Be sure to hit the Giveaway image at the end of the article for your chance to win 1 of 2 Xbox codes!
Tap Wizard 2 is a bit of a strange experience. Though it claims you are in control, it feels like everything is automated. This was bizarre and will annoy gamers who love to plan every move. However, if you want to kick back and watch the action unfold, then this could be the game for you.
This idle arena combat experience was developed by TopCog and published by Ultimate Games. Moreover, it is a top-down single-player game that has an extremely repetitive approach. This may drive you insane, but I found it to be oddly rewarding and unbelievably captivating.
Tap Wizard 2 tells a fantasy tale.
Tap Wizard 2 is simple by design. Yet, the story has some crazy ideas. What’s more, there are loads of foes to tackle and some mind-bending ideas to familiarise yourself with. Once you get your head into the action, you won’t think about it. However, until that happens, you will wonder what the hell is going on.
You control or observe a powerful mage. They are on a mission to secure the Chronosphere until all hell breaks loose. Dark forces ambush the wise wizard and before he can take his last breath, the Chronosphere rewinds time. This is the perpetual loop that you must face. Each rerun will move you closer to the next wave of foes. Yet, death and failure are just around the corner.
Simple mechanics.
The idea of an auto-battling idle RPG is bizarre, to say the least. Yet, the developer has managed to make things work. You must pick your spells and collect resources as you tackle minions and bosses. En route, you will upgrade your abilities and learn new information about the surrounding world. As you play, you will earn more resources. However, when you turn the game off, your resources still pile in.
This is handy as Tap Wizard 2 is a bit of a time sink. Upgrading everything takes a lot of effort! You’ll have to slay many monsters and avoid hellish projectiles. Moreover, as the waves advance, you will face bigger and tougher enemies. This combination can only be thwarted with new spells, and increased damage and health stats.
Tap Wizard 2 looks old.
Tap Wizard 2 will not win a beauty contest. To say it is ugly is to be polite. However, this matters not. The pixelated and old-school design was great to look at. Furthermore, I loved the interesting character models and the different backdrops. Sadly, the arena only changes as you “awaken”. Consequently, you will stare at the same environment for a long time.
The audio is as repetitive as the action. Yet, I liked the upbeat and often dramatic tunes. Some crazy sound effects match the fantasy theme. Luckily, these do not overpower the gameplay and everything just about works.
Easy controls.
If you attempt to control the wizard, things are a little strange. The autoplay element of the gameplay fights you the whole way. However, if you allow the computer to do its thing, you can sit back and watch the action unfold. This is ideal if you want to progress and watch your favourite TV program.
Though the gameplay is basic, there is both longevity and replay value. Tap Wizard 2 demands that you work your way through several “awakenings”. Each of these events wipes your progress and you must start again with a new character. Additionally, each character has unique skills and abilities to keep things fresh.
Tap Wizard 2 is an interesting concept.
Tap Wizard 2 won’t be for everyone. The weird automatic approach can be too voyeuristic, which will be a turn-off. But this will be the game for you if you like a strange blend of auto-battling, arena fighting, and lore-filled RPG backstory. I like it and recommend buying it here! Can you survive? Pick your spells, improve your abilities, and get to the next wave.
Click the image to enter our giveaway for Tap Wizard 2 on Xbox. *Limited time to enter.
The Cypher 96 Keyboard is the perfect device for gamers and office workers. This mechanical keyboard has a delightful clacky sound. Moreover, it is comfortable to use and the RGB is vibrant but not overpowering. If this wasn’t enough, a built-in calculator, programmable buttons, and FN shortcut buttons make your life easier.
This keyboard has 96 keys and tri-mode connectivity. Accordingly, it is versatile and usable. Moreover, the Epomaker Flamingo Switches are wonderfully responsive and perfect if you love to play fast-paced games. The mixture of blue, lilac, and white was pleasant to the eye. Furthermore, you can adjust the RGB to your liking. As such, this is a stylish peripheral that is user-friendly as well.
What’s in the box of the Cypher 96 Keyboard?
The packaging is simple but attractive. It highlights key information and can be recycled.
The Cypher 96 Keyboard has a compact design. Though it isn’t the smallest keyboard I’ve tested, it is ideal if you have a moderate desktop.
A USB dongle is provided for wireless connectivity.
Charge the device with the USB-C to USB-A cable.
Pull the keys and replace the switches with the keycaps puller and spare switches.
Learn the fundamentals with the user manual.
Technical aspects.
The Cypher 96 Keyboard has an impressive 1000hz polling rate for wireless and wired modes. This drops a little when using it via Bluetooth. However, I only used that option when I was commuting and wanted to type documents on the fly. Otherwise, I stuck to the wired USB-C connection.
Though response rates were impacted slightly through Bluetooth, the results were negligible. Consequently, this is a fast and responsive keyboard no matter which option you select.
If you decide to play wirelessly, you will be concerned about battery life. Thankfully, it has 2 large internal 4,000 mAh batteries that can be charged with the supplied USB cable. Moreover, a handy LED guide highlights your outstanding battery. Therefore, you needn’t worry about running out of juice.
Usability.
I love a plug-and-play device. The ability to unbox the peripheral and play is superb. Thankfully, this is exactly what happens with the Cypher 96 Keyboard. If you want a straightforward experience, you can. Alternatively, you can change the keycaps, switches, and programmable inputs with ease.
The switches are hot-swappable and this device can use both 3 and 5-pin switches. Luckily, the Epomaker Flamingo Switches are responsive and I loved the acutation distance. As such, I didn’t want to swap them for something else.
Flicking between connection modes was a piece of cake. A simple switch highlights the mode you select and away you go. There are 3 Bluetooth profiles and these can be accessed using the FN key. The USB dongle is hidden within the keyboard and this keeps it safe.
Build quality.
This keyboard weighs around 1 kg and has 3 resting positions. Moreover, there are rubberised feet to prevent the device from moving. This was great as I can become animated while playing high-energy games. Though this has a delightful clacky sound, the 5 layers of internal materials prevent it from becoming obnoxious. Additionally, there is a nice upmarket feel to each keystroke and this makes typing and gaming extremely pleasurable.
The cherry profile keycaps are familiar and easy to type with. What’s more, the switches are responsive and great to use. The south-facing RGB can be customised and I like the vibrant hue. Though some of the colours clash with the pleasant white and pastel keycaps, it matters not. Finally, the plate-mounted stabilisers create a reassuring platform for gaming and typing. This is a must-have for all keen PC users, and the Cypher 96 Keyboard doesn’t disappoint.
Is the Cypher 96 Keyboard worth it?
This device is pleasant to use. Furthermore, the keys are responsive and I liked the typing position. On top of this, you can customise your inputs and I liked the choice of RGB lighting effects. Though the soft-coloured keycaps may be off-putting, I liked the pastel finish. Accordingly, this is an affordable and responsive peripheral and I recommend buying it here!
Alaloth: Champions of The Four Kingdoms required me to cut my usual RPG strings. See, when I play most in-depth RPGs, I usually follow a standard formula. Wander into a quest area, and begin hoovering up the sidequests. Once all the rats are out of the basements, I do a handful of story quests until the next area unlocks. Repeat until credits. But Alaloth isn’t like that. It gives you a single, over-arching story quest and then steps back and folds its arms. Hence the forums being swamped by people asking what they’re supposed to do.
It’s something I came to respect, in the end. The developers have made it very clear that you’re supposed to just break out the hiking boots. After you get over the shock of not having a core path to follow, there’s a lot of fun to be had in poking around the world. It’s a dangerous move, though. Giving the player a big old world to wander in runs the risk of the game being wide but shallow, and Alaloth falls into that trap at points. Still, it clicked for me most when I stopped approaching it as a story-driven RPG, and embraced it as a fragmented dungeon crawler.
Lace Up Your Hiking Boots
Today’s big baddie is the titular Alaloth, an evil God imprisoned in the mortal realm. He keeps popping his head up and causing trouble across the land, so the four remaining non-Alaloth’d kingdoms begin pulling together champions to bring the mallet down on Alaloth’s head. Enter: us. There’s something delightfully old-school about rolling up a champion. You need to pick race (I went with orc), which house you belong to, which God you want to worship and whether you want to be a nice, friendly champion or boot stomp everyone who looks at you funny. Each of these change how characters approach you, as well as certain quests, which is good.
With my good-aligned Orc rolled up, I left my starting stronghold and the world map hit me in the face. It’s huge. There are fighting arenas, cities, smaller points of interest, strongholds, and so on. Interesting places are splattered all over. It’s a little intimidating. I scooped up some quests in a nearby city, then went to a zone labelled with a single skull. I figured that was a good place to start, and I’d used my starting gold to purchase a big old mace. My bravado soon disappeared when I was dogpiled by a horde of scorpions. It was at this point that I slunk off to the Steam forums.
I feel like Alaloth could do with a bit of easing in. I get that it’s going for the hardcore crowd, but a gentle nudge in the right direction would help. After I’d got going by picking up some bounties, and getting some reasonable gear, I found myself getting into it more. Once you conquer these dungeon-like arenas, they get checked off on the map. So a large part of the enjoyment was just strolling around the map, visiting cities and conquering dungeons. It’s a varied map, too, with a decent variety of enemies to keep things interesting. Twenty hours in and I was still seeing new things.
Zooming In
Let’s take a closer look at Alaloth‘s dungeons. These are small fighting arenas, about twenty minutes in length or so. This is where the combat comes in. While the isometric camera might lead to you think it’s turn based, it’s not – it’s real time, with influence from Dark Souls. So we’ve got dodge, light and heavy attacks, blocks and stamina. Problem is, the isometric camera can be a hindrance. It works very well in boss fights, where you can see enemies telegraph their attacks. In mobs, though, you can barely see what’s going on. Is a snake coiling back to strike, or is it reeling from a blow across the chops?
Alaloth’s isometric view doesn’t make it feel too satisfying either. Blows have very little impact. I went with the classic sword’n’board for most of the time, and I mainly just spammed heavy attack until everything fell over. Okay, not true – I did use the skills a fair bit. But the list of skills is a little thin, so every fight was almost identical. It just feels a little shallow, a problem shared by the sidequests. There’s a frankly absurd amount of them, but we have no real input. No choices, or anything. Just go here, do this, get reward. By the end I was taking quests without reading them. They all clustered around dungeons, anyway.
It leads me to make a very strange point. Alaloth might have too much writing. What we’ve got is good stuff, I’ll admit that. My orc is from the ‘Desolation of Baga’, a region that gets renamed constantly as key people come and go. That’s a chef kiss when it comes to concrete details. And yet every NPC will just vomit exposition straight into your codex, without any shred of personality. The writing is so dry. Even companion NPCs just feel like walking Wikipedia pages. When they have fireside chats, it’s great. I need more of that; I need a way into the lore. If I have nothing and no-one to connect with, I just rebound off it.
Alaloth – A Hefty Dungeon(s) Crawler
The strange thing is, once I stopped trying to read everything, I found myself enjoying Alaloth a lot more. I just enjoyed wandering around the world, seeing the sights, fighting bosses and clearing up dungeons. It’s a world that feels alive, as NPCs and enemies stroll around and things change as the days go by. There’s even a mode to add competitive champions, who will scoop up dungeons before you, which is good. Clearing dungeons is how you level up, which I imagine adds a nice slice of tension. I will say that it’s far too easy to hit the level cap in singleplayer, but I didn’t mind. One benefit of real-time combat is that it can still be challenging, even at level cap.
My opinion on Alaloth improved as time went on, and was helped by a nice final boss. I probably fought him a bit too early, but that just made the fight better. Alaloth‘s problem is that it’s just too wide. With the sheer amount of quests and characters, it all just becomes white noise. My orc was just nodding and smiling by the end. It was screaming out for a core group of interesting, changing characters. The world itself may change, but I never did. I started off hitting scorpions, I finished hitting scorpions. Doing so is fun, but I ended up doing it on my terms, and I’m not sure that’s what Alaloth really wanted.
It’s been almost ten years since Until Dawn hit PS4, releasing to critical acclaim and now it’s back in the form of a fully fledged remake. Is it worth picking up again or should the original have stayed up on the mountain?
Still A Modern Classic
I can still remember to this day the moment I knew Until Dawn was going to be a special game. Back in August 2015, the game released to virtually no expectations, including from myself. However, something about the trailers intrigued me, so I gave it a go. Instantly, I fell in love with the cast of characters and the setting and how perfect developers Supermassive Games had managed to create the ultimate teen survival horror game. I remember playing as my two closest friends watched, and we all loved it so much we really wanted to see its conclusion. So when Sony announced a remake of the game, (this time developed by Ballistic Moon) I was ecstatic but also cautious that a game I loved so much could be tainted. Thankfully, my fears were not realised. Remade in Unreal Engine 5, this remake is still the classic tale I loved so much but now with added extras that help propel the story to even bigger heights.
The core of the wonderful story remains with the tale of eight friends returning to the Blackwood Mountain one year after losing two sisters in the group to tragic events. The friends believe they are going to remember and celebrate the lives of these two, but twisted events lead to the group fighting for their lives on the mountain. From minute one, this story is gripping and thrilling, whilst also offering much needed comic relief when you least expect it. If you haven’t played the original, now is the perfect time with this remake, but for fans of the original like myself, it’s the little things Ballistic Moon have added that will capture your imagination. The new developers (founded by former Supermassive Developers) have reworked the prologue to superb results, creating more context and more heartbreak for the player as it truly makes the losses of the sisters so much more traumatic. I expected the game to purely be a carbon copy, but along with the reworked prologue, there are added scenes with the therapist which again help add weight and context to the story. Along with new music during cutscenes and with a new ending for Josh added (FINALLY), it makes the game feel complete and perfect. Without giving spoilers, the added post credit scene which is surely teasing a sequel, makes me excited beyond words. This tale of friends dealing with the horrors of the mountain is best experienced with as little knowledge as possible and for fans of the original like myself, this is now the definitive version of the beloved tale. Pure perfection.
Polished And Preserved
The original Until Dawn was Supermassive Games’ first foray into the survival horror genre and now they have created the superb Dark Pictures series of games. In many ways, Until Dawn remains their finest work, even in the gameplay department. Now in the hands of Ballistic Moon, the core gameplay remains the same with it being told from a third person over the shoulder perspective. Gone are the fixed camera angles, replaced by the pure over the shoulder view which really helps accentuate the horror and nail biting tension. Gameplay will always be second best to narrative in this type of game but Until Dawn still manages to create nail biting moments. Great use of quick time events, dialogue options and the fantastic stay still mechanic all return to only exacerbate the desperation and tension the characters feel. I truly think the original is the pioneer of this genre which is now popular. It is certainly not for everyone but it remains the most polished and responsive narrative horror game available.
Ballistic Moon have also innovated and added to the original, in particular making use of the adaptive triggers from the PS5 controller. Clicking the triggers to make a choice in a climatic moment really made me feel tense and much like the opening of the game states, every choice you make matters. The developers could have just ported the game to current consoles but you can really tell they care about the original. Along with the updates to controls, there are added collectibles to be found which are mainly for long time fans as they are little nods to the original but they are greatly appreciated. Investigating areas and items for clues and context to the story remains one of my favourite aspects of the game. The butterfly affect system remains intact and reminds the player that when making a choice, this could lead to dire consequences. Great accessibility options help round out a superb effort in making this game feel as fresh as possible whilst retaining the original’s gameplay style.
Presentational Ups And Downs
Story and gameplay have been near perfect for me in this remake but unfortunately the visual presentation is a mixed bag. Graphically speaking, this game looks gorgeous in UE5 with characters’ facial expressions and emotions on display for everyone to see in stunning fashion. Lighting remains industry leading for horror titles and really is something to behold. The problem I have with the visuals is mainly down to the framerate and the issues plaguing it. It’s a tough sell for fans when the original game still looks fantastic and runs at a silky smooth 60fps but this remake (inexplicably priced at 60 pounds) suffers from dramatic lapses at times and can really take you out of the moment. Hopefully this can be ironed out by the developers, as, apart from that, the game is still a beautiful game to behold. Small touches like the reworked totems look amazing when light bursts out of the cracks. It’s just a shame how bad the framerate can be at times.
Conversely, the sound design and soundtrack once again reach exquisite levels. The voice acting from the original cast returns, with wonderful performances which include Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere. Each character truly feels alive thanks to the voice acting which remains superb. Along with the acting, is a great sound design that heightens tension at every moment, with blood curdling screams echoing through halls and doors slamming behind you, creating jump scare moments. The addition of alternate renditions of popular songs is also a wonderful touch, such as ‘In For The Kill’ playing in the prologue which is a personal favourite of mine. Music remains low and brooding in Until Dawn but when it roars it really helps create cinematic moments. A great effort in sound design and score.
Verdict
Until Dawn is one of my favourite games of all time and thankfully Ballistic Moon have managed to craft a remake that keeps everything I love so dearly about the original. Great story additions add to an already brilliant horror tale, whilst small but impactful gameplay additions help keep the game fresh. Stunning visuals and voice work remain, along with strong sound design and score. It’s just a shame framerate issues take away from overall presentation and a truly baffling decision by Sony to price this game as a full price AAA game will stop old and new players from enjoying this seminal tale. But for me, this remains the king of narrative horror. See you at dawn!
The Clip Pro earbuds from NANK have an unusual design. Unlike other earbuds, these fit around your lower ear. This strange aesthetic is secure, but like nothing I’ve experienced before. Accordingly, it may divide its audience and that’s a shame. This product is packed with exceptional tech and it delivers amazing audio.
The build quality is good, and I like the strong and reliable battery life. Consequently, if you want a sturdy audio device to last your hike, commute, or marathon drive, these will tick many boxes. Furthermore, they are easy to use and can be connected in under 30 seconds.
What’s in the box of the Clip Pro earbuds?
The simple packaging is pleasant to the eye. Moreover, it is robust and recyclable.
The Clip Pro earbuds have a strange style. The long arm design relies on a tiny arched clip. Additionally, there are touchpads for a clean and user-friendly approach.
The charging case is compact and easy to handle. There are LEDs to highlight any charging need.
A USB-C cable charges the carry case.
Learn the basics with the user guide.
Technical aspects.
I’m concerned about audio quality, battery life, comfort, and usability when I look at earbuds. Fortunately, the Clip Pro earbuds focus on each of these elements. They are easy to use and have a good battery life. Moreover, I was impressed by the audio quality. So, let’s break down these categories starting with Bluetooth and battery life.
Bluetooth 5.4 guarantees a stable connection with a strong 10-metre range. Furthermore, you needn’t worry about crackling or interference. During testing, the earbuds were responsive and I noticed no unwanted sounds. What’s more, connecting these earbuds to your compatible device was a cinch.
The battery capacity isn’t as large as its peers. However, the Clip Pro earbuds offer enough juice to keep you going. The earbuds have around 6 hours of battery life when the volume is set to around 60%. Alongside this, the charging case delivers another 24 hours. Consequently, the combined 30 hours was suitable for my needs.
Audio quality.
The audio quality impressed me. NANK uses a feature called Advanced Sound Technology. This delivers impressive audio across the tonal range. Moreover, there is decent bass. The result is a pleasant audio experience that is rarely imbalanced or uncomfortable to listen to. What’s more, it creates a 3D spatial effect that enhances your listening experience further.
On top of this, the built-in microphones were impressive. The use of AI noise cancellation improves every phone call. Though it isn’t perfect, I had no complaints. The Clip Pro earbuds fall short when dealing with extreme volumes. If loud vehicles are passing, you’ll hear the echoed sound during your conversation. This wasn’t a massive issue, but it wasn’t as clear as some other brands.
Usability.
The Clip Pro earbuds are exceptionally easy to use. The touchpad was responsive without being too sensitive. Though it took some trial and error and the use of the user guide, I mastered things in no time. Answering calls, skipping tracks, and pausing your music can be done without removing your phone from your pocket.
Build quality.
The strange design will be a talking point. The hooking point isn’t familiar, and this may put some people off. At first, I was a little unsure, but I liked the secure feeling and how comfortable they were in my ears. Furthermore, the clip applied minimal pressure and this makes them comfortable during extended use.
The case and earbuds can be purchased in 2 colours. I picked the black and was happy with the sleek finish. The charging case is brilliantly simple and the earbuds feel secure. Finally, everything is lightweight and robust. I’ve dropped these earbuds multiple times, and they simply bounce. Though I don’t recommend doing that to yours, they have held up to my clumsy approach.
Are the Clip Pro earbuds worth it?
If you like a classic style, the Clip Pro earbuds won’t appeal. The unusual lower ear support is useful and comfortable, but strange to look at. However, if you are not bothered about looks or you like to try something new, then these earbuds should appeal. The battery life is decent and the charging case enhances that further. Moreover, the audio quality is impressive. Accordingly, I like them and I recommend buying them here!
The relentless pursuit of self-improvement has given birth to one of the most important features in personal and professional development: pushing and testing oneself. This science brings to the forefront the human brain, body, and emotions as very powerful and illustrates that through deliberate effort and self-critique, much great potential is realized. But is pushing yourself always worth it?
What does this inner competition achieve in a world that asks from us much more than we feel capable of giving?
The Science of Pushing Boundaries
On a deeper level, challenging yourself activates neural plasticity -the brain’s ability to adapt and make new connections. Scientists have found that embracing challenges – whether mental, physical, or emotional -actually strengthens the networks in the brain. Activities that require sharp attention, like solving complex puzzles or playing some aggressive sport, fire up the prefrontal cortex to develop better problem-solving, memory, and resilience.
Testing your limits also initiates a cascade of hormonal responses – the release of endorphins, dopamine, and cortisol associated with high-stakes activities contributes to improved performance and motivation at moderate levels. This is the “flow state,” where focus and effort seamlessly merge into what was just impossible now feeling achievable.
Is it Always Good to Push Yourself?
Whereas it’s apparent how much value exists in testing one’s boundaries, it is mainly in the way it’s approached, for without the appropriate amount of rest or reflection amidst the over-pushing, this could result in burnout, physical injuries, and mental fatigue. Growth is best realized with a balance of efforts. Intense effort needs to be balanced by deliberate rest, similar to how muscles are allowed to grow only after stress.
Another important factor is self-awareness. Being your own critic is a two-edged sword: while constructive self-evaluation helps to improve, excessive self-criticism may destroy self-confidence. Cultivating a compassionate yet honest inner voice enables growth without undermining self-worth.
Competing with Yourself: A Strategy for Life
The word competition often conjures up images of rivals, podiums, and trophies. But competing with oneself can be an even more powerful motivator. It reframes the goal from outperforming others to beating your own limitations. This internal rivalry builds resilience, enhances discipline, and fosters a growth mindset -all important tools to help one navigate life’s challenges.
The same can be developed through certain mental exercises. Games like Jumble, scrabble, or puzzles would work great for challenging your cognitive fluidity and word imagination. Examples of such puzzles require critical lateral thinking and attention to detail in the case of missing patterns while sharpening one’s faculties over time. In this regard, testing your skills with challenging activities enhances solving problems and builds one’s mental readiness to struggle longer with more profound life challenges over time. Test your progress and use a jumble word solver if you are stuck; soon, your brain will jump any hurdles.
Becoming Your Best You
Pushing and testing yourself is about more than just achievement—it’s about transformation. By leaning into discomfort, you discover untapped potential and gain confidence in your ability to overcome adversity. The key lies in striking a balance between ambition and self-compassion, ensuring that the journey is as enriching as the destination. It is important to remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Whatever you are trying to master- skills, physical performance, or mindset -the road to going forward is paved through consistency, active reflection, and openness toward challenges. Let your inner critic guide constructive motivation as you push your limits and allow each obstacle to be an opportunity to rise even higher. In a world that often demands resilience and adaptability, competing with oneself may just be the most reliable strategy for success.
Integrating digital technologies into business processes is something that has been underway for at least the last 30 years, and likely longer. However, the bespoke nature of these interventions often requires a custom approach. And that’s where difficulties arise. Systems can often be inflexible and lack interoperability, making them a poor solution in an environment where capabilities are constantly changing.
For this reason, many companies are exploring more effective integrations. The idea is to bring technology into the business, but also ensure that it is upgradeable and continues to serve business purposes for years to come.
But how is this done? What are companies doing to ensure that it happens successfully?
That’s what this guide explores. It asks how to choose the right technology, and what needs to be done to put a successful digitization plan in place.
Choose The Right Technology
Most firms begin this process by choosing the right underlying technologies. Usually, this means opting for cloud computing, IoT installations, and AI, since these tend to work across modalities. Most of these are highly scalable and don’t require reworking at the fundamental level, every time something new comes along.
However, technologies must still be compatible with existing business systems. Adding apps or networks that don’t work in the existing context adds to cost, which is unhelpful at the best of times.
Build A Digital Transformation Process
The next step is to think about a digital transformation process. How should you approach it?
Ideally, you want to set some objectives. Having it clear in your mind (and in the heads of key stakeholders), makes it more likely that the process will come together as a cohesive whole.
Most brands start by holding a meeting with key staff. Discussing what you want to get done and providing everyone with an aim can be helpful.
You also want to set milestones based on these objectives. Digitizing in a series of phases is often the best strategy since it means you can adjust your operations more slowly and reduce risk. It also means you can keep track of where you are right now, and where you want to go.
For example, your first milestone might be to install smart POS equipment at every terminal your business operates. This way, you can benefit customers immediately and take payments more efficiently.
Your next milestone could be something more comprehensive, such as using more AI for business intelligence. Implementing these strategies often takes more time, especially if you plan to include sensors in the field.
Once you have a schedule in place, you need to equip employees for what comes next. They need skills that will let them leverage digital systems and make the best use of them.
You can usually do this with online training or e-learning. These options allow you to break down education into bite-sized chunks spread throughout the week.
You can also call in software developers to train key people in your organization and get them to work with you prudently. These professionals can train your trainers and show them how the systems work so they can develop courses for the rank-and-file on the ground.
Where possible, involve employees in the process. Get them excited about the possibility of digitizing their roles, allowing them to build higher productivity going forward.
Ensure Data Integrity
Of course, while you are integrating these systems and trying to improve your operations, you will also need to focus on data integrity. Getting this right can allow you to leverage any changes you want to make even more.
You also want to involve cyber security in your plans. Adding data security and monitoring tools makes it less likely that hackers will find vulnerabilities in your new integrations, allowing you to continue with the same confidence as with your old, legacy systems.
Start Small
Once you are ready to begin, start small. Trial pilot projects first to discover what works and what requires improvement. Don’t roll solutions out to the entire company if something doesn’t work or colleagues don’t find it useful.
Once you have a project under your belt, measure the impact. Try to find out whether the impact is worth the expense.
Then, expand depending on the results you see. Sometimes you will need to go back to the drawing board, but other times, you will be amazed by what you can achieve.
As humans, we love to label anything and everything – this includes ourselves. Personality type fads come and go, ranging from zodiac signs, to the Myers-Briggs, to something as silly as what Pokémon type are you? Regardless if you genuinely believe in these boxed-in temperaments, it is all in good fun. They may even be a useful tool to some degree.
Finding out one’s personality through a video game however is unique and rather impressive. A game that keeps track of every little thing you do, even as miniscule as how many metal scraps you pick up, what colors you choose to paint a sheep picture, and how long it takes you to move to an undiscovered location.
Developed by Lizardry and published by PLAYISM, Refind Self: The Personality Test Gameis an interactive 2D explorative adventure that will micro-analyze every single choice and action you make. While it is experimenting with you, there is an underlying current of lore that players should piece together, making for an alluring playthrough.
Released on November 13th, 2023, Refind Self can be played on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.
Love, death, and Androids
To my surprise, not only does the short and sweet Refind Self have a story element to it, but a fairly complicated one at that.
Players take control of a wind-up robot named Utsuwa (which can be manually changed), who looks and acts awfully human . . . or at least is trying to by understanding the human heart. Utsuwa was created by the mysterious Dr. Kusunoki by using powerful emotional, self-aware AI that can continue to learn. The Doctor, now deceased, appears to have created tens of hundreds of humanlike androids inhabiting this island the player is on, with no other humans around. Players will not know much at the beginning, but will begin to unravel more depending upon the places you travel to and the choices you make.
Certain actions will trigger flashback cutscenes of Utsuwa and the Doctor, based around their dialogue questioning the nature of humanity and the nature of their own relationship; and as the story progresses, you will discover more about the Doctor’s loneliness, pessimism, and foreboding plans for the future.
It is almost impossible to unveil the full “truth” in a single playthrough. I missed out on a lot of lore during my first attempt, as I was super concerned about picking up and touching everything that I saw, which filled my heart meter up fast. I did not even make it to half of the possible buildings and characters I could have encountered. However, Refind Self is not meant to be played only once. To get the full extent of the story, and to fully complete the game’s analysis of your personality, players must complete the game a full three times. Do not worry – each attempt takes about 60 minutes max, so the work is highly achievable and definitely worth it.
Just follow your heart
Utsuwa has this heart meter at the top left part of the screen that will slowly climb to 100%. Once you hit this percentage, your playthrough will end after one final action. The entire time you are playing, the game is analyzing every little thing that you do. To have a fully enjoyable experience, do not look up walkthroughs; do not worry about what you are doing; simply just play! Refind Self will not be pressuring you to go anywhere or hurry along – you do whatever you want to do. I highly recommend not reading up on the 23 personality types beforehand either, as humans tend to try to morph themselves into what they think they should be. Go in blind!
The player’s heart meter will incrementally increase by doing literally anything. Picking up a flower will increase the percentage by one. Doing a minigame might make it go up by 10%. Control of the main character will be cut off once the gauge hits 100%.
After your first playthrough, the game will reveal your dominant, secondary, and tertiary personalities. The game will unveil your “hidden personality” after the second attempt. If it is the same as your dominant personality, it could mean that these traits are an insanely strong part of your character. If it is different than your dominant result, this personality means that these traits lie dormant within you, and according to the game, serves “like a kind of hidden flavor or spice.” Finally, the last playthrough will show your “most distant” personality. This will be the one you scored the least on, or the qualities you may lack.
Playing subsequent times will not affect your personality results.
Who am I?
For example, my dominant result was “the researcher,” which makes total sense. As I stated, I just had to look at everything, read anything, and ask a whole lot of “what?” questions on my first attempt. This allowed me to gain knowledge but it severely hindered my progress! My “most distant” personality was “the philosopher.” This is kind of funny to me, because this means that I don’t take time to contemplate my decisions . . . which yeah, true, I absolutely did not do this during my playthrough. All of my choices were based on gut reactions because that is typically how I play games (for better or for worse)!
Each action you take will add points or detract points from certain attributes: morals, passion, daring, judgement, and methods. I scored the highest in passion, which resulted in a personality under the passion category (there are four personalities per attribute).
Players are able to see all the major and minor actions you took per playthrough, and how common they are compared to other people’s choices. You are able to directly compare personalities with someone you know that has played Refind Self, or random people over the internet. This mechanic was super fun, and it is almost startling to see the amount of variation in everyone’s experience. I sat on a bench for over 10 seconds, but a stranger may have never sat down at all. I played the cafe game, but a stranger might have gambled at the casino instead.
The world is your oyster
Refind Self is a simple game: players will walk around and interact with people and objects. You can accrue money by trading gold scraps, pull up your inventory to see what items you picked up, and play a surplus of minigames. For example, talking to the robotic barista at the cafe and agreeing to help her will result in a quick minigame, where players complete customer orders while maintaining a profit margin. There is also a sheep painting game, gambling, a 2D shooter, and more, in which some side games are actually relevant to the plot.
Without spoiling anything, after your personality gets analyzed, there is a final ending sequence that transforms into RPG-style combat. The shift is jarring, but works pretty well. Utsuwa’s combat abilities will mostly depend on the personality results you get, which is uniquely fascinating. I failed the fight during my first attempt but subsequently succeeded. You do not have to win, but the ending will slightly alter depending upon this fight and several other small things.
Come along with me
Refind Self works excellently as a short title, because playing through it multiple times is always exciting. The game is much larger than you may expect: I had a very different experience every attempt. As each playthrough occurs, players will gather more memories of Utsuwa and the Doctor, uncovering the latter’s true intentions as well as the complex, questionable nature of her relationship with you. The third playthrough results in a special end segment with the Doctor running tests on Utsuwa, and the way it plays out is subject to change based on your choices. My ending was bittersweet, and that is all I will say.
Overall, the plot is a little confusing at times, but the whole point of Refind Self is to learn more about you!
New age of pixel art
The visual and sound design of Refind Self is very Undertale-esq in my opinion. Refind Self is more anime-like, but includes that simple, 2D pixel art charm that looks great even for the modern era. There is an underlying eeriness with the design, I believe, which gives off an atmosphere of self-questioning and existentialism, which the game is intentionally trying to convey.
The music is soft, melancholic, yet curious, kind of like certain explorative areas in Undertale. It fits in well, but certainly makes me feel a bit somber, knowing that time will run out for my character. The music, paired with the game’s muted color scheme of deep greys and pale yellows and pinks – almost sepia – seems dull but is somehow quite captivating.
A small part of me wishes to customize the physical appearance Utsuwa for a more personable experience. Then again, this female android has already been embedded in the plot. Utsuwa is not necessarily you.
Final thoughts
Refind Self: The Personality Test Game is positively unusual with high re-playability. While having a somewhat confusing plot line that can be difficult to fully make sense of without tens of playthroughs, trying to put the puzzle together is exhilarating enough, with the player being able to define the Doctor’s relations with Utsuwa and your identity as a mortem-focused robot. The sad thing is, nothing can stop Utsuwa from her ultimate death, because this is the one thing you as a player cannot choose to avoid. Utsuwa does not want her clockwork motor wound up. She just . . . doesn’t. She believes that the Doctor is dead, and therefore she wants herself to naturally expire in a human way. Mortality cannot be avoided.
Certain choices have left me satisfied, like being able to refuse to look at your personality results prematurely, or denying/accepting to cheat the system and lessen your heart meter by a giant percentage. Perhaps the results are not accurate for everyone, but it was on point with me.
If you chose to play Refind Self, which I highly recommend, just keep in mind the black sheep. Touch them, do not touch them, destroy them . . . then again, is it up to you or Utsuwa?
FlipCat is a strangely named title that has an old-school aesthetic. This will appeal to a niche audience, but I loved its quirky ways and the simple gameplay. First, I was disappointed by the lack of complexity and challenge. However, when things ramped up, I instantly regretted my thought process. Yet, it was necessary, and the game benefits as a consequence.
This 2D platformer was developed by Fabrizio Abreu and published by Fa Games. Moreover, it is a single-player retro experience that is refined and simple to understand. This may put some gamers off, but I liked the dated aesthetic and the interesting core mechanics. If you follow my reviews, you know I adore this developer. I have covered Pyramid Platformer – The Gem Heist and Fox Legend, and I enjoyed both games. Accordingly, I had high hopes for his third title.
FlipCat has no plot.
Old-school games and no story go hand-in-hand. This was a shame as I like a meaty plot and a chance to build a rapport with the protagonist. Though FlipCat lacks this core element, it matters not. Instead, you focus on the 30 levels of action and the pixelated imagery.
I have no idea why the athletic cat is stuck in this bizarre perspective-flipping world. Yet, those details are irrelevant. Instead, you focus your mind on overcoming traps and avoiding fire, spikes, and projectiles. Additionally, you must explore different avenues as you search for a key to unlock the exit. None of these aspects were impossible to deal with, and this makes it particularly user-friendly.
Simple gameplay.
FlipCat follows in the footsteps of the developer’s other games. Each level evolves with new traps and obstacles added as you progress. There is no vast learning curve and you quickly understand how to overcome hazards and what must be achieved to complete each stage.
Things ramp up when you must hit switches and flip the world on its head. As each switch is activated, the world changes and you face new paths and fresh problems. However, if you can remember each segment and navigate each obstacle, you will find the hidden key and the exit.
FlipCat is gloriously pixelated.
I’m a sucker for retro gaming. Thankfully, FlipCat is gloriously pixelated! The sharp colours and simple backdrops are great to look at. Furthermore, the obstacles are well designed and I liked the clean pathways and obvious solutions. My only complaint is the glitch when pushing barrels. Occasionally, the cat and the barrels become stuck. This can cause problems and this needs ironing out.
The audio blends dramatic tones with jovial moments. This soundtrack is repetitive, but the levels are shortlived and the music rarely outstays its welcome. The sound effects are loud and in your face. Though they could have been more refined, they are suitable for the dated aesthetic.
Straightforward controls.
This can be played on PC or Xbox. Consequently, you can test your skills with a mouse and keyboard or gamepad. I stuck with the latter and found it to be accurate and responsive. Subsequently, it is easy to master and players of all ages will play this with ease.
Replay value and longevity are lacking. There is no speedrun option and once you blast through the 30 levels, there is no reason to return. If a timer or leaderboard is added, this will inspire you to come back for more.
FlipCat is simple but fun.
If you adore the genre and want something casual to pass the time, this is the game for you. The graphics are retro but pleasant. Additionally, the gameplay is simple but fun. There are a few glitches, but I’m sure these can be ironed out. Accordingly, despite these issues, I like it and recommend buying it here! Can you open every door? Explore each level, find the key, and get out quickly.
Sports betting in Africa is on the rise, blending tradition and innovation to enhance fans’ engagement with sports. What once relied on informal wagers and roadside kiosks has now evolved into a thriving industry with millions of fans across the continent. This is thanks to technologies like smartphones, 4G and 5G internet, VR, and AR.
As Africans continue to embrace sports betting, let’s examine how the tech driving the industry has evolved and will continue to evolve in 2025 and beyond.
The history of sports betting in Africa
You may think sports betting is new in Africa, but it dates back centuries. Before Malawians enjoyed online Malawi betting platforms like Betway in 2025, North Africans were betting on horses in the 15th century. Africans, meanwhile, had been betting on sports for over 7 decades. These histories reflect a deep cultural connection to sports and community betting that, alongside technology, is crucial to the growth of sports betting in Africa.
The rise of modern sports betting, bookies, and kiosks
Governments in Africa only started regulating sports betting in the mid-20th century. Since then, this industry has experienced incredible growth. Nearly half of South Africa’s adult population regularly participates in sports betting. The country currently has the biggest betting market in Africa and, coupled with Nigeria and Kenya, made $40 billion in betting revenue in 2018.
At the beginning of the sports betting wave in these three countries, much of the betting took place in betting kiosks run by local bookies. This was a way to offer sports betting services to areas that had very low smartphone and internet penetration at the time.
The kiosks had betting booths and one or two computers, at best, with the bookie recording bets on physical tickets. As sports betting grew more popular, self-service booths replaced these general kiosks.
Mobile and live betting
Around the 2010s, mobile penetration in Africa grew, making it possible for bettors to access betting markets on their phones. Mobile betting through platforms like the Betway app has become popular because of its convenience and affordability. Mobile money services like M-Pesa also make it easy to place your bets online and access your winnings in an instant.
As of 2025, 70 percent of Africans own a smartphone, a number that will keep growing. With 5G internet increasing internet access, all of these smartphone users can stream and bet on live matches. Recent research reveals that 80% of African bettors prefer live, in-play betting to before-he-match betting.
The future of sports betting tech in Africa
Africa is a vibrant market for sportsbooks like Betway. As technology continues to make sports betting more accessible to Africans, the future of the industry will be defined by regional customization, mobile-driven innovation, and innovations such as blockchain and AR/VR. Reputable platforms like Betway must then focus on meeting the specific cultural needs of African bettors while tapping into our love for sports.
