Dec 20, 2022 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
Gamers got a treat with a new Ninja Turtles game this year. It’s a fun, beat-’em-up, action-packed nod to retro adventures from the ’80s. As fun as the game is, it’s has some problems, though. Here are some improvements that can make this already great game even more radical.
Patches for Glitches
Though some patches have already been made, there is still some work to be done for glitches. At times, switching between difficulties can cause achievements to disappear. I played Story Mode on the Okay difficulty and then Arcade Mode on Chill; I lost my Arcade Mode achievements. I’ve also experienced launch errors, characters freezing in the air during aerial attacks, and even falling through the ground without a hole being there. These are the kinds of tweaks that would really improve the overall game play.
Shredder as a Playable Character
With over 30 years of TMNT games, we’ve only really been able to play as the four main turtles. Shredder’s Revenge changed that by including Splinter, April, and Casey Jones as playable characters. Still, it would be more exciting to play as the main villain, Shredder. Including Shredder would be a complete curveball, as gamers could play as the character that they’ve had to defeat all these years. Shredder would really come in handy for those pesky “No Damage” challenges, especially with his Super Shredder mode. Please make this happen, Tribute Games!
Practice Mode or Versus Mode
There are some slightly complex moves for this game. There are even some awesome co-op moves that you can pull off, too. You don’t really get a safe space to practice these moves, though. When you start a game, you get a tutorial on how to play. You also have a move list when you pause the game, but giving gamers a Versus Mode or a training room like in Smash Bros. Ultimate would really help. I definitely could have used some training rooms to try out some combos. This would just be the pepperoni on the pizza for this game!
Shredder’s Revenge is already a near-perfect love letter to the TMNT franchise, but why stop there? DLC gives developers a chance to perfect their games, so all developers should seize the opportunity. With these ideas for DLC, we’ll all really be shouting “Cowabunga!”
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Dec 13, 2022 | Equipment, Gaming and Your Body
Over the last couple of years, many esports professionals have started to expand their focus from gaming gear and equipment (e.g., headsets, controllers, ergonomic chairs) to performance wear that enhances the experience. A particular type of gaming wear that is quickly gaining momentum as an important commodity for professional gamers and esports enthusiasts is the compression garment.
According to research, compression that applies about 15 mmHg of pressure can help boost blood flow and reduce the levels of lactic acid, also known as lactate [1]. Lactic acid is a substance produced by muscle tissue in response to exertion. Increased levels of lactic acid in the blood usually signal muscle fatigue due to exercise. Reduced levels of lactic acid help enhance muscle stamina by prolonging the amount of time it takes for muscles to become fatigued.
Wearing compression garments—including compression sleeves on both arms or the arm primarily used for gaming—during or after exercise supports optimal blood flow and muscle performance [1].
Additional Benefits of Compression Garments
In addition to promoting improved circulation, compression garments afford several other health benefits that include the following [2-5]:
- Increased recovery muscle blood flow – Increased blood circulation sends deoxygenated blood back to the heart faster, which helps oxygen-rich blood return to muscles more rapidly. This process lessens muscle fatigue.
- Heightened muscle warm-up – The use of compression garments gently raises skin temperature, which helps the muscles warm up.
- Improved muscle stability – Compression garments provide stability by reducing excess muscle vibration during vigorous activity. This type of enhanced stability helps prevent microscopic muscle tears—making recovery easier.
- Faster recovery times – By boosting the clearance of lactic acid in the blood and reducing the incidence of microscopic muscle tears, compression garments support a faster recovery.
- Heightened muscle support – The combination of enhanced blood flow, reduced levels of lactic acid, and fewer muscle tears leads to an increase in overall performance—making compression garments beneficial both during or after gaming sessions.
- Reduced impact of delayed onset muscle soreness – Soreness following strenuous activity is linked to inflammation and swelling caused by microscopic muscle tears. While this is a normal part of the recovery process, soreness can reduce performance or disrupt gaming sessions (e.g., missed sessions). Compression garments help minimize soreness, inflammation, and swelling by lowering the risk of microscopic muscle tears.
Based on these findings, the use of compression garments in a wide variety of sports—including esports—is becoming increasing popular. As research regarding the influence of compression garments on muscle health continues, additional benefits may also be discovered.
Compression Garments Enhance Proprioception
Proprioception refers to the way an individual perceives the position and movement of the body (e.g., balance, control, coordination). Compression garments appear to improve proprioception as demonstrated by improved accuracy and movement speed for athletes who regularly wear such clothing [6].
It is believed that compression garments (e.g., compression sleeves) enhance responses to proprioceptive cues, which are described as mental images and other sensory cues that cause individuals to modify their behavior or movements in ways that heighten performance [6]. This process also appears to improve comfort during physical activity.
Overall, research shows that compression is useful toward extending gaming sessions with less muscle fatigue and faster recovery times.
References
- Sperlich B, Born DP, Kaskinoro K, et al. Squeezing the muscle: compression clothing and muscle metabolism during recovery from high intensity exercise. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60923-e60943.
- Born DP, Sperlich B, Holmberg HC. Bringing light into the dark: effects of compression clothing on performance and recovery. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2013;8(1):4-18.
- Goto K, Morishima T. Compression garment promotes muscular strength recovery after resistance exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014;46(12):2265-2270.
- Kraemer WJ, Flanagan SD, Comstock BA, et al. Effects of a whole-body compression garment on markers of recovery after a heavy resistance workout in men and women. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(3):804-814.
- Pearce AJ, Kidgell DJ, Grikepelis LA, et al. Wearing a sports compression garment on the performance of visuomotor tracking following eccentric exercise: a pilot study. J Sci Med Sport. 2009;12(4):500-502.
- Hooper DR, Dulkis LL, Secola PJ, et al. Roles of an Upper-Body Compression Garment on Athletic Performances. J Strength Cond Res. 2015;29(9):2655-2660.
Nov 1, 2022 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
From what we’ve seen of footage for Sonic Frontiers, it looks like there’s a very different adventure in store for Sonic. In the game, you get to explore Starfalls Island, as you search for the Chaos Emeralds. Though some things look great, others look questionable. Here are some things that might work and some things that might not.
Gotta go fast…kind of
In Frontiers, you can explore completely new terrain that looks like Mario Odyssey or even Breath of the Wild: waterfalls, beautiful green mountains, and clear waters. There may be more of a free-roaming, 3D element to the game. Certain Sonic games, such as 3D Blast, get it right, as you can still loop de loop and have a fast-paced bonus level. However, a game like Sonic Boom fails miserably because the fast-paced levels are so few and far between. An open world on the Sonic platform needs a good balance of engaging game play and a fun atmosphere to fulfill the need for speed. Let’s hope that’s what we get.
The Uneven Tone
A main complaint in the Sonic fandom is that the games struggle with creating a consistent tone within the storylines. Some Sonic games become far too serious with very dark elements. For example, Sonic Forces implies that Sonic has been tortured for six months as Eggman has taken over the world. The stakes are high, but the game play is nowhere near memorable enough to match it. Frontiers already seems dramatic, as if Sonic has just entered the world of Hyrule. Serene, peaceful game play that has never been a part of Sonic’s M.O., honestly. Let’s hope the story doesn’t go too over the top.
The Puzzles
You’re running around, soaring through the air, performing some homing attacks on enemies, and then there’s a gate blocking your path. The player must rearrange some statues in specific positions to open the gate. It doesn’t look exciting and it interrupts Sonic’s otherwise smooth movements. The developers may have been trying to add some dimension to the game play that may work in the final product.
I don’t know about you, but I’ll definitely be giving this game a chance. As a devoted fan of the Sonic franchise, there is hardly any game I won’t try! Sonic Frontiers is available on all gaming platforms on November 8th, 2022
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Oct 18, 2022 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
The trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie is truly impressive and definitely brings the hype for Mario fans everywhere. Nintendo and Illumination have outdone themselves with the graphics and overall fun tone, but what else could make the movie great for gamers? Here are some ideas!
1. “Let’s a-go!”
After popping out of nowhere amidst several mushrooms, Toad invites Mario to follow him to Mushroom Kingdom. We get to hear Chris Pratt’s Mario say “Mushroom Kingdom: here we come!” This isn’t too far from saying “Let’s a-go,” but it’s not quite the same. Hopefully, this will evolve into the iconic line that we all know and love by the end of the movie.
2. Yoshi
Let’s face it: the crowd would go wild if Yoshi popped up in the movie. Mario’s green, dinosaur companion has been carrying Mario around and gobbling up enemies since 1990’s Super Mario World. Yoshi’s even been the main hero in his own games, so why not surprise devoted fans with this adorable character?
3. Luigi’s Mansion
At the tail end of the trailer, Luigi, the man in green himself, makes a short appearance! He’s running away from several Dry Bones chasing him out of a creepy forest at night. Luigi hops along stones over lava and into a disheveled castle, closing the door just before the Dry Bones make it inside. This definitely looks like it could be straight from a level in Luigi’s Mansion. All we need are some Boo’s and the Poltergust 300!
4. Mario Kart
Who wouldn’t love a reference to the iconic Mario Kart franchise? Seeing Mario and Luigi driving around and throwing items at enemies Double Dash style would just bring so much joy to the hearts of gamers everywhere.
5. Sonic Crossover
It’s a long shot, but it’s an epic one. The Sonic movies have garnered a lot of success and praise from fans, as the third movie already has teased Shadow as a villain. We’ve had some Mario and Sonic crossover games, mostly in Olympic Games, but how cool would it be to see these two characters really team up to save the day?
It’s been a long time coming for an animated Mario movie to be made. By the looks of it, it’s going to be a blast! Mama mia! The Super Mario Bros. Movie comes out on April 7th, 2023.
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Oct 11, 2022 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
Have you ever rage-quit during a game before? If you said “no,” you’re lying. We’ve all been there, but how much rage is too much? Here are some tips for when your gamer rage starts to overflow.
Try Positive Self-Talk
What are you telling yourself when you lose a game? What does it mean to you? Most of the time, our opinions of ourselves can drive us crazy. You may be telling yourself: “I’m a loser.” “I suck.” “I can’t do this.” These are negative thoughts that can really take a toll on your gaming skills, as well as your daily life. Try practicing some positive affirmations or perspective to “I can do difficult things” or “Just because I lose doesn’t mean I’m a loser.” You have to be your own cheerleader in life, especially when you game!
Play a More Relaxing Game
Maybe it’s just not the day to play Cuphead or Elden Ring. Some games are more challenging than others and it’s okay to not really have the head for it sometimes. If you’re raging too much, go for a relaxing game. Animal Crossing is a great stress reducer. Tetris always does it for me, too. Find what will get you in a better mood and try that harder game tomorrow.
Take a Break from Gaming
It’s okay unplug from time to time. If you’re having a bad day, then maybe you need some time away from the controller. Too much gaming can lead to overstimulation, which can result in irritability, headaches, and anxiety. Try going for a walk or doing a craft to give your brain something new to do. It’s important to recharge your controllers, but it’s important to recharge yourself, too.
Seek Professional Help
At the end of the day, video games are supposed to be fun. If you find yourself taking it all too seriously, then maybe it’s not the video game. There could be something else going on in your life that needs to be addressed. Too much anger can be a sign of emotional or psychological problems that can be treated. Search for a therapist to talk to about your concerns. Take care of yourself and focus on what you need. It’s easy to get angry during a game, but don’t take it out on your controllers.
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
