Author: Cat Cooley
The Best Open-World Games of All-Time
Do you love subverting the status quo in gaming? Do you skip every tutorial, only to look it up later? Do you love immersive worlds and plots, but hate linear game mechanics? Well then, you must be a fan of open-world games. Open-world is a type of game where the player can roam freely, usually to complete sidequests that are adjacent to the main story. In some of these games, the main story is optional, meaning that every player’s experience is different, and players usually have to replay the game several times before unlocking every secret. These games are well regarded as some of the best open-world games and, while this list is not all-encompassing, it does include many fan favorites.
Fallout 4
If you’re familiar with console gaming at all, you knew this was coming. Fallout 4 is a blockbuster success and a fan favorite, with highly customizable gameplay and enough side quests to keep even the most thorough players happy. You are dropped into a post-apocalyptic version of Earth, and it is your job to find your missing son, surviving the harsh world around you with your loyal attack dog, Dogmeat. Vault Boy is an instructor with the best intentions, and the balance of humor and fighting weaved throughout the game makes for a thrilling experience.
Grand Theft Auto V
Another highly successful fan-favorite is Rockstar Games’ GTA V, an open world concept unlike any other. The player explores the fictional city of Los Santos, San Andreas, free to do whatever he or she pleases. There is a running system of heist-centered gameplay that makes up most of the essential storyline, but the real fun is in the side quests and NPCs (non-playable characters). Every single NPC (and there are a lot of them) has their own unique set of dialogue that is so in-depth that in each gameplay the player can potentially hear a different part of a dialogue that they haven’t before, just by being in the right place at the right time. This mountainous amount of dialogue, coupled with the true open-world dynamics of this game (along with all the raunchy fun it involves) makes this game one with very high replay value.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda is one of those game franchises that have taken over the world in popularity. Any Nintendo veteran remembers staying up late after school to binge on fruit loops and play Majora’s Mask on GameCube, and now with Breath of the Wild becoming a bonafide success on the Nintendo Switch, the franchise is doing anything but slowing down. This new installment features an open world where almost everything is climbable. See that gigantic mountain over on the horizon? Yep. Climbable. A boulder in the middle of the road? You betcha. A gigantic tower that doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the scenery so it must be part of the story? Heck yeah. Players have spent a lot of time figuring out the extent of this game’s possibilities, including how to make flying machines that are supposed to make travel easier, but usually end up being a clunky mess. But by messing with character abilities, like Link’s rune power, players can do some pretty amazing things, like making trees fly.
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Another huge gaming success is Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, where players are immersed in the world of Tamriel, a medieval-inspired continent with more dragons, magic, and spider-filled caves (unfortunately) than they can handle. The incredible success of this game is due in part to the complex and lore-filled storyline, and the ample amount of side-quests, ranging from silly to life-threatening. Fans of this game are not regular fans, they have a unique obsession with the game’s lore and world, making this 2011 game still at the top of most gamers’ lists.
Subnautica
A favorite of Markiplier and other YouTubers, Subnautica has stolen fan’s hearts and proved how truly terrifying the ocean can be. Stranded in an alien ocean, the player must fight to survive and collect different artifacts to rebuild their broken spaceship. With a seemingly endless ocean to discover and bone-chilling aquatic creatures like the Reaper Leviathan, a colossal foe as horrifying as its name, it’s no wonder that this game is a favorite of thrill-seekers and horror-fanatics alike.
If one of these games tickled your fancy, give GameTruck Charlotte a call at (704) 900-7798. They can hook you and your best buddies up with the newest consoles and the best games – open-world or not.
How to Throw the Ultimate Gaming Birthday Party
If you were to ask any parent who has hosted a birthday party what the two essential aspects are, they would surely tell you planning and patience. Organizing what food to make, who to invite, what activities to set up and more is an endless hole of craziness. It doesn’t have to be a total nightmare though, better yet – it can be easier than you imagined. The team at GameTruck Jacksonville is here to help you with some tips on how to throw the ultimate gaming birthday party!
Pick a Theme
The first place to start when throwing the ultimate gaming birthday party is to pick a theme. A theme is important because it will put in place the overall decorations and ideas that later follow when planning the party. What kind of color scheme will you stick to? What kind of cake, snacks, prizes, and activities are best for the theme? You can easily answer these questions once you choose the theme. With so many popular games and media today like Marvel, DC, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Pokemon, just to name a few, there are plenty of customizable themes to choose from!
Food and Snacks
No party is complete without delicious food for everyone to munch on. Traditionally, you can never go wrong with the typical party food, such as pizza, burgers, hot dogs, chips, veggie platters, and fruits. Of course, you can’t forget the cake (correlating with your theme of course). Find fun ideas to spice up the food service; if you’re going to have pizza, why not have a create-your-own-pizza station for example? The sky’s the limit, so be creative with your food and snacks.
Gaming Inspired Activities
Having plenty of fun activities for everyone to participate in is an important aspect when throwing the ultimate gaming birthday party. A mix of indoor and outdoor games is an excellent choice. Video game inspired outdoor activities can range from creating scavenger hunts Super Mario edition to FPS Nerf battles like Fortnite and Overwatch. For indoor activities, there are just as many fun options. Play board games based on video games like Portal, Street Fighter, or choose from the hundreds of different themed versions of Monopoly.
Dress Up As Your Favorite Character
An enjoyable and simple way to get everyone geared up and into party mode is by having your guests dress up as their favorite characters. This will help spark the creativity within the guests – reenact your favorite gaming or movie scenes or host a contest for the best dressed.
The Ultimate Video Games
The star of an ultimate gaming party – the video games. Having the best games is a must. With GameTruck this can be easily achieved with their multiple TV’s, consoles, and endless gaming titles.
Book GameTruck Jacksonville For Your Next Ultimate Gaming Birthday Party
Throwing the ultimate gaming birthday party with some prior planning and arrangements can make a big difference. GameTruck parties come equipped with our air-conditioned trucks, multiple flat screen TV’s, and all the best games and consoles. Plan your next event with GameTruck Jacksonville by visiting our website or calling us today at (866) 253-3191.
Best EA Sports Video Games
Sports video games are one of the few games that permit you to play with your favorite team and players. EA Sports has released a plethora of sports games covering all major sporting leagues and have fans dying to get there hands on the latest releases. If you’re wondering what the best EA Sports video games are, here is a list that includes the top ranking EA Sports games.
#1. The FIFA Series
Surprised that soccer is at the top of the list? Don’t be. With a massive following all over the world, soccer is one the world’s most popular sports. And with EA Sports’ FIFA series, this video games is one of the world’s most popular sports games to play. EA Sports not only renovated the graphics for this game, but they added peculiarities that make the gameplay seamless, capturing the essence of the game. With features such as creating your player, or being a manager of a team, this game has a high rating among those that solely play sports games. The versatility within this game coupled with the online multiplayer modes offer players extended playing time and captured that anxious feeling you get at a real-life game, but only this time you’re in control. Also, since its debut has soccer fans all over the world eager to play with the top ranking players and teams. Play the latest FIFA 18 video game by booking GameTruck Inland Empire to see for yourself why it’s the highest ranking sports video game.
#2. NHL 94
When you compare sports games to their earlier or later releases, it’s easy to recognize the drastic changes made to improve the look and feel of the gameplay. But there’s one game that stands out amongst its cohorts – NHL 94. NHL 94 offers a simple, yet engaging gameplay with straightforward controls that later versions refers to as “NHL 94” control options. Even with the unrealistic graphics, NHL 94’s gameplay is as authentic as any sports game ever made. NHL 94 is a staple video game for hockey fans. Today, there are plenty of online forums centered solely around NHL 94. The following for NHL 94 is tremendous and it’ll be hard to find fans that are as dedicated to a game as those of NHL 94.
#3. NCAA Football Series
NCAA Football outranking Madden might be jaw-dropping, but what gave EA Sports’ NCAA Football series an upper-hand on Madden is the single-player mode, “Dynasty Mode.” EA Sports allowed each player to become the head coach of a college football program, letting the players start building their teams from the ground up, all the while controlling every aspect of the program beginning with recruiting the players. EA Sports perfected this game to allow for each player to experience what it was like being a star NCAA coach.
#4. Madden NFL
Named after legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden, Madden NFL is one of EA Sports signature games released on all consoles. With its unchanging gameplay throughout the years, Madden NFL has become a common video game played by just about every sports gamer. With the first installment released in 1988, the franchise has had a steady climb up the gaming charts over the years. They even launched national competitions for players to showcase their Madden skills, paying with a team or in single player mode. The athletes themselves have become widely invested in the game by openly endorsing the game. What makes Madden standout from the other video game franchises is its 30-year seniority, and it doesn’t look like their momentum is stopping; with the way things are going for Madden, it’s likely that the franchise can last another 30 years.
It’s Your Turn To Play The Best EA Sports Video Games!
GameTruck Inland Empire offers the latest and the best EA Sports video games so your kiddos can have a great time at their video game party playing with their favorite athlete. Call us today at (866) 253-3191 or visit our website to book your next video game party!