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Is Free To Play The Future ?

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There are a lot of predictions going around at the moment about the future of gaming and what platforms will grow and which will die out in the coming years. I’ve read several articles that are predicting that the next batch of consoles will be the last as the big players in the console game are not making money on hardware sales anymore and with several high profile, high quality free to play titles doing very well at the moment there does feel like there many be a change in the air over the next few years. Handheld systems like the PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS are also really having a hard time at the moment due to the rise of smart phones and tablets, but also the lack of software for these handheld systems has been quite alarming over recent months especially for the Vita. Although sales of the 3DS still remain quite strong in Japan.

There have been a couple of very interesting pieces of news that caught my eye over the last few weeks and although not really related to free to play they were both about the PC platform where free to play is currently at, the first was one showing that the PC was the fastest growing platform at the moment and another from EA showing that they made more money from the PC than they did from the PS3 in the first quarter of the year. The news that the PC is the fastest growing platform at the moment probably Isn’t all that surprising as we are so late in the console cycle at the moment with only Nintendo with its Wii U are anything like close to releasing something new into the market. This along with big releases like Diablo 3 and superb free to play titles like Tribes Ascend, Dota 2, World of Tanks and Blacklight:Retribution have drawn many people into PC gaming over the last few months. The second piece of news from EA was much more surprising, EA have almost shown distane towards PC gaming for many years, but with the launch of Origin and big titles like Battlefield 3 and Mass Effect 3 selling very well they are certainly taking the platform more seriously now.

The Excellent And Free Blacklight:Retribution

For many years free to play games were sniffed at for being low budget games that generally weren’t very good and most of them weren’t , but this year has seen a real turnaround in attitudes towards these games after several high quality releases. I’ve spent a reasonable amount of time playing Tribes Ascend, Blacklight:Retribution and the soon to be free to play Path of Exile over the last few months and they are all very high quality pieces of software that you really wouldn’t mind parting with some of your hard earned money with to play. Blacklight feels as tight as any Call of Duty multiplayer with the added bonuses of optimized mouse and keyboard controls, a proper field of view for PC and direct x11 visuals that show up any Call of Duty game for the 10 year old game engine that it is running on. Tribes Ascend feels just as good to play, but in a very different way with big open maps and fast paced action its like a throw back to the games of ten years ago and reminds me of playing Unreal Tournament on the low gravity maps.

I think there is a lot of fear in the industry towards free to play games and what they could involve into especially from the big console game developers who don’t really understand or trust the business model of free to play. Developing games is a pretty risky business at the moment with the current world financial climate and games sales falling year on year so investing millions on developing a game that then under performs could be the studios last. So investing millions in a game that’s free to play sounds insane right ?, maybe not. Games like Blacklight and Tribes have a long term business model in mind and not a year after year reboot like many console franchise games that also incur year on year development costs that eat into there profits. Tribes and Blacklight will not have these year on year development costs and have made a game that will be played, added to and supported for many years to come. For course they have to make money somehow and they do it with equipment upgrade packs that are available on Steam and small micro transactions and many people buy these not only for the equipment upgrades, but to support the game almost as a show of respect to the developer for releasing the game as a free to play. Tribes recently passed one million registered players mark a few weeks ago and even if only half of those players buy the $20 starter pack upgrade off Steam, well you do the maths, buts that a pretty nice chunk of cash back to the game developer Hi-Res Studios and that is only in the first year of release. However many people are now starting to say that free to play is just becoming ‘play to win’, a term used for people who buy the equipment upgrade packs and then have an advantage when they play online against people who just have the vanilla game.

Crytek’s Warface Will Be Free To Play

There is no reason why the free to play business model can’t work on consoles too with a bit of planning. The distribution model will of course need to be digital which wouldn’t be a problem for the big console players and as long as console manufacturers supply their machines with reasonably sized hard drives then storage of the games shouldn’t be a problem either. The big players will no doubt take a lot of convincing that free to play can work for them, but the makers of the Crysis games Crytek are seeing the potential and are working on their own free to play game called Warface which is due to be released next year. Using CryENGINE 3 this could be the most polished looking free to play game yet.

Free to play got me thinking about a friend of mine who loves his Call of Duty games on the Xbox 360 and the money that he pays year on year to play those games. Living in the UK so he plays £45 for the new game which is released every year, he buys Call of Duty Elite for £35 and of course you must have a Xbox live gold account which costs £40 to play the game online so that’s a total of £120 or roughly $180 that he pays every year which is almost the cost of an Xbox console itself. Many of my console playing friends say that they don’t game on PC because the hardware is too expensive which is a fair point, but if they actually totted up the extra money that they have to pay for their games and the services that they are charged for that should be free they may be surprised with the end result.

Its hard to say at the moment if free to play will be the future, but its growing fast and many of the big game developers will be watching to see how these games do financially to see if it is something worth dipping their toe into in the future. Physical box sales of games are falling year on year and the digital distribution model for games is growing fast and works well with free to play. I would expect many more free to play titles to be announced over the next year on PC adding to the already excellent batch of releases we’ve seen this year. Its a good time to be into PC gaming with the platform having a tremendous amount of diversity and creativity going on at the moment and lets hope it continues for many years to come.

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Top 7 Video Game Based Movies You Must Watch on Hulu in NZ

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Are you tired of playing video games all day long? Why not take a break and watch some video game-based movies on Hulu in NZ? With its vast collection of movies and TV shows, Hulu is the perfect platform to satisfy your gaming cravings.

From action-packed thrillers to heartwarming dramas, we would recommend you to get Hulu in NZ, because Hulu has it all. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the top 7 video game-based movies that you must watch on Hulu in NZ.

Assassin’s Creed (2016)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Director: Justin Kurzel

Major Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons

Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes

The first on our list is the movie adaptation of the popular video game franchise “Assassin’s Creed.” Starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, this movie follows the story of Callum Lynch, who discovers he is a descendant of a secret society of assassins. With stunning visuals and breathtaking action scenes, this movie is a must-watch for any Assassin’s Creed fan.

Rampage (2018)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Director: Brad Peyton

Major Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman

Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes

If you’re a fan of monster movies and video games, “Rampage” is the perfect movie for you. Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, this movie is based on the classic arcade game of the same name. The movie follows a primatologist who teams up with a genetically modified gorilla to stop two other genetically modified animals from destroying the city. With its over-the-top action and humor, “Rampage” is a fun-filled ride from start to finish.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy

Director: Jeff Fowler

Major Cast: James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz

Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes

For all the Sonic fans out there, “Sonic the Hedgehog” is a must-watch movie. Starring Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, this movie follows Sonic as he teams up with a human cop to stop Dr. Robotnik from taking over the world. With its fast-paced action and lovable characters, “Sonic the Hedgehog” is a movie that both kids and adults can enjoy.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Director: Simon McQuoid

Major Cast: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson

Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes

If you’re a fan of the Mortal Kombat video game franchise, you won’t want to miss the 2021 movie adaptation. With its gory fight scenes and iconic characters, this movie is a love letter to the fans of the game. The movie follows a group of fighters who are recruited to participate in a tournament to determine the fate of the world. With stunning visuals and non-stop action, “Mortal Kombat” is a movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Warcraft (2016)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Director: Duncan Jones

Major Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster

Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes

Based on the popular MMORPG game, “Warcraft” tells the story of the battle between humans and orcs. Starring Travis Fimmel and Paula Patton, this movie follows a group of human heroes as they try to stop the orc invasion. With its epic battles and stunning visuals, “Warcraft” is a movie that will transport you to a world of magic and adventure.

Tomb Raider (2018)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Director: Roar Uthaug

Major Cast: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins

Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes

Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, “Tomb Raider” stars Alicia Vikander as the iconic Lara Croft. The movie follows Lara as she sets out on a dangerous journey to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance. With its intense action scenes and captivating storyline, “Tomb Raider” is a movie that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

Resident Evil (2002)

Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Major Cast: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius

Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes

Last but not least, we have the classic zombie horror movie “Resident Evil.” Starring Milla Jovovich as Alice, this movie is based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie follows Alice and a group of survivors as they try to escape from an underground research facility infested with zombies. With its tense atmosphere and pulse pounding action, “Resident Evil” is a must-watch for any horror or action movie fan.

Conclusion

So there you have it, the top 7 video game-based movies that you must watch on Hulu in NZ. From the high-flying action of “Assassin’s Creed” to the terrifying zombie outbreak in “Resident Evil,” each movie offers its unique take on the beloved video games that inspired them.

Whether you are a die-hard gamer or a movie enthusiast, these movies are sure to satisfy your craving for pulse-pounding action and adventure.

Hulu in NZ offers a fantastic selection of movies and TV shows that cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences. With these top 7 video game-based movies, you can immerse yourself in the world of your favorite games and enjoy them on the big screen.

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Top Fighting Games on Android

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Fighting Games on Android

Fighting games have been a major sub-genre of the industry since the dawn of gaming. While the original fist-fighting game came out in 1976, the genre arguably peaked in the 1980s. Dozens of franchises came smashing down arcades, from Mortal Kombat to Tekken.

But gamers do not need to visit the local gaming center anymore to get in on the action, as platform fighters and hand-to-hand combat have long gone mobile. So, are you up for a brawl? Whether you’re into brutal MMA fights or formidable superhero battles, let’s round up some of the best fighting games to play on Android.

Marvel Contest of Champions

While movies and comic books are still at the core of its extended universe, Marvel has also expanded to the gaming medium. Much to mobile gamers’ dismay, though, exhilarating brawler games like Marvel’s Avengers and massive crossovers like Marvel vs. Capcom never made it to smartphones. But Marvel Contest of Champions is more than epic enough to make up for it.

Developed by Kabam, this versus-fighting action game features a pretty strong line-up comprising virtually every Marvel character in the book. Beloved heroes like Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Hulk are all set for battle throughout iconic Marvel locations, such as Asgard, Stark Tower, and Wakanda. Yet players may as well pick supervillains to pit against the good guys. So, assemble the strongest super-heroic team and combine each champion’s unique set of devastating attacks and special abilities. Better yet, this mobile Marvel game allows for competitive multiplayer fighting.

Skullgirls: Fighting RPG

Skullgirls is a solid contender for best mobile fighting game out there. This fighting RPG by Autumn Games has got some incredibly responsive battle animations going for it, and just enough grind to keep players engaged for hours on end. Fun special moves and combos take fast-paced combat to the next level, serviced by colorful background visuals and a jazzy soundtrack that may feel out of place but gives the game that much more flavor.

And all kicking and pummeling aside, Skullgirls has much in the way of the story, too. In an original twist on the genre, this 2D RPG features an all-female cast of quirky yet fierce hand-animated characters. Players may even customize their fighter while searching for the elusive Skullgirl and stopping her from destroying the city of New Meridian.

Mortal Kombat

Alongside Capcom’s Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat is probably the best-known fighting franchise in the world. The series stemmed from the idea of making a video game starring action movie superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme. Funnily enough, JCVD would eventually play center stage in the live-action adaptation of Street Fighter. Still, Mortal Kombat spawned countless installations, TV series, and feature films.

And gamers can now experience the visceral fighting and trademark Fatalities that made the franchise so infamous straight on mobile. Mortal Kombat shows off a whopping roster of over 130 warriors, who level up through challenges of increasing difficulty. Teaming up fighters with matching synergies, mobile players can tackle ferocious enemies in online competitive mode or all on their own. This mobile version of the legendary game also includes a card collection feature.

EA Sports UFC

The intensity of the Octagon translates superbly to the gaming medium. Released by Electronic Arts on multiple platforms, EA Sports UFC quickly became the go-to title for gamers with a knack for mixed martial arts. And the mobile version doesn’t disappoint, pitting up to 97 UFC fighters against one another in heated fashion – and even martial arts legend Bruce Lee as an unlockable bonus. EA Sports UFC may thus be the perfect mobile game to dive into while waiting for the next big superstar comeback.

Meanwhile, prominent fighters like Valentina Shevchenko and Nikita Krylov will keep fans on the edge of their seats in upcoming UFC events. And MMA enthusiasts can even spruce up the experience with a gamble. Reviewers like SBO have laid down the most profitable online bookies for punters to explore. The best sportsbooks offer a range of betting options on MMA, ranging from method of victory to total rounds. Lofty bonuses and welcome packages also await newcomers. And online punters can make bank out of even more sports, from the ultra-popular to the niche.

Fighting games are as old as time. But with improved gameplay and ever-so-striking aesthetics, they’ve remained fresh throughout the decades. And players can now get their fists to do the talking on mobile, from retro titles to inventive entries.

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What to Expect from Gaming and Online Casinos in the Next 10 Years

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Cards,Mouse,Coins and dice.

The 21st century has been a great time for gaming and online casinos. We’ve seen explosive growth in both sectors, with new technologies and platforms emerging constantly. The following 10 years promise to be even more exciting, as we’ll see even more innovation and growth in the gaming industry, as well as the online gambling industry.

In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the trends that we think will shape the next decade of gaming and online casino development. So whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore gambler, read on to find out what the next 10 years have in store for you!

The increasing popularity of online casinos and gaming

With many people stuck at home, they turned to digital platforms for entertainment, including gaming and slots sites. As a result, these sectors have seen explosive growth over the past few years. With the increasing popularity of technology, games have moved from physical pieces to digital pixelated ones, allowing for even more immersive and engaging gaming experiences.

With the online world ever-growing, it was only a matter of time before gambling followed suit. Nowadays, casinos are looking for ways to pull in more business through rewarding online slots promotions, as opposed to the regular operations in brick-and-mortar casinos. In addition, advancements in technology have allowed for the development of online slots, poker rooms, and other casino games that are not only secure and safe to play but also offer a level of quality that is comparable to land-based casinos.

Although we have made a lot of progress, especially with online casinos and online slots games, there is still more to come. Here are some of the changes we predict for this billion-dollar online casino industry in the next ten years:

The increasing legalization of online casinos globally

As online gaming becomes more and more popular, we are seeing an increased push for the legalization of online gambling in countries all around the world. With more people playing on digital platforms and experiencing the benefits of online casinos, governments are recognizing this trend and moving towards changing laws to allow for wider access to these online gambling sites.

For example, in the United States, more states are beginning to implement legal gambling solutions due to the US federal government softening its regulations. And this trend will likely continue in the coming years, as more countries begin to recognize the benefits of legalizing online casinos which include increased tax revenues and a better way to regulate gambling in the digital age.

Virtual reality gaming

With the rise of virtual reality technology, we can expect to see casinos offer more immersive gaming experiences. Players will be able to experience realistic casino environments and games through VR headsets, allowing for an even more realistic gaming experience. Game developers are constantly releasing new concept games to online casinos, and we can expect these same sorts of fun, attractive experiences to be available in the next few years.

Blockchain Technology for Transparent and Fair Gambling Systems

Another major trend that we will see in online casinos and gaming over the next decade is the use of blockchain technology. With this technology, players can rest assured that they are getting a fair chance to win while enjoying secure transactions and transparent gambling systems. Blockchain technology allows for all casino transactions to be recorded on an open ledger, making it difficult for casinos to manipulate the outcomes of games. As a result, players can enjoy more trust, transparency, and fairness in their online gaming activities.

Casino

Game development

When visiting an online casino, it is essential to find an operator that provides a good variety of games. For instance, slots games are very popular in the digital environment, finding a provider with a good variety of slots games will chance your experience. You could find different slots themes and choose the slot game you like the most. In the next ten years, we could be expecting new games integration with better graphics, creative and fun. Game developers will have a higher demand and they will be providing cool slots themes and other casino games.

Top of the line Live Dealer Games

Finally, we will also see more sophisticated live dealer games in online casinos and gaming over the next decade. With the rise of 4K and 5K resolution cameras, online casino providers have been able to offer gamers a much more realistic viewing experience.

These live dealer games can be streamed from various locations, allowing more people to join and play different types of online games. With a more advanced streaming quality, players can now interact with real dealers in real time and enjoy a variety of table games such as roulette, slots, blackjack, and baccarat. With so many exciting changes coming our way, we can look forward to even more engaging gaming experiences in the years ahead!

In Summary

Overall, it’s clear that the gaming and online casino industries are undergoing major changes as we look toward the future. Whether you’re an avid gamer or just a casual player, there are exciting developments on the horizon that will shape how we interact with these platforms – and how they affect our daily lives. So if you’re looking for the best possible experiences from the gambling and casino industry, in particular, be sure to keep an eye out for these exciting online casino trends as well as online slots promotions that suit your playing style.

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