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This past week, the results of a few different video game console-related surveys have come in. In each, gamers were gathered together and asked about their knowledge of specific gaming products. The first one that caught my attention was that the majority of gamers have never heard of Sony’s PS4 Pro or Microsoft’s Project Scorpio. At first glance, this isn’t very surprising. These are both mid-generation hardware updates to consoles that people have either already bought or will continue to buy due to being a lower price. I also imagine that most players wouldn’t care about the jump in quality that either console offers since they can still play the games they want on their system of choice.

What really caught my eye was another survey that found that only 77% of gamers had heard of the PS4. This shocked me considering that PS4 is the dominant console of the eighth generation when it comes to critical and commercial success. When digging a bit more closely into both surveys, a good chunk of the gamers that were surveyed only played mobile games like Candy Crush and Pokémon GO.

This information led me on down a bunch of different trains of thought. “Can these really be considered gamers?” “Would they consider themselves gamers?” “How do we define the term ‘gamers’?” I think that, while many would consider people who only game on mobile devices (or even on console in the eyes of some) to not be gamers, they actually are. By technicality, they are playing video games, just not the kind that certain gamers consider “true” video games.

So how do we go about defining gamers? I personally think that the term is incredibly loose and can be applied to multiple different sects of people. A gamer is literally just someone who plays video games. It doesn’t specify what kind of games, how often they play them, the platform in which they play them, etc. However, the best way to define gamers is to look at each individual sect within the community and understand the various differences between them.

With that idea in mind, there are hundreds of different variations of the word “gamer.” There are mobile players like the ones mentioned previously. There are console playerd who, right now, probably play on either PS4, Xbox One, or Switch/Wii U. There are multiple different kinds of PC gamers, some of whom built their rigs from scratch and some who just play Minecraft of Hearthstone on their low-powered laptops. There are casual gamers who could fit into any of the previous categories, only playing games on any of these platforms to enjoy themselves. There are also hardcore gamers who fit into each previous category. Some might disagree with that but you can find someone just as invested in catching every Pokémon in Pokémon GO as you can with someone wanting to reach Grand Master in competitive Overwatch.

Since there are so many different ways of identifying as a gamer, the term itself is a bit flawed. However, when you get into the nitty gritty of being a gamer, it is an incredibly diverse term that has multiple different in-groups and out-groups that at least someone can identify with. As such, anyone can be a gamer even if they just play a mobile game once every couple of months. It’s mainly about the kind of player you see yourself as, the gaming community you fit into, and whether or not you get any kind of satisfaction out of playing video games. So, while I think the surveys that were done are a bit flawed with how broad their research pool is, I wholeheartedly agree with the idea that mobile/casual gamers are still gamers.

I spend most of my days working towards my Writing and Rhetoric degree at the University of Central Florida, but I spend a lot of my down time keeping up to date on the best TV, movies, and video games the industry has to offer. Here I put all of that extended time to use discussing each of them in-depth.

Gaming

CEO of Helldivers 2 commends the remarkable determination displayed by the community during the intense Sony showdown

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The experience for Helldivers 2 players has been quite turbulent lately, and we’re referring to a community that is accustomed to leaping from great heights into the most intense and terrifying battlegrounds imaginable. In the midst of a highly debated PSN account requirement for PC players and facing intense backlash, Sony has made a surprising reversal, yielding to the overwhelming force of public opinion. The CEO of Arrowhead, Johan Pilestedt, has displayed an intriguing attitude throughout this challenging period. He has shown remarkable composure, actively engaging with community managers and experiencing the difficulties they face firsthand.

Pilestedt expressed his admiration for the community’s determination and praised their ability to work together on Twitter, following Sony’s reversal. He sarcastically expressed gratitude towards Sony for their “prompt and efficient choice to make PSN linking optional.”

In the future, Pilestedt expressed his vision of working closely with PlayStation and the players to establish a groundbreaking benchmark for the concept of a live game. The aim is to foster a strong partnership between developers and the community, ultimately resulting in an unparalleled gaming experience.

What are your thoughts on the commotion surrounding Helldivers 2? What are your thoughts on Sony’s involvement, Pilestedt’s attitude, and the community’s reaction? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

 

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Gaming

Hands On: Stellar Blade Nails PS5 New Game + Mechanics

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Stellar Blade is an exceptional game that demands your attention. However, it truly reached new heights after the review embargo was lifted, thanks to the introduction of New Game +. In our review of Stellar Blade for the PS5, we found that one minor drawback was the inability to replay the game. Unfortunately, during the pre-launch period, this author had to start over from the beginning.

Thankfully, none of you will have encountered that problem since the title was updated just hours before its release to include the highly anticipated New Game + feature. This new game+ mode is truly exceptional. As expected, all of your abilities and unlocks carry forward, but the Korean developer has gone above and beyond by expanding Eve’s skill tree with new abilities.

The addition of these new abilities doesn’t exactly revolutionize the game, but it does introduce some fresh tools to your arsenal, ensuring that the gameplay remains engaging. Combine this with some clever enemy placement variations, and you’re practically guaranteed an enjoyable replay. In addition, all of the Exospines and Gear that you unlock in New Game + receive upgrades, enabling you to craft even more powerful builds for Eve.

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Additionally, the number of outfits has been doubled. The skins in the game offer a variety of designs, with some featuring unique custom details. Unlocking all of them again adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. In our comprehensive guide, we have meticulously cataloged all the different outfits and their corresponding unlock methods. So, even if you haven’t quite reached the highly anticipated New Game + stage, you can still get a sneak peek at what lies ahead by following the link provided.

Our only critique of the mode is that the difficulty scaling could be improved. You may find yourself becoming seriously overpowered, even in hard mode. Feeling an immense sense of power is undeniably satisfying. However, it would be even more captivating if Shift Up were to delve deeper into these concepts and introduce additional difficulty levels for New Game +, thereby enhancing the game’s replayability.

It would be great if the developer could consider adding additional modes to enhance replayability. A speed run option could add an exciting element to the game. Rarely does a campaign exhibit the level of tightness and replayability found in Stellar Blade. Shift Up has truly crafted something exceptional, leaving us eager for additional content to be added as the release continues to evolve.

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Have you begun your new game + playthrough of Stellar Blade yet? What are your impressions of the mode, and are there any other post-release additions you would like to see implemented? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

 

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Gaming

Helldivers 2 has quickly become one of Sony’s top-selling games in the US

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Helldivers 2 proved to be a surprising success, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. As per Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it currently ranks as Sony’s seventh highest grossing game in the United States to date, trailing behind a trio of Spider-Man titles, a couple of God of War games, and Ghost of Tsushima. It’s only been on the market for less than three months and is not even being sold at full price.

According to Piscatella, a significant factor contributing to the game’s success is its release on PC. He mentioned that, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, the game has consistently ranked first in terms of active users on Steam in the US since its launch, including April. The release of Helldivers 2 on both PlayStation and PC has been an extraordinary triumph.

He stated that Helldivers 2 has already become the seventh highest-grossing Sony-published game in history. Without a PC, it would not currently be considered one of the top 20 games. While I’m emphasizing the success of the PC SKU, it’s important to note that I’m not disregarding the success of the PlayStation SKU. I just wanted to clarify that. This launch has proven to be incredibly successful.

Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Sony made it clear that they would be launching their live service-style titles simultaneously on both the PS5 and PC. The success of this approach will undoubtedly strengthen their strategic vision. It will be intriguing to witness if the company reveals official sales figures in the near future, as the title appears to be one of the platform holder’s most successful sellers to date.

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