Christ Centered Gamer Blog

Thank you BlendJet for sending us a review unit!

BlendJet was originally founded in 2017 and invented “The Original Portable Blender” which was a popular holiday gift in 2019 with one being sold every five seconds! Since 2018, over one million units were sold in 195 countries. The BlendJet 2 has 33% more capacity that can hold 16 oz of liquid. The BPA free plastic canister has helpful oz and ml markings on it for precise measurements. Another improvement over the original BlendJet is that the battery size has been doubled to 4000mAh which should give you fifteen or more blends before needing a recharge. Charging is done via the included USB-C cable. One feature lacking on this version that the original had is a built in strainer.

Cleaning the BlendJet 2 is pretty easy by just adding some dish soap and water after use and pushing the blend button. The device is waterproof so it can handle being submerged if need be. The instructions state that it is not dishwasher safe. The booklet also advises against putting your hand in the blender (Duh!), running it while empty, adding 120 degree or hotter liquids, charging it while wet, letting kids use it unsupervised, or leaving food sitting in it for prolonged periods of time. The restriction that bummed me out the most was not blending carbonated liquids. That’s a shame since I like adding lemon-lime soda to my fruit smoothies. The website has a bunch of recipes if you’re looking to try something new.

The portable design is quite convenient and this will make my protein shakes less clumpy than in my sealable thermos. Though the BlendJet 2 has a twist lid, it does not fully seal. I learned that the hard way after blending some blackberries. When I added some water to shake up and pour out the remnants, some droplets landed on and stained my white socks. Gentle shaking is not an issue and may assist in the process at times. The six-point stainless steel blade can chop through ice and other food items in twenty seconds or less.

The asking price is $49.95 and there are sixteen colors to choose from. This blender is great for commuters and is easy to clean and use in the office. It’s small enough to fit in your car’s cup holder and the adjustable strap on the lid makes it easy to carry while riding a bike. If you’re looking for a personal blender, check out the BlendJet 2!

Hey,Android users! This is for you again. The best Solitaire card games for 2020 are finally here. Did you know that you can now play Solitaire on your android device forfree andfromthe comfort of your home? Do you know how great it is to play Solitaire online? If you didn’t, this post got you covered as we will be highlighting the 5 best Solitaire card games &applications for android users. If you are ready, let’s get started then!

1. Solitaireby Solitaire Card Games Ltd.

Solitaire on android devices isperfect cloning of the traditional card game on Microsoft computers. Its gaming components borrow a lot from the basic Solitaire game with exciting graphics and other interesting features. Indeed, the developers have done an exceptional job ofimproving the quality of this game to give players maximum enjoyment. For instance, players can customize the background WebSite settings to feature different components including time, maximum points obtained per game, and the player statistics. All in all, this android game is excellent for all age groups in addition to being totally free.

2.250+ Solitaire Collection by Alexei Anoshenko

The 250+ Solitaire Collection is an amazing package that consists of popular Solitaire card gamesall over the world. This application features253Solitaire games that are neatly arranged in alphabetical order. For every category, the developer has provided a detailed description including both the illustrations and rules. Thus, the large collection providedthere offersendless fun whileenabling you to interactwith online players across the globe. What a cool way to unwind after a hard working day?

3. Age of Solitaire by Sticky Hands Inc.

The Age of Solitaire is one of the most common card games for android users which features exceptional designand pleasant interface to deal with. Above all, this appis free and makes for one of the best selections when someone is looking for an electrifying card game that s/he can play on the go.

4. Spider Solitaire2020 by GITeamStudio

Have you ever heard of this app before? Spider Solitaire 2020is regarded as one of the best mobile games for the realization of the actualgaming experience. With countless features and modern design, you can set the vertical and horizontal game display, the gaming background, and the mode toleft-handed&right-handed options. To give you an amazing experience, the game developers have now included the daily questswhich enable you to grab various trophies along the way.

5. FreeCell Solitaire by Loop Games Inc.

FreeCell Solitaire is a thrillingandroid game that will blow your mindwith its amazing graphics and easy controls. It’s one of the best imitations of the classic Solitaire, featuring all the tools you may need for a fulfillinggaming experience. It is loaded with animated prompts to help newbies understand the gaming instructions easily and also comes fully packed with the autoplay mode and an unlimited number ofmoves. Finally, this app boasts a customizable design with a classic gaming background and card backs.

Bottom Line

Well, how to playSolitaireto ace the game? Isn’t winning solely based on luck? It turns out that there are plenty of reasons an individual should play Solitaire onlineusing various android apps at least once in their generationas it has nothing to do with killing boredom. Free Solitaire also helps you improve critical life strategies and skills. And who knows, maybe this post will help you win a game or two in the long run.

Thank you Lucksgy for sending us this purse to review!

I’ve been through many purses and most of them have been thirty dollars or less. Over time, the straps typically wear out or break. The material often tatters on the bottom too. My current purse is denim and has lasted a good while and it fits my essentials (wallet, checkbook, pens, medicine, floss, car keys, etc.). However, with a conceal and carry license in my near future, I need a purse that’s slightly bigger.

The Lucksgy Genuine Leather Bucket Tote Bag for Women comes in five colors. I chose the kaqi color, but there’s also black, brown, red, and gray. There are two straps available, one for over the shoulder and the other is adjustable and goes across the body. The tote bag has two open side pockets that would be ideal for holding a phone or small umbrella. The front and back pouches have magnetic snaps on them to keep them closed. There’s also a magnetic snap to close the main opening.

The inside of the tote bag is spacious, but there are no pockets. However, there is a removable zippered pouch that has two pockets on the sides with one of them being zippered. The main area of the pouch is spacious enough for the item I wish to conceal. The floor of the pouch is removable and you’ll want to have it in place if you wish for it to retain its shape.

The pouch could also work for holding your valuables that you can grab in a hurry without toting around a big purse. If you don’t plan on packing heat, you can use the pouch for your wallet, checkbook, car keys, and more.

Overall, this is a nice looking and sturdy purse that’s sixty dollars delivered.

Thank you, Mr. Lee’s Noodles, for sending us these products to review!

As everyone in my family knows, I am a huge fan of ramen noodles of all types, especially the instant cups. So naturally, I was really excited to review the 8-pack of Mr. Lee’s Noodles sent to us. Four flavors of gluten-free instant rice noodle soups, some of which are vegan.

The flavors available include Tai Chi Chicken Rice Noodle Soup, Zen Garden Vegetable Rice Noodle Miso Soup, Coconut Chicken Curry Rice Noodle Soup, and Hong Kong Street-Style Beef Rice Noodle Soup. My favorite of these would probably have to be either the first one or the last one, but I enjoyed them all.

Even though these flavors are notably different from one another, they all seem to revolve around 200-260 calories. In addition, they are all and gluten free; and the Zen Garden Vegetable Rice Noodle Miso Soup flavor is apparently vegan. I noticed that there were chunks of what looked to be chicken, but the taste and the inside of the cup said it was vegetable meat.

The inside of the cup has lots of messages, actually. You will notice as you eat the soup that the walls of the cup will not only have a recommended fill line, but it has notes written on them as well. These messages mostly talk about how they make the soups as good as they are (freeze-drying everything), and about their original flavors and recipes. There is also a description of each flavor to help the consumer decide what flavor they might like the most.

These soups are sold at Whole Foods as well as on the Mr. Lee’s Noodles website (the dietary requirements filter is very confusing, as the Hong Kong Street-Style Beef Rice Noodle Soup flavor is marked as vegetarian), and an 8-pack of any flavor or combination of flavors is $31.99, so about four bucks a cup, which is about what they sell for at Whole Foods.

Whether these are worth that much money is a different question. While I understand that a person with specific dietary needs does not have many other options, I am not sure if it is worth it for everyone, because while they may taste decent and have original flavors, but it is not quite in everyone’s budget.

Ignoring the price, though, these soups are not bad. A couple of the flavors left my mouth tingling a bit with their spice, as most of these selections are far from bland. They are hard to stir really well, so the bottom of the cup often ends up being uncomfortably salty, as much of the flavoring powders and spices sit in the bottom crevice throughout the meal, and I found that quite annoying.

The hotter the water is, the softer the rice noodles become. That is one thing I noticed when I tried each flavor. When they are soft, I found that they were quite delicious, and I liked them a lot. I also noticed that they are super slippery, therefore making them difficult to collect on the spoon. Another thing is that the meat chunks in the soups are actually quite sizeable, as well as the vegetable pieces. The rice noodles truly complimented every flavor I tried, and I certainly wasn’t gypped on the delicious meats the soups had to offer. In general, I found that Mr. Lee’s Noodles Instant ramen soups were very yummy, and I enjoyed all of the flavors available.

Thanks to modern technology, people can now perform most tasks at the click of a button. It has also caused people to spend more time behind their screens, whether they are working, playing video games, or even chatting with their friends and family. Almost everything can be done using a computer, but something’s got to give at some point. So what does that mean eventually to end users? 

Studies have shown that using a computer or any other screen device continuously can take its toll on you in the long run. You may start to identify symptoms such as low vision (and its related issues), poor posture leading to neck and back pain, addiction issues stemming from playing video games and social media, weight gain, and disturbances in your sleep pattern. Americans spend 6.31 hours daily behind a computer screen. Even more alarming is that it is nine minutes shy of the global average, putting them at high risk. Fortunately, you can reverse these symptoms or prevent them from developing altogether. Here are some of the changes you need to start making.

• Take the time to set up your computer

Sometimes you might find yourself squinting and peering closer to your computer screen because of how it has been assembled. To avoid this, you should ensure that your computing device is correctly angled at a position where you do not have to strain, before using your computing device. You should also keep your monitor about 20 inches away from you and can also ensure that you adjust your screen’s lighting, color, and the type of font you use. A swivel arm for your monitor will help you swing it away when you are taking a break from using it. 

• Try using a standing desk

Standing desks are just desks designed to help you work while standing. They are becoming a popular furniture piece in offices as they have been linked to improving your posture and health. Continuously sitting behind a desk can place your body under a lot of strain that can hurt you. Studies on standing desks show that people who use them tend to be more productive in the office than those who work sitting down. There are many standing desks available. Some can even be attached to your main desk so that you can change your position at different times. 

• Get up and exercise

Continuous sitting contributes to several health issues because it does not require a lot of movement. It is up to you to find a solution and one way to do that is to set little breaks designed to help you walk around and rejuvenate your body. If you are in the office, get up and walk around the hallways. You can perform some little exercises at your desk as well. If you are working from home and can be more flexible, take a short walk, or perform some other tasks to keep you busy. If you are a video gamer, set your alarm to alert you to take breaks while playing.  

• Rest your eyes at different intervals

 Maybe your work requires that you sit behind a screen all day long, or perhaps it is just the quickest way to get things done. Whatever your reasons may be for always being on your computer, you should ensure that you rest your eyes from the harsh screen glare. Even if you have dimmed your screen’s light, you are still putting a lot of strain on your eyes, and that might lead to even more severe vision problems eventually. Every hour or so, let your eyes rest from the screen. Step away from your desk and practice some eye exercises. Alternatively, you can also purchase eyewear with fitted lenses designed to reduce the amount of light that enters your eyes to help you see better. 

• Reduce the use of screen devices at night

The blue light emanating from screens can affect your sleep patterns by delaying or confusing your body’s internal clock. Consequently, low sleep quality can lead to chronic heart disease, diabetes, and even depression. You can help customize your screen’s settings or install an app that can reduce the amount of blue light on your screen. Thankfully, newer devices allow you to use warmer, less harsh tones at night. You can set the duration for as many hours as you would like. 

• Drink water and eat healthy snacks

Properly hydrating yourself is one of the vital things to do while sitting behind a screen. Water powers your cells, giving you the energy to carry on through the day. Even better, it lubricates your eyes and joints and keeps you refreshed. If your desk is too far from your refrigerator or water cooler, you can fill up your bottles and place them at your desk. However, it would be best to remember that getting up to drink water also helps you move around. Additionally, you can stock up on healthy snacks while you sit behind your desk. Sitting for extended periods means that your body is most likely not burning calories at optimum. Therefore, it would not be best for you to eat junk while sitting all day. That will quickly lead to weight issues. 

• Keep your sitting environment clean

When you sit at your desk, you will always transfer dirt and bacteria to virtually all surfaces you touch. With time, this bacteria can blow up, and soon your work or gaming area can be filled with microbes that could affect your health. It would be best if you always tried to keep your desk and computer area clean and tidy. Clean your keyboard and your screens with a sanitized wipe. Additionally, you can also wash your hands regularly or use a hand sanitizer if you are not able to wash your hands. 

It would help if you always remembered prioritizing your health, especially when it comes to performing what are considered as everyday tasks. People do not usually realize the effects of screen time until it is too late. Fortunately, now that you know, you can reduce these effects. Make those little lifestyle changes and see a boost in your health and productivity.  

Specifications:
High Power 150W motor
Works on wet or dry dirt
14.7 foot cord
Connects to 12V in-car DC outlet
Includes bag and five attachments
Spare filter included
MSRP: $29.99
(Amazon Affiliate Link)

Strong Points: Decent suction; included bag is handy; good selection of included attachments; very nice cord length; spare filter
Weak Points: Can always use an even stronger suction; can only be used in a car; it’s sometimes hard to tell how to fit the accessories together

Thank you CHERYLON for sending us this product to review!

We recently decided that on our next road trip, we were going to bring our new puppy. Knowing how much of a mess our kids make by themselves, with a puppy, I could tell that our van was going to experience a whole new level of mess; hence the need for this vacuum.

When unboxing this item, I was pleased to see that it came in a decently functional case – not one of those that are so tight you can’t get the stuff back inside, but a usable one. It’s made of a canvas material that gets the job done. The vacuum is made out of cheap-feeling but perfectly functional plastic.

The included accessories work fine, and include an extension tube, a flexible long tube, a brush, and a slot tool. Slotting them together is kind of unintuitive, as the thin end slots into the vacuum. After I figured that out, I was able to use what I needed.

Once I plugged it in, I found that the 14 foot cable is long enough for what I need it for, and the suction is good enough. It’s nowhere near as powerful as my home vacuum, but given the price and portability, it’s more than powerful enough. It wasn’t able to dig out the most stubborn embedded dirt, but anything on the surface came off pretty easily. If you’re looking for an affordable car vacuum that has the basics covered, you can’t go wrong with the CHERYLON. And how many times can I say that this vacuum literally has my wife’s name on it?

Microsoft is theworld’s leading company that provides customer-relation management (MCSE) services. Moreover, it has its own certification program that measures the professionals’ skills to work with the self-titled MCSE platform.If you are interested in managerial or administrative positions, you should consider going for anyMicrosoft certificate. Nowadays,Microsoft is ExamCollection one of the most popular MCSE platforms that is being adopted by many companies all over the globe, and being able to work with it increases your chances of getting an exciting job. Here we a going to give you a brief overview of the credentials provided by this vendor and their peculiarities.

Microsoft Certification Paths

The first thing you need to understand about the Microsoft certification program is that it has several categories depending on the role one is going to pursue. These includethe MCSE, Consultant Developer, ExamSnap Files >>>>>> credentials, etc. Each of these paths incorporates a wide range of certificates for the narrow specialists. Below you will see a short description of all these categories and who they are intended for.

MCSE: The MicrosoftMCSE credentials are designed for those who are able to determine the requirements, customize the platform, and allow the users to take all the advantages of Microsoft. This certification path includes the following badges:MCSE, Advanced MCSE, CPQ Specialist, Marketing Cloud MCSE, AZ-304 Microsoft Azure Architect Design Practice Test Questions and Platform App Builder.

Architect: The Microsoft Architect certificatesincorporate the certifications that validate advanced knowledge and skills required to work with the Microsoft platform. These are Application Architect, B2C Commerce Architect, Heroku Architecture Designer, System Architect, and Technical Architect.

Developer: The Microsoft Developer certifications are intended for the specialists who have expertise to extend and customize applications on the Lightning platform. There are 6 credentials within this path: B2C Commerce Kinsley Z Developer, JavaScript Developer I, Marketing Cloud Developer, Platform App Builder, Platform Developer I, and Platform Developer II.

Marketer: The Microsoft Marketerbadgesare designed for the experts with experience in managing successful marketing campaigns to achieve high customer satisfaction. The path comes with the following certificates:Marketing Cloud Email Specialist, Marketing Cloud MCSE, Marketing Cloud Developer, AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Technologies Exam Dumps  Marketing Cloud Consultant, Pardot Consultant, and Pardot Specialist.

Consultant: The MicrosoftConsultant certification trackcontains the biggest number of credentials: Community Cloud Consultant, Education Cloud Consultant, Einstein Analytics and Discovery Consultant, Field Service Lightning Consultant, Marketing Cloud Consultant, Nonprofit Cloud Consultant, Pardot Limited OFF 77% >>> Consultant, Sales Cloud Consultant, Service Cloud Consultant.

To earn any of the certificates mentioned above, one needs to pass one specific exam. Some certifications serve as prerequisites for the credentials of the upper level. Visit Trailhead (the official learning platform) sponsored by Microsoft to find out more about each badge and the requirements for being certified.

Conclusion

These were some of the main things that you need to know about variousMicrosoft certifications. Each of these credentialsis designed for a specific group of individuals and that is why you should be careful when you decide on what certificate to go for. Also, bear in mind that the Microsoft exams are not easy to crack without proper preparation. Use reliable study materials to get ready for your test. You can benefit from the training tools offered by the Trailhead platform or search for exam dumps and practice tests available on the Internet.

VALORANT, RiotGames’ latest release, will be hosted in a three-day event this weekend September 11th-13th. This Ignition series tournament will be hosted by Danish organiser BLAST, on Twitch.tv. RiotGames and BLAST partner up to pit four teams against each other for a prize of €50,000($58,890.) The teams: Ninjas in Pyjamas, Team Liquid, G2 Esports and FunPlus Phoenix will face-off in a best-of-three bracket leading into a traditional best-of-five finale. The series will only be available on Twitch so make sure you log in on Friday, Sept 11th to check it out!

BLAST Director of Product and Experience, Nicolas Estrup, stated that “VALORANT has enjoyed record-breaking success since its launch...” He believes that BLAST will be able to lead the way in tournament production with their “...fan-first approach.” The company has almost exclusively hosted CS:GO events in the past, you could bet on CS:GO if you fancied a flutter, with an expansion into Dota 2 earlier this year, so it only makes sense that they would be behind a similar title like VALORANT. It will be interesting to see how the team at BLASTapproaches the game that has the bones of CS:GO and the polish and innovation of Overwatch.

Cloud9’s CS:GO division gets a new member as Henry “HenryG” Greer announces his retirement as a six-year CS:GO caster and steps into the role of general manager. Alongside him, Aleksandar “kassad” Trifunovic, former coach of 100 Thieves and new coach for C9, plans to re-tool and develop the new roster. During an interview with Dexerto, Greer stated he was ambitious in his vision for the team and said: “The Cloud9 Brand speaks for itself, it is one of the absolute cornerstones of the esports landscape.”

Cloud9 was founded in 2013 and has since grown to become one of the most notable esports organizations on the planet. They offer professional teams in League of Legends, CS:GO, and Hearthstone, amongst many other titles. The company is no stranger to success, boasting a myriad of honours, achievements and tournament wins over the years.

We look forward to the coming months of Cloud9’s CS:GO dynasty as it ebbs and flows to the new caretakers “HenryG” and “Kassad.”

Will players start drinking Bud Light during games? Parent company Budweiser has applied for the trademark “official beer of esports.” While the majority of professional esports players are above 21 years of age, the average viewer is 28.  It’s not surprising then to see a massively successful sponsor like Budweiser advocate for its spot in the industry, though why not sooner is a mystery.

It’s no doubt that esports is on the rise everywhere in the world, especially during the global pandemic. With most traditional sports cancelled (except baseball and basketball), remote schooling and more work-from-home scenarios than ever before, esports are feeding off the increase in gaming traffic and viewership. This gives companies like Budweiser opportunities to branch into new markets and influences the professional world of gaming. They are not the first to arrive and will definitely not be the last to stay.

Bud Light, a subsidiary of Budweiser, is one of the largest advertisers of the esports industry; sponsoring powerhouse titles such as NBA 2K and League of Legends. This September the company has launched its first championship, Battle of the Best on its Twitch channel. They are looking to the future with ambitions to sign talent and increase their view count on Twitch. According to GlobalData, the industry is predicted to reach a worth of $300 billion by 2025, a number that triples the 2019 film industry. I wonder if there will be more films about pro-gaming or if AAA studios will also sponsor esports players and teams…

Now more than ever companies and athletes are investing in the world of esports. Known investors include Mark Cuban, Rick Fox, Tony Robbins and Post Malone. The possibilities are endless. There could be a cross between traditional and esport merchandise and branding. The entire world of sports is upside down right now, spinning and mixing together. I’m sure what will come as a result of this will be an expansion of all sides of the industry.

Thank you Netflix for supplying us with complimentary access to review this series!

Level Up is the season finale that clocks in at thirty-seven minutes long. The main focus on this episode is DOOM and the impact it had with PC and online gaming. John Romero is interviewed and explains how he worked with John Carmack at Gamer’s Edge back in 1989. They soon joined forces and formed id Software in 1991. During that time, Nintendo was dominating the gaming market and the PC couldn’t match the graphical performance.

That is until John Carmack figured out how to master side scrolling and used John’s Romero’s Dangerous Dave character and inserted him into a Super Mario 3 like world and called the game “Dangerous Dave in Copyright Infringement”. They further revolutionized PC gaming with their 1992 first-person shooter hit, Wolfenstein 3D. This game was revolutionary in terms of graphics and gameplay. Their next goal was to implement online networking which they promised to deliver in their 1993 game, Doom. When this game launched on December 9th, the servers hosting the shareware (remember that?) file were crashing from being overloaded.

The PC gaming market wasn’t the only one getting a 3D overhaul. Dylan Cuthbert is featured in this episode and he figured out how to implement 3D graphics on a Gameboy. Instead of suing him, Nintendo flew him and his partner, Giles Goddard, to Japan to learn more. Together, they worked on the Super FX chips used in SNES cartridges to implement 3D graphics. Innovations like this made Star Fox a successful reality.

Although this episode is fascinating, it has some moral issues worth noting. There is some language (kick *ss) and blaspheming. An extended middle finger is shown along with a pentagram. If you don’t mind those rough spots, there’s a lot of nostalgia and information here.

Thank you Netflix for supplying us with complimentary access to review this series!

Street Fighter was originally released in 1987 and the game was revolutionary in allowing two players to battle each other in real time. Other than that aspect, the game was pretty bare bones with only two playable characters. The sequel, which was released in 1991, upped the ante quite a bit by offering eight characters with one of them being female. It’s nice that they took female gamers into consideration by giving them a formidable fighting character.

Akira Yasuda, the artist behind most of the characters in Street Fighter II is interviewed along with Akira Nishitani, the game’s developer. It’s neat seeing the game’s inspiration being taken from various sights around the world and even from Japanese bathhouses.

Street Fighter did quite well in the arcades and it was only a matter a time before other companies like Midway offered some competition. John Tobias is also featured in this documentary and explains how he was heavily influenced by classic Kung-Fu movies like Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon. The fighters and their moves in Mortal Kombat definitely show their roots. This game also shows a lot of blood and gore, especially in the finishing moves. Games like Mortal Kombat Night Trap caused an uproar in the US government and brought about the formation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which is responsible for rating many popular console games today.

I was surprised that this documentary didn’t mention the SNES’s censoring of Mortal Kombat with green blood in Japan and sweat in the Western release. However, it does delve into the 1993 Street Fighter 2 world champion competition and interviews the winner, Takaharu Nakone. All in all, this is a fascinating episode and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys fighting games.

Thank you Netflix for supplying us with complimentary access to review this series!

In 2015 I read, enjoyed, and reviewed the book Console Wars by Blake J. Harris. This book talks about how Sega recruited Tom Kalinske to become the CEO of Sega of America. At the time, Sega had superior hardware, but Nintendo had the majority of the market share. This episode recaps this book quite nicely and goes over Tom’s five pronged attack in an attempt to de-throne Nintendo.

The first step was to lower the price to $149 to make the Sega Genesis more competitive, and the next step was to defeat Mario. Sega needed a loveable mascot and it’s neat how this episode introduces Sonic’s designer Hirokazu Yasuhara. The Sonic series took off and attracted gamers around the world for a competition in 1994. Chris Tang, the world champion in Sega’s Rock the Rock contest is featured in this episode.

The third part of Tom Kalinske’s plan was to add more sports. Sega and EA worked together to bring John Madden’s football game to the console and it did really well. Because of the system’s limitations all of the players had the same (light) skin color. Gordan Bellamy, who is openly gay, is featured and takes credit for making the default skin color darker in the 1995 edition of Madden Football.

Nintendo was viewed as a system suitable for younger kids. Under Tom’s direction, Sega aimed for a slightly older audience with edgier and more violent video games. If an older sibling was playing cooler games, Sega knew that the younger children would want to play them too. The final part of Tom Kalinske’s plan was to make fun of Nintendo in their ads. Sega has some memorable marketing with the way the word Sega was shouted in their commercials and the Sega sound the console made when the console loaded is etched into the minds of many gamers. Sega’s commercials took some playful jabs at Nintendo’s console with their “Nintendon’t” ads.

Overall, this episode is an interesting look at the epic war between Sega and Nintendo as described in the Console Wars book. It even includes a bit of racial diversity with Madden Football. Unfortunately, it does hit on the LGBTQ themes a little too hard just like the previous episodes did.

With so many games available online, it is so good to spend a nice evening in a company of your friends having fun and playing together.

Today not only teenagers but also many adults spend lots of time at their PCs playing video games. It has become a part of our daily routine because games help us to relax and have a good time with our friends and family. It is especially true for college students who always experience a lot of stress coming from numerous assignments and activities they need to handle unless they delegate some tasks to professional academic writers and services. Indeed, it is sometimes easier to order essay paper to buy yourself a few hours for more pleasant activities. Even though some young people prefer to play online games while sitting alone in their room, there are still interesting options you can share with company.

Top game recommendations to play with company 

How many times have you found yourself puzzled with the question Who can help me with my science homework? or Whom can I pay someone to do my homework?. College is always a lot of stress, and playing some video games after classes is just essential to relax and not burn out too soon. While online games connect us with people at a distance, there are many of them you can play in a company of friends sitting in one room and drinking a few beers. Interactive game nights are always fun and distract you from thinking about Who can write an essay for me? I need it for tomorrow,» concentrating on the process instead. If you plan to hang out with your friends soon, consider such options as:

1. Animal Crossing

If you love Nintendo, this game is for you. Here you can create a home and character, interact with cute animals, and engage in different activities from fishing to planting. It has no beginning or end which makes it perfect for playing in a company;

2. Sims 4

We all love Sims, but playing with someone becomes even more entertaining. Now due to recent tech advancements and updates, you can play this game online with another person by downloading multiplayer mode. Hang out with your friends in a virtual world;

3. Alias

This game doesn`t require any device use (maybe your smartphone if you don`t have printed cards). Your goal is to guess as many words as you can to make your team win another team (usually at least four people are involved). We bet you will have a lot of fun as well as develop your memory, improve knowledge of different things and communication skills;

4. Quiplash

In this game, every one of your friends can be involved (even if there is a big company). You may play it on your PC, Max, or use Linux, and your main goal is to try coming up with the most unusual answer to the set question. Everyone votes for a person who wins, and then the record is stated. The game is convenient to share both with your neighbors and people located far away;

5. Game Fly

With a gaming console, you can try your hand at Game Fly. It means that you can do test-drives of several games with a company for free and pay for those you will play further. More recent games give you an opportunity to play with someone else while you can still enjoy playing Super Mario using Zoom just like in school;

6. Psych

You can download this game to your smartphone and use video calls to play with other people (unless you are sitting right next to them on a couch). Provide answers to tricky questions and let other players guess the right one. You can also create unique questions about your close friends which makes it more personal and interesting;

7. Pubg

One of the recent options that involve a company with unlimited members is Pubg. You can cooperate as a team online and go through all challenges together, covering each other`s back. It is so much fun that you should definitely try it; you just need your smartphone and a certain time set up for a game together.

Thank you Netflix for supplying us with complimentary access to review this series!

Computer gaming began in the 70s with text-based role-playing games. There were no visuals and the user had to type in simple responses to play those games. Roberta Williams is interviewed in this episode and she was hooked on a text-based game called Colossal Cave Adventures that came out in 1976. The first computer game with graphics was her first foray into game design, Mystery House, which released in 1980. Roberta and her husband, Ken, founded Sierra Entertainment which produced many classic game series including Kings Quest, Police Quest, and Leisure Suit Larry. Sierra also published the first Half-Life game in 1998.

Richard Garriott is also featured in this episode and he’s known for creating the popular Ultima games that are heavily inspired by Dungeons and Dragons. Until watching this series, I had no idea that he became an astronaut in 2008. Because of the success of the Ultima games, computer gaming took off and Richard Garriott was able to self-fund his flight to the international space station.

As role-playing games increased in popularity, a company called SquareSoft started their Final Fantasy series in 1987. Yoshitaka Amano is interviewed and it’s fascinating to see how his intricate art was pixelated and simplified for the hardware limitations of that time period. His artwork is unaltered on the game boxes and in the manuals.

This episode ends with an interview of Ryan Best, a gay Aids activist who made a parody RPG called GayBlade in 1992. The final boss of the game is Pat Buchanan who is known for being a conservative commentator and politician. Sadly, during a move his original code and all the copies of his game were lost. With the help of the Internet several years later, someone who owned a copy of the game reached out to him. Though I’m not a fan of the theme, I’m glad Ryan was able to get a copy of his game back. Becky (formerly William) Heineman also appears in this episode as she’s done a lot of game development.

Up until the LGBTQ stuff, I enjoyed this episode. I look forward to the next one which will be talking about Sega and their mascot, Sonic. Hopefully it will be focused more on gaming than LGTBQ agendas.

Thank you Netflix for supplying us with complimentary access to review this series!

The main focus of the second episode is Nintendo. The company was founded in 1889 and their focus back then was playing cards. 1985’s launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) revitalized the video game market. Before sites like YouTube and GameFAQs, people relied on gameplay counselors to guide them through the thousands of NES games in the market. In this documentary, Shaun Bloom recalls his days as a gameplay counselor and what it took to become one. Getting paid to play videogames? Sounds like a dream job! With the growing video game library, it got harder to assist stuck gamers. Thankfully, the Nintendo Power magazine provided pointers and maps to ease the burden a little bit for the gameplay counselors and subscribers.

The 1984 lawsuit about Universal Studios suing Nintendo for the term “Kong” in Donkey Kong is discussed in detail by their lawyer, John Kirby. According to the credits, he passed away in 2019. After the case was won, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto paid homage to the lawyer by naming a popular character after him. Much of Nintendo’s success can be attributed to Shigeru Miyamoto, who played major roles in designing their most popular characters and games. Hirokazu Tanaka, the composer from Donkey Kong, is featured in this episode, and it’s neat to see how he came up with the various sound effects with the equipment he used back then.

The title of this episode, "Comeback Kid", is referring to the 1990 Nintendo World Champion, Jeff Hansen. When he originally tried to qualify, he got third place. His parents took him to the last contest where he took first place and eventually became the top player in his age group. The three games used in the competition were Super Mario Bros, Tetris, and Rad Racer. I wonder if his parents let him drive the Geo Metro he won for them when he turned 16?

Overall, this was a very interesting episode and I look forward to checking out the rest in this series.

In years gone by, playing games together was a common way for families to bond. Most of us have fond memories of three or even four generations sitting around the table and playing the classic board games. These days, gaming has a different meaning and most associate it with the solitary pursuits of teenagers in a virtual world of combat and survival.

Yet we all know that there is more to gaming than that. The events of 2020 have pushed social gaming right up the agenda, and that doesn’t just mean kids blowing each other to pieces playing Fortnite. In fact, to a certain extent, things are going full circle. Let’s take a look at some of the classics that can now be played as social games and are great for bringing the family together with their multi-generational appeal.

Skribbl

Pictionary has been a family favorite since it first appeared on the shelves in the mid 1980s. It’s a little like charades, but for people who don’t want to get out of their chair. This online version called Skribbl io is a fabulous little creation that will appeal to audiences of all ages. 

Like the board game on which it is based, it’s a way for the generations to come together and showcase their drawing skills, as well as their powers of ingenuity and lateral thinking. Best of all, it costs nothing to play it on your browser, simply head for the Gogy free games site, and look it up. Up to 12 players can play together in a private room, it couldn’t be easier. 

Monopoly

It’s 85 years since the first Monopoly game hit the shelves. In the latter decades of the 20th century, it was a core part of growing up, but its popularity dwindled with the arrival of the internet age. Fortunately, the power of cyberspace has also prompted its revival, and this is another game you can play completely free online via a platform called Pogo. 

Alternatively, if you are willing to pay out a few dollars, Hasbro has released a smartphone app that has some fun extras. These include customizable rules so that you can incorporate any family traditions, and a whole range of local versions of the game.

Clue

Our third and final classic is almost as old as Monopoly, having been devised by Anthony Pratt back in 1943 and manufactured by UK games company Waddingtons after the war. The game follows a typical Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, set in a country house of the 1920s or 30s. While that might make it sound peculiarly dated and English, the gameplay is such that it became a global success and is just as popular today. 

Like Monopoly, there is a mobile app that allows you to play either against family or random strangers. Alternatively, Clue is available to play on Steam. There is cross-platform functionality and a whole host of extras, including special themes. You can even play on the Orient Express to really stick with that Agatha Christie vibe!

Thank you Netflix for supplying us with complimentary access to review this series!

High Score is a new video game documentary series offered exclusively on Netflix. The first episode titled Boom & Bust opens with Howard Scott Warshaw who created E.T. for Atari in five weeks. That game is known as one of the worst in history and 728,000 copies of it were dumped into a landfill in New Mexico. Before that disaster, this documentary begins with Space Invaders which launched in 1978. A couple of funny tidbits learned from this series is that the developer, Tomohiro Nishikado, cannot get past level 2 in his own game. Another fun fact is that this title was so popular in Japan’s arcades that it caused a shortage of 100 yen coins.

In the West, Space Invaders was quite popular and there were tournaments hosted in the United States. Rebecca Heineman is interviewed recalling her memories of winning the first championship in 1980. When she won the tournament, she was a guy and her dead name is William.

Other games featured include Missile Command and Pac-Man. It’s funny how Pac-Man was aimed at female gamers. According to the developer, Toru Iwantani, his design came from a pizza missing one slice. Ms. Pac-Man was enhanced by a bunch of college drop-outs who Atari sued (and later hired) for altering Missile Command to be more profitable for arcade owners.

The advent of cartridge-based home console systems like the Channel F and Atari 2600 are discussed as well. The rise and fall of Atari is also brought up as the classics it produced were overshadowed by shovelware that turned many gamers off.

So far, this series is well researched and entertaining to watch. There is some language (sh*tless) and sexual references to take note of before letting kids watch it. If you’re interested in learning about how video games grew from arcades to home consoles to eSports 7, tune in to High Score on Netflix!

Thank you Wood Entertainment for sending us a screener to review!

Skateboarding has been around since the 1950s and its popularity has had its ups and downs. Skate parks would come and go and when they disappeared, underground and street skating took off. Pretending I’m A Superman – The Tony Hawk Video Game Story features many professional skaters like Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Chad Muska, and Eric Koston who share their experiences with this sport and various milestones before it became mainstream.

The popular Thrasher magazine started circulating in 1981, and the following year Tony Hawk became a pro skater. In 1986 Atari released 720°, a skateboarding game followed by California Games and Skate or Die in 1987. In 1989 the movie Gleaming the Cube was released. In the mid 90s skateboarding started to become popular and was showcased in the X Games, which was founded in 1994.

In 1997, Sega released a popular arcade game with a moving skateboard called Top Skater. Once Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater dropped in 1999, the sport would never be the same. Each new release would get better and when the fourth one came out, the other three were still in the top ten sales charts. Not only did this game revitalize the sport, but the skaters in the game became household names and the bands like Primus and Bad Religion got a whole new fan base. The inclusivity of minority and female skaters appealed to many people as well.

All in all, this is a fascinating documentary about a beloved game series that’s about to be re-released very soon. I look forward to checking it out with improved visuals! There is some language including a couple of F-bombs so be warned if you plan on watching this documentary with youngins. It’s available on popular streaming platforms including Google Play, iTunes, and Amazon Prime Video.

(Amazon Affiliate Link)

Thank you Citysports for sending us this massage gun to review!

After looking at the Amazon store page for this deep tissue massage gun, I wasn’t sure if I would be qualified to use it. The people in the pictures have chiseled muscles and six-packs that I’ll never achieve in this lifetime. I’m happy to wait for my glorified non-photoshopped body. Though I don’t workout to the point of injuring my muscles, I do consider myself fairly active and spend time outside walking and riding my bike on a regular basis. Thankfully, I haven’t injured myself working out. It’s sleeping in weird positions (to accommodate the 2 cats and 1 dog that sneak into our bed) that makes me sore. As fate would have it, I woke up with my left shoulder reminding me that I’m not getting any younger.

I’m glad I had the Citysports Massage Gun handy! The question is which tip do I use? This massage gun comes with six interchangeable tips that range in hardness and materials. Swapping them out is easy to do and only takes a couple of seconds. Most of them are a rubberized plastic, but a couple of them have a “Nerf-like” texture to them. For my shoulder soreness, I used the shovel-shaped head which is good for the whole body. The mushroom head is intended to be used on the back on either side of the spine. The flat head is designed for the hips, legs, and hands. The U-shaped head is meant to be used in soft parts of the body. The bullet head is intended for local and small muscle groups. To be on the safe side, stick with the softer ball-shaped head which is good for all around use and less likely to hurt as it’s the softest option. Some of the harder tips may hurt bones or cause bruises if you’re not careful.

Once you have the head picked out, your next goal is to determine which speed is right for you. There are twenty to choose from and they all feel good! As you push the massager gun into the sore muscles, the speed and angle may change automatically for you. While I was able to use this massager on my own, enlisting someone to point it on my back head on, felt great. Of course, I had to give them a back massage in return, but fair is fair.

This device is rather big; it's not much smaller than my husband’s power drill. It’s 2lbs and comes with a nice carrying case. The velvety black bag for holding the attachments is a nice touch. The 2000mAH Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery should last around 7 hours according to the Amazon store page.

Though the manual has a “Warrenty” section, it does not spell out how long it is. It just mentions what’s not covered. According to the Amazon page, there’s a 1-year warranty. There’s an insert in the packaging that says if you e-mail them your (presumably positive) Amazon review, you’ll get an extra three months added to your warranty.

This massager looks and feels high-quality so I expect to keep it around for a while. There are cheaper variants out there, but this one has been great so far and I highly recommend it.

(Amazon Affiliate Link)

Thank you Muhoop for sending us this bug zapper to review!

Though I can’t find any Biblical evidence, I believe that fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other blood sucking creatures are part of mankind’s curse in Genesis 3. I have yet to find someone who appreciates mosquitoes and wishes for them to stay alive. The “Electronical Mosquito Killer HK-1107” claims to be the best and has “achieved patent” according to the box.

This $20 mosquito killer is quite affordable and measures at 10” tall and 4.5” wide. The power cord is only 3 feet long and that’s my biggest complaint. There is no instruction manual, so I’m not sure how to open it up to clean away the bug bodies with a “soft lrush” as the box instructs. The box also recommends using this mosquito killer “in bed-room, hall, hostal, office, chicken farm, animal huslardry, and any other places where needs killing mosquitoes.“ As you can see, there were multiple typographical errors within the packaging, and it would have been a better experience had some of the instructions gone through a bit of proofreading before release.

All of our outdoor power outlets are low to the ground and the first night I left the mosquito killer on the floor of our front porch. The next morning I did not see any dead bugs in the device or fall out when I shook it. To make sure it’s not just a blue light in a cage, I dropped a small cricket into the device, and it did indeed kill it. I then offered the cooked cricket to my bearded dragon, Yoshi, who enjoyed her home-cooked meal.

We like to enjoy meals on our deck, so I grabbed an extension cord and had the mosquito killer five feet high. At that height it definitely sent some mosquitoes to their maker. This device kills bugs quietly as you won’t hear the typical “zzzZZt” noise. I just wish I knew how to open it for cleaning. There are some Philips-head screws on the outer casing that I’ll try unscrewing as the device collects more insect bodies inside of it.

(Amazon Affiliate Link)

We’ve been streaming games often but irregularly for a while. We’ve met the requirements for Twitch Affiliation and are blessed with over 1133 followers and 7 subscribers as I’m writing this. We really appreciate those who drop by and chat with us on our streams and support our ministry, Thank you!

For the past few months, I’ve been a member of a steaming site that promotes various streams and encourages their members to watch streams from their community. It’s a give and take system. By using this service our viewership and membership grew but the community wasn’t very active. Not many of the members of this site speak English so they couldn't understand what I was saying or read the game's dialogue.

Upon reaching the streaming hours and viewership numbers, I was given the opportunity to apply for Twitch partnership. While waiting for the approval process I was trying to stream when I could guarantee I could get the viewer count high enough to maintain the requirements.

Twitch did not approve our partnership application, and rightfully so. Our community is lacking and I want to focus on that moving forward instead of viewer count. Additionally, I would like to involve our Twitch followers in choosing what games we play and stream. If we get enough subscribers, I would like to be able to purchase and stream community selected AAA titles that are not sent to us to review.  Here's the link to out Twitch channel.

I would also like to get to know and support other streamers by participating in more raids and hosting of channels. Sticking with a regular streaming schedule will be another priority. I’ll lean towards evenings so I can still enjoy the nice weather and walk my dog several times a day before the bugs come out.

By not having to focus on channel viewers and requirements, a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I look forward to just playing and enjoying games while chatting with those who hop onto our channel. Again, we appreciate your support and company!

We have a couple of Jackbox titles to review and would love to host a family game night. Anyone care to join us and assist in the reviewing process? If this takes off, maybe we can schedule a regular family gaming night.

I hope these are steps in the right direction. Please share any and all feedback, we’re all ears!