How roster changes affect team performance and betting odds

While it’s true that incoming new video games players can bring fresh skills and energy, these moves can influence the odds for those betting online even if a team’s ranking remains largely unchanged. This “hype” factor can be costly for bettors if they get swept away in the often false idea that a team may be setting itself up to win based on nothing other than a transfer. The same is true of roster changes in gaming. Just because a player is benched in favor of another teammate, this doesn’t necessarily mean the team will win, even if the odds shorten as a result.

Real-world example – FaZe’s signing of Karrigan and Twistzz in 2021

A good example of why punters betting online should always be careful when backing teams based on hires or rehires is FaZe’s signing of karrigan and Twistzz in 2021. Gaming sensation Finn “Karrigan” Andersen returned to FaZe as in-game leader (IGL), joining the just-signed Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken from Team Liquid to form a fresh line-up designed to pull FaZe out of a terrible six-game run in which the team had only won once.

The hype surrounding the new signings caused the odds on FaZe to shorten ahead of a match-up at the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2021 tournament against Team Liquid, whose odds were affected negatively due to Twistzz’s departure (despite his replacement, Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, being a well-experienced IGL and notoriously efficient with the Arctic Warfare Police sniper rifle). Even though CS hub HLTV ranked Team Liquid globally at 7th, ten places ahead of FaZe at 17th, FaZe’s odds shortened ahead of the confrontation based on the fact it had signed new players. FaZe entered the match as the favorite, with odds of 1.88 compared to Team Liquid’s 2.13.

In hindsight, the outcome was inevitable. Team Liquid easily beat FaZe, winning the first map 16–11 and the second 16–6 for a 2–0 win. Ultimately, FaZe finished 9th in the tournament. Team Liquid finished third and took home a purse of $80,000 compared to FaZe’s earnings of $16,000.

Can roster changes positively affect a team’s performance?

In this example, all the gaming fans who’d ignored FaZe’s ranking and backed the team based on nothing other than positive transfer news lost their money. The movement in odds would have also proved lethal for bettors who maybe don’t follow CS that closely and arrived to wager on the match seeing FaZe as the favorite.

While this is a good example of how you should always look at facts instead of getting swept up in the hype surrounding news of transfer changes on major teams, careful bettors who assess stats over time will find that roster changes definitely can positively affect a team’s chances of winning, but that increased performance is far from certain based on nothing more than transfers and roster changes.

Writing for Pinnacle, Adam Boothe assessed three performance indicators within video games (average kill-death ratio (KD) of all five team players, map win percentage, and HLTV ranking) of the top 20 HLTV teams from January to November 2021. All but one of these teams made roster changes in this timeframe. Each new roster was assessed over a six-month period separated into three sections: 90 days preceding the prior iteration’s last map together; the first 90 days after the new player’s first map within the team; and the first 180 days after that first map.

The results showed that only 12 player moves in video games resulted in an improved ranking at any time in the following six months and that there were just five instances where a team improved on all three indicators after 180 days. Every team that improved their rank over six months kept the new line-up intact when moving into the following year, but only 40% of teams that didn’t improve their ranking, despite boosting both map win rate and KD ratio, stayed together.

In other words, changing rosters is as much a gamble as betting on teams in the competition, even though a good signing or an intelligent change in a main line-up can push rankings higher.

Roster changes – believe the hype when betting?

Wrapping it up, bettors should do their homework before betting on a team based on nothing other than roster changes and new signings. Player moves generate headlines in the community, which can contribute to a hype effect that may lead to an unwarranted shortening of odds. Staying informed about player transfers is crucial, but watching a transfer’s impact on team performance over time is just as important when trying to pick winners. Competitive CS is a highly dynamic space, with player transfers and benchings all part of the game’s allure, but try to bet with your head rather than your heart. Just because your favorite player moved to another team a few weeks ago does not result in an inevitable win.

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The Allure of Retro Gaming

What is it about retro gaming that continues to captivate gamers of all ages? Part of the allure lies in the simplicity and purity of early video games. In a world where cutting-edge graphics and complex narratives dominate the gaming landscape, there’s a certain charm in revisiting games that prioritized gameplay above all else.

Nostalgia, of course, plays a central role.

Many adults today grew up playing classic titles on systems like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Genesis, or the Atari 2600. These games hold a special place in their hearts, and revisiting them is like flipping through an old photo album filled with memories of childhood adventures.

Moreover, retro gaming has an accessibility that modern gaming often lacks. The rules of classic games are straightforward, and the controls are simple. Anyone can pick up a classic controller and start playing without the need for lengthy tutorials or complicated button combinations. This accessibility makes retro games appealing to newcomers and veterans alike.

The Resurgence of Classic Titles

The resurgence of classic titles has been fueled by a combination of factors, including advancements in technology, the rise of online communities, and the efforts of game developers and publishers. Here’s how these elements have come together to breathe new life into retro gaming:

1. Emulation and Virtual Console Platforms: Emulation software and virtual console platforms have made it easier than ever to play classic games on modern hardware. Services like Nintendo’s Virtual Console, which allows players to download and play classic NES, SNES, and N64 titles on the Nintendo Switch, have been particularly successful.

2. Remakes and Remasters: Game developers have taken classic titles and given them a fresh coat of paint. Remakes and remasters like “Final Fantasy VII Remake” and “Resident Evil 2 Remake” have reimagined beloved games with modern graphics and gameplay while staying true to the essence of the originals.

3. Retro Mini Consoles: The release of miniaturized retro consoles, such as the NES Classic Edition and Sega Genesis Mini, has been a major driver of the retro gaming revival. These consoles come pre-loaded with a selection of classic titles and offer an authentic gaming experience.

4. Crowdfunding and Independent Developers: Independent game developers and crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter have enabled the creation of new games inspired by retro aesthetics and gameplay. These indie titles capture the spirit of classic games while introducing fresh ideas and concepts.

5. Online Communities and Speedrunning: Online communities dedicated to retro gaming have thrived, fostering a sense of camaraderie among enthusiasts. Speedrunning, in which players attempt to complete games as quickly as possible, has also gained popularity, breathing new life into older titles.

The Influence of Nostalgia on Game Design

Nostаlgiа not only drives thе revivаl оf сlаssiс titles but аlso influences modern gаme design. Mаny contempоrаry gаmes pаy homаge tо thеir retrо predeсessоrs in vаriоus wаys:

Retro-Inspired Aesthеtics: Gаmes like “Shovel Knight” аnd “Cuрheаd” embrасe retrо рixel аrt аnd аnimаtion styles, evoking thе lооk аnd feel оf сlаssiс titles.

Chiptunе Music: Chiptunе music, chаrаcterized by thе use оf retrо sound chips, hаs mаde а comebаck in modern gаme soundtrаcks, аdding а nostаlgic еlеmеnt tо nеw gаmes.

Gаmeplаy Mechаnics: Sоme modern gаmes incоrpоrаte gаmeplаy mechаnics reminiscent оf сlаssiс titles, such аs chаllenging plаtfоrming оr simple yet аddictive gаmeplаy loops.

Eаster Eggs аnd References: Develoрers оften inсlude rеfеrеncеs tо сlаssiс gаmes аs Eаster eggs оr hidden secrets in thеir titles, аppeаling tо plаyers’ nostаlgiа.

Spirituаl Successоrs: Sequels оr spirituаl successоrs tо сlаssiс gаmes аre designed tо cаpture thе essence оf thе оriginаls whilе introduсing contempоrаry improvements.

The Impact on the Gaming Industry

Thе resurgence оf rеtro gаming hаs hаd а prоfound impаct оn thе gаming industry. It hаs lеd tо а grеаtеr аppreciаtiоn fоr gаming histоry, inspired innovаtive gаmе dеsign, аnd creаted new opportunities fоr develoрers аnd рublishers. Here аrе some key wаys in which thе rеtro gаming revivаl hаs influenсed thе industry:

Preservаtiоn оf Gаming Histоry: Thе rеnеwеd intеrеst in сlаssiс gаmes hаs prоmpted effоrts tо preserve videо gаmе histоry. Аrchives, museums, аnd preservаtiоn рrojects work tо ensure thаt vintаge gаmes аrе аccеssiblе tо future gеnеrаtiоns.

New Mаrket Oppоrtunities: Thе success оf mini rеtro cоnsоles аnd rе-rеlеаsеs hаs creаted а luсrаtive mаrket fоr сlаssiс gаmes. Рublishers hаvе rеаlizеd thе pоtentiаl fоr reissuing thеir bаck cаtаlogs, providing new revenue streаms.

Divеrsity in Gаme Development: Indеpеndеnt develoрers hаvе embrаced rеtro аesthеtics аnd gаmеplаy, leаding tо а diverse rаnge оf gаmes thаt cаter tо vаrious tаstes аnd рreferences.

Niсhe Communities: Niсhe communitiеs оf rеtro gаmеrs hаvе flourished, fostering а sense оf belоnging аnd shаrеd pаssiоn fоr сlаssiс titles.

Creаtive Inspirаtiоn: Thе blending оf rеtro аnd modern gаmе dеsign elements hаs spаrked creаtivity in thе industry, resulting in unique аnd innovаtive gаmes.

Cоnclusiоn

Thе rеtro gаming revivаl is more thаn just а trend; it’s а testаment tо thе enduring power оf nostаlgiа аnd thе timеlеss аppeаl оf сlаssiс gаmes. Whethеr you’rе а seаsоned gаmеr lооking tо relive thе pаst or а nеwcomеr eаger tо explore gаming’s roots, rеtro gаming оffers а world оf timеlеss аdventures. As technology cоntinues tо аdvаnce, оne thing remаins cleаr: thе сlаssiсs nеvеr truly gо оut оf stylе, аnd thеir influence оn thе gаming industry is here tо stаy. Retrо gаming isn’t just а blаst from thе pаst; it’s а vibrаnt pаrt оf thе present аnd future оf gаming.

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The GamStop scheme closes its members’ access to all gambling sites that operate under a UK or Maltese licence. Thereby freeing up a significant chunk of the player’s free time. What to spend it on? Many players may still not be able to resist the numerous promotional offers of online slots not registered with GamStop on the Noukcasino website and take advantage of this method of circumventing restrictions.

But there is also a category of users who made the choice to join the self-exclusion programme consciously. These players have freed up their time to discover the fascinating world of video games. The abundance and variety of this format of entertainment is every bit as great as online gambling. The key difference is that there are no stakes. But at the same time, video games offer many benefits for gambling addicts. In this article, you will learn about the benefits that are open to this category of players.

Save money

Gambling addiction often leads to economic hardship. This is usually the main reason for activating GamStop. In this way, a person tries to minimise his or her gambling expenses.

That is why video games will be the best alternative for gambling addicts. This type of game does not require regular deposits to be able to play. Expenses in video games are usually a one time cost and include the purchase of the game. Then there are no additional charges on a regular basis, which means you can play indefinitely and for free. In addition, today there is a huge list of free video games, which will allow you to get a vivid emotion from the unique game story without spending a penny. 

Of course, we should not forget about the additional features, resources, bonuses and unique artifacts in some games that can only be purchased for real money. But as practice shows, to resist the temptation of buying improvements in a video game is much easier. Thereby making this type of game much more economical.

For GameStop players, this is a great opportunity to find a new and interesting entertainment format that will save money while having a great time playing the game.

Vivid emotions

These days, video games have reached such a high level that the game seems, at times, to have become a reality. Amazing graphics, the most realistic 3D animation and a detailed storyline can attract people of all ages and tastes. It’s fair to say that online casinos offer a slightly monotonous game format. Whereas video games open up the mystery of digital reality with a variety of gameplay features, an open world and the ability to interact with other users without taking a break from the gameplay.

Of course, GamStop players were attracted to online slots for more than just spinning the reel. They liked the spirit of excitement to win something, get a bonus or a valuable prize from the casino. Video games also have these opportunities. Here they are represented by unique items, achievement rewards and unique in-game gifts, much like a casino.

But unlike an online casino, a video game allows you to experience a wider range of emotions, depending on the game genre you choose. There is a huge choice for the user: RPG, Shooters, Platformers, Strategies, Moba, Battle Royal, Horror and many more.

No more secrets

GamStop players often become more secretive and distant from their relatives because of their gambling addiction. The desire for an adrenaline rush encourages them to look for every possible way to make a deposit. It is not uncommon for gambling addicts to go into debt or even steal money for this purpose, but they cannot admit it to their families. Hence a lot of secrets, secrecy and reticence.

In the case of video games, there is no such problem. A person can easily talk about their new hobby, share their impressions of the game, and even discuss genre preferences with their peers. In the 21st century, playing video games can not be afraid of getting a stigma, as it happens with gamblers. On the contrary, there are gatherings of gaming clubs, formed societies of interest, where it is easy to make new acquaintances and there is no need to hide your preferences.

Playing video games is more convenient, enjoyable and does not incur anxiety for the player. Moreover, it is a great alternative in the fight against gambling addiction.

Last word

Video games are not as problematic for the player as online casinos and sportsbooks. In addition, video games allow you to develop unique skills, train your brain and logical thinking while having maximum fun and relaxation. It’s currently one of the best ways for GameStop punters to fill their free time and reduce their desire to get around the imposed restrictions.

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Investing in Bitcoin is a gamble, and you can use the cryptocurrency to play video games.

With this here is a guide of the best bitcoin games available for gamblers to choose from. They feature a simplistic with easy to use features with a flexible payment method in terms of bitcoin cryptocurrency.

Cryptopop

CryptoPop is among the most popular crypto cell phone games because of its simplicity. The game operates mainly like a game of candy-crush. You are needed to pop some bubbles so as to be awarded the crypto. The more you pop, the more crypto you’ll receive. The game is a fun enough puzzler, and you’re going to be able to do it without having to devote too much energy to it.

You are paid through coin base by the game, and this payment method is among the safest exchanges in crypto currently.  Following the method allows you to easily send the credits to other wallets from your own. This is a block chain game that pays out Ethereum and Popcoin, but they plan on expanding to other big tokens like Lite coin and Dash.

Crypto Planet

Crypto Planet has an addition of more gameplay apart from a little puzzler. This block chain game has you explore a crypto planet and mine crystals. Like various cell phone games, this game relies on your passing of time. You have to let the digger run on crystals for a couple of hours and then come back to pick your crystals. The more crystals you mine, the more space chests you can buy. These items are they that you get cryptocurrency in for most cases.

This block chain game has an in-game wallet where your coins are stored, but your crypto can then be moved to any other wallet. Bitcoin Bounce works well as it has different gameplay, and is very flexible on how you want to receive your crypto.

Bitcoin Solitaire

 Bitcoin Solitaire is also among the best crypto games for mobiles, this is because it has the combination of the game people like and the allowance to earn bitcoin. This is a standard solitaire game but the faster you complete it, the more points you earn. You can then transfer these points into cryptocurrency via Coin base. This is a great game for mining crypto and it stands out from the crowd because of it.

Bitcoin Bounce

Bitcoin Bounce is a little different from a few of the others here, but it has a more direct system for rewarding you with crypto.  Instead of providing you with a minimal crypto every occasionally, this app permits your collection of that will enter you into a crypto raffle for each day that ends.  In as much as this implies you may not be awarded a crypto currency as you would for a prize, still you earn more.  The game is fairly easy for a player, your only requirement is grabbing many tickets while at the same time moving from one platform to another.

Alien Run

Alien Run deserves a spot on the best crypto games list for having a pretty different style of gameplay. In this mobile game, there are platforming levels that you run through, like the conventional 2 Dimension scroller. Every five levels you complete can earn you a fraction of bitcoin! There are multiple levels in this game, therefore earning by bits is possible during the progression.

Unlike the previous titles, this game is pretty engaging and needs your active input a bit more. If you are not into solitaire or tile matching games, then this one is the right choice for you.

Coin Hunt World

(CHW) which stands for Coin Hunt World is a play-to-earn/free-to-play mobile phone geo-location platform game which in Beta currently. Players can explore their actual area when looking for keys, which will be used in opening vaults. When a vault is opened the user is prompted with a trivia question. If  correctly answered within the required time frame, the user gets a reward.

Currently users or gamers get a reward in real Ethereum or Bitcoin, and also in game products such as crafting items and avatar skins. Cubie Blueprints are planned to become NFTs.

It is currently available in the US and Canada. IOS users living in other countries have access to a daily trivia question while awaiting release.

Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity is mainly a battling and a trading game that permits players to pick, raise, breed, trade, and battle creatures called “axies” , which have a  digitization as NFTs. New players need to purchase at least three axies to begin playing. The company’s estimation showed that the regular gamer spends an average of US$400 after the eighteen months launch.

The game uses a “pay-to-earn” model, also called “pay-to-play-to-earn” model where participants can earn a token which is traded on Binance as an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency. Players may also exchange some in-game items like NFTs. Axie Infinity permits gamers to withdraw their tokens after  fourteen days.

Cropbytes

Cropbytes is a crypto game which you can download from android or IOS. Earning  crypto coins is possible when players participate in this game. However,  an online wallet known as Tron is interested with this game.  So you can exchange these coins to get bitcoin.

League of Kingdoms

League of Kingdoms’ is a strategy game in the MMO where users battle for dominion. You can own and trade your digital assets via NFT technology fully. You will participate in game governance through transparent voting and congress system.

The Sandbox 

The Sandbox is a gaming ecosystem with a metaverse that is Ethereum-based metaverse where gamers can monetize,

create and share, in-world gaming experience and assets. Pixwol is the game creator, and Sandbox has a design to disengage the conventional market in which platforms control and own content generated by the user. This provision limits the gamers’ and creators’ rights for the good of both parties.

Conclusion

The gaming industry has already incorporated Bitcoin, which has become the world’s leading cryptocurrency. More and more people are choosing to invest money in Bitcoin. Although the value of the cryptocurrency can fluctuate, at the time of writing, it is trading at over 100% above the level at the beginning of 2021. It is a gamble investing in BTC, and  the cryptocurrency can be used in playing casino games.  As a player, you could use it. You could maintain the crypto like you like a relic in your wallet, or plant them as your best memories in gaming, or even rent it or sell it for some tokens to gamers who haven’t completed the challenge yet.

You can find more information about blockchain games in this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain_game

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A video game it is an interaction of user interface using electronic means such as using keyboard and generating a video display on a screen. They are accompanied by sounds which are delivered via headphones or speakers.

Early in the 1950s and late 1960s, the video games during those years were simple expansions of electronic games that used displays from large computers.

Constituents of a Video Game

To display the difference between electronic games, video games are basically considered to have a platform, the process player, the hardware that has the gaming elements and displaying the results in a video from to a display.

• Platform

Video games needs a platform which is a blend of electronic hardware and software to start operating.

Computer games refers to those games that are played interactively using a personal computer. A gaming computer is often recommended for gaming purposes since it uses high-performance components.

A home console is usually played when an electronic device that is connected to the same television and it is specifically built to play games using a willingly hardware environment.

A handheld console it is a small gaming device which is portable and can be gripped on user’s hand. Its features are a small screen, joystick, the console and buttons.

Arcade video game it applies to a game that is played on a specialized gaming device which only plays one game. These games most of the time has images and painted logos that relates to the game’s theme.

Browser game are identified based on the websites that they appear.

Mobile Game utilizes some of the features that are currently on the phone and not necessarily available in other gaming platforms.

Cloud gaming requires a basic laptop that is connected well to the internet and later connects to the cloud gaming provider.

VR Games (Virtual Reality) it requires the participants to use a special unit that is mounted on the head that gives screens and motion tracking immersing the player in a virtual environment.

Emulation games are only played if an emulator allows console games to be run in a virtual machine.

• Game Media

Games can only be extended with new content which are technically available as downloadable content.

• Input Devices

Video games can use different types of input devices to translate the human actions into the game. The common game controllers are the gamepads and joysticks.

• Display and Output

The graphics displayed by the game are usually followed by sound that is produced by interior speakers while the external speakers are connected to the platform.

Classification of Games

Video games just like other media forms, can be categorized in genres. Genres are classifications that define a work in categories. The following are major genres in Video Gaming:

Mode- Video game mode explains how many players can participate in the game at the same time. Zero player games means that there is limited interaction of players with the game itself.

Intent- The major purpose in creating video game is for entertainment aims. There is a list of games that are developed for other purposes other than entertainment. They include:

• Casual games that have been planned for easy accessibility and easy to understand.
• Educational games that have been mostly used in homes and classrooms to aid in teaching students and children. They have been designed to provide an interactive environment for educational purposes.
• Serious games are the ones that the entertainment purpose may be eradicated by other major purposes of the game. An instance of a serious game is Fitness games that inputs lot of physical exercise to encourage the player keep fit.
• Art game they have been developed to have a purpose of communicating a message or a story. Most of the art games are designed based on personal stories or experiences.

Content ratings- Just like films, games also do have content ratings whereby they target an age group or the one that is appropriate for the player. The rating system bodies include:

• ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board)- The board manages the games in the United States.
• PEGI (Pan European Game Information)- It oversees the games in United Kingdom.
• ACB (Australian Classification Board)- It covers the Australian parts using rates of G, PG and M. (General, Parental Guidance and Mature consecutively)
• CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization)- Rates the games in Japan.

Crusader Kings Video Game

The Crusader Kings video game is a strategy game which was developed by a company called the Paradox Development and it was later published in April 2004. The producer of the game he is called J. Andersson and he is still the programmer of the video game.

The background set of the game dates back in Europe in between 1066 and 1452. The game focuses on and individual who is trait-based whose aim is to grow and enrich their destiny.

Crusader King II was set in the middle ages and it was later released on February 2014. The game attracted more audience that contributed to more downloads and installation of the game hence the company earned a lot of profit. The game displays an education and genetic system and it is through which young people inherit traits, culture, religion from their guardians or parents.

Crusader King III it’s a continuation of Crusader King I and II and the game was released on September 2020 on Windows, Mac and Linux. The director is Henrik Fahraeus and it is published under Paradox Interactive. The characters in Crusader King III are 3D-displayed character than the previous one 2D portrait, and they are full-bodies. The game is accessible in two editions namely:

• Base Game Edition. It includes a base game and a bonus (Pre-order)
• Royal Edition which entails base game and an expansion permit.

The game at first was declinedby Australian Classification Board of which they complained on complications regarding on classification of the game. Later on it was cleared and released on September 7. The delayed release led to extension of the launching date to September 21.

Pros and Cons of Video Gaming in Large

Pros

1. Video games helps to increase the player’s visual abilities.
2. They enhance everyday skills
3. Video games aid in easing anxiety and depression. It acts as distraction of mind and get to interact with people and ease any mental illness.

Cons

1. It can result in people being violent. It may increase aggressive behavior among players.
2. The games can be more addictive
3. It may decrease the ability of the player to remain focused.

Conclusion

Video gaming since its invention has made a big impact in the society especially in helping people with anxiety. Additionally, the Crusader King I, II and III has been a game that the audience has appreciated and loved since its release. It is a highly recommended type of game.

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Crusader Kings 3 has an interesting story. The second game in the series turned out to be very popular, lived for more than eight years and eventually became one of the pillars of Paradox, which attracted a huge audience to the company’s games. But over the entire period of its existence, the game has grown simply to the point of indecency, and the number of DLCs released for it can be compared with the already mentioned The Sims, only the optimization was so-so, and the entry threshold remained extremely high. So the third part, in addition to the main tasks, had one more – to attract new players to the series without losing the old ones.

At the same time, neither the general concept nor the gameplay has changed much. You choose which dynasty to play (to it, of course, a state of one size or another is supposed to be) and the starting position, after which you go to gnaw out a place for yourself in the sun. The main goal is one – to prevent the destruction of the dynasty and the death of all its characters. The size of the state, its well-being, the state of the population and other factors are no longer so important.

No one, of course, will stop you from capturing half of Europe and regularly making friendly visits to Constantinople or Jerusalem – only the larger the state, the higher the chance to attract ill-wishers and end up with a dagger in the ribs or poison in the wine. And you may also have a peasant uprising, a war of independence with vassals, or your ruler may go completely insane, starting to talk with spirits or hitting religion.

To prevent newbies from going crazy with the amount of information, Paradox has added a system of contextual clues, as well as a full-fledged encyclopedia with almost all terms. Practically. Can’t figure out what kind of “morganatic marriage” your neighbor wants to make? Welcome to Google, because the game itself will not explain this. Fortunately, such moments are rather an exception to the rule, and CK 3 will introduce you to the basic terms on its own (so if this is your first global strategy, I highly recommend training).

There are many things to watch out for in CK3. You have four key resources (gold, prestige, piety and dynasty points), a whole tree of cultures (they play the role of technologies), there are many parameters and skills of the characters, which determine how you interact with them. And your protégé ruler also has five skill trees, a stress jackal, and a system of relationships with other characters.

And almost all of the above works as a basis for … role-playing. Yes, there is role-playing in Crusader Kings, and sometimes there is more of it than in other games, the creators of which call their creations “role-playing”. CK3 goes far in this sense: you not only need to act out the character of a particular leader with a certain set of perks, but also regularly adjust to the changing situation on the map, as well as pay attention to the change of government leaders.

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In the Global Offensive, Valve has added so-called “operations” – game events that take place at regular intervals that allow players to receive medals and exclusive skins for weapons. Skins, as in Dota 2 and Team Fortress, players are free to create themselves, as well as sell and buy them on the marketplace. Besides creating skins, players can create their own maps.

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But in DCG no one does such nonsense – it is much easier to come up with a storyline about several superheroes looking for pentrite explosives in half an hour, diluting all this with clichés that are boring to a toothache and “unexpected” twists. The amount of pentrite being searched for is impressive, given that a few grams of this substance is enough to blow up a car and is very sensitive to impacts. But this did not bother the guys from DCG, they drew whole barrels, which are successfully blown up by the brave military.

Everything is run by a mysterious leader with a laptop and a phone, handing out directions to the right and left, and also sending a couple of people to war with the armies of terrorists. Despite periodically pop-up indications that, they say, this mission is based on real events, it is difficult for an adequate person to believe in the frenzy on the screen.

Imagine, for example, a mission to capture a terrorist who suddenly discovers a “tail” and runs away on foot to his base, located five hundred meters from the scene. The authors are somewhat similar to the hero of Rowan Atkinson, who tried to restore Whistler’s painting without being able to draw. They carefully studied the gameplay of the Call of Duty series, after which they began to “draw” their own game, taking expensive and good paints from DICE.

The gameplay of Medal of Honor: Warfighter is boring and linear, the missions are narrow corridors, diluted with pretentious cutscenes. From time to time, absolutely awkward moments are inserted into the template process of passing, reminiscent of episodes from GTA – wanted by terrorists in identical black cars, fighters hide in special travel “pockets”, waiting for a dangerous car to pass. Everything else is stubbornly copied from other games of the genre, but, as it happens, a typo creeps into the photocopy and the output turns out to be very comical.

For some reason, the standard techniques for breaking doors and stripping in the slo-mo style were supplied with unnecessary tinsel – the player can earn additional tools for breaking doors, and their meaning is not clear. A regular “free” kick is more effective than anything else, and even faster – in advanced versions, the fighters for some reason shoot a couple of times at the lock from a shotgun, lay explosives, but in the end it all ends with the same kick. More suitable for some kind of comic show than an action movie that claims to be realistic.

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The Diablo 2 remaster was officially unveiled at BlizzCon on the night of February 19-20. Blizzard has already opened pre-orders for the re-release of the second part on the Battle.net service.

The game will receive a new modern engine and will run at 60 frames. The developers will not change the gameplay. Players will be able to switch between old and new graphics, use gamepads and transfer progress from one platform to another.

The remaster will be released on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and Switch in 2021.

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However, a huge amount of work has been done, so it is wrong to call the PC version of GTA V an ordinary port – it lasts for a full-fledged re-release. Of course, all controls were redesigned to accommodate the use of a mouse and keyboard. And if at certain moments parting with the gamepad can be upsetting (for example, when you find yourself at the helm of a helicopter), then in most cases everything is exactly the opposite: surfing the local analogue of the global network or shooting from a car is more convenient with the help of the traditional PC bundle.

Not without new content: as if apologizing for several transfers, Rockstar added an exclusive radio station The Lab FM with thirteen newest tracks, a Rockstar Editor video editor and Director Mode. Machinima fans had high hopes for the latter two, but those who expected to see an analogue of the long-standing The Movies inside GTA V will be disappointed.

Rockstar Editor is the advanced replay feature from Part 4. With it, you can change the camera angle, record and edit game footage, apply filters and music, and then publish your imperishable images on YouTube and the Social Club. Well, the “Director Mode” is an add-on to the Rockstar Editor, which allows you to set the desired conditions such as the time of day, the weather and the interest of the police, and then play as one of hundreds of characters, including animals and birds (the list of “actors” is replenished as you progress through the story campaign ).

Alas, the possibilities of interacting with other characters in the Director’s Mode remained almost the same as in the regular game. So if you were hoping to place the actors around the set, give each of them multi-pass instructions, and then yell into the loudspeaker “Motor!”, Then this is clearly the wrong address. Nevertheless, all these restrictions are unlikely to stop real talent – even the debut video, created by order of Rockstar itself, can serve as a good demonstration of the potential of new instruments.

And, of course, stunning graphics – the main pride of the team responsible for transferring the fifth part to computers. If you do not compare the two pictures and rely only on memory, then it may seem that compared to the nextgen version, the changes are insignificant – well, the grass is thicker and the smoothing is more pleasant. But if you run GTA V on PC at maximum settings, and then change to the version for PS4 / Xbox One, then she will seem like Franklin’s terrible aunt. Tessellation, DirectX 11, MSAA and many other words written on your video card box will take on meaning and shine with their pristine beauty.

On the other hand, so that this splendor does not fall below 60 frames / s at 1080p at maximum settings, you need to present a very powerful computer: the one specified in the recommended system requirements will not be enough. And if you want to snap in 4K the same screenshots as Rockstar on the website, prepare a real starship.

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