Features

Top 5 Cues Developers Should Take from Dark Souls

Published

11 years ago

February 6, 2014

I am a massive fan of Dark Souls. There, I said it. It is a game that resonated with me so little at first, but after overcoming all of the hardships it offered, it slowly crept up from the bottom to the top of my list of best games ever conceived. It is an engrossingly grotesque and unique experience that has depressing and oftentimes macabre undertones, and though it is punishing and unforgiving, I love every moment of it.

From Software took cues from games of old, but it is about time that some other games take cues from Dark Souls.

5. Variety is the spice of life

The games industry has grown substantially since it’s inception. Studios have grown by large numbers, games are selling more, have gigantic budgets, and have become more mainstream in the last decade. All of this coupled with technology has opened the doors for us to get deeper, more rewarding experiences out of games. What used to be simple high-score gathering has become entire towns and countries mapped out in real time for our traversing pleasure. While this is all fantastic for us, it is not the norm. Most games seem to clock in between six and fourteen hours – with the exception being RPGs that are significantly longer – and generally offer nothing but fluff replayability.

Take a look at a game like Dead Space for example. It has a campaign that can be conquered in under ten hours, and offers nothing except collectables and increased difficulty levels for variety. While the game has several weapons, none of them are substantial enough to argue playing through the game again to experiment. For another example, think about a game like Tales of Xillia. It is a massive, sprawling world filled with side quests to take part in and bosses to kill. It isn’t, however, worth replaying a second time. You could argue that playing through as Milla instead of Jude might offer a little variety, and while you’d be correct, it is not varied enough to justify a 60 hour grind through an RPG of nearly endless dialogue.

Dark Souls on the other hand, offers so much variety and replayability that it might feel insurmountable to even attempt it. Do you want to play a heavy tank class with a greatsword? a mage who uses rapiers and sorcery? a pyromancer dressed like a dragon that throws and spits fire and uses axes? a naked, shield-wielding barbarian that wears a hat so big that you can’t even see what’s in front of you? All of this is possible. It is also possible in other games, however, Dark Souls, has such punishing gameplay and intricate design, that going from something as seemingly unimportant as heavy to medium armour can have experience-breaking repercussions; Just experimenting with your build can make or break certain bosses or areas for you.

4. Exposition!

When Dark Souls and even Demon’s Souls came out, they were both criticized for their storytelling. People suggested that the story is basic in design and offers little to no insight into what you are doing and why. While all of this is true at face value, there is still much to behold in more classic and under-appreciated ways. For example, did you know that the Picasa (the little blue snake-haired enemies in The Dukes Archives), are actually women that were captured by Seath’s assistants, the Channellers, and brutally experimented on to further Seath’s research? Or that The Four Kings together ruled over New Londo, until a primordial serpent offered them the art of lifedrain?

There are little tidbits of information given throughout Dark Souls via in-game item descriptions and dialogue with random NPCs that any player might skip or ignore, resulting in the game appearing to be devoid of any actual lore and proper storyline. This is the exact opposite case. Dark Souls has an immense wealth of lore to be had, but it must be found, not listened to or watched via hours and hours of dialogue and exposition. Some games beat you over the head with unrelenting cutscenes, and in some cases, offer more cutscenes than actual gameplay. While this isn’t a bad thing, as games like Metal Gear Solid could be told no other way, there is a lesson to be learned in the phrase ‘less is more’. I am constantly fascinated by all of the bizarre lore Dark Souls has to offer, and I find it more intriguing than most games that provide nothing but constant exposition.

3. Tutorials? Waypoints? Who needs ‘em?

Many games that come out now leave nothing in terms of learning and problem solving to the player. It’s almost as if they think people wouldn’t understand their games unless they teach you how to function in this world and guide you from point to point, beginning to end. You will be walking through each level, being shown exactly where to upgrade your weapons and armour, level up, save, and how to get to every single objective you have. There are literally mini-maps that detail every piece of the world, with dozens of markers and waypoints just to make sure the player will not feel lost for even a second.

Dark Souls makes you find your own way, and it gives you almost nothing to go on. From the moment you start up, you’re taught how to attack and defend yourself, but the only actual advice you’re given in terms of where to go, is that you must ring two bells of awakening. One up high, and one down low. How do you ring these bells? where are they located exactly and how do you get to them? How do you properly prepare for the encounters you will most definitely face? Can you upgrade your armour and weapons? How do you do it and what is the most effective path to take? None of this is answered in any concrete way. Instead, From Software makes you use your own brain-power and skills of deduction and assessment, to properly navigate and prepare for each encounter and area you will stumble upon.

There is an immense satisfaction in figuring something out on your own, without having a mini-map telling you exactly where to go and at what point in time. This idea that you have to figure the game out on your own is made even more apparent when you discover some of the more subtle features like Covenants. You will not be told what each covenant offers, where each one can be accessed, the conditions for joining, and the repercussions of abandoning the covenants. They can actually play a large role in Dark Souls, but many people will go through the entire game without having seen all of them.

2. Checkpoints are overrated

How many games have you played where you are gunning or slashing your way through hordes of enemies, just to have yourself killed and promptly resurrected only mere seconds or minutes before dying? Almost every modern game that exists currently offers some sort of checkpoint system that is gracious in its design, and this is a problem. Too often games get flak for having “bad” checkpoint systems in place, and the consumers by and large want their games to be cake walks, or at least the latest trends suggest.

Dark Souls doesn’t conform to any of this nonsense, and in fact, makes you crave every single checkpoint you will or will not receive. There are stretches of game where you will feel hopelessly lost, inadequate, underpowered, isolated, and utterly scared in some areas, and Dark Souls embraces and feeds on every single emotion that could overcome you.

From Software made a brilliant decision to limit your healing by giving you only five estus flasks, with a bonus five if you use precious humanity. You will crawl and lumber through desolate castles, grimy tunnels, and beautiful landscapes begging the game for a checkpoint, only to walk right past it without knowing, or be forced into an intense boss fight with only few precious flasks left. This is almost never replicated in other games, and it truly is a shame, since one single area in Dark Souls can be more satisfying or draining than entire games.

1. Interconnected worlds are a joy to behold

One thing that blows my mind every time I put my Dark Souls disc in, is that I’m constantly finding new ways to traverse the world and reconnect with areas that I have been to previously. Every single solitary area in Lordran that isn’t pasted to the background in an obviously out-of-reach spot can be accessed by at least one route. There are areas you will mindlessly walk past without thinking, and it will later become an essential shortcut that leads you to a masterful maze of traps, or a lower section of a location you have been traversing for hours. Some areas in particular have multiple ways to get to them; Darkroot Garden being a prime example.

Not only do areas have multiple routes, but you will conquer an area to find that it has now opened up two or more entirely separate areas for you to explore. Blighttown offers you The Great Hollow, Valley of Drakes, Demon Ruins, and The Depths; each of which have their own sub-areas or hidden secrets to find. It’s truly baffling how they even managed to pull off such an intricate world, but with a myriad of games offering linear pathways and endless corridor marching, it’s easy to forget how much more interesting a world with such intricate design can be.

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Featured

Horse Racing Games For iOS

Published

1 month ago

March 21, 2025

Olivia

Horse racing is a globally spread sport with billions of fans worldwide. The thrills of the races and the excitement of the betting make horse racing quite popular among adrenaline rush seekers.

However, unlike other sports like football or basketball that you can actually try in your backyard, becoming a racehorse rider is out of reach for most people. But all hope for our fellow race lovers is not lost and the gaming world comes to the rescue.

We are talking about horse racing simulation games where you can pick or breed your own horse, participate in online racing tournaments, earn prestige, take care of your horse, and much more.

Horse racing video games are perfect when it comes to getting the bigger picture of the sport and familiarizing yourself with other aspects apart from racing, like stable management, breeding, and finance management.

On top of that, horse racing video games can help you understand how the sport works, which may help you with the next bet you make on TwinSpires.

Fortunately, there are plenty of horse racing games for iOS, and in today’s article, we will highlight some of the best that you should try.

Rival Stars Horse Racing

This is a game made by a legendary horse race video game developer called PikPok and it is without a doubt one of the best horse racing games available for iOS right now.

The graphics look incredible for a mobile game. They are quite realistic, and the horse movement and the design of the tracks also give you the feel that you are participating in a real-world race.

Rival Stars Horse Racing has quite a fast pace, where you can complete some quests and upgrade your stable, but the focus is on the races, as it should be.

When we talk about the racing part of the game, every racetrack that you unlock offers something new. You get to race at different lengths and surfaces. But let’s focus on the important part, race mechanics.

You can steer the horse, brake, and activate their sprint ability. The horse’s performance is based on multiple factors such as ground consistency, position, race length, previous races, and much more.

Rival Stars Horse Racing also has a quite good breeding, training, and managing system. On top of that, there are many different horse coat colors and breeds. Unlike other games like Zelda where you can get a gold horse, Rival Stars Horse Racing focuses on realism. All of the horses have natural coat colors and traits.

You get to collect or breed horses, transform foals to feed, and upgrade facilities to unlock more options to progress.

The only thing that is missing from the game is the audience on the races since the race courses feel a bit empty with nobody around.

Horse Racing Manager 2024

This is a game that has a rather different approach than Rival Stars Horse Racing. It is focused more on the managing part of horse racing rather than on the actual gameplay and racing. You are in control of your business operation and your goal is to succeed in the world of horse racing and earn money.

You don’t have an impact on the races, and you cannot control your horse. The races are simulated, and the outcome depends on your horse’s stats and abilities.

That’s why horse training, and breeding a champion horse play a really important role in the game.

The best thing about Horse Racing Manager 2024 is the ability to race online. There are live PVP races that occur every 5 minutes and everyone can participate in them.

This is the perfect game if you want to learn what’s happening behind the curtains of horse racing as a sport. You are in control of your breeding rights that you can sell, as well as the age and career path of your horse.

It is an interesting game, especially for those who are not afraid of data and analysis.

iHorse Racing

This is a similar game to Rival Stars Horse Racing but with worse graphics, and fewer options. This game has multiple features like horse training, stable management, horse auction, race entries, CLU-jockey hiring system, and world jockey ranking, and you can connect your Facebook profile to invite friends.

To be honest, the graphics and gameplay of the game are fun and engaging, but I’d still go for Rival Stars Horse Racing, especially if you like a more realistic horse racing game.

Pocket Stables

Let’s drop down all the realism and focus on some retro 2D gameplay. For all retro game lovers who have a passion for horse racing, Pocket Stables is just the perfect game. At first glance, this game might look simple, but it actually has many features that make it even more fun.

For starters, you can build training facilities where you can increase your horse’s stats. Additionally, not all horses are the same and your goal should be to find a horse with the right balance of speed, stamina, and intensity.

As you win races, you’ll receive prizes, that can be used to upgrade your stable and give you better ways to breed a faster horse.

It’s fun, casual, and quite cute. Plus, you get to build your horse racing community and hire people that will take care of your stable.

Features

Exploring k2.vox365: Revolutionizing Digital Communication and Collaboration

Published

6 months ago

October 10, 2024

Charles Brown

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses and individuals alike are constantly looking for efficient ways to communicate and collaborate. Enter k2.vox365, a powerful platform designed to streamline communication, enhance collaboration, and boost productivity. With its comprehensive suite of tools, k2.vox365 is rapidly becoming a preferred solution for businesses, educational institutions, and remote teams looking to stay connected and organized.

What is k2.vox365?

At its core, k2.vox365 is a unified communication and collaboration platform that brings together messaging, video calls, and project management into one seamless experience. Unlike traditional tools that require switching between different apps for emails, chat, and file sharing, k2.vox365 integrates all these features into a single, easy-to-use platform. This all-in-one solution reduces complexity and makes communication more efficient for teams of all sizes. Since its inception, k2.vox365 has gained traction for its robust functionality and user-friendly interface, positioning it as a strong competitor in the digital communication space.

Core Features of k2.vox365

A. Unified Messaging

One of the standout features of k2.vox365 is its unified messaging capability. The platform allows users to manage all forms of communication — whether it’s emails, instant messages, or video calls — from one place. Users can easily transition between messaging modes without the hassle of switching between apps. This is especially beneficial for teams who need real-time communication but also rely on email for formal exchanges.

B. Collaboration Tools

In addition to communication, k2.vox365 offers a suite of collaboration tools that help teams work together effectively. Whether it’s real-time document editing, file sharing, or managing tasks and projects, k2.vox365 enables seamless collaboration across departments. Teams can work on the same document simultaneously, leaving comments, making changes, and tracking progress all in one place, reducing the need for endless email chains or disjointed software solutions.

C. Cloud-based Accessibility

With cloud-based accessibility, k2.vox365 ensures that users can access their work from any device, at any time. Files, messages, and projects are all stored securely in the cloud, allowing for easy access whether you’re in the office or working remotely. This also means that data is continuously backed up, minimizing the risk of losing important information due to technical failures.

How k2.vox365 Enhances Business Productivity

One of the biggest benefits of k2.vox365 is its ability to boost business productivity. By consolidating communication, collaboration, and project management into one platform, teams can work more efficiently. The unified approach reduces downtime spent switching between apps, looking for files, or chasing down project updates. This streamlined workflow allows employees to focus on what truly matters: delivering results. Furthermore, the real-time collaboration tools improve team coordination, ensuring everyone stays on the same page.

Security and Data Protection in k2.vox365

In an age where data breaches and cyber threats are rampant, k2.vox365 prioritizes security and data protection. The platform uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that all communication, whether it’s messaging, video calls, or file sharing, remains secure. Additionally, k2.vox365 complies with important data privacy regulations, such as GDPR, offering peace of mind to businesses concerned about safeguarding sensitive information. The platform also includes advanced measures to protect against phishing attacks and malware, ensuring a secure communication environment for all users.

Industry Applications of k2.vox365

k2.vox365 is not just for businesses. Its versatility makes it an excellent choice for a variety of industries:

A. Corporate Environments

In corporate settings, k2.vox365 is used to streamline internal communication and project management. Its integrated tools allow departments to work more efficiently, keeping track of tasks, deadlines, and project progress. The platform’s unified messaging system also makes it easy for team members to stay in constant communication, regardless of their location.

B. Educational Institutions

For educational institutions, k2.vox365 provides a seamless way to support virtual learning. Teachers and students can communicate through video calls, share files, and collaborate on assignments in real time. The platform’s task management tools help students stay organized, ensuring that assignments are completed on time.

C. Remote Work

With remote work becoming the norm, k2.vox365 plays a crucial role in enabling teams to stay connected no matter where they are. Its cloud-based services ensure that employees can access files and communicate with colleagues from any device, making it a perfect tool for global teams and freelancers who need to collaborate across time zones.

Comparing k2.vox365 with Competitors

When compared to other popular platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Zoom, k2.vox365 holds its own. While Microsoft Teams and Slack are well-known for their chat-based collaboration, k2.vox365 excels with its broader set of features, including unified messaging, integrated project management, and cloud accessibility. Zoom, a leader in video conferencing, offers a more limited scope compared to k2.vox365’s full suite of tools. The strength of k2.vox365 lies in its ability to combine multiple communication channels into one platform, giving it an edge over these single-function competitors.

User Testimonials and Case Studies

Many businesses have seen tangible benefits after adopting k2.vox365. For instance, XYZ Corporation, a mid-sized tech company, reported a 20% increase in team productivity after switching to the platform. The real-time collaboration tools helped employees reduce delays and stay better aligned on projects. Similarly, ABC University found that k2.vox365 significantly improved communication between students and faculty, especially during the shift to remote learning.

Pricing and Subscription Plans

k2.vox365 offers flexible pricing tailored to different business needs. For small businesses, there’s a basic plan that includes essential features like messaging and file sharing. Larger enterprises can opt for more advanced plans, which offer additional features like enhanced security, advanced project management tools, and increased cloud storage. There are also customized plans for educational institutions, allowing them to access the platform’s full suite at a discounted rate.

Future Prospects for k2.vox365

The future looks bright for k2.vox365. The platform’s developers are continuously working on new features, including AI-driven productivity tools and more advanced security protocols. As businesses continue to shift towards digital solutions, k2.vox365 is poised to become a leader in the communication and collaboration space. With plans to expand its global presence, the platform is set to make a significant impact in the market in the coming years.

Conclusion

In conclusion, k2.vox365 is an innovative platform that provides a comprehensive solution for communication and collaboration. With its unified messaging system, real-time collaboration tools, and cloud-based accessibility, it is designed to help businesses, educational institutions, and remote teams stay connected and productive. As digital communication continues to evolve, k2.vox365 is well-positioned to lead the way, offering the tools and features necessary for success in today’s fast-paced world.

Casual

Creative Ideas for Best Technology Instagram Post 2024

Published

9 months ago

August 8, 2024

Olivia

Creative Ideas for Best Technology Instagram Post 2024

Are you facing difficulty in engaging your audience with tech posts on Instagram? As social media platforms have transformed into virtual marketplaces, brands recognize the need to showcase expertise through engaging content.

Platforms like Instagram empower connecting with worldwide audiences through captivating visual stories. But, it is quite a daunting task to work and many move ahead to buy Instagram followers as well.

Contemporary consumers scarcely have time for promotion lacking substance. Hence, creatives demand integrating education with entertainment for intrinsically motivating connections. This is why in this post, we discuss top ideas for your tech-posts on Instagram. Read on.

Unique Ways To Boost Engagement

With competition so fierce, it becomes difficult to keep your audience engaged with your post. Below we discuss some essential tips that can make things easy for you. Take a look:

● Researching Optimized Hashtags

Analyzing hashtag clusters witnessing frequent usages around niche conversations aids discovering appropriate tags aligning with targeted audiences. Careful hashtagging aids discoverability and spreads messages to receptive crowds naturally.

● Optimizing Images For Social Formats

Adjusting photos to square dimensions suitable for Instagram feeds and story formats preserves visual quality and context. Proper sizing and cropping focuses viewer attention on essential elements.

● Scheduling Around Peak Engagement Timings

Identifying timing patterns of highest follower activities through analytics aids posting when most eyeballs will likely notice new updates. Repurposing top performing content as story highlights retains visibility.

● Reviewing Engagement And Follower Insights

Regularly evaluating metrics like likes, comments, saves and follower growth rates aids comprehending reception and refining strategies. Tracking identified hashtag or location based communities’ interests guides customized content.

● Partnering With Key Influencers

Reaching wider audiences through cross-promotional shoutouts with popular domain figures expands networks. Collaborations establishing brand authority through third party endorsements bolster credibility.

Final Thoughts

In summary, effectively leveraging visual creativity fueled by data-driven decisions establishes technology companies, alongside support from a dedicated social media growth agency like Thunderclap.it, as thought leaders amid competition on platforms like Instagram.

Consistency, authenticity, and nurturing communities through meaningful interactions are crucial for driving organic visibility and achieving superior returns on social media. While maintaining technical excellence is essential, emotionally connecting with audiences through social missions and humor helps build a loyal following and fosters trust in this experience-driven world.