“I Will Show You The Dark Side:” The Complexities of Kylo Ren

On By Matthew CourserIn EditorialsLeave a comment

One of the first characters revealed for Disney and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the new villain Kylo Ren.

We were introduced to this tall, masked figure in the first teaser for the film. With his fiery red lightsaber and cloaked in black, Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, had big shoes to fill.

Coming off classic villains like the menacing Darth Vader and devilish Emperor Palpatine, Kylo had a lot of expectations thrown his way. Some of them fair, others not. Though some of the expectations may seem unreasonable I believe Kylo Ren is the character Anakin Skywalker should have been.

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Operation Hydra for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

New Operation Released for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

On By Joseph SoltisIn NewsLeave a comment

The wait for a new operation for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is over as Valve released Operation Hydra on May 23 with new maps, modes, and collectibles for all players to enjoy.

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New Study: Up to 42% of Esports Viewers Do Not Play the Games They Watch

On By Joseph SoltisIn NewsLeave a comment

A new study that was conducted by Newzoo shows that 42% of the viewers of esports don’t play the game or games they watch. Accordingly, the Newzoo study that was conducted in 10 countries shows that viewers can range from players of the game to viewers only.

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The Japanese Gaming Renaissance

On By Brent JohnsonIn FeaturesLeave a comment

Video games for much of their infancy were closely associated with the Japanese giants that developed incredible experiences. During much of my childhood the country of Japan and the constant stream of incredible games coming from it went hand in hand. 

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Sleeping Nightmares: Cosmic Horror in Film

On By Frank EslingerIn FeaturesLeave a comment

Imagine sitting in a glass boat floating upon an endless ocean. It’s a dark, moonless night. The light of countless stars twinkle and shine down, illuminating the limitless sea. The water is calm, almost like glass…

Above stretches the infinite void of space, filling the sky. Below the fragile glass vessel is nothing but the inky blackness of the crushing ocean depths.

Floating. Waiting. Vulnerable in the tiny glass boat.

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The Power of the Past: Nostalgia and “Coming Home”

On By Frank EslingerIn FeaturesLeave a comment

Nostalgia is a powerful connection to the things we love.

Through all of our senses, it ties us to our memories. When you smell that food that brings you back to your childhood dinner table. When you hear the song that reminds you of that friend or family-member you don’t talk to anymore. Or even that movie that you saw as a child that conjures memories of those listless summer days when you recreated the hero’s adventures.

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Counter-Strke: Global Offensive MLG Columbus Major - Photo Credit: Joseph Soltis

‘Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’ – How A Game Became An Esport

On By Joseph SoltisIn FeaturesLeave a comment

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the biggest games out right now due to its following in the esports community, but what is Counter-Strike and why should anyone care about it?

The Counter-Strike franchise is a tactical first-person shooter game that pits a team of counter-terrorists against terrorists in situations that deal with tactical game-play situations. Situations like diffusing bombs and rescuing hostages.

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Nintendo’s Bid for Mindshare: The State of the Switch

On By Brent JohnsonIn FeaturesLeave a comment

           Nintendo had a monumental challenge on its hands with the launch of the Nintendo Switch, its new crossover handheld/home console, when it released on March 3rd. Nintendo had to prove that it could appeal to a general market while still re-capturing its target audience.
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