Tag Archives: Gaming

Is this “WOKE” or are you just ignorant?

Posted on by
Reply

I have arguably been an internet addict since my childhood. Growing up on platforms like Neopets, and the early days of YouTube, to the doom scrolling on X and the dramatic clout chasing on TikTok. It is fair to say that there are multiple things that have changed over the years. One thing that half of the internet seems to be obsessed with is the idea of “woke-ism” and how the world is no longer “normal” and catering to the “crazies“. To me the claims feel nonsensical and is just people feeling more and more comfortable with their ignorance. The beliefs that there is no other perspective is correct unless it aligns with your own is deeply troubling in a world that is becoming more connected day-by-day.

woke Photography by Rob Larsen

Continue reading →

How I’m surviving my LDR

Posted on by
Reply

LDR, or long distance relationships, tend to have a negative stigma, but not without reason. There is often a physical disconnect, ample of opportunities for miscommunication or betrayals, one of you have to decide who is willing to uproot their life to move, and sometimes even language barriers. Personally I was in the camp of that I would never get into a LDR, let alone with someone who is technically in a different country, but life has a funny way of surprising you. My fiancé is a born and raised New Yorker, and I’m a born and raised Richmond-er (?), and our meeting was definitely nothing but a stroke of luck. And even then, the likely chance of us getting together was very low, mostly due to our concerns of misreading each other’s feelings and attachments to each other. Regardless of the odds, we managed to push through those anxieties and are happily engaged with plans to tie the knot in 2025, fingers crossed. But how did we avoid being part of the 42% of couples that fail a LDR? Admittedly a lot of it come down to each individual’s character, personality, and needs, but these are some of the things we do to stay connected.

Continue reading →

How a “WAIFU” game got me a husband

Posted on by
Reply

Ok, so he isn’t quite my husband yet, that’s something that we’re working on for 2025, but the statement still stands. If I never played this game I would have never met my husband-to-be. Despite our origins being quite “cringe” by modern standards, it almost seems fitting this is how we would meet each other in a rather comical way.

So first what is a “waifu” game for people that actually go outside and aren’t glued to their phone screens? Typically these games contain a wide variety of female characters, often in fan service like outfits and poses, targeting mostly straight men with their provocative design. Over the years games exploited the female form to best appeal to their core audiences since sex sells and it sells especially well when you can collect them. With the boom of gacha game, mobile game developers take advantage of the attractive designs to rake in 10’s of thousands, to even millions, of dollars a year. Despite the problematic aspects of the character designs, there are plenty of standouts with fun gameplay and world building. Admittedly, I initially chose to play the game for the illustrations, but I stuck around because the story was very deep and has made me tear up every so often with the tragic backstory they revealed. Also it was released on my birthday, I promise this will be relevant.

Nikke girlsPhotography by Amanda Teoh

Continue reading →

Why the Nintendo Wii Was So Great

Posted on by
Reply

Ahhhh, the Nintendo Wii. There’s a reason the Wii is still one of the most loved and memorable consoles of all time. Let’s start with Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort because, honestly, those games are one of the sole reasons as to why the console is so great. Wii Sports showed up in living rooms, hospitals, retirement homes, and even in fitness classes. There was something about swinging that virtual tennis racket or bowling on the living room TV that just clicked with people, no matter their age.

The simplicity of Wii Sports was really its main selling point. Most games at the time needed complicated button combinations or accurate analog sticks, which could be intimidating if you weren’t that much of a gamer. But here, you were just swinging a remote, doing natural movement like you would in real life. Swing a bat, roll a ball, hit a golf club, it was that easy. The Wii removed that barrier between gamers and non-gamers. People who have never touched a PlayStation or an Xbox controller were suddenly standing in their living rooms, competing in virtual bowling and golf games.

Wii Sports wasn’t just some gimmick. It got people up and moving, actually breaking a sweat, which was something consoles had never done in the past. Think about it, people were off the couch, swinging their arms, and laughing like crazy, all without even realising how active they were being. Families would play for hours, everyone getting way too competitive but loving every second. Kids could bowl alongside their grandparents, or box with their parents. That sense of togetherness was just on another level. No other console had that same kind of vibe. The Wii was just in a league of their own when it came to bringing people together.

Then they came out with Wii Sports Resort, and that just took everything up a notch. By then, they’d added this little thing called Wii MotionPlus. It was this little add-on for the remote that made every motion so much more accurate. And Wii Sports Resort? It had all these activities that just screamed a dream vacation. Like, you had sword-fighting, archery, wakeboarding, jet skiing, all these super fun things you’d just dream of doing on a family vacation. And that MotionPlus? Total game-changer. Every little swing, every little flick, every slice suddenly felt real, like you were in the game, not just playing it but really experiencing it.

Take sword fighting, for example. It’s so funny to think you’re actually on a beach on Wuhu Island swinging a sword, but it felt right. You were actually blocking, swinging, and trying to knock your friends into the water. People loved it, and it added a new level of intensity to the gameplay. Or take archery for example. The accuracy was so good that you could line up shots and aim like you were holding an actual bow and arrow. It was rewarding in a way because it felt surprisingly real, and at the same time, just accessible enough that anyone could pick it up and have a blast.

Now, Nintendo was up against some pretty serious competition back then. You had the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, both with some pretty realistic graphics and all those hardcore games made for the hardcore gamers, right? But Nintendo? They didn’t even try to keep up with all that. They didn’t need top-tier graphics or some deep, intense storyline to make the Wii work. It just had to be fun. And that’s exactly what people remember about it. Nintendo took this totally different path, focusing on the experience itself, and man, they nailed it. The Wii was made purely with fun in mind, and boy, it absolutely delivered on that.

Oh, and get this. Because it was so simple, the Wii found its way into people’s lives in ways other consoles just couldn’t. Like, it wasn’t just a living room thing, hospitals were using it for physical therapy. You’d have the elderly in retirement homes setting up these little Wii bowling leagues, which is a great sight to see, right? And even stroke patients were using Wii Sports to help with their recovery. It was the perfect way to improve balance and motor skills. Can you believe that? A game console that wasn’t only for fun but was actually helping people battle through tough times. That’s some next-level stuff.

Oh, and the Miis, how could we forget about those little guys. Customising them was honestly half the fun. People would spend hours tweaking them to look like their family members, friends, and heck even celebrities. When I was a kid, I would try to create the funniest looking Mii possible. One time, I was able to make a burger Mii. Yes, a burger Mii.

The Mii creation thing was like this whole mini-game within the console itself. And then, seeing your Mii pop off on the tennis court or the bowling alley? It just made everything feel so much more personal and, honestly, kind of hilarious. It was like, there you are, in the game, looking just as ridiculous as everyone else. The whole thing just added this unique little feature to the experience, like the console was really made for everyone, and everyone had their own face in the game.

You know what’s interesting? The Wii really brought back that sense of nostalgia for those simpler arcade-style games that had mostly disappeared in that era of gaming. Just think about Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, they proved that you didn’t need a hard-to-keep-track-of storyline or hours of gameplay to make a game a hit hard. I mean, you could just pick up the remote, start swinging, and instantly have a boatload of fun, right? It had that arcade vibe where you could just jump in, have fun, and put it down without worrying about missing anything important. It was such a refreshing change, especially when so many other games during that time were getting darker and more serious. With the Wii, it was all about fun and simplicity, and I think that’s what made it so special to me and a lot of other people.

When it comes to sales, Wii Sports wasn’t just like any other ordinary game, it became one of the highest-selling video games of all time, and that’s largely because it came included with every Wii console. Think about it. People weren’t just buying the console for the latest tech or graphics, they might have been getting it just for Wii Sports. It was like they recognized that it was more than just a game. It was a way to connect with family and friends, have a blast, and even get a little exercise in. You didn’t even have to call yourself a gamer to appreciate it. That’s what makes the Wii and Wii sports so special. Even years after its release, as graphics and gameplay were evolving on other platforms, Wii Sports just kind of stuck around. It was that timeless game everyone could enjoy, whether you were a hardcore gamer or just someone looking for a fun way to spend time with others.

So, was the Wii technically the best console? Not really. But here’s the thing, it offered something way more important. It was all about bringing people together. Families and friends could jump in, play together, be silly, and just enjoy themselves without the stress or frustration that sometimes comes with gaming. That’s why you hear so many people who grew up with the Wii, like myself, reminiscing about those moments. I mean, you still see Wii consoles at family gatherings sometimes. Even with all the new fancy PS5s and Xbox Series Xs out there, the Wii holds its ground.

And that’s exactly why the Wii is truly unforgettable. I mean, think about it, Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort didn’t just offer gameplay, they created real memories. They showed us that sometimes, all you need is a simple console like the Wii and a group of friends or family who are ready to have some fun, and suddenly, magic happens. Even if you weren’t around when the Wii initially launched, the legacy of the Wii is everywhere. It turned gaming into a celebration, proving that it could bring people together in the most joyful and simple ways possible.

The Downfall of The EA NHL Series

Posted on by
Reply

Ahhhhh, the EA NHL series. If you’re like me and have been following the franchise for years, you’ll know it holds a special place in the hearts of many hockey fans, especially those who grew up in gaming. But something’s changed, right? It’s like watching a friend who was once full of potential, lose their way over the years. What happened to EA’s NHL series that once felt like a must-have every year? Let’s dig into it because there’s a lot to unpack.

First, let’s rewind a bit. Remember the early 2000s? The NHL series was on fire. Whether it was NHL 2002, 2003, or NHL 2004, these games had something so appealing about them. The controls were tight, the gameplay felt dynamic, and, let’s be real, the commentary and soundtrack? Iconic. Plus, the graphics, for their time, were absolutely stunning. There was something fun and addicting about dropping in for a quick game or diving into a playoff mode that felt like you were really bringing a team to a Stanley Cup.

Then NHL 2009 came along and brought the “Skill Stick” revolution. Remember that? Using the right stick to control your shots and dekes was a game-changer, no pun intended. It made the gameplay feel so much more smooth and natural, like you were actually controlling a player on the ice, rather than pressing buttons in a sequence. That was the beginning of a golden era for the NHL franchise.

From NHL 09 through to around NHL 14, the series was hitting all the right notes. It felt like EA was listening to its fans, innovating the gameplay, and keeping the franchise fresh. You’d see little tweaks each year that made a real difference whether it be better AI, smarter goaltending or more realistic skating physics. The game felt deep, rewarding, and something you could play for countless hours without feeling like you were wasting any of your time. Heck, even the cover athletes felt like they represented the pinnacle of the sport. I still remember Steven Stamkos on NHL 12 and Claude Giroux on NHL 13.

But then something happened. Around the time NHL 15 launched, the wheels started falling off.

It was EA’s first attempt at the series on the next-gen consoles (PS4, Xbox One), and honestly, it was an absolute dumpster fire. They cut features. I mean like huge features. Franchise Mode was gutted, you couldn’t play Season Mode, and don’t even get me started on the lack of EASHL (EA Sports Hockey League), which was one of the biggest multiplayer game modes in the series.

It was like they were so focused on getting the game to look pretty on the new hardware that they forgot to include, you know, the actual fun stuff. Sure, the graphics were nice. The arenas looked slick, the player models were sharper, but the gameplay? The depth? All that was missing. You know it’s bad when people are asking to go back to the previous-gen version because it had a lot more features.

Once NHL 15 came out, the series started to settle into this weird pattern where every year felt like a copy-paste job. EA would put out some new random features like improved puck physics or better collisions, but let’s be honest, could you really tell the difference year to year? Because I for sure couldn’t. They started adding these gimmicky game modes like NHL Threes or Ones, which were fun for about five minutes but didn’t have the staying power that the core modes did.

Franchise mode has barely evolved in what feels like a decade. It’s the same menus, the same shallow trade logic, the same free agency system that makes you want to pull your hair out. Yes, I know the newer game, NHL 25, revamped franchise mode but it is all mostly menus. Players, like me, don’t really like that. Don’t even get me started on the be a pro mode. When they announced that they would be doing a complete overhaul on the Be a Pro mode for NHL 21, like everyone else, I was so hyped. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on NHL 21.

Before this, it was just like franchise mode, just straight menus. They created this conversation thingy where you could actually interact with your teammates and coaches while playing. Even when you’re getting drafted they do like this whole interview with a team’s management staff. Now, you’d expect even just a few changes to the mode but nope. It’s still been the same beginning cutscene for the past four years where the phrase “Pricey pond hockey” is heard every freakin’ year.

Now one of the biggest reasons for the NHL series’ downfall is the addition of microtransactions. It’s not like they’re unique to the NHL series too. Ultimate Team is a big cash grab across the FIFA and Madden series. In EA NHL, it’s especially frustrating because the rest of the game feels so far behind in many areas. When you see EA putting so much effort into making sure Ultimate Team is front and centre, it’s hard not to feel like the core of the game is being ignored.

It almost feels like EA shifted focus to Ultimate Team. Rather than developing a deeper, more satisfying game, they’re catering to the quick-fix, spend-money-here crowd. Ultimate Team is essentially built for people to drop money to build their dream squad, but the rest of the game is left untouched. Long-time players, like myself, are frustrated as EA focuses on the same money-making formula, while the rest of the game feels like it’s being ignored.

What made the NHL series so special before was its identity. It really felt like hockey. You could tell EA had a passion for the sport of hockey. There was a focus on making it realistic, immersive, and true to the spirit of the game. But over time, it’s like the series lost that passion. Instead of trying to copy the intensity of a real NHL game, it’s more like they’re just making sure the game is “good enough” to release each year. There’s no longer that drive to innovate or evolve in any significant way.

It doesn’t help the fact that EA NHL isn’t as big as FIFA or Madden. EA knows they can push a new FIFA or Madden game every year, and millions will buy it no matter what. The NHL series, though? It’s a smaller market, and it feels like EA is fine with putting in the bare minimum to keep that part of their audience coming back without spending too much time or money developing something truly great. That’s probably why we’ve seen a lot more copy-paste games over the years with very little crazy changes to the games.
Honestly, it feels like the NHL series is at a crossroads. Hockey fans have been incredibly vocal about their frustrations, especially in recent years. You see it all over Reddit, Twitter, and in YouTube game reviews. People are tired of the same old recycled experience. And while EA has made a few improvements here and there, like adding back some features they stripped away during the next-gen transition, it feels more like a band-aid on a much bigger problem.

The question is however can EA make a comeback? Or have they lost the plot entirely?

Part of me hopes they can pull off a comeback. We’ve seen it happen in other franchises, like NBA 2K, which at one point went through a pretty rough patch before bouncing back with some serious innovation. But for that to happen, EA needs to stop treating the NHL series like a game they can just copy and paste every year. They need to go back to basics, listen to the community, and rebuild the franchise’s identity. If they keep doing what they’re doing now, focusing more on microtransactions and less on actual hockey fans, the series is just going to keep declining.

At this point, I think a lot of us are just hoping for something fresh, something that can rekindle that excitement we used to feel when a new NHL game dropped. Until then, it’s hard not to feel like we’re just watching a slow, disappointing downfall.

FaZe Clan is Massive Again

Posted on by
Reply

You remember the early 2010’s, right? Back when “Call of Duty” was the biggest game on the internet, and YouTube was really starting to take off? FaZe Clan was one of the standout groups from that era of YouTube, forever changing the way gaming content was created and consumed. It’s crazy to think about how FaZe Clan started. They were just a group of friends making those amazing Call of Duty trick shot videos. Then, boom, out of nowhere, they became one of the biggest gaming organizations in the world! But just as fast as they rose to fame, they nearly lost it all. They went through controversy after controversy, and it was tough for them to stay on top. But you know what? In the face of all that, they managed to make a massive comeback With a record-breaking subathon in September 2024 and a bold move to completely rebuild their roster. Now you may be asking yourself what the heck is a subathon? Well, let me tell you. A subathon is basically a streaming event where a content creator live streams themselves 24/7 non-stop, with the length of the stream extending as viewers subscribe, hence the name subathon. Basically a subscription marathon

Anyways, let’s not waste any more time here and dive right into how FaZe clan managed to get revived even when all hope seemed lost.

FaZe Clan was created back in 2010 when a bunch of friends who were really good at Call of Duty wanted to make a name for themselves. They weren’t professional players or anything like that but they were determined content creators who focused on trick shots and their skills in the game of Call of Duty. They quickly built a following with YouTube videos showing their insane Call of Duty skills. Fans really loved how they made gaming look cool, professional, and fun. Then in 2014, president of FaZe, Thomas “Temperrr” Oliveira and COO, Richard “Banks” Bengston took a big step by creating the first FaZe shared home in Plainview, New York.

This house was all about producing more lifestyle content alongside their awesome gaming videos. This really helped them connect with their fans on a more personal level.

In the years that followed, FaZe really took off. They grew in membership and popularity, with key members like Adapt, Jev, Banks, and Apex helping drive that surge in popularity. Their charisma and skill really showed in their videos and competitive performances, which brought in tons of new fans to FaZe. FaZe became more than just a gaming team, they became a whole brand. Their logo and merchandise were everywhere, worn proudly by fans. Even a few celebrities started to recognize them. They became symbols of the gaming industry. They began expanding into other games beyond Call of Duty as Call of Duty was losing some steam in popularity. Games like Counter-Strike and Fortnite were really stealing that spotlight that Call of Duty had before. By 2018, FaZe had established itself as a top-tier organization in the esports and gaming world. Their rise seemed to be unstoppable, with different investments, partnerships, and growth across a variety of different platforms. But you know what they say, success comes with its fair share of challenges, and FaZe Clan definitely faced some of those!

As FaZe Clan grew in popularity, the pressure really started to weigh in on them. With so many things to manage like streaming, merchandise, partnerships, content production and competitive teams, they became quite overwhelmed to say the least. Managing a much larger roster than before became extremely difficult, especially when some members got involved in controversies that damaged the organization’s reputation. For instance, in 2019, FaZe Jarvis was permanently banned from Fortnite for using aimbot software for a YouTube video, which sparked a huge backlash despite his tearful apology.

Things escalated in 2021 when several members of FaZe, including FaZe Kay, Jarvis, Nikan, and Teeqo, were accused of promoting a cryptocurrency called SaveTheKids, which turned out to be a pump-and-dump scheme. This scandal led to Kay’s removal and the suspension of several others. These controversies and disputes significantly impacted FaZe’s reputation.

Besides these public controversies, the financial side of FaZe also started to fail. The organisation had poured tons of money into rapid expansion, aiming to keep up with the broader esports and influencer trends. As prices rose, so did the demands for revenue. The strain became apparent in 2022 and 2023, with several members either leaving FaZe or just let go entirely. Fans, including myself, noticed, and some began to drift away, finding new groups and creators to support.

By late 2023, FaZe Clan was on the brink of irrelevance. The team was not in a good place, with many original members either leaving or distancing themselves from the brand, and FaZe’s once-loyal fans were wondering if the organization could make it another year.

Just when things seemed at their darkest, FaZe Banks made a massive announcement on X/Twitter on April 27th, 2024 regarding the future of the organisation.

He announced a major change in the roster, cutting down to a focused, dedicated group of 14 core members. The roster consisted of Adapt, Apex, Banks, Jasontheween, Jev, Kaysan, Lacy, Nickmercs, Plaqueboymax, Replays, Stable Ronaldo, Rug, Scope, Silky, Swagg, Temperr, Your_rage, and Zoomaa. When this was announced, fans were pretty sceptical if this was going to work out. At this time, the majority of people had no clue who Jasontheween, Lacy, Plaqueboymax and Silky even were. On August 31st 2024, FaZe announced that they would be doing a 30 day subathon for the whole month of September.

Now, the FaZe subathon was a bit different compared to other subathons done in the past. Six key members of FaZe (Adapt, Ron, Lacy, Jason, Max, and Silky) participated in the subathon, each streaming at the same time with their own timers. If one timer ran out, the whole subathon would end. This let fans connect with the streamers better since they were live 24/7, making it quite a unique experience.

The subathon was packed with a bunch of different entertaining segments, ranging from a basketball trick shot segment to a FaZe video game night. One of my favourite segments from the whole subathon was when Ron and Adapt tried to make a grilled cheese at 2 o’clock in the morning. Ron and Adapt have horrible cooking skills. Take a guess what they used as a pan. a strainer. Yes, a strainer. To make this segment even more hilarious, they nearly burned down the whole FaZe house as the strainer actually caught on fire.

Their limited cooking knowledge made this segment extremely funny. Many viewers began to compare Ron and Adapt to Mordecai and Rigby from the amazing cartoon show, “Regular Show”. To make this claim even more factual, at the end of the subathon, FaZe held an award show and just take a guess who won best duo.

 

Yes, it was Ron and Adapt.

Now, one of the most iconic clips of the subathon is when Jasontheween hit 100k subscribers on twitch. To put this into perspective, Jason had around 14,000 active subscribers at the start of the subathon. The fact how he was able to even reach that milestone in just a mere 30 days is just absolutely incredible in my opinion. The clip itself was crazy as each member of FaZe was there in Jason’s room the moment he hit this incredible milestone. And not only that, right after he hit 100k, he started playing New Jeans’ hit song ETA. Which now is one of the most viral songs on the internet right now.

https://twitter.com/FaZe_HQ/status/1840612196771942800

It’s no doubt that the subathon itself went extremely viral, becoming one of Twitch’s most-watched events to date. As new and old fans followed the subathon, the excitement grew. People who had followed FaZe since the beginning felt a renewed connection, while new fans discovered the magic of FaZe for the first time. By the end of the subathon, FaZe had brought in millions of new subscribers and followers, thousands of whom joined just to be a part of the comeback.

The FaZe subathon ended only a week ago, but I think it’s safe to say that FaZe clan is officially back. Thanks to this subathon, FaZe has entered a new era, the streaming era. This new era isn’t just a return to their early days. FaZe Clan has changed, and so have its fans. With more experience, a fresh purpose, and a focus on community, FaZe’s comeback story is inspiring for everyone in the gaming world. This subathon gave me the inspiration to start streaming on twitch actually. In the end, FaZe Clan’s journey shows resilience and the strength of a passionate community. They proved that in esports, a setback doesn’t have to mean the end, it can be the start of something even better.