🎮 Britt Roberts – Games of the Year 2018 🎮 #IndieGames #GameDev

It’s that time again when I look back and reflect on the games I’ve played throughout the last year and mention a few that have stood out for better…or for worse.

👸⚔ Review: Battle Princess Madelyn "Great music, chunky visuals and a sense of humour" 👸⚔ #IndieGames #GameDev

I had a friend back this during its initial Kickstarter drive and so I was intrigued how the final product would play out. Having spent some time with the game over the last week, I’m pleased to say that if you are a fan of Ghosts N Goblins / Ghouls N Ghosts, you’ll feel right at home. 

If, however you were keen to try the Story Mode…I feel you may come away somewhat disappointed.

🐲 Pang Man Part 36: A trip to the Pokémon Center DX 🐲 #Pokemon

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to visit the two Pokémon Centers (one in Skytree Town and one in Sunshine City) in Tokyo. 

This year I wanted to make a return visit, so imagine my surprise when I found out that a third store had just opened!

The new store is called Pokémon Center Tokyo DX (I’m guessing the DX stands for deluxe) and is located next to Tokyo metro station.

🎻 Anamorphine - Ten Minute Taster - PS4 "When your own mind is against you, where else can you turn?" 🎻 #IndieGame #GameDev

"Anamorphine tackles mental health issues in this walking simulator that has me intrigued from minute one, take a walk with me through Elena & tyler's story...."

🏌 Golf Has Never Been So Much Fun Episode 4: PGA European Tour - 1996 - SNES🏌 #SNES #RetroGaming

🏌"PGA European Tour was one of my favourite Golf Games on the Commodore Amiga and now i'm playing it on the Super Nintendo. It's back to basics in this unforgiving golf game. It's raw video game golf and i love it!" 🏌

🎮🔮 EGX 2018: My 5 Favourite Games Of The Show to Look Forward To in 2019 🔮🎮 #GameDev #IndieGames

Birmingham is a great location for any event as it's so darn easy to get to for everyone and as such it means that it becomes a great place to meet up with like minded video games nerds every year. 

This year's EGX event was no exception with plenty of lovely people and loads of lovely video games to play!

Here's my favourite 5 games from this years video games extravaganza that i'm totally excited to buy in 2019!

🖳🖰 Tried and Tested Sites For Free Online Games 🖰🖳

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Having a hobby or something that you enjoy doing as a way to rest and relax is much needed for us all. And the chances are that if you are here, gaming is likely to be passion or hobby of your own. But looking for new gaming sites can always be a good idea, so that you can relax, have some time alone, use your brain in a different way, or just break up the day and do something more fun.

So with all of that in mind, here are some free sites online for gaming, so you can try something new without having to spend money. 

There is something for everyone on this list too, from board games, chess, sports games, puzzles, arcade games, and much more. Have you got a favorite site that is listed?

It would be great to hear what you think.

🤠 I. Red Dead Redemption 2: "Arthur Morgan & His Magical Tin Can" 🤠 #RDR2

🤠 "Watch Arthur Morgan take his trusty tin can for a walk in the Red Dead wilderness" 🤠

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

🔫 Review: GunGrave Coffin Edition - PSVR 🔫 #PSVR

GunGrave Coffin Edition PSVR

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GunGrave VR Coffin Edition is a set of two games or episodes, GunGrave VR and GunGrave U.N. VR.

GunGrave is a PS2/Xbox/Anime classic brought up to date in 2018's VR and it's a solid PSVR gaming experience, but unfortunately it isn't perfect. 

I've tried the coffin edition which is two good episode/games, both with a few surprises, but also they come with some limited controls and game options.

🚀 Review: Rockets Rockets Rockets (Switch) - "Substance in style, the gaming conundrum that is Rockets Rockets Rockets" 🚀 #IndieGame #GameDev

Between watching trailers, pouring over screen grabs and even embarking on that first initial playthrough of a title, it can be possible to completely get the wrong idea about what a game is designed to be or how it should be played.

Rockets Rockets Rockets by Radial Games for example, is beautiful looking and sounding retro-style competitive multiplayer shooter, but I am not entirely sure this is really the best description of how the game should be played or enjoyed.

🤖⛳️ Golf Has Never Been So Much Fun - Episode 3: MecaRobot Golf - 1993 - SNES ⛳️🤖 #Retrogaming #Golf #SNES

🤖 "Robots & Golf, what a perfect combination right??!! In the latest instalment of Golf Has Never Been So Much Fun I take on MecaRobot Golf on the Super Nintendo and find out just how much fun a Robot on a Golf Course can be!" 🤖

🔍🔍 Infographic: The Futuristic Gaming Gadgets Of 2019 🔍🔍

Thinking about how best to pick the latest gaming gadgets? 

With the many distinctive gaming headsets accessible out there, choosing one from those can give you a headache! 

With the help of this infographic created by No Fluff Tech you can get a clear idea about the latest gaming gadgets.

🎮👴 Arthur Parallax Reviews….The Playstation Classic 👴🎮

The Playstation changed EVERYTHING, they said. Did it, though?...Did it?

We all remember where we were when we first saw the Playstation.

🐍SnakeByte TOUGH:KIT™ For Nintendo Switch - UNBOXING VIDEO🐍

Today I get my hands on the Tough Kit by SnakeByte for my beloved Nintendo Switch"

👴☢ Arthur Parallax Reviews…..Fallout 76 👴☢ #Fallout76

When I was spending hundreds of hours combined making my way through the irradiated wastes offered to me in the previous Fallout games (the first two games, or if you like, ‘the best ones’, included) you know what I wished for, each step of the way?

🖳💣 Anonymous Game Dev's Story: "Hard Work & Review Bombing" 💣🖳 #GameDev #IndieGames

Dark Blue Monkey talks with an Indie Team about their experience of going through Kickstarter, being a boss, releasing on Steam, and why they’ll never ever do it again.

Our guest today went through the full Indie Dev experience;  working full time, doing a Kickstarter campaign, hiring a developer, and then finally releasing onto Steam.   

While this may seem like the ultimate dream for most of us, unfortunately for the team the experience proved to be far from the utopia we imagine it to be. Just as their project reached fruition,  they fell victim to the now infamous review bombing while the game was still in early release, still at launch price.

Trying to do the right thing, they tried to sidestep the clunkiness of Steam’s forums and help players directly who were having problems by giving them access to Skype and email.  This resulted in mounting numbers of unpleasant messages following them into the real world. For this reason, they’ve chosen to share their experience anonymously.

This is a tale of caution, and hopefully will help any aspiring indie developers to avoid the same pitfalls.

🖳 The Ultimate Guide To Connecting With Your Pals Online 🖳

Pexels

You’ve done it. You’ve purchased a new gaming PC. You’ve purchased a few Steam games. You have free time all set out, and you’re ready to push forward to enjoy a wealth of video gaming experiences that truly matter, and can fill your weekends with recreational fun. But only one question remains - you’re not sure how to actually play with your friends. Hey, you’re new to this, you can be forgiven.

💰🎄 4 Ways To Make A Little Extra Christmas Money From Gaming 🎄💰

Image by Flic

The festive season will soon be upon us and most of us are woefully unprepared for the seasonal spend-a-thon that seems to cut deeper and deeper into our carefully managed budgets every year. What’s a gamer to do in the face of such impending expense? 

Put in a few more hours at work? Ugh! Even if you’re lucky enough to have a job in which overtime is readily available, you don’t want to spend any longer in that place than you have to. 

Perhaps a side hustle then? You’re always hearing about how people are making money in the digital realm but how? If only there were some way you could monetize your passion for gaming. 

But wait! There are ways in which you can do exactly that! If you’re hoping to make some extra bank over the festive period, what about…

💥🔫 Review: Dimension Drifter (Early Access) "This is no walking simulator, this is a very fast paced shoot-em-up!" 💥🔫 #GameDev #IndieGames

Dimension Drifter (Early Access)

Developer: Blue Eagle Productions/Paul Schneider

Platform: PC - Steam

Rating: Melting

Review by: Gareth ‘GazChap’ Griffiths (gazchap@gmail.com)

When the chaps over at Games Freezer asked me to review Dimension Drifter, naturally the first thing that I did was check out the game’s Steam Store page to see what I was letting myself in for.

My first impression, from the basic screenshots on the page, was that this was a game like Unreal Tournament and that I would be rocket jumping around the place gibbing people left, right and centre. I was wrong.

🚲 Ten Minute Taster: Steel Rats "Trials mixed with Road Rash, Mixed with something else!" 🚲 #GameDev #IndieGame #SteelRats

"Steel Rats comes roaring onto PS4 and I tell you what, this is great fun. It's Trials mixed with Road Rash, Mixed with something else!

Take a look at my gameplay video to get a taster for what this unique new title s all about." 

👊 Review: Mother Russia Bleeds - Nintendo Switch - "Mother Russia Bleeds is absurdly grim" 👊 #PixelArt #IndieGames

Title: Mother Russia Bleeds

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Release date: 15 November 2018

Mother Russia Bleeds was originally released on Windows and PS4 in 2016, and it now makes its Switch debut. Deeply familiar in many ways, yet unique in its visual style, atmosphere and setting, it is another minor classic in the Devolver Digital canon.

📱🎮 "5 Retro Video Games That You Can Play on Your Smartphone" 🎮📱 #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Not so long ago you needed to download specific emulation apps in order to somehow get retro video games playable on your smartphone. These apps and methods were often unreliable and came with the dark spectre of copyright law hanging over them.

Those days were the times when only the truly dedicated retro gamer would venture down the path of downloading emulators, configuring them to work and then sourcing the roms for the games. It was never a straight forward process and one that often left you feeling a bit short changed at the end as the games weren’t necessarily formatted for a smartphone screen and touch screen controls.

🎧 Unboxing & Review: Lucidsound LS25 e-Sport Edition Gaming Headset 🎧 #Unboxing #Review

Well I was lucky enough to be sent some LUCIDSOUND LS25 headphones a few weeks back and i've taken them for a test drive and here's my honest evaluation of the latest set of good value for money headsets from the awesome LUCIDSOUND team.

🎮 Friend’s Faves & Most Underappreciated Video Games 🎮 #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

I was recently asked to guest on a gaming podcast, in preparation I was asked for a combination of my favourite video games and also some I found to be under-appreciated. 

I’m pretty sure that it’s the same for everyone; where favourite games are always in flux depending on mood and memories but it was quite fun to think back at the games that either had the biggest emotional impact on me or that I remember having an awesome time with. 

🎧 Unboxing & Thoughts: Cyrus SoundKey (DAC) 🎧 #DAC

"The Cyrus Soundkey is a mini powerhouse when it comes to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

Come with me as I take a look at this award winning piece of kit..."

Cyrus SoundKey Amazon Link:
www.amazon.co.uk

🎮⏰ The Passing Time Games ⏰🎮

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Do you know those games where you’re not really looking to get into it in particular, you just want to have something that’s easy to play whenever. 

The games that won’t so much get you hooked on the storyline, just on the game itself? 

🎮 "5 PSVR GAMES That Will Make You Want To Own PSVR" 🎮 #PSVR

VR is one of those things that I have hesitated buying into as I have been waiting for hardware revisions, price drops and decent games to be published.

It has felt like there isn't a killer game that truly requires you to part with your cash in order to get involved.

But slowly the case for buying VR and specifically in this case PSVR, is getting stronger as more and more worthwhile titles get released...

🎮 5 Ways To Enjoy Gaming Without Switching On Your Console 🎮

Image License Your console isn’t the only source of fun.

Given that I run this website, it’s hardly surprising to learn that I love gaming. However, even I hit stages where I’m not in the mood to switch on a console and play. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean I can’t still get my gaming fix.

Here are just five ways I love to relax and enjoy gaming even when I’m not playing my console. I hope they can help you in troubled times too.

🤓📘 Book Review: The Nostalgia Nerd’s Retro Tech “Computers, Consoles & Games” 📘🤓 #Retrogaming @NostalNerd

The Nostalgia Nerd’s Retro Tech “Computers, Consoles & Games”

 
How much do you love video games, computers and consoles?

Do you obsess over the great tech from years gone by and reminisce over the legendary video games that you played as child through your teenage years and now still play those games in adulthood?

Chances are then you’ve heard of a certain guy called the Nostalgia Nerd aka Peter Leigh.

❌🎮 “I’m sorry darling, I’m just not in the mood.” 🎮❌ #DivinityOriginalSin

Upon its original release, I picked up Divinity 2: Original Sin and spent thirty frustrating hours with it before uninstalling it from my hard drive and giving up.

Through a mix of glitches, difficulty spikes, strange design choices and a general sense of the game being incomplete, I chalked it up to just not being my thing and moved on to other games.

Now, eighteen months or so later, I thought I’d give it another crack as I’ve been ill for a while and just fancied cancelling all my plans and spending a weekend relaxing and getting hips deep into a full-on RPG to soak up my time. 

🚀 Preview: Nimbatus the Space Drone Constructor "In space, no one can hear you…sigh, unroll the blueprints again and slightly alter the angle of your rear-left thruster" 🚀 #EarlyAccess #IndieGame

Game Title: Nimbatus the Space Drone Constructor

Developer: Stray Fawn Studio

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: Early Access Title (Although I’m leaning towards an ice-cool upon completion)

Nimbatus is a game of two halves, designing a space drone and then completing objectives with said drone.

👹 Review: Monster Loves You - "a charming, if shallow monster’s tale" 👹 #GameDev #IndieGame

Game Title: Monster Loves You

Format: Steam (PC)

With its charming, colourful visuals and humourous text, Monster Loves You raised a chuckle or two and a few smiles from me but I couldn’t shake the sense that this feels like a mobile port due to its repetitive nature and shallow depth.

🔪🌲 Review: Log Jammers "Windjammin’ on wood" 🔪🌲 #GameDev #IndieGame

Game Title: Log Jammers

Developer: Mega Cat Games

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Having recently reviewed the re-release of Windjammers on Switch, it was fresh in my mind when playing Log Jammers,which,whilst having a lot going for it has one particular feature which will make or break it in the eyes of players…the sheer breakneck speed of it.

👾 Review: Pixel Ripped 1989 "a feast for your ears, eyes and it seriously scratches your nostalgia gaming itch" 👾 #PSVR #IndieGame

Pixel Ripped 1989 is a feast for your ears, eyes and it seriously scratches your nostalgia gaming itch like no other gaming experience I’ve had on PSVR.

🌴💀Review: Green Hell "When I think of “green hell”, the first thing that springs to mind is the back garden"💀🌳 #GameDev #EarlyAccess #IndieGame @gazchap

Green Hell (Early Access)

Developer: Creepy Jar 

Platform: PC - Steam

Review by: Gareth ‘GazChap’ Griffiths

When I think of “green hell”, the first thing that springs to mind is the back garden at my house, in which there is a surprisingly large variety of flora and fauna, kept vaguely in check by the efforts of my ever-suffering wife and the frankly unexpected level of teamwork exhibited by our six cats.

🐭 Game Title: Molecats "a very unique game with a serious challenge just waiting to be scratched away at" 🐭 #GameDev #Indiegame

Game Title: Molecats

Developer:  Vidroid

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: Ice Cool

Molecats is a game that will definitely divide people, underneath the fun, cuddly and cutesy exterior beats the heart of a lion when it comes to the sheer challenge factor on offer from new studio Vidroids.

🎮🎄 Comfort Is Key: Gamer's Christmas List Ideas 🎄🎮

Image source: 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-white-snes-controller-776092/

Sometimes you just want to hang out at home in your free time and do some serious gaming. Whether you’re stuck into FIFA or feel the need to complete your Final Fantasy journey; you’ll want a comfortable environment so that you can relax and concentrate on what’s important (the screen and your control pad). 

There’s no better time to start thinking about enhancing each game experience; with Christmas around the corner, there’s an array of things to add to your wishlist. The following are some ideas for those who want to set up a gaming haven, where you can sit down, switch off from real life for a while, and get stuck into what their free time has to offer.