Wednesday, May 13

Features

Dreamcast: Year One Book Review – One Dream Too Many For Sega?
11Dec By BrianNo Comments
Features, Retrogaming Corner

Dreamcast: Year One Book Review – One Dream Too Many For Sega?

The Dreamcast, Sega's final console entry into the gaming market.  It was the first of the sixth generation and entered in 1998, while the fires of the two-year-old Nintendo N64 and Sony's four-year-old PlayStation were still roaring hot.  We wouldn't see another console release until the PlayStation 2 in 2000. Discontinued three years later, a year after the PlayStation 2.  In its relatively short lifespan, the Dreamcast gained a dedicated following and sold over 9 million units.  So what happened?  Did Sega release it too early to make up for the shortcomings of the Sega Saturn?  Was the technology dated when compared to its competition?  Or was it simply just one dream too many for Sega?  Let's take a look at the first year of the Dreamcast with Dreamcast: Year One The Unofficial St...
Read More
The Thumb Culture Christmas 2020 Gamer Gift Guide
11Dec By DanNo Comments
Features

The Thumb Culture Christmas 2020 Gamer Gift Guide

With Christmas 2020 just over 2 weeks away, now is the time to get your shopping done if you have not already. Leaving it any longer and you run the risk of not getting the gift you wanted. Not only this, your gift for the special person in your life could end up coming late. Neither of these options is viable, so if you are a gamer, or buying for a gamer have a little read of our gift guide and get ordering. Below we have a range of goodies at different price points! Let the shopping commence! To start off, it is Christmas, therefore we are starting our gift guide off with a special mention. As you know Thumb Culture support charities on a yearly basis and it wouldn't feel right without trying to help support another cause at Christmas. Finchy Of The North is an online Etsy shop that he...
Read More
Call Of Duty Cold War Review – A Campaign Glance
24Nov By StuartNo Comments
Features

Call Of Duty Cold War Review – A Campaign Glance

For this Call of Duty Cold War review we join our resident expert,  on Call of Duty Campaigns to throw his opinions out into the Duty-sphere! JW do your thing! Time Heals There have been many great reunions over time... Fleetwood Mac, The Goonies The office and If you had told me 2 years ago I would be writing a piece for Thumb Culture they would’ve probably replied with a more chance of hell freezing over comment but time is a great healer and thanks to them, here I am (but more on that maybe another time). If you had also told me 2 years ago I’d be absolutely loving a Call of duty campaign again the reaction would’ve been the same. How pleasing it is to be wrong on both occasions and as I don’t want to ruin the future for you, let’s go spoiler free. Call of Duty Cold War was a massi...
Read More
Xbox Game Pass – What Is The So-Called “Best Deal In Gaming”?
18Nov By Jay ArmstrongNo Comments
Features

Xbox Game Pass – What Is The So-Called “Best Deal In Gaming”?

Xbox Game Pass is branded by Microsoft as the "best deal in gaming". I personally believe they've earned that title. In fact, it's become almost a parody at this stage how much we, at Thumb Culture, love Xbox Game Pass. Not only does it provide a lot of content at an affordable price, but it also delivers it across multiple platforms. Originally announced, rather unceremoniously via an Xbox blog post, it was immediately apparent that it was going to be a good deal for gamers. The service has grown a lot since those days, and is talked about weekly by media and gamers at large. This is thanks to the regular updates and content provided by Xbox and their partners. What is it? Xbox Game Pass is a subscription model; just like Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime. It offers a list of games t...
Read More
Thumb Culture @ PAX Online x EGX Digital 2020!
20Sep By ArNo Comments
Features

Thumb Culture @ PAX Online x EGX Digital 2020!

With this year's EGX being cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, events have taken a digital turn this autumn with PAX Online x EGX Digital 2020. In even more exciting news, Thumb Culture has been given the opportunity to present a panel as part of PAX X EGX's digital showcase! We're honoured to have had the chance to present our digital panel on all things cross-platform. As advocates of Gaming For All, we're passionate about encouraging cross-play in the gaming community. We're all about encouraging gamers from a range of backgrounds to get involved in everything games have to offer. As part of our live-streamed digital panel, the Thumb Culture team discussed cross-platform, cross-progression and everything in between. Join us and watch below as they give their opinions o...
Read More
PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X? Apples vs Oranges? What Does The Next Gen Bring…
19Aug By Jay Armstrong2 Comments
Features

PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X? Apples vs Oranges? What Does The Next Gen Bring…

We're now pretty deep into 2020 and with that we've had some news on the next generation of console gaming, however we still don't actually know much about the launches themselves. What we do know however is that both Microsoft and Sony are adopting very different approaches to the next generation and as a multi-platform owner I find that exciting. Often during these times it's interesting following the hype and the build up of the new machines and that's something I personally follow quite closely. What I aim to do here is summarising some key facts that differentiate the 2 companies and speculate about what this could mean moving forward; but by no means is this meant to be a comprehensive list. With events expected in August from both Sony and Microsoft as part of GamesCom it's in...
Read More
The Cost Of Playing Video Games – An Arm Or A Leg?
17Jul By MikeNo Comments
Features

The Cost Of Playing Video Games – An Arm Or A Leg?

With the approach of the new console generation, video game players eagerly await any news about the prices of the upcoming PS5 and X-box series X. Arguably of equal importance to the consoles themselves is the price of their games and following the news that NBA 2K21 will increase from $59.99 to $69.99 USD. 2K games who develop the NBA series are the first to take this step and it seems like other developers are ready to follow on the next console generation.  At first hearing video games now cost just under $70 may be cause for frustration for gamers. As an entertainment medium have typically cost more than others such as film & TV but have not had the same inflation over the years. Film/TV where the technology used in production, from Blu-ray to 3D has always come with an inc...
Read More
The Games That Have Helped Us During Lockdown (So Far!)
15May By TC Staff WriterNo Comments
Features

The Games That Have Helped Us During Lockdown (So Far!)

Well, what a year 2020 has been so far! I think it's fair to say no one expected things to go the way they have. More than anything, whilst we're in lockdown, we hope you all staying safe, staying healthy, and staying positive. Everyone has gone through their own difficulties over the last few weeks, and whilst we may now have a road map for getting life back to normal (whatever shape normal will be after this), we've still got to someway to go. Here at Thumb Culture, we're all trying to get through this situation as best as we can. Thanks to our passion for gaming, it's made that journey a little bit easier. So let's take a moment to praise the amazing work developers, creators, and publishers have put in. Or at least those we can pry away from Animal Crossing. Stuart S So, during ...
Read More
Top 10 Narrative Games of the Generation
13Feb By TC Staff WriterNo Comments
Features

Top 10 Narrative Games of the Generation

As the curtains are closing on the 8th generation of consoles and the bigger, more powerful consoles are eagerly awaiting to take centre stage, I believe it’s time to reflect on the generation. As a film fanatic, I adore cinematic games. In my opinion, the medium can explore narratives in a fascinating way. Not only can games tell stories through characters, but they can also intertwine gameplay and the environment in order to build a world around the core narrative. So, not including re-releases (sorry Last of us) and focusing solely on games that were released on the PS4, Xbox One and Wii U (Yes, it’s an 8th Generation console), let’s look at the Top 10 Narrative Games of the Generation. God of War God of War is a cinematic masterpiece. The execution of the single-cam...
Read More
Fractured Minds – A Game That Matters
19Nov By ArNo Comments
Features, PC Reviews

Fractured Minds – A Game That Matters

It’s not often that I’m lost for words when it comes to writing. In fact, I’m never been backwards in coming forwards when sharing my thoughts online. Having just completed Fractured Minds though, I’ve genuinely had to take ten minutes to compose myself before attempting to write this piece.  Fractured Minds is a beautiful, atmospheric BAFTA award-winning game, designed and created by 17-year old Emily Mitchell and published by Wired Productions. It takes a deep dive into the world of the human brain at it’s most unsettled, inspired by Emily’s own personal journey of severe anxiety. When I say personal, I also mean personal to anyone who has ever experienced anxiety, because they will absolutely identify with this game on a deeply relatable level. “I created Fractured Minds to ...
Read More