Most early video games, such as Pong in 1972, featured multiplayer modes. This was likely due to expectations from analog games, which were almost always played in person with friends and family. Early multiplayer modes were often turn-based, co-op arcade games—when one player died, another would take over or continue until all lives were extinguis

"I think it’s something that I’ve always been interested in, but it wasn’t until I got into college and met some people doing it that I actually took the plunge. I’m not even sure if I can classify my first "outing" as a cosplay, I threw some stuff together and did a Lady Vader back in 2012. I had fun though, and got a good look at what other people were producing, asked a lot of questions, and thought 'yeah, I really need to do this right

Distributors clearly have a lot to gain from online multiplayer games, especially with the popularity of microtransactions and the increasing popularity of DLC—more maps, more costumes, and more weapons often tempt gamers into paying more. This works well for free-to-play games like League of Legends or other MOBAs, but announcing DLC before a game's release often draws criticism. Many players argue that paid DLC encourages some developers to omit necessary or desired player content for higher prof

The scourge of low elo games, Bltizcrank. As previously mentioned, a difficult thing for new players (and the hard-headed old players) is to properly assess threat level. There is a certain understanding of what an enemy champion can do to you that is only achieved after they have burned you often enough for you to learn your lesson. Blitzcrank is one of the first lessons every League player learns. His mechanic is simple, as he aims in a straight line, and brings the first thing he hits to him. Everything in his kit is designed to set up that pull and lock down whatever he hits. He requires opposing players to be aware of their own positioning, something that does not come naturally to most. Be prepared to learn your lesson the hard way. Then, once you’ve gained enough experience and familiarity with the moba game Guide, be prepared to face Blitzcrank mains who have also improved and play a game of rock, paper, scissors as they predict in which direction you’ll attempt to do

Shovel Knight was released back in 2014 but it just wasn’t enough. Luckily, Yacht Club Games came out with a whole new storyline and adventure centered around Plague Knight with Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows. In it we’re playing as one of the bad guys as we go off to do bad guy things, but is Plague Knight really all that bad? He’s definitely one of the most interesting characters in the game and ditching the shovel in favor of potions and explosives is a great change of pace. Altering the story to fit Plague Knight is a great addition to the classic NES-style platformer. Playing through all the same levels we’re used to but as a different character bring a new perspective to the world. We can only hope every knight will get their chance in the spotlight.

On a slightly cheerier note, Galactic Cafe's funny and cerebral indie title The Stanley Parable also scored four nominations, as did the dystopian bureaucracy simulator Papers, Please , which is up for a Best Game award. Other nominees for Best Game include Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Super Mario 3D World . Tomb Raider has three nominations, as does mobile title BADLAND and Beyond: Two Sou

Pokémon is my absolute favorite franchise and it was very unfortunate there was no entry to the series this year. However, Pokémon was wise enough to appease me by releasing something, even if it was a puzzle game. Pokémon Shuffle has been a game I’ve constantly replayed. I’ve been enjoying it for over a year and I show no sign of stopping. New levels are constantly being added and timed challenges keep it interesting. It’s perfect to play on the go and with it now on mobile devices I highly recommend giving it a play.

Duking it out with gigantic creatures is great in any video game. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate came out last February and brought its massive monsters to the U.S. One of the game’s biggest strengths is its diverse weaponry and armor you wear to hunt down big trophies. Customizing yourself to fit the action is necessary in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and luckily there’s enough to wear. Even though your goal is to track down and kill the monsters, it is amazing seeing how different they all are. All the sizes, colors and abilities make for a wild adventure.

BAFTA announced the nominees today, and somewhat unsurprisingly The Last of Us is top dog once again with an impressive ten nominations. These include a Best Performer nomination apiece for Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, as well as nominations for Artistic Achievement, Action and Adventure, Audio Achievement, Original Music, Multiplayer, Story, Game Design and - the big one - Best Game. Naughty Dog may well end up needing a wheelbarrow to carry home those golden ma