Gaming Essentials

News About the Gaming World

[gameist]

Chapter 8:

The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered

Is It Worth It?

Naughty Dog Studios have given us some of the best games of all time. Out of some of those games, The Last of Us is the most popular one that comes to mind.

These games are incredible, with the players moving through a post-apocalyptic world that has been ravaged by a mutated fungal virus, turning citizens into flesh-eating zombies. The characters and storylines have incredible depth and really connect the player to the events that are unfolding in the game.

Following the popularity of their first game, Naughty Dog worked quickly to release the second part of their story to the public, The Last of Us: Part II. Following the same characters, players are thrown into all of the heart-wrenching tales with incredibly fun gameplay to pass the time.

But after all this time, the games have grown in popularity following the release of a television series of the same name. This led the developers to release their already produced remakes of both of these games. Though Part II only came out in 2020, the reputation this company has gained over the years has helped propel the remake to the top of the charts once again. This remake has performance improvements, updated accessibility options and many other software enhancements.

So even if you played the original, this game is definitely worth trying again today.

Happy gaming!

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[gameist]

Chapter 7:

Call of Duty: A dying trend?

Call of Duty has become a controversial debate amongst the gaming community. The game was exceedingly popular following it’s release and has remained one of the more popular first-person shooters to this day. Players of all ages are able to jump in, pick up a gun and start shooting.

Following its release in 2003, the accessibility and fun gameplay made it admired by people from all corners of the gaming community and it has slowly grown to have a database of an impressive 23 games. Some of these have gained more popularity than others but Call of Duty has been loved through the years and has gained a dedicated fan base, even though it has gone through a bit of an uphill battle.

Some of these games have many similarities, and because of this, many players have slowly dropped off over the years. Activision has prided itself on their annual release of Call of Duty games, but with that, the challenge of making these games fresh and impressive has finally caught up with them.

But with the rise and fall of popularity, the company now reports a significant loss in players. Nearly 50 million players have stopped playing this game in over a year, leading the company to launch other services, such as Warzone, to remain relevant in this fast-paced industry.

But even with the loss, this franchise remains the leader in the first-person shooter genre, with all earlier games being sold at a discount on the PlayStation Store.

Happy gaming!

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[gameist]

Chapter 6:

Elder Scrolls 6: Can They Ever Top Skyrim?

Bethesda has been a big deal in the gaming community for many years. The launch of the Elder Scrolls series quickly made it one of the most prevalent games and gaming companies at the time. They have made many games over the years, such as Fallout and the Doom series, but none were even close to the popularity of Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.

Skyrim was a massive hit upon release, defining the next decade of the role-playing genre. This game is set in a medieval world and allows the player full freedom to play the game as they see fit. It includes dark and complex storylines, with a stunningly gorgeous world that is also brimming with life at every turn.

But all the work put into this game may have also cause their downfall. With the bar being raised, gaming companies around the world set to making their own, better version of the popular RPG. The gaming community is moving at a rapidly accelerated pace and Bethesda has to move very quickly in order to keep up. They may have laid the groundwork, but they also have to do lots of work in order to maintain their popularity.

But even though it has big shoes to fill, Elder Scrolls 6 is one of the most anticipated games of all time, leaving players wondering when they might be able to own it themselves.

The game is expected to be released sometime in 2026.

Happy gaming!

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[gameist]

Chapter 5:

Cyberpunk 2077: Then and Now

CD Projekt RED had a rocky start with one of their newer games: Cyberpunk 2077. This game was announced all the way back in 2012, and after 8 long years of development since it’s inception, the game was finally released in 2020.

This game paints the picture of a futuristic cyber world, where the player meanders through the tough streets of Night City. As popular as the game is now, it had a bit of a tumultuous release a few years ago.

The game was riddled with bugs and software issues, making the game almost unplayable for many people at the time. This came as a disappointment to players, as the game was highly anticipated by many. It even led the company to take the uncommon step of offering refunds to the players, as well as a heartfelt apology.

But since then, this game has had a dramatic overhaul. Software patches and big fixes came almost immediately following the launch, urging players to come back and play their improved game. Update improvements were made to game mechanics and, as soon as the game was made stable, add-ons and Downloadable Content – DLC – was swiftly added to bring users back to the game.

But PS4 players are still experiencing technical issues, making this game the most stable on PS5 systems.

However, this game is well worth its price if you can find it at a deal.

Happy gaming!

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[gameist]

Chapter 4:

Nintendo: What's Up With All The Side-Scrollers?

Nintendo has been the leader in the gaming industry since the 90s. They changed the way games were perceived and made themselves into a household name in a very short time. Chances are, if you grew up in the 90s, you probably had one. With games like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and 007 Goldeneye, they captivated their audiences - including myself - with their amazing 3-D graphics and incredibly realistic worlds that players could lose themselves in.

This carried on with their release of the Nintendo Switch, a portable gaming device that allows you to play games on your household systems, and to take it with you wherever you go. This was a huge shift in the gaming community and many industry leaders were turning their heads to look at this groundbreaking system. But since then, the games they have released have started to become somewhat lackluster.

With no big names under their belt other than Legend of Zelda and Mario, Nintendo has turned back to a tried-and-true formula: side-scrollers. This means that instead of a 3-D world, you are locked into 2-D gameplay that only allows the player to move from side-to-side.

As fun as this formula may be, they’re still selling these games at the full price of $80 and many players find it hard to justify their purchase when other games have so much more substance.

But if you can manage to find them at a discount, they’re definitely worth a play-through.

Happy gaming!

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[gameist]

Chapter 3:

Skull and Bones: The Next Big Hit of 2024

Ubisoft has always been known for making smash hits that take the gaming world by storm. Some of their biggest games include: The Assassin’s Creed Series, The Tom Clancy Series, as well as many other games that remain popular even today.

This continues to be true with their next flagship game for PlayStation 5: Skull and Bones. This is a game where you dive into the world of pirates, plundering and pillaging villages as you see fit. Players control their character as they manage their way through this world, allowing users to play by their own rules to rise up and become ‘The Ultimate Kingpin’.

Ubisoft has been taking their time with this one, making sure that players get the ultimate experience upon release. This game looks amazing and even though it was announced six years ago and has already been delayed six times, players around the world are still eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of this game.

Ubisoft recently announced they will be launching a new Open Beta in February, available to players everywhere. This allows players to access a game that has not been officially released yet, delighting people across the gaming communities.

The beta will be open starting February 7th, with the game being officially released for Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC on February 16th.

Happy gaming!

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[gameist]

Chapter 2:

Virtual Reality is the New Reality

Virtual reality remains the next great frontier of the gaming world. This lets players dive into beautifully intricate worlds, making you feel like you’re right there in the game. Even though it’s only computer generated, developers do an amazing job at making the user feel like they are immersed in their surroundings.  This device has gone through many changes over the years and it’s actually older than you think.

The first gaming service to offer virtual reality was actually Nintendo's Virtual Boy in 1995. Though it captivated players at the time, it was ultimately a commercial failure because of the lack of software support, bad graphics, and it wasn’t that comfortable to use.

But over the years, VR has gone through a multitude of changes. Many smaller companies tried to make a stronger, better version of Virtual Reality, but none were made available to the public. Then along came Oculus.

The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality device that is one of the most accessible and immersive platforms out there. This led to it becoming the world’s leader in VR capabilities. Oculus changed the game with their new device, and soon players around the world were lining up to get their hands on one for themselves. Other companies have also bubbled up to the surface, making Virtual Reality no longer a dream of the past.

If you haven't already tried it, now's your chance to test out this incredible software for yourself.

Happy gaming!

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[gameist]

Chapter 1:

PlaytestCloud: Game Testing for Money

PlaytestCloud remains the industry leader in game testing for mobile games. This service allows players of all kinds to take part in testing unreleased games, as well as games that are currently in development. Players are paid for this service, allowing players to redeem points or connect their PayPal information for payment.

PlaytestCloud powers playtesting for nearly half of the top 100 grossing games in the app store, helping it to retain its spot in the top charts for mobile game testing. Players require a download from the App Store and not much more. Once you get through the tutorials, just connect your headphones, download the game, and you’re up and running. Prompts through the game testing require you to ‘think out loud’, sending insights to game developers and creators.  

Recently PlaytestCloud has announced their new service: ‘Player Interviews’. This allows players to connect directly with video game developers, making feedback and reviews much easier to collect. This lets customers book one-on-one calls with game creators, based on their target audience, allowing developers to focus solely on improving gameplay aspects.

But can you actually make money from this?

The short answer is yes. Games are available in waves, with many games closing if you wait too long, as it's on a first-come-first-serve basis. But if you are able to make it in, payment ranges from anywhere between $10-$15 CAD for around 30 minutes of gameplay.

Happy Gaming!

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