Tag: #gaming

Prepare to feel awful: Trolley Problem, Inc. launches onto PC 21 April

Trolley Problem, Inc., a darkly comedic philosophical adventure which judges players on their awful choices, will be launching onto PC on 21 April 2022.

Described by Forbes as “2022’s most important game…” Trolley Problem, Inc. is a deeply thoughtful and thoroughly awful narrative game which pressures players into making decisions based on genuine philosophical problems and then judges them – and the world.

With scenarios that challenge opinions on vaccinations, war, immigration, corporate espionage, religion… even the nature of decision making itself, Trolley Problem, Inc. will take players on a journey that could ultimately change how they view the world, themselves and ultimately the concept of free will.

Players are initially assessed as new recruits to Trolley Problem, Inc. – their suitability for employment determined through some initial introductory problem solving which only affects the lives of a few people and a dog. Two choices are offered – then a countdown begins. Pick the option you feel is right – but justifying your decisions to any family or friends watching you? Well, that’s your problem.

Oh, and Dead Ringers, Spitting Image and Skins actor Jan Ravens will be the one questioning all your choices by the way. No pressure.

“Everything is awful at the moment,” says Samuel Read-Graves, developer of Trolley Problem, Inc. “so what better way to take your mind off that fact by playing something which will make you feel worse? Trolley Problem, Inc. presents some genuinely testing and morally challenging scenarios based on philosophical problems and has been designed to spark debate in a format only possible through videogames. The journey isn’t entirely bleak – there are moments that I hope will make players laugh out loud – but ultimately, it’s a game about making hard choices and discovering more about yourself and how your moral compass compares with the rest of the world.”

Trolley Problem, Inc. features:

  • 55 intensely thought-provoking multiple-choice questions across a 90-minute playtime
  • Streamer mode allows content creators to engage with a live viewing audience
  • Multiple profiles allow local players to compare and discuss their choice – whilst global statistics reflect the choices players across the world have made
  • References to the original philosophical papers
  • A host of unlockables to discover throughout the game
  • The strangest ‘Achievements’ ever featured in a video game
  • Voice acting by Dead Ringers, Spitting Image and Skins actor, Jan Ravens
  • Support in 10 different languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Arabic

Trolley Problem, Inc. can be wishlisted on Steam now and is currently part of the London Games Festival, listed under ‘Games Are Good for You’.

Trolley Problem, Inc. will be available on PC on 21 April 2022 priced at £8.99 / $10.99 / €10.99. It has been developed by ReadGraves and will be published by Yogscast Games.

Jagex Partners Signs Deal With Outlier Games To Publish ‘This Means Warp’

Jagex, the leader in developing and publishing deep, community-driven video games, today announced that it has signed a deal with Irish/Canadian indie developer Outlier Games to publish the studio’s inaugural game – the spaceship management roguelike This Means Warp. The game is set to be released on PC via Steam Early Access on March 17th 2022.

Designed with multiplayer and replayability at its core, This Means Warp encourages players to cooperate and think tactically in hectic, real-time space battles, and adopt shrewd strategies as they guide their ship through a hostile, procedurally generated universe. Taking inspiration from roguelikes such as FTL and party games such as the Overcooked series, This Means Warp sees players control crew members onboard a ship, manning different systems, targeting weapons and conducting repairs, and ultimately charting a course through the treacherous void of space.

This Means Warp is the first game to be developed by Outlier Games, an independent studio founded by Paul Froggatt and Matt Rathbun in 2018, based in Dublin, Ireland, and Toronto, Canada. It will be the third game to be published by Jagex Partners, the publishing arm of the British game developer of deep, community-driven games and best known for the RuneScape franchise. Jagex Partners will be providing additional resources, marketing support and its extensive publishing experience throughout This Means Warp’s launch and commercial lifecycle.

Technical director and co-founder of Outlier Games Paul Froggatt said: “We’re incredibly excited to be working with Jagex Partners to bring This Means Warp to market. The scale of support that we’ve been able to draw on in the run up to our Early Access release has really impressed us, not just in terms of the specialised skill sets that the teams at Jagex bring to the table, but how much their support has allowed us to plan for the future of both This Means Warp and Outlier Games as a company. They’ve been nothing but responsive and professional throughout this entire process and we look forward to working closely with them moving forward.”

Phil Mansell, Jagex CEO, said: “When we were first introduced to Outlier Games, we were incredibly impressed with what they’d created in This Means Warp – it combines some of the best aspects of roguelikes with party games in a way that encourages cooperation and has endless replayability. What most stood out to us as a publisher was how Outlier has involved its community at every stage of development so far, putting player feedback at the centre of how the game is made, and influencing the direction its development has taken. As a publisher, it’s a rare pleasure to find a game that resonates with its player base, that can bring that appeal to the wider gaming audience, and that has serious long term commercial opportunity. We look forward to supporting the launch of This Means Warp later this year, and Outlier Games as a developer well into the future.”

More details about This Means Warp can be found on the official Steam Page here, where players can also enjoy a fully playable demo of the game prior to its launch on Steam Early Access later on March 17th 2022.

Tech Review – Edifier G2000 gaming speakers

The Edifier G2000 gaming speakers are a compact pair of speakers yet powerful with really nice bass aimed at gamers however these can be used for more than just gaming they can be used with your consoles mobile and PC as you will see in the video review below.

Build quality is also robust here and the controls are laid out simple too for ease of use with a mechanical shift lever to control the volume also present on the same side is the power on/off switch and a switch for light effects to change the mood which I find better than speakers that sit there and do nothing.The G2000 offers a range of connection options and is compatible with Bluetooth v4.2, USB and 3.5mm AUX; PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox, Laptop, TV, CD player and mobile phones can all easily be connected to begin your gaming experience, they however did not work with my Nintendo wii which is probably too old now but a console I still use today alongside my PS5 which I tested on and Xbox and works seamlessly.

Edifier G2000 speakers rear

Being small and compact as they are makes these portable and can be easily moved to another room if required and as an example during my testing this is what I did and to connect to another device is hassle free, these are also great for your laptop and for your mobile phone if you want to blast out the tunes so they are a worthy investment if you want some speakers to do just more than entertain the gaming folk and for me make them a sensible purchase that packs a punch with sound too and will easily fill a room in any house.

Edifier G2000 front

Main Features:

  • 2.75-inch full-range unit with 16W RMS power output
  • Column-shaped cabinet with backward mega bass port
  • 12 light effects enhance the gaming experience
  • Mechanical shift lever easy to control volume
  • Music, game and movie sound modes supported
  • Bluetooth/USB sound card/AUX input available
  • Dedicated power adapter for stable and safe power supply
  • Subwoofer output interface included

BUY 

Video Link

Historical Settings in Video Games

We all have preferences when it comes to video games. While some of us prefer action-adventure and first-person shooters, others prefer simulation games. However, there are also players that prefer the historical video game genre. These games can have various other subgenres and can be shooters and adventure as well but what they all have in common is the portrayal of a historical event, person, or civilization, whether accurately or as a fictional tale. If you’re on the lookout for some games with a historical setting, consider the following.

Red Dead Redemption 2

According to www.venturebeat.com unofficial figures and analyst estimations, Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most expensive video games ever, seeing as how it was in development for over eight years before it was released in 2018 for PlayStation4 and Xbox One. 

The setting takes you to a fictionalized version of the Southern, Western, and Midwestern United States in 1899 as you follow an outlaw by the name of Arthur Morgan while he deals with the decline of the Wild West. In the process, you have to survive against rival gangs, government forces, and other opponents. However, you are also free to take side missions and explore the interactive open world.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

When it comes to historical games, a franchise that you can consider is certainly Assassin’s Creed. For example, the series’ tenth major installment Assassin’s Creed Origins came out in 2017. This action role-playing game is primarily set in Egypt at the end of the Ptolemaic period. Origins follows Bayek of Siwa and his wife Aya while exploring the conflict between the Hidden Ones and The Order of the Ancients. However, there are also parts of the narrative happening in the 21st century, following Layla Hassan – a new character. 

If you love history, you will love how evocative this game is of the period and location it takes place in. Moreover, this period not only inspired big games like Assassin’s Creed Origins, but has influenced many others in the industry. Another great example is online casino slot games such as Egyptian King, Legacy of Egypt, and Doom of Egypt that can be found at www.superseven.com. Based on historical elements and ancient symbols, they provide players with lots of mysteries and hidden riches.

Age of Empires IV

Set during the Early Middle Ages and High Middle Ages, Age of Empires IV was released in October 2021 for Windows. In this real-time strategy game, you can choose from four campaigns at the start, consisting of 35 missions in total. With that in mind, you can decide whether you will play The Normans (the Norman conquest of England), The Hundred Years War (a France vs England conflict), The Mongol Empire (the expansion of the empire), or The Rise of Moscow (the rise of Grand Duchy of Moscow) first before you move on to other campaigns. The game received generally favorable reviews so you will surely enjoy everything it has to offer.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

A game that received praise for its story, focus on realism, and attention to detail that you can consider playing is Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Released in 2018 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, the game takes place in the medieval Kingdom of Bohemia, in the early 15th century. 

In addition to avenging his family and restoring the rightful king to the throne, as the player, you will also get to explore the open-world environment and branching quest lines. Moreover, you will surely love the period-accurate clothing, architecture, weapons, and combat techniques.

Ghost of Tsushima

Developed by Sucker Punch Productions and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game that is set during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. You will get to control Jin Sakai, a samurai whose task is to protect Tsushima Island. Various sets of charms, armor and clothing can be unlocked while playing. It’s available for PlayStation 4 and 5 and it sold a whopping eight million copies by January 2022.

Battlefield 1

In case you’d rather play a first-person shooter, you can opt for Electronic Arts’ Battlefield 1. It was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in 2016 and received positive reviews. The game is inspired by historical events that transpired during World War I and you can use weapons from this period such as submachine guns, flamethrowers, automatic and semi-automatic rifles, and poison gas as well as take control of tanks, torpedo boats, armored trains, M-class zeppelins, and bi- and tri-plane aircraft. You can also check out Battlefield V review at www.ign.com, which is set in World War II.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Another game set during WWI is Valiant Hearts: The Great War. It is a side-scrolling, puzzle adventure game where four characters help a German soldier find his love. To beat the game, players need to solve puzzles they are presented with when interacting with people and objects. Released on the one-hundredth anniversary of WWI, the game received generally positive reviews and it’s available on various platforms.

If you’re looking for video games with a historical setting, there are so many to choose from. The above-mentioned 7 titles should be enough to get you going, and you can expect many hours of fun. Happy gaming!

The Ultimate FIFA 22 Gaming Setup For Students

Gaming has become one of the nation’s favourite pastimes over recent years, and its popularity is only increasing, therefore the correct setup is essential for FIFA gamers, and gamers in general, particularly when entertaining their friends!
In light of this and following the launch of FIFA 22 the student accommodation provider, Nido Student, has created the ultimate gaming setup to help students level up their rooms and host their very own FIFA 22 tournament in style.

The setup includes the best – but budget-friendly – chairs to tech lighting and accessories and it all comes in at under £250.

Decent sized TV – £159.99

A large tv screen allows you to see more of the pitch and get fully immersed in the game.

Shelving unit – £29.00

Shelving units work as storage for your games, devices and other accessories. Shelving units also act as a stand for your tv, elevating the screen above eye level in prime gaming position avoiding neck strain.

Sound Bar – £17.99

For a next-level gaming experience use a sound bar, producing a 3D audio experience whilst not taking up much space. The sound bar can also be used when you are chilling watching Netflix or listening to music.

Gaming chair – £11.99

You’ll be spending hours of action in your gaming chair so it is important that you are comfortable and supported. For console gaming, an elevated tv paired with a floor gaming chair makes for a more relaxed gaming setup.

Controller charger – £6.98

Running out of charge mid-way through play is never a good feeling, prevent it by getting charger stations for your controllers so when you do play you are fully charged.

Picture Frame – £9.40

Add your own personal touch to your ultimate gaming setup with pictures and prints around your room, this may be posters from your favourite movies or pictures of you and your friends and family.

Headset – £5.98
Immerse yourself into your game whilst being less noisy to your neighbours by using a headset. Headsets also make it easier to communicate with other players with a microphone attached.

LED Light Set Up – £4.59

Take your gaming setup to the next level with LED lights. LED lights are easy to set up and with the wide variety of colour options and brightness you can add that extra bit of atmosphere whilst gaming. Place the lights along your ceiling or around your shelving units and tv. The lights are also easy to remove as long as applied correctly so don’t worry about losing your student house deposit by sticking the lights up!

Ethernet cable – £3.04

Ethernet cables provide a more stable and secure internet connection, connecting your console directly to the wifi router or modem means you don’t need to worry about dropping out of a match because of your internet speed.

Total – £248.96

Additional Extras

Food and snacks – Just Eat – Student deals

 

Tournament wall chart

Keep tabs on who is winning in tournaments with your friends with a wall chart, update it after every match and crown the rightful champion at the end.

Reliable wifi

A strong internet connection is pivotal for high performance, a good wifi connection alongside the use of an ethernet cable is the perfect solution for your gaming needs.

FIFA card art 

Add a personalised touch to your gaming setup with your own personalised FIFA card with your own name, photo and skills.

FIFA Spotify playlist 

FIFA is known for its iconic playlists every year, with new and upcoming artists often included such as Bakar and Alfie Templeman. Get the tunes playing to get your game face on.

Note: FIFA 22 game, console and controllers are not included in the overall price. And of course, you can head to Facebook Marketplace and the like to hunt down these items – if that’s the case then let this be your shopping guide!

Samantha Hollex, Head of Operations at Nido Student, said: “We have seen that gaming rooms and socials are increasingly becoming more popular in PBSA and so we’re delighted to be able to share these tips and tricks for a gaming setup on a budget, following the much anticipated FIFA 22 game launch.”

Esports Betting 2022 – What can we expect?

The end of the year is just around the corner and we all know that means; the whole world is currently at the tips of its toes itching to see what new trends & quirks the world of tech innovation is going to have to offer for us throughout the coming year. Thousands of companies within numerous industries such as gaming are working at overdrive to bring us all new ideas to enhance our experiences and take their industries to the next level. The Esports industry has been growing massively throughout 2021 and has become closely intertwined with the betting industry, creating a massive partnership that’s bound to grow and improve as time passes.

Just to give you a vague idea of how fast the esports industry is growing, in 2020 the total revenue generated by Esports was around 950 million US Dollars, while in 2021, it went up with over 100 million USD, capping at $1,087,000,000,000 (1.09 billion).

The biggest advancements we have seen so far in the Esports & betting scenes.

 

Esports – Audience Engagement

Events are becoming bigger than ever and have become a widely accessible global phenomena. One of the biggest improvements Esports competitions have seen throughout this year was an outstanding increase in audience engagement. Not only have they improved and widely spread numerous online platforms to stream esports tournaments, they have also become accessible on live television, specific league websites, and even social media. This has increased the industry’s reach well enough to project a very attractive future for the world of Esports and those who are knee deep in it. 

Betting – Interpretation of modern technological advancements

The online betting scene has become safer and more trustworthy than ever before with regards to online security and fairness. There are also plenty of review websites that list the safest betting sites in Ireland, assuring you that you’re not being scammed as you bet on your favourite esports gamers with the hopes of getting it right and coming out with a nice little profit. Not only have blockchain technologies allowed us to constantly observe every single live transaction and win that takes place in real-time, we are also seeing betting companies set the bar for all kinds of services, such as live streaming, customer service, payment options, mobile use as an alternative for computers and more.

What will the esports betting scene be like next year?

Larger events, more skilled players, more tournaments and competitions, as well as all the leagues we know and love from the past few years. All the classic games which are widely renowned in the Esports betting scene aren’t going anywhere, anyone who has interest in the industry would know which games we’re talking about;

Counter Strike:Global Offensive (CSGO)

The classic PC-exclusive competitive first person shooter is anticipated to take flight in the competitive gaming betting scene once more for its 10th anniversary, after holding a solid gamers & bettors community since 2012, is set to be amongst the biggest titles to lead the Esports betting industry next year. The game even has its own global leagues such as the ESL Pro Tour, already set on calendars for 2022.

Dota 2

One of the most popular games to ever set foot in the Esports world, Dota 2, will surely be returning  next year with all kinds of tournaments thanks to its particularly competitive playstyle. The International Dota 2 championships earn competitors millions of dollars and they will keep growing in popularity as the profitability of the industry rises. Dota 2 also has numerous events in preparation to keep us entertained throughout the next year.

 

We might also be seeing some newer games enter the scene

Halo Infinite

This might be the only XBOX classic title that we will ever see in the global esports betting world, since Microsoft have now made XBOX games accessible on PC. We haven’t really seen much of the past Halo titles in the competitive Esports industry, however the all new Halo Infinite is anticipated to be a game changer to the Esports world.

More, More, More!!!

According to the Olympic community, the Asian Games of 2022 will also host an Esports event, featuring debut games such as Dream Three Kingdoms 2, Hearthstone, Street Fighter V, PUBG mobile version, and more! 

The leagues confirmed for next year

2022 is set to be jam-packed with all kinds of events to fuel the Esports industry with more hype and popularity than ever before. Some of the competitions which we are sure to be seeing next year due to already having confirmed dates can be found below;

 

  • One Esports Dota 2 World Pro Invitational – Jakarta – 01/01/2022
  • 2022 Perfect World DPC Winter: Division 1 – China – 03/01/2022
  • 2021 DreamHack SC2 Masters: Last Chance – Online – 13/01/2022
  • 2022 League Championship Series – USA – 14/01/2022 

 

Enter gamigo’s House of Wonders for magical Christmas surprises

gamigo is happy to ring in the holiday season with the launch of a gift-giving Christmas event for all its players.

Starting December 1 through December 31, gamigo players will be able to get a wonderful gift in gamigo’s Advent calendar or participate in a raffle. Every day, a new surprise will wait for them when they return to the House of Wonders website. gamigo’s Santa will put the presents in the doors of the Advent calendar for players to unwrap every day at 10am CET. From in-game items to hardware raffles, Santa has thought of everything to fulfill everyone’s wishes.

But that’s not the end of gamigo’s Christmas celebrations – players can also open Wonder Boxes! Each of these boxes will contain one of the most desired in-game items for the participating games. Since Santa and his elves can only carry a limited number of boxes each day, players can return the following day for a new sleigh-load full of Wonder Boxes.

Is there more? Of course! If players log in to their favorite gamigo games for at least 30 minutes per day between December 1 and December 31, they will then be able to enter a giveaway to win a comfy and stylish gaming chair from Nitro Concepts.

On December 17 and 30 at 7pm CET, gamigo’s elves have prepared something special for the players – special Santa streams where Santa and his elves will bring cheer, merriment, and tons of gifts.

Come and join gamigo’s gift-giving Christmas season and be magically surprised!

Website: http://houseofwonders.gamigo.com/

Tech Review – Sades spirits gaming headphones

Sades spirits are a simple plug and play option pair of gaming headphones that just keeps things simple, there is no app no set up and little controls to be worried about which just makes life nice and easy, they a made from plastic and have soft cups for the ears which makes them ideal for long periods of use.

They have the familiar ratchet style extension arms both sides and the controls or lack thereof are all kept simple on one side to and this might draw up the question on how they sound with just two controls on the headset to adjust. One control is a wheel which adjusts the volume and the other is a mic control and both found on the left earcup.

The headset is light and comes in many colours too which for gamers is a win as there is no RGB lighting effects going on here at all so having the options from a big colour range will have to do the job here, The headband is comfortable which again is ideal for long periods and ideal being such a light headset.

Sades Spirits gaming headset techuzzireland

Sound is fine which is what we all want to know, it will not win awards for the lack of features however being a simple plug and play you can adjust settings on your console of choice and work from there, there is 50mm speakers inside and overall they do a good job and users will be happy especially if you are a first time customer and want to try out such headphones for your set up at home. The mic works well too and is adjustable and clear both ends when gaming. The headset can be used on phones with a headphone jack and works well here too so if you have a console or phone you game on they get the job done.

Overall it is a great cost effective headset on the cheap and is fairly robust and ideal for kids more so and the range of colors available makes good for the consumer for choice. From my testing on mobile phone, PS5 Switch and Xbox one they do a good job.

Suitable for all 3.5mm interface devices. Support PS4 / XBOX ONE ( 2015 Version ) / Laptop / Mobile Devices / VR / Switch. The Y-cable(Adapter cable) is ready for connecting the PC.

BUY 

Unboxing Video

 

 

The History of the Season Pass

Season passes are a novel form of game monetization that have been around in various forms for some time, but have risen in prominence thanks to their association with immensely popular battle royale style games such as PUBG and Fortnite. The basic premise of a season pass follows the real world concept of a sporting season ticket, and gives gamers open access to time bound events and activities in a game’s world. These frequently run for about 3 months before expiring, at which point a new season pass must be redeemed. With each season, developers offer fresh content, features and customisation options to incentivise renewal. This method of monetization is very effective as it means a game can continue earning revenue long past its initial release date. The concept has a long running association with DLC (downloadable content packs) release and can be seen as a refinement and serialisation of them. 

Monetization models

The season pass is but one of the many game monetization models that has been in the ascendancy with the rise and proliferation of smartphone gaming. In this space, season passes rub shoulders alongside a range of diverse game monetization strategies. These range from those seen on iGaming platforms, where promotional offers on online variants remain attractive to new and returning patrons, to the well known freemium model that has maintained primacy in the app store for over a decade.

History and development

Early prominent uses of the season pass model included 2011’s L.A. Noire, by GTA developers Rockstar Games. This paved the way for major developers such as EA to begin offering season passes for their league franchise games under their sub-brand, EA Sports. Season passes experienced a renewal of interest around the mid 2010s when a new type of free-to-play game became popular among gamers. These games, following the template laid out by PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), are built around battle royale gameplay wherein a large number of players, sometimes in excess of 100, battle it out on a single large map to a last-man-standing rule-set. 

These games, of which Fortnite is now the most popular, attracted players due to their free-to-play status. These games all offer customization features and additional game-mechanics that can only be purchased once players pay for the current season pass (sometimes called a battle pass). By letting gamers invest time and energy into a game, they are statistically far more likely to want to invest monetarily over the long run, especially if this lets them display their identification with the game’s community to other players. 

Impact

By offering season passes as a doorway into letting people acquire DLC microtransactions, Fortnite has earned over $9 billion since its release in 2017. Other major game developers are rapidly following suit, with Activision launching a battle royale free-to-play version of its Call of Duty franchise in Call of Duty: Warzone, an enterprise that has already generated nearly $500 million in revenue since its 2020 release date. Japanese developers Square Enix, the company behind the long running and immensely popular RPG series Final Fantasy, recently launched Final Fantasy: VII — The First Soldier, their own take on a battle pass style massively multiplayer arena game. 343 Studios, the developers working on Halo: Infinite have also announced, following a long running open beta of its multiplayer mode, that it will be available as a free-to-play add-on to the main game, and will use its own version of a battle pass.

Changing landscape

Where this trend will end is hard to see at this point, as news that a major iterative title like Halo: Infinite, set to be the new Xbox Series X/S’s de facto flagship game, will be using a free-to-play season pass for its multiplayer will increase the likelihood that this will become commonplace among major console games. All of this points to a change in the way games are made, marketed and consumed by the industry. This is reflective of the sector coming to terms with the rise of massive multiplayer gaming, and in exploring the best way to monetize this shift into the future.