Getting Into Gaming

There has never been a better time to be a gamer than now. We are living in the golden age of gaming. Console technology is rapidly improving. The gaming industry is putting a larger focus on creative indie titles. And crossplay functionality is becoming more and more common. It is no surprise that gaming has become the most popular hobby on the planet.

If you’re not a gamer but have been considering breaking into the hobby then you might need a bit of advice. Gaming has become such a huge field that it can be daunting figuring out where to start. Which console is right for you? What type of games are best for beginners? Which titles are worth trying and which are worth avoiding?

This guide will help you get your head around gaming culture. We will be highlighting the best beginner games and breaking down the key differences between each of the main gaming consoles.

Which Console?

This is perhaps the biggest choice you will have to make. Unless money is no object for you, you will likely have to decide on one primary console or a gaming PC. Now you might think there isn’t much difference between them all. But there is. And this will be the most important decision you make since your choice of console will determine what games you can play.

The best console for beginners is the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo produces some of the best casual games on the market. Not only that but the Switch’s gaming catalogue is full of amazing non-Nintendo titles. The Switch can function as both a portable console while also being able to connect to your TV. It is the ultimate console for anyone looking to enjoy gaming as a more casual hobby. Or someone looking for a good cooperative gaming console to be enjoyed with friends or family

Playstation and Xbox are the two main competing consoles when it comes to the console wars. Both of these consoles are aimed at people who game fairly regularly. Xbox tends to have more shooter titles and adventure games. Titles like Halo are synonymous with Xbox. Playstation tends to have a lot more role-playing games and indie titles. Final Fantasy and Monster Hunter are a good example of the sorts of exclusives you will get with Playstation.

A gaming PC is for those who really want to become serious gamers. PC has the largest catalogue of games out there. Including thousands of PC exclusive titles. The biggest downside to a gaming PC is the price. Not only do you have to pay the initial cost but you will have to spend a good amount of money upgrading your PC over the years to ensure it can always play the latest titles.

Mobile gaming and browser gaming is also a great way to get started. Mobile games have come a long way over the years. You can still enjoy classic puzzle games like Candy Crush. But modern smartphones are now powerful enough to handle games like League Of Legends or Call Of Duty. There are hundreds of amazing browser games as well. Everything from the simple digital crosswords at Arkadium to the more complex puzzle games found on Miniclip.

Which Games To Start With

The next thing to figure out is which games are right for you. The great thing about modern gaming is the huge variety of games on offer. No matter what you’re into there is bound to be a game for you.

Platforming games are the ideal starting point for anyone looking to enjoy a bit of casual gaming. Super Mario Bros Wonder, for the Nintendo Switch, is the latest title in the iconic Mario series. And it is an amazing jumping on point. Smooth controls, beautifully designed levels, and an array of amazing powers to utilize. The latest Sonic title, Shadow Generations, is a great choice for anyone who likes a bit more adventure in their platforming games.

If you’re looking for a great role-playing game with an engaging story then you should try God Of War, released back in 2018. This is an amazing introduction to story-based adventure games that also does well at introducing you to many of the core concepts that make up the RPG genre. The sequel, God Of War Ragnarok, is also worth diving into if you loved the first title.

If you’re looking for a good multiplayer game then there are a few good choices to start with. Fall Guys is a multiplayer total-wipeout style game. You compete against 49 other players in a series of colorful obstacle courses and races. Each round sees more players eliminated until there is only one left standing!

Fortnite is a great multiplayer shooter for beginners. Like Fall Guys you will be competing against 99 other players to be the last man standing. You have to navigate across a sprawling map finding different weapons and gadgets. A raging storm slowly covers the map forcing all the players closer together.

When people think of games their first thought is often triple-A shooter games or blockbuster action titles. God Of War, Call Of Duty, Elden Ring. Smash hits that often act as the poster child for gaming. And we aren’t saying that this is necessarily a bad thing. But it does mean that a lot of other gaming genres are often overlooked.

And there is one genre in particular that is woefully underappreciated when compared to others. And that is the puzzle genre. Puzzles have been a staple of the gaming world for a large part of human history. Long before video games were even a theoretical concept. Outside of the digital world, puzzles are still extremely popular. But puzzle video games are often underrepresented and undervalued. Today we are going to look at why!

Popular Puzzle Titles

The first thing we need to do is to examine some of the most popular puzzle games out there. The great thing about video games is the freedom it offers designers in regards to gameplay. Boardgames rely heavily on the imagination of the player. Video games have no such limitation.

Portal is a prime example of this. It is one of the best puzzle games ever created. Taking a simple concept that could only ever work in video game format. Players have a portal gun that can create two connected portals. They then have to solve a series of increasingly difficult escape rooms. Pair that with a hilarious AI villain and a flawless gameplay engine and you have a masterpiece.

The Professor Layton series is another example of puzzles done right. Each title is a Poirot-esq detective adventure. But you need to solve puzzles to progress and find clues. The puzzles are a mixture of logic puzzles, riddles, and math problems. The game integrates the puzzles into the world in such an inventive way. So that your immersion is never broken.

Decreasing Quality

Sadly titles like Portal and Layton aren’t the norm. Especially in recent years they have become rarities in the genre. Many developers now approach puzzle games as a quantity over quality situation. And this has been spurred on heavily by the advent of mobile gaming.

The smartphone revolution saw the rise of thousands upon thousands of puzzle mobile games. Candy Crush is the most notable example of this. A simple puzzle idea executed extremely well. And it took the world by storm. But, with mobile games being comparatively cheap to make when compared to console games, we soon saw the market flooded with cheap knockoffs.

The same thing has happened on web browsers too. When Words with Friends became popular we started to see a huge number of low-quality knockoffs appearing. Now we aren’t saying that every puzzle game on mobile or online is following this pattern. I still regularly play word games at Puzzle Voyage that are pushing the boundaries of the puzzle gaming genre while also being challenging. But, on the whole, many puzzle game developers aren’t trying to create anything outstanding. Instead they are content with producing a cheap game that can make them money.

The Intelligence Problem

One of the biggest issues that faces every puzzle is that they are only as smart as their creator. A puzzle created by a child might easily fool another child. But, on average, an adult would easily be able to solve it. And not everyone has a mind for puzzles. Which isn’t a bad thing necessarily. Unless you’re a games developer looking to make a puzzle game.

All too often we will see companies try to release a puzzle game to rival the likes of Portal or Layton. They will include an engaging story, a beautiful world, and stunning graphics. Everything that should make for a good game. But a puzzle game is only as strong as its weakest puzzle.

The art of making a good puzzle game has been lost over the years. People have lost faith in the genre and this means that developers are less inclined to try their hand at making puzzle games. This is one of the primary reasons why the genre is so underappreciated. Because there just haven’t been any standout titles to compete with the legendary puzzle games of old!

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a pro gamer? To be adored by millions and getting paid to play your favorite games? It is quite an alluring prospect to be sure. One that nearly every gamer on the planet has dreamed of at one time or another. But a lot of people don’t know that simply being good at a game is only the smallest fraction of becoming a pro gamer.

That being said, there is a lot that can be learnt from the pros. Ways to improve your day to day gaming skill. The only way to ever truly improve at something is through practice and from studying the old masters. So we are here to give you some tips, based on the habits of pro gamers, to help you improve your skills. No matter what type of gamer you are.

Good Diet And Exercise

There is a stereotype that gamers are unhealthy when compared to non-gamers. And this is, for the most part, not true. But a lot of people don’t realize that to be a pro gamer you need to have the mindset of an athlete. Because pro gaming is a mentally and physically intensive experience. And your mind and body need to be as sharp as they can be.

Diet and exercise is directly linked to the health of our brains. Reaction time, logical thinking, mood control, situation awareness. All of these important gaming skills will be hampered if you’re not eating right or working out regularly.

So the first step in improving your gaming skill is to improve yourself. Cut out processed foods from your diet. Try to incorporate more vegetables, fruits, protein, and natural sugars from fruits. You should try to work out at least three times a week. Running is an excellent choice. Not only does it increase your stamina and promote a healthy heart, but the benefits for your mental health are amazing.

You should put a huge emphasis on working out your hands as well. Developing fine motor skills and dexterity is essential for improving your gaming skills. We recommend getting a hand grip to increase the strength of your hands. Alongside that you should look up some finger dexterity exercises and do them daily.

Play Mobile Games

Practice makes perfect. And this doesn’t just mean practicing the specific game you want to get better at. You need to be training all of your gaming skill set as often as possible. Mobile games are a great way to do this. If you’re ever traveling or somewhere where you can’t game on your PC or console then you can still get some practice in.

Games like Brawl Stars or League Of Legends: Wild Rift are popular amongst pro gamers as they allow you to improve your reaction time and tactical thinking wherever you are. Both games do require a bit of a time investment to unlock a lot of the characters. So people sometimes buy Brawl Stars accounts or Wild Rift accounts to get a head start on the process.

You should also start playing puzzle games like Professor Layton or Candy Crush. These will help you hone your logical thinking and problem solving skills. Two key gaming skills that most people tend to forget about. Even the most basic of FPS games like Call Of Duty require a high degree of logical thinking to become good at.

Play Board Games

Board games were the predecessor to video games. Modern gaming owes everything to the board game industry. And we can’t stress enough just how useful it is to spend some of your time playing board games.

Board games are the ultimate exercise in mental training. Without a digital system to provide you with the baseline rulings you are forced to not only play the game, but form a deeper understanding of the rules and mechanics. They force you to find creative ways to manipulate the mechanics to your favor. A skill that becomes immensely powerful when translated back into video games.

Chess is a game that nearly every pro gamer on the planet spends some time playing. There is no better way to train your brain than with chess. It promotes logical thinking, tactical skills, foresight, and also asks you to consider who you are playing against and not just the pieces on the board. We recommend you download the Chess.com app and play a few games every day if possible. Before you know it you’ll notice your gaming skills improving.

Gaming And Art

One of the main issues facing modern gaming development is that too many developers have forgotten that games can, and often should, be art! Gaming is arguably one of the most powerful artistic mediums on the planet. It melds every other artistic field together into a fully interactive experience. Granted gaming isn’t for everyone. But the point still stands that video games can be art.

There are two key elements to becoming a successful and skilled artist. The first is, of course, practice. If you aren’t creating then you’ve already failed at the first hurdle. But the second key element is to consume as much art as possible. Writers should read a lot of books. Filmmakers should watch a lot of movies. Painters should frequent galleries and exhibitions. And game developers should play a lot of games.

But you shouldn’t limit yourself. You can become a better writer by going to art galleries. You can become a better painter from watching movies. And video games can, overall, make you a better artist. No matter what your chosen field is. And we are going to explain how.

A Delicate Balance

Video games are one of the most difficult forms of art to get right. Because you have to contend with so many variables all working together to create a finished product. And we aren’t just talking technically. The visuals, lighting, sound, music, graphical design. They all have to work together seamlessly to create something spectacular.

And this is the first lesson games can teach you. How one artistic medium can compliment another. Take the game Disco Elysium. The world design in this game is stunning. But what really sells it is the soundtrack. Each area of the game has its own unique sound. And the music features a soundscape that you don’t reaslie isn’t actually part of the overworld. Blending the music into the scenery in a way that transcends what you expect from a video game.

Games can also show you when to hold back. Dark Souls uses silence to a masterful effect. The game features some of the most epic boss music in gaming history. But, in the sections between the bosses, there is no music. Instead you are left with the sounds of the world. This is done to instill a sense of loneliness. To drive home how bleak and lost the world is. Except for one area of safety in the game. Here you are stranded with a melodic tune that invites you to relax. To let down your guard.

Artistic Games

Video games aren’t always about going on grand quests or fighting waves of zombies. There are thousands of amazing art based games out there. Games like Jackbox, which engage your imagination in a social setting. Or Chicory: A Colorful Tale, which is similar to those adult paint by numbers kits you see everywhere.

These games can provide you with a more practical method of improving your artistic skills without having to waste resources. And a lot of these games have thriving online communities where you can share your art and learn from skilled individuals. They are also a great way to unwind after a stressful day.

Environmental Storytelling

One thing that gaming teaches very well is environmental storytelling. This is something that can be applied to nearly every artistic medium. The idea of ‘Show don’t tell’ is a primary one when it comes to writing and filmmaking. And you will see this idea applied a lot in games. Particularly RPG’s or open world games.

The idea is simple. Using the environment of a scene to provide your audience with primary or secondary information. In visual mediums such as film and paintings this is called the mise en scène. Games like Fallout, Skyrim, Dark Souls, and The Witcher are great examples of how well a game can utilize environmental storytelling.

When done right, environmental storytelling will elevate your art to the next level. It will force you to think about new ways to provide information to your audience. And it will also ask you to put more trust in them too. Trusting that they will pick up on what you are hiding in the background.

Several research based on different people’s opinions have been made to ascertain whether video games can help you become a safer driver. Based on the research, some people are positive that playing video games helped them become safer drivers, while some strongly disagreed.

Some practical research has also been conducted to determine if playing video games can help a person become a safer driver. Professional gamers and non-gamers were put to test and the gamers performed better than the other party And several tries. The result clearly proved that gamers drive better than non-gamers but it is not enough to come to the decision that video games can help you become a safer driver.

The gaming world has advanced in so many ways, especially when it comes to creating realistic video games. A realistic driving game can help you become more alert while driving, and even help you reduce some of the fears you may feel while driving on a highway. Notwithstanding, playing a video game can hardly be compared with real life driving.

Real Life Driving Advantages for Gamers

Driving in video games is not the same as driving in real life but it has certain influences on it. Read on to learn about some of the advantages gamers have when it comes to real life driving.

• Little or no driving fear

Fear is a constant experience for most first drivers. Based on how real the current video games are, a gamer may likely experience fear and tensions when playing driving video games for the first time. After playing the video game for a while the gamer conquers the fear and tension and gets used to the adrenal rush. Several studies have shown that gamers perform better in their first driving test than non- gamers and this may likely be as a result of their video game experience.

• Alertness

Driving games require full attention and quick reflex abilities as obstacles can pop out at any time during the course of the game. With this in mind gamers are bound to have better reflexes when driving. The increasing rate of accidents on the road shows that some drivers get easily distracted and also lack reflex abilities. The number of personal injury cases keep increasing each year and this is due to the high rate of negligence by drivers. Unfortunately, not all insurance companies or default parties are willing to offer the right compensations to the injured parties hence, the need for exclusive MVA leads to help with the personal injury cases. Alertness and quick reflex are two necessary qualities for all drivers. Implementing these two factors at all times while driving can help prevent road accidents.

• Better understanding of what driving entails

Several gamers have claimed that their driving test was not so difficult due to their Prior experience with video games. If you have played any of the current driving games you can attest to the fact that the visuals are quite realistic. Gamers may not know how to control a real car but they understand how driving works.

Can Video Games Really Help You Become A Safer Driver?

This is one of the most constantly asked questions online and the answer is YES and NO. Are you confused? Don’t be! Based on the advantages mentioned, you can see that video games have certain influences on the actual driving. It is safe to say that video games can help you enhance your driving skills and this can make you a safer driver in certain areas.

On the other hand, driving a car based on your video game experience is a bit risky. Driving games usually have little or no rules. A gamer can easily get carried away while driving and apply the same recklessness driving in real life which can lead to fatal accidents.

Secondly, controlling a car in a video game is not the same as controlling one in real life. For example you can not have the real experience of using the throttle, matching brakes and accelerators or even changing gears in video games. You need more than a video game experience to use all the mentioned controls adequately.

In conclusion, video games can help enhance your driving skills but you need more advanced learning in real life to help you become a safer driver.

When you think of gaming the first thing that pops into your mind is probably video games. The reality is that while this is the most popular form of gaming, we have currently there has been a massive spike in interest when it comes to tabletop games. Whether you’re talking about Settlers of Catan, dungeons, and Dragons, or Connect Four these are all types of tabletop games that have earned a name for themselves over many decades. With this spike there is an increasing demand for people can sell those games since more often than not they are pretty hard to come by. If you are both interested in gaming and in potentially taking advantage of this lack of offer you might be thinking about starting your very own gaming store. Well, 2024 is the best time ever to do so. So let’s take a look at why and how you can go about making your business a success once you decide if you want to do it or not.

The State of Gaming in 2024

First and foremost it’s important to address the fact that table talks while being very popular are still very much in niche hobby compared to video games. That much becomes even more apparent when you look at the actual numbers. My number is we are of course talking about the sales figures and the estimated growth of each industry year by year. While board games are estimated to become an around $3 billion industry by 2027 the video game industry is currently at around 190 billion in 2024 with numbers rising every year even with the post-COVID negative numbers. Despite these very big sales figures it’s important to understand that both industries are currently facing a bit of a culture shift as many people are starting to focus their attention on independent products because of the behavior of massive companies. This is especially positive when you think about the fact that independent companies offer products of generally greater quality for lower prices which can be a great place to start when opening a store.

The Logistics

When we talk about opening a store, we are not necessarily talking about opening a physical store by itself. Generally, the best way to do it especially when you are planning to sell things that are appealing to obvious who are generally well-connected to the online culture is to simply open an online store and have your merchandise stored in a storage unit. This not only allows you to sell easily online but you can also avoid having merchandise piled up in your apartment. Storing your product in a storage unit also is a cheaper and safer way to keep your goods all in the same place. This way you have less risk of your merchandise getting damaged or stolen since most storage companies have security cameras and can monitor units using a web based self storage software. If you are looking to build a business online the best way to do it is of course to have the least number of things to pay so you can make as much money as possible from your sales of online products.

As you can see running a gaming store in 2024 is a great way to make some profit for yourself and is also pretty easy once you figure out all the basics that you require. If you are obvious yourself, you will find some great opportunities to both enjoy your hobby as well as share it with people who are also interested in said hobby. It is even easier than ever considering that many platforms exist to help beginners create their online stores as well as learn the basics of marketing when it comes to starting a company. So don’t be afraid to take a risk and do something that you enjoy that could potentially bring you a lot of great opportunities business-wise.