One of the most worrying things about being a gamer in 2019 is the deluge of stereotypes that the gamer community finds itself battling against. Let’s face it, video games (and the people who play them) are no stranger to controversy. From political outcry over violent games like Mortal Kombat and Duke Nukem to the frankly abysmal display of behavior in “Gamergate”, there’s a lot to reinforce the stereotype that so many gamers rail against. No matter how old, well educated and morally centered we may get, no matter how much we may read the Bible and try and lead lives that exemplify Christian values we can still find ourselves tarred with the “stereotypical gamer” brush. The popular image of an antisocial, basement dwelling and aggressively male teenager living out violent or misogynistic fantasies through their games is, tragically, one which still pervades in our popular culture today.

This is such a shame as many of us are far from this stereotype. We are nice, socially well adjusted, morally and spiritually sound people. Some of us may see gaming alone as a way to let off steam after a busy and stressful work day. But we also enjoy playing fun and wholesome games with friends and family.

With this in mind, we’re going to look at some fun and wholesome games that everyone in your family and friendship group can enjoy! We’re going to look at a wide range of games so that no matter what your hardware or personal preferences you’ll find something that you, your friends and your family will enjoy playing...

VR Games

It’s little wonder than the average age of a gamer is 33. They were coming to age just as video games really began to take off, and once they were on the hook, it was unlikely that they were going to stop. After all, games have just continued to get better and better, and in many ways, they’re “better” for people than watching TV shows and movies, which are passive experiences. When it comes to gaming, they’re involved every step of the way. Studies have shown that gaming can also have a positive impact on teenagers, especially older teenagers, as it develops their cognitive abilities, and, despite what people think, their social skills too -- they’re rarely playing by themselves, after all.

If you’ve got a teenager of your own, or are indeed a teenager yourself, then take read below, where we outline some of the best types of games for this age bracket. 

All Things Sport

It’s true that children should be spending more time in the outdoors than they currently do. It seems like when we were younger, we were always outside -- but times have changed. Even though crime is lower than what it was in decades past (it’s practically at an all-time low), perception of crime has gone up. And that’s what counts to parents. So if teenagers aren’t able to go out and play sports with their friends anymore, then they should at least be able to play them at home (and also with their friends). Get your child the latest soccer, basketball, or NFL game, and you’ll be keeping your child interested in sport, and they’ll be more likely to play when they’re older.

Games played on a surface or board with counters or pieces are made to move around that board which contains some pre-marked areas according to some rules are known as board games.

Board games are of different types and have various genres. They have been quite popular among youngsters. Such games are often entertained in Evening or House parties. Board Games Land provides detailed information on such games.

Board games cover a wide range; beginning from basic childhood games such as Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly to thought-provoking games such as Chess to adult games such as Splendor, Dixit, etc. Thus board games are made eligible and entertaining for all ages. Apart from just fun board games do carry other values too and the majors are given below:

1. Fun value

Playing board games brings forth fun and lightheartedness amongst the sordid realities of life. It helps avoid boredom and act as a means to cut off time.

Between Earth and Sky (Music from "Chrono Trigger")
By Julia Henderson
Published by: Materia Collective
Julia Henderson: Producer, Arranger, Lyricist, Vocals, Mix Engineer
Alejandro Hernández: Mastering Engineer
Lorenzo de Sequera: Album Art

Thank you Materia Collective for sending us this album on MP3 to review!

Chrono Trigger is one of those rare games that actually deserves all of the unbridled praise that it gets. It was also a capstone on the total domination by the 1990s Squaresoft during the Super Nintendo era of RPGs, and is an absolute classic still worth playing today. One of the many ways in which Chrono Trigger excelled was in its music.

It's funny; during this era, Nobuo Uematsu was king of the Final Fantasy music empire, and while he did contribute to Chrono Trigger's soundtrack, the majority of the truly memorable tracks came not from him, but from Yasunori Mitsuda's excellent compositions. It is from these that Julia Henderson takes her inspiration in the development of this album.

It is only six tracks, and just over twenty-three and a half minutes long. Thankfully, the price is quite reasonable at only $5 on Bandcamp; at that price, it's well worth it.

Perfecting your translation and language skills needn't be a bore. With the right approach, it can even be fun! Video games offer a terrific opportunity to hone your proficiency in another tongue while taking part in some healthy competition. Additionally, there are so many genres to choose from and devices to use for gaming that nearly anyone can find something to capture their interest. When you find something that you enjoy, playing it in order to practise your second language will hardly seem like learning at all.

What Are the Advantages of Video Game Translation?

Aside from the obvious reason that improving your video game translation prowess will give you a competitive edge, there is another reason to take part in this enriching experience.

Both the gaming and translation industries are growing by leaps and bounds. The market for video games is expected to be worth around 90 billion dollars by 2020. Further, annual spending on professional translation services is expected to reach over 56 billion dollars by 2021. If you have ever considered a career in mobile and video game translation or even app translation, there has never been a better time than now.

Understanding Video Game Localization

Introduction

The gaming industry is often dealing with concerns about the influence and overall value of the content that it delivers to the users, particularly the younger generation. Violence, sexual and otherwise less appropriate characters, and game concepts represent the mainstream of the gaming market, which forces many people to question the actual value of such content and the effects of the gaming experience on the more sensitive members of the gaming community.

Nevertheless, the industry is not absent of valuable options, in fact, there is a whole spectrum of different educational PC games that are fun and provide a meaningful array of content, some of which holds real academic value. Therefore, in this article we are going to let you in on top 10 educational games you can enjoy.

Human Resource Machine

A 2D game with simple-enough graphics that don't have any negative influence on the gaming experience. The HRM sets you up as a worker in a company assigned for various task divided into 37 levels. With each level you complete, your character gets promoted, thus moving to the higher floor of the company building. 

This programming puzzler allows you to learn the basics of assembly code by assigning you with different tasks that you have to complete with simple drag and drop commands. The game starts with only two commands, but as you reach higher levels the number of commands increases, allowing you more automation options.

Thank you Scarlet Moon Productions for sending us this digital album to review!

The World Is Square began in 2003 and took over fifteen years to complete by Mustin who is best known as one of the founders of OneUp Studios/The OneUps. This album features classic Square Enix music from hit games like Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy IV, VI, and VII. The eight tracks are given an electronic jazz twist and sound great. There is some creative license, but the songs are still very recognizable.

The songs range from three to over six minutes each. It takes a little over thirty-seven minutes to hear the whole album and I’m always looking for more when it’s finished. The calm and relaxing tracks would make excellent hold music; I certainly wouldn’t mind listening to it while waiting.

The first track is Fear of the Heaven from Secret of Mana. I have to confess that I have not played this game (yet), but the song, acoustic guitar, and vocals are good. Thankfully, I have played all of the Final Fantasy games represented on this album. Final Fantasy IV’s main theme is the second track. One of the most popular songs from Final Fantasy IV, Theme of Love, is the third song. The violin work on this track is exceptional.

Chrono Trigger fans will enjoy Forest Butterflies and From the Bottom. William Carlos Reyes provides the guitar playing for From the Bottom and does an excellent job. We’ve previously reviewed his album Guitar Collections Final Fantasy IV.

Are you an enthusiastic gamer? You most definitely understand the need to stay safe whenever you are playing a game online. The internet is free and a large village that has every type of person. Some are there to enjoy its connectivity and easy access to information, while others target victims to hack and steal their information. Whichever the case, you must ensure that you have a good antivirus to keep you safe whenever you are playing online.

For a good antivirus for gaming, you must consider if it has a gaming mode. In some cases, the game/gaming mode is when the antivirus can run smoothly even as you play your game. In other words, the antivirus should be able to run without lagging your computer as you play.

TotalAV is one of the best antivirus programs that you can use for gaming. With this antivirus, you can play a heavy game as it continues to keep you safe. But that’s not all; here is why you should use TotalAV for gaming.

• Accurate Virus Detection

How would you feel if you were sure that the antivirus you have on your computer could alert you of any possible threats? It would be a great experience because you will not have to worry about having any possible malware or virus on your computer. If there is any virus that has gotten into your PC, TotalAV will detect it in a matter of seconds.

It will also find any affected file and quarantine or delete it accordingly. Nonetheless, this can take some time to finish based on the complexity of the virus. The best part is that it will scan for any malware whenever you visit a website. So if the game redirects you to their official website, you’re still good to go. If you are overly suspicious of any website, you can use the security tools to scan those websites or check for any suspicious links that are sent in your game’s chat room.

PC games become more and more popular each year. There are declines and recoveries of individual representatives in this rhythm. Many agencies even create particular ratings of the most popular PC games to find out what games were popular during the reporting period.

In this material, the specialists of the gaming website EGamersWorld have prepared the analysis of changes in the popularity of games in March 2019.

The list of the most popular PC games looked in the following way in March 2018:

1. League of Legends (Riot Games)
2. PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS (Bluehole Studio)
3. Fortnite (Epic Games)
4. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment)
5. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Valve)

The situation changed in a year and there are slight changes on this list in March 2019:

1. League of Legends (Riot Games)
2. Apex Legends (Electronic Arts)
3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Valve Corporation)
4. Minecraft (Mojang)
5. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment)

League of Legends is the unconditional leader, it didn’t leave the first place during the year. The MOBA strategy has been holding the leading position for years. Such a result was achieved due to the significant fan base from Southeast Asia. Many tournaments with a big prize pool, nice coverage, and a good organization allow the game to keep the leading status.

Top Seven Highly Anticipated Video Games in 2019

2019 looks promising with new unforgettable and classic video games marketed to be offered to gamers of all ages. And although it may be hard to live up to the 2018 hype with hits such as Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, Monster Hunter: World, and many others offered by Homeofarcadia, 2019 is stirring anticipation with more incredible games for people around the globe.

Here are the top 7 video games set to be released in 2019 that is brewing excitement to every gamer out there.

1. Resident Evil 2 Remake

Capcom already had a great year in 2018, but they still started the year with a bang, releasing one of their most successful games in one of their most successful franchises ever made: Resident Evil 2.

And this remake isn’t just a simple graphics update, either. Developers and publishers have announced that there are several changes that every gamer will love, including gaming mechanics, character design as well as an array of bonuses such as character skins and alternative weapons.

There’s been a lot of talk about game streaming services for the masses. What about those who don’t have fiber, cable, or DSL internet? Atari hasn’t forgotten about them! In fact, they have the perfect streaming console solution that runs games great for those with dial-up internet access! The 8GB of storage is plenty of space to hold the entire game library of the 2600, 5200, and 7800 systems combined! Cloud saves are a standard feature as well so your progress in E.T. will not be lost!

There are three affordable subscription plans available and the same stylish console can be used for any or all of the plans:

• For $26.00 a year you get access to all 565 of the 2600 series games.
• The $52.00 annual plan gets you access to the Atari 2600 titles plus the official 69 from the 5200 series. The number pad controller is also included in this bundle.
• For $78.00 a year you get access to the 59 7800 games as well as all of the titles of the 5600 and 2600 systems. Durable metal reinforced joysticks are included in this bundle.

Today, most service providers and website owners do their best to protect their customers.

This is usually done by monitoring their networks and blocking any abuses when flagged or reported by other users. Whenever an abuse is detected, they may either choose to block the contravening user’s account or they might put a full-on ban on that user’s IP address.

Obviously, the best way to avoid having your IP address banned is to simply read and follow the service providers rules and regulations.

But fortunately, if you find yourself having been banned for whatever reason, there are a few stealthy workarounds that you can employ to regain access to the service.

In essence, since your IP address has been blocked, you’re going to need to change your IP address. This can be done in a number of ways, such as using a proxy server or a service such as ExpressVPN. But we’ll get to a bit further on in this article.

Do you remember the times when your parents used to tell you to stop playing video games and go study because video games are a waste of time? Well, it turns out they did not see the whole picture. In the past several years, Esports has become a budding industry, allowing gamers to earn millions of dollars.

So, if you are good at playing video games and you’re wondering whether you should or shouldn’t try to go professional, the answer is now more complicated. There is a lot of money to be made, and you will be part of a rapidly growing industry.

In their infographic named “The Rise of Esports,” NJ Games states that the highest-paid esports team, Team Liquid, earns almost $24 million a year. The second and third highest-paying teams, Evil Geniuses and Team OG earn $20.5 million and $17.5 million a year, respectively. Therefore, the amount of money that you can get as a professional esports team is much higher than in many “real” sports.

If you climb the esports ladder and become one of the best players in the world, such as Kuro Takhasomi, Johan Sundstein, or Amer Al-Barkawi, you can earn millions in net worth.

Moreover, when it comes to the future of esports, there’s no need to be skeptical. The future seems as bright as it can be, as experts predict that the industry will continue to grow. All of the major sports leagues are investing tens of millions of dollars each year in tournaments and new video games, as the industry is becoming more profitable by the day. Also, there are serious indications that esports may become an Olympic sport as well, perhaps as soon as 2024 Paris Olympics.

Game providers know how to create games; they have countless ideas and once they finish a game they want to sell it fast to start designing another one. When getting started in the game design and diving right in, developers consider it a rewarding and fun experience. They share their visions with the world and they are working on something they are passionate about. However, there are times when the passions of the developer are not the same as the ones of the gamer, especially now when the gaming industry is in a major transformation.

Gaming has grown in a subculture nowadays and gamers are very determined when it comes to the features they want from their games. For the gaming providers, every year means 12 months of opportunities to launch new games and to make money. However, in order to make money they need to find out what the requirements of the market are.

Why is market research needed?

Market research helps gaming providers know their clients. They get to find out who their clients are because the audience is continuously changing. The main question gaming providers have is what do people want from their games?

First, they want to have a spectacular gaming experience and 4K games are nowadays considered the standard ones. The latest trends have shown that more and more gamers want to play games that include support for PS4 and Xbox One X with HDR included. The majority of them have PC monitors with HBR support and this is a sign that the tech industry is heading to a new direction. Players want to offer their eyes a visual feast when trying a new experience, and if the game promises them the best experience, they will be interested to try it. Gaming developers have to implement higher resolutions and High Dynamic Range on their products more than ever if they want people to buy them. Considering that nowadays high-quality monitors and TVs come at affordable prices, market research reveals that clients are interested in visuals more than ever.

Thank you to Scarlet Moon Productions for the music!

Undoubtedly, one of the best parts of Celeste is the soundtrack. The various movements match the action, the melodies are emotional, and every track is catchy. As hackneyed as my regards are, the game deserves the praise it has received. When given the opportunity to listen to the Piano Collections, I was curious to see how an already piano heavy soundtrack would be modified for solos. The end result maintains most of the original's charm, but some of the omissions were disappointing.

Celeste Piano Collections comes with the main soundtrack of Celeste, arranged for the piano, of course. While many of the pieces in the main game were piano oriented, this rendition adds the various harmonies to the piano as well. I was provided a digital copy of the music, though a physical copy and sheet music are also available. All the included music is immediately recognizable to anyone who played Celeste, which is always a good sign with these arrangements. Generally, each piece contains the main melody and appropriate segments needed to loop back to the melody. The mood of each piece is maintained through various dynamic and tempo changes.

However, not all the movements of the pieces are included, which was disappointing. Although the pieces are still well composed and the key is properly maintained, omitting the many movements was a poor move. Granted, this would make some pieces nearly ten minutes long, but some of my favorite pieces from Celeste are these secondary segments. The music is stellar without considering what was removed, however. The B-Side remixes are also not included, despite being an integral part of the game's soundtrack. I assume this is because the negotiations with the various composers of the B-Side music (as opposed to the single composer of the A-Side) would be too difficult. I would have loved to hear the blues remix of Chapter 5's music on a piano.

While all the music that was chosen to be arranged for Celeste Piano Collections was done very well, I couldn't help but be disappointed by the missing parts. I loved that the mood of each piece was maintained with only one instrument, and the original melodies are still easily recognizable. However, I would recommend the original soundtrack over this, simply because it has more music. It’s 15 dollars for both the A and B side music, available wherever the Piano Collections are. As a standalone product, Celeste Piano Collections is nice, but the source material is certainly better.

Having a rad gaming headset is a must in the world of interactive video games. If you don’t have a great gaming headset, you will struggle to keep up with other top notch players. If you are in the market for a new set, check out this gaming headset buyers guide. We have you covered.

What Not to Buy

If you want to really immerse yourself into the gaming world you don’t want to buy a cheap or knock off set that will break in a few hours. Avoid the drug store ear buds, that barely work well for cell phone calls, as well as the headphone you can get in the discount bin at Walmart. You don’t want these for gaming; maybe for your Walkman, but not for Fortnite or SmashBros or anything that requires talking to another human being and hearing what they are saying back to you.

What You Should Buy

There are several features you will want to consider. If you want a top-notch pair be prepared to pay for what you are getting. Even if your budget puts you in the middle-of-the-road market, you can score a decent headset. Be sure that whatever you pick meets the following:

Know the Difference Between Headphones and a Headset
Headphones are what you think of when you picture a kid walking down the street with a portable CD player. A gaming headset is more like what a pilot would wear, because you can talk and hear others. Size, features, and quality are what differentiate them.

Sound
If you can’t hear what’s being said, there is no point in even wearing a headset. Find something that has killer sound and has good bass.

Comfort
If you are like most gamers, you will be wearing your headset a lot. So find a set that is comfortable. The goal is to feel like you aren’t wearing anything on your head at all. If it is bulky and heavy, it won’t be comfortable, and you will get annoyed quickly.  

Microphone
You want to make sure that you have a great mic on your headset. You don’t want it picking up background noise or other sounds that are coming through your headset. The only thing that a mic should pick up is the sound of your voice and deliver it as clearly as possible.

Compatibility
Be sure that the headset you get is compatible with the gaming system that you own. Some headsets are specific to brand and won’t work with a different system.

Wireless vs Wired

Do you want to have constant gaming, but be limited by a cord, or be wireless and have to charge your headset from time to time? This is something to consider when purchasing a gaming headset. There are wireless ones that run off AA batteries, too. Be sure to check the expected battery life before diving into your purchase.  

Do They Look Cool?
Looks are not everything, but some people love a good looking headset. To some , the look, shape, color, and details on their headset are just as important as is its performance. There is nothing wrong with style, just be sure you aren’t sacrificing quality for aesthetics.

There are a ton of gaming headset options on the market. Where to start depends on what you plan on using your headset for and what you want to get out of it. After that, comfort, style, and even durability come into play. If you don’t have a headset that is comfortable and can withstand the occasionally launch across the room, you might want to consider a different brand. Things do get frustrating after all.

Thank you Materia Collective for sending us this digital album to review!

Many video games are known for their great soundtracks and some catch your attention at the menu screen before embarking on your adventure. MENU: An Homage to Game Title Themes is a collection of over fifty theme songs and menu tracks from various games in the past three decades. Most of the songs are true to their origins and others like the Mega Man 2 and Minecraft themes have rap and/or lyrics added to them. While I didn’t mind the “enhancement,” the rest of my family preferred the rap-free songs.

Not surprisingly, this collection has five songs (nearly 10%) from Final Fantasy games. There’s music from Final Fantasy Tactics, IX, XIII, XIII-2, and XV. There are three songs from the Mario franchise including tracks from Mario Kart 64, Paper Mario, and Super Mario 64. Elder Scrolls fans will enjoy the songs from Oblivion and Skyrim.

Belmont Overture from Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse is probably one of the oldest tracks in this collection as this game originated in 1989. Listening to this song brought back pleasant memories from my childhood and my NES. Other familiar songs include Geralt of Rivia from Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Doki Doki Literature Club, Main Title from Deus Ex, Happiness from Sims 3, and Myst’s theme.

There are so many songs from games I have yet to play including Limbo, Celeste, Cuphead, Horizon Zero Dawn, Stardew Valley, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, Katamari Damacy, and FTL: Faster Than Light. Although I haven’t played Ninja Gaiden II, I really enjoy its menu music now! Mass Effect: Andromeda has good title music too and that series is on my bucket list.

Thank you Materia Collective for sending us this digital album to review!

I have been enjoying the Mario Bros. series since the Atari and Super Mario Bros. series on the NES. While the Atari 2600 version of the game lacks music, the NES version has quite the memorable soundtrack and it’s great to see it get the lullaby treatment in the Music Box Classics: Mario collection.

This digital album has ten tracks from various games through Mario’s 30+ years in existence. The first track is the Super Mario Bros. overworld music and is the slowest of the bunch. I honestly think it could have benefited from higher beats per minute. The rest of the tracks are a little bit more upbeat. The underwater music from the first Super Mario Bros. game is a welcome addition as well.

The most represented games are Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy with each having three tracks dedicated to them. You’ll find the following Super Mario 64 songs: Inside the Castle Walls, Bomb-Omb Battlefield, and Dire, Dire Docks. The songs from Super Mario Galaxy Include: Rosalina’s Observatory, Luma, and Gusty Garden. The overworld music from Super Mario Bros. 2 brings back pleasant memories as does Princess Peach’s Theme from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. I wish that Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Sunshine had tracks included in the collection, but they’re absent.

Overall, this is a great collection of classic gaming music in music box form. It’s great lullaby music so make sure you’re not too comfortable when listening to it or you may find yourself sleeping before you know it! The total length of this album is a little over thirty-one minutes. It sells for $8.99 on Amazon or for $7 on Bandcamp which provides the tracks in MP3, FLAC and more.

Thank you Abrams Books for sending us five calendars to fight over…I mean review!

2018 is coming to an end and with the new year fast approaching we must decide on a calendar to use for next year. Gamers may want to look into the following calendars from Abrams Books:

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Pokémon
Splatoon
Super Mario
Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Each calendar has four mini-calendars from September-December of 2018 in case you want to swap it out a little early. Holidays are noted for various countries around the world. I now know that Australia Day is on January 26h and observed on the 28th. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand will be celebrating Mother’s Day with us on May 12th. Australia and New Zealand don’t celebrate Father’s Day until September though. Religious days like Diwali, Kwanzaa, Purim, and Ramadan are also shown. All of the Christian religious days are accounted for.

Most modern games seem to put a huge emphasis on amazing, jaw-dropping graphics, intensely fun gameplay, and a riveting storyline that may very well rival the stories written by our friends in Hollywood. These components are often deemed to be the recipe for a great game.

And well, the formula hasn’t led any games astray. If you think of it, most of the greatest games of all time have two of these three things sorted out. So, it would seem to be the highest degree of tomfoolery if one were to create a game without at least trying to get all three right. In fact, most games strive to get these three things done.

Then there’s Dark Souls 2.

It’s a game that isn’t exactly impressive when it comes to today’s standards. The gameplay isn’t that refined as some of the more popular titles, and the storyline? It’s barely even there.