Video Games

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Be me. Playing “Pokémon Red” in 1998 the year of the game’s release. At friend’s house, grinding to level my Charmeleon on my blue Game Boy Pocket. Friend’s family’s two Basset Hounds slobbering all over me and everything else in the place–smells horrible. Enjoying the the thrill of filling my seemingly endless Pokédex. Jamming to the unforgettable soundtrack while battling your average Weeble. Hounds continue to droop and slather in my proximity. Learning the intricacies of the game’s type and combat system. Menacing gym leaders are no match for my untouchable Pokésquad. Unable to realize at the time this memory will stick with me for about twenty years.

“Pokémon” has made a lasting impression on me. Playing the old and modern games now creates a sense of nostalgia that I can’t shake! The Pokémon are still so charming. Gameplay continues to evolve–heck, I think the later titles would be too hard for me to pick up as a nine your old. It’s like the franchise is geared for older players who might have an unshakeable memory from their past involving two Basset Hounds and “Pokémon Red.” So, I’ll be over here drinking G Fuel and playing “Pokémon Moon.”

According to Urban Dictionary a stream sniper is “one who is watching/following a streamer into a server or a game queue just to kill and taunt them.” However, I think it goes beyond just trying to kill the streamer these days. So, why do players really do it in the first place? Let’s speculate.

They Want that 15 Seconds of Fame

I’m probably being generous by giving these guys 15 seconds of fame, it’s more like 5. Stream snipers are never remembered.

They Straight Suck at the Game

Looking for a streamer in a multiplayer game is modern-day cheating at it’s worst. Stream snipers are plebs.

They Are, in Fact, Trolls

Let’s go inside the mind of a stream sniper: “There are so many people watching this streamer. I feel like ruining the experience for everyone.”

Too bad large-scale streaming has run into this unnecessary problem, one I don’t see ending any time soon. Hopefully, some stream snipers read this and have second thoughts about the senseless act!

A perfect example of a whack stream sniper in action:

Despite being overlooked from time to time, the Nintendo 3DS is a brilliant piece of tech with a solid library of games. The handheld just got a ton better, thanks to the release of “Metroid: Samus Returns.” After putting in multiple hours into the new title, I have to say it makes the 3DS look good!

The game’s hard-hitting parry mechanic adds a fun twist to the already engaging “Metroid” combat. However, it does seem weird that all the enemies enjoying charging at you just you can stun them with a parry and shoot them to shreds. Shooting is tight, holding L allows the player to free aim Samus’ arm cannon. Aeon abilities play a big part in “Samus Returns.” One of them allows you to scan large areas of the map to reveal pathways and hidden areas. Making exploring more rewarding than ever.

Considering the 3DS’ lifespan is quickly coming to an end, a “Metroid” game should have come out years ago. Nintendo dropped the ball on that one. But I will settle with having “MSR” now because it was worth the wait.

Check out the trailer which features the parry I mentioned earlier. What’s your take on it?

 

We all know I’m far to scared to play horror games–but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what’s good to throw into your system just in time for Halloween.

3. Bloodborne | PS4 – Can someone say macabre AF? A fun, challenging and creepy game that perfectly aligns with Halloween. The damn soundtrack is haunting–trying to fight an OP boss with it blasting in your ear canal couldn’t be more chilling.

 

2. Resident Evil 7 | Xbox One/PS4/PC – I am SCARED of this game. It made me realize that I can’t dip into the horror genre without becoming some sort of shrieking moron. The feeling of helplessness taunts the players in this one–and just when you think you are safe–that’s when the real scares begin…

 

1. Silent Hill 2 | Xbox/PS2/PS3/PC – This Game is an absolute classic. The sounds, visuals and strange characters will leave you with nightmares and an unsettling feeling that will stay with you long after you put down the controller. I remember playing this game with a friend, back in the day and I couldn’t hang–had to tap out–go outside–play. Of course, this lead to immediate teasing from said friend who is obviously braver.

Happy Halloween from LNG.

When I think about video game streaming, my mind instantly pulls in the thought of Twitch. However, the other day a coworker introduced me to Caffeine, the new kid on the block when it comes to streaming. I was very intrigued, could this be a big time competitor to Twitch? I pulled both mission statements from the streaming services and you should read them. Notice the completely contrasting styles of formatting and writing styles.

Caffeine.tv

Caffeine makes streaming your game dead-simple and insanely fast. How fast? Your audience feels like they are in the same room with you as you play. That fast. Seriously.

To do this, we built our own streaming software, delivery network and viewing experience. The result? True real-time video. One-click setup. In-game overlays. More fun for you, your fans and friends.

It’s time to reimagine streaming…and this is just the beginning ?

Twitch.tv

Since launching in 2011, Twitch has evolved its reputation as the world’s leading social video platform and community for video game culture to now encompass an array of emerging content surfaced by its users. As a result, 10 million visitors gather each day to watch and talk about video games, music, the creative arts, themselves, and other beyond gaming topics with more than 2 million streamers. We invite you to join the millions of people who come to Twitch to stream, view, and interact around these shared passions together.

The Showdown

Caffeine’s service is focused on the streamer themselves. It’s annoying that you won’t find a list of games that you can choose to watch, but rather just a list of streamers. I don’t know who any of them are so it’s kinda pointless. Caffeine is also affiliated with Twitter. Linking your social media account will double as your user name. This also proves that point that this service is all about the streamer instead of the games themselves since Twitter is just a personality based system. The streams don’t have any delay. As soon as you join a channel, the streamer can chat you up.

Then, there’s Twitch. The streaming solution that I’ve been using for years. Their focus is on the games and the personalities are a bonus to the viewer. An aspect that really wins me over. At this point, I don’t see Twitch being dethroned by Caffeine. Their formula is tried and true to the gaming community. But who knows, lets kick back drink a Cola and see who wins out in the real world.

“Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds” is one of the top 3 most watched games on Twitch everyday since its release and for good reason. It just works great as a stream game right from the parachute drop to the final deadly circle.

The choose-your-intensity battle royal gameplay allows streamers to interact heavily with chat which in turn makes viewers flock like the salmon of Capistrano. The game requires players to travel, sometimes long distances, to reach objectives which are certain geographical locations. All the while, the streamer can read donations, subscriptions and be friendly to chat making everyone happy.

Tight gun play creates thrilling face-offs and intense moments. This goes double when you watch someone who has stellar aim like Summit1g or Shroud.

The game don’t take itself too seriously either. This isn’t a “H1Z1” or anything like that. It’s kinda goofy and set in a fictional island in Russia. Nuff said.

Grab yourself some G Fuel or a Coke and tune in!

 

The /r/Rainbow6 subreddit is abuzz right now with players saying the latest “R6” update has crashed their Playstation 4–permanently. After visiting their friends list, in game or on the dashboard, players say the PS4 freezes with no way of getting the system to turn back on normally.  The worst part is, there doesn’t look to be a remedy in sight! And everyone wants to know who is to blame: Sony, Ubisoft or both? Both corporate parties are aware of the issue and have made brief statements with very little info other than something along the lines of hold tight.

It really is a scary thought that a simple update can have major consequences. I didn’t even realize this could be possible. My console downloaded the update yesterday at 9:00am–my PS4 has had the sickness for 24 hours! I am being careful not to boot up “Siege” or try to access my friends list and my PS4 hasn’t shown any signs of death, thank God. We’ll all have to wait and see how this will be resolved!

Let me take you back to when I first bought “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.” It was during the 2016 Cyber Monday sale on Amazon. A very cheap buy, maybe like thirteen bucks for the physical copy, I was stoked! Threw the disk into the PS4 and instantly got overwhelmed by the sheer number of objectives, collectables and characters the game offers! I put “ACS” away for almost a year, felt an urge to break it out a month ago and haven’t stopped playing since.

The Break Through

Here’s how I I coped with the AAA titles’s incredible amount of content. Liberating Victorian era London from the Blighter gang’s control is super satisfying and an easy way to narrow the scope of the game. This method allowed me to get comfortable with all the other dimensions of “ACS” too like crafting gear and collecting items.

Being OP Is Underrated

Early into the game, I found myself playing a reoccurring sidequest which consisted of stealing the Blighter’s cargo from carts and boats a lot. These missions are fun AF–and little-by-little my money and XP went through the roof. I was able to buy all the gang upgrades then use my XP to nearly max out my character’s skill tree. So now, I feel like a damn God in the game. Sneaking around is quick and exciting. Fighting enemies alongside my gang is a breeze but brutal and super satisfying. This does make catching up on the main missions really easy but that’s fine. After all, being OP fits a seriously lethal assassin.

Will I Keep Playing?

Yes! I’m 50% done with the whole sequence and I’m not burnt out yet. Lets go!

Watch the trailer below:

The developer blog says it all: “Reducing the total number of maps available for play in the Casual playlist make the process of learning the maps that Rainbow Six has to offer easier for new players.” The blog goes on to say, “We are quickly approaching the limit of our data sizes, and this will require a rework of how our maps are stored. As a result, we are currently planning on removing maps from the game entirely down the road (not in Season 3).” As a long-time “R6 Siege” player I ask,  why is Ubi really pulling this?

Are rookie players the future of this game? Could their season pass money which will flood in keep Ubi’s doors open? I just want to know, because what they said is completely bullshit. Tough luck if the game is hard, don’t take maps away. Tough luck if your data sizes are approaching their limit, don’t take maps away. I digress. I need a coke.

According to G Fuel’s website, the Twitch-sponsoring energy drink wasn’t created for gym rats but rather for the gamer looking for an edge. It’s designed to increase focus and awareness unlike anything else on the market. After a big spiel geared toward gamers the website also says it can work in “split-second decision fields such as MMA, Sky Diving, Weight Lifting, BMX, and Extreme Sports.” So I’m drinking a formula that can work for MMA fighters and gamers, huh? Sounds good, I’ll give it a test run.

Purchase & Initial Thoughts

I bought the G Fuel tub, Fazeberry flavor on Amazon. EZPZ. Drank a scoop (recommended dosage) in some tap water as soon as the package hit my doorstep. The taste is way better and less chalky then the pre-workout supplements I’ve ever tried in the past. My roommate also tried some and he said it tasted like a “melted popsicle.” I actually could agree more.

The energy you get from sucking down the mix is different too. Your peripheries are hazy compared to what’s going on in front of you. I guess that’s just what focusing feels like… It’s a mellow rush even though your heart is racing at one hundred miles an hour. With a promise of no comedown, the product does, however, make me feel a slightly strange after it has worn off. A confusion rather than a crash.

Conclusion

I don’t think G Fuel can beat out originals like coffee and coke. Is it simple to use? Definitely. But it’s overhyped for what it is.