Gaming
Modern Classics: The Traditional Games that are Better Played Online
Playing is something which not only dates back to the dawn of civilization, but which predates human culture entirely. Playing is a behavior that has been widespread among animals of all kinds for as far back as we can tell, with games having a critically important role in many societies and groups as a way of learning and entertaining. As a race, humans have refined play and created myriad games, each of which has its own set of rules and objectives.
Many of these games, which may have originated as teaching mechanisms or tools for establishing meaningful social interactions, have become formalized over the years to the point where there are accepted physical versions that can be purchased in shops. More recently, many of the games we know and love have started to appear online. There are multiple benefits to playing online, including removing the hassle of setting up physical components and re-setting for each subsequent game. Almost all the classic games that most of us remember playing as children are now available in some format or another to play online.
Board Games
Many of us have fond, or even not so fond, memories of playing board games with friends and families as children. These games can be fun, but to play them physically requires multiple factors coming together. Someone needs to own the game; all players need to co-ordinate to find a time when everyone is free; there needs to be a venue where players can get together. Playing board games online removes these constraints and makes those games accessible to everyone whenever and wherever they feel like playing. There are multiple ways to play board games online. These might include video chat which, while still requiring each player to own a copy of the game, mean that everyone can join in no matter where they are. At the other end of the scale are tabletop simulators, where a specially adapted 3D version of your favorite board game can be accessed online. These can be challenging for beginners, especially as most do not automatically enforce the rules of play, but the huge range of content and immersive graphics make these an inspiring choice. There are also various apps that offer multi-player modes, such as the popular Words with Friends, which is an online variation of Scrabble.
Blackjack
The card game blackjack has been around for several centuries. While its exact origins are unknown, it dates back at least as far as 1700, where “Vingt-et-Un was known to be a popular game in French casinos. The game evolved throughout America in the 19th century and became a stalwart of 20th century casinos across the world. In the 21st century, we are increasingly seeing people turning to the virtual world to play blackjack. For many, one major downside of playing blackjack is the risk associated with the game, but with free online blackjack readily available, players can play purely for fun, without having to worry about incurring any losses.
Early online limitations included a noticeable lack of the atmosphere that makes casino blackjack so exciting. However, over the past decade or more, technology has advanced to the point where live play online casinos can virtually replicate the brick and mortar experience, while bringing all the advantages of online play to the table.
Chess
The online world provides an ideal environment for chess players of all levels and abilities. Beginners can access tutorials and practice games to help them learn the intricacies of one of the oldest and most complex games in existence. Experts can find opponents of a similar level to challenge and motivate them. Online tournaments offer all the anticipation and excitement of physical tournaments but from the comfort of your own home. Chat facilities allow for comparing notes without distracting other players in group mode, and the sites offering online chess will typically allow for customization on the interface to facilitate a pleasing viewing experience.
Poker
Mastering online poker requires some slightly different knowledge and skills to playing face-to-face, but essentially the game is the same and many people re choosing to play online for the convenience, ease of access and ability to play multiple opponents at any time. Online poker players need to spend some time learning the sorts of tells they might see if they are to be successful in beating their opponents. Things like betting patterns and speed of play are necessarily more important than body language when playing online unless it is a video game where the opponents can be seen. Strong, adaptable poker players will be able to master both styles of play.
Bingo
Online bingo is one of the most popular games in the world and only continues to increase in popularity year on year. The game is increasingly attracting new audiences, with the demographic shifting to a younger bracket and with more men choosing to get involved. Online play initially caused doubts among hardened bingo enthusiasts, who worried that the social aspect of the game would not translate. However, the vast proliferation of online bingo sites shows that is not the case. In fact, facilities such as live chat and chatroom games can make online bingo more sociable than a visit to the bingo hall, where play is mostly conducted in silence.
While some people are often reluctant to give up their traditional games, adapting to online play has numerous advantages across almost every sector. Bringing online play to the table ultimately increases the times when playing is accessible and opens the door to multiple new opponents and playing styles.
In accordance with Bethesda’s previous announcement, the developer has now made available a new PS5 patch for Fallout 4. This patch focuses on enhancing the game’s graphical options and includes additional fixes and improvements. The update is now ready for download on PS5, with a compact size of just 189.4MB. You’ll have it downloaded and installed in no time.
Bethesda hasn’t yet released any official patch notes for version 1.000.002. However, players have already started sharing their findings, suggesting that the resolution and frame rate settings can now be adjusted separately on the title screen. Now you have the option to select from three different target frame rates (30 fps, 40 fps for select TVs, and 60 fps), along with the choice of either a native 4K resolution or a dynamic one. The upcoming update will address the visual bugs that have been reported in the PS5 version.
Update: Bethesda has provided the patch notes for PS5 update 1.10.985:
Display settings for Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5
Thanks to your valuable feedback, we have successfully incorporated the feature that allows you to adjust the graphic quality and performance. We strongly suggest sticking with the default settings, but now you have the option to customize your preferences to better suit your playstyle and display.
Setting the frame rate target
You have the option to select between 30, 40, and 60 (default) for the Frame Rate Target. It’s worth mentioning that in order to choose 40, your display needs to have the capability to handle 120 Hz.
Emphasizing Visual and Performance Prioritization
Now you have the option to select between Visuals and Performance (default) in order to uphold the frame rate target. If you opt for a Frame Rate Target of 60, it is advisable to choose the Performance option. Both modes have the ability to dynamically adjust internal resolution as scenes or actions become more intense.It is important to remember that both modes can only be adjusted from the main menu.
Bug Fixes
- General stability improvements
- Fixed visual issue with certain image spaces
- Auto HDR is re-enabled (Xbox Series S|X)
- Fixed issue where reserved space was not displayed correctly in load order menu (Xbox Series S|X)
- Fixed issue with character name field when in widescreen mode. (PC)
- Fixed an issue that occasionally caused bundles to not fully download and could cause a crash
- Fixed an issue with material swaps
- Fixed an issue with load order that would break DLC until a restart after downloading mods (PlayStation 5)
- Fixed an issue that would occasionally cause a crash if you returned to the Main Menu with queued mods still downloading (PlayStation 5)
- Fixed an issue that could cause the Creation Club menu to not appear (Microsoft Store)
- Fixed a crash that could occur when connecting to the network after a suspend/resume with the network disabled (Xbox One)
Creations Fixes
- Fixed missing art issue with certain Creations
Gaming
Helldivers are angry at Arrowhead because the community manager was fired without due process
Throughout history, it has become evident that, in the face of tyranny, those who cherish liberty and democracy will stop at nothing to defend them. They will fight relentlessly, using every last round of ammunition and shedding the final drop of blood. In a stunning turn of events, it appears that developer Arrowhead is facing a potential revolution, as previously loyal Helldivers 2 players who once supported the developer are now expressing their outrage. They passionately advocate for justice and the inclusion of the undemocratically dismissed community manager, who has affectionately been nicknamed “General” Spitz, into the official in-game lore.
In typical fashion, an overnight Change.org petition (courtesy of RPS) has garnered nearly 4,500 signatures at the time of writing. This is an attempt to make Arrowhead reevaluate their decision to let go of Spitz, a community manager who has been an integral part of the community since the game’s release. In the midst of the PC/PSN account linking debacle, Spitz, like a game critic sensing the winds of fate, rallied the community on Discord (as seen on Twitter) to express their discontent through reviews, refunds, and other means. It enhances our influence in the discussions with Sony. They completely disregard our discord.
After the chaos subsided the following day (yesterday), Spitz addressed the community, describing this action as “almost.” It hasn’t exactly resulted in their termination. Shortly after, a final transmission was confirmed where Spitz disclosed that they had been released, expressing their resilience by saying, “Every war has its casualties.”
On May 7, 2024, around 11:45 PST, the Helldivers Discord community made an interesting discovery. It seems that the community manager, Spitz, had been unexpectedly removed from his position, and any evidence of his previous involvement in the discord was completely wiped out. This incident seems to have ignited a revolution, with Helldivers demanding the immediate reinstatement of Spitz and his immortalization in the game for his self-sacrifice.
“We strongly advocate for the official canonization of General Spitz in Helldivers lore. Embracing the spirit of liberation. Supporting democracy. For the betterment of the game and its devoted community.
It’s interesting to see how this situation unfolds. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt himself commends the determination of players in the Sony showdown, but there seems to be a hint of contradiction here. “General” Spitz provided us with some thought-provoking words to ponder: “I was well aware of the potential consequences when I made my statement about refunding and altering reviews; nevertheless, I remain steadfast in my position. I fulfilled my role as a representative of the community, just as I was expected to.
Spitz is no longer the Community Manager.
byu/Tabub inHelldivers
Gaming
Ciri from The Witcher expresses her hope that fans will give Liam Hemsworth a fair chance in his portrayal of Geralt
Netflix’s The Witcher has been at the forefront of the recent trend of video game IP transitioning to TV, alongside HBO’s The Last of Us and Amazon’s Fallout adaptations. In 2022, it was announced that Henry Cavill would be stepping away from his role after Season 3, making way for Australian actor Liam Hemsworth to become The White Wolf in Season 4.
In an interview with Collider (courtesy of Eurogamer), Freya Allen, the actress who plays Ciri in the series, has reached out to fans who may find the change to be a challenge. Allen expressed his view of the situation, acknowledging that it may not be ideal and that fans can be quite critical. He mentioned that he doesn’t want to speak on behalf of Hemsworth, but based on his understanding, it seems like Hemsworth is aiming to inject some heartfelt elements into the project. I’m eagerly anticipating his performance after all that training. And he’s truly a delightful individual. I hope people give him a fair chance, you know?
It’s unclear why Henry Cavill decided to depart from the show, despite his previous commitment to stay for the entire seven seasons if needed. Netflix has announced that The Witcher has been renewed for a fifth season, which will be the final installment of the series.
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