Seasons Greetings Office Workers! While we could simply make a list of items for you to consider for yourself... you gotta show the ole office space some love (we'll get back to you later)! At times our office spaces can be as bland as some meals (I'm not pointing fingers), but... that doesn't have to be the case. Consider items that dial up the coolness + functionality of your office space as seen below.
I'd probably have to give coolness + functionality to the 3-in-1 chargers. Certainly, some are better than others, but consider which is better for you and is actually compatible with your device. If you prefer a charger that can charge Apple & Android, you don't have to swap it out when you change phones. The 3-in-1 chargers like this one... allow you to charge your phone, smartwatch, and wireless earbuds without having cords running to 3 different charging stations. Not only does it give functionality it's sure to put a smile on the faces of minimalists.
This isn't exactly an eye-catching addition to the office, but... this particular product focuses on those days when you're just that jacked up or you need a little nap. This is a deluxe memory foam travel nap/sleeping pillow for your desktop. You put your face in the hole as seen here... and run your arm through the cove below. You can store this in a bag so that the dust doesn't set up residence, and when you're in need of some Z's, just whip this out.
Keep your alarm clock at the ready so that you don't oversleep with this, but... for those of you with the time to nap, it's worth it. This comes to mind even more so for game developers and other software developers who have to work through crunch times when they don't have a choice but to sleep in the office if they're going to get any sleep. Remember, some devs even sleep under their desks during this time. This doesn't just work on the desk, you can position yourself on the floor the same way or lean it on a chair and lay your head back in the opening. I may have one of these
I have to include earbuds on this list for a few reasons, active noise cancellation for those times you need to cut out the background noise, the ability to take phone calls while jotting down info, and for some options even have the ability to connect devices simultaneously like the 1More Evo. This comes in handy when you want to connect your earbuds to your phone and PC without the need to swap.
Speaking of the 1More Evo, what I've mentioned above... doesn't even cover the hi-res audio, but... you can check out the full review, here.
This next item is cool + functional, and no... you don't necessarily need something so ridiculously interesting sitting on your desk, but... deep down in your heart is a little kid that's like "Oh but yes I do, and a big bowl of cereal!".
This is the Divoom Ditoo, and as far as function goes... it's a 10W DSP speaker with a screen that displays the reactive pixel art equalizer. The fun and function don't stop there, the mechanical keys work, along with the little joystick + you can use it as a clock, a white noise machine, an alarm clock, gives social media notifications, provides weather conditions, etc. This thing is kickass, and you might have visitors to your office space just to check it out.
The fun doesn't stop there, no no no! The duh of the day is... you can play games, but... you can also make beats, and... there's a full community of artists and creators that use this thing who create pixel art and so forth. This is one of those devices that keeps on giving, and who wouldn't want to take the edge off from a stressful call or enjoy a small break creating pixel art or something?
I still don't know a lot of people who have mug warmers in their offices, but... I know quite a few people who love to drink coffee and find themselves microwaving tall cups of joe. Why not just get a mug warmer and call it a day? You keep the coffee warm, make tea, hot chocolate... and (wait for it...) keep ramen noodles or something warm.
This isn't as cool, but this set isn't bad looking and it's functional, especially for those of you who like to work past lunch. This Sweet Life set comes with the warmer, the cup, the cup lid, and the spoon in a nice gift set. If you gift one of these out, consider adding the person's favorite coffee, cocoa, or tea as a secondary gift.
This also works wonders for those of you who work under the weather and need warm Theraflu.
I have to put this on here... because of the cool + functional design. This is the PowerPort Cube, and as you see, it has a mounting tray that allows for it to be attached and detached as needed... just in case you need to put it to use elsewhere. The mount allows for it to be placed in a number of areas... whether it be standing on your desktop (which I'd probably have some sort of 3M strips or something for that), mounted on the wall, or mounted under your desk... which would work great in the area you need it most for quick hookups. The 3M pads would also work for those of you with a glass desk.
Nothing like having a convenient place to hook up, and outside of your desk, having these in various places around your office, office building, or home... is a win. Think about having one of these mounted underneath a coffee table top near the edge, no one has to reach around going that awkward search for an outlet.
There are different models, and the one I like the most is actually the cheapest. I wish it had a USB-C port like the one you see in black here, but I like the position of the USB ports on the side. The placement of the others isn't horrible, but if you attach them beneath a desk like this one, they wouldn't be as easy in terms of connecting the USB cables (outside of the USB-C). Maybe that's why they have one.
I'd recommend a desk that works well as a work table. I love desks like these because I love big commercial work tables but I also appreciate a good desk. This particular desk is not just a desk that comes in 3 different sizes with the 63" max coming in less than $170, but... you also get the cable management equipped + a headphone holder + a large mousepad + a cup holder + a game & USB controller rack.
I recommend this desk for those who don't plan to lay the weight on it because this desk can only handle a max capacity of 260 lbs. It's not exactly commercial strength, but at the same time... the average person isn't going to overload their desk with items. So if you like what you see, the sizes range from 63" to 55" at $129.99 to the smallest 44" desk at $94.99.
I was going to wrap this up with the desk, but I completely forget about this adjustable LED double headlight. It has a level of cool based on the look, but it's super functional... delivering 3 color temp options + 10 brightness settings and you can shift it. One of the reasons this is included is because at times you don't want the light in your face and would prefer to focus it on a book or your art, etc.
Shout out to Raw Fury for supplying a copy of this game for a review.
Story: Star Renegades revolves around Wynn Syphex, a female protagonist who began this story off by being shoved into an escape pod by her mother. Her mother fought until her dying breath to ensure her daughter's escape, this also resulted in Wynn witnessing her mother dying.
She was a little girl at the time, so seeing that did something to her. Rather than letting fear take over, she moved forward knowing that her mother went down fighting for her survival... and decided to step into her shoes to fight back. That's where you come in, leading a war-hardened Wynn and her ragtag squad of renegades into a life or death battle against... the Imperium. Gear up, they're coming!
Gameplay: Star Renegades is interestingly cool. It takes what could have been a safe traditional RPG and puts a spin on it. At the core, it's still a turn-based RPG, but you basically know who you're going to be facing from the get-go (at least to some degree). I would say that would take some of the mystery out of it... but it doesn't, there are many unknown challenges tucked in there for sure, and not all of the major boss characters are revealed.
I won't lie, this game is challenging... if you don't figure out a strategy, you will be overwhelmed by the Imperium. You will see Behemoth's revealed to you... and the reason why I like seeing them in this game ahead of time is that it allows you to prepare (somewhat). If you aren't prepared for certain enemies in the multiverse, at least you can avoid some because their stats are revealed to you before you face off. All you have to do is hover over them and see.
Even if you're facing off with an unavoidable Behemoth in your procedurally generated campaigns, your team can take them on in these fast-paced, turn-based battles by juggling tasks. Break their attacks by knocking them off the action timeline with your attacks, restore shields, and hunker down for retaliation.
You aren't just trading attacks with your individual renegades to take down the enemy... they can also work together and pull off combo attacks. This won't just happen ASAP, you'll have to use these cards to continue building the relationships between your individual soldiers... to the point that these abilities unlock.
Not only that, but these relationships can also result in your squad members creating... progeny. So outside of equipment + skill upgrades, you have other interesting things like relationships to build upon that result in... entanglements.
Tip: Defense isn't always the best way to protect yourself (when it comes to some of your team members), so keep an eye on what works best for them. You don't just obtain the same characters either, you can decide who joins the team... if you can afford them. I currently have two members of the squad that increase my chances of breaking enemies and preventing them from attacking. They're essential to my strategy.
Anyway, check out the gameplay below... and then we'll dive into the visuals.
Oh yeah, you won't experience everything this game has to offer in any... one gameplay session or playthrough... because on the field you only have so many days to do what you need to do before you take on a boss character. Also, you have to decide on the route you're going to take in some areas... one may have a certain item or defense upgrade and select enemies. This gives you the opportunity to take on a different strategy based on what you have and who's rolling with your squad... so switch it up!
Visuals:The visuals in Star Renegades are... kick ass. Not only does it serve up traditional 2D animation for the opening of the game, but it also delivers this cool 2D pixelated animation in combat that I would have loved to see on the Nintendo 3DS. Overall, I would actually love to play this game on the Nintendo 3DS because of the 3D slider feature on the device and the game having a lot of parallax layers going on.
They worked the pixel art in a very eye-catching way too, like with the special attacks and so forth. It may not seem like a big deal, but someone had to put in the work to piece these pixels together in order to make them look this badass. That's why I have a deep respect for 2D animation because you have to do that frame by frame versus using a rigged 3D model. That still takes work, by not as much as 2D animation (IMO). Oh yeah... The Art and Illustrations of Star Renegades artbook is available now!
Price:Pricewise, Star Renegades comes in at $24.99. Kick-ass price and one thing I forgot to mention is that... the game has a lot of references (even if they don't openly mention it) that remind me of Star Wars, TMNT, and many others. It's not a blatant rip-off of anything... but there are cool little references there to check out. I just found that to be a plus.
In addition to what's currently offered in the game, the developers are providing updates that include new planets, adversaries, behemoths, and drones via updates like "The Imperium Strikes Back" (what did I tell ya about those references... huh?). It's currently available for PC gamers, but console owners will have access to the content in early 2021. I'd say that the game is strategically priced, even if it could sit comfortably at $29.99... because it's a solid game with a good chunk of replay value.
The deluxe edition is about $5 more and includes the game (duh of the day), the OST + the artbook! Grab the game on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox... now!
Overall, I just think this is a great game. It's challenging, and it will send you back to the drawing board to fill in the holes of your strategy until you figure out a way to successfully take on... the Imperium.
RESIST. RECLAIM. REVIVE. REPEAT A service robot named J5T-1N has arrived in your dimension to warn of impending doom from an overwhelming force known as the Imperium.
Fight for survival across a procedurally generated and emergent mission-based campaign through a reactive, tactical turn-based battle system that emphasizes interrupts and counters. Standing in your way is an Intelligent Adversary system with enemy officers that evolve and move up in the ranks.
As your band of heroes fall in the fight against invading Imperium and hope is all but lost, J5T-1N must be sent to the next dimension with everything you’ve learned to give the next group of heroes a chance to prevail. Each dimension and each playthrough is unique, challenging, and never the same.
Outwit your foes with interrupts, counters, and combos in our fast-paced Reactive Time Battle System
Survive the relentless onslaught of an Intelligent Adversary system that generates unique enemies and bosses that evolve as you play
Unlock dozens of alternate characters as your surviving squad members form bonds and create progeny
Battle your way into the heart of the Empire as our Rebellion Engine creates a unique experience with each playthrough via emergent gameplay and events, procedurally generated missions, shifting priorities, evolving enemies, and tons of equipment/upgrades for your squad
Set in a far corner of space, Valfaris is a heavy metal infused 2D action-platformer and the next game from the team behind Unity Awards finalist, Slain: Back From Hell. Brutal combat. Deadly enemies. Stunning pixel art. Savage soundtrack. Get ready to rip the galaxy a new wormhole.
About the Game After mysteriously vanishing from galactic charts, the fortress of Valfaris has suddenly reappeared in the orbit of a dying sun. Once a self-contained paradise, the grandiose citadel now plays host to an ever-growing darkness.
Therion, a fearless and proud son of Valfaris, returns to his home to uncover the truth of its doomed fate and to challenge the arcane evil at its very heart.
Key features
Skulls in space! Gore in space! Metal in space!
Savagely reduce foes to piles of gibs with an array of brutal weaponry
Explore a diverse range of tainted environments as you venture ever deeper into the dark world of Valfaris
Dominate ranks of deadly enemies and bosses, from the weird to the grotesque (and some that are just grotesquely weird)
Gorge your eyes on devastatingly awesome pixel art hand-crafted by Andrew Gilmour
Feel the power of a seismic soundtrack by extreme metaller and former Celtic Frost guitarist, Curt Victor Bryant
Forged from the ground-up by the team behind cult hit Slain: Back From Hell
Pounce inside of your cozy armored mech and set off on a dangerous trek through an alien underworld full of irritable creatures and treacherous obstacles in a valiant effort to save your stranded captain and his crashed spaceship. Tiptoe outside the friendly confines of your technological marvel and follow your feline instincts through tight tunnels and mysterious waterways to scavenge for new weapons and gear. Adventure awaits the most curious of cats in Gato Roboto!
Explore the underground labyrinth of a deep space outpost and uncover the dastardly deeds that unfolded before your arrival.
Blast and dash your way through enemies and obstacles in an agile mech suit to face the guardians stationed precariously throughout the base.
Cautiously venture outside the mech and risk all nine lives to explore areas inaccessible to your bulky, mechanical armor.
Discover secrets abound and gather new weapons and items to help open up new areas on your journey through dozens of handcrafted environments.
A haunted hotel, an abandoned circus, a burnt-out pillow factory, a dead body pixelating under the bridge, toilets that run on vacuum tubes... you’ve never visited a place like this before.
Five people with nothing in common have been drawn to this rundown, forgotten town. They don’t know it yet, but they are all deeply connected. And they’re being watched.
...Who is Agent Ray really working for and will she get what they want? ...What does Junior Agent Reyes know about a 20-year-old factory fire that he’s not saying? ...Will the ghost, Franklin, get to speak to his daughter again? ...Will Ransome the *Beeping* Clown ever become a decent human being? ...Will aspiring game developer Delores abandon her dreams and stick by her family? ...And most importantly: how come no one cares about that dead body?
By the end of a long, strange night in Thimbleweed Park, all of this will be answered -- and you’ll question everything you thought you knew.
In a town like Thimbleweed Park, a dead body is the least of your problems.
Key Features:
From Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, creators of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion.
A neo-noir mystery set in 1987.
5 playable characters who can work together… or get on each other’s nerves.
Not a walking simulator!
Satisfying puzzles intertwined with a twisty-turny story that will stay with you.
A vast, bizarre world to explore at your own pace.
A joke every 2 minutes... guaranteed!*
Casual and Hard modes with varying difficulty.
English voices with English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish subtitles.
COMPLETELY SKILL-BASED COMBAT: Each enemy has its own set of skills, behaviors and collaborations. Learn their patterns and discover their weakness before they lay their hands on you.
EXCITING PROGRESSION: Be responsible for rebuilding and maintaining your guild's village. Meet new characters, choose your traps, your weapons and keep track of your discoveries and unlocked content.
HANDCRAFTED & PROCEDURAL GENERATION: Designed to make each new run a completely new experience. Each room is handcrafted to get the most out of the combat, but you'll never explore the same dungeon twice.
If you have a lower powered laptop, ManaSpark is a game with depth that you can enjoy without hefty specs.