Microsoft X Call of Duty: Is it all doom and gloom?

Can a select amount of gamers or even the FTC stop the Microsoft Activision Blizzard acquisition? It's possible... but it will be a violation of sorts. Microsoft said it's a violation of its Fifth Amendment rights to be exact.

Are we against Microsoft being the Call of Duty publisher? Yes & No, it depends on the way they try to play it. If they took the route that allows the franchise to continue to be released to other platforms like usual... then... yes, if they don't, then... not so much. At the same time... it could be inevitable, but that doesn't mean the ability to for the hand of its new owner... is out of the picture.

Gamers are the reason Activision Blizzard is a thing... just as much as Microsoft. Remember that little thing called support. Remember what happened with Xbox One & ole'... Adam Orth? Hell broke loose.

The launch was a disaster all the way around... because of the absolutely 100% crap of a DRM dish they tried to serve us. Even the Xbox Big Boss Phil Spencer said the console's controversial policies could have been handled better. To that I say... you're damn right. The system was going to be nothing more than a brick once the company moved on to the next console, because of the way things were set up... forget about going back to playing used games.

Forget about even taking your Xbox One to a friend's house to... fun it up for more than the allowed time, because you'd have to go back home to unlock it again. They were forced to go back to the drawing board, so when it comes to games in the Activision Blizzard catalog, is Microsoft willing to play with their bottom line? 

Microsoft continues to speak on its public pledge to make Call of Duty more broadly available, mentioning Nintendo, and... Sony. I won't say that I'm riding for Microsoft, but... are they willing to play with their bottom line or do they desire to increase it with this acquisition?

Leaving the existing catalog as something available for multiplatform access... secures things a lot more than an exclusive at this time. Gamers are getting it in any and everywhere fun can be had... with family + friends + others around the world. It would make no sense to pull out of the Playstation platform, they just have to approach it the way it's been approached as always... don't try to do the platform within a platform crap because at any point that goes left... the gamers lose. Not only will the gamers lose, Microsoft will lose... again, and Call of Duty has been around since before some gamers were even born, but... it can be replaced if they don't play their cards right.

  • Nintendo could make a move on the 007 franchise... that sent gamers flocking to the N64, but at the same time... they could take Metroid Prime to the next level and make it the best FPS franchise on Nintendo.

  • Playstation could be killing it with Killzone games. They can do their homework and come back harder than ever. COD isn't the end all be all.

Microsoft has products available on Apple and Google for a reason, which includes releasing Windows Phone apps on these competing platforms, which was crazy to me because of what it meant for the Windows Phone. It made sense though because it's more of a win... and I think the same applies to Nintendo and Playstation, so... I'll wrap it up by saying if they play it right... they'll win if they don't make themselves replaceable.



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Steam Replay 2022 Stats for SDGT Entertainment!

 


I thought this would be a cool share for PC gamers. If you play video games on Steam, you have one of the same data breakdowns. How did you fair?

It's not surprising that the streak couldn't be higher, since other tasks have to be done. Maybe this will increase in 2023, but it's a trade-off because other products require attention.

Studios aren't reaching out for the sake of older video games being reviewed, so no surprise here.

Catching up on video games that were added to favorites is the reason for the 45% in this category.

0% for Classic Games category is understandable, but maybe one day. I must say that 50% keyboard + mouse and 50% controller usage is amazing, but also the data is awesome proof of the variety that we try to present. The variety is to give you an idea of what you can expect from games of different genres that you'd like to invest in for yourself or a gamer in your life.

We are days away from 2023, and we hope that you look forward to the new content that's in store.





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The Staircase... Reviewed!

Thanks so much for checking out this review and shout out to Warner Brothers for providing us with a copy in order to review it for you. That said... my opinions are my own.


There are so many twists and turns revolving around... The Staircase, are you ready for this?

Story: Inspired by a true story, this limited series... goes hard in the paint from the very beginning. My guess is they wanted to showcase the scene of what was already known from the true story.

So that initial scene shows the lady of the home, Kathleen Peterson (played by Toni Collette), laying lifeless at the bottom of the stairs with the cops on the scene. They come from the angle of the son, Todd Peterson (played by Patrick Schwarzenegger) pulling up to the house and begging to get in. As soon as he enters the house he comes across his stepmother's body... before running forward to find his dad in the kitchen.

His dad was drenched in blood but at this time things allegedly point to her falling down the stairs until... they officially declare it a murder scene.

This isn't for the faint at heart, they display some extremely graphic scenes in this series, but... for those who are fans of court TV, documentaries, and suspenseful (situations I call) play-by-plays... you should enjoy this.

If I could sum it up in two words, they'd be... Brutal Brilliance. Certainly, this is graphic as mentioned, but it's brilliantly written.

So initially you get that... scene, followed by a backstory that leads up to that... scene. Michael and Kathleen are a blended family with a squad of adult children that represent... chess pieces on this board along with other family members and... associates sprinkled in here and there.

I won't explain the ins and outs, but you get to see the lives of all these members of the  Peterson household before and after the incident. Families have their ups and downs, and you see them play out like the average family in some aspects (i.e. Margaret Ratliff getting dumped on by her dad based on her bad grades in college)... while others showcase the downside of drugs and alcohol to a damaging degree (i.e. Todd Peterson). These aren't the only people who need to clean up their act... and Clayton Peterson had to learn the hard way in order to put his life back together. 

So you see glimpses of their individual dysfunctions leading up to the trial and afterward... which put the majority of the siblings on one side with their dad, and the opposition on the side with the prosecutor.


You get to see how these sides are formed, and reactions to the trial + certain details in general like the emotions the siblings and family deal with while trying to make sense of this potential murder at the hands of dear old daddy. You might end up scratching your head as well, but... keep your eyes on the screen because there are multiple details that you should find interesting. It's a tangled web to say the least.

You see the various avenues that this story comes from (past, present, and future)... and the future Michael may throw you for a loop initially when seen with Sophie Brussard (Juliette Binoche), but...  as the series moves forward the dots are connected for your viewing pleasure. At times you might get frustrated with the way they shift from date to date, and then... BAM, they hit you again.

It goes from you being geared up to going to trial, and then the trial, and then the... documentary... and then the roller coaster ride continues. I can say this 2 time Emmy nominated experience deserves at least the nominations. I think the biggest challenge for me was not jumping toward the end, and it wasn't because it wasn't interesting, but at times... I wanted to see what ultimately happened as soon as possible (since I wasn't aware of the story). Anyway, I think the overall story is interesting, yet... frustrating at the same time based on the timeline fluctuations and... other occurrences in the limited series (i.e. multiple arguments emerging and then vanishing). I think they did the timeline fluctuation to make things interesting and keep a good pace, and it works to a degree, but (for me) it comes with its frustrations. The Staircase... is rated MA for Mature Audiences.


Visuals: Visually speaking, you had some dramatic shots here and there. Aside from... the staircase, you also had dramatic visuals via the drive to court (which was probably the best), a few pool scenes, drunken scenes, and the last scene. The drive to court placed the family in a group of vehicles with the camera flipping from one vehicle, showcasing everyone inside, and on to the next. It wasn't just a transition, it went through... in a way where the camera flipped and had some upside-down angles as well.


The scenes are vibrant as expected and delivered close-ups, high angles, plenty of mediums, wides, over-the-shoulders, and birds-eye views tucked in there.


Audio: The audio was clean, and crisp throughout. Can't I say I noticed anything specific about the audio that really wowed me, although I liked how they played certain music tracks to showcase the hip hop from that time period. Even in the reenactments of the speculated occurrences on the staircase, you heard the unsettling sounds involved with Kathleen fighting for her life. The quality audio was delivered in Dolby Digital 5.1.


Price + Extras:  Pricewise, The Staircase, comes in at $24.98 on DVD. I can't argue with it, but... the sweet spot in my opinion would be $19.99 (the features help justify the extra $4.99). You get 8 episodes that run for about an hour per episode, but... you also get special features that include:

  • 8 Inside the Episode Featurettes
  • Peterson Home Set Tour
  • The Art of Acting
  • Sustainable Set Tour
  • Georgia Public Locations
  • The Owl Theory
If you purchase this, you should appreciate the extras like... The Owl Theory, especially if it's something that makes the most sense to you. I don't want to spoil it, so I tried to avoid speaking on certain things, I think the owl theory makes the most sense based on the way it looked. You can also enjoy the limited series digitally... here.



Story 4

Visuals 5

Audio 5

Price + Extras 5


4.75 out of 5 Cool Points





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First 30: Chained Echoes

 

If you're looking for an immersive and engaging RPG experience, definitely consider Chained Echoes. This 16-bit game is packed with a compelling storyline, challenging quests, and lovable characters like Glenn. Step into the world of Valandis as you embark on an adventure to bring an end to the war between its three kingdoms. With Chained Echoes, you'll be swept away into an impressive turn-based RPG that feels like a blast from the past.

While I can't recommend this one for children due to the language, adults should definitely consider this one if you want a lengthy adventure, Especially if you're a fan of top-side RPGs like Lunar. You fight on foot, in your Mech (as seen in the gameplay above), and you can also customize your airship, and get your loot on.

For busy parents and professionals, you can pick up and play this game here, and there, and have something to look forward to between your objectives. It's not a game where you're stuck and unable to progress in a certain area due to unseen enemies either (no offense to fans of beloved Final Fantasy games). As seen, you don't just have those random fights where you're roaming... and all of a sudden a battle begins. You see the enemies ahead of your encounter.

Overall, you're looking at 30+ hours of playtime with the ability to learn Action Skills, Passive Skills, Stats Boosters, etc. Chained Echoes is a great addition to any adult RPG fan's library. Rated M17+




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