will be able to participate in a “Supe Spree” event, where they join The Boys infamous antihero, Billy Butcher, to build their own investigation squad and search for evidence of superhero wrongdoings. In the game, a horrifying series of unsolvable murders suddenly grips NYC. The mutilated bodies of Wall Street brokers and their clients begin to appear across the city. The police have no clues and city officials are demanding answers. In order to complete each challenge, players must work with characters from The Boys or their in-game friends to expose the truth. Players will collect evidence, unlock stories and ultimately reveal the superhero behind these heinous attacks to earn Billy Butcher’s Duds. The integration will also feature a series of weekly challenges, providing players with more opportunities to earn additional perks and rewards for a limited-time.
“The Boys is a groundbreaking TV series that has forever changed the entertainment industry with its irreverent take on superheroes,” said Anthony Crouts, Senior Director of Marketing for PUBG MOBILE. “We always strive to deliver fresh new content to our players and this collaboration gives us the amazing opportunity to integrate real-time elements of The Boys’new season directly into PUBG MOBILE.”
PUBG MOBILE and The Boys collaboration content will be available from June 3rd to July 3rd to most players located in North America, South America and Europe. Download PUBG MOBILE for free on the App Store and Google Play Store.
