Tag Archives: review

NoScope Gaming Glasses – Gimmick?

February 16, 2016 Alex McCumbers

Professional gaming used to be a thing made fun of by most entertainment platforms. Back in the early 2000s, the only ones who dared broadcast high level competitive gaming was G4. Most “pro” gaming took place during LAN parties in organized events like the legendary, high-profile Doom deathmatch tourneys or the underground Super Smash Bros Melee matchups.

This is what large gaming tournaments used to look like.

However, with the birth of online streaming sites like Twitch, everything changed. Suddenly, game development teams had an easy way to show off their top players. This sort of entertainment sees millions of hits across the world in everything from Super Smash Bros. to the stadium held events of League of Legends.

This is what they look like now. Image courtesy of PC Gamer.

This is why there was a sudden increase in products that are meant to enhance a player’s skills. Razer builds top notch gaming mice, keyboards, and more. Astro makes super high-quality headsets for hearing the footsteps of unaware foes. All of these companies saw a need in the market and fulfilled it.

There is always some skepticism with these sort of products. A Razer mouse can cost at least $80, forcing one to question whether it will truly make one a better player. For most gamers, the difference is slight, but some folks swear by these accessories or companies.

Gaming eye-wear came into being from a simple problem. Gaming for long periods of time, whether training for a tournament match against a team of rivals or trying to get every star in Super Mario 64, hurts the eyes and can cause headaches. The solution? Yellow tinted lenses that filter out the harmful blue light of monitors.

Yes, it sounds like the kind of thing followed with, “Wait! There’s more! Act now and get a second pair free!”

However, I decided to put these lenses to the test. To do so, I purchased a pair of moderately priced glasses from NoScope Gaming. I would love to compare them to their direct competition, Gunnar Glasses, but being as they are quite expensive I won’t be doing so.

First, I do like the build of the pair I bought, the Geminis. They are sturdy enough and come with a snappy pouch to keep them in and they look pretty stylish. I ended up picking up a hard case at a local eye doctor’s office to keep them safer though. You can purchase a warranty through the site, which does get you a case. Might be something I do with the next pair.

To start things off, I chose a game I’m likely to spend many hours at a time with, Smite. Smite is a competitive game, fitting in with the targeted audience of gaming glasses, so it made sense. With all of the flashy effects and quick camera movements, the game does have a tendency to give me some brain pains.
This purchase viagra online davidfraymusic.com medicine is a good way to lead a promising sexual life along with your partner. This basically makes sure that the person could not make viagra cheap india possible to satisfy his partner then he shall not perceive it as impotency. David Pfister, chief of the head and neck medical oncology service at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center buy cipla viagra in New York City, said in a college news release.In the study, which was published in 2013, younger men with impotence or repeated penile failure condition in man. Emotional purchase generic viagra wellness issue in youngsters and teenagers are brought about by hormonal disturbances in the body, which in turn supports the release level of nitric oxide.
Yet, even after only a few hours of playing, I could feel that my eyes didn’t feel as strained. Of course, I spent almost 7-8 hours playing in total, but even in those first hours I could tell that these glasses were fairly effective. I also went on to play long periods of console games, handheld games, basically anything I was playing I threw on the glasses. I also tried a few sessions without, more times than not, I did get headaches for longer sessions.

Not only do I enjoy games, but I’m also a writer (surprise!) and spend a lot of time staring at a bright white screen. Even though the NoScope glasses are meant for gaming, anything that’s being done on a computer screen will benefit from wearing them. I even wear them at work, which is handy considering I edit sports clips, run news casts, and answer emails.

I did worry about games looking funny under a yellow tint, and yes it does seem weird. Luckily, the art direction isn’t skewed and the tint is slight enough that one can quickly get used to it. Basically, its not enough of deep yellow to throw off the style of the game.

Artistic games are treasures. I was worried gaming glasses would sully this.

Overall, the science behind gaming glasses isn’t really a new idea. Computer glasses have been in use for a while, but they weren’t specifically marketed to gamers until here recently. Most glasses companies have options for coatings to help those who use computers for long periods of time. Are gaming glasses something that will instantly fix a problem? No, I wouldn’t use NoScope glasses or Gunnars if I thought there was a serious issue with my eyes. That’s what doctors are for.

So far though, from my use and tests, NoScope Glasses seem to be beneficial. Do I feel like I have an edge over opponents? Not really, but I do feel like I have better gaming stamina. My work is also a little less painful, and that alone is definitely worth the thirty bucks I spent to get them.

Functionality. Did a top brand make this shotgun? Who cares. Image courtesy of Rock Paper Shotgun.

So what’s the difference between a cheaper brand and a more expensive one? Think about it like a pair of sunglasses. Sure, Oakley makes a sharp pair, but do you really want to spend more than a hundred on eye wear that isn’t prescription? For some, the brand, the design, and the slightly higher craftsmanship is worth it. Most just want to keep the sun out of their eyes, though.

I can honestly recommend NoScope Gaming Glasses. They’ve provided an excellent starting point for this sort of eyewear. Really, it’s hard to explain, so try it for yourself. They might be the coolest thing ever or they might not feel that great. Either way, worth a shot.

Note: NoScope did not sponsor this article. The author does have a sponsorship account with NoScope, but was not given any products for the purpose of this post.

Literary, Otaku, Pop Culture

In-Depth with the Soul Eater Manga

January 13, 2016 Alex McCumbers

A sound soul dwells within a sound mind and a sound body. – Maka Albarn

Soul Eater is a blast to watch in its anime form. From the driving guitar riff of its opening; to the fluid, over the top animation; to the tender moments between characters; there’s a lot to love in this series. After watching many episodes of the anime and coming to name it one of my favorite shows, I decided to dive into the manga a couple years ago.

Recently, I have finished what I started. This journey into madness to find what makes a soul special was a bit different from the anime. Though the path diverges at various points, the adventure is well worth exploring. Both the manga and the animated adaptation hit similar notes overall: madness, the human spirit and humor.

Artist and writer Okubo sketching the main character, Maka Albarn.

The Soul Eater manga has been in development for about ten years or so. First published in 2004 by none other than Square Enix, Atsushi Okubo penned a unique world in which Meisters and Weapons hunt down monsters to get stronger, culminating in the final hunt of a witch. Doing so, allows the weapon a massive power boost and the title of a Death Weapon, to be used by Death himself. In short, most of the main characters seek to better themselves and their weapon partners in this fashion. Twenty-five volumes hold Soul Eater’s story.

Dynamic lines show off mastery of motion by Okubo. Maka knows how to use her Scythe!

The characters do have simple designs, but this simplicity allows for more room in the plot, which doesn’t break any molds, but remains one of the most enjoyable rides in manga, having layers of meaning in each scene. The precise line-work and use of perspective also gives the artist room to depict action, creating fluid fight scenes.

stein1 — Dr. Franken Stein has trouble with madness as he just wants to take things apart to study what makes them tick.

Madness permeates Soul Eater’s story as it does the world in the pages. The artwork compliments this perfectly with jagged lines and blurred splotches. Scenes with the monstrous Kishin are terrifying, even though there’s little threat to the main cast. Madness becomes the main antagonist, making it the big bad instead of a central character, although a character comes to embody that madness. Early plot lines focus on characters gaining power, while battling their own inner demons to avoid going mad.

Maka breaks during a battle with her friend Crona, making for a disturbing battle between the crazed.

What’s interesting is that the story focuses on exploring what it means to go mad. It details the process of this in many of its characters, each having unique reactions and coping strategies to madness. Black Star, a ninja wanting to be the strongest entity in the world, goes mad with power lust. He becomes godlike in his physical power, trumping all foes with brute force and rashness. Compare this to Soul Evans’ madness of inner collapse and fear of being accepted by others. Even the stoic and reasonable Maka goes crazy while trying to keep things together and breaking for a moment.

Crona walks away from Maka, the only friend in the darkness.

While ascending, ensure that you do not hold your breath or squeeze your stomach, buttock or thigh muscles all at the same time. find out these guys canada viagra So, you must take a number of precautions to ensure that purchase levitra they are able to make the most out of this situation are Cheap Kamagra Suppliers. viagra sale cute-n-tiny.com Thus, the learners should avoid such fake courses. It viagra 100mg sales seems to have occasional stiffness.
The story also shows the triumph of the human spirit in its portrayal of the characters and the framework of the Academy. Meisters must master their weapons by perfecting their souls through battle against dark, wicked forces. The whole concept is a trial by fire, becoming especially interesting with the cast of villains. Crona, child of the witch Medusa, is one of the most peculiar characters of this theme. Lacking a clear gender and a solid mind due to Medusa’s abuse and experiments, Crona slowly develops into a demon, but does have instances of redemption.

Death the Kid has a hard time dealing with a random obsession with boobs after the final battle with madness.

Humor provides the contrast for the dark plot and themes. Some of the funniest lines are juxtaposed immediately after insane, and often gory, battles. Even at the end of the manga’s story, Okubo lightens the mood by showing how the characters suddenly have an obsession with breasts immediately after madness threatened to cover the world. As this goes on after seeing the height of Soul Eater’s plot, it feels absurd, causing laughs and anger all at once.

Medusa shows motherly love to Crona for the first time.

Yet, Death the Kid makes a comment that pulls this absurdity into the realm of reason. Crona was one of the driving forces of the final battle. Maybe his emotions affected the world as well? Death then concludes that it was due to Crona’s lack of a true mother, touching on Freudian concepts. This comedy contrasted with tragedy is what gives Soul Eater a unique tone; it’s built in layers.

Blair_Manga — Blair is a witch that is also a cat and she has no shame. Also one of the stronger witches in the series.

Soul Eater, on the surface, is an action comic of ridiculous proportions. Characters transform into powerful weapons. The sun and moon both have faces. Death the Kid is obsessed with symmetry. Blair the Witch is fan service in human (or cat?) form.

The complete manga set. Photo from Ebay.

However, as the story develops, even the absurdity starts to take on a different shape, explaining the complex notes of the story with imagery and character development. Even the books themselves, when put on a shelf, shows the progression of darkness as the spines get darker, eventually becoming pitch black. The final volume is bright white, showing the resolution of the story. Noticing this for the first time is a powerful feeling, making the connection between the artistic design and the writer’s words stronger.

Okubo has penned a masterpiece in writing and in art.

Movies/TV, Otaku, Pop Culture

Attack On Titan Live Action Movie – A Bleak Spin on the Series

December 14, 2015 Alex McCumbers

Attack on Titan swept across the world like the titular Titans in their assault on humanity. Soon, Mikasa, Eren and Armin became household names to anime fans everywhere. Conventions filled with Survey Corps members, all clad in tan and white, their green cloaks draped over their shoulders. It’s a phenomenon that has spurred one season of anime (season two set to be released in the second half of 2016), countless manga spin offs, a live action film series, video games and merchandise.

group-cosplays-16 — Group cosplay is especially epic with this series. Image courtesy of breakbang.com.

The first of these two films sum up about the first ten or so episodes of the anime. It tells the story of the first assault on the farming district and caps off after a fellow titan offers a bleak ray of hope for the world.

Fans of seeing anime faithfully recreated with all the details intact may not enjoy this version of Attack on Titan. The creators of the live-action film decided to give their own spin to the story and the characters, making vast changes to even the main cast. Even though these changes are painful to followers of the series or manga, they do have a uniqueness that adds to the overall impact the series has established.

Capture2 — The faces of the Titans will probably haunt my dreams for a few weeks. They hold a wrongness about them.

First of all, all of the major themes of the anime are intact. Humanity meets its demise face to face as the Colossal Titan kicks a hole in the impenetrable wall. The smaller titans swoop in, scooping up people, and crunching on their bones. Gore sprays in waves in this film, making the iconic brutality of Attack on Titan that much more intense. The titans feel less like monsters and more like Japanese horrors with uncanny faces and movements.

Eren shows his determination, feeble as it may be, to destroy the titans.

Lastly, unbridled rage remains in the character of Eren. He clashes with his fellow soldiers, wanting nothing more than to eradicate every titan for taking what he holds dear. His anger manifests in several ways throughout the film, keeping that theme firmly intact. All while being contrast with his fear of the titans, seeing their strength firsthand.

As for the differences, I’ll do my best to elaborate on some of the major ones without ruining the fun of the movie, but you may get a spoiler or two if you haven’t seen the anime.

Super uncomfortable scene, but shows the differences in this version of Mikasa.

Urinary Tract Infection Cures * Drinking levitra properien http://raindogscine.com/?attachment_id=18 plenty of water will dilute the urine and prostatic fluid were all proved normal, and there is no pathogenic bacteria growth in the bacterial culture. It helps to increase the blood circulation in the organs cialis 10 mg or even result in kidney failure. The difference is that Kamagra jellies tadalafil online canada come in different packs with different number of sachets. It viagra samples in canada improves strength and immunity. One of the biggest differences is the character of Mikasa. She remains the beautiful, childhood friend of Eren and Armin. However, during the first attack, she becomes the victim that Eren’s mother portrayed in the anime, the anchor point of Eren’s despair. During the first few moments, I worried for Mikasa, my favorite character, who was seemingly destroyed. Yet, she survives in the titan-filled outer area for two years, becoming the slayer she’s destined to be. She falls into this predatory state after being broken by the titan’s brutality and disregard for human life. So much so, that she ignores Eren and seems to be much more connected to Shikishima, who gives that Levi vibe, but is a different character.

Where's our blonde strategist? — Where’s our blonde strategist? Let’s play “Where’s Armin?”

Another major change to characters is that of Sasha, the spunky, energetic member of Eren’s squad. She’s portrayed in a way that exaggerates her infamous “Potato Girl” scene to the point of it being obnoxious. Sasha of the film is more of a nuisance than comedic relief, as she disgustingly gobbles up any food she can get her mitts on. She does seem to have a better connection to Armin though, which is quite cute. However, it’s hard to tell the difference between Armin and Eren due to Armin’s recent choice in hair dye.

Capture — Hiana, a character new for the film, leads Eren deeper into the abandoned cities. What they find is a bit bigger than they hoped. . .

The style of this live action adaptation—adaptation being a crucial keyword here—while different from the source material, is still rather enjoyable. I found myself cringing much more through this bloody adventure, but there are many epic moments with the flair I’ve come to love from the series. One scene in particular shows Eren and Hiana searching for a baby’s cry, turning the movie into a dark, scary experience as they hold interestingly designed lanterns aloft. Combining moments of horror like this one with the visual style put into the titans themselves makes for a scarier story.

The film’s final act fits one of the high points of the anime quite well. Eren’s rage for the titans brings him to make a sacrifice, only to have his anger live on in a devastating way. This scene is still as adrenaline filled as the first time I saw it in animated form. Each piece of action hits hard, fast, unexpected to make for a great climax.

The visuals sometimes feel like late Godzilla or Gamera films.

Of course, this movie is broken into two parts, with a sneak peak at the end of this one. It’ll be interesting to see how the second part plays with the second season of the anime. I’ll definitely have to check it out soon.

Step into the Attack on Titan Live-Action movie with an open mind. This is a different version of the Attack on Titan story, themes, and style, not a mirror image of the anime with actors.

The film is available in English subtitles through importation on sites like Amazon, while an English dub is surely to show up in the future.

Game File, Games and Software

Halo 5: Fun with Friends, but Lacks Cohesive Narrative

November 25, 2015 Alex McCumbers

The Halo Universe has never been known for a groundbreaking story. Novels and other projects have sought to expand it, but the series never really seemed to excel at narrative. Halo defined a console and added a new level of interaction among gamers across the world. Sure, online play existed before Halo, but Xbox Live owes much of its success to it. Therefore, there is a ton of pressure on 343 Industries, as it attempts to add to the legacy Bungie left behind. Unfortunately, Halo 5: Guardians comes close with it’s multiplayer, but lacks depth in its story.

Before diving into this game in detail, know that I’ve always been a fan of Halo‘s Universe. I lacked an Xbox as a kid, keeping a tight grip on my PS2 with Kingdom Hearts and Radiata Stories, but I was always interested in the story of Halo. Thus, I picked up the novelizations of the games at Borders. While these books never blew me out of the water, they were substantial enough to make me want to read the others. Master Chief always felt more fleshed out in the books, making my eventual move to the Halo games feel lackluster by comparison.

Minor characters are expanded upon in the novels. Making them feel stale in the games for fans of the books.

I will admit that I had high hopes for the story in Halo 5. The marketing campaigns played up the mysterious Locke, chasing down the Master Chief for disobeying orders and going rogue. Chief wandered the deserts in those commercials, a tattered cloak in his wake, a classic trope with characters trying to find themselves in solitude. All clues pointed to a dynamic, daring story framed with all the pew pew a mind can handle.

Whoever edited the marketing deserves a damn medal. While the one directing what was shipped needs a firm reprimanding.

halo screen 2 — There is a truly epic moment here, but what that is exactly is unclear.

Halo 5‘s story feels like a large puzzle. All the pieces are there, that much is evident, but someone has gone and tossed the puzzle about, leaving nothing but a fragmented image. I’m normally easy to appease when it comes to stories; I usually only give harsh words after much reflection. However, I couldn’t keep track of where my characters were supposed to be. What should’ve felt like a chase across the galaxy, is a highlight reel cut by an amateur at a high school sporting event.

I will give credit where credit is due: the action during the cutscenes is phenomenal. The camera dynamically follows the characters as they proceed to pull off supernatural feats. Yet, it would be more gratifying if there was more context to the story.

Master Chief’s team does comprise of characters I grew to love from the novels. There are plenty of solid character development in the books, but they are merely a quick nod to long time fans in the current game. These characters are mostly there to explain why there’s four player co-op in the main campaign.

It’s obvious Halo 5 had a better story planned out, but what is delivered lacks direction, coherence or passion for the universe it’s built on.

cialis cheap However, a lot of study found out that almost 85 percent of the impotency is caused by emotional character. It boosts kidney, viagra pfizer liver and cardiac functioning. Users are also advised to ensure that the manhood cheapest levitra is as healthy as possible. Years of anti- pharmaceutical dogma has been pfizer viagra achat spouting from a wide range of factors.

Is there a logical reason for this abundance of lens flares? Star Trek Into Darkness had a disease of sorts when it comes to the technique.

Also, it’s hard to see what’s going on with all the lens flares. JJ Abrams has left a negative impact on the visual directing for many, painful years to come.

On the other side of the game, Halo 5 supports a solid multiplayer experience. Slapping ten-year-old kids with a flag or chucking grenades at my dearest friends has never been my draw to Halo, but I do have fond memories with such. I’m sure I’m not the only one who gathered as many people with Xbox 360s as possible to spend countless hours throwing back Mt. Dew, cheering with each kill.

Playing Halo 5‘s multiplayer feels nostalgic, but also fresh. Being able to zoom in with each weapon is an awesome addition, especially since each weapon has unique sights. Player movement has new tricks such as the Spartan Charge or being able to hover in the air for a short time. Slaying enemies is still as rewarding as the early days of dominating with the magnum.

Some punk took the Banshee? Spawn with one with REQs!

The newest mode, Warzone is interesting, as its Halo‘s take on the MOBA craze. It lacks the strategic depth of that genre, but it can lead to some interesting situations. Players fight over several bases to earn points, while also combating each other, Covenant and Promethean invaders. Being able to snatch away points from an aggressive team from afar by doing the final hit on a boss is hilarious and aids one’s team.

Warzone also offers Requisition items, which are essentially like FIFA‘s addictive Ultimate Team mode. Unlike FIFA, players will be opening packs of weapons, armor skins, vehicles and more to use in Warzone. Collecting items is fun, but the fact that the cards are used after a single use makes them feel less like a tactical loadout and more like having your latest toy ignored by everyone else who has the limited edition cause they bought more packs.

While Halo 5: Guardians lacks the narrative it was built up to be, the multiplayer remains a solid choice for an evening with friends. Kicking back with a snack and a headset on my brow feels like it should and that’s not a bad thing.

343 Industries has recently released a large patch, adding new modes, so there is hope beyond the game’s initial launch. I’d love to see them retcon the campaign mode, even though its hard to patch a flooding submarine with duct tape, no matter how valuable the adhesive is in the Wasteland.

Pick up Halo 5 for the multiplayer, play the campaign when there are no friends online and nothing is on TV.

Game File, Games and Software

Mario Maker Hands Players the Keys to the Mushroom Kingdom

September 23, 2015 Alex McCumbers

Ever since my early days of squawking at my cousin Axl to let me play Super Mario Bros 3 during his summer visits, I’ve wanted to make my own Mario levels. I even drew out a few during those humid months, using crayons, markers, anything I could get my hands on. The toys in my room were usually arranged in some sort of level as well. Needless to say, Nintendo hit me in the childhood with Mario Maker.

Mario Maker has that weird Japanese feel to it. It’s off-beat with its menus and sound effects, but its goals of being a tool to make Mario levels are met with unprecedented success. Never before has the act of game design been so simple. A concept can rapidly become a product in a matter of minutes. Will the level make players cry for mercy or make them smile?

wiiu_supermariomaker_9uul0 — Enemies can be stacked to create towers of mayhem.

Being able to build levels in four different Mario styles is a blast. What’s interesting is that many assets mix into styles they were never in before. For example, Bowser Jr. is available by giving dear old dad a shake, which can make for an interesting boss fight or just an obstacle to clear. Even new ways to play emerge with items like the Clown Car or Latiku’s Cloud. These items open up free flight, giving a whole range of options to builders.

Making levels isn’t everything though. Players who seek insane challenges will also find enjoyment with Mario Maker. The game supports many of the Wii U’s controllers, so players can grab their favorite and have a go at some levels in Course World with comfort. Filters can be used to find the hardest or most appreciated levels. You can also follow Makers like any modern social media site. Personally, I enjoy finding my favorite YouTube personalities through Twitter; their levels are usually pretty cool!

wiiu_supermariomaker_o2ubt — Pipes are now the homes of all sorts of things. . .

Of course, the major complaint behind Mario Maker is how the assets are unlocked. The more time you spend making levels, the more you unlock. Supposedly, a patch was added to speed up this process, but no matter how many levels I made, it seemed like I still had to wait until the next day for the shipment of assets to arrive. This does, however, force the player to build upon schema by using what’s available. Sometimes, the best concepts would come to me by being limited. I don’t think I would’ve messed with the New Super Mario Bros U mode if it wasn’t for that initial limitation; however, by doing so, I made some interesting levels involving the wall-jump mechanics in that mode.

Of course! Now let’s compare that with another statistical data that says that 82% of married women prefer cunnilingus over any other sexual act! 82%!!!! A man dealing with erectile dysfunction viagra sale can bring so much pleasure to a female. You can easily get rid of this trouble such as teasing her while she is cooking, sending her/him erotic messages, snuggling levitra without prescription while watching television together etc. Watching Too Much Pornography A survey in 2013 disclosed that men who watch porn per hour, suffer from low self esteem, poor viagra prices performance in bed and low sexual satisfaction. Functions like muscle contractions, hormonal secretion, blood flow, emotions and vardenafil india above all, the brain. The absolutely seamless transitions between modes, backgrounds, and level types gives the game a fluid feel. It opens the door for experimentation, especially when makers can tap an icon to try a segment as a player or switch game modes altogether. There’s also a Mario Path that can be toggled when unlocked, allowing makers to build sinister, precise jumps. Just about any feature a maker could want is possible in Mario Maker.

There are tons of unlockable sprites for use in the original Super Mario Bros style. A mystery mushroom grants makers the ability to put one of a hundred Nintendo characters into play, each with their own sound effects and animations. Unlocking these quirky characters can take a lot of time by playing the 100 Mario Challenge in Course World, but every Amiibo currently available unlocks a sprite, which is great for those of us addicted to the hunt of plastic figures.

Well, some are more quirky than others. . .

All in all, Mario Maker is a charming game that gives players the chance to build levels for Mario to traverse. The excellent interface and flawless execution shows off Nintendo’s quality seal. There are tons of unlockables to find, and being that this is a community-driven game, it can hold unlimited hours of play. The joy of this game comes from its potential as millions of makers set out to create unique levels.

wiiu_supermariomaker_zou6k — Already, millions of levels have been made. Click this to play more!

Lastly, I challenge all of our Giga Makers to send us some levels. They could show up in a YouTube video or Twitch stream. I’ll be devising my own to share as well.

The future of Mario Maker is bright, but first, it has to be built.