Tag Archive for: Video games

Assassins Creed: Beyond Medusas Gate

Live in the world of Assassin’s Creed!

Ubisoft have recently announced a VR Escape Room experience called Beyond Medusa’s Gate. The new experience is available at more than 100 location based entertainment centres across the US and Europe! The new VR experience is designed to be played with friends. As the larger than life reality adventure experience is designed with co-op multiplayer VR in mind. You are transported to the world of Ancient Greece in Assassins Creed Odyssey: Beyond Medusa’s Gate. So, you must work as a team to solve a series of complex puzzles which include various different activities. Such as interaction with ancient objects, climbing, shooting arrows and much more!

Beyond Medusa’s Gate

Beyond Medusa’s Gate is developed by Ubisoft Blue Byte and is the second of it’s kind available on the Ubisoft Escape Games platform. It’s designed to re-create the Ancient Greece within the world of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. You can team up in teams of 2 or 4 and you have a total of 60 minutes to work together and find a way out of a vase Aegean costal cave. As within this cave is the legendary ship of the Argonauts.

Consequently, to complete the game and successfully escape, teams must work together to solve various problem solving skills and precise timing to solve riddles. Furthermore, the immersive VR experience is room scale and players get the chance to choose from 6 diverse characters which are fully customisable!

I don’t know about you but this sounds like so much fun!

Purchase Assassins Creed Odyssey by clicking here!

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Goat of Duty

Call of Duty with Goats. That’s what Goat of Duty is all about. If you don’t believe us, check out the video above!

It’s a game where you engage in a deathmatch against other goats, using a whole plethora of weapons. Did I say this involve’s goats?

Goat of Duty is played in first person mode. With a twist. You can see your gun and the head of the goat that you have chosen to be your noble army-men. It almost looks like you’re riding the goat!Goat of Duty is a fast-paced multiplayer shooter where goats armed to the horns bleat face to face in a relentless deathmatch. Ram and troll your friends, don the craziest goatstumes, and put your skills to the test in the quirkiest FPS ever. Are you ready to become the GOAT of goats? (Steam)

Choices of weapon for your battle hardened goats? Rocket Launchers, Rifles, Six Shooters and Machine Guns. Get a kill in Goat Of Duty? Well your enemy bursts into a cloud of red. Nice.

Check out Goat Of Duty on Steam here (Release Date: Coming Soon)

(LADBible)

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Is FIFA The Greatest Sports Video Game Ever Made?

Fifa How To Kill An Hour.jpg

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past decade or two, you can’t have failed to notice the domination of the FIFA franchise when it comes to soccer video games. From the lowly Nintendo 64 all the way up to the exquisite Xbox with its online gaming, FIFA has been the stalwart of sports gameplay. But is it the best ever? There have been plenty of games that have emerged in the meantime, with basketball, ice hockey, the Olympics, and tennis all making a play for the best sports video game. Even Mario has tried to muscle in on the sports video game action. So which is the best? Let’s take a look.

 

FIFA

The FIFA video games are epic. Every year the new season is released, players choose to camp outside stores to be the first to experience the enhanced ball control, less clunky graphics and momentous gameplay. With the recent explosion of online gameplay, the game has taken on a whole new dimension. While watching the replays of Ronaldinho’s free kicks was the highlight of FIFA 07, now you can click here to purchase FIFA coins, play against individuals from across the globe, and even manage your favorite teams, heading to the transfer market and perfecting your dream team. You can play in a league, you can venture to the World Cup or you can just have a kickabout. An awesome game!

 

NBA Street

For the ultimate in fun gameplay, NBA Street takes some beating. With quirky characters, a cartoon style graphic and smooth gameplay, the flexibility of this basketball game meant that you really had to learn the expert moves to get your slam dunks flowing. Three pointers were hard to come by, but if you managed to unlock Stretch, your team would be enhanced to the point where his afro could boost the morale of your team. The moves were cool, the soundtrack was epic, and you would spend your youth trying to perfect the dribble techniques in your back garden. This is an experience for those who yearn for a simpler and more straightforward fun sort of game.

 

SSX Tricky

Snowboarding had never been so cool in 2001. The winter sport phenomenon was just taking off, and salopettes were being replaced with cooler winter gear. SSX Tricky allowed you to choose your character and embark on a race or a simple trick practice course. Accruing points gave you the gameplay buzz you needed with jumps, flips and spins creating epic moves on the powder. If you enjoy bright graphics, and a simple formula for fun, SSX Tricky was your sort of game.

 

Punch Out

No sports game list would be complete without a clunky classic from Nintendo. This boxing game was ridiculously simple and a bit of a free for all hitting the A button on your NES control pad as fast as you could, but it was great family fun. The Indian boxer had a tiger as a coach, so the game wasn’t hugely politically correct. But it was of its time and a huge forerunner to the boxing games of the twenty first century.

FIFA probably has the edge over its rivals, purely for longevity if nothing else, but there are plenty of epic sports video games worthy of a replay.

 

Xbox Controller How To Kill An Hour

Whose Team Are You On?

It’s time to get to the bottom of a debate that’s been raging since the beginning of time. When we say time, we mean about the last 20 years, but a while, nevertheless.

In the battle of the games consoles are you team XBox or team PlayStation? Let’s delve into both and pick a side. There are plenty of opinions on either side about what offers the best value for money and where the best gaming experience lies but you can only choose one side in the long run.

Xbox Controller How To Kill An Hour

Xbox All The Way

More specifically the Xbox One. The beauty of this particular console is that you can play games from way back when. Unlike the PlayStation, which has zero compatibility, you can dig out your old Halo game and play it on the latest model, no problem. These old favourites are part of the reason people are so loyal to the brand.

The other reason is its multi functionality. Yes, you can stream Netflix and Spotify it and more. It’s just so much more than a gaming device and gives you great value for money. You don’t need to spend your money looking for new games or parts, like a car enthusiast looking for vauxhall breakers, it just lasts and lasts. A classic every time.

But PlayStation?

Has so much to offer. Yes, it might not have all the capabilities of the Xbox One but when it comes to actual game play this is head and shoulders above the rest. You want the best games, the best graphics and the most exhilarating gaming experiences? You get a PlayStation4.

These games, such as Marvel’s Spider Man and other classics keep PlayStation fans snapping up the latest offerings. It’s a shame that you can’t play games from older models on the latest PS, but hey, you’d completed them anyway right?

So, who wins in this battle of the tech giants? If we look at other factors such as price, then both come in at around the same amount, so it comes down to what your personal tastes are. You can’t deny that the PlayStation4 nails the game play aspect with outstanding, exclusive games. It’s focused in on this aspect and pulled it off with aplomb.

XBox One, however, offers so much more than just game play and fits into a family home so easily and usefully. It simply offers more features for the same money but does compromise on game exclusivity. That doesn’t matter too much though, bearing in mind your back catalogue is still relevant.

It’s a tough one and not something can be decided easily. True gamers will almost certainly go down the PlayStation route while those looking for a bit more bang for their buck will go Team XBox. With the promise of bigger and better developments from both these giants over the coming months, we may need to revisit our decisions again but for now, pick a team and enjoy killing an hour or two on this fantastic technology.

 

Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians

Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians

Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians is an RPG game that is a lot of fun, when we say a lot of fun we mean alot of fun! Now I have never been a big fan of turn based RPG games myself, but I’ve always given them a go, and I’m glad that I gave Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians a go!

Why?

Addictive RPG!

As I cannot put it down, I’m always on it now! I almost missed my train earlier because I was too busy fighting the enemies and upgrading my little creatures! The aim of Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians is to battle your way through  the various lands and elements to claim victory and rule over the land once more. You are tasked with taking hold of up to 4 creatures of your choosing, whilst utilising the mystic powers of your hero to help them along the way. Once you have chosen your creatures you are then tasked with choosing which magic that your character is responsible for. Furthermore, those House Magic choices are either Materia, Chimera or Anima. With each of them giving you an extra edge against your opponent be that extra attack speed, extra defence or even taking away an enemies ability. So, for example, making them more vulnerable to attacks!

Character Progression

Each character is able to be ranked up and leveled up, however, choose wisely as ranking up requires you to sacrifice other members of your team! Consequently this is where the replayability of this game comes into play, if you want to keep all of your strongest creatures. The task would be to rank up your least favourite creatures and then use them to rank up your favoured battle creatures! It’s a bit of a pain but, it allows you to keep playing for much longer! Each creature is able to hold up to 6 glyphs which allow you to increase the abilities of your creatures, so much like other RPG games you have to be tactical in what you upgrade as to best achieve success!

Furthermore with many games these days there are various tasks that you have to complete to earn achievements. Yet, this is where Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians separates itself from the pack. The achievements that you unlock unlock special tokens and other various magic elements to help you either upgrade your creatures or help them along the way to evolve into bigger better creatures! Yet, the evolving is a marathon more than a sprint as it takes A LOT to evolve them. Hence why this game is for the long haul and not for a quick 10minute play. Well you can play for 1o minutes but that 10minutes may turn into an hour. As I’ve found out more than once this week!

Might and Magic is out now! Please see below for more information and a link to download the game!

Game Info

Enter the world of Might & Magic: Elemental Guardians – a fast-paced strategy RPG based on the medieval fantasy realm of Might & Magic.
Journey through enchanted lands, collecting fierce and fantastic elemental creatures, and evolve a team of mighty warriors to summon to battle on the path to victory.

ENROLL IN THE ACADEMY OF MAGIC
• Create, customize and level up your own hero
• Choose a House of Magic: Materia, Chimera or Anima
• Use the mystic powers of your House to triumph in the arena

SUMMON A LEGENDARY TEAM
• Discover and collect hundreds of fantastic beasts and iconic creatures
• Watch their evolution from cute companions to legendary war allies
• Equip your team with arcane Glyphs to enhance their abilities

TRAIN & BATTLE
• Level up your creatures to unlock their true might
• Compete in the PvP Arena to rise up the league leaderboards
• Participate in Live Events to win epic prizes and rare items
• Ally with your friends in Guilds for mighty team adventures

LEAD YOUR TEAM TO VICTORY
• Face fierce opponents in fast and strategic RPG battles
• Use the elements of Fire, Water, Air and Earth tactically to gain the advantage
• Cast epic spells and use magical abilities of different elements

BECOME A HERO OF LEGENDS
• Journey through the fabled fantasy realms of Might & Magic
• Complete diverse daily quests and earn special rewards
• Enjoy beautiful graphics and unique creature designs

This app contains In-App Purchases which allow you to buy in-game currency. In-game currency can also be collected by playing the game without requiring any purchase. [Apple/Ubisoft]

To download Might and Magic Elemental Guardians please click here Apple / Android

Fortnite

When Parent’s use Fortnite against us!

Turns out Fortnite has become a weapon in parent’s arsenal against their children!

Instead of taking away sweets or grounding their children, parent’s are turning to banning Fortnite if their children misbehave. (To no-one’s suprise)

 

Of the 40million players worldwide, British Children as young as 8 are allegedly playing Fortnite for more than 13hours every week.

According to a study of 858 parents worldwide, 54% of them are concerned about the negative effects of Fortnite. Allegedly the average family polled in the study stated that there were 11 arguments a month because their child wanted to spend longer playing.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com, whom commissioned the research, said to parents that theres nothing to panic about Fortnite. That it’s fun, sociable and can even help some childrens co-ordination skills. While warning that like most activities, it needs to be managed with limits imposed. Furthermore trying to wane fears as there’ll be something else coming in down the line that’ll take their attention away from Fortnite.

The study found:

  • 63% of parents arguing about the attitude they recieve when asking their child to come off the computer
  • 54% about time spent playing
  • 39% about in game purchases
  • 53% general bad attitude
  • 20% of children got in trouble for playing when they shouldn’t
  • 28% for ignoring requests to get off the computer
  • 7% of parents found a huge bill from in-game purchases
  • 4 in 10 parents believe school performance has been impaired due to the game
  • While apparently a fifth of parents think that their child thinks the game is more important than real life
  • 6 in 10 parents believe the game is suitable for children under 16 – as it’s mild violence, colourful and has dances
  • Just under half like the game is sociable
  • 43% of parents like that their child is excited about something
  • Of the 46% that believe the game has had a positive influence, 52% of them like that their child has made new friends online and 31% of them think they’ve become more confident since playing
  • 61% of parents are convinced that their child has had an improvement in hand-eye co-ordination
  • 37% believe that the game is important to keep their child familiar with new tech

 

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Episode 258 Nate Crowley

GTA V Teaching Autonomous Cars?

GTA V is one of the simulation platforms that researchers and engineers are using to test and train AI to eventually drive us to work. Car companies are touting that there will be a no hands on model in 3 years but there’s still a lot to learn and a lot of algorithms to respond to. Which is where GTA V comes in, scientists from Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany and Intel Labs have developed algorithms that have been tweaked for use in self driving cars.

This is because there’s more time to do more things in the virtual world and cars never run out of petrol.  It will never be a substitute for real world environments but the game is the game is the closest and most ‘realistic’ virtual environment to compare real world possibilities to. (With 262 types of vehicles, more than 1,000 different unpredictable pedestrians and animals, 14 weather conditions and countless bridges, traffic signals, tunnels and intersections.)

Most things are done through trial and error, and we’re spitballing here, exploring countless different scenarios and adjusting how the cars would react to said situations countless times!

It may seem out of this world but realistic video games are able to generate very similar data to what AI agents can obtain from the road. AI software has been using games such as Super Mario Bros/Angry Birds tackling problems in controlled environments, learning through simple trial and error.

Waymo (A self driving car company) uses it’s simulators to create an infinite number of situations that it’s engineers can muster up. Such as having three cars changing lanes at the same time at an assortment of speeds and directions, what’s learned virtually is applied physically and problems encountered on the road in real life is then studied in simulation.

So it’s not so crazy afterall.

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!