Enzine Article 3: Nostalgia in Games

Nostalgia in Games


By Justin Frantz  |   Submitted On March 23, 2018

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Nostalgia. The word brings to mind a joyous familiarity felt when engaging in something in the present that we really enjoyed doing in the past. Gaming is no different. Everyone has games that bring back memories from, what we think of now as, better times. Hindsight is a like the snob that points out what you could have done, hindsight tells us our childhood may not have been as bad as we thought. As adults we know how the world works. When we were growing up, we never really had a grip on the world. Hindsight tells us that those times were better, safer, less complicated. Games that bring on nostalgia puts us in the mindset of a kid again. It makes us feel safe, secure, and protected. Humans have a natural tendency to want safety and protection. Especially the adults, because as adults we know just how quickly the world can go from OK one day, to horrible the next. As gamers we seek safety and security in games.

I started gaming when I was very young as most gamers my age did. I grew up playing Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 with my mom and sister. Super Mario, Kirby, and Mario Cart were a few of the titles that we played. Zelda was perhaps the biggest game we played. My mom has problems with fast-moving games like Call of Duty and other highly graphic games. So we played Super Nintendo and what a time it was! Zelda on the Super Nintendo we beat many times. I say "we" but it was my mom playing not me or my sister. Even thinking about it while writing this I'm getting nostalgia. We kept getting close to the end and then the game wiping our save out so we started over like three times. It was good times. That was when I was around six or seven or eight. Long time ago. Nostalgia gives us hope for the future. It tells us that if good times happened in the past then more good times will happen in the future.

Later I started gaming on my own. It is hard to think about what game came next in chronological order but they all had a theme: single-player strategy. A broad gaming description that can fit a lot of games in it. Games like Pharaoh and Cleopatra, Age of Empires II, and of course Sid Meier's Civilization III. I was not allowed to play shooters as they had bad language in them and so was restricted to single player games. My parents were very protective and games were not as prevalent twenty years ago as they are now. Pharaoh is a city builder placing you in ancient Egypt. The goal of the game was the build great cities using the resources at your disposal and it was quite a challenge for an eleven year old. Age of Empires II is a real-time strategy game that is completely different from pharaoh. You have to balance resource collection and troop production to take down either AI or other players. Civ III was probably my favorite game growing up. To this day, I still play pharaoh and age of empires II.

Think about what nostalgia is again for just a second. It is a feeling coming from a memory. A memory of "better times" that may or may not be accurate. Games we played a long time ago, that brings back those memories, might not continue to be fun. Civ III I played for hundreds of hours when I was younger is not as fun now that I am older so I do not play it as much now. Sometimes nostalgia lies.

In conclusion, nostalgia in games is a good thing. It allows us to relive parts of our childhood that we otherwise would not have a reason to bring back up from the depths of our minds. Many people say that video games lead to anti-social behavior, violence, and a drop in school grades. Video games teach us how the world is. When you are playing multiplayer of any game you will usually find people who are just toxic. It prepares for dealing with the worst society has to throw at us. Human beings are prone to violence. The first murder happened when Cain killed Abel back in Genesis. I am pretty sure at they did not have video games back then. So this point is always going to be moot. The only point that actually makes sense is the drop in school grades. It takes a great deal of discipline to do school work over video games. It builds character this discipline. So next time you feel nostalgia coming on, take some time to stop and smell the memories. Bask in the thoughts of better times and the hope that good times are still ahead, no matter what the world tells you in the present. This is what video game nostalgia teaches us.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Justin_Frantz/2529752

Enzine Article 2: 5 Video Games You Should Play Before You Die

5 Video Games You Should Play Before You Die


By Clayton Carlisle  |   Submitted On May 02, 2017

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5.) Halo 3 (2007)
Why: The Halo series is one of a kind. It brought friends together to blast one another in an epic space combat. Halo 3 is perhaps the best of the series when it came to the glorified multiplayer, with a dramatic storyline with absolutely no shortage of opera music cues and a hardy character customization. Many titles still try and replicate what Halo did and it just can't be matched.

4.) Minecraft (2011)
Why: Minecraft is one of the best-selling video games of all time, so you would have to be living under a rock as a gamer to have never come across it. You get to create your own world basically and do whatever you want. If you think it, then you can create it. The nice thing about Minecraft is it is offered on almost every platform, including smartphones. This game is good for letting your mind wander and become an artist.

3.) Super Mario 64 (1996)
Why: Mario is one of the most known titles, but anyone can tell you this might be the best game in the franchise. The game is not like any of its predecessors because this was the first 3D platform game in the series. It is a bigger world than the ones before and the additional moves and jumps Mario can do makes the game fast-paced and more exciting. There are a total of 120 stars and the game has a ton of replay value. Mario platformers are still being made today and none of them still cannot come close to how good this game was.

2.) Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Why: Everyone has their favorite Zelda game, but Ocarina of Time encompasses the best features from the glorified series. There is a huge world that you have the freedom to explore, a magnificent score, and a truly remarkable origin story. The dungeons are not too challenging, but intricate enough to not get too mad when you can't figure a puzzle out.

1.) Pokémon X and Y (2013)
Why: Whether you are a kid or an adult, with this franchise that never seemed to matter. Pokémon revolutionized what it meant to make characters like Pikachu come alive. They modernized the handheld multiplayer gaming and made it what it is today. X and Y is one of the newer titles, which is great because the game never stops using the old characters the adults grew up on.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Clayton_Carlisle/2413896

Enzine Article 1: The Importance of Games in Our Daily Lives

The Importance of Games in Our Daily Lives


By Aman Tumukur Khanna  |   Submitted On February 16, 2018

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Talking about games, who does not wish to play? They are an integral part of our lives and whether kids or adults, none can refrain from it. They are both a part of recreation and a great form of being physically fit and even getting rewarded. Games also teach us about many ethics and values which even help us later in life. Many a times the importance and benefits of playing games gets unnoticed and it is thus significant that one keeps in mind the following points. Let us take a look here...

Points to ponder while playing games

• The main constituents of any game is to reach a target, follow the set rules, face trials and tests and have proper interface.
• Games also help to stimulate the decision making skills and allow to take challenges.
• There are varieties of games, such as games that require devices, bound by a few rules to be followed, need special skill sets. There are indoor and outdoor games, online games, video console gaming, some teach us about coordination and attention to detail, some require role play, a few that teach us about playing as a team, etc.
• A few games are also a part of sports and playing sports makes a person physically active and fit as it is a form of physical exercise and stimulates the whole body movement.

Benefits of playing games

• By playing games one can enhance the retention power and even stimulate the competitive spirit.
• Teaches about coordination and even brings out creativity.
• Playing games is a great source of learning and one can learn from it regularly.
• It helps in reducing the stress levels which are generally higher in the present scenario.
• Playing games in groups also help us to increase our socializing skills and keeps us in sync with others.
• With the intention of reaching a goal, we make conscious and deliberate effort to be more focussed, which helps us in improving our attention power.
• Games are a good way to teach one to accept defeat in life and even face hardships.

Good health is the key to a happy and successful life and games in the form of sports or in other forms teaches one, skills which are required later to face a tougher life. Thus games make you a lot stronger, independent and helps in facing the world with full rigour. They even make you accustomed to the bitter taste of defeat and also builds the morale and prepares you to be even more determined and taste victory. So, it is truly said "All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy"!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Aman_Tumukur_Khanna/1972047

Sneeze Post: Past Posts

Here are some of my favorite posts and links I have made in the past month that you might have missed:

Instructional Post: Starting to Game
This post is great if you are thinking about getting into gaming and are not sure what exactly to do. Even if you have already started to play you might just learn something from this post. This is a great starting step for any gamer. https://gamingcampus.blogspot.com/2018/06/instructional-starting-to-game.html

List Post: 10 Benefits of Gaming
This post is a great quick read if in a hurry, This also shows how video games are not bad as much people believe. This post was also great to write so I can personally tell people why video games can benefit everybody. https://gamingcampus.blogspot.com/2018/06/list-post-10-benefits-of-gaming.html

Profile Post: Ninja 

If you don’t know the game Fortnite I would recommend you take a second and look it up before reading this post. This post is about the most well known Fortnite player who has became a celebrity by playing Fortnite. He streams on Twitch and Youtube and is one of the most wealthiest gamer. https://gamingcampus.blogspot.com/2018/06/profile-post-ninja.html

Rant Post: PUBG vs Fortnite

If you are a gamer I can almost guarantee you have heard of PUBG or Fortnite. Both games have very similar aspects but have different game styles. These 2 games are the top games in 2018 going head to head. https://gamingcampus.blogspot.com/2018/06/rant-post-pubg-vs-fortnite.html

Hypothetical Post: Virtual Reality Taking Over

What if virtual reality took over the real reality?

Virtual reality is a computer-generated 3D environment that can be interacted in a seemingly real way. That can be used for fun like games or professional like simulations. Virtual reality can be experiences though just some of the senses. The thing about VR is that it’s becoming cheaper and more widespread.

Let's look at some of the health issues that can be caused from virtual reality. First thing that most people get when they experience virtual reality is motion sickness. Motion sickness usually consists of headaches, discomfort, and some stomach awareness. Something that could happen is if a person is trying to use a flight simulator then they could get sick from it and never fly.

Something that VR is doing now is helping people train for surgery and different simulations. There is flight, driving, and even more simulations that are being use now to improve real life experiences. VR is also improving on how people are playing games.

Virtual reality can become something awesome in the future. With VR movie/ films can become a real 3D experience like nothing else. Another thing that VR could be used for in the future is visiting places like famous landmarks and museums. Like I mentioned before the simulations can be improve for a more real-life experience. Surprisingly it could become an improvement for some people. Maybe in the future there will be virtual reality that can be experienced through all senses. VR can become something huge in the future, but time will tell.

Debate Post: PC gaming vs Console Gaming

First, we’ll start with why gaming on PC is better with some reasons:

• No need to pay to play with friends

For PC when you buy the game you can play with anybody else with that game. For console you must pay a monthly or annually fee to just play with friends.

• No need to wait to upgrade

If you have a custom PC, you can upgrade it whenever you what while the console you have to wait until the next generation comes out.

• Cost of games

On average the games on the PC are a lot cheaper compared to the console.

• Total amount of games

PC has a huge amount of games where console you must buy a disc and it can get pricey.

• Professional- Esports

Esport is most popular on the PC other than consoles.

Now let’s see why consoles are better than PC:

• Price

Price is a huge reason while console is better than PC. A good PC can run up $3000 while the consoles run to $300, $400, and $500.

• No need to upgrade

With the price so low you might be surprise that the consoles are very well made that don’t need upgrades. With no upgrades there’s no more spending like the PC.

• Family fun

With consoles you can have many people play at time while PC has only one mouse and one keyboard.

• Comfort

The console’s controllers are also much more comfortable compared to a mouse and keyboard.

• Multiplayer

Since you are paying to play online on console it is better than PC.

I personally have both PC and console and I keep going back and forth. I enjoy gaming on both, but I continue to go back and forth. It comes down to personality and which one you are comfortable with and enjoy playing. 

Inspirational Post: Professional Gaming and Gaming Youtuber

While video games get bad publicity there is good that can come from playing video games. A story that has been very popular and an inspiration to a lot of games is Ninja. I made a post about him recently, if you haven’t checked it out I highly recommend you do. This won’t be another post about him but of how you could become a professional gamer and even maybe become famous on twitch or YouTube. Becoming a professional gamer is definitely not easy. It requires many hours of playing followed by evaluating what you have done wrong and how you can improve. If you are naturally good at a game you just started then there can be a chance you can be professional. Now a days there are Youtubers and twitch streamers making a good living on just playing video games. Some gamers on YouTube just play with and group of friends and have fun and get paid to do so. Hearing and looking at all these gamers making a lot of money shows that anybody can do it. I’m not saying it will be easy by any means, you will have to put in a lot of time and effort so it can pay off. For example some of the highest paid Youtubers play games like Pewdiepie and Vanoss. It can really pay off if you are entertaining and very good at games. One reason why I like watching Ninja play is not only because he’s the best at Fortnite but also because of how entertaining he is while he plays. Becoming a professional gamer or a gamer on YouTube can be very fun and rewarding. Here is a link to one of the most popular Esport team in the US Team SoloMid (TSM) Here is a link to the most subscribed gaming Youtube channel Pewdiepie

Comparison Post: Halo vs Call of Duty

Call of Duty is a first person shooter game that has been around since 2003. There has been a total of 14 Call of Duties released meaning one game a year usually release in November or October. Each Call of Duty was developed by one of three developers, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, or Sledgehammer Games. The three developers take turns on making each game. Call of Duty has a more realistic feel compared to Halo. The Call of Duty has a single player mode with a story that jumps around from game to game not giving the best story. Some of the games take place in historical wars while some are futuristic and take the fun away from it. Call of Duty is known more for the multiplayer and competitive play.  Halo does have competitive play but not as big as Call of Duty.

Halo is also a first person shooter and started in 2001. There are 8 games that have the same story line and also 5 games that are extra games. There are many developers for Halo but the main ones are Bungie, 343 Industries and Microsoft. Halo is about interstellar war between humanity and aliens known as the Covenant. Halo is well known for the single player and the story line. Throughout the story you play as Master Chief who is a soldier known as a Spartan. Master Chief is a well-known icon on Halo and makes the story fun to play. Halo does also have a great multiplayer but it’s nothing to the Call of Duty series. 

Master Chief

Personally both games are very fun to play but I do have to pick Call of Duty over Halo. I have always played Call of Duty since the 4th one was released. I have played Halo for a good amount of time and I have to admit it is a very fun single player but when I want to play with friends on multiplayer I will always choose Call of Duty. If you are interested in either game and don't know which one to play here is a link to both sites so you can look more into it if you so desire. Halo       Call of Duty

Problem Post: Video Game Addiction

The most popular problem that comes with video games is video game addiction. This is what many people think when they hear problems with video games. This usually starts when the person spends all of their free time playing video games and not having any social interaction in real life. Playing video games for around 6 to 10 hours a day will lead to a negative impact on school work and relationships. Having a video game addiction will likely cause health problems from lack of sleep and inactivity. It won't just affect the person with the addiction but also friends and family around them with creating conflicts. Some of the reasons that video games are so addictive is that some games have no end or it takes a very long time to beat a game. Multiplayer games are never-ending until the person decides to stop playing. Even if a game has no ending there are rewards to the player for playing and makes them play longer and longer. As a player plays more they will get better rewards which makes them play even more. Something else about multiplayer is that other players encourage other people to stay playing for hours. There are treatments for the people with the addiction starting with one-on-one counselling with a therapist. If an addict has many conflicts with their family there is family therapy for this addiction. Something that can prevent this is having the time playing limited a day. Also having more family get together can help with social interactions and get away from video games.

Critique Post: Nintendo Switch

For this post I’m going to talk about the Nintendo Switch and what I think about it. I got a Switch within the first month of it being release date. I was first excited to get it because of the features it holds like how four players can play at once on it and how the controllers can detach and become two separate controllers. I also enjoyed the games that came out with the console like Zelda and Mario Kart. I have enjoyed playing it when I do but unfortunately, I don't play it that much anymore. I do however have a great time playing either by myself or with my friends. I have always played either PlayStation or Xbox so switch to Nintendo was different for me. I think that the Nintendo Switch was a brilliant idea that no one has done yet. With Wii U being the last console, they released it was good to see a new idea instead of the Wii from Nintendo. Saying that I think they improved on the way they create consoles. The switch is an amazing console and it has become a new way to play games with friends and I believe it will be here for a while. I think that if you don’t have one it wouldn't be a mistake if you get one. If you are already playing a lot of Xbox, PC, or PlayStation then I would not recommend you get it because it won’t outweigh them. Here's a link to the Nintendo Switch website if you are interested Nintendo Switch

Prediction: Battle Royale, VR, and Board Games

Something I predict in the upcoming months are more games having a battle royale game mode. With PUBG and Fortnite being the two most popular games now there's no doubt the next games coming out with include a game mode like battle royale. I found that there are games coming out in October and November that will have a battle royale mode. I also think in the future the hype of battle royale games will slowly die down.

From one of my early post I talked about virtual reality and how it’s being used for health issues, but I think that in the next couple years it will finally take gaming to the new level. I think that virtual reality will become a huge part of gaming in years to come. I think that video games will still be around, but the new thing will be virtual reality and more people will turn to that.

Something I hope never goes away is board games, but I think as technology become more advance board games might change and not be as enjoyable as they are now. I have a stack of board games I love to play, and it was always being fun to go back and play them but in time they may become a thing in the past. One thing that helped me out when I had to bring board games to other places is having a bag to put them in. There is a cool looking bag at the Gaming Campus Shop that would be good to use so check it out!

Rant Post: PUBG vs Fortnite

PUBG and Fortnite are two of the most popular games to date. These two games are both battle royale style games with 100 players landing on a map and fighting to be number 1. Both have different ways to play while PUBG is a more realistic aspect with accessories for guns and vehicles to drive Fortnite is more cartoonish and have a building aspect that makes it different. Both games are offered are PC, Xbox, PlayStation and mobile.

I personally enjoy playing Fortnite over PUBG. I have tried PUBG and played about 3 hours’ worth and I didn’t find the enjoyment I found when playing Fortnite. I love the aspect of building and getting resources to create your own fortress.  I also like how the game looks even though it doesn’t look to realistic. Another thing about PUBG is the map is bigger than Fortnite. I know there are vehicles to get around the map in PUBG but that’s if you find one. Fortnite map makes it possible to always be safe from the storm by running no matter where you are. I also enjoy all the different game types Fortnite releases because it allows a freshness to the game that continues for each game type. I also have a lot more of my friends playing Fortnite than PUBG. Fortnite is also free to play which made it easy to save more but there are cosmetics that make your character look amazing. 

All in all, I personally like Fortnite over PUBG. I know there’s controversy over these two games, but I will always pick Fortnite.

Link Post: Pokemon GO

Pokemon Go is an augmented reality game allowed on iOS and Android. It allows you to walk around in real life and catch Pokemon and finally now you can trade Pokemon with your friends. I personally played Pokemon Go when it was first released in 2016 and was constantly walking around trying to catch the best Pokemon I could find. This game was a great reason to get outside and start being more active. After playing the game for a couple of months I got tired of catching the same Pokemon over and over while my friends got new ones. When I read this post about how you can now trade Pokemon with your friends might get me back to playing.

Pokemon Go Trading Post