VR Headsets are worse than Wii

I find it extremely hypocritical that the same people that criticize the Nintendo Wii for being gimmicky with its controllers and games, don’t see that in VR headsets like HTC Vive and actually embrace the technology. The concept of both Wii and VR are extremely similar, aside from one using underpowered hardware and connected to a TV while the other is connected to a gaming PC and is overpriced garbage. Much like any gimmicky trend, after a few years people begin to lose interest and head over to the next big thing which can definitley be said for these heavy gaming goggles.

Sure, some people might claim that it offers more than just games and can have a variety of real world applications to help professionals in various industries. But I’m not talking about that, I’m referring to just the gaming aspect of these headsets and mind you, they’re not actually VR as you can still distinguish it from reality. It’s nothing like Matrix or Ready Player One that “teleports” your consciousness to a virtually created dimension altogether. VR headsets have changed very little from the 80s and 90s aside from the aesthetic design, controllers, and of course better hardware. The core concept and components have changed very little and is quite pathetic.

Majority of the software for VR are either tech demos, casual spin-offs of major franchises, ports of older PC games, or non-gaming applications. The few that remain are only enjoyable thanks to the community and modders, or they emulate Wii games by focusing on a few motion gimmicks and making a game out of it. If I wanted to pretend to be athletic, I’d just play Wii Sports; if I wanted to immerse myself in a sci-fi world using high tech weapons, I’d stick to Metroid Prime. Not to even mention that many mobile games are more “hardcore” and higher quality than VR titles.

What makes things worse is that you can’t just use any PC with any mid-range hardware – you need at least near high tier stuff like i5 quad-core & GTX 970 for minimum performance. And then, you also have to set up the space in the room you’re playing that’ll be used as the boundaries in the VR environment. So much for realistic immersion with limitless possibilities except by one’s own imagination…oh wait, Green Lantern reference. Most people who have VR only got it because they have too much disposable income to spend or are just curious (only to abandon it soon).

Oh right, some VR titles require keyboard/mouse or a gamepad controller (why when the headset comes with its own?) and many cost as much as full retail games. What were these developers thinking charging customers as much as they’d pay for games like Tomb Raider or Witcher 3? Much like any popular gimmick, VR is full of shovelware only adding further to the insult – but it helps my narrative though. Sure, the graphics and gameplay mechanics are more complex than those on the Wii, but I guarantee that the Switch can easily surpass VR in those regards.

If I ever were to try out VR, I’d only do so when I’m much older and the retail price of those headsets have dropped to last-gen used console level. Even then, I’d avoid buying most games and only those that are completely worth my time as well as other software (yes, porn will be one of them XD). Otherwise, I’d stick to playing on PC and console, and if I want gimmicks, then I’d go back and play on mobile devices. Yes, I’ve become a boring adult that avoids mainstream content like Fortnite and PUBG preferring to go for content that matters or from the “underdog”. I hope you guys have a wonderful winter break and Happy New Years and look forward to 2019!

 

Smash Bros. Brawl VS. Smash 4 (Wii U): Comparison Review

I originally wanted to write a comparison review between the Mario Galaxy games, but seeing how they’re too similar and the sequel is better I decided to not do it. Instead, we’ll just compare the two most recent entries in the Smash franchise: Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo Wii released in 2008 and Super Smash Bros. 4 Wii U that came out in 2014 for that console. After this review as promised, I will start working on reviews for PC games exclusive to Steam, such as Portal, Counter-Strike: Source, and Left 4 Dead (1) and then we’ll see where to go from there.

Sorry for constantly procrastinating and while I did have the time to write this review long ago, I just didn’t want to being the lazy ass that I was. Of course, I’m in college so I spent most of my time attending lectures and tutorials, cooking and eating meals (stove at my current rented place is slow as fuck), writing essays and assignments, and playing video games. Yes, I know that I’m supposed to play the games before I review them and that I don’t own a Wii U, but last year I managed to play Smash 4 on the Wii U belonging to a distant friend at that time so now everything is settled!

Gameplay – Brawl 0; Wii U 1

SSB Brawl -> As with almost any Wii game unfortunately, the developers decided it was a good idea to dumb down the mechanics to make it easier for casual gamers. This really annoyed the hell out of the competitive Smash community and ironically allowed Melee to not be replaced in pro gaming tournaments even to this day! Honestly, I mostly don’t mind the fighting mechanics being more casual, although it makes it feel too easy at times which can bore hardcore gamers. Essentially, almost all of the hidden techniques like L-Cancelling and Wave Dashing were removed for simplicity.

On top of that, the physics were modified so the movement of characters were more “floaty” allowing even less skilled players to not get knocked out easily. Thankfully, lots of characters from past Smash games that were extremely powerful got nerfed (i.e., Bowser) and those weak got buffed (i.e., Zelda), despite many newer characters like Meta Knight and Sonic being too overpowered or unfairly balanced. Newer game modes seemed to focus more on concepts appealing to casuals like cinematic cutscenes, arcade mini-games, and collectible items rather than fighting.

SSB 4 Wii U -> After realizing the mistakes they made, Nintendo and other companies involved decided to go back without making it too “hardcore”. I believe in some official interviews Sakurai himself stated how the fighting physics were superior to Brawl but still inferior to Melee. And when I tried out Smash 4 on an acquaintance’s Wii U, I realized how much more challenging it was compared to Brawl but still not as difficult as Melee. A lot of the casual features as mentioned above have been removed or dumbed down in favour of gameplay improvements and newer content.

Verdict -> This is a given as we all know Smash 4 has the superior gameplay, although due to nostalgia, I’ll probably state how Melee is the best in this department. Yes, Smash 4 still did not revive the advanced techniques from Melee…except like L-Cancelling through gear (I think), but at least it’s not as unbalanced and casual as Brawl. Later in this review, you’ll notice how increasingly similar Brawl is to Wii U even more so than how Melee was to 64 – actually, content was more or less the same for them while Brawl emphasized on content from Game-Cube era while Wii U the Wii era.

Content – Brawl 1; Wii U 1

SSB Brawl -> Brawl was the first game to take advantage of the IP from recent games during the Game-Cube and early Wii era instead of just NES, SNES, and N64. Quantity wise, Brawl probably has at least double the amount of content than Melee, with older characters and items having rebooted redesigns (like Link and Zelda resembling their Twilight Princess versions). Newer stages are much more interactive, have more unique transitions such as weather, time of day, and 2.5 D, featuring more locations than just traditional maps (Mushroom Kingdom and Corneria comes to mind).

Adventure Mode got the most changes as it became a full out cinematic, plot driven campaign in which you could play with different characters, go through levels not available in other modes, and be able to combine platforming and adventure. Then older game modes like Classic, Event Match, Stadium were changed slightly though still enough to be different from Melee and 64. Newer game modes were added like the one where you can play demos of Virtual Console titles, build your own freaking custom stages, and fight all the bosses from Adventure Mode back-to-back!

SSB 4 Wii U -> Sakurai claimed due to the internet sharing videos of in-game cutscenes, that was the reason for omitting Adventure mode in Smash 4 smh. But hey, at least they further improved upon older game modes, such as how in Classic mode you can choose which fighters to battle with and get more rewards the higher the difficulty. Also, they finally added 8-player Smash which apparently was supposed to be in Brawl and almost didn’t make it to Smash 4 due to hardware limitations. At this point, there’s not much Nintendo can add without making it become the next COD of fighters.

Ok, in the 3DS version there are some differences and the game mode that replaced adventure mode is far superior. But for the Wii U version, instead of playing in a labyrinth map with a free-for-all battle royale, there’s a board game simulator. I kid you not, you choose your preferred Mii and move them around the board and occasionally fight gaining or losing characters until a final match at the end which you use all the characters you acquired against other players. Oh yeah, and the online fighting is still barebones and you can’t even voice chat or use custom gear.

Verdict -> Quality is more important than quantity and while Smash 4 technically surpasses Brawl in both, I’m only reviewing the Wii U version. Brawl was the first in the series to introduce so much new and expanded content and changed the franchise forever, whereas Smash Wii U did little and even went a step backwards. Literally one third of the stages are from past Smash titles, and at least half the characters being from Mario which shows lack in diversity. I do admit that Smash 4’s inclusion of more third party characters and wider variety of past systems is a big step up.

Graphics – Brawl 2 ; Wii U 1

SSB Brawl -> Despite the hardware of the Wii being slightly more powerful than the Game-Cube, PS2, and Xbox while being inferior to the PS3 and Xbox 360, Brawl has still managed to produce visuals on par with early HD titles on those two systems. Everything from the polygon count, textures, models, particle/detail effects, lighting, shadows, etc., were beautifully well done and made Brawl the most realistic Smash game yet. No other Wii game aside from maybe Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Sonic Colors surpass the aesthetics; goes to show that like Half Life 2 strong hardware isn’t needed.

SSB 4 Wii U -> This time around Nintendo decided to stop with the realism approach and designed the graphics to look more cartoony (also lowering the ESRB rating). Polygon count, textures, and lighting and shadows are even more enhanced with the better hardware that the WiiU provides. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look as good as PS4 and Xbox One titles that released at the time of Smash 4’s launch and official screenshots show that some visual assets haven’t improved that much from Brawl. Still though, it looks better than most WiiU titles and isn’t as ugly as Smash 3DS’ cel-shaded graphics.

While all Smash games run at a consistently smooth 60fps, the resolution for Smash 4 is not only HD and progressive scan but also in full 1080p FHD! This is a huge benefit as Brawl being a Wii game looked ugly on newer flat screen TV’s for being 480i/p (while Brawl and I believe Melee has an option for anti-aliasing to reduce the pixilation). Brawl also was pretty much the same resolution as Melee which also ran in 480i, being upscaled to 480p if being played on a Wii. The only way for Brawl to be played in HD resolution would be to play it on Wii U or Dolphin emulator.

Verdict -> Depending on your preference for either realism or cartoonish graphics, that will determine which game has better visuals. Overall though, I’d have to give Brawl the point for this comparison as unlike Smash 4 it was a huge leap from Melee’s visuals and actually could compare to games released for PS3 and Xbox 360 back in 2008. I also got turned off by the cartoony graphics a bit as I’ve gotten used to the realism implemented in Melee and Brawl (and a little in Smash 3DS). Perhaps if Smash 4 continued the realism approach or could compare to PS4 or Xbox One titles then I’d change.

Controls – Brawl 2 ; Wii U 2

SSB Brawl -> For the first time in Smash history, players can use a variety of different controllers and even customize their controls much like on PC! Thankfully despite being a Wii game, there are no motion controls aside from I think one attack that could be assigned to a button anyways. Players can choose from using the Wii Remote (on its side), Wiimote & Nunchuk, Classic Controller (/Pro), or the Game-Cube controller. You can even save custom bindings to individual names so that if you invite friends over no need to worry about having them overwritten.

SSB 4 Wii U -> Smash 4 continues Brawl’s legacy of diverse controls by allowing the Wii U tablet controller, Wii U Pro gamepad, and even all options used for Brawl (albeit a GCN adapter is sold separately). Hell, you can even have 4 extra players with their controllers and those that own the 3DS port can use their handheld device as a controller too! I guarantee most people would simply use the Game-Cube and Wii U Pro controllers over the other options available. Anyhow, the new physics in Smash 4 also make controls more “hardcore” for those that enjoyed Melee and hated Brawl.

Verdict -> I’m gonna have to award Smash 4 with this one as it’s clearly obvious that not only did they expand upon the concept but also didn’t fix what wasn’t broke. Of course it’s going to be rare to actually have up to 8 players play with you locally, but this is a dream come true for hardcore fans and fighting tournaments. Oh right, forgot to mention that those toys called Amiibos can be bought then have its virtual content downloaded to the game allowing you to have a true AI-based fighter! Not much else to write about as the controls don’t really have any issues.

Soundtrack – Brawl 2 ; Wii U 3

SSB Brawl -> Again as a series first, almost all the music have been completely remastered for the fighting stages as opposed to majority being ports. A variety of different genres like orchestra, rock ‘n roll, techno/synthesizer, and more can be heard in the many compositions available. Hell, even music from third-party titles and from software like Mii Channel have been included for more diversity. However, I do have to complain about many of the original themes in Brawl simply being modified compositions of the main Brawl theme much like Twilight Princess.

SSB 4 Wii U -> Whereas Brawl only had music from games for the NES, SNES, N64, GCN, Wii and DS, Smash 4 has remastered music from later Wii games, early Wii U games, and even the entire soundtrack from the 3DS port of Smash 4! Plus, the Smash 4 theme is better orchestrated and while it does suffer from being used over and over in other themes, overall the Smash 4 soundtrack gave me more eargasms that I could count. Also like Brawl, the announcer/Master Hand’s voice is just as deep, enthusiastic, and professional if not even better as he sounds like a radio host.

Verdict -> Yeah we all know that Smash 4’s soundtrack surpasses Brawl’s in both quality and quantity. Just because a game may be the first to implement an amazing concept that gets copied by others later on, does not make it better (I’m looking at you Half-Life 1). Lots of other games that feature franchise crossovers will produce remastered and maybe some ported music so praising Brawl as if it was the first or one of the first to do that is pathetic. Who knows what kind of soundtrack will be made for Smash Ultimate – although to be honest, I won’t support that game or the Switch sorry.

Replay Value – Brawl 2 ; Wii U 4

SSB Brawl -> With a cinematic and exploration based Adventure mode that can take up to 30 hours to beat and a fuck ton of new/improved content, Brawl can be played easily for several hundred hours by oneself or with friends. While the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service got discontinued back in 2013 after IGN bought out the dedicated server provider for Wii games, it’s still best to play locally where you can socialize with people you know well and not deal with lag and toxicity. Extra arcade and casual game modes only adds more fun when you’re bored with the typical fighting.

SSB 4 Wii U -> 8-Player Smash alone brings so much possibilities that couldn’t be a reality back in its predecessors and has so much replay value. Add to the even more amount of new and old content, combined with custom gear and Amiibos to drastically change the core gameplay, and we’ve got ourselves a winner here. If other people are hogging the TV, simply just play on the touchpad controller or get a 3DS and play Smash 4 on the go…albeit with less content and worse graphics. I believe the online service for the Wii U may still be up so you can still play online to your heart’s content.

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Ok I’m finally done with this review and I honestly am ashamed of myself for delaying it for over 3 months when I should’ve released it in May. Anyhow, now that I’m finished I can finally publish reviews for PC games and believe me, it will be almost like two years ago when I regularly published many reviews for Wii games. Since I’m quite passionate about reviewing games I just beat you needn’t worry about me delaying them, although I’ll straight up tell you right now that I may publish less than promised. Unlike in highschool I have full access to a PC allowing me to spend more time.

Literally the only reason for writing these two comparison reviews were because I didn’t write any reviews for over a year (now two years) so I needed some practice. Now that I have acquired such practice here on WordPress and on Steam, I can assure you that my reviews will have a writing quality better than ever before…plus writing essays and reports in college have helped too. I’m not going to provide a summary because it’s just me rewriting everything I wrote and I didn’t really want to write these comparison reviews to begin with. Hope to see you all in late August/early September!

Proposed Gaming PC Specs

Remember a few months back when…ok most of you don’t since you’re not my followers (I’ve been getting a fuck ton recently, all from Outlook users strangely). Anyways, sometime late last year I made an editorial how I wanted to get a laptop that had mid-range hardware dedicated for gaming. However, after researching extensively on gaming PC’s I now declare my past suggestion as naiveté and will pursue building my own custom desktop PC specifically for gaming. Price, customization, upgradability, life-span, and other factors have convinced me to reject gaming laptops.

Little Clarification On GPU’s

The year is 2018 and I’ve noticed as games become more demanding, so does the hardware require to run them. Just a few years ago, a 2 GB GPU like the NVidia GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon R9 290 could run the newest games at 1080p high settings and result in 60fps. Then in 2016, a 4 GB GPU like the GTX 970 or AMD equivalent were recommended for good performance and Intel Core i7 became the new standard rather than i5 chip. End of 2017 and early 2018, almost high end GPU’s like the GTX 1060 6 GB and Radeon RX Vega 64 8 GB got recommended instead.

Of course, to you console gamers I’ll teach you a little lesson on how to determine the power of a graphics card and CPU. The amount of GB I put there is the VRAM (Virtual Memory) for the GPU; this acts as frame buffer which is let’s just say allows your graphics card to play at higher game settings the more memory you have. But graphics memory alone isn’t enough as the GTX 750Ti can only run GTA 5 at low settings 720p and get 24fps average while GTX 960 can give over 60fps at 1080p ultra despite both cards having 2 GB VRAM…ok kind of bad example but it’s still a decent analogy.

The main factor in determining the strength of a GPU is its core clock speed, so rather how fast it can perform rendering the graphics measured in MHZ. Take my integrated GPU, the AMD Radeon R5 with 512 MB VRAM, and compare it to Intel HD Graphics 3000 with exact same memory. Although both can let me play Borderlands 2 at 1080p high settings and give 60fps, since HD 3000’s clock speed is anywhere between 350 to 650 MHZ and my iGPU is anywhere between 600 something to 720 MHZ, I’ll get less performance issues and slightly better fps at the same settings.

Analysis of Past Proposed Specs

• Form Factor: Gaming Laptop (Mid-Range) | Manufacturer: Acer
• Model: Acer Aspire Nitro 15 | MSRP: $1000 CAD/$800 USD
• CPU: Intel Core i5-7300 HQ @ 3.5 GHZ (4 Cores & Kabby Lake)
• GPU: NVidia GeForce GTX 1050 with 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM
• OS: Windows 10 Home Edition X64 Bit | RAM: 8 GB DDR4 Memory
• Storage: 256 GB SSD | DirectX: Version 12 (Hardware & OS)
• Display: 1920X1080 FHD 15.6″ 60HZ LCD Laptop Monitor

So if we were to apply the reality of newer games requiring more powerful hardware, honestly the laptop I want to get isn’t that impressive. Of course, since I’ll mostly play games from the late 2000’s to mid 2010’s, I don’t really need high end but I still want a gaming PC that is “futureproof”. In laymen terms, if I’m going to spend like 1000 bucks on a computer, I might as well spend it on hardware that is powerful and let me play games for a really long time without having to upgrade it soon after. Laptops are known for overheating, expensive MSRP, and cannot be upgraded which sucks.

And if we were to look at the other specs besides just the CPU and GPU, honestly that laptop isn’t that great. 1080p is so last decade ago and while it is the preferred resolution for PC gamers, console fanboys have already ascended to 4K (albeit native UHD upscaled) along with the fact that FHD is quite pixelated on a standard gaming monitor unless anti-aliasing is used. I’ve already seen some games in the Steam store recommending 12 GB RAM so sooner or later 8 GB will be seen as inferior; 256 GB isn’t that much but I tend to be obsessed with conserving space so no biggie.

Going back to discussing about video cards, the GTX 1050 isn’t that powerful enough to run games for late 2016 and beyond – also it isn’t the Ti variant so even with the extra VRAM it is still as weak as the base 1050. I have this sudden shift in preference for desktop over laptops since the one I’m currently using overheats easily, I don’t really like playing at 1366X768 and struggle to play games from the early 2010’s. Most importantly, I hate how laptops are fragile, require to be plugged in if gaming for several hours, and the stronger laptops are so big and heavy.

Currently Proposed Gaming PC

• Form Factor: Desktop Gaming PC (Custom Built/Mid-Range)
• Motherboard: ASUS Gaming Board | MSRP: $800-900 CAD
• CPU: Intel Core i7-7600K Kabby-Lake @ 3.4 GHZ (4 Cores & 8 Threads)
• GPU: NVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM
• OS: Windows 10 Home Edition X64 Bit | DirectX: Version 12
• RAM: 12 GB Kingston DDR4 | Storage: Samsung EVO 250 GB SSD
• Desktop Case: ?????? | Sound Card: ?????? | Fans: ??????
• Network Adapter: ????? | PSU: Corsair Power Supply Platinum
• Monitor: 1920X1080 FHD 22″ 60HZ LED RCA Television
• Keyboard: ?????? | Mouse: ?????? | Gamepad: Xbox One Wired
• Microphone: ?????? | Headphones: ?????? | VR Headset: None

After conducting some research, the above specs will be the components I will purchase to assemble my ideal gaming PC. The ones that are unknown I either do not care about the specifics so long as it is mid-range or I have a few candidate components and haven’t decided on the final choice yet. Unlike with the past laptops I owned, I intend to buy all the components online through different shopping sites and only during major site or holiday sales to not get ripped off. Sadly, due to those asshole bitcoin miners I won’t be considering to get the GTX 1060 6 GB which would’ve been perfect.

I know that the i7 is overkill if I use it mostly for gaming and even games that recommend i7 still suggest using i5 as minimum, but I do plan on video editing when I’m older and other demanding tasks as hobbies. I’m already using 12 GB RAM (pre-installed) on my current laptop and also the fact that 8 GB soon won’t be enough…also extra RAM is better for video editing. I don’t ever recall disclosing this to you readers but my laptop’s HDD broke cause I punched it out of anger for being so slow. To this day, I’ve been using a SSD ever since and I’ll never go back, even if they have less space.

Last but not least, the monitor I put there was the one I used to play my Wii on and gaming monitors are extremely expensive. When I do intend on upgrading, the monitor I will purchase will be QHD or 1440p, have a high refresh rate of at least 120 HZ, support HDR and be curved (those monitors look cool), and make sure it has G-Sync. The optical drives aren’t even needed for PC’s nowadays since everything can be installed from either USB or the internet, although I may consider Blu-Ray/DVD drive. I think VR is one big gimmick and most PC games only accept Xbox controllers.

Future Thoughts

Reason why it’s wired is so I don’t need to constantly buy new batteries like I did for the Wii and buy that stupid wireless adapter that costs too much money. In the far far future, I’ll only upgrade parts that malfunction except for CPU, GPU, Motherboard, and RAM in which those components I’ll upgrade to get with the times. I’ll either upgrade to the 1070Ti or 1080Ti when I play newer games that the 1050Ti cannot run well, switch to AMD and go for future Ryzen chip that beats i9, and make sure to get a board that obviously is compatible with CPU and GPU I suggested.

Yes, I know I haven’t written anything in a few months and this editorial is mostly just filler before I publish my Smash Brawl VS 4 Wii U review eventually. I’m kind of conflicted and lazy as I’ve published short reviews of PC games I’ve played on Steam and don’t know if it’s worth the effort to make longer, more polished reviews here. Also since I have to study and write my exams this month and soon will finally try finding a part time job. Don’t worry, I’m avoiding retail at all costs since that industry is full of competition and discriminatory employers plus I’ll seek gov’t assistance.

 

How Consoles Are Still (Somewhat) Better Than PC’s In Gaming

Remember a few months back when I wrote that I might make a second article but explaining why consoles are still better than PC’s in some aspects? Well, of course non of you don’t because that was almost half a year ago and I’ve neglected writing on this site for a long time. But to make it up to my few followers, here are several reasons that support the use of consoles for gaming rather than PC. Obviously, this article won’t be as long as the original article, but I’ll try my best to make it longer than it should be. Without further ado, let’s just get on with the rebuttals shall we?

#1: Use It Right Out-of-the-Box!

While you can’t take this statement 100% literally, you can in a sense both literally and metaphorically once you think outside the box (pun intended). Many people still prefer playing consoles for its simplicity, and nothing beats plugging the console to the television, turning the system on and loading the main menu, and then being able to play the game with controller in hand. You don’t have to worry about driver updates when something fucks up, or lower settings because your hardware is too weak, or have to install mods and shit that might break the game or make you banned.

You also can be rest assured that there won’t be (mostly) any game breaking bugs, poor optimization, or having hardware related issues. True, consoles require manual installation when you power it on for the first time, but that applies to pretty much every consumer electronic device and it’s quite user friendly with a manual included. No extra knowledge or expertise in computer engineering is required as you just sit back, relax, and play. Did I mention you don’t need to buy and build every single component either (they even come with extra hard drives now just in case)?

#2: Consoles Are Still More Affordable

Of course that consoles cost much more in the long-term…assuming that you’re sharing it with other people and plan to buy lots and lots of games. If you’re a casual gamer or just not really into gaming cause of how messed up the gaming industry is, you’ll most likely buy the bare essentials, pay for an online subscription, and then buy about 20-30 games. (I conducted a survey back then on GameFAQS and most people will get that amount per system that they own). Unless you plan to buy hundreds of games and constantly upgrade, why spend 1000 dollars or more for PC gaming?

I know lots of friends and acquaintances that also are very “money-savvy” and won’t buy everything at full price. They’ll usually sell their older games and systems for the newer ones, buy or trade used games and systems (in good condition, duh), or wait for holiday sales when everything will be dirt cheap. Let’s be honest here, unless you’re a truly hardcore gamer (or a man-child), you’re not gonna play the games and consoles once you get bored of using them. Even if you don’t choose to spend money wisely on console gaming, there are many uses besides just gaming much like computers.

#3: Family and User-Friendly

Much like why people now prefer using tablets over laptops and desktop PC’s, many people prefer using consoles for catering to everyone. You can do so many tasks on consoles besides just gaming, such as watching TV shows and movies, listening to music and songs, browsing the internet, and even using web chat! Sure, a lot of these services require additional service fees or severely limited, but majority of mainstream society don’t see these as setbacks and are quite used to it. And besides, most of the services provided allow unlimited access for a cheap monthly fee.

In a way, buying consoles for casual users can actually save lots of money spent on otherwise additional expensive products like 4K Blu-Ray players. The GUI (graphic user interface) is emulated like that of tablets and smartphones, so those of older and younger generations can easily adapt to and use the consoles outside of gaming. There are on-screen prompts for those that get confused of the button layout of gamepad controllers or prefer not to use hand-eye coordination. No need to install updates and patches as the console will do all of that for you in the background.

#4: Co-op Play With Local Players

We’ve all been used to online gaming for probably over a decade now (or a few years for you mobile and Nintendo gamers). If it’s not severely limited by the hardware and/or developers, it’s filled with a toxic community that ruins the experience. That’s way sometimes it’s best to go back to traditional roots and play multiplayer with friends and family members within the same room and system. Setting up a local game on PC requires an online connection for everybody or setting up a LAN game which is annoying and complicated (plus PC monitors are smaller than TV’s!)

There is communication available online but that’s just not quite like talking to your favorite pals up close and personal. Best of all, no need to worry about hackers, griefers, and trolls joining in and ruining the fun for their sadistic enjoyment (since they can’t get any from their miserable lives). Since you’re all also playing in the same room, you can do other social activities such as eating, drinking, texting, or the like to make local co-op gaming even more interesting. Plus, depending on the game you and your friends/relatives can even take turns using the controllers.

#5: Getting Third-Party Games 1st

More and more games seem to be ported now to PC than years ago, although that doesn’t always mean they get it before console gamers do. Since companies still profit more from console owners, they tend to release and optimize their games earlier and better than compared to PC. While people like me have to wait several months (or in some cases, years) just for them to make a port for PC. I won’t really discuss how console games are better optimized, seeing how they’re mostly rendered at 30fps and sub-resolutions, and the fact that major consoles all use similar AMD chips anyways.

#6: First-Party Exclusives on Consoles

Usually consumers won’t just go to a store simply because of the different brands it offers, but also from the unique goods and services it exclusively provides. The same applies to consoles, as many people usually choose between Play-Station, Xbox, or Nintendo because of exclusives (and other factors). Otherwise, if it weren’t for such unique gems, might as well game on PC since literally almost all third party titles are ported there (even some Xbox exclusives are on the Windows Store). You just can’t get God of War, Super Smash Bros., or Forza anywhere else.

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I expected to only like about 4 reasons but managed to end up with 6 reasons on some ways where consoles still excel over PC’s for gaming. Sadly, as predicted by both gamers and developers, either this generation might be the last (or one of the last) or it’ll just go rock bottom from here as they try to emulate PC – and fail at it. But, much like the art industry, we might all just be experiencing a phase in a repetitive cycle and eventually there will be better quality products. I am writing this article as I am waiting for my lecture to start since I’m bored and have nothing better to do.

My First YouTube Videos

These videos were the very first videos I’ve ever published on YouTube…ok, I did publish like two videos of my now deceased guinea pig a few years back (but that channel got deactivated since I didn’t use it for more than 90 days). As you can tell by checking these out on YouTube, I published them approximately 2 months ago or around late October of last year for better accuracy. Unfortunately, for reasons explained in previous blogs you will notice the in-game framerate is very low for a shooting game but I don’t have a computer powerful enough to record and stream videos.

More of an experiment than anything else, I just wanted to test how well the Radeon ReLive was at recording gameplay footage even when it wasn’t smooth. And since I lack the experience and skill to make videos, this was great practice which helped me improve drastically in my next few videos (which are private and got copyright claimed by UMG as told before). 😦 I recorded some vlogs back in late December when I had the time shortly after finishing my final exams for last semester, though I haven’t published them since I’m lazy and yet to find a decent free editing software.

Yeah, the videos didn’t really get that many views as Left 4 Dead 2 isn’t really popular as other games like CSGO and Rocket League. I was quite deluded – that word is sort of a cliché to me – in thinking this would somehow boost my popularity on YouTube. Yes, if you’re asking right now, I did create the custom thumbnails myself and at first I used Photoshop then I transitioned to GIMP after my free trial expired. It’s kind of obvious to why I specifically titled my videos that way and why I chose this campaign over all others for these “experimental” videos.