Category:

Video Games

Ask the EFG Staff – What Was the First Video Game You Played Online

by Stephen Duetzmann April 15, 2021

Stephen

I’m an elder millennial (1980) so I was around for some of the first online games. Our family computer wasn’t very powerful, so I was limited to text based games. The first online game I played for any length of time was Dragonrealms. Its a text-based MUD (that is still up and running) operated by a company called Simutronics. Since it was all text it was very focused on the roleplay and I loved every minute of it.

Mike

Dragonrealms. A text based multiplayer RPG, I learned how to type *reaally* fast because of that game and it was my first exposure to reading and writing computer code through computer scripts. Never really got beyond entry level content, but it was my first roleplay experience outside my immediate friends and family.

John

Word Of Warcraft, I apparently don’t know how to ease into anything as a rule. This applies to running obstacle course races, taking up new hobbies or jumping into one of the largest MMORPGs ever.

Jonathan

DOOM because when it came out my friends and I mowed the lawn for this guy that had his house wired for gaming and we had voice chat and everything.

Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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April 15, 2021 0 comment

Video Games

Video Game Definition of the Week: Idle Clicker

by Michael Duetzmann April 8, 2021

written by Michael Duetzmann

Every week the EFG staff will be defining a gaming term that is either confusing or ill-defined. Please leave a comment with any terms you are confused by and we will try to include them in future editions!

The gaming definition this week is a term that is applicable to video and mobile games: Idle Clicker

Idle Clicker: An online game, playable on a tablet, phone, or computer browser, built around very simple actions: Clicking the mouse, tapping the phone or tablet, or swiping your mouse/finger across the screen. Overall these games appeal to players looking for low complexity games to help them focus or recover from other tasks.

Players should be aware that their repetitive nature can also have negative effects as well if not played in moderation.

Examples

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

You can also look at our other video game definitions from previous weeks here!

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April 8, 2021 0 comment

Video Game Definition of the Week: DPS

by Michael Duetzmann April 1, 2021

written by Michael Duetzmann

The gaming definition this week is a term that is applicable to video games: DPS: Damage Per Second

1.) DPS measures how much a particular attack reduces the health or resources of its target(s) over a fixed period of time, typically seconds. Turns provide another way to divided damage into units, when turns provide a better fit. This measurement allows players to make comparisons between two (often very different) abilities more objectively.

2.) It is a descriptor added to an in game object or character to say it is built specifically to deal damage, often linked to other descriptors (Tank, Healer, etc). DPS items and characters are often labeled that way when a choice between items and characters are possible and encouraged based on personal style of play

Examples of Games with High DPS characters:

World of Warcraft (WOW)
Final Fantasy

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You can also look at our other video game definitions from previous weeks here!

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April 1, 2021 0 comment

Parent Resources Video Games

Video Game Definition of the Week: Open World

by Michael Duetzmann March 25, 2021

written by Michael Duetzmann

The gaming definition this week is a term that is applicable to video games: Open World

Open World: A game feature that puts the player or players in a large explorable common space with little to no marked boundaries (visual or otherwise) between encounters. Open World games will often have game wide systems in place for various player and computer controlled characters and objects to interact with each other. In Open World games you might encounter: Weather, Traffic, Night/Day cycles, and wandering computer controlled threats.

The gameplay is considered nonlinear with multiple ways to reach game objectives. Often times sections of the map reveal as players explore the region. In some games, such as Minecraft the biomes randomly generate as players enter an area. However in Terraria when you create a world the whole space in randomly generated at once.

Examples:

Minecraft
Horizon Zero Dawn
Terraria
Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild
No Man’s Sky: Beyond

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

You can also look at our other video game definitions from previous weeks here!

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March 25, 2021 0 comment

Board Games Parent Resources Video Games

Gaming Definition of the Week: Kaiju

by Michael Duetzmann March 12, 2021

written by Michael Duetzmann

The gaming definition this week is a term that is applicable to Board Games, Video Games and Movies: Kaiju

Kaiju: A genre of action and horror movies that originated from Japan. Kaiju’s direct translation from Japanese is “Strange Monster”. The Kaiju genre has always featured a gigantic, building sized creature, often several of them fighting each other, or a large monster against many, many people.

In the context of gaming, The Kaiju genre refers to games where the player either plays as or is pitted against a giant monster, and is either the general theme of the game, or the centerpiece of a dramatic climax in the story.

Example of Famous Kaiju:

King Kong
Godzilla

Kaiju in Video Games:

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
City Shrouded in Shadow
Shadow of the Colossus Remake

Kaiju in Board Games:

Last Defense
Kaiju Crush
King of Tokyo

Kaiju in Movies:

(There is an extensive library of movies with Kaiju, this is just a small sampling of films)

Pacific Rim (2013)
‘Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Rampage (2018)

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

You can also look at our other video game definitions from previous weeks here!

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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March 12, 2021 0 comment

Parent Resources Video Games

Video Game Definition of the week: Farming/ Grinding

by Michael Duetzmann March 5, 2021

written by Michael Duetzmann

The gaming definition this week is a term that is applicable to many video games: Farming/Grinding

Farming/Grinding: Intentionally and repeatedly performing the same game sequence in order to guarantee in game experience/levels, resources, materials, or equipment. This can be as simple as playing in the same area for long lengths of time, or as complex as repeatedly organizing and replaying entire multiplayer encounters. Farming can also be more materials and resources focused. In contrast Grinding tends to focus more ion gaining levels or XP. Grinding can also refer to an extreme case of farming where the optimal sequence to guarantee what is being sought after is not fun, or even worse, frustrating and disengaging. The line between farming and grinding is subjective and can differ wildly between players.

Examples:

Horizon Zero Dawn: You can search an area and collect the parts. Once you have gathered everything leave the area and reenter. This may trigger a new battle in certain areas and the resources will respawn.
World of Warcraft: Provides areas you can continue to reenter to battle and gain resources or experience
Minecraft: You can create spawn points for resources that you can repeatedly harvest and structures called mob grinders allow the structure to gather the enemy. Depending on how the structure is created, the destruction of the enemies can be automated or not.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

You can also look at our other video game definitions from previous weeks here!

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get

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March 5, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized Video Games

Family-Friendly Video Game Releases: February 28-March 6

by Jeffrey Walker February 28, 2021

written by Jeffrey Walker

Here are all the video game releases rated E-T by the ESRB that are releasing between February 28^th through March 6^th.

Sunday, February 28th

Lawnmower Game: Next Generation- Switch

Monday, March 1st

A Glider’s Journey- Switch
Gunslugs 2- Switch

Tuesday, March 2nd

Harvest Moon: One World- PS4, Switch
Maquette- PS4
Monster Jam Steel Titans 2- PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Neptunia Virtual Stars- PS4
PAKO Caravan- Switch

Wednesday, March 3rd

3 Out of 10: Season One- Switch
Cave Bad- Switch
GraviFire- Xbox One, Switch
Sir Lovelot- Xbox One, Switch
Wind Peaks- Switch

Thursday, March 4th

County Recon: The First Mission- Switch
Duel on Board- Switch
Estranged: The Departure- Switch
Everhood- Switch
Give it Up! Bouncy- Switch
Gnosia- Switch
Into a Dream- PS4, Switch
Kill It With Fire- PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Mail Mole- Switch
Pixel Game Makers series Puzzle Pedestrians- Switch
Ruinverse- Switch
Sea of Solitude: The Director’s Cut- Switch
Sticky Monsters- Switch
Super Metboy!- Switch

Friday, March 5th

America Wild Hunting- Switch
Asdivine Cross- Xbox One, Series X
Doug Hates His Job- Switch
Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition- PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Under Leaves- Xbox One

Jeff’s Pick of the Week: Gnosia

My pick of the week this week is Gnosia for Nintendo Switch.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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February 28, 2021 0 comment

Parent Resources Video Games

Video Game Definition of the Week: PvE/PvP

by Michael Duetzmann February 26, 2021

written by Michael Duetzmann

The gaming definition this week is a term that is applicable to many video games: PvE/PvP

PvE/PvP: Shorthand for Player Versus Environment and Player Versus Player. The phrases describe the type of interaction players will experience in the game and where they receive feedback and interaction from. Many games have both PvE and PvP components to their experience, each gaining benefits to the other.

PvE

Player Versus Environment (PvE) interactions are situations in which one or more players collaborate to interact/overcome a computer-controlled threat or problem.

Wii U Splatoon screenshot — Tower Control – one of the game modes in the ranked battles!

PvP

Player versus Player (PvP) puts players in competition with each other, often providing a direct threat or problem to each other. PvP often provides a short play experience for players, but since they involve other people they cannot be paused or stopped early without disrupting the experience for other players.

Entire PvE narratives have been designed as tutorials to bring players into the PvP experiences (eg. th story mode for many first-person shooters ).

Examples:

Splatoon is PvP: Players are shooting other players with paint and trying to send them back to start point for your team.
Super Mario Odyssey is PvE: Your challenges in the game come from the environment not other players.
World of Warcraft contains both PvE and PvP: most of the content in the game is PvE, but players can opt into a PvP experience or enter specific PvP battlegrounds.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

You can also look at our other video game definitions from previous weeks here!

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get

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February 26, 2021 0 comment

Console / PC Gaming Handheld Devices Parent Resources Video Games

Video Game Definition of the Week: Skill Tree

by Michael Duetzmann February 19, 2021

written by Michael Duetzmann

The gaming definition this week is a term that is applicable to many video games: Skill Tree

Skill Tree: A set of abilities listed in a linear path (often with some or many branches) where access becomes available in sequence. As a player purchases skills in the beginning of a tree, it unlocks the next skill, or choice of skills, in the linear path. Skill trees are often themed, and are designed to encourage a particular style of play (or several closely tied styles of play). Skill Trees are often visible to the player, showing potential abilities (and potential styles of play) that are available through spending resources on this particular path. Skill Trees are often built in collections of multiple Trees, and often share the same resource, requiring the player to make careful choices to best suit their style of play. The availability and combination of Skill Trees are often used to help better describe a character (or a class) and its interactions with others.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

You can also look at our other video game definitions from previous weeks here!

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get

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Video Games for kids on Xbox One
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February 19, 2021 0 comment

Video Games

Family-Friendly Video Game Releases: February 14-20

by Jeffrey Walker February 14, 2021

written by Jeffrey Walker

Here are all the video game releases rated E-T by the ESRB that are releasing between February 14^th through February 20^th.

Sunday, February 14th

Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing- Switch

Tuesday, February 16th

Annapurna Interactive Deluxe Limited Edition- PS4
Azure Lane: Crosswave- Switch
#Drive- Switch
Fallen Legion: Revenants- PS4, Switch

Wednesday, February 17th

Kick It, Bunny- Xbox One
SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium- Switch
Void Gore- Switch

Thursday, February 18th

Astrologaster- Switch
Cape’s Escape Game 2nd Room- Switch
Cathedral- Switch
Crazy Oce- Switch

Friday, February 19th

Boom Blaster- Xbox One
Doom & Destiny Advanced- Switch
Gravity Heroes- PS4, Xbox One
Puss!- PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Speed Limit- PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Thomas Was Alone- Switch

For the Grown-Ups

Persona 5 Strikers- PS4 (Friday, February 19th)

Jeff’s Pick of the Week – Thomas was Alone

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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February 14, 2021 0 comment

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