video games

Is Loupdeck Live an Elgato Stream Deck Killer?

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Elgato gave streamers a new level of control with the Stream Deck. It’s my favourite piece of streaming hardware, as it allows me to switch scenes, manage audio, trigger replays, and even stage a concert with the push of a button. I love the device and the Stream Deck platform so much that I just doubled down and bought a Stream Deck XL for access to even more buttons.

Many alternatives have risen in its wake, though they’re almost entirely software solutions that use your PC or phone. The Stream Deck still sets itself apart by being a physical device with tangible buttons that can be pressed without having to take your eyes off the camera.

Enter the Loupedeck Live. Best known for making tactile control devices for content creation, they’re taking their expertise to the world of streaming.

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Before Digging Into Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Here Are My Notes Going Into Each Game

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In a matter of days, Super Mario will return to the Switch in Super Mario 3D All-Stars! This compilation includes Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. Though I have experienced all three during their initial releases, I’m excited to try them again with a fresh pair of eyes. Before doing that, I thought I’d share my recollections of each!

Super Mario 64

Months before its release in North America, I got a chance to play Super Mario 64 at Ontario Place. In a world where gaming was still a 2D medium, maneuvering Mario in a 3D environment was the first time I truly felt like I was experiencing the future of gaming. From that point onward, I brainwashed my younger brother to spend all of his birthday money on a Nintendo 64 and Super Mario 64.

For its time, it was truly groundbreaking. Mario single-handedly took the entire medium of gaming into the third dimension. I couldn’t believe how incredibly fun it was to jump, back flip, and triple jump my way through these environments. Just days after we got our console, I saved the princess yet again.

As impactful as this game was on my life, I literally haven’t played it in decades. I’m not the type of player that revisits games I’ve already completed; a behaviour that really started with this game. Looking forward to seeing how much of the experience still holds up by today’s standards!

Super Mario Sunshine

I vividly remember disliking Super Mario Sunshine a whole lot. Despite its colourful graphics and one of the most unique soundtracks of the franchise, its camera controls drove me nuts. There was one particular level where you have to scale a multi-leveled tower of mushrooms that was a nightmare to navigate because I couldn’t get a good look at where I needed to go. I never did finish Sunshine and until recently, had no plans to return.

Now that it’s part of this collection, I will give it another shot. My gut says much of my criticisms will remain, but I hope that time has healed those wounds!

Super Mario Galaxy

Heralded by many as Mario’s best 3D outing, Super Mario Galaxy did not grab me at the time. Even when I wrote about how ambivalent the game made me feel, I acknowledged how many great things it was doing. Maybe with a clear mind, I’ll give this one a fair shake!

Are you looking forward to revisiting these classic Mario games? Or are you playing these for the first time? Let me know in the comments!

Should I get a next generation console (PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X) or an Nvidia 30-series graphics card?

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For the past year, I’ve been saving up for one of the two next generation consoles. The plan was to purchase one of the two at launch later this year. Though I’ve seen some exciting things from both, neither have made the definitive case for why I should take one over the other.

In recent days, a new challenger has emerged to complicate matters further.

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She Stole a Kiss?! – Stardew Valley Live Stream – Part 18

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Out of nowhere, Emily steals a kiss from me and now I’m in a love…square? Beyond my complicated in-game love life, we also discuss weird video game controllers, share which Twitch streamer I’m jealous of, and I indulge in a moment of Dorito ASMR!

View the full post to see the full stream, highlights, and shoutouts!

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Extra Life Donations for Each Win! – Overwatch Live Stream featuring Switch To Decaf and PlayerTwoStart!

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Switch To Decaf, PlayerTwoStart and I raise the stakes on our Overwatch action! For each win we get, we each make a donation to Extra Life! How many wins can we get? We also discuss the experience of daycare, thoughts on the recent Super Mario 35th anniversary Nintendo Direct, and Destiny creates the definitive potato tier list!

Click through for the full stream, highlights, and shoutouts!

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I applied for a partnership with Elgato and got rejected. Here’s why that’s okay.

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A few days ago, Elgato opened up applications to its streamer partnership program. Though I’m generally weary of any sort of partnership or sponsorship programs aimed at small streamers for how slanted they are in favour of the brand, I decided to give this one a shot. I did so because I am a fan of the brand’s products, applying alone didn’t appear to lock me into anything overly-exploitive, and whatever permissions I gave them to my channels could be easily revoked if they rejected me.

Well, they did reject me. That’s okay. There’s a silver lining to my application that you may want to take advantage of while the opportunity is still open.

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Some Twitch Stats to Put Your Streaming Ambitions Into Perspective

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So you want to be the next big streamer. You saw Ninja make millions by playing video games on Twitch and want to do the same. Totally understandable.

How feasible is it to actually turn your gaming hobby into a streaming career? Though I am far from a Twitch expert – particularly when it comes to growth – there are tidbits of knowledge I’ve picked up from my personal experience, from streaming gurus, and from publicly available data on sights like Twitch Tracker and Sully Gnome.

In this post, let’s focus on the hard data. When I think about the realities of growing my channel on Twitch, these particular factoids go a long way to put things into perspective for me. Hope they do the same for you on your journey!

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Nvidia Graphics Cards and the Expensive Solution to My Relatively-Small Streaming Problem

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Can you tell the difference between the Overwatch stream at the top and the Overwatch stream at the bottom? The difference in visual fidelity may not come through all the way and might not even be apparent if you watch snippets of both. For me, it’s the latest thorn in my side that won’t be cheap to solve.

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Some of My Favourite Watcher Cards in Slay the Spire

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Even after devoting dozens of hours into Slay the Spire, learning The Watcher threw me for a loop. What makes her unique is the abilities she gains when changing stances. However, if you mismanage her stances, you can die in a blink.

Despite the complexity of the character, she’s the only one I’ve beaten the game with before hitting level 5. Is it because she’s that good? Or is it because I’ve just improved overall? Or did I just happen to get really lucky during one run? Whatever the case, here are some of my favourite cards in her arsenal!

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Spray Paint Art Rewards, Tetris 99 & Overwatch Events, and a 24-Hour Gaming Marathon as Part of My Extra Life 2020 Campaign!

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Over the past two years, we’ve raised over $2,000 in support of the Children’s Miracle Network of Hospitals through Extra Life. With 2020 being the year that it is, our help is needed more than ever! This year, your donations will go towards the Children’s Hospital COVID-19 Impact Fund. In light of where things are in the world, it’s crucial that we step up and help the kids during these unprecedented times.

If that’s all the convincing you need to support the cause, head over to my donation page and contribute whatever you’re able to spare. But if you’d like to learn more about the cause or follow along with all of my initiatives to support Extra Life this year, read on!

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