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EGX 2019 – Game(s) Of The Show!
Features

EGX 2019 – Game(s) Of The Show!

So EGX 2019 has come and gone, and with it, a whole raft of games played, watched, experienced. We could write up all about the individual games that the team got to play, but we would be releasing content until next years show! Instead, we thought it best to give a short run down from each person that was at the show and for them to give their own personal "Game of the Show!" So without further ado, let's get started! Stuart S Having been to EGX for a number of years previously, I kinda knew what to expect when walking through the doors at the eXcel London. A Whole swathe of indie games surrounded by those classy and shiny triple-A titles. Personally I always spend more time around the indie sections, namely the Rezzed and Leftfield areas! This year at EGX 2019 it was no different...
Playstation State of Play – Roundup and Release Dates
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Playstation State of Play – Roundup and Release Dates

Wow, I don't know about you but having just sat through the Playstation State of Play Live event there was a right mixed bag of games to look forward to!  I'm excited over some of the forthcoming releases, and also worried at the same that I will also have even less money in my bank account as a result! First off we saw the very strange looking Humanity from Enhanced games, coming in 2020, which reminded me of a mix between lemmings and we are billions as waves of people seemingly snaked across ledges while avoiding being shot and maimed, the end goal seemingly being a bright white light.  Not much was said but graphically there was a lot going on! Call of Duty Modern Warfare by Infinity Ward, releasing October 25th was up next, having played the beta over the weekend I felt very...
F1 2019 Interview with Lee Mather
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F1 2019 Interview with Lee Mather

Ben ‘Rwaggy’ McConnell had the greatest pleasure of visiting the Codemasters HQ to meet the team behind the creation of the new F1 2019 game and even got to experience the stunning new instalment in the F1 gaming franchise. Whilst on the visit, Ben managed to get an amazing opportunity to interview the Game Director of the Formula 1 Game Series, Lee Mather. Ben: First of all I want to thank you for this opportunity to come down and try the game, I experienced some major changes immediately between F1 2018 and F1 2019 in terms of graphical changes. What sort of conversations were being had within the organisation to capture the audience? Lee: We always wanted to expand on building the F1 season but also building the world around F1, building the driver journey. That was always impo...
EGX Rezzed 2019 Roundup – Games To Watch Out For
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EGX Rezzed 2019 Roundup – Games To Watch Out For

As the doors to Tobacco Dock in London closed to what was a heaving and successful EGX Rezzed 2019, what up and coming games stood out for me I hear you ask?!  Well let me kick off my Sketchers, upload my photos and I'll tell you all about it! Hamsterdam: Paws of Justice First on the list is Hamsterdam: Paws of Justice developed by Muse Games.  Coming out around late Spring to Nintendo Switch, Steam, iOS and Android, you play as a cartoon drawn cute fluffy hamster called Pimm who is out for vengeance after his grandfather is kidnapped by the evil Chinchilla known as Marlo.  Set in a mafia/old school gangster environment you must use your Hamster-Fu to bring down the villains as you fight your way through the many combat and scooter-based levels. Created from a successful Kickstart...
5 Things To Make Blackout Better
Features, Gaming

5 Things To Make Blackout Better

So with Call of Duty Black Ops 4 being out for a little while, and many many hours of frustrating Blackout having been played, it left me thinking on ways that the game could be improved. So here it is, my 5 Things To Make Blackout Better 1, Hardcore Mode So lets start off with something that I feel would be great. Adding a hardcore mode to the Blackout mode would make things a little more interesting. Imagine wandering around the open areas near turbine and suddenly getting sniped from a distance. Yes I know with a well place sniper shot you can get downed straight away anyways, but with the addition of hardcore mode it would bring more emphasis on finding those shadows and using movement between cover. 2, Body Based Damage Other games have used this to great effect, having body ba...
Thumb Culture Team Christmas Wish List
Features, Gaming

Thumb Culture Team Christmas Wish List

Here at TC HQ we love Christmas! This year we have rounded the staff up, stuffed them with mulled wine, plyed them with mince pies before asking them to write down what they would like to find under the Christmas tree on Christmas day.  Everyone has come up with a game title, a piece of merchandise and a random third choice of whatever they would like to see them through the festive season!  If you're stuck for ideas yourself, take a look at what we are after, you may be pleasantly surprised! Stu Game - Battlefield V, around £45 from numerous sites. Contrary to a lot of opinion and even though this game is primarily the same at Battlefield 1, there is something about it that feels new. Yes its essentially a re-skin with upgraded textures, but the gameplay feel fresh. Those bullets ...
Online Trophies – Should they be tied to a Platinum Achievement?
Features, Gaming

Online Trophies – Should they be tied to a Platinum Achievement?

With the upcoming release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in just a couple of weeks, more and more information is coming out about what we can expect and one of the things that jumped out at me this morning while I was flicking through the little bits of info (when I was supposed to be working) was the inclusion of Online only trophies. What’s the big deal? You might be asking. Tons of games have online trophies! And you are correct, they do. BUT, my question is: Should they be tied to the 100% Completion Platinum trophy? I’m sure this is partly my age creeping in, but I remember a time when you didn’t need all the extra bits and DLC and paid content to be able to complete a game fully. Hell it wasn’t really that long ago that online content didn’t really exist and 100% of the content y...
Deadstick Bush Flight Simulator First Play – EGX 2018
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Deadstick Bush Flight Simulator First Play – EGX 2018

Getting to grips with Deadstick at EGX was a great joy! Deadstick Bush Flight Simulator to give it it's full title, developed by REMEX Software, headed up by private pilot Chris Cheetham, gives us a different take on the flight sim genre. Having spoke to him on the stand whilst being walked through the controls, you gain an insight into why he wanted to bring this game to life. He wanted to bring a sim that focused more on the low and slow flying, but at the same time appealing to anyone who picked up the controller or flight stick. At first Deadstick could be confused as just a standard flight sim, but scratch away at the surface and it turns into a deep game where you are tasked with growing your own flying company by delivering products in many and various forms. So sitting...
Can We Loot Box This? – The Fine Art Of Monetization
Features, Gaming

Can We Loot Box This? – The Fine Art Of Monetization

In a world where everything has been monetized by loot boxes is it necessary to just pat the back of a studio for just making a game. When did this become worthy of praise and headlines. How did we get here and how can we go back to just having good games. Well tune in and get ready cause I believe I have the answers you seek. Battlefield V  recently announced that it wouldn't have loot boxes or season pass. I had to do a double take because I was sure that the lords of monetization and dumb choices (looking right into your eyes EA) couldn't have let this happen. I mean the FIFA game series literally brings in millions of dollars from their loot box system. EA has systematically destroyed both studios and game series all the while raking in heaps and gobs of money. Now they announce no ...
Features, Gaming, Gaming For All

How Video Games Saved My Life And Helped My Mental Health – The Healing Power Of Gaming

We've heard it time and time again, "Video games make people violent", "Video games aren't a productive use of your time" and "Video games are a negative and angry place". These words are usually spoken by people who don't know a lot about the gaming world, who fear the unknown and adhere to all the misconceptions, typically brought to the world via the media or frustrated parents. All of these words you have undoubtedly heard, couldn't be further from the truth. How do I know that? Well, because I am a gamer and If it wasn't for video games I wouldn't be here talking to you today. In essence, gaming has saved my life and I'm here, thankfully, to tell you why. I would say that throughout my life Ive always been a very sensitive soul, prone to taking matters to heart hence leaving me quite...