11 Best Content Creation Tools Small Business Should Have In Its Arsenal

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For content creators, a good content creation tool is like Spider-Man’s web-shooters or Captain America’s shield. Can you perform without it? Maybe. But does it make you a workplace hero? Most absolutely! Every excellent content marketer has a secret weapon armory that allows them to execute their work quicker, better, or more creatively. Without the correct digital content creation tools and mobile apps, content marketing may be time-consuming, exhausting, and even unproductive.

What Content Production Tools Will Make You a Superhero?

Have you ever gazed at a blank document, unsure where to begin? Have you ever spent hours on a blog post or producing a video only to have it fail miserably? Every content producer has been there, but the correct tools might help you eliminate obstacles like writer’s block and unsuccessful postings in the future. If your in-handy software arsenal is looking a little feeble, you’re at the perfect spot! In this post, we’ll go through the best content production tools to help you with every step of the process.

Content Ideation Tools

Every excellent piece of content begins with a fantastic concept. It will feel nearly impossible to write or generate interesting content if you are trying to come up with original ideas. The content ideation tools listed below may help you overhaul your content research and generate content ideas that are topical, intriguing, and relevant to your target audience.

See how various topics have trended in Google searches over time using this content ideation tool. All you have to do is to type in a term to track interest in it over the years. A search for “fidget spinner,” for example, returns a large surge on modern smartphones in May 2017, when the item became popular.

BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo is a sophisticated topic research tool that can accomplish a lot of various things for you. Use it for content research, content discovery, finding influencers, and monitoring what’s going on online. Some Companies may also use this tool for validating your content strategy to verify it is in line with what is presently resonating and trending.

Some Other Alternatives

Looking for some other cool content research and planning utilities? Here are some of the options from Windows Store to consider: 

  • Product Hunt – for discovering new products;
  • Reddit – for defining thought-provoking questions;
  • Trends by The Hustle – for hunting for current market trends;
  • Ahrefs – for keyword research.

Video Content Production Tools

Video content is a must for small business marketing. Recent studies show that the audience is engaged more with a short video than a lengthy text. No matter what your small business specializes in, video content is a king. Nowadays, you do not need to have any special skills or expertise to create quality and engaging videos. Instead, you can use special programs, great advice and courses from the top video producers– they aid in the production of multimedia content. 

FlexClip

FlexClip is an excellent tool for small business video production, offering a user-friendly interface that simplifies the creation of professional-quality videos. Whether you need promotional clips, tutorials, or social media content, Flexclip provides a rich library of templates, stock media, and easy editing features. This versatile platform allows you to create videos that reflect your brand’s style without requiring advanced technical skills, making it a perfect addition to your video content production toolkit.

InvideoAI

Invideo offers a free AI video generator that lets you create text to video content with a single prompt. Generate engaging videos featuring stunning visuals, captivating voices, and well-crafted scripts with ease. Transform your ideas into visually appealing stories without any technical expertise. With invideoAI, experience the power of AI-driven video creation that brings your content to life. Customize your videos to match your brand’s style and tone, ensuring a unique and memorable viewing experience. Ideal for marketers, educators, and content creators, invideoAI makes video production accessible, fast, and fun.

Movavi Video Editor

Editor from Movavi is a straightforward video editing and production application that lets you trim, add music, utilize a green screen, apply different effects, and more – in a word, it’s an awesome clip and video trailer maker. If you’re engaged in sketches or entertaining video production, this platform is just perfect for you.

HitFilm

The best thing about using HitFilm for video production is that it’s easy to use yet generates professional-level videos. The video editing platform provides direct access to stock photographs and music, which speeds up the editing process. You’ll also have access to a large visual effects library to kick things up a notch.

GIPHY

GIFs are dynamic, amusing, and extremely brief video clips that are an excellent way to capture attention and engage your audience. GIPHY allows you to browse an existing GIF library or make your own from a YouTube video or footage you captured yourself. The GIF maker provides you with a ton of editing options, and the opportunity to embed your GIF online via GIPHY or download the source file to submit elsewhere.

Tools for Scheduling and Planning

It is way easier and faster to share your newly created content with special scheduling and planning programs. Why? It allows you to stay on track, develop effective content calendars, and go live with your content just when your audience is waiting for it. 

Buffer

Plan and manage your social media calendar using Buffer. The SMM planner is a service that helps you publish content, measure interaction, and analyze data in one simple platform.

Trello

If you have an editorial schedule you need to maintain for your social media marketing strategy, Trello makes it straightforward. Put the information you need for each blog post (such as the title, description, URL, and photos) on a card and date it. In the calendar view of the list-making application, you can see your publication schedule.

Google Calendar and Google Sheets

There isn’t much that Google Calendar and Google Sheets can’t accomplish. Both are useful for planning out what content you want to post, tracking what had been rolled out, and keeping track of crucial details about each piece of content.

Tools for Creating Visual Content and Design

Lengthy and text heavy content will hardly work for your audience or bring high user interactions. Content marketers recommend using visual elements in your digital content. With free pictures and easy tools, you may quickly and easily create graphics.

Canva

Canva is an excellent pics m aker for creating rapid graphics. It’s so easy to use that final items frequently appear like they came from a professional designer, even though you can actually whip something together in five minutes with little to no expertise. It’s especially useful for social media postings because the appropriate proportions for each social site (for example, Instagram) are already laid out for you. You can accomplish a ton with Canva’s free edition, but its Pro version unlocks premium options like the ability to upload custom fonts or to use premium shapes and photos.

Burst

Burst features a database of free pictures with commercial use permissions whether you require images for blog entries, social media postings, or videos.

Unsplash

Another image-sourcing service, what distinguishes Unsplash is that creators from all around the world post their photographs to the site. Choose from a variety of free, unique photographs with commercial licenses for your content.

What Motivates Marketers to Hunt for Content Production Tools?

According to the New York Times Social Sharing Report, 84% of individuals share a piece of content to spread the word about a cause or company they care about. That is, people are interested in content published by businesses as long as it piques their interest and directly represents your brand’s values and feel. And you can always achieve this goal and produce quality content when you have special and in-handy tools in your digital bag.

Also, one of the tools for creating content should be find people fast search, this application helps both businesses and the businessman himself to find the right people in a short time.

How Watching Movies Online May Expose You to Cyber Risks

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Online streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have become must-have subscriptions. Free streaming websites are also tempting, despite the obvious security risks. This article will cover how online streaming services can expose you to cyber risks and what you can do to protect yourself.

What are the dangers of using streaming services?

When you go to a movie theater, you only need a physical ticket to get inside the auditorium. But when you watch movies online, you first need to create an account with a streaming service and pay the necessary fees. So, before you even watch a single movie, you must provide your personal details, email, and credit card information.

As much as the service provider tries to protect your information, some of this data, such as your email, can get leaked. Malicious actors can then send you phishing emails to lure you into giving out other, more sensitive information. Someone may even breach your account if you have a weak password. To avoid that from happening, consider using a password manager.

What about free online streaming websites?

Not all, but most free online streaming websites are illegal. The legal risk becomes even higher if you download a torrent, which is much easier to track. But that’s not the only problem with free streaming websites.

You may think avoiding the account creation and subscription process would eliminate the risk, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Free streaming websites are even less secure and often contain malware or other malicious content. 

To appear more secure, some websites will ask you to create a free account but will do little to nothing to protect the data you provide them. Keep all sensitive data inside secure cloud storage and avoid sharing it with others to maximize your data security.

Here are the main cyber risks of free streaming websites:

  • Data leaks – some free websites will sell your data to cyber criminals. Even if they don’t, their security is so low that criminals can steal your data.
  • Malware infections – free movie websites are breeding grounds for all kinds of malware. One wrong click can put your device and data at risk. Sometimes, you don’t even have to click anything to initiate a download.

How to watch movies online safely?

Stick to legal streaming services

Even streaming giants like Netflix aren’t immune to risk, but they’re much safer than a random movie website you find on Google. Not to mention that they’re legal, and you don’t have to worry about getting a letter from your ISP. If you can’t afford the subscription, try sharing it with family members and friends.

Never share personal data with suspicious websites

No matter what they promise you, it’s never worth giving your details to a suspicious streaming website. If you do, you can expect your data to be sold off, resulting in a high volume of phishing and spam emails.

Don’t click on any ads

Free streaming services are full of pop-ups and random ads. Some will likely claim you’ve just won the latest iPhone. No matter what the message is, don’t click on them, as they will likely lead to a malicious download or ask for your personal details.

Final thoughts

Going to the movies isn’t completely out of fashion, but streaming services are slowly taking over. With that in mind, people must be aware of the cyber dangers they face when streaming online. The main things to remember are to be responsible with the data you share and stick to reputable services that invest in security. 

How to Spot a Legitimate and Safe Casino Site? Top Criteria, Listed

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Online sports betting and casinos have spread like wildfire over the last two years as remote gaming suddenly became the new norm. With the global pandemic in the rearview, online gambling is still growing and shows no signs of regressing. If anything, online gambling is flourishing and steadily conquering new markets.

As with anything flourishing on the internet, online casinos have become a playgoer for bad actors looking to lure gamblers and scam them of their hard-earned cash. Here are online gambling tips to help you spot a legitimate and secure online casino.

Prominent licenses

When looking for a secure online casino site or app, it’s important to ensure the operator is licensed and works under regulations set by reputable gambling commissions like the Malta Gaming Authority. That ensures the online casino works within the law and players are fully covered against fraud and other unfair practices.

If an online casino holds a licensed room from a reputable authority, it will display the authority’s logo on its landing page together with its license number. Normally, these logos and license numbers are normally hyperlinked to the licensing authority’s official site, and you can easily find the certificate.  

Legitimate banking methods

Before you choose a game from the list of the best slot sites not on GamStop, check the deposit and withdrawal systems supported. Online casino operators using globally renowned brands like PayPal, Mastercard and Visa are normally legitimate. Companies of such stature have huge financial and reputational risks if they fail to comply. As such, they have highly competitive teams that ensure they don’t do business with scammers.

That said, ensure the payment gateways are well routed through these leading companies. It’s easy for a scammer to use logos and names of leading brands to feign legitimacy, although your clearest sign comes when depositing your first wager. For instance, the site isn’t legitimate if you click the PayPal option and you’re redirected to an unknown payment gateway.

Reputable software providers

A legitimate casino operator will offer players games from reputable software providers in the market like NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, Evolution and other premium providers. Every casino game these companies provide typically carries their branding along the game’s title in a casino’s menu.

Leading software providers like NetEnt and Evolution Gaming create high-quality titles and immersive experiences. More importantly, they’re long-term players that don’t rig their products and have a solid reputation for privacy and data safety.

Strong reviews

When choosing an online casino site, looking for an operator with good reviews is crucial. Legitimate online casinos have players who talk about their experiences online and whether they’ve encountered any trouble when betting on the available games. Fortunately, the reviews are available on different websites, but you must consider a site’s authenticity when reading user reviews.

Reasonable welcome bonuses

Every online casino worth playing in will offer generous bonus offers to new players. However, remember that nobody like to give out cash for free. As such, ensure the welcome bonuses offered aren’t too good to be true. Check the bonus terms and conditions, focusing on the wagering requirements and other important considerations.

Danish players feel safe when playing at https://slotimocasino.net/, as this portal is considered one of the safest in the country.

Which Version of Macbeth A Student Studying Shakespeare Should Watch?

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Starting from 1590 to 1613, Shakespeare completed writing 37 plays. They are divided into comedies, histories, and tragedies. Reading the plays might seem complex due to the 16th-century language. Watching makes every detail clear and easy to understand. The story of Macbeth, the main protagonist in Shakespeare, is fascinating. He could not wait for the foretold prophesies to come true. There are over 10 Macbeth adaptations a student can watch. The oldest was released in 1948, and the latest in 2021.

The best adaptations of Macbeth to watch for students of Shakespeare 

Macbeth (2006) 

Macbeth (2006) takes the approach used when shooting Romeo and Juliet. It incorporates modern-day trends of love and tragedy. Regardless, the play preserves the original play’s dialogue verbatim. A student will seamlessly follow Macbeth as he rises through the ranks. Being a modern-day play, it does not lack nudity and violence.  f analyzing different adaptations feels overwhelming, remember that there are resources available to help you. For comprehensive insights and comparative analysis, you might consider getting assistance from professionals who can “write my term paper” on this subject. 

There is a difference between modern and older Macbeth adaptations. When studying Shakespeare, you should be keen on the version to watch. Watch the versions that depict true leadership and stay within the original story. Spare time to read high-quality “Macbeth” essay and examples on GradesFixer. The free essay samples will help you know which versions are best to watch. You will also get inspired to write attractive Macbeth essays. It improves your understanding of the story and how the characters are presented.  

The tragedy of Macbeth (2021) 

The film was released in December 2021 and has been streaming on Apple TV+. The film is based on the Macbeth play by Shakespeare. Denzel Washington offers strong leadership in the film. The stars are Frances McDormand and Washington. It features stunning cinematography and an attractive design.  

Macbeth (1971) 

Macbeth (1971) was directed by Roman Polanski. It retains the details in the original Shakespeare play. Its story is about a Scotland king who used murder and treachery to rule. In the film, Macbeth is full of pride, and his wife is possessed with a desire for power. 

Throne of Blood (1957) 

The movie features a war-hardened general controlled by an ambitious wife. They work together to fulfill a prophecy foretold by three witches. The original story defines a man full of ambition and power possession. The desire leads from one tragedy to the next.  

Maqbool (2003) 

Maqbool (2003) is a Bollywood film. It’s a tragedy set in India’s commercial capital. It features two police officers who tell fortune but are corrupt. It is adapted from the Shakespeare play. It is a good film for a student studying Shakespeare to watch. 

Review and comparison of Macbeth adaptations 

The Macbeth plays by Shakespeare have many adaptations. The earliest one was played in 1948, and the latest was released in 2021. All the adaptations are based on the same original play. There are many essay examples on the play available online. Macbeth is a power-hungry general and the main protagonist. Three witches revived his ambitions after prophesying he would rule. 

All Macbeth adaptations have one main thing in comparison. They are based on the historical play Macbeth by Shakespeare. Their main differences are the characters and time of release. Some were recorded in Japan, India, the US, and Scotland. There is a big difference in technology. The films released before 1980 have closely maintained the original setting. Adaptations after the year 2000 portray a higher level of modernization. 

The plays are still relevant in contemporary society and education. A student writing a research paper can watch the adaptations and get inspired. Polanski is known for specializing in criminal and horror genres. When he directed Macbeth (1971), it was not a surprise as it was full of bloody scenes. The Macbeth (2015) adaptation directed by Kurzel shows significant differences. 

Compared to Polanski, Kurzel altered the film sequences more. Their storylines also differ in many ways. There is a difference in setting between Macbeth (2010) and Macbeth (1920). The ideas in Macbeth of 2000 and beyond are set in a modern-day lifestyle. The trends of 1920 are entirely different. The depiction of witches in modern society is different.  

Which adaptation of Macbeth is closest to Shakespeare’s original work? 

There is a lot of modernism in recent Macbeth adaptations. However, there is a notable difference in adaptations older than 50 years. That was the time when modern film technology was in its infancy. A good example is the Macbeth (1971) adaptation. In the entire film, the basics of Macbeth’s story are not altered. 

Polanski stayed close to the original story and text. Macbeth 1978 is one of the earliest adaptations produced by Thames TV. It follows the original story closely, including the language of the 1600s. Macbeth (1948) is another adaptation that sticks to the original story. It leaves dialogues by Shakespeare intact.  

Conclusion 

The Macbeth story by Shakespeare has more than ten adaptations. The older versions of adaptations have stayed close to the original story. This is different from modern adaptations, which display a lot of modern lifestyles. Macbeth 1978, Macbeth 1971, and Macbeth 1948 are some of the versions a student studying Shakespeare can watch. They have not altered the original play significantly.

Win A Code for Truck Driver

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When you inherit a truck from your father, you decide to take your chance and move to a new city. Here, it’s up to you to make a name for yourself and earn the respect of the local community. Drive through a seamless open world, work with all kinds of people ranging from a constructor to a lumberjack and honor your father by making it as a Truck Driver!

How to enter to win

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The contest closes at midnight on 18th December 2022.

Win A Code for Airoheart

Thanks to our friends at Soedesco, we have 3 codes to give away for their game Airoheart.

Our story begins in the land of Engard, where our beloved hero Airoheart sets out on a journey to stop his brother’s diabolical plan to unleash an ancient evil that has been sealed in the shadows for generations and to trigger a war using the power of the Draoidh Stone. Will you confront your own brother and stop him from executing his wicked plans?

How to enter to win

We have three codes for Airoheart to give away, enter below: 

Win a code for Airoheart

The contest closes at midnight on 18th December 2022.

Review: Tanuki Sunset

I love a chilled, feel-good game! They make a nice break from the norm, and the lack of violence and death is cleansing for the soul. As such, when I was offered Tanuki Sunset, I couldn’t pass. This bizarre title is colourful, charming, and wonderfully laid back. However, its limited gameplay holds it back.

Developed by Rewind games/Bromio and published by Digerati, this is a relaxed skateboarding title. Yet, unlike others in this category, there isn’t an extensive list of tricks to perform, and the gnarly factor is almost nil. Instead, you enjoy a simple adventure title filled with rubbish, food, and the occasional jump.

The raccoon hero drifting his board sideways along the road.
Drift your way to victory.

Tanuki Sunset is brilliantly abstract. 

Whenever a developer incorporates anthropomorphic animals as their protagonists, I smile. There is something undeniably creepy about creatures displaying human characteristics, but I love it nonetheless. Accordingly, Tanuki Sunset is a strange game that is brilliantly abstract at the same time. 

You control a raccoon called Tanuki. This chilled-out and cool rubbish eater has a dream. That dream is to appear on the front cover of FISH magazine. However, only the greatest on a longboard is given that honour. Subsequently, Tanuki sets out to prove he is worthy of this accolade. To do this, he must ride across mountain ranges, through bustling city streets, and along sandy beaches. If you successfully avoid every obstacle, you’ll arrive at the big ramp where you can prove your legendary status.

The hero rides between two cars. Thankfully, he narrowly misses them.
What a close call.

A simple story with a basic approach. 

Tanuki Sunset won’t win the award for the best story. Yet, this matters not. The simple story is complemented by its basic approach. Effectively, you must ride along an ever-changing path filled with obstacles. As you speed along, you’ll destroy rubbish, collect Tanuki bits, and produce the odd trick. Alongside this, you’ll leap off ramps, drift around sharp corners, and pray you don’t fall to your death. If you fall, and you will, you’ll restart at the last checkpoint and try again. 

This is the main body of the game. But there is plenty more on offer as well. Alongside the main story is a skate shop filled with custom items and an arcade machine. This works as the central hub for the action. Consequently, whenever a run is completed, you’ll return to the shop to buy new gear, play the arcade machine, or revisit each stage. I liked this basic approach, and though the customisation was stripped-back, it was enjoyable nevertheless.

Tanuki Sunset looks stunning. 

I’m a big fan of unusual-looking games. As such, Tanuki Sunset immediately grabbed my attention. Its blend of low-poly backdrops, abstract imagery, and vivid colours was incredible to observe. On top of this, the simple animation and tight-level design ensure you must always stay alert. Furthermore, I enjoyed the arcade scoring system and the easy-to-understand UI. 

If you enjoy skateboarding, skiing, or surfing, you’ll love the amazing audio. The eclectic blend of genres ensures that the music is as chilled out as the visuals. What’s more, the occasional upbeat song added energy to the proceedings. The music works perfectly with the simple sound effects. You’ll adore the sound of wheels on tarmac, the rushing wind, and the grinding of metal on metal. 

Tanuki Sunset asks you to leap over cars  while performing tricks.
Gnarly jump.

Perfect controls. 

With many tight spaces to weave through, and dangers just around the corner, the controls had to be good. Thankfully, Tanuki Sunset got this aspect spot on. With responsive inputs and a straightforward controller layout, the setup was perfect. Consequently, it was an easy game to pick up and play.

Unfortunately, where Tanuki Sunset falls short, is its replay value. Because it lacks depth, it impacts longevity and appeal. Thankfully, however, the arcade machine will challenge you. With an array of stages on offer and a leaderboard to top, it gets your competitive juices flowing. 

Tanuki Sunset is a wonderful, casual experience. 

If you want an all-out action-packed sports title, then Tanuki Sunset isn’t for you. However, if you want a fun, relaxed, and casual experience, then this will tick those boxes. I adored the stunning aesthetics, the challenging stages and the strange characters. Yes, the lack of depth was a little disappointing, but that shouldn’t put you off. Accordingly, it’s an excellent title and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you prove your worth and make it to the cover of FISH magazine? Ride, grind, and drift your way to legendary status.

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The custom lapel pin design incorporates the vibrant low-polygon colors and abstract aesthetics from the game. Whether pinned to your backpack, jacket, or hat, it instantly showcases your love for this heartwarming skateboarding game. Pins are flexible and quick to design, with a short turnaround time and delivery cycle.

Each Custom Lapel Pin is like a small game memento, capturing the raccoon’s passionate pursuit of dreams and the relaxed atmosphere of the game. See more at GSJJ.com.au

Review: Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

The thought of starting from scratch and building a dynasty intrigues me. There is nothing better than seeing your hard work and sweat and tears come to fruition. Consequently, when a game captures this in its core concept, it makes for a moreish and undeniably phenomenal experience. Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord tries to capture this idea in its awe-inspiringly large and complex world. Moreover, its time-sink mechanics and devilishly in-depth ideas will prevent you from putting it down. Accordingly, if you only want a casual game to pass the time, this may not be your cup of tea.

Developed and published by TaleWorlds Entertainment, this is an open-world adventure game with RPG elements. What’s more, it is filled with lore, has mountains of tactical options, and will fascinate you from the off. On top of this, I loved the character customisation, the never-ending quests, and the atmospheric environment. However, it relies on some classic genre tropes and requires an awful lot of time and energy to get the best out of it. As such, its learning curve may be too much for some, and that is a shame.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord immediately captures your attention.

I love it when a game grabs you by the balls and refuses to let you go. Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord does that with its opening cinematic and captivating tutorial. Thrown right in the deep end, you are expected to learn the fundamentals before you explore the surrounding world. Furthermore, you’ll design your hero with little understanding of what is to come. Now, you may think this is odd, but I liked how it set the scene. Moreover, the customisation options are great as your personality is formed by answering a range of strange questions. Not only does this make you think, but it creates character traits that you may otherwise ignore.

When this is done, you experience an interesting tutorial that talks you through each fundamental. Here, you’ll experience horse riding, combat, trading, recruitment, and so forth. This not-so-gentle introduction to the game is a bit of a baptism of fire. However, that matters not. Instead, this brutal approach works wonders as you study every intricate detail to prepare you for your arduous and tough existence. Once you’ve completed the prolonged prologue, you are free to do as you will. Luckily, this isn’t as daunting as it sounds, as the foundations have already been laid.

Men and women relaxing in a bar in Mount & Blade II Bannerlord
It is time to unwind and relax.

A wonderfully deep experience.

Where Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord excels is its deep fantasy setting. You’ll create a kingdom that will last the ages. Here, you will create a family, and rule the roost forevermore. However, things are rarely that simple as you must complete never-ending quests, manage a vast army, and expand your kingdom. This isn’t anything new for veterans of this genre. Yet, the excellent combat mechanics are where this shines.

Each encounter feels fresh and exciting to play. Accordingly, you’ll enjoy minor skirmishes or epic battles that last a lifetime. During each one, you must control every aspect of your vast army. What’s more, you get to decide whether you lead your men into battle, or sit back and watch everything unfold. Alongside this, you must consider each move as you try to negate your opponent’s strengths. Consequently, there are many tactical elements that must be understood if you wish to be victorious.

Being constrained by a story isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. Fortunately, the developers have countered this with an excellent Sandbox mode. This option allows you the freedom to do as you wish as you ignore the story and build a large and successful kingdom. Alongside this, you can take on friends or strangers in a multiplayer skirmish option. I wasn’t keen on this mode, as it lacked the depth and lore of the main game. As such, I never felt invested in the action and it feels like an afterthought.

Mount & Blade II Bannerlord has massive battles involving cavalry and infantry.
Another epic battle.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord pushes the boundaries.

I wouldn’t say Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a visual masterpiece, but it certainly pushes the boundaries. With multiple perspectives in play, you enjoy plenty of different styles. The overworld map is presented using an isometric viewpoint. This is a great choice as it allows you to plan your journey while seeing any possible threats or POI. When the action changes to a village or the battlefield, you’ll enjoy a third-person viewpoint. This was great, as it highlighted the sprawling environment and the large selection of character models on display. However, disappointingly, it was rough around the edges and the performance occasionally stuttered. Yet, this wasn’t a vast surprise as the developers pushed the gameplay to its limits in this massive open-world experience.

Though the visuals tried something unique, the audio was more familiar. With an understated soundtrack and simple sound effects, it doesn’t stand out from its peers. However, I enjoyed the blend of aggressive music and the calmer atmospheric tunes that are jovial and folksy. Furthermore, each battle is filled with angered cries and the noise of swords clashing. I loved the drama this created and how it juxtaposed the quieter moments in the action.

Two peasants passing in a rundown town.
Can you appease the locals?

Excellent controls, mostly.

I had concerns that this would be horrible to play. There are so many elements working together, it had the potential to be complicated. Thankfully, though, the combination of radial menus and a clever UI make it easy to understand. Alongside this, the fantastic tutorial ensures that you know exactly what you are doing. Yet, there was one issue regarding the horses. Riding these magnificent beasts was fine until you needed to turn in tight spaces. Here, the wheels come off and the horses get stuck. This was frustrating, especially during each combat encounter. Furthermore, this had a detrimental effect on the combat mechanics and that was a shame.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord demands an awful lot of your time. Consequently, you will lose hours of your life without even realising it. Yet, you won’t care as you carefully manage each element of your kingdom while enjoying each battle you win. As you are free to live your life as you please, no playthrough is ever the same. What’s more, there are the Sandbox and multiplayer skirmish options to consider as well. As such, this game oozes both replay value and longevity.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a great title.

Though Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord has minor issues, it is a fantastic title that is captivating and enthralling. I adored its phenomenal lore, its sprawling open world, and its incredible battles. Moreover, its time-sink campaign will eat away at your life without you knowing it. Yes, it was rough around the edges, and the multiplayer skirmish won’t be for everyone, but it ticks many boxes along the way. Therefore, I enjoyed it and I recommend that you buy it here! Will you be a kind and caring ruler, or will you rule with an iron fist?

Review: Nacon Xbox Pro Compact Controller

Here is our review of the Nacon Xbox Pro Compact Controller.

Designed for Xbox, it is a versatile wired controller offering great ergonomics for all types of players, as well as a comprehensive range of settings usually found on professional peripherals.

Free Dolby Atmos for Headphones automatic activation in Dolby app included.

The Pro Compact controller boasts a range of customizable features, such as: button mapping, adjustable sticks and trigger sensitivity and vibration motors.

Compact size, ergonomic shape and textured back surface provide superior comfort and optimal grip for all types of games, even after long gaming sessions.

What’s in the box?

The box contains the controller and instructions, plus a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

The Nacon Xbox Pro Compact Controller looks great in Red (and other colours) and feels really good in your hands – even for extended gameplay sessions.

The controller is wired so you will need to physically plug it into your Xbox, but there is a fair amount of cable included so you should be able to sit far enough away from your Xbox to be comfortable.

The controller had a number of configurable options, including sensitivity and button mapping – pretty much whatever you need to adjust, you can!

Included with the controller is a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and also a licence for Dolby Atmos for Headphones.

If you are looking for a wired controller that has a lot of configurable options then take a look at this one!

The Nacon Xbox Pro Compact Controller is available now priced around £49.90 and is available in a variety of different colours.

You can learn more from the Nacon website.

Review: Roccat Kone Air Wireless Mouse

Here is our review of the Roccat Kone Air Wireless Mouse.

Features

  • Gaming Grade 2.4GHz Stellar Wireless or Bluetooth connectivity
  • Up to 800-hour battery life
  • Compatible with 1 or 2 AA Batteries
  • Ergonomic shape with double-injected rubber side grips
  • 17 programmable inputs
  • ROCCAT Titan Optical Switches tested for 100 million clicks
  • 19K DPI Owl-Eye Optical Sensor
  • Heat-treated 100% pure PTFE glides

What’s in the box?

The box contains the Kone Air mouse, quick start guide and a AA battery.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

The Roccat Kone Air Wireless Mouse is very lightweight and easy to use. It is powered by either one or two AA batteries (when I first opened the box I found the battery that came with it and then opened up the mouse to see two battery slots and thought something was missing – it wasn’t).

Battery life on the mouse is really good – Roccat claim 800 hours of use from a set of batteries – I will take their word for it as I didn’t get chance to test it for that period of time, but so far I havent had any issues.

Pairing the mouse with a computer was simple – you can easier use wireless or Bluetooth depending on what you want to connect to. The process was really simple and quick.

Using the mouse was very comfortable – even for extended periods of time, and even for some pretty fast gaming requirements.

There are also 17 different programmable inputs on the mouse so you can set it up to work however you need it to.

Overall this is a great mouse thats easy to use and pair and works great off a single battery!

The Roccat Kone Air Wireless Mouse is available now priced around £59.99 in either Black or Arctic White.

You can learn more from the Roccat website.

Walk in a Wireless Wonderland with the Gioteck SC3 Pro Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch

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Gioteck, a leading videogame accessory brand and part of Embracer Freemode, invites gamers to join them in a wireless wonderland with the release of the SC3 Pro Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED and PC.

Offering a raft of features expected on more expensive pro controllers, the Gioteck™ SC3 Pro range combines superb engineering and jaw-dropping looks at an incredible price point.

Customisable RGB lighting, bathes your SC3 Pro Controller in an endless combination of colours that would put any Christmas tree to shame! Complementing the eye-catching lighting, the SC3 Pro Controller offers full motion control support for Nintendo® Switch™, and for gamers who take their play seriously, the SC3 Pro range features removable magnetic Thumb Sticks which can be swapped with a second set (included in pack), allowing the gamer to adjust the length of the sticks to suit their individual playing style.

Those wanting to go pro will have all their Christmas wishes come true thanks to the programmable Back Buttons. Ideal for FPS games, players never need to take their thumbs off their sticks and ergonomic textured grips on the side of the SC3 Pro range mean that gamers are always in control of their game, even during the most heated of battles.

Every night can be a silent night with the 3.5mm headphone port and additional volume buttons, allowing for instant headset connection, and with the internal battery charged via USB-C (cable included), there’ll be no need to scramble for batteries during the great Holiday play session!

Marek Soroka, Head of Sales for Gioteck™ commented, “There’s an incredible range of new games to play this Holiday season that deserve to be experienced with a pro level controller. We know times are tough at present, which is why we wanted to deliver a big array of features for a very reasonable price. With the SC3 Pro Controller, gamers won’t believe their mince pies when they see what this incredible pad can offer!”

The Gioteck™ SC3 Pro Wireless Controller for Nintendo® Switch™ and PC retails for an SRP of £39.99. The SC3 Pro Wireless Controller for PS4™ and PC retails for an SRP of £49.99. The range of controllers are available now from www.gioteck.com, GAME, Smyths Toys, Argos and all leading gaming retailers.

SC3 Pro Wireless Controller for Nintendo® Switch™ and PC:

  • Familiar ergonomic style with traditional button layout.
  • Supports Motion Controls.
  • Programmable Back Buttons.  
  • Changeable magnetic Thumb Sticks.  
  • Programmable LED light bar.
  • 3.5mm audio headset jack, mute and volume control buttons.
  • Textured grips.

SC3 Pro Wireless Controller for PS4™ and PC:

  • Familiar ergonomic style with traditional button layout.
  • Customisable Fascia.
  • Programmable Back Buttons.  
  • Changeable magnetic Thumb Sticks.  
  • Programmable LED light bar.
  • 3.5mm audio headset jack, mute and volume control buttons.
  • Textured grips.

For more information on the Gioteck™ SC3 Pro Wireless Controller Range, visit: https://gioteck.com/product-type/controllers/

News: Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom

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Developed and published by Maze Theory, Peaky Blinders is coming to VR with Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom on 9 March 2023. Daniel got his hands on the game at EGX 2022, and I won’t lie, I was pretty jealous as I ran out of time before getting a chance. But, with the demo releasing on the incredible PICO 4, my chance has come!

What to Expect

Set in 1920s Birmingham, the world will feel familiar to fans of the hit show. This, however, is where I admit I have yet to watch it. It’s been on a list to catch up on for a long time. I know – shameful for someone who writes gaming, tech, and entertainment reviews, but what can you do? However, I know enough about to know what I wanted to see from the demo. Thankfully, it delivered.

The game promises an immersive world with iconic locations straight from the television show, such as Shelby’s Betting Shop, The Garrison pub and Charlie’s Yard. As if that wasn’t enough, the game features believable characters voiced by the cast, like Tommy and Arthur Shelby, and new characters made specifically for the game.  The voice acting is excellent, as you would expect.

Intense action scenes are shown through a compelling crime drama. As part of my research, I watched some clips for comparison, and I can safely say that the story and action live up to the show’s high standard.

The Demo

The demo is short, but it’s enough to whet the appetite as to what’s coming. Available now on PICO 4, the demo sees you meet Tommy Shelby (voiced by Cillian Murphy) and learn a little about the story that will unfold.

Graphically, the game looks incredible, taking full advantage of the PICO 4’s power to really deliver. The characters also look and feel accurate to the show, which helps you feel like you’ve stepped into the show.

Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom has intuitive controls to pick up items in the game world, like an endless supply of cigarettes, glasses, documents, guns and more. In the pub, you can sit down with Tommy himself to learn about your role as a goon for the Peaky Blinders. At the end of this scene, you can kill the man being held hostage, implying that the game will introduce decision-based mechanics, although it is unclear how that will play out in the overall game.

Final Thoughts on Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom

Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is set up to be a fantastic game and experience for fans of the show and those who just like the idea of being a 1920’s gangster.  Graphically it looks fantastic, and even in the short time I was in the game, I couldn’t help but stop just to look around. Even things like holding a cigarette or drink felt realistic. Don’t mess with the Shelby brothers, but make sure to check out the demo and the full game by order of the Peaky Blinders!

For information about the PICO 4, head to their website or follow them on Twitter.

To learn more about Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, head to the game’s website.

Review: Medieval Dynasty

It’s fair to say that modern living is tough. Consequently, everyone is fighting to feed their family, earn enough money, and ward off any debilitating diseases. As such, I’m surprised that hardcore simulation titles are still as popular as ever. Taking a break from the monotony of life to create another harsh existence seems counterintuitive. However, this is exactly what happens in Medieval Dynasty.

Developed by Render Cube and published by Toplitz Productions, this is a survival simulation title. What’s more, there are distinct RPG elements and the usual health stats to contend with. Furthermore, this monstrously large game will take over your life. Therefore, if you have addictive tenancies, you won’t see your loved ones for the next year or so.

Hunt for your food in Medieval Dynasty.
Probably not the stealthiest approach.

Medieval Dynasty shines a light on the darkness. 

As it is set in a bygone era, I fully expected there to be some gory, unnerving, and upsetting moments. However, opening with a tale of loss and death caught me by surprise. The protagonist has had a cruel turn of luck as his family has been decimated. Subsequently, he has travelled a great distance to find his nearest relatives. Sadly, the Grim Reaper has taken them too, so he is alone, and the last of his bloodline. However, he doesn’t mope about it. Instead, he plans to lay new roots and make a fresh start in this far-off land.

Sounds dramatic, right? Well, it isn’t as Hollywood as it seems, but it’s good, nonetheless. The opening moments focus on a protracted prologue that explains the fundamentals, and the long list of things that can be done. You’ll craft buildings, create settlements, collect resources, hunt animals, make equipment, hire people, and find love. What’s more, you’ll defend your home, break the law, trade with locals, and battle the elements. Effectively, it covers the standard survival game tropes while incorporating a deep sense of belonging.

The skill tree within Medieval Dynasty is large and complex.
Can you master every skill?

It’s a slow burner. 

As expected, with any title in this genre, you get out what you put in. As such, Medieval Dynasty is a slow-burner that gets better with time. As you start, you must focus on simply surviving. Accordingly, building a shelter and harvesting food are your opening concerns. Therefore, you’ll gather resources, build rudimentary tools and traps, and get to work. Like Blue Peter, it’s amazing what you can do with some sticks, twine, and PVA glue. 

Once you pass this opening grind, the game opens up to a rich and fulfilling experience. You must concentrate on a character skill tree whilst also focusing on your reputation, trading, and expanding your settlement. Consequently, this leads to you hiring people to hunt for you, while you look for a wife to start a family. Once this happens, you can set them to work and you become Lord of your Manor. Now, it isn’t quite that straightforward, as you have the weather to contend with, taxes to pay, a thirst to quench, and hunger pangs to keep at bay. On top of this, you must manage your health and keep your people happy. As such, it’s an eclectic blend of elements that are hard work but enjoyable to manage.

Medieval Dynasty looks dated, but that’s okay. 

If you are a fan of the Elder Scrolls series, you’ll love Medieval Dynasty. Playing out from both first or third-person perspectives, you get the best of both worlds. Alongside this, a variety of environments, character models, and settlements keep things fresh. However, what wasn’t so great was the fiddly UI. With mountains of submenus and some hard-to-read text, it wasn’t as intuitive as I’d have liked. Yet, this is a minor thing, especially once you’ve invested hours of your time.

The visuals may not be perfect, but the audio was, mostly. I enjoyed the folksy soundtrack, the excellent environmental sounds, and the grunts and groans of every animal. But the crafting sound was just ridiculous. Why the developers insisted on replicating the noise of a socket wrench was beyond me. It was a minor thing, but it was so odd that it stood out like a sore thumb.

Medieval Dynasty allows you to forge your own path.
Can you tempt this lady to join you?

Ported from PC, and it shows. 

Medieval Dynasty is very much a PC port. Consequently, it has so much depth that it is overwhelming for console players. The aforementioned UI is uncomfortable and the menus are oddly stacked. As such, it takes forever to get used to. Alongside this, equipping items isn’t intuitive, and this is counterproductive in time-critical tasks. Now, these problems do dissipate over time, but it makes the learning curve unnecessarily tough.

Unsurprisingly, Medieval Dynasty is dripping with replay value and longevity. I lost track of life while playing this title. Accordingly, if you fall for its charms, the same will happen to you. With a sprawling world to discover and the freedom to do as you please, you can replay this over and over and always have a unique experience. 

Medieval Dynasty is a wonderful time sink.

I understand that the survival genre isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Moreover, the thought of living in a crueller world than our modern one is maddening. However, Medieval Dynasty is a wonderful time sink that is worthy of your time, effort, and investment. Therefore, I can easily recommend that you buy it here! Will you make a new life for yourself? Hunt, build and survive in a grim and unforgiving land. 

The Game Awards 2022 Recap

Last Thursday saw us celebrate another year of gaming with the annual Game Awards show. As always, Geoff Keighley and his team put on a fantastic product, allowing us as a community to get together to celebrate our little hobby.

In case you missed it, we’re going to be highlighting all of the award winners, as well as some of our favourite game announcements. If you have the time though, I’d highly recommend watching the show in its entirety. You can view it below.

Award Winners

E-Sports

The Valorant community nearly swept every award within the e-sports categories. This isn’t too surprising as Valo’s competitive scene has continued to rise in popularity over the past year. The only title they didn’t manage to claim was instead given to Riots other major title, League of Legends. Deservingly so, as the Cinderella storyline that persisted throughout that tournament was mythical.

  • Best E-Sports Game – Valorant
  • Best E-Sports Athlete – Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker
  • Best E-Sports Coach – Matheus “bzkA” Tarasconi
  • Best E-Sports Team – LOUD
  • Best E-Sports Event – The 2022 League of Legends World Championship

Genres

Retrospectively, this year was fairly diverse in terms of game stylisation. We had intense titles like Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarök, as well as light hearted jaunts like Kirby and Stray. The award winners below expertly showcase the expansiveness of this industry.

  • Best Action / Adventure Game – God of War Ragnarök
  • Best Action Game – Bayonetta 3
  • Best Family Game – Kirby and the Forgotten Land
  • Best Fighting Game – Multiverses
  • Best Indie Game – Stray 
  • Best Mobile Game – Marvel Snap
  • Best Multiplayer Game – Splatoon 3
  • Best RPG – Elden Ring
  • Best Sim / Strategy Game – Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
  • Best Sports / Racing Game – Gran Turismo 7
  • Best VR / AR Game – Moss: Book II

Miscellaneous

In today’s landscape, gaming expands across a wide array of audiences. From providing accessibility options for disabled gamers, to adapting titles for TV audiences, people from all types of backgrounds can sit back and engage with the medium they love.

  • Best Adaptation – Arcane: League of Legends
  • Best Community Support – Final Fantasy XIV
  • Best Debut Indie – Stray
  • Best Ongoing – Final Fantasy XIV
  • Content Creator of the Year – Ludwig
  • Games for Impact – As Dusk Falls
  • Innovation in Accessibility – God of War Ragnarök
  • Most Anticipated Game – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Development

Though gamers often give developers a lot of flak, we still appreciate what they do. It’s categories like these that allow us to give our fellow dev’s some well-deserved recognition and appraisal. Plus, if this section is telling of anything, it’s that Santa Monica Studio is packed with exceptionally talented individuals.

  • Best Art Direction – Elden Ring
  • Best Audio Design – God of War Ragnarök
  • Best Game Direction – Elden Ring
  • Best Narrative – God of War Ragnarök
  • Best Performance – Christopher Judge / Kratos (God of War Ragnarök)
  • Best Score and Music – God of War Ragnarök

Game of the Year

Truth be told, any one of these nominations had an argument as to why they should’ve won the award. They are all outstanding titles which perfectly capture the different aspects of the gaming medium. Unfortunately, only one of them is able to take home the grand prize. However, in my opinion, the right game won.

  • A Plague Tale: Requiem
  • Elden Ring – Winner!
  • God of War Ragnarök
  • Horizon Forbidden West
  • Stray
  • Xenoblade Chronicles 3

As a bonus for Elden Ring fans, Hidetaka Miyazaki, the man behind the Soulsborne games, confirmed that additional content is on the way for Elden Ring!

Game Reveals

As per usual, a treasure trove of game announcements/updates was made throughout the course of the show. Whilst they are all cool in their own right, I’m only going to discuss 7 of my personal favourites here.

Armored Core: Fires of Rubicon

10 years after the last entry in the series, Armored Core is back! Admittedly, I’m not a massive fan of the mech thematic. However, even I cannot deny that this trailer looks unbelievably badass. Plus, it’s directed by one of my favourite developers of all time, so I’m guessing it’ll be great.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is practically a match made in heaven for me. I absolutely adored the Divinity: Original Sin releases, and I’m also a huge fan of Dungeons & Dragons. I’ve been putting off playing so I can experience the complete version of the game. Thankfully, I won’t have to wait long as we now know is scheduled to come out in August 2023!

Diablo 4

At first glance, Diablo 4 seems to have fixed most of those issues that plagued Diablo 3. However, whether it’ll dethrone Path of Exile as the king of ARPG’s remains to be seen. At the very least, the CGI trailer is dope, though we’d expect nothing less from Blizzard.

Earthblade

Earthblade is an upcoming 2D Metroidvania made by the team behind Celeste, Maddy Makes Games. Although the trailer doesn’t really show off a whole lot, knowing that it’s made by the Celeste dev’s has me more than excited about this release.

Hades II

If you haven’t played Hades 1, I highly recommend you go out and buy it now. It is one of the most memorable games of the past 5 years, and deservingly won countless awards. Hades II appears to be giving us more of the same, albeit on a larger scale.

Judas

Judas is, for all intense and purposes, a spiritual successor to the Bioshock trilogy. In fact, it’s being spearheaded by Bioshock Infinite’s Creative Director, Ken Levine. Without a doubt, this is the title that piqued my interest the most.

The Lords of the Fallen

The Lords of the Fallen has had a bizarre development cycle. It was initially titled Lords of the Fallen 2, and was scheduled to be released back in 2017. However, due to multiple delays, they decided to remove the 2 prefix from the title and brand it as an entirely new game. Confused? Yeah, you’re not alone. Having said that, our first glimpse into this overhaul did not disappoint, and it looks as though it’ll be a stellar souls-like RPG.

Others

Some additional reveals included:

  • Crash Team Rumble
  • Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom of Liberty
  • Death Stranding 2 (Working Title)
  • Dune: Awakening
  • Final Fantasy XVI
  • Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
  • STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™
  • TEKKEN 8
  • …as well as many more.

Conclusion

And with that, we draw the curtain on the 2022 Game Awards! Once again, I highly recommend checking out the full show as it was chock full of surprises and excellent live performances. Interested in seeing what other trailers were revealed during this show? Want to check out some of the award winning speeches? You can find those by visiting The Game Awards YouTube channel here.