Gaming

How Gaming is Reviving Classical Music

By Jenny O'Connor | October 11, 2024
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When you think of gaming soundtracks, you might recall nostalgic 8-bit melodies, thumping EDM, or symphonic scores backing epic fantasy scenes. But today, there’s a quieter, unexpected phenomenon happening in the gaming world—players are rediscovering classical music, and it’s not just in the background anymore. From rhythm games to grand story arcs, the symphonies of Beethoven, Mozart, and even Wagner are gaining new audiences, turning gaming into an unlikely conduit for introducing players to the world of classical music.

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Chants of Sennaar Speaks in a Language of Its Own

By Jenny O'Connor | October 10, 2024
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There’s a certain magic in the moment when a foreign language starts to make sense—when random sounds and symbols begin to form meaning, creating connections where there was once confusion. This feeling is at the heart of Chants of Sennaar, a beautifully crafted puzzle game that uses language as its core mechanic. After spending time in Corsica with family who speak only French, I’ve been noticing how much of my own experience in trying to learn French reflects the journey players take in Chants of Sennaar. You struggle to decode unfamiliar symbols, but the payoff when you understand even just a piece of the puzzle is immense.

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How Gaming is Rewriting the Rules of Makeup

By Jenny O'Connor | October 8, 2024
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The collision of gaming culture and beauty is redefining the makeup landscape, moving away from traditional glam into something far more digital, sleek, and surreal. As social media continues to serve as a breeding ground for trends, beauty influencers are transforming makeup into a futuristic art form that borrows heavily from gaming’s hyperreal worlds and aesthetics like Frutiger Aero. This resurgence, sparked by a fascination with the gloss and glow of early 2000s tech, speaks to a broader cultural desire for escapism, immersion, and self-expression.

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“And the Universe Said I Love You”: The Unexpected Philosophy of Minecraft

By Team G.URL | October 6, 2024
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Written by Elise Georgeson You might have skipped past it, read it and misunderstood or thought a little deeper, but here’s our take on the iconic End Poem. Released in 2009, Minecraft is a staple of childhood, whose popularity has ebbed and flowed since its release 15 years ago. With its most recent resurgence happening…

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Exploring the Poetic Journey of Gris

By Team G.URL | October 5, 2024
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A Palette of Emotions Painted in Silence. Written by Calypso Morgan Imagine a young girl perched on the hand of a statue, trying to sing but unable to. Suddenly, everything around her crumbles, and she plummets from the sky, landing in a barren white landscape. With nothing but the sound of wind on the horizon,…

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Professor Layton is Back Again

By Jenny O'Connor | October 4, 2024

The world of puzzles and mysteries is set to expand once more with the upcoming release of Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, a thrilling new chapter in the beloved Layton series. This installment, set for release in 2025 on the Nintendo Switch, promises to deliver the intricate puzzles and captivating storytelling that fans have come to love, all while embracing new characters and a fresh setting​.

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The Bell Tree Forums and Forum Culture

By Jenny O'Connor | September 19, 2024
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In the fast-paced world of social media, The Bell Tree Forums offer a slice of internet nostalgia where Animal Crossing fans still find their digital home. Long before Twitter wars and TikTok trends, there were forums—a simpler, slower-paced corner of the internet where people gathered to discuss their passions in depth. Among these early digital…

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The Resurrection of MySims: Cosy Nostalgia or Corporate Ploy?

By Jenny O'Connor | August 30, 2024

EA bets on cosy vibes and nostalgia, but will the return of MySims warm our hearts or just our wallets? In a gaming landscape where nostalgia sells, EA is dusting off the cobwebs of its once-beloved MySims franchise and reintroducing it to a new generation on the Nintendo Switch. Slated for a 19 November 2024…

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A Short Goodbye to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

By Belle Law | August 29, 2024

As Nintendo announces the end of service for Pocket Camp, it’s time to say a temporary farewell to the Animal Crossing worlds within our phones In an email to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp players, Nintendo has announced that the service for the game will sadly be coming to an end on November 28th 2024 at…

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Style Savvy: The Nostalgic Dress-Up Game for the Nintendo DS

By Team G.URL | August 28, 2024
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With the resurgence of digital dress-up games online, one game had surprisingly been ahead of its time… Written by Hafsa Ahmed Dress-up games became a hit in the online digital space during the 2000s. Many of these were the classic, click-and-select gameplays that provided clothes to dress up avatars. However, they didn’t just exist online.…

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