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e3 June 23, 2019
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Google Stadia: The evolution of gaming, internet takeover, or is it both?

Google’s bottomless pockets are back at it again.

It is no mystery that today’s capitalistic society is run by high revenue generating companies. Facebook, Amazon, and Netflix are examples of a handful of companies that make astronomical amounts of money; they stack their billions like pancakes at IHOB.

They reinvest their profits into emerging assets as any well-oiled company should. However, they’ve also been known to crush any competition in their path simply by creating a rival product with almost limitless funding. Please see SnapChat.

While these companies have been known to be conglomerates, they’ve also paved the way for the evolution of technology. Google has been scheming for years on ways to enter the video game market.

Their patience has paid off as they now have unraveled their plan. Formerly known as, Project Stream, Stadia is Google’s attempt at making waves in a market dominated by PCs, Microsoft’s Xbox, and Sony’s PS4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AffodEEF4ho

Traditionally, video games have required some physical medium to play on. Consoles and PCs are the most popular mediums used today. Stadia is adapting to the current state of technology by streaming video games without any traditional hardware.

All one needs to play video games on Stadia is an internet connection and Google Chrome. Some aficionados have dubbed this as a turning point in the history of gaming.

No longer is there a need for a console and bulky hardware. Connect to the internet via Google Chrome and in an instant, users will be gaming in 4K resolution and 5.1 surround sound streaming at 60 fps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HikAuH40fHc

Right off the bat, Stadia comes out swinging against the heavy-hitters of the video game industry. It’s streaming specs equal that of the PlayStation and Xbox.

It also suits gamers that are on the go with its uber-mobility feature where all a user would need is an internet connection. This feature rivals the Nintendo Switch and mobile games; playing console games on the go is a revolutionary feature and is slowly becoming the industry feature.

Stadia allows users to play anytime, anywhere. Accessibility is the main feature that promoted. Along with physical accessibility, there is also financial accessibility. Stadia’s pricing model comes with two options: Stadia Base and Stadia Pro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdUshWn8uM0

Stadia Base is free, but only provides 1080p resolution and allows the ability to buy games whenever. The Stadia Pro model offers 4K resolution and 5.1 surround sound streaming at 60 fps. Users can buy games whenever, receive free games, and receive discount offers for new releases. All this for $9.99 a month.

With all these positives, there’s bound to be negatives for balance. Google has made this product native to only their platform. That means that Google will own all the main hardware and own all the data associated with a user’s account.

If Google wanted to, they could pressure users into using only their own internet and raise the prices as if they are holding users’ data hostage. A user is essentially sacrificing ownership for lower pricing.

Inconsistency is also a pressing issue for Stadia. The feasibility of holding a stable internet connection while streaming in the highest quality seems skeptical. What happens to in-game lagging if the internet connection is not consistent?

Also, since Google is collecting data, storage space would need to expand and keep pace with user growth. In addition to the skepticism, Stadia does not allow for offline gaming. Internet only.

Stadia is a promising product that could attract a whole new breed of gamers to the industry. Google is reaching deep in their pockets to make this plan a reality.

The hope is that Google stays true to its former corporate code of conduct: Don’t Be Evil.

e3 June 16, 2017
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E3 roundup: The ‘Big Three’ show what the future of gaming looks like

Once again another E3 comes and goes, elevating the way we as an audience interact with the digital landscape. Every time we ask where the ceiling on awe-inspiring, action-packed, and completely revolutionary experiences could be, the gaming industry proves to us that not even the sky is the limit.

So where do we start in our look back on this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo?

Each of the ‘Big Three’ proved this year that the focus has, and will always be, on the core experience, which is a welcomed adoption of philosophy where games will always be the focal point.

Xbox just unveiled their new Xbox One X system

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVN7wZ9h0hZ/

Xbox’s press conference this year made good on the promise of their claims of a transcendent console experience as the Xbox One X made its debut on the main stage, boasting a monolithic six teraflops of computing power and liquid cooling in a console that is wildly smaller than any Microsoft console to date.

The One X’s challenge to the gaming world is it’s focus on 4K gameplay that remains prolific throughout even the most dense of worlds.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BT74Wjalt4Z/

Right out of the release window for the One X will be games that truly capitalize on the capabilities that the One X can provide such as Forza Motorsport 7, Microsoft’s premier racing game, Metro Exodus, the sequel to the 2013 best seller Metro Last Light by 4A Games, and the next entry in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ digital franchise Middle Earth: Shadow of War.

The next generation of Xbox One X games will be visually insane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8kZY-dl5OI

Of course, fan-favorite, stand out titles were abundant. Fans weren’t sure if Dragonball Fighter Z, a 3v3 hyper-fighter brought to us by the Guilty Gear team Arksys Games, would actually be good, or Bioware’s new IP Anthem would provide stellar visual fidelity.

Obviously the usual suspects made their appearance at Xbox’s press conference, with Assassin’s Creed taking a year off to bring us a reassuring return to character with Assassin’s Creed Origins and Minecraft’s announcement of 4K (which is the dumbest thing ever in my opinion). In any case, no one can deny the strong return to form that Xbox has had this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVVfixIhHoh/

In Sony’s defense, this year (and frankly almost every year after E3 2015) was lukewarm, but the Japanese juggernaut proved that it knows how to stay the course with its focus on strong titles backed by their partnerships with third party developers.

What essentially boiled down to an hour and a half of trailers showed a pretty impressive line up for the coming year.

Marvel showed that their future is now

Swing into action with the new #SpiderManPS4 gameplay footage that just premiered at #E32017! 🕸️ [link in bio]

A post shared by Marvel Entertainment (@marvel) on

Marvel’s had a great presence at E3 on Sony’s stage as Spiderman showed us that it actually is possible to make good Marvel franchise games. The webswinger has never looked better (not since Spiderman 2 anyway) in a cinematic open world foray through the streets of the Big Apple, and their cross-universe promotion with fighting game legend Capcom in Marvel vs Capcom Infinite proves that simplicity can be interesting if approached correctly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVVJ6vYFcBL/

God of War made an appearance, yet again displaying more of Sony Santa Monica Studio’s development within the tragedy that is Kratos’ existence, transitioning over from Greek to Norse mythology has actually proven to be an interesting take on the origin tale.

Sony is stepping up their VR experience

Media on site checking out PlayStation VR in NYC 👍

A post shared by PlayStation (@playstation) on

Surprisingly, Sony has shown dedication to their journey into VR, displaying what seems to be competent attempts into making good games for this new medium. Titles such as the surprisingly fun first person shooter/mindtrip SUPERHOT, smaller-than-life indie adventure tale Moss by Polyarc, and the curious Monsters of the Deep expansion for Final Fantasy XV by Square Enix show Sony’s intent in this space.

Though the true standout (in my humble opinion) would have to go to the amazing remake to Team Ico’s Shadow of the Colossus, which brings the emotional PS2 sleeper hit on to new grounds and the nostalgic trip down memory lane with the reboot of everyone’s favorite, Crash Bandicoot.

All in all, Sony put up a good show, but noticeable absences like Final Fantasy 7 remake, and Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding proves that age old adage of unsustainability of hype over long periods of time.

Nintendo showed that they’re committed to the Switch

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUkEpRdBKHG/

And last, but certainly not least, was Nintendo’s half hour montage of its newest additions for the Nintendo Switch, which launched earlier this year.

The Nintendo Direct, shown by semi-approachable Nintendo executives, provided a look at titles such as Pokken Tournament DX, the update to the decent Pokémon fighting game, the announcement of the internet sensation Rocket League coming to the Switch, and brand new entries into their long running series such as Kirby, Yoshi, and surprisingly Metroid with Metroid Prime 4.

Goal by Squishy Muffinz 😍⚽🔥 I found this 🎥 on @iloverocketleague

A post shared by Rocket League (@rocketleague) on

The big money ticket of their lineup was undoubtedly Super Mario Odyssey with its impressively catchy theme song, familiar open world platforming gameplay, and beautiful environments, which comes out later this year on October 27th.

Of course, as much happened off the main stages as on them. It’s nearly impossible to document the amazing things that were on display, but E3 never fails to reignite that familiar feeling of exhilarating fun, and passion for digital experiences.