Happy holidays! Time to see what’s in your stocking. Oh, it’s another copy of The Golf Handbook (Third Edition). And some toenail clippers. Great. No, honestly, that’s fine. It’s not like little Jemima over there is dashing about in her cool lion slippers, making you ache for an era of innocence and novelty that you can never revisit. And who cares if she’s clashing her dinosaur figurines over the ruins of a Lego city? You certainly don’t. Why, you barely notice as her damned wonderful slippers go “rarr” with every step. Oh well, better go set the table for dinner. No! We won’t allow it. Turn that holiday frown upside-holiday-down, adult friend of mine. Children do not have a monopoly on fun. Here are six playthings that’ll make you click, smile, discover, and giggle. These are all toys as much as they are games, and they’re your real stocking fillers. Enjoy. Ah, Vectorpark. King of the clickytoys. Boss of baubles. … [Read more...] about 7 toylike games to play during the winter holidays
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The best PC games around – essential pick-ups from every genre
The best PC games With unparalleled accessibility and endless upgradability, it’s no wonder that millions of gamers around the world think PC is the best place to play. Because of the platform’s history, curating a list of every great PC game throughout the ages would be a tough task, so we’ve put together a list of modern titles that’re the best PC games to spend your time with right now. So, in alphabetical order, here’re 50 of the best PC games around. Cities Skylines – Honorable mentions: Prison Architect, Tropico 5 In an alternate universe where EA and Maxis didn’t drop the ball, this slot is occupied by the latest and greatest SimCity release. In fact, Cities: Skylines developer Colossal Order was miserably certain its project wouldn’t be greenlit thanks to SimCity’s announcement – but its subsequent pratfall only made Paradox more eager to bring PC gamers what they wanted most. The best way to describe Cities: … [Read more...] about The best PC games around – essential pick-ups from every genre
Best cheap gaming PC: Build guide 2018
Want to get into PC gaming, but are put off by the high price of entry? This guide is for you. For around the same price as a modern gaming console, a cheap gaming PC can get you into the world of modding, Steam sales, and all the other joys of PC gaming. This build is aimed at building the best cheap gaming PC, one that performs decently for as little money as possible. It cuts corners on any sort of bells and whistles—and doesn't have a ton of long-term upgrading potential—opting purely for components that provide the best performance in the bottom price tier. PC build guidesThe best cheap gaming PC (~$500/£500) - Our alternative to buying a console.The best budget gaming PC (~$750/£750) - A good entry-level system.The best gaming PC (~$1,250/£1,250) - Our recommended midrange build for most gamers.The best high-end gaming PC (~$2,000/£2,000) - Everything a gamer could want.The best extreme gaming PC (>$3,000/£3,000) - You won the … [Read more...] about Best cheap gaming PC: Build guide 2018
How to play retro video games
File photo: The first recovered Atari cartridge and packaging recovered from the old Alamogordo landfill are shown in Alamogordo, New Mexico, April 26, 2014. (REUTERS/Mark Wilson) Some of the best video games ever were made ages ago. Super Metroid, Planescape: Torment, Deus Ex, and hundreds of other amazing games were produced for platforms that don't really exist anymore. They were made for systems that used cartridges and PCs that ran Windows 95. Some have aged well and some haven't, but they've all made their mark on video game history. Unfortunately, you can't easily play them in their original forms on current systems. Consoles stopped using cartridges many moons ago, and what worked on Pentium-era Windows 95 PCs baffle Core i7-era Windows 10 machines. Add an unsettling trend of dismissiveness in archiving classic games and you run into the very real risk that some of the best video games ever will some day be lost, or remain just out of reach. Fortunately, you have … [Read more...] about How to play retro video games
Valve adds optional ‘Plus’ paid subscription to free-to-play Dota 2
Valve’s free-to-play MOBA Dota 2 now offers its players a $3.99 paid Dota Plus subscription for access to additional in-game features and utilities. Typically, Dota 2 has monetized through the sale of optional cosmetic skins, announcer voices, or new characters so the addition of an optional paid subscription to the longtime free-to-play game is a notable change. And while a number of the new features offered to subscribers are also purely cosmetic, the plan includes access to an in-game digital advisor that gives paying players on-the-fly advice for character selection, item builds, and ability upgrades. The Dota Plus system is an evolution of Valve's past, limited-time Majors Battle Pass and grants players access to new character-specific progression, challenges, and rewards for the duration of their subscription. Completing those new tasks rewards players with things like new voice line slots or the in-game currency needed to pick up Plus-exclusive items from the … [Read more...] about Valve adds optional ‘Plus’ paid subscription to free-to-play Dota 2