No Ifs or Putts as Frenetic Deck-Builder Golfie Launches into Early Access on 26th May for PC

Triheart Studio and Yogscast Games today announced Golfie, an eccentric, fast-paced mini golf experience that combines deck-building and roguelike mechanics, launches into Early Access on PC via Steam on 26th May.

See Golfie in action in the trailer here:

 

 

Golfie challenges players to complete 18 procedurally generated holes by combining standard mini golf shots with randomly drawn shot and effect cards which players collect as they progress through their round.

Each run requires strategy, planning, and skill by building unique decks which can unlock incredible new ways to play. Card powers can vary from increasing the distance or elevation of a standard shot, through to out-of-this-world abilities and power-ups which can be combined to dazzling effect. But be careful: finish over par or fall into traps and players will lose energy – and once it’s totally depleted, the run is over.

The game debuts into Early Access with a thrilling single-player roguelike campaign, which can be played via random courses, Daily Runs and individual seeds – each with their own global leader board. The further players get through a run, the more progression points they will gain, allowing them to unlock an ever-expanding list of cosmetic items with which they can customise their ball. Eventually complete a full 18 holes and players will gain access to the daunting endless mode, which is where the real challenge begins.

Golfie will evolve during Early Access thanks to feedback from the wonderful community. Planned content updates include online multiplayer (scheduled to arrive in the Summer), expanded card powers and perks, plus a new series of hazards which will challenge even the most experienced Golfie players.

“Golfie is unlike any golf or deckbuilding game you have ever played,” says Simon Byron, Director of Publishing, Yogscast Games. “It’s been a real pleasure working with Triheart Studio to create something so uniquely enjoyable that it defies comparison. Some of the shot combinations during the public playtests have been eye-poppingly joyful – elements of skill and chance combining to create nothing you’ve seen in a golf game before. I’m really, really looking forward to seeing what players can do when the game launches in a couple of weeks.

Golfie key features:

  • Pitch and putt your way through beautiful courses set across four distinct biomes
  • No two courses are the same, thanks to the procedurally generated nature of each hole
  • Collect cards, coins and perks on your way to golfing glory
  • Create incredible shot synergies which can result in extraordinarily powerful ways to play – can you get a hole in *none*?
  • Play entirely randomised courses, or compete against the world in Daily Runs, which offer one chance to play the same course as the rest of the world
  • So much more to come.

Golfie is available on 26th May via Steam priced at £14.99 / €17.99 / $17.99, with a 20 per cent launch discount. It has been developed by Triheart Studio and will be published by Yogscast Games.

Fnatic partners with Chillblast as official global exclusive PC & notebook partner

London-based global esports brand Fnatic has today revealed its latest partnership with performance PC specialist Chillblast. As part of the multi-year partnership deal, Chillblast will become the global (excluding Japan) exclusive Fnatic PC and notebook partner with custom Fnatic styled PCs going live on sale today. A range of Fnatic x Chillblast co-branded PC and Notebooks will be created throughout the multi-year partnership and will be unlike anything Fnatic have done before, with a wide variety of unique and limited-edition designs created to celebrate key moments for Fnatic.

As part of the multi-year partnership deal, Chillblast will be manufacturing and supplying custom Fnatic PCs to all Fnatic pro team/creators to ensure they can compete at the highest possible level by being equipped with PCs that are #TheChoiceOfChampions. Fnatic and Chillblast will collaborate on creating innovative and engaging content and activations for Fnatic fans while Chillblast’s logo will also feature on the Official Fnatic Pro Kit worn by Fnatic pro-teams which will be available to purchase on Fnatic’s shop in the near future.

With Fnatic being the No.1 performance esports brand, this partnership will help level up Fnatic’s pro teams to an even greater level with incredible performance PCs provided by Chillblast. Over 370+ Medals have been won by Fnatic during their legacy, including the first ever League of Legends Worlds Championships in 2011, we know what it takes to become Champions and the importance of performance. That’s why we’ve partnered with the best, Chillblast. Chillblast will also become an official Fnatic Gear reseller with Chillblast x Fnatic PCs being available to buy from a number of retailers from today including Chillblast.com, Box.co.uk and CCLonline.com.

Fnatic CEO, Sam Mathews said: “Our players know that to be able to compete at the best in-game, we need to have the best performing systems. Chillblast will be able to offer excellent performance along with unique fantastic Fnatic team designs. We can’t think of a better PC manufacturer to partner with than Chillblast to demonstrate our commitment to support our players with the highest levels of PC performance, while also offering fans the opportunity to access the same systems that our players use.” 

Tactus Group CEO, Scott Brenchley said: “Everyone at Chillblast is excited to enter into this partnership with Fnatic. We’re obsessed with providing the highest levels of performance and service, enabling gamers to compete at the highest levels. The teams at Fnatic need to have the best quality equipment to perform at their best and we’re eager to help them succeed in every aspect of their game. We are also incredibly excited to work with the professionals to further develop our gaming PC solutions, and provide the next generation of grassroots esports players with outstanding professional grade kit”.

What Are the Main Features of a Gaming PC?

Today gaming PCs come in various shapes and sizes. You can find small PCs such as the MSI Trident X, Midsize PCs such as the AVADirect Avant, and colossal gaming PCs such as the Origin Millenium. Small PCs are inconspicuous and can be placed where large PCs can’t.

They are perfect for gamers who don’t have large tabletops that can fit larger systems. However, having a small PC can limit any future customizations you’d want to make to the unit. For instance, small PCs don’t have excellent cooling systems, and it can be hard to change this.

Midsize gaming PCs are the most preferred because they strike a balance on size and processing power. They are small enough to be placed on a tabletop but still big enough to be fitted with extra bits such as better cooling and more processing power.

A gaming PC is a substantial investment; therefore, you need to treat it with the utmost importance. From the processing speed to the storage space, there are a lot of considerations. This review will give you a breakdown of the most important features of a gaming PC.

The Main Features of a Gaming PC Include:

A Good Processor

When buying a gaming PC, the CPU is one of the first specs to consider. You need a CPU that can handle games and software superbly. Gaming PCs work online primarily, and they need heavy antimalware software. But worry not, it’s easy to download best antivirus for Mac gaming PC. An antivirus helps prevent hackers from taking over your gaming rig. It will also prevent your PC from lagging due to overclocking its speed.

The processor core is vital in gaming PCs, and the options vary from a mere two to sixteen. For a gaming PC, the lowest you should go is a four-core chip. However, six-core chips have become affordable, and you can try one such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X.

If you intend to use the gaming PC for some other high-power functions, such as editing, you need to consider getting a gaming PC with an 8-core processor. This comes in handy when you are running heavy software such as Final Cut Pro.

Enough RAM

For your gaming PC to run smoothly, it’s vital to have adequate RAM, but you don’t need to go overboard. A proper gaming PC should have at least 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient to handle most games and other software. 

While you can have more RAM, it won’t certainly increase the PC’s performance. It will enable you to run more apps concurrently, but your machine will be relatively slower if you don’t have a dedicated video RAM (VRAM). Gamers will opt for more memory when they are overclocking.

A Dedicated GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

The single most crucial element that sets gaming PCs apart is having a dedicated GPU. A sound graphics card gives you a lot of gaming performance boost, and you should stay away from cheap graphics cards.

If you’re building yourself a gaming rig, about a third of the budget should be towards getting a good graphics card such as the NVidia GTX 960. This graphics card strikes a good balance between performance and price. 

While you can still buy a cheap graphics card, you will notice that performance isn’t excellent. On the other hand, if you want to run VR (virtual reality) games on your rig, you should have a graphics card such as the NVidia GTX 1070.

Cooling

Cooling isn’t directly connected to good performance, but having a good cooling system can improve your gaming experience. But if you don’t mind overclocking or the massive noise levels, you don’t need to invest in a better cooling system.

If you want pin-drop silence from your rig, getting a better cooling system is vital. Air cooling is affordable and efficient enough to cool your rig, but if you want a cooling unit that looks good and, at the same time, works great, you need a water-cooling system.

Motherboard

The motherboard is responsible for integrating all components of your gaming PC. You shouldn’t buy a cheap motherboard, and at the same time, you shouldn’t break the bank. The motherboard consists of chipsets and sockets. 

You need to ensure your processor fits into the sockets, if you’re building your own rig but if you’re buying a pre-built one no need to concern yourself with this. With regard to the chipsets, there is a lot to consider—the most vital being whether you want to overclock your CPU or not.

Final Thought

All in all, when buying or building yourself a gaming PC, you need to strike a balance on all the features illustrated above. You need to know what you want the gaming experience to be like and then work around your objectives to get a good rig that satisfies you.

Should an Obsessive PC Player Take a Career in Software Engineering?

On one hand, someone with such a keen interest in video games might have the analytical skills and creative thinking necessary for a successful career in software engineering. On the other hand, some might argue that too much time spent playing video games could lead to a lack of focus and dedication in this more serious field. So, what’s the right answer? Let’s find out. 

What Software Engineering Requires

The first thing we should consider is what software engineering entails. It’s not just about knowing how to code – it’s about understanding algorithms, being able to solve complex problems, and having strong analytical skills. It also requires at least an online software engineering degree because with proper education you can better master the knowledge needed. A software engineer needs to be able to think abstractly and see the big picture. They need to be able to understand how the different parts of a system fit together and how they interact with each other. They also need to be able to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Communication Skills Are A Must

In addition to all of this, a successful software engineer needs to be a good communicator. They need to be able to explain their ideas clearly and concisely, both in writing and in person. They also need to be able to listen attentively and understand the ideas of others.

The Skills of a Gamer

Now that we know what’s required for a career in software engineering, let’s take a look at some of the skills that a gamer might have. Gamers are often very analytical and good at problem-solving. They’re also typically creative and have strong attention to detail. They often have strong technical skills and are familiar with different coding languages. They’re also usually good at working under pressure and can stay calm under stress.

Are These Skills Transferable?

So, do the skills that gamers have transferred over to a career in software engineering? The answer is yes – many of them do. However, it’s important to note that not all gamers will have all of the necessary skills for software engineering. And, even if they do have the skills, they might not be able to transfer them over to this new field. It’s also worth noting that many of the required skills for software engineering can be learned through proper education and training. It’s ultimately up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to pursue a career in software engineering. If they have the required skills and are willing to put in the hard work, then there’s a good chance they’ll be successful in this field. However, if they’re not dedicated or don’t have the right skill set, then it’s probably not the best career choice for them.

So, someone who is an obsessive PC player could have a successful career in software engineering if they have the right skills and are willing to put in the hard work. However, it’s ultimately up to the individual to decide whether or not this is the right career choice for them.