Ethan Angelou

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Stories By Ethan Angelou

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    Tomorrow
    Tomorrow By Ethan Angelou

    Is Virtual Reality Worth The Price?

    Within the last couple of years Virtual Reality (VR) has been brought to life in a few different forms. The most popular of these are the new VR headsets "The Oculus Rift", "The HTC Vive" and "The Playstation VR." The Oculus Rift has just recently become available for pre-order and it's going to cost you a whopping $600, with the HTC Vive rumored to cost up to $1500. To many consumers this is no surprise because of how new the technology is, but the high price point has still shocked and annoyed quite a large group of game enthusiasts. Many consumers want to know, are VR Headsets like the Oculus Rift worth it? Virtual Reality is quite new to the technology world despite being talked about for years, so it's no surprise that there's not too many titles releasing that will blow your mind with the capabilities of the headset and it's ability to immerse you in what you're playing. At the launch of the Oculus Rift, there will be quite a few titles that are compatible with VR, such as games like Alien Isolation, Eve Valkyrie, and Adrift. These games will all be exciting to play with VR, but all of them are already playable with a mouse and keyboard. There isn't anything announced that will really push the sales of VR forward. The Oculus Rift needs games that are meant to be played only in Virtual Reality. Sure playing your favorite games in VR may be fun, but what would be better is perfecting the immersion of the player into unique games made specifically for VR. Until we begin to see developers getting their hands on the VR more and taking risks within this new world, it's probably best to save yourself some money. I have no doubts that within the next year developers will have created or began creating incredible projects for VR as well as consumers doing some pretty crazy things with the headsets and motion controls that are soon to follow. There is so much potential in the world of Virtual Reality, but until people begin experimenting with it and create something out of this world, it's certainly not a must have. That said, this is undoubtably some of the coolest technology out there right now and I am beyond excited to see what can be made with these new tools. It wouldn't surprise me if in 5 years Virtual Reality becomes affordable enough to where it can become a common gaming accessory. What do you think of the Oculus Rift's price and are you going to be buying one this year?

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    Gaming
    Gaming By Ethan Angelou

    Indie Games: What You've Been Missing Out On

    Ever since watching the popular YouTuber Markiplier, I grew an appreciation for Indie Games and what they have to offer. Hundreds of Indie Games are released every year and many go unplayed by a majority of gamers. It makes sense of course, because these smaller games do not have the budget or the resources to advertise their creations. Therefore the large, glamorous, and well-advertised games that makes millions each year (usually referred to as Triple A Titles) are the ones getting all the attention. But what about these Indie Games that sneak out unnoticed by millions of gamers? What do they have to offer? I was never really into Indie Games because I always believed they were a waste of money. I never thought I could actually benefit from buying them and I certainly didn't expect Indie Games to enrich my gaming experience and knowledge. But once I developed a real passion for Indie Games, I was intrigued by the amount of creative, unique experiences these smaller games offer. There are so many Indie Games available today that it's safe to say there's one for everyone. I had the pleasure of playing more indie games in 2015 than I have ever gotten the chance to, and the experiences I've had with those games has given me a new outlook on game development and gaming as a whole. Indie Games can offer more than just a low price point. They have wild and creative elements, unique art styles, intense and emotional stories, fantastic writing, fun and enjoyable mechanics, and even offer challenging puzzles to exercise your mind. What fascinates me most about the market of Indie Games is how many different kinds of them there are. There are a myriad of games with vastly different concepts which shows you that it's not impossible to create new ideas and make a game stand out. One example is the game Rocket League. Put simply, it's football with cars, which already sounds awesome. On top of that simple concept, the cars can be fully customized and even have the ability to sport flags of popular YouTube gaming groups. The cars have the ability to do insane maneuvers in the air and on the ground. They can even wall ride to reach a ball passing overhead. Along the field there are boost pickups that allow you to use a speed boost to get an advantage over other players. This game is beyond addicting to play and to watch, which has contributed to it's recent popularity. This game is just one of hundreds though, and while it is incredibly popular, it is still an Indie Game. It's just one of a seemingly endless supply of creative and fun ideas brought to life. Indie Games come in all shapes and sizes too. Some are side-scrollers, some are pixel platformers, others are arcade arena games and some are even visual novels. It would take me forever just to list the endless independent games that have released this year. There have been games that have made me extremely invested in the story and the characters, games that kept me addicted for days because of how enjoyable the mechanics were, games that really tested my brain and my puzzle solving skills, and some games that I couldn't stop saying "wow this is cool" at. It's also fascinating to me that some Indie Games have kept me addicted longer than titles made by well known studios. Specifically #IDARB which came to Xbox One last year, is an insanely addicted arena platformer that is fast-paced and very well designed. You can create your own 8-bit characters, teams, emblems, and even a team anthem. I have played this game alone more than quite a few Triple A titles because it's simple, easy to jump into, you can play with others and you end up having such a good time when you look up at the clock you've realized the hours have flew by. This is a perfect example of an out-of-the-box idea that turned into great game, like many other Indie Games become. Granted, not every single Indie Game will be a homerun of course, but there are so many people who view these smaller games as garbage. Even these smaller games take hours and hours to make, some more than others, but are still made by people who love gaming and want to share their creation with the world. A lot of Indie Games have definitely made my list of favorite games for the past year alongside the bigger titles that have released. There's so much to be discovered and so many different experiences to be had. I encourage everyone who isn't already a fan of independent games to watch gameplay or do some research. It will almost certainly cause you to grow an even larger appreciation for the work that developers do on their games. Below I have listed just a few of the many Indie Games you should check out. You Must Build a Boat This War of Mine Never Alone

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