From Summer to Fall in no time flat!
It’s hard to believe we are almost halfway through August. School supplies have begun lining shelves in local stores, both big and small.
It won’t be long until the fall decorations are on every porch and front lawn around the neighbourhood.
Before we know it, Thanksgiving turkeys and large carnucopias will make an appearance on those lawns, joining the fall decorations.
Depending on what country you live in, and when Thanksgiving comes, you may even see some Halloween decorations mingled in with those Thanksgiving pieces.
Of course, along with Fall comes pumpkins, and all of their spices everywhere. The air gets crisper and cooler, the flannel shirts, and favourite jeans come out, and marshmallows are roasted around a roaring campfire. A favourite hoodie is also a common sight this time of year.
Keeping busy indoors with video games during the long cold winters.
Right behind Fall is the season most people do not look forward to, winter. With it’s bitter cold temperatures, large snowstorms, freezing rain and ice everywhere, it can be very treacherous being outside in the winter.
And, although there may be many beautiful sunny winter days, and too many fun outdoor winter activities to count, a lot of free time in the winter is spent indoors.
From Atari to Playstation and Xbox, and everything in between.
Chances are you already have at least one type of gaming system in your home right now, or at some point over the years. You may have multiple systems in your home, or maybe you’ve never owned one.
But, I bet at some point in your life, you’ve played some kind of video game, or at least watched someone play one.
Video games have come along way from the large standing machines in arcades back in the 70s and 80s. Nowadays, you can even play them on your cellphone, or other handheld devices.
Besides the numerous different types of gaming systems, there are also various companies who make video games. And while some games are available for every type of system sold in stores, there are other games that are only available for specific gaming systems.
The love of video games.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of video games for children and adults of all ages. Everyone seems to have their favourite genre of video games that they love to play, and some people have favourite gaming consoles they prefer to play their games on. If you were to ask your closest friends and family members what their favourite video games are, you would likely get different answers from each person.
However, having said that, there are some video games that are very popular, and people from all different walks of life seem to enjoy playing them, either as an individual, or online with other people around the world. There are endless numbers of chat rooms, blogs, webpages, and community boards where gamers can meet up and discuss their beloved games. The gaming industry is vast and forever growing and changing, as it tries to keep up with all the advances in technology and what it is the customers are looking for. Gaming companies are forever releasing updates to their games, or newer versions of the game, so that their players will stay invested in the game, and the game stays fresh and interesting.
Companies also distribute merchandise displaying the title and logo of the game, as well as the characters that star in the game. Retail stores that carry the games, sometimes will have midnight launch parties on the day specific games are being released, and have giveaways, or amazing deals on merchandise that goes with the games, as well as special edition versions of the particular game.
What are people playing these days?
Let’s dive right into some of the games that are very popular right now.
#1 – Apex Legends
One of the most popular games in the world, Apex Legends has had over 100 million players since it launched back in 2019. It is a first person shooter game, that can be played alone or with others in a group. It has a Battle Royale component to it, and amazing visuals.
What makes this game so popular, is that it is completely free to play on all consoles. Players on Playstation and Xbox consoles do need a paid monthly subscription to play online if they want to play online against other players in the game.
This games is available for Windows on the PC, Playstation, Xbox, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and coming in 2022, it will be available for Android and IOS for mobile devices.
#2 – Minecraft Survival
If you have a child between the ages of say five and twenty, it’s more than likely that you’ve had to sit through a virtual tour of their Minecraft world at least once, if not many, many times.
Minecraft is a virtual 3D building block game, where the possibilities are endless. Players can see their wildest dreams come to life, as they build whatever their heart desires.
From working farms, to amusement parks, large castles with fire breathing dragons, fortresses with soldiers bearing swords and other weapons ready for battle, there are hours and hours of fun for the players as they build their empires.
Players can create an account and log into the Minecraft server, and play online with other gamers.
It has been very popular since it’s release date. Parents and children alike love the mathematical and educational component to this game, that is involved in building all the worlds.
Minecraft Survival is currently available for Playstation, Xbox, WiiU, Nintendo Switch, and Windows.
#3 – League of Legends
Another free game out there that is gaining in popularity, is called League of Legends. While Apex Legends is a first person shooter game, League of Legends’s format is a multiplayer online battle arena. Players can create a premade lobby to invite friends into play, or they can choose to be put on a computer generated randomly selected team.
It’s a fast paced game with various challenging levels and when it was first launched in 2009, it was one of the first game of it’s kind.
Players can rise up through the ranks as their play becomes better, and the game will reward them for the levels they reach, and they can be placed in elite divisions to battle other players who are also very skilled.
This game is currently only available for the PC.
#4 – Red Dead Redemption 2
The Red Dead Redemption games are extremely well known for the intricate details, and amazing graphics in the open world settings. The incredible storylines take the player through the wild, wild, west where there are outlaws, gunslingers, bar fights, and even some damsels in distress.
From every leaf on the trees, to the hairs in the horses manes, the graphics in the second RDR, are outstanding, and very life like, and provide a beautiful backdrop for the player to enjoy while they are going through the story.
There is lots to see and do in this game, with extra challenges along the way to keep things interesting. Various maps are available to help the player navigate through the wilderness, as they try and complete all the tasks, and eventually finish the game.
This game is currently available for Windows, Playstation, and Xbox.
# 5 – Super Mario Maker 2
Almost everyone has played or seen, some version of Super Mario Brothers. One of the first games we ever had as children in the 80s, was Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt for our Nintendo. We played that game for hours. My brother was way better at it then me, and he would always, always find all the secret passageways, and bonus stuff that allowed him to change worlds, and level up way faster than anyone else.
Fast forward to present day, and we have Super Mario Maker 2. It is an amazing game where the player can build their own courses using tools listed on the screen. Players can create courses both old and new for hours, and hours of fun and nostalgia.
Multiplayer is available on this game, which makes it fun to play with a friend or family member.
This game is currently only available on the Nintendo Switch, and has become very popular, bringing together generations of gamers who love Mario.
#5 – Call of Duty: Warzone
Warzone is another first person shooter/battle royale type game, that can be played alone, or with a group of players. It was launched in 2019 as part of Call of Duty Modern Warfare. Players have found it a little harder to play solo than as a team, but it’s been gaining popularity recently.
The big draw to Warzone, is that if a player gets killed in battle, they can go to a fight room, and battle to come back to life. There are also self-revival kits hidden throughout the map that players can find and use to come back to life. This is something that other games haven’t had in the past.
One downside of Warzone, is that it has been regularly hacked, which causes problems for all of it’s players around the world.
This game is currently available for Playstation, Xbox, and Windows.
So many games, so little time..
The games listed above, are some of the most popular videos games being played right now around the world.
Of course, like everything else in the world, things change in a heartbeat. Fads and trends come and go, and everyone wants to have the next best thing. Games come and go, some last only a minute, while others last decades.
It’s hard to say why some games flourish for years and years, while others shine bright for a few months only to fizzle out.
If you don’t already have a video game that you love, and aren’t sure which one might be right for you, you can go onto Youtube and check out all the games there. Pretty well every game out there has put a game trailer on Youtube for anyone to check out.
However, many of them have made cinematic trailers with CGI animated characters, and they don’t necessarily look like the way they do in the game. If you want to see what the actual game looks like, type in the name of the game, followed by the word gameplay in the Youtube search bar, and that will show you what the real game looks like.
Finding the right system to play games on can be daunting, and extremely challenging. The Big Bang Theory did a whole episode on this very topic, when Sheldon couldn’t decide between a Playstation, or an Xbox. Each individual has their own needs and expectations from the gaming console, so it’s best to do your research, and decide which one is best for you. You can always try one out at your friends or family’s houses, and some of the big box stores allow you to try display models, so you can see what it’s like before you buy one.
Keeping up with the Joneses.
As mentioned earlier, what’s popular today, maybe not be popular tomorrow, or next month. There are many ways to keep up with the gaming trends, and to stay informed.
The gaming companies have social media pages, and will promote any upcoming game releases, or upgrades, so that’s a great place to stay informed of what’s coming in terms of gaming.
Some of the large box stores that sell the gaming consoles and games, have newsletters that they give out at their locations detailing upcoming game releases, in-store events and future sales.
Chase away those winter blues with a game.
This year when the cold weather hits, grab a controller, and venture off into a world unknown, the possibilities are endless, and every day can be a new adventure!