The following is an interview where the questions are asked by Dakota Barrett and answers produced by Dominic de Graaf. Who are you and what do you do? We are three Dutch guys who all have a passion for games. We know each other from work. Matthijs and Dominic both run a game company together called Alterego Games. Matthijs and Dominic have been successfully making computer and tabletop games for more than 3 years. Two and a half years ago they met Vincent, a freelancer who has a company called Digital Forest and has been in the running as a game…

Last week it was Eurogamer’s flagship expo, EGX, taking place in Birmingham’s NEC Arena. I think Arena is an understatement as it’s more like the size of a small town. A small town full of expensive drink, pricey food and costly everything else. Still, I wasn’t there just to go into my overdraft, I was there to see videogames. Which is exactly what I did. I saw many videogames. In fact, I saw too many videogames to list, which is why I’ve decided to only talk about my favourite 10. Luckily, 10 games is the perfect number for a list,…

It’s getting harder and harder to avoid the term ‘e-sports’ nowadays. Heck, you’re reading an article about the subject right now. Over the last 4 years or so e-sports has exploded in popularity and all of the glitz, glamour, money and scandal that follows ‘real’ sports is making its way into the electronic variety too. This has given the e-sports scene an air of legitimacy once thought impossible. ESPN, proud broadcasters of mainstream sports, has leaned hard into covering competitive video game playing. The ESPN website now has an entire section dedicated to covering e-sports and its broadcast a number…

Those good old days when you could attach a decade to a console’s lifespan seem over, but don’t let that put you down. We’ve seen Sony dominate with the PS4, which is proving to be the bestselling 8th-gen console, by a distance. However, Microsoft and Nintendo are both ready to mix things up a little. The real question at hand; which console(s) will be best for you? This article attempts to assist you. Let’s get started. Firstly, it seems important to note that Sony is the only company to unveil exactly what we’ll be receiving with their updated PS4 system.…

I’m sure many people would agree that being a Nintendo fan can be quite the rollercoaster ride, the long-lived Japanese company hitting lofty, admirable highs while also plummeting to head-scratching lows. Like living with a bear covered in fireworks, it’s never boring. Although Nintendo continue to make questionable decisions, it’s important to remember that they can still knock it out of the park when they put their minds to it – when Nintendo are on form, they are on form. And 2013’s Pikmin 3 is a perfect example of this, being a wonderful game which exhibits all of the charm,…

Finally, there is an .io game that’s not overwhelmingly hectic. Splix.io is a distant relative of Snake, the classic arcade game. Snake challenged players to slither across a grid, eating food and trying not to crash. Splix.io features similar gameplay. But, instead of consuming food, you conquer territory. .io games have drastically grown in popularity during the past year. At first, they were easy to define: free, simple in-browser multiplayer games. Agar.io was the original eat-or-be-eaten .io hit, followed by Slither.io. Since then, slight variations and completely different .io games have been released—some to great success, and others, not so…

From the original Street Fighter to the newest installment of Mortal Kombat, one-on-one fighting games are undeniably fun. Nonstop action, heated bouts between pals, and combo-unleashing AI opponents are integral parts of the gameplay. The longstanding Anime Battle series has been revamped with Anime Battle 2.0. Let’s take a look inside this new fighting game that pays homage to those in its past. The Brawlers Much like its predecessors, Anime Battle 2.0 adds a few new characters to the roster. Toshiro Hitsugaya from Bleach and Rurouni Kenshin are included in 2.0, with authentic outfits and special moves. Speaking of specials,…

The 8th gen gaming console war kicked off back in 2013, since we’ve come to the realisation that Sony has surged ahead with sales, ultimately attracting far more gamers to the PlayStation 4. Attracting more than 40-million gamers to-date, the PS4 is sure to go down as one of the most successful consoles of all-time. However, the two juggernaut companies are ready to mix things up again, providing many consumers with another dilemma. Many used to argue the case of owning both consoles, take the PS3 and Xbox 360 as a prime example. Back then, this made plenty of sense.…

Well, it’s happened again. An early access game has managed to upset people and I figure now’s as good a time as any to take a look at just what happened and why this outrage keeps happening. I know what you’re thinking – the developers have run away with everyone’s money, they’ve missed deadlines, they’ve thrown in a bunch of in-app purchases, etc. Actually, what’s got everyone riled up this time is quite new. The game in question is ARK: Survival Evolved. It’s currently in early access and is doing quite well for itself. There’s a ton of people playing…

Tycoon games aren’t exactly mainstream when considering the genre, in-fact they’re the complete opposite, however, they’re able to bring plenty of excitement to players who enjoy this type of game. With that said, it’s been sometime since we can say that a stunning franchise has set this genre on fire. I’m sure you don’t need to question which series I’m talking about either – yes, I’m referring to Rollercoaster Tycoon, which was originally developed by Chris Sawyer and released back in 1999. The real question many are asking is; will Planet Coaster be another title that looks set to deliver,…

Whilst everyone’s getting excited about the mere idea of Virtual Reality headsets making their way into our living rooms, it’s important to realise that you’re going to need some actual games to play. Luckily for us, not only is PS VR shaping up to be a great piece of hardware but there’s also a good looking bunch of VR games on the horizon too. Here’s our top 10 Playstation VR games that we’re looking forward to. Resident Evil 7 With VR headsets making games more immersive than ever, why do we immediately want to immerse ourselves in world filled with…

Remember the good old days? You buy a game console and the releases flood in on an annual basis over a 5-10 year period, and that’s without the reminder or expense of upgrading the machine that actually runs the games. Yes, those were the days. However, 2016 is bringing to the table many challenges, which are expected to roll into 2017, but where will all of this take us? This is perhaps the real question and an area we are about to explore. Let’s face it, technology is moving at an insane pace, something that is proving difficult for game…

Introduction: Rethinking the Stigma of Online Gaming “For years, online gaming has been unfairly stigmatized,” says Dr. Lisa Miller, a psychologist specializing in digital media. “It’s time to look at the potential positive aspects.” This sentiment is echoed by a growing body of research suggesting that, far from being a mere pastime, online gaming could be shaping individuals in positive ways. Whilst some video games out there are controversial, most aren’t. Enhancing Cognitive Skills Online games are not just about quick reflexes. “They can actually serve as a form of cognitive training,” explains Dr. James Zhang, a neuroscientist. A study…

If you’re looking for something to buy this coming month you need look no further than the following suggestions. September sees a bunch of old classics making a welcome return as well as some new franchises that you might not have heard of before. As the nights begin to get noticeably darker,here we see some excitement for XBOX One fans, whilst PS4 owners will probably want to skip towards October, yet there is something that everyone can enjoy on all platforms. Let’s take a look at at the highlights of September, 2016. Dead Rising Remastered Platforms: PS4, XBOX One Release Date:…

If you’re interested in Mafia 3, but haven’t played the first two, fear not! There isn’t much you need to know anyway, but let’s take a look. The original Mafia released back in 2002, and its sequel came out 8 years later in 2010. I loved both of the games, as did most critics at the time. Both had original characters, unique stories, though they had no obvious connections to one another. The first followed Tommy Angelo who meets with a detective, and in exchange for immunity, gives up everything he knows on his boss. The game plays through all…

You may have seen that a little known game called No Man’s Sky was launched recently. You may have also seen that it wasn’t quite everything people had hoped for. This is to be expected, there were some lofty targets being set and a good 24 months of hype to contend with. It was always going to be tough. However – one piece of criticism really caught my eye and the eyes of a couple of hundred Twitter and Reddit users. It was this; I guess this illustrates a serious problem with how gamers see game development effort :/ #NoMansSky…

Over the last few months it looks as if Sony and Microsoft’s R&D departments are about as leak-proof as a sieve. Detail after detail has emerged about both the Playstation 4 NEO and Project Scorpio though none of the important details, such as what, why and how have emerged yet. So it’s with that in mind that we’ll take a quick look at just what these new consoles mean for you and take our best educated guesses as to what’s going on here. Firstly, what are they? Well the NEO and Project Scorpio are Sony and Microsoft’s attempts at selling…

PlayStation VR is getting closer by the day, so we’ll soon be able to slip on that headset and find ourselves in another world… right from the comfort of our living rooms. The PSVR peripheral is really anything but; it actually feels more like an entirely new console. It will change the way that we play- and even think- about video gaming, and if it’s successful, it’s going to usher in a whole new era. We’re pretty sure it’s going to have nothing less than major success though, just because the thing is so dang cool. After seeing it in…

As a passionate soccer player and supporter, I’ve played my fair share of sports games. Recently, I discovered FC Barcelona Ultimate Rush. It’s an endless runner that puts Spain’s best athletes in action-packed scenarios. It’s easy to play, not so easy to master, and lots of fun for the whole family. FC Barcelona Ultimate Rush has 3D graphics with photorealistic versions of all-star players. Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Luis Suarez all look unmistakably unique. At the same time, the surrounding graphics in the game are cartoonish, featuring bold colors in kid-friendly environments. This is a great marriage of two…

Modern gaming is all about realism. It’s about replicating an actual experience as closely as possible for someone sitting at home in their comfortable chair. Whether that experience is soaring among the stars in a spaceship, roaming a post-apocalyptic landscape while avoiding zombies, or rocketing through a cityscape in a racecar, the serious gamer wants to feel as if he is really there. In the case of flight or racing games, the realism of the event is easier to simulate— especially if you can afford to purchase and install your very own gaming cockpit. If you get the chance to…

Mafia III is just around the corner (finally!), and there are plenty of reasons to be excited about it. As the title suggests, this will be the third entry in the Mafia franchise, but it is shaping up to be a much different (and better) game than its already-great predecessors. Set in a fictionalized New Orleans, you play as a young black Vietnam vet named Lincoln Clay who works to take down the Italian mob and discover his own place in the New Orleans underworld. In true Mafia style, the story promises to be dark, with heavy themes and a gripping…

Nintendo recently announced that the console that started it all is making a comeback in a big (well, technically small) way. That’s right, the original NES is being re-released, but this isn’t your daddy’s console… Everything You Need to Know The NES Classic Edition, as it’s being called (though it’s also known as the NES Mini), is an adorable little device that fits in the palm of your hand, and it’ll be released on November 11, 2016. It uses a revamped NES controller and doesn’t take cartridges (so your old controllers and games won’t work), and the HDMI cables allow…

Collecting cards was once considered cool, yet today it’s the smartphones that help to dictate what trends are in and which aren’t. This couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to the latest development, Pokémon Go. Greeted with thrill, excitement and controversy, the app is helping to define the very basics within the realm of augmented reality. Many apps struggle to provide the sparkle that can help to introduce a new direction, yet Pokémon Go is one of those rare and unique examples. It’s the app that will have game app developers’ busy thinking. Already greeted with plenty of controversy, Pokémon…

During the Sega-versus-Nintendo console wars of the late 1980s and early 1990s, I was a Sega kid through and through, owning a Master System, a Mega Drive and a Mega-CD. I’ve always appreciated great videogames whatever their system, however, and when the Super Nintendo Entertainment System rolled around, that console featured some exclusive games which I wanted to play but couldn’t, one of them being 1990’s Super Mario World. The dark days of the console wars have been over for a long time but the memories – along with my collection of necklaces made from the severed ears of Nintendo…

Unless you’ve been living underneath a very large, and heavy rock for the past year, you have probably heard of the 4K Ultra High-Definition TV. You have most likely stood speechless and drooling before a towering 4K UHD TV at your local electronics store; and you have probably watched with excitement as the Ultra HD TV prices began to gradually drop lower, to levels that are more attainable for the average household. But what do 4K HD TVs mean for gamers? We’re predicting that 4K gaming is the next big thing. Before long, you’ll see it everywhere. Why do we believe…

Piranhas aren’t the friendliest creatures in the ocean. Piranh.io, a fresh and bloody .io game, puts players in control of the deadly fish. Amidst a steady stream of ongoing development, the current version of Piranh.io is very entertaining. Let’s dive into the water and see why being a killer fish is so fun. The graphics in Piranh.io are basic, bright, and bloody. The game skews towards a younger audience, with a simple concept (eat or be eaten) and easy controls. On a computer, the mouse cursor guides your fish. You can click for a speed boost and press the spacebar…

Soccer simulations and ultrarealistic sports games get better every year. The top-selling FIFA series relies on current-gen consoles and high-powered PCs to deliver modern graphics. If it doesn’t look realistic, what’s the point? Well, “real” isn’t always best. Super Soccer Noggins, a one-on-one arcade game, takes the world’s most beloved sport in a new direction—and it’s a great one. Right from the title screen, it’s clear that Super Soccer Noggins is different. A towering, big-headed player (who looks quite like Lionel Messi) is pointing and laughing at tiny athletes. Some of the little players are wearing silly costumes, and all…

While it has to be said that the Dualshock controller has done a lot to be perfected over the past few years, there’s just some games that work better with a specialist controller. Among these games are fighters, which can often be hugely affected by the type of controller you decide on. Many argue that you’re best with an arcade stick that allows you to have true control over what your character’s doing. Beyond that, you get to truly spread out your hands across a beautifully crafted board. Let’s take a look at some of the best sticks on the…

The very word win implies a battle, yet that’s what E3 is often about. The three elite console manufactures were out to impress like never before, and what a war it wasn’t. Simply put, Sony didn’t just make an appearance, but rather, they showed a force which couldn’t be matched by either of the two competitors. Sony were on a mission to turn up and resolve a problem that has become a raised issue with the majority of 8th gen gamers. What’s this I hear you ask? Games. Whilst Sony has already impressed in this department, gamers demand far more, and this E3 event has…

When I think of soccer video games, I can’t help but picture the glorious FIFA series. I remember the very first game released—FIFA International Soccer—available on Sega Genesis, Sega CD, SNES, and other consoles in 1993. Every year since then, brand-new FIFA titles have sold extremely well. Practically every new version of the game features upgraded graphics, updated rosters, and modified game modes. Today, full-featured FIFA games are available on iOS and Android, with stunning visuals and smooth animations that utilize modern mobile technology. But are hyper-realistic sports games the most entertaining? I don’t think so. Heads Arena: Euro Soccer…

Not all great games cost $59.99. After all, there are plenty of mobile and computer games that sell for just a few bucks. Gaming portal Poki offers titles in just about every category. Today, we’re taking a look at the best games based on Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe. Whether or not you’re a fan of the animated series, these titles deserve your attention. Gem Bound sends Steven Universe on a harrowing training mission. With the help of the Crystal Gems, he must fly high to become a hero. In this well-designed jumping game, players will learn that faster isn’t always…