Tag: #gaming

How the Pandemic Impacted the Gaming Industry and This Year’s Trends

Many industries have suffered and struggled last year because of the pandemic. However, it’s a different story for the gaming industry. Somehow, the on-going health crisis has boosted the growth of the gaming market including esports.

Lockdowns had to be implemented last year, and this forced people to stay at home and find indoor activities to be busy with. Many resorted to gaming including playing real money casino games. The best UK online casinos have reported a spike in their traffics when lockdowns have started.

Why People Resorted to Gaming

Well, to some, the pandemic happening in the modern age is still quite a blessing because it’s simply hard to stay at home if there isn’t much to do. Thanks to technology and the internet, people have plenty of things to get busy with when they weren’t allowed to go out.

Online gaming was an easy solution or answer to many who have felt boredom at home. It’s not just because they get to play any games with their computers or mobile devices. Gaming has become a social platform as well.

Through online games, people get to interact with their friends, families, or even strangers. Gone are the days when gaming has been thought to be an isolating activity. Even online casinos have the option for their players to enjoy a live dealer game and chat with other online players worldwide.

Mobile Gaming

Gaming today is also no longer an expensive hobby or activity. At least it doesn’t need to be expensive anymore. While there are still people who prefer to play with gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, mobile gaming is quickly dominating the gaming market.

It’s easy to understand why mobile gaming is growing fast. People would just really rather spend money on a smartphone device rather than a computer or a gaming console. Smartphones today are becoming more and more powerful than it’s no longer just used to communicate with others. It has become a great source of entertainment for many. Some even need their smartphones to ensure productivity.

Gambling companies are also quick to adapt to the latest trends. Since the mobile market is growing, casinos are also shifting their focus this way. There are now plenty of gambling apps that people can download. Even Google is already starting to embrace this activity somehow. Recently, Google has allowed gambling apps to be on Play Store in 15 more countries.

Cloud Gaming

Technological advancements have also allowed gaming to be cheaper. Mobile gamers can now play with their friends who use gaming consoles and computers too. Cloud gaming is also becoming quickly popular. 

Even before the pandemic, cloud gaming was already getting a lot of attention. Cloud gaming allows people to play video games on different devices. It uses remote servers in data centers which means that players no longer have to download or install a game to their device.

It somehow works like video streaming platforms (Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, etc.). Players stream the game that they’d like to play and their controls are then passed on to the server where the game is installed. This is why a fast internet connection is important here.

As the 5G internet connection becomes more available worldwide, cloud gaming services will likely be more in demand. This is a great solution to cut the costs of gaming. People will no longer have to spend money on the latest gaming consoles. 

E-Sports

The pandemic has also boosted the e-sports sector. Last year, most of the major sports leagues were forced to cancel or delay their events. The English Premier League, the NBA, and the IPL all had to be rescheduled and because of that, there weren’t a lot of sports events for people to look forward to.

With this, sportsbooks had to find other ways to stay in business, and many of them have shifted their focus to other events like e-sports tournaments. E-sports is also taken more seriously nowadays. People have seen how big prize pools are and how pro players would take their games seriously. Even if professional sports events are back, likely, people who have discovered e-sports last year will still be interested in it this year.

Conclusion

The pandemic is not yet over but governments are becoming less strict when it comes to the implementation of the COVID 19 protocols. Still, 2021 and the next few years are expected to be good for the gaming industry. This year, more games will be released. PS5 took the gaming industry by storm despite a health crisis and Xbox also released Series X last year. This year will be another great one for the gamers out there. 

Solitaired Reimagines Classic Card Game With Historical and Educational Decks. #Solitaired #Cards #Apps

Online card game platform Solitaired is upping the ante with its new and exquisitely designed trivia decks. Players around the world can discover fun facts about some of history’s most fascinating figures here with Genshin Accounts for sale

The browser-based site offers more than 500 classic solitaire games, making them the perfect opportunity to educate and entertain yourself during COVID-19-enforced lockdowns. Enjoy the likes of card-based classics such as Solitaire, FreeCell, and Spider, all with an educational spin.

Created in collaboration with partners like Encyclopedia Britannica, the Jeopardy-winning biographers of Who2, and MIT’s Lemelson program, the educational deck designs have been created to add an additional flare to the hugely popular card games. For those who enjoy a mental workout beyond cards, exploring free online crossword games can be a great way to challenge your mind while staying entertained.

 

 

Created in collaboration with partners like Encyclopedia Britannica, the Jeopardy-winning biographers of Who2, and MIT’s Lemelson program, the educational deck designs have been created to add an additional flare to the hugely popular card games.

Solitaired founders, Neal Taparia and Darshan Somashekar previously created and sold EasyBib, an education software company that reached 30 million students annually, and looked at how games could be used to teach.

Somashekar said, “Solitaire continues to be one of the most popular games played. Millions of people play it every day as a fun way to take a break. Instead of just traditional cards, we saw an opportunity to shake things up and tell a story around fascinating figures. Now, when millions of people play this classic game, not only will they have fun, they’ll learn about individuals who’ve made a difference too.” 

Play Solitaired in your browser, at solitaired.com, or download the free app on Android

Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos Launches its Epic Quest on Nintendo Switch and PC Today. #Gaming

Team17 and Heliocentric Studios have opened the gates to roguelite adventure Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos on PC and Nintendo Switch, allowing players from far and wide to venture forth either solo or with up to three friends in local and online co-operative gameplay, and work together to save the land of Tasos from the sinister Titans.

 

Rest up weary traveller, this launch trailer will prepare you:

 

 

Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos takes players on a journey across the land of Tasos and into the depths of challenging, procedurally assembled dungeons located throughout the world. Gems earned during dungeon runs can be used to rebuild your home town of Intori, which in turn grants access to upgrades that can improve your warriors as well as unlocking other classes and equipment.

Players can help each other out in co-operative play, either locally or online, but those who take on the challenge will have their experiences tailored to them, with puzzles and challenges scaling depending on the number of players. Each hero can be customised, along with a selection of classes, all of which have their own abilities and benefits in gameplay, and players wanting a taste of the action can try a free demo on Steam and Nintendo Switch right now.

 

Key Features:

  • Four-player co-op adventuring: Up to four players can explore the lands of Tasos and tackle the dungeons, assisting and reviving each other to earn victory together
  • Roguelite dungeon-crawling: Take on procedurally-generated dungeons packed with a variety of monsters, earning gems to spend on upgrades to get further in the next run
  • Town and class upgrades: Each run in the dungeon earns heroes gems to spend on upgrades, including the facilities in the town, as well as player abilities and stats
  • Classic gameplay reinvented: This is top-down adventuring brought into the modern day with colourful visuals and a number of options for combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration.

 

Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos is available on all platforms for £15.99 / €19.99 / $19.99.

To keep up to date with all the information on Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos please like on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and join the conversation on Discord.

Overcooked! All You Can Eat to serve up culinary chaos on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam, and Xbox One

Team17 and Ghost Town Games have today announced that Overcooked! All You Can Eat will be coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam, and Xbox One on 23rd March. First launched on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation5 in 2020, Overcooked! All You Can Eat plates up all 200 + levels from both games, including all DLC, seven new levels, and a brand-new assist mode, fully remade in up to 4K, and running at a smooth 60fps (30 frames per second on Nintendo Switch). Cross-platform multiplayer will also be made available for chefs playing on all platforms in a free post-launch update.

 

Not only do players get three new and exclusive chefs, they can also choose from the entire back catalogue of over 80 calamitous chefs, each enjoying at least one brand-new alternate skin variant. For a limited time only, The Muppet’s Swedish Chef is available to download for free for all Overcooked! All You Can Eat players.

Overcooked! All You Can Eat also includes new accessibility options and an assist mode, which adds the option to increase level times; boost scores awarded for each meal; lengthen recipe times, and the ability to turn off order expiration. The accessibility options include colour-blind friendly chef indicators, a scalable user interface and the ability to enable dyslexia friendly text.

Overcooked! All You Can Eat Key Features:

  • Every mouthful: Includes every piece of Overcooked! and Overcooked! 2 content, remastered and available in 60 frames per second in up to 4K resolution
  • Multiple multiplayer courses: Levels originally from Overcooked! are playable with online multiplayer support for the very first time, with every Overcooked! All You Can Eat kitchen also featuring cross-play functionality in a post-launch update
  • Exclusive new kitchens & cooks: New levels, new chefs, and additional skins for every single chef – all exclusive to Overcooked! All You Can Eat
  • Trophies/Achievements: Brand new trophy and achievement sets for players to unlock
  • Cooking for all: Accessibility options and a new assist mode opens the game to more players than ever before

Overcooked! All You Can Eat will be available digitally on all platforms for £30/$40/€40 and will also be launching physically on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on the 23rd March.

Celebrate 25 years of Pokémon with PowerA’s Latest Enhanced Wireless controller and Protective Case.

PowerA – an industry-leading developer of high-quality, licensed gaming peripherals – is proud to announce that the new Enhanced Wireless Controller and Protection Case for the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite – Pikachu 025 are now available. Commemorate 25 years of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises by taking home a controller that harkens back to the series’ roots. You can catch both the stylised case and Enhanced Wireless Nintendo Switch controller right now in at Argos for £39.99. Find additional EU retailers here.

This officially licensed controller from PowerA elevates your play across Nintendo Switch games featuring motion controls, mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons and Bluetooth® 5.0 technology for wireless play. With up to 30 hours of gameplay from the internal rechargeable battery, the Enhanced Wireless Controller gives you the edge you need in competitive play as well as flexibility and comfort during long, relaxed gaming sessions.

To go alongside the Enhanced Wireless Controller, PowerA’s officially licensed Nintendo Switch protective case is the ideal accessory to keep your console and games safe. On the outside, a sturdy outer shell and durable zippers make sure any damage to your valuables will be avoided, while the moulded interior and felt lining keeps your screen from scratching.

Both of these products come with unique and playful designs, including an eye-catching black and yellow colour scheme with series favourite Pikachu prominently featured on both case and controller. Labelled “025” to commemorate Pikachu’s place in the Pokédex, these PowerA products are a must have for anyone with a place in their heart for classic Pokémon titles.

Sades launch their new gaming headset the A2. #SADES #Tech #Gaming

Sades, manufacturer of quality gaming peripherals is pleased to announce the release of their new headset – the A2. Capable of connecting to a variety of devices, the new A2 from Sades is the ultimate companion for your gaming – no matter what console you favour. 

The swivel-to-mute microphone is uni-directional which reduces ambient noise for excellent voice clarity, especially when playing in teams and the microphone flexibility means it can be adjusted to suit you and the game being played. 

With a simple yet trendy design that features ergonomic oval earcups to maximize the ear space for improved comfort and balanced acoustics, the A2 will be the perfect companion for long gaming sessions. The easy to use, on ear controls make on-the-fly adjustments without distracting you from the game, whilst the braided cable improves wire longevity.

Compatible with the PS4 / PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC and mobiles, you can rely on the Sades A2 to enhance your gaming sessions.

Features:

Simple design

Multi-platform compatibility

Uni-directional mic for clearer voice pickup

Breathable and comfortable oval earmuffs

Adjustable headband

The Sades A2 is available in 2 colours from www.amazon.co.uk for £25.99. Watch out for our review soon..

Pre-order Boxed Physical Starts on 21st Feb – Speed Limit (PS4/Switch) #Gaming #SpeedLimit

Strictly Limited Games, in conjunction with Croatian developer Gamechuck and indie games publisher Chorus Worldwide, is happy to announce that their exciting old school action game, Speed Limit, will be released as a physical box version on both Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4 (also playable on PS5).

The exclusive pre-order for this unforgettable arcade experience will start from Strictly Limited Games on February 21st.

 

 

Fast, faster, Speed Limit

Speed Limit is a super-fast-paced genre-morphing arcade-style action game with beautifully animated pixel art. When a disheveled stranger hands you a gun during your daily commute, everything goes horribly wrong, fast. Speed Limit is an old-school action extravaganza that will raise adrenaline levels, and test all reflexes to the max.

 

The gameplay and perspective change radically every two stages as you jump into ever faster modes of transport; starting with a commuter train, through a convertible sports car and all the way to a fighter jet. As the speed of the vehicles ramps up, so too does the intensity of the action. Speed Limit is fast, and it is hard. You will certainly die a few too many times but the excitement constantly mounts as you progress further into what is a game that has already garnered many awards for the development team.

 

 

Speed Limit is a must-play for all retro gamers:

  • A thrilling genre-switching rollercoaster that will test your reflexes

  • The gameplay transitions seamlessly between six different retro genres

  • Unlockable endless mode

  • Race against the clock in time trial mode

  • All graphics are hand-drawn frame-by-frame

  • Fast and gritty synthwave soundtrack

Exclusive, physical editions

The Limited Edition is available for €29.99, limited to 3,300 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,700 copies for PlayStation 4 worldwide.

The Limited Edition is also available as a bundle with the OST for €44.99, limited to 700 copies for Nintendo Switch and 350 copies for PlayStation 4. The OST bundle will also include a sticker and a poster.  An aluminium art card is also available for €9.99 – limited to 149 copies.

United Nations Ozone Secretariat launches ‘Reset Earth’ Mobile Game to bring Gen Z into protecting ozone layer. #ResetEarth #Gaming

The United Nations Environment Programme, Ozone Secretariat’s pioneering ‘Reset Earth’ platform returns today, with the launch of an immersive single player mobile game for Android and iOS. Building on the plot of the highly successful Reset Earth original animation film, which premiered on World Education Day, and was subsequently watched more than 710,000 times, the game invites players to immerse themselves in a time-travel adventure in which they race against time on a mission to save the planet and what’s left of human life.

The Reset Earth animation film and game uses the power of storytelling and immersive gameplay to educate and inspire Gen Z and gamers of all ages about the fundamentals of protecting the ozone layer and the environment. To date, the animation film has received vast national, mainstream, environmental and entertainment press support worldwide and has generated an impressive social media engagement amongst teens with over 1,200 mentions and around 41M impressions on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A great outreach so far, particularly as young people under 24 make up 95% of the animation viewers on Instagram, while on Facebook, 67% of those watching the Reset Earth animation were under 35 years old.

Meg Seki, Acting Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, said, “The release of the game is a fantastic addition to the Reset Earth animation. Safeguarding the ozone layer and the environment for future generations is a big job – but one that can be achieved, if we listen to the science and work together.” 

Reset Earth Storyline

Set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world in 2084, where the ozone layer has been completely ruined and human life is under threat from an unstoppable virus called “The Grow”, Reset Earth tells the exciting story of three teenagers who team up in an epic time-travel adventure and race against time in a mission to save the planet and what’s left of human life.

In search of answers, our heroes travel through time, and across multiple landscapes, to critical historical moments in the story of the mysterious ‘ozone layer’, attempting to unlock the secrets of the past to save themselves, the ozone layer and the future of the planet from impending doom. Along the way, they will learn the importance of the ozone layer in protecting the health wellbeing of the planet, as well as the power of working together to achieve what might at first seem impossible. To save the ozone layer, they must jump back in time to ensure the signing of the Montreal Protocol agreement.

Rooted in science, the fictional story and game present a dramatized picture of what Earth could have been like if the world had not acted to protect the ozone layer and signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987.

Reset Earth Key Gameplay Features

Reset Earth is a single player platform game, combining a retro graphics style and hand-drawn artwork and is aligned with the film’s storyline. Set across 4 stages of challenging immersive platform gameplay, each representing a time zone jump in the animated series, Reset Earth challenges players to truly immerse themselves in the world of Reset Earth, unlocking puzzles and discovering clues and learning about environmental history and the science of protecting the planet.

Produced and developed by Rooftop on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Ozone Secretariat, this epic family-friendly adventure allows players to unlock the three characters; Knox, Sagan or Terran, and utilise their unique game abilities as they race through time to find a way to protect the ozone layer and reset earth. By bringing together the unique abilities of each of the three characters, players will become stronger, and advance faster in their ultimate goal to save the earth, offering hours of teen and family-friendly game play.

Reset Earth begins a year-long education initiative by the Ozone Secretariat to raise awareness and inspire action among adolescents and parents about global ozone layer protection. Immersive, educational and thought-provoking, Reset Earth conveys a positive message around what can be achieved through collective action and cultivates a sense of environmental responsibility and ownership amongst the youth.

Understanding that many young people are anxious about the future state of the planet, the Reset Earth campaign aims to show them the power of science, collaboration and cooperation in solving complex global challenges.

The campaign also offers a message of hope, showing how the global community was able to come together and solve one of the most complex environmental challenges at the time, with remarkable success. It happened once, and it can happen again!

The Reset Earth mobile game can be downloaded below for Android and iOS

iOS- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reset-earth/id1535965317

Android- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.UNEP.ResetEarth

Tournament favourite THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002 UNLIMITED MATCH strikes PlayStation 4 digitally today #Gaming

SNK CORPORATION has announced today that THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002 UNLIMITED MATCH (KOF 2002 UM) is now available to download on PlayStation®4 for £11.99/€14.99. A physical edition will arrive this spring. As the fully tuned up 2009 sequel to the critically acclaimed KOF 2002, KOF 2002 UM includes a bevy of new features on PlayStation®4, including a larger roster of 66 playable characters, a graphical overhaul, and redesigned abilities. The game’s online functionality is much smoother this time around thanks to the addition of rollback netcode.

Witness the unlimited matches that await with today’s launch trailer:

ONLINE FEATURES GALORE

◆ ROLLBACK NETCODE

KOF 2002 UM features updated rollback netcode that greatly reduces online lag during matches. Players are able to tweak settings in order to improve their online experiences.

◆ QOL ONLINE VERSUS FEATURES

KOF 2002 UM includes online features that allow players to study their matches and learn from their mistakes. These include the ability to rewatch one’s 10 most recent online matches, options that enable win/loss counters, and cooldowns to prevent rematching after a quick bout.

◆ 2 UNIQUE ONLINE MODES

Choose between “Rank Match,” where battle results are shared and ranked online, and “Player Match,” where fans can set their own versus battle settings. Fight to become the true King of Players on the international stage! The world is yours!

KOF 2002 IS FULLY TUNED UP!

◆ IMPRESSIVE ROSTER OF 66 PLAYABLE CHARACTERS!

In addition to the original cast of KOF 2002, a host of returning characters from previous instalments of “THE NESTS CHRONICLES,” hidden characters, and an exclusive character called “NAMELESS” join the tournament for the largest character roster in KOF history.

◆ REARRANGED GRAPHICS AND BGM

Every demo screen, cutscene, and winning screen has been completely overhauled. Furthermore, the game’s soundtrack has been remastered for even more intense matches.

◆ NUMEROUS NEW AND OLD MOVES ADDED

Along with the new moves and special moves specially created for this title, plenty of old moves return in KOF 2002 UM. Moreover, the game’s mechanics and characters’ abilities have been redesigned.

◆ LARGE UPGRADE OF MAX MODE AND MAX2

All the Desperation Moves in KOF 2002 UM can now be cancelled anytime via the “MAX Mode” system. The “MAX 2” ultimate moves are even more flashy and easier to use.