Popular streaming service Twitch is eight years old this year. Technically, though, the service has a much longer and more storied history than that. What we know of as Twitch actually started way, way back in 2005, and wasn’t called Twitch. The site has been through a long and interesting history since its relatively inauspicious beginnings; it wasn’t always the internet juggernaut we know it as today. Come and join us as we take a trip down memory lane and investigate the history of Twitch. The year is 2005. The Pussycat Dolls stand shoulder-to-shoulder with The Black Eyed Peas for…

Introduction to Twitch’s Influence For the last few years, Twitch has dominated the gaming landscape, as well as poking its head into the movie, TV show, and music doors. Twitch is an all-encompassing platform that divides opinion just as often as it unites people. It’s a cultural phenomenon, and if you’re a video gamer or someone who knows video gamers, it’s very hard to escape Twitch. What is Twitch? That doesn’t quite answer the most important question, though, which is this: what exactly is Twitch? You’ll have heard about it from various different people, and it’s been in the news…

Everyone’s mileage with Yu-Gi-Oh! will vary. For some, it was an essential ritual, a part of growing up. Many of us sat open-mouthed before the TV either before or after school, staring as the drama unfolded and watching the beautifully-animated cards come to life right before our eyes. Others let the whole YGO! phenomenon pass them by. Some of us here are dedicated Pokemon folks, while others have fonder memories of Digimon or Dragonball Z. If you’re in the former camp, you’re probably the target audience for Konami and Other Ocean’s Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist. This game was originally released…

Gamescom 2019 is finally over, and we’ve had some time to sit and think about everything we saw. It’s been a few days since the show ended, and since its conclusion, we’ve been mulling over what we thought were the best bits. It was a pretty epic show this year, and many of the major video game companies had enviable showings. Still, crown winners we must. Here are the most impressive games we saw at Gamescom 2019. Marvel’s Avengers If you said to us “live-service version of The Avengers with loot and progression systems”, we’d have wondered if it could…

Whenever something new happens in Fortnite, it is looking forward to with great expectation and hope. This is because of quite a few things. Players are quite sure that they will get new skins, emotes could be crazier than ever before, and new weapons will be there and quite a few things will be there to explore as new additions. However, as far as Fortnite’s new giant mechs are concerned, there are many who believe that it has been a big letdown. Not many are ready to say anything good about the new giant mechs. This, unfortunately also includes streamer…

Whether you’re a simulation racer, or you prefer arcade fun more, in 2019, you will find some great gaming options for every taste. The gaming industry has developed significantly over the years, and nowadays, the racing game genre is as versatile and complex as never before. From impressive sound design to amazing graphics, there are many characteristics that contribute to a game’s general appeal. New versions are being released regularly, and it seems like this year, developers have perfected the features even more. You know a racing game feels just right once you play it, but which are the options…

There’s a common perception that video games represent pure escapism. To a certain degree, that’s true; video games are able to create fantastical worlds and have players inhabit them in a way that simply isn’t possible for other media. Still, it’s not entirely right to say video games offer pure escapism. There are many games set in the real world; there are games that focus on actual historical events; there are games that purport to teach moral lessons. These games aren’t offering escapism per se. One of the ways in which video games incorporate realism into their structure is with…

The CPU can easily make or break your gaming PC. If you end up choosing the wrong one, in spite of the best hardware and high RAM, you cannot get optimum performance out of it. It is also an expensive purchase due to which you should be pretty careful while choosing one. The problem is that most of the players look at the confusing technical jargon and specifications while choosing one. It will end up confusing you more rather than helping you. That is why; today we will help you understand how to choose best CPU for your gaming PC…

Regardless of platform, whether it be on one of the consoles or PC, racing games have always proven incredibly popular. Developers have been churning them out for decades now (the first true racing game – Gran Trak 10 – was released all the way back in 1974), and gamers have been more than happy to lap them up! There are a select few titles, however, which in our opinion stand head and shoulders above the rest of the racing games out there. And so, without further ado, here are the best racing games ever created. Gran Turismo Series When it…

Ah, heatwaves. We never get any better at coping with those 25 degrees plus temperatures so instead, we pray for rain. And obviously, complain when it finally comes… In the midst of all this tropical heat, we recommend cooling down and rehydrating with some seriously soggy games. Here are ten games with the most intense rain effects to keep you cool throughout Summer! Heavy Rain The clue is in the name! While this one may seem a little obvious, it is an absolute classic and its bouncing raindrops and drenched textures are perfect examples of pathetic fallacy. The rain amps…

Have you recently recorded a video clip from your game that you’d like to share with your friends? Maybe you’d like to send them the video file directly, or upload it to YouTube to and share the link? Before you actually share your gaming videos, you should take a moment to consider the format that they’re in. The reason for that is simple: Using the right format will make it easier to share them, and help ensure that viewers have no problem watching your videos. To be more specific, there are three formats in particular that are best for sharing…

So you’ve seen the insane money Twitch streamers can sometimes make and you’ve decided you want in on that. Congratulations – you’ve just taken your first step towards becoming a Twitch creative. This job can be lucrative, exciting, and extremely rewarding, but it can also be very difficult indeed. Not just anyone can become a Twitch streamer; you need to set yourself apart from the legions of imitators also wanting to become pros on the platform. So, how can you do that? How, exactly, can you enter the world of professional Twitch streaming? Well, there’s no simple answer to that…

The very first FIFA game was released for SNES and Genesis (along with a bunch of other platforms) way, way back in 1993. It was simply called FIFA International Soccer and it was, as you might expect, pretty primitive by modern standards. Still, since that time, FIFA arguably hasn’t massively evolved. Sure, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where a game representing a sport could improve; after all, accurate representation is surely the goal. Still, there must be room for improvement. It’s with great excitement and glee, then, that we look forward to the upcoming FIFA 20. The game is due…

Ubisoft’s E3 2019 showing was pretty impressive. We got new details about The Division 2, announcements for new Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon games, and of course confirmation of the existence of a new Just Dance game. Would it even be a Ubisoft conference without this ever-present franchise? All in all, Ubisoft’s conference was a pleasing mixture of old favourites and new, exciting titles.  Probably the most exciting announcement of Ubisoft’s entire E3 show was the open-world sandbox hackathon Watch Dogs: Legion. This game is making a lot of exciting changes to its predecessors’ formula that should shake the games…

If you’re savvy, there’s good money to be made in betting on esports. This discipline may not match traditional sports for viewership and popularity, but esports’ star is on a meteoric rise, and it won’t be long before esports are discussed and analysed on the same level as regular sports. With that in mind, there’s never been a better time to start making bets and trying to earn a little cash from this nascent form of entertainment. But, cry you, which esports should I bet on? It’s true that not all esports are created equal. Some games are better disposed…

One of the most popular browsers – Google Chrome – has many interesting tricks and tips for expert users. Chrome has a significant number of features. To begin with, mention should be made of the high download speed of the program. Also, this browser opens sites very quickly, which is important when working in a global network, and it is also very stable. The Hidden Tricks & Tips or How to Use Google Chrome Differently This program has a very simple interface that allows the user not to be distracted from traveling through the Internet. Anyone can quickly change the…

Some gamers like to go in all guns blazing, immersing themselves in the action and dispatching enemies left, right, and centre. Others prefer to take a more hands-off approach, guiding their troops towards victory with a perfectly-executed strategy. Of course, there’s room for us all at this wonderful buffet table, and we love shooters just as much as the next gamer. Still, we can’t deny we’re definitely partial to a spot of real-time strategy. With that in mind, it’s obvious we’re overjoyed that the first Command & Conquer and its sequel, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, would be getting remastered.…

If you’re a casual gamer and are excited for Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 5, you might want to hold your breath. In a report from the Wall Street Journal, Sony described its core audience as hardcore gamers. So you might just be a little disappointed. Now that isn’t to say that the PS5 isn’t for you. You can definitely still play it. You just might not find games that cater to your type of audience. Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said in the report that the PS5 is a “niche product, aimed at serious players.” Exclusive Titles The console will also have…

When you want to add a touch of grit, class and History to your game where do you go? The answer is London. There’s something about London that keeps gamers captivated, and coming back for more. Whereas gamers will groan about games being set in New York from time to time, rarely will you hear any complaints about London. The variety of the London experience has always resonated firmly with gamers around the world. From the majesty of Big Ben all the way to the grit of the underground stations, London offers a lot for gamers to sink their teeth…

With Google’s entry into the console gaming (well, sort of) ring now firmly established, it’s time to start speculating. There’s plenty we already know about Google Stadia – what games will launch for it, what its technical capabilities are, when it will launch (November, if you’re interested) – but we don’t know what the future looks like. Given the power and reach of Stadia, it’s not unreasonable to want games that push its technical limitations and show us what it can really do. Here are some of the games we want to see on Google Stadia. Dark Souls Trilogy As…

Digital technology comes in waves, with new devices created weekly. Older technology has retained its relevancy despite this, and statisticians Clear Sky Institute reckon there’ll be over 760,000 amateur radio operators by 2020. A technically demanding hobby with a great amount of depth, amateur radio operation has a huge crossover with gaming, and Twitch, through a communal love of retro technology and the steampunk imagery often evoked by both radio operation and the latest AAA title games. What’s driving the charge? Radio equipment is easily obtained and affordable; ham radios are continually updated with regards to technology, and the cost of parts makes them accessible…

With 2019 halfway over, there have been many hits and misses in the video game market. From dazzlers like Resident Evil 2 to the confusing yet somewhat enjoyable mobile game Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, gamers have experienced a lot. And that’s just the first half of 2019. There’s a bunch more content coming out in the latter half. Here are the games coming out in 2019 to look forward to. These games on this list are ones with confirmed release dates, so you won’t be finding Luigi’s Mansion 3 or Shantae 5. Fire Emblem: Three Houses July 26 Switch Nintendo…

It’s Summertime! The sun’s out and the temperatures are creeping up. All this sunshine is lovely, but it sure does make us miss cosying up by a log fire and watching the snow fall outside the window. If you’re missing the magical Winter weather too then boy do we have a few game recommendations for you. Here are 10 games with the most dramatic snowfalls to help you keep cool in the Summer heat! The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim The province of Skyrim is no stranger to a good few feet of snowfall, especially atop all those mountains. There are…

Dark Souls has a lot to answer for. Since From Software’s cult RPG classic launched back in 2011, it’s spawned a legion of imitators. There have been straight Soulslikes (Lords of the Fallen, The Surge), 2D Soulslikes (Salt and Sanctuary, Hollow Knight) and even roguelike Soulslikes (Dead Cells). It’s not unreasonable to say that Dark Souls has had an incredibly significant cultural impact, so since its phenomenal success everyone has wanted to give the formula a try. One of the games that lined up to have a crack at the Souls crown was last year’s Death’s Gambit. This game comes…

With E3 having come to a close for yet another year, we’ve taken a look back at some of the best titles that were shown off at this year’s expo. These are the titles we think look the most interesting, the most fun, and that stood out among the rest of the announcements! In no particular order, here are our top ten games shown off at E3 2019. Roller Champions Roller Derby meets Rocket League in this colourful sports title from Ubisoft! With simple gameplay and stylish mechanics, Roller Champions looks set to take the E-Sports scene by storm. The…

The great debate in video games for a while was as follows: should we pursue linear level-based design or open our games out and make them sandboxes? Both design approaches have their advantages. Linear games are more focused and allow for tighter, more controlled design. Open-world games have more potential for “watercooler moments”, those funny instances where things happen that haven’t specifically been programmed by developers. The obvious answer here is “both are great”, but the trend moved largely towards open-world experiences and linearity seemed mostly forgotten. It’s arguable that the original RAGE, released back in 2011 as a showcase…

As an aspiring game developer, you’re probably often thinking about the subtle but masterful ways that games get players emotionally invested in the narrative. You’ve also likely realized that “atmosphere” is the medium through which games typically induce emotional immersion. So what elements create immersive atmosphere, and how does a developer sustain the player’s immersion throughout the gameplay? While the answer is manifold, we’re going to pay special attention to the function of sound cues in video game development. The purpose of atmosphere When we talk about the “atmosphere” of games, we’re usually describing our overall experience of exploring and…

We’ve all experienced this phenomenon before: you’re gaming online with your friends, about to secure that all-important kill and win your team the game, when suddenly all the character models on screen freeze and lock in place. Movement becomes jerky and characters start to slingshot around the map. Nothing you do has any effect and the game suddenly becomes unplayable. You’ve been hit by the dreaded lag, and your online game is ruined as a result. It’s no fun having this happen to you. Your friends will chastise you, you’ll probably lose some sort of rank or standing in your…

We all love our cars. It’s difficult to imagine a world in which we had to get around without them. Whether we’re shopping, traveling, or simply cruising around for a leisure drive, our cars are essential to our daily lives. Even if you don’t drive yourself, you’ve probably availed yourself of the services of other drivers when you’re taking taxis or catching public transport. Spare a thought, then, for those who don’t have this luxury. There are some people who could really use a car, especially those stuck in dire circumstances. One such figure is the hapless Fred, protagonist of…

For many, Japanese RPGs represent an impenetrable phenomenon. There are, of course, plenty of accessible entry points into this most idiosyncratic of game styles, but many are put off by the very genre conventions others adore. JRPG opponents decry the occasionally wobbly dialogue and sometimes samey tropes these games employ. Proponents of the genre love the games’ huge scale, grand scope, and sense of daring, almost never executed with the arch raised eyebrow of Western RPGs. Many JRPG franchises have their fierce defenders, but there are few more long-running or storied than Gust’s Atelier franchise. These games have been going…

Many debates have been held about movies over the course of history. What is the greatest film ever made? Are cinemas about to disappear? What is the worst film ever made? Who is the greatest actor ever? These are all important questions to ask, but they are eclipsed by a single question that haunts families and causes arguments all around the world. The question is as follows: what movie should we go and see tonight? If you have a family of your own – or a particularly tight-knit friend group – then you’ll know the frequency at which this question…