Flourish
Sequence one: Waiting This is a story about Wun, or at least that’s his avatars name. As of now, He finished his junior year in high school and it’s summer. He wasn’t sure what to do during this summer. He wasn’t planning to get a summer job this time. He didn’t plan on hanging out with his friends but that's because of the big tournament coming up. That tournament is called the Great Travel and will be taking place in the big update, tomorrow.

He and a lot of people are excited about this tournament because if you win you get prizes beyond imaginable; real and fantasy. He has always been a gamer, ever since He was in elementary school and his father bought him his first console. His first game was Mario Brothers, he and his sister put on their VR set and started playing. He took it off and ran when the first goomba chased us. His father always laughed and said, “kids, if you can’t get past a Goomba then you ain’t ready to be a gamer”. His father always loved video games, always bringing up how in his day VR wasn’t a really big thing until he was a teen, and how he always looked at tv or a PC when playing a game.

“How graphics were slowly rising to realistic, how everything was played with just your hands and a controller or a keyboard. Things are different now though, now everything is almost as real as they can get. Flourish, it turns fantasy into what feels like reality and the unknown into the known. Everything you wanted to be or wanted to exist is possible. Flourish can get you lost and make you forget your real-world problems.”
Can’t talk to your old friend because he’s far away? Get on your Internet 2.5 and type into your driver and see if he’s online. If your friend is online you can request if they want to meet you. If you do just put on your. Flourish set and start traveling and the speed of light. There you will be in the lobby where you and your friend can talk in “person”.
The update is at 10 am tomorrow and Wun spent the rest of his day on my iPhone infinity plus. Scrolling through Clecket, The big update was trending and people were saying how long we waited for this and how it should’ve been here sooner. He was just glad it was coming and had knots in my stomach for what we could see. He imagined what was ahead, then he stood up getting ready to log onto his Flourish and play some games. Before He got the chance his mom called him and my sister down for dinner.
She ordered Takeout through drones delivery and then his father got home.
Father: “What’s up!
Mother: “You look very excited”
Father: “Ain’t I always excited? But anyway I got promoted.”
And my sister looked and walked up to congratulate him.
Wun: “What did you get promoted to?”
Father: “Assistant manager, all that time and effort finally paid off.”
Sister: “What does that mean with your schedule?”
“The smile on Wuns father’s face slowly descended”
Father: Yeah about that...to prove I’m ready for this promotion I’m gonna have to work an extra hour, can’t take any vacation days off for the whole summer...might even have to work weekends.”
Sister: That’s not fair!
Wun: Does that mean you won’t be coming to the tournament with me tomorrow?
Father: small chuckle Sorry son, I won't be able to make it.
Wun: forcing a smile It’s alright
But it wasn’t alright because he was planning to go to the tournament with Wun and usually they play in big updates together. Exploring the update, showing him and teaching him his skills to become a master at gaming just like he was and still is.
Sister: will it’s not fair to me, you said we could-
“Wuns mother stopped his sister in her tracks”
Mother: Your father has to do what he needs to do, leave him at that!
Sister: …
“After finishing quietly and fast Wun walked upstairs. It was 8:00 pm, fourteen more hours to go and what to do till then. He decided to play a shooting game, He locked my door, grabbed my Flourish, and set and logged in. He was in an assault class, the first thing He saw when He got in was how everyone did a hefty toll on the city. An ally player standing on rubble in a distance yelled to him”
Ally Player: “Get you ass moving bro we’re taking B”
“Just then a missile slammed into him from a jet blowing him up, Wun ran for cover”
“Everything was just as intense as you would imagine being in a real psychotic war, the last thing you would want to see is a scout class from a distance. They always had a joke about it: “If it’s shining, you’re dead”. He Saw hundreds of players (which is small) charging towards B. Bullets flying passed us, tank speeding passed them, explosions as high as a 4 story building in our faces. Enemy players from a distance, laying on the ground trying their best to hold the objective, mowing down a dozen of our teen mates”
The enemy team started spamming explosives when they got to close. That is a sign they’re getting desperate, they all charged and picked at the enemy players for about a few minutes until they couldn’t hold it any longer. Soon enough they had to go to the final objective C. The capitol building, or as I liked to call it “The suicide house”.
“They spent probably ten minutes trying to get into the capital. Then Wun came up with a pla, He grabbed a few teammates that would listen to him and regroups. Twenty players flew together in a bomber warplane and ten jumped to land on top of the roof of the building to attack the snipers and anti-aircraft. fourteen players would throw smoke grenades and pretend to be charging to distract the enemy team. Wun and a dozen players ran around the fight in hopes that we wouldn’t get caught and get inside the building”
Everything went well so we saw two tanks that just so happened to be close to the window they were gonna use to get inside. They weren’t taking no for an answer so they charged it, spamming every explosive we had. The enemy players shot down at least four of my squad and when it got too hot they finally got out of the tanks in hopes to save their skins. Big mistake, we shot them without a second. A player looked with a big grin”
Player: Ha, look in the fear in this one's eyes, probably shat himself mates”
“Wun turned and looked at him before entering the window”
Wun: Come on, stop playing around
Player: Shut up! I ca-
An enemy player saw him and ripped a bullet through his head. A player with a rifle shot him and with eyes wide open in anxiously said
Player: That’s what he gets, let’s go!
“Without hesitation, they all hopped inside but not without losing another player. When they got inside the hallway and it was empty; we walked slowly... but then they saw two enemy players scouting.
Player: “ You got a suppressor on that gun? Cool, I got a suppressor on my rifle. Let’s take them out”.
Wun: I’ll take the one on the right.
Player: Cool I got left. We plucked them off but as we did that an enemy player saw us,
Enemy: THERE'S AN ENEMY TEAM IN THE BUILDING!
They all shot at him but that was enough to start the riot. Enemies came in and all hell broke loose. Wun, the player, and their squad took cover inside a room nearby as the enemies players had them surrounded. Throwing grenades and inside, A squad player was freaking out”
Squad Player: FUCK! NOW, WHAT?
Player looked at Wun
Player: YOU STILL HAVE RPG ON YOU? SHOOT THE WALL!
Wun didn’t hesitate and shot at it causing it to open and killing a few enemy players.
“They all rushed it firing randomly in hope to kill any more enemy players and then quickly ran turned to pluck off the remaining players spamming us with explosives.”
Wun: Come one let’s go stairs
“They ran guns drawn and Player looked outside the window”
Player: Wow! look at all those enemy players, we need to hurry.
“When they got upstairs they saw dozens of scouts shooting out of the windows. Wun had another RPG and fired a shot into them, then all focused fire rounds into survivors. Enemy players come upstairs and took down three of Wuns squad members. They all hide behind a wall Firing randomly,
Player: Dame , this might be it, so close.
“Suddenly, ally players rushed inside the building, and the round ending music started playing”
Player: haha, this is it fellas we might make it after all!
The enemy players started to freeze as allys rushed up the stairs. Soon they jumped and started getting shot down and one enemy player even jumped out of the window. Three ally players walked up with their guns drawn.
Ally player: THERE’S TEAMMATES UP HERE!
“He looked at Wun”
Ally player: How the hell did you get in here dude?
Wun: ... Teamwork
“The end music started playing and the Players looked at cheerful”
Wun: Let's do it!
The rest of Wuns squad including the other ally players held the second floor. Others walked up to the third floor and started shooting. Holding position there, they could see that the enemy squad was getting desperate, and also lost morale. Some didn't even try anymore and sat at spawn. The music started to get more intense and the assault from the enemy team started to pick up and suddenly just as we were about to win… the server crashed. Suddenly Wun was shot out of the game and back into reality.

“He quietly sat in my chair, going through the seven stages of Grief. It was 9:00 pm and he was loaded with so much frustration He didn’t even know how to use it. He picked up some dumbbells and started lifting them for a little bit. Hoping that could blow off some steam instead punch a hole into his PC. By 10:00 pm He was tired and went to bed, Forgetting about everything including the tournament.”

Sequence two: The tournament
Wun woke up it was 5:30 am, He snapped out of his bed and realized the tournament was gonna start in a few hours. He got up, ate some breakfast, and took a shower. At 6:30 am He was all dressed and ready to go to the tournament for the big update. Sitting on my chair looking on my Phone as “Big Update” was trending.
Sister: I can’t believe you wasted your money on that retarded tournament ticket, can’t you just play that update thing here?
He looked down embarrassed then looked at his ticket in silence. Realize she’s right, he could play it here. Then, he realized He had a second ticket that his dad was gonna use to come with him to play in the tournament.
Wun: No! Because dad was gonna come until his work got in the way.
Sister: Whatever...
“At 9:00 am his mom drove him to the tournament”
Mom: How long is this tournament gonna be?
Wun: I’m not sure...as long as it needs to take. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.
Mom: Ok…
“When he got to the tournament building there was a sea of people there. People waiting to get inside the building, others talking in groups, some taking photos or recording themselves, others...even protesting”
Mom: That’s a lot of people...well have fun!
He got out of the car and started walking towards the building; He couldn’t help to look at some people. People in cosplay others dancing, and protester yelling angrily
Protester: THE MAN CONTROLS THE MACHINE, AS THE MACHINE WILL CONTROL THE MAN, YOU’RE SETTING YOURSELF UP TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE MAN WITH THE MACHINE.
“He kept walking, getting a little freaked out, and made his way to the player line when a ticket booth man”
Ticket man: Do you have your ticket?
For a second Wuns heart sank thinking He forgot it, checking all my pockets and then He looked at my Jacket and there it was...with a note. First He handed the man his ticket and he went into his computer, he looked at Wun.
Ticket Man: You’re player three hundred and sixty-five thousand two-hundred and seventy-four. Walk onto the blue floor and find your set.
Wun: Thank you
“When He got inside he looked at that note, it was from his sister. You almost forgot your ticket dummy. He rolled my eyes and walked behind other players and there were four colored floors, Blue, Green, Purple, and Red. The inside was as huge as it was outside. Wun then saw his old classmate”
Classmate: Yo what’s up? Are you ready for this?
He looked at him and said awkwardly with a half-assed smile
Wun: yeah…
He snapped my head back to the front. He was a big guy, 6’5, played fencing, lifted a bit weight,. He once helped Wun in a fight when I was getting jumped. Wun consider him a friend even though he’s really intimidating.
Classmate: Yeah this should be fun, heard about the grand prize? Big money, n’ stuff. I don’t know how long I'll last but I plan to stick it out as long as I can, kick ass and take names. Good thing you’re on my side right?
Wun: ...Yeah…
“Suddenly the floor started to lead into a hallway, splitting us apart from the other colored players. We walked for about twenty seconds until we got into a giant room. This room was eyes to behold, with thousands of soft blue and white gaming chairs, and a new VR set, the room lights are blue, a new design of the word Flourish on every single one of them. They were all stopped by men in booths”
Man in the booth: One player at a time please, chuckles you’ll all be going to the same place.
Took Wun about a few minutes before he finally got into the front of the booth,
Man in the booth: Alright kid, sign here and then go to your chair number. It’s twelve hundred and eighty-seven; go have fun.
It’s weird to think Wun was playee three hundred and sixty-five thousand two and hundred of something yet I get the twelve hundred seat? Then he remembered other players are playing at home. A big man with a mic, a black suit, and a slick haircut walked into the room smiling.
Man in the suit: Hello players, I am Mr. Jefferson. I’m one of the leaders and directors of this update. For the last year and seven months, we put lots of time, blood, and effort into this update. Making this update the biggest, the realist, and the most epic adventure it has ever been. This is probably the best if that’s even possible but as long I’m around the best will never be enough for me. It is an honor to have you all experience what you’re about to see.
Mr. Jefferson: We created an update that has turned pure imagination into what feels like real life...but better. In this great travel update, you will be exploring worlds, exploring new biomes, countries, seas, even the skies. Fighting enemies from the past and now, meeting characters you never thought possible, becoming characters you never thought possible. Feeling things, you thought only can be done in what we call reality. You’re free to do what you want and please without ANY distractions...we’ll keep it at that.
Mr: Jefferson:...I could keep going but I'm sure you’re ready to get to that game RIGHT PLAYERS?
Everyone started to laugh and in excitement screaming
Mr. Jefferson started speaking again
Mr. Jefferson: Right, first things first, log into the Computers and put in the character you want or avatar you already have. Choose your weapons, and take your time. When you’re ready save your character and put on the VR set. The game will start in thirty minutes.
Mr. Jefferson walked off the stage and we logged into the computers and started putting in the characters we wanted. He could be an avatar character or a pre made player. Wun chose clothing that would help him. A bulletproof vest, a red button shirt for style, black cargo pants with a bit of armor, red and green gloves that are fire-resistant, a purple cape to reduce speed when falling, and armored wheely shoes. His weapon of choice was a weapon he created. The heart sword, It’s good for defense and Cuts to throw like butter.
A double-barrel revolver with a knife on it. Finally, his gong Shield that will violently shake anyone that hits it. He was finally ready to start the game, and so were most people. After a few more minutes Mr. Jefferson came back into the room.
Mr. Jefferson: Are you ready gamers?
Everyone screaming said “READY”
Mr. Jefferson: Put on your VR set and prepare to game
I felt knots in my stomach coming back as I put on the VR set, getting ready to explore this new reality. Suddenly I heard a countdown. 10...9...8...7... Wun: Here we go…
3...2...1
“Everything was blank for a few seconds, it was quiet as if nothing ever existed. Then Wun heard noises and he opened my eyes. Everything felt different...everything felt real. He looked around and saw fictional characters that assumed to be my blue team players, everyone looking at themselves. Everyone was shocked by how real they looked admiring the detail, people walked around, doing magical tricks. Others looked at this sky, grass, and.. the giant wall that was in front us.

Suddenly a floating robot came in and grabbed all our attention.

Floating robot: Hello players, I am 457 and have I come to lay down rules and info before you get started on your journey.
457: Rule 1. No cheats or exploiting Rule 2. Don’t say your real name for your safety Rule 3. Do not ask for help from the moderation team, you’re on your own. Rule 4. You can potions, resources to help keep you alive, you also have storage bags to store resources and supplies with horses to carry along your journey. But if you officially die you will NOT be sent back to the real world yet. You will be waiting in the land beyond. Rule 5. You can gain points and level yourself up by killing enemies, buying armor, weapons, and ability cards.
info. You all have a blue Diamond necklace that represents your team color. Any other color means it’s the enemy team. The Diamond necklace can tell you what level you are and how much XP you have.
“Players started talking again and then Wun heard a familiar voice...”
Player: HEY WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH ME?
He was dressed up in an army uniform outfit that looked outdated, a rifle, a pistol, a machete with teeth on it.
Wun: Hope I don’t lose my necklace
“He heated saw Wun and he walked up to him”
Player: You sound oddly familiar…
Wun: You sound oddly familiar...
Player: What… shocked you’re that guy from that game yesterday. Hey how’s it been?
Wun: Ok I guess...did the game crash for you too?
Player: Yeah it did, I nearly broke my PC, good thing we get to take the ones we’re using a home with us after this right? Haha.
Wun: Yeah I guess.
Player: You know what, I never told you my name. I’m Copper432 but you can just call Me Copper, And you?
Wun: I’m Wun007 but you can just call me Wun.
Copper: Well Wun my mother always told me to make new friends and I say since we’re here together we should stick it together to the end.
He pulls his hand with a bright smile
Copper: What do you say?
Wun:...Sure
Suddenly 456 started talking again after the anger cooled down.
457 I am opening that gate GOOD LUCK! And welcome to level 1.
Copper: Hold on a minute that wall is a gate?
“The wall slowly started to open and then everyone paused in amazement. The grassy hills painted like a green sea, the different types of flowers that moved gently into the wind, the forest that looked like a city made entirely of trees. Looking to your left you could see the water that looked better than the ones in real life, sparkling, moving calmly; fresh and blue like the morning sky. The warm sun beating down as the wind blew into our faces. Looking from where we were we could see all kinds of animals”

Apatosaurus and Catobelpus drinking wandering near the water, A herd of ostriches, Bulbasaur rolling in the grass, flying pigs, and even giant frogs. Clouds and snow coving Mountains from a distance. So much is going on and we’re not even a fraction into that game yet. The hype started getting louder and Copper had a smirk on his face with his eyes wide open full of confidence. A player screamed out “LET’S DO IT”

[Discussion] Using an Ipad 1 in 2020(IOS 5.1.1); games and apps and possible youtube fix listed below

First build! $1500-$1800 PC gaming budget not super strict on the budget.

[Discussion] Using an Ipad in 2020 (IOS 5.1.1); List of games and apps below

Q: SO WHY SHOULD I READ THIS WHEN IVE GOT AN IPHONE X?
A: Yeah why are you reading this? Go play some PUBG mobile since my weak Ipad 1 can at best hypothetically reach the loading screen before crashing. Serious answer though, the Ipad 1 run on 5.1.1 so everything written below should work on your device if your planning on playing some games. But seriously, if you have a newer apple device then why are you reading this?
(Skip below if you don't want to read my ramblings and just want the games/apps)
Author's note: If you are like me and was given an Ipad 1 rocking OS 5.1.1 and have no intention of ever buying an apple device in the future then this might be for you. Since the Ipad 1 is so old and the OS is capped to that version, if you ever tried downloading anything from the apple store then 99% of the chance you can't download a damn thing. With that said, I said 99% so for that juicy 1% there are still some apps out there that work on legacy Ipad 1.
So if you are trying to figure out what can you possible do with an Ipad 1 in 2020, here is a realistic list of uses:

"Simple" Internet searching. Expect to crash with like 3 tabs or more and you can't load most sites. Still if you're like little johnny who needs needs Wikipedia to do a biology report or you need to quickly search what a simp means then who cares if it crashes a lot.
Ebooks or reading pdfs. For some reason, Ibooks still functions properly and I don't know if it even still exists in newer apple devices but I'm not one to complain. You can drag you pdf's to Itunes and it will still sync to your grandad ios device.
Listening to music. I would rather use an Ipad but if you want to feel like Mick Jagger walking down a street with a Walkman than go for it. You can still sync your music to your Ipad 1 with good old Itunes.
A Second monitor. Surprisingly this works really well. Using the Twomon usb and it's pc/mac software and as long as your device is connected via cable, your Ipad 1 can act as a second monitor with reliable enough speed. Just don't expect to be playing COD at full fps on your makeshift Ipad monitor.
Some'ish social media. You can view some social media sites in your Ipad internet browser and expect a ton of crashes when doing so. Note: After multiple attempts, couldn't really find a way to make youtube work at all whether through internet or the app. All the other methods are outdated and don't seem to work as of 2020. Invidio.us is an alternative to the youtube site but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't
Netflix. I kid you not this was the biggest surprise to me. The old app still works on an Ipad 1 and can play movies at full speed and with subtitles even.
Gaming. The reason why probably most of you are here. Trying to search for games through the app store is near down right impossible, but don't worry since ya boy here has got you covered.
Others. If you go to youtube, there are many other things you can do but most of ten or not they would require you to have another apple device so that you can re-download an old version or there are even some premium apps. This guide is more for people who didn't download the app before or don't have another apple device.

Legacy Ipad 1; Looking for ios apps

For legacy Ipad1, I basically call it that when your device isn't jailbroken, here are some sites to help you look for your apps:

IOS 5 COMPATIBLE Games and Apps. It's a website that lists some apps and games that work on an Ipad 1. They lead directly to the apple store so you can download them from your device.
Find Old Apps. As the name suggests, it is somewhat a masterlist of old apps compatible with your device. Take note that a lot of them seem not to work or are removed from the app store.

Things to Consider first (skip if you are an IOS tech chad):

Now where going to the juicy part. Before you download any of the things below, you need to read the following below.
Disclaimer: All the apps listed before are for jailbroken devices. I am not responsible if you end up bricking your device. Furthermore, I do not own any of the apps listed below so all credit goes to their original owners so support the developers when you can!
Requirements:

A jailbroken Ipad 1
A software to install .ipa files.

I. Jail-breaking your device (skip if you have already done this)
My honest opinion is that you should jailbreak your device. With the legacy Ipad 1, there is very little with what you can do. With a jailbroken device, your options expand and one advantage of such is being able to install ios apps from a pc to your device. There are many tutorials online on how to jailbreak your device. I am not responsible in the event that you end up breaking your device or voiding your warranty. That's the risk you have to bear. Although to be honest, it's an Ipad 1 so I doubt voiding a warranty means anything at this point.
Here is a video on jailbreaking an Ipad 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X806hQdgosk
The video is is a different language but easy enough to follow. I've done it myself so I can guarantee that the steps are safe. Just jump halfway to the part where he starts using the 3UTools software.
II. A software to install .ipa files.
Personally I recommend either using 3U TOOLS or IFunBox since they both have user friendly interfaces. For, now I recommend the one from 3U Tools.
** So if everything is set and using 3U tools and on the tab that says Jailbroken a yes indicated, you can now begin to install your apps!

Games/APPS and more!

Now for the real reason why you're here! If you read through my ramblings then I'm touched and I'll kiss ya when I see ya. If you didn't then it's cool since at the end of the day it's all about what I can give to ya.
How to install an ios app:
IOS apps have the file extension of .ipa. Using 3U TOOLS, all you have to do is click apps on the left side panel -> Import&Install ipa (top portion), and choose the file to install.

Usable apps that work on an Ipad 1:

VLC
Netflix
UC Browser HD
Google Chrome
TwomonUSB (compatible app to convert IPAD 1 to a second monitor)

Games and Apps:

Note: You'll need a torrent software to download some of the apps. I personally recommend Utorrent and it's FREE!

Master List (check each link for more games)

https://archive.org/details/@ios_classics. This is the Holy Grail for Ipad1 Games. From all the apps I tested, they seems to work so to download an app just click the one you like and on the right side click torrent and download the one you want and install with 3U TOOLS or IFunbox
https://archive.org/details/ipaarchive?and%5B%5D=mediatype%3A%22data%22&and%5B%5D=mediatype%3A%22software%22&sort=titleSorter&page=7. Same as link above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLB4jI66Cjc. Credits to the dude in the video and give him a like and sub. He shows some of the gameplay for the apps listed. The link in his description has Ipad1 games with a total file size of 50gb . Games like Cytus 2, GTA, Need for Speed Most Wanted and many more: You can also click this link for the list of games or this link if you want to download them all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X806hQdgosk&t=18s. Another youtube link and give the dude a sub and like. This is 7gb of Ipad 1 Games and Apps. From my testing, they seem to work so if ya got the time then check them out. Here is the mediafire link in his description.

My personal list

If you haven't checked the links above, I highly recommend you do since that's where I got most of the games. These are direct links to save you time and you can google search what the games look like.

Note: Some games won't work with internet on and some off. For Example, Plants V Zombies 2 wont work with internet on while Sims Free City needs internet to work.
Also, some games would reguire you to press the 2x button located at the bottom right of your screen. This is fine since some apps were design to support both a iphone and ipad resolution but in the event that it doesn't it still looks decent enough to play with.

101 games (I can't confirm if it does have 101 games. You have to unlock the rest by playing the mini games so if you have the time then go nuts and besides the filesize is small anyway so why not download it!)
Adventure bar story (RPG with some cooking mixed into it)
Angry birds collection (Includes: Angry Birds, Angry Birds Rio, Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Space, Angry Birds Star Wars )
A.Surgeon (Kinda like a surgeon simulator but more tacky)
Aralon HD (Action rpg)
Asphalt 7 (Racing)
Arc Squadron (Like playing starfox)
Assassins (basically assassins creed but more rpg'ish):
Backstab (Action rpg)
Battle for Wesnoth HD (Tun base strategy fantasy game)
Blade of Darkness (Action rpg)
BaseballSuperstars2009: (It's baseball with chibi characters)
Bloody fun day (It's like bejweled but with a uniqe way to play it)
Bio crisis: (Top down roguelike scifi rpg)
Chess classics (Basically Chess)
Crash Bandicoot Kart 2 (Racing)
Cytus (Music; there is also an android version of this)
Crazy taxi (Mayhem taxi simulator)
Dexter hd: (Based on the dexter series; you're basically a serial killer so think hitman but psycho)
Doom (Shooter;classic doom to its finest)
Eternal Legacy (Scifi JRPG)
Elven Chronicles: (Fantasy JRPG)
Fruit ninja (Basically, you slice fruit when it appears on screen)
Gangster Rio (LIke GTA)
GBA Emu (GBA emulator; download you roms and create a folder in you idevice and put em there)
Geometry dash: (Side-scroller jumper pretty fun I recommend you get this)
Gta vice city (Classic GTA )
Highborn (Medieval grid turn based strategy)
Hills and Rivers Remain(Like a tower defense bust with strategy; fantasy)
Hungry Shark (Play as a shark and go on a rampage; side scroller)
Jump to Medieval: (Kinda like a defense game where you "Hold the fort" with some tower defense elements)
Mirror's edge (Sidescroller parkour game)
Magika (Sidescroller magic beatemup; really fun actually)
Nanosaur 2 (Control a pterodactyl, collect eggs, uses gyro; I recommend you get this)
Need for speed most wanted (Racing)
Need for speed shift (Racing)
Oceanhorn (Really good fantasy arpg; recommend you get)
Plants vs zombies 2 (turn off internet to play)
Subway surfers (Runner; I think it's the one that popularized the genre)
Sims freeplay (Needs internet to initiate but playable afterwards)
Sim City Deluxe (Does not need internet; good old classic sims)
Samuraigirl (Sidescroller rpg)
Super ko boxing 2 (Pretty damn good boxing game)
Super monkey ball 2 (Personal favorite; control with gyro and lead your monkeyball to the goal)
Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes - Encore: (JRPG)
Terminator Salvation (#rd person shooter)
Utakata (Mystery VN)
Uno ios (Classic uno; more than one person can play in 1 device an has single player)
Resident evil 4 (3rd person zombie shooter)
Romance Of The Three Kingdoms Touch (Grid based Civilization like gameplay)
Starfront collission (Scifi RTs; I recommend you get this)
Tekken Bowl (Tekken so it basically a fighting game)
Wipeout (Based on the TV series; sidescroller jumper and pretty fun)
Wolfenstein 3d (Think doom and add hitler)
Wolfenstein Rpg (It's like the one above but with more emphasis on story)
ZenoniaCollection (1-5) (Action JRPG; I recommend you get all of it for an immersive story)

If there are any problems with the link feel free to comment below and I'll try to fix it. Also, if you know of other IPad 1 games playable let me know below.

Be Yourself, and Try to Have a Good Time: The Ultimate Guide for New Nintendo Switch Owners

So you just got a shiny, brand new, Nintendo Switch. While it's pretty awesome in its stock state, I'm sure you want to get the most out of your $300 console. So I compiled a big, long, list of some of the best accessories, commonly-asked questions, and other info to help you do just that. Let's get started.

Accessories

From protecting your Nintendo Switch on the go to getting the most out of it at home, here are the accessories no Switch owner should go without.

Screen Protectors

amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch
Cost: $9.99
Manufacturer: TechMatte
Officially Licensed: No
Everybody's favorite glass Switch screen protector, it's cheap, durable, and easy to apply. You get two in every pack, so that's nice as well.
HORI Screen Protective Filter for Nintendo Switch
Cost: $6.99
Manufacturer: HORI
Officially Licensed: Yes
Unlike the amFilm, this screen protector is plastic and consequently a bit cheaper. It also only comes with one screen protector instead of two. That said, HORI is a great brand for Nintendo accessories in general, and you can comfortably buy this screen protector in the knowledge that it's officially licensed.

Carrying Cases

HORI Tough Pouch for Nintendo Switch
Cost: $17.99
Manufacturer: HORI
Officially Licensed: Yes
This is the cheapest decent case you can get for your Switch. It has dedicated space for five Game Cards and small, thin, accessories such as a charging cable, earbuds, or a pair of Joy-Con Straps. There isn't any sort of strap to hold the Switch in place, so you'll feel it move around a bit inside the case (although sticking a pair of Joy-Con straps in the accessory compartment provides enough weight to fix this). Just don't open the case upside down, or your Switch will fall out.
Nintendo Switch Game Traveler Deluxe Travel Case
Cost: $19.99
Manufacturer: RDS Industries
Officially Licensed: Yes
If you're willing to spend a little more money, this is one of the best carrying cases on the market right now. It comes with two Game Card cases (each having their own dedicated compartment in the case) that can hold four Game Cards each, as well as two microSD card cases that fit inside the Game Card cases and hold two microSD cards each. It also has a zippered mesh pocket that can hold small cables, Joy-Con Straps, earbuds, or additional Game Cards. The case comes in several different styles, themed after games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart, Splatoon 2, and Super Mario Odyssey.
Nintendo Switch Game Traveler Deluxe System Case
Cost: $38.49
Manufacturer: RDS Industries
Officially Licensed: Yes
If you want to carry the entire system with you wherever you go, this is the case for you. It has dedicated compartments for the console (with Joy-Con attached), the dock, the AC adapter, and the Joy-Con Grip/Pro Controller, as well as a mesh pocket that can hold an HDMI and USB cable and the two Game Card and microSD cases the case comes with.
PDP Nintendo Switch Elite Player Backpack
Cost: $50.00
Manufacturer: PDP
Officially Licensed: Yes
If you seriously need to carry a lot of Switch stuff to a lot of places, this backpack is for you. It has space for six extra Joy-Con, the dock, the HDMI cable, games, headphones, the Pro Controller, and any other personal accessories you wish to throw in there.

Additional Controllers

Nintendo Switch Joy-Con (L/R)
Cost: $79.99
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Officially Licensed: Made by Nintendo
The stock controller for the Nintendo Switch. If you think you're ever going to play multiplayer with more than two people, another pair of these is a worthwhile investment - even if it is a bit on the pricey side. It's honestly a good purchase even if you only ever do two-player - playing with just a single Joy-Con is literal ass.
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Cost: $69.99
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Officially Licensed: Made by Nintendo
The Pro Controller is a traditional controller for the Switch that comes with all the features of the Joy-Con, including a gyroscope, an NFC readewriter, and HD Rumble. It can communicate with the Switch over a wireless or wired connection (note that using it wired requires you to enable a setting in your console's system settings). There have been reports of the controller's D-pad not working properly; my Pro Controller doesn't seem to have that issue, but it's still something you should be aware of. If a malfunctioning D-pad is a significant concern for you, all of the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Edition Pro Controllers have been changed to eliminate this problem.
HORI HORIPAD for Nintendo Switch
Cost: $29.99
Manufacturer: HORI
Officially Licensed: Yes
If Nintendo's Pro Controller is too expensive, HORI's got you covered. The HORIPAD is a sleek, comfortable, cheaper, alternative to the Pro Controller that's unique in that it lets you swap between a traditional D-pad and a Joy-Con-esque directional button setup at will. The reduction in cost does come with a few downsides: the controller has no gyroscope, no HD Rumble, and no NFC readewriter (meaning you can't use amiibo with it). It also only works over a wired connection. That said, if none of that matters to you, this is a great purchase.
Nyko Core Controller for Nintendo Switch
Cost: $19.99
Manufacturer: Nyko
Officially Licensed: No
An even cheaper alternative to the Pro Controller, Nyko's Core Controller is another wired-only controller that doesn't have a gyroscope, HD Rumble, or NFC readewriter. It does, however, have a programmable turbo button. It's not a bad controller by any means, but I'd still be careful since Nyko doesn't exactly have the best track record when it comes to video game console accessories, Nintendo or otherwise.
Mayflash Nintendo Switch Magic-NS Wireless Controller Adapter
Cost: $24.99
Manufacturer: Mayflash
Officially Licensed: No
This isn't technically a controller, but it does let you use any existing PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Wii U Pro, and Xbox One S controllers you may have wirelessly with your Switch. You can also use Xbox One and Xbox 360 controllers over a wired connection.
Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Comfort Grip
Cost: $14.99
Manufacturer: PowerA
Officially Licensed: Yes
This also isn't technically a controller, but if you can't afford any of the other options and just want something more comfortable than the stock Joy-Con Grip, this is for you.

Headphones and Earbuds

PDP Zelda Chat Earbuds
Cost: $21.95
Manufacturer: PDP
Officially Licensed: Yes
If you just want a pair of good, cheap, earbuds for your Switch, these are for you. They come with a cool-looking carrying case and are themed after Breath of the Wild.
HORI Splatoon 2 Stereo Headset
Cost: $31.67
Manufacturer: HORI
Officially Licensed: Yes
The infamous headset that made everyone ask, "Nintendo, what the fuck were you thinking?" If you want to be able to get voice chat and game audio through the same headset, this is the "official" way to do so (for those of you who don't know, voice chat is delivered through an app on your phone instead of directly through the console). You plug the headset into a dongle, then you plug one of the dongle's two cables into your Switch's headphone jack and the other into your phone's headphone jack. Here's a diagram that shows how it all works. Things get even more complicated if you own a phone without a headphone jack (looking at you, Apple and Google). It's unwieldy and looks stupid, but it works.
SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth
Cost: $129.99
Manufacturer: SteelSeries
Officially Licensed: No
If you need a more practical solution to the aforementioned voice chat fiasco and are willing to pay up, the SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth is the headset for you. It can connect to your Switch via a 3.5mm cable and your phone via Bluetooth simultaneously, seamlessly mixing chat and game audio. Although it's not officially licensed, SteelSeries is a very reputable brand for gaming peripherals.

Charging Solutions

All of the accessories (and, if applicable, the USB-C-to-C cables they ship with) listed in this section are safe and will not damage your system.
Google 18W USB-C Power Adapter
Cost: $35
Manufacturer: Google
Officially Licensed: No
Made for Google's Pixel smartphones, this power adapter and the USB-C to C cable it comes with are great for charging the Switch. It's relatively cheap, fast, and has the technological expertise of Google behind it. With this, you can dedicate the console's AC adapter to the dock while still having a way to charge it in portable mode.
Lumsing 13400 mAh USB-C Portable Charger
Cost: $23.99
Manufacturer: Lumsing
Officially Licensed: No
This is a good, relatively cheap, portable charger that can give your Switch one full charge when you desperately need it. It's small enough to fit in most pockets.
RAVPower 20100mAh Portable Charger
Cost: $49.99
Manufacturer: RAVPower
Officially Licensed: No
This is a slightly more expensive option that'll provide your console with about two full charges. It's larger than the Lumsing, but should still fit in most pockets. If you need a portable charger for your Switch, this is the one I would recommend.
Aukey USB-C-to-C Cable
Cost: $7.99
Manufacturer: Aukey
Officially Licensed: No
If you ever need a USB-C-to-C cable to use with the portable chargers above, this is my recommendation.
Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Charging Dock
Cost: $29.99
Manufacturer: PowerA
Officially Licensed: Yes
If you have more then one pair of Joy-Con, buying an external charging dock is literally the only way to charge them without having both pairs take turns being attached to the console. This dock can charge four Joy-Con simultaneously.
Joy-Con and Pro Controller Charging Dock
Cost: $29.99
Manufacturer: PowerA
Officially Licensed: Yes
If you have multiple Pro Controllers (as in more than 2), you should consider purchasing this. It charges one Pro Controller and two Joy-Con simultaneously.

Portable Docks

None.
You might've heard this several times already, but it never hurts to reiterate it: DO NOT BUY OR USE ANY DOCKS OTHER THAN THE NINTENDO-MADE ONE THAT CAME WITH YOUR SYSTEM. Third-party docks, especially those from Nyko, have been known to cause malfunctioning and/or destruction of the Nintendo Switch system.
If you so desperately require a portable dock, you can buy a dock mount (such as this one) and move the official dock's internals into it like so.

Miscellaneous Accessories

Nintendo Switch Wired Internet LAN Adapter
Cost: $29.99
Manufacturer: HORI
Officially Licensed: Yes
The Switch's Wi-Fi card sucks ass, so unless your wireless internet is amazing or you don't ever intend to play online, a LAN adapter is a must-have.
HORI Compact Playstand for Nintendo Switch
Cost: $12.99
Manufacturer: HORI
Officially Licensed: Yes
HORI's playstand is the best way to use your Switch in tabletop mode, and the only way to do so while charging it. Combined with a charger, this is basically a mini-dock you can take wherever you go.

Common Questions

Things you really ought to stop asking.
Q: I heard that the Switch has had a lot of manufacturing defects. Should I be worried?
A: Nope. From bent docks, to dead pixels, to malfunctioning Joy-Con, Nintendo will fix all of these issues and more for free so long as your Switch is under warranty. Most of those defects were contained to launch day units, anyway - if you just got a Switch recently, you shouldn't have to worry about anything.
Q: Can I use Bluetooth headphones with my Switch?
A: While the Switch does support Bluetooth 4.1, it doesn't support external Bluetooth speakers - and yes, that includes your headphones. You can always use a Bluetooth transmitter, though.
Q: If my Switch gets lost or destroyed, what happens to my save data?
A: It's gone. Sorry. Save data is stored on the console regardless of whether you buy physical or digital, so if your console is gone, so are your saves.
Q: So the Switch doesn't let you back up your saves?
A: Well, maybe it isn't totally gone. You'll be able to back up your save data to the cloud for $20/year when Nintendo Switch Online launches this fall.
Q: Is there any free way to protect my save data?
A: Through officially-sanctioned means? No.
Q: If I send my Switch in for repair, will it return with my save data intact?
A: Although Nintendo will try their hardest to keep your save data alive, they don't guarantee they will succeed. If your save data is lost in the repair process, you will be notified. This obviously won't be a problem if you back up your saves to the cloud before sending your system in.
Q: Is Nintendo seriously making us pay for online multiplayer?
A: Yes. Called Nintendo Switch Online, the paid service is proposed to launch this and cost $20 per year.
Q: Will I be able to buy one online subscription for the whole console or will I have to buy one for every user?
A: You'll can either buy an individual $20/year subscription for each user or a family plan that can grant online access for up to eight users on a single system for one price of $35/year. You can find more information on Nintendo's website.
In response to OatmealDome's top comment on this thread, this information is up-to-date as of May 7, 2018.
Q: If I don't want to pay for Nintendo Switch Online, what games should I avoid?
A: Splatoon 2, ARMS, and Rocket League. The bulk of those games is online multiplayer. ARMS does have local multiplayer and singleplayer modes that will work without a subscription, but Splatoon 2 and Rocket League are basically paperweights without online access.
Q: What are some good games to buy?
A: Essential titles are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. From there, things are largely dependent upon your interests; shooter fans will enjoy Splatoon 2, RPG fans will find solace in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, fighting game fans will be satisfied with the upcoming Super Smash Bros. title. If you want personalized recommendations, feel free to ask around in the Daily Question Thread.
Q: Should I buy digital or physical?
A: That's a good question. Each medium has its upsides and downsides, so it's important to choose the right one for you.

You should buy physical if you:

Are a member of Amazon Prime or Best Buy Gamer's Club Unlocked* (Amazon Prime and Best Buy GCU members get 20% off physical preorders; GCU members get 20% off new games)
Treat games as collectibles
Like to put your games on display
Regularly sell, trade in, or gift your used games
Don't want to spend money on a microSD card*
Don't mind having to switch cartridges every time you want to play a different game
Don't mind paying for a new copy of a game in the event it is lost, stolen, destroyed, or otherwise rendered unusable

You should buy digital if you:

Don't want to switch cartridges every time to want to play a different game
Don't want to run the risk of a physical cartridge being lost, stolen, or destroyed
Want to be able to download your games again for free in the event your Switch is lost, stolen, or destroyed
Don't sell, trade in, or gift your used games
Don't mind spending money on a microSD card (if you plan to go all digital, you'll need one)
Anticipate buying a large number of games (more than eight)
Want to be able to take all your games with you wherever you go

*Even if you buy physical, you still may need a microSD card. Larger games like DOOM, L.A. Noire, and Resident Evil Revelations only have a portion of the game on the cartridge, with the rest being a free download.
*As of May 18, 2018, Best Buy's Gamers Club Unlocked program is no longer accepting new members, and existing ones can no longer renew their memberships. Existing members will continue to receive the benefits of the program until their memberships expire.
Q: I'm buying digital. What microSD card should I get?
A: The 128GB SanDisk Ultra. It's a lot of space for just $40. If you feel you're gonna need more than that, you can buy the 200GB variant for $75, the 256GB variant for $150, or, if you're just that insanely paranoid about running out of space, the 400GB variant for $250.
You might've seen or heard of Nintendo Switch-branded, officially licensed SanDisk microSD cards floating around. Don't buy them. While they are genuine SanDisk products that really are officially licensed, they're exactly the same as a regular SanDisk microSD card but more expensive because of the Nintendo branding. They are, for all intents and purposes, a ripoff.
Q: What's all this stuff about homebrew, CFW, Fusée Gelée, and Atmosphère?
A: A hacking group by the name of ReSwitched announced some time ago that they had fully compromised the Switch and are working towards releasing a CFW called Atmosphère to the public this summer. Installing CFW on your Switch is basically the equivalent of jailbreaking an iPhone - it will allow you to install unofficial, community-developed software on your Switch that enables you to do things like make and apply custom themes, emulate legacy systems, and - wait for it - back up and restore your save data free of charge.
Note that making unauthorized modifications to your Switch is a violation of the EULA and will instantly void your warranty (at least in the United States).
If you want to learn more, head over to /switchhacks.
Q: The Switch is missing a lot of basic features.
A: That's not a question.
Q: Is the Switch really missing so many basic features, or am I just losing my mind?
A: You are, unfortunately, entirely sane. The Switch currently lacks features that were present on previous Nintendo consoles, such as local save data backup, an internet browser, folders, and themes, as well as features that have grown to become industry standards, such as a controller with a headphone jack, on-console voice chat, and a party system. Nintendo has yet to announce plans to implement any of these things, but many speculate they will come with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

Other Information

Miscellaneous tips and tricks.

If you have a Nintendo Network ID from the 3DS and Wii U days, you can migrate it to your Nintendo Account by signing in to the latter, then going to User Info > Linked Accounts and selecting Nintendo Network ID.
Even though Miis have taken a backseat with the Switch, you can still use one as your profile picture. Go to HOME Menu > Settings > Mii > Create/Edit a Mii, then choose whether to create a new Mii or receive one from another Switch. Then go to HOME Menu > Your User Page and select your profile picture to edit it, then select Mii and choose a Mii. Fun fact: if you own an amiibo and a 3DS or Wii U, it's possible to transfer the same Mii all the way from a Wii to a Switch.
If you ever have the misfortune of encountering someone online who's just a total dick (looking at you, squid partiers), you can prevent them from being matched with you again by blocking them. Go to HOME Menu > Your User Page > Add Friend > Users You've Played With, then find the offending user and select Block. Blocking players no longer prevents you from being matched with them in games.
On the subject of online assholes, if you happen to find them in Splatoon 2 in particular, you can take the extra step of reporting them. Open up the Nintendo Switch Online app and access SplatNet 2. From there, go to Battles, tap the battle where you encountered the offending player, tap the offending player, and tap the tiny Report button at the bottom of the screen. You can report players for a variety of reasons, including inactivity, unsportsmanlike conduct, and cheating.
Friend codes aren't the only way to add people anymore. You can now add people who are physically near you (and have their Switch with them), who you've played with online, and who you've friended on 3DS, Wii U, or in one of Nintendo's mobile games (e.g. Miitomo, Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes). Just head over to HOME Menu > Your User Page > Add Friend to get started.
Lost a controller? No worries! So long as it's a Joy-Con or Pro Controller, you can find it by going to HOME Menu > Controllers > Find Controllers. From here, you can make nearby paired controllers loudly vibrate so that they can be more easily located.
If you're a parent who just bought their kid a Switch, set up parental controls, associate your child's Nintendo Account with yours, and set Nintendo eShop restrictions.

That's about all I have. Enjoy your Switch, and welcome to the community.
(This post was last updated on May 19, 2018.)

Translation of Dendi's TwitLonger post. <3

To my friends, my fans and my haters
Hey everyone. I’ve been meaning to write a post about hate and all kinds of stuff for a while. I’m finally doing it now because I feel like it has to be done at this moment to refute a lot of stupid things that people have been writing for several years.
I was reluctant to do it because I know that people like to listen to those who are on top. And for a while now we’ve been at the bottom. I'd been waiting for the moment when we start to shine. :) There were some brief glimpses… but unfortunately it didn’t happen, so I’ll have to speak from down here.
I have an example from way back in 2010 (concerning the fact that people like to listen to winners) when I was playing in DTS and I wanted to do something for the Dota community (back then there was no real “image building” and people did this sort of thing for free and sincerely out of a desire to do it, I think). 2009-2010 is about the time that I transitioned from the support position to solo mid. At the time, I was really inspired by a player named “YaphetS”. I’m still a fan of his to this day (I even have his mousepad). He was incredibly good on “Nevermore” aka “Shadow Fiend”. After WDC2010 I analyzed a couple of my games, spent some time preparing and decided to make a guide titled “How to solo mid SF”. At the time, I really wanted to share with the Dota community what a deep, interesting and incredibly difficult game Dota is. How many mind games there are, and in general, I wanted to share my knowledge and love for the game with others. Naturally, after I made the video I went to read what people were commenting on different forums. I was curious if people liked it and I wanted to do more! Make more videos. We weren’t on top then :). The reaction that I saw disappointed me. Many people wrote nasty things and things like “I’d rather see a guide by YaphetS or (insert player name here)”. That was on forums like Gosugamers and others (Gosugamers was one of the main Dota forums at the time). But then time passed. A long time, definitely. :) I think the Na’Vi Dota team was already around, and Dota 2 was out, and we had won The International. And then, my video (by that point outdated) began to gain traction. I found out that it had been translated into Chinese and that it was fairly popular in China and many strong players at the time were praising it. And then it became popular over here too. :) People began to praise and idolize it. That was when I understood that people listen to those who are on top. And they don’t care about anyone else even if those people say correct and smart things. Sorry for the small detour into history. I don’t want to waste your time, but this isn’t the last one (I’m already trying to make this as short as possible).
I’ve always had trouble understanding how you can hate or dislike someone who didn’t do you any wrong. Or people who you know nothing about. It puzzles me all the time. Let’s imagine you’re a hater! Or a person that hates me.
Right away, I’d like to ask you this: “How have I mistreated you?” You don’t know me. I don’t know you. I’m just playing Dota and living my own life :) I assume you’re doing the same…
I’ve known for a long time that you can’t please everyone. No matter how hard you try, no matter what you do or how you behave, there will be people who don’t like you, envy you or whatever else. So the most important thing is to focus on doing the right thing and being honest with yourself. I’m not perfect, I’ve made mistakes and still do, like everyone else :) But I’ve always tried to be a good person first and foremost.
Hating Na’Vi and gaining attention by talking about the misfortunes of the organization is a trend :)! There’s no point in denying that. It’s been a trend since around 2014 and it’s still going strong. Why? That’s a difficult question. I think that the main reason is ENVY. People are jealous of others’ success and they’re very angry when someone gets what they see as undeserved attention and praise!
It’s an especially notable trend amongst young people because they always want to fight the system, and that’s what Na’Vi looks like in their eyes. Well, the younger generation deserves its own discussion. Because I’m very sad to see the behavior of the followers of “EvilArthas” and “Karinochka” and others like them. But I won’t talk about that. This is the CIS community! It is the way it is. However, we do have all the tools to change things for the better. If only the trendsetters (the analysts and casters) didn’t use this sort of thing to gain attention and build their image.
I’ve seen a lot of absurd reasons for people to “hate” me. And I’m going to try to clear up at least a bit of the confusing things that have been floating around the internet for years now.
I very often see messages stating that I’m very insatiable and receive a huge % of sponsorship deals with the organization, that I have an incredibly high salary and that I’m in Na’Vi only FOR THE MONEY!!! They say that I’m GREEDY and clinging on to my paycheck to the last of my strength.
Of course, no matter what I say, most people will still think the same thing. But I’ll say it once. One last time!
I don’t really care about money. It’s a substance that I can fairly freely live without. I’m not demanding and don’t need much. I think it stems from how I was raised, or maybe that’s just how I am. :) I’m very lucky in that sense (Thanks, mom and dad!)
I don’t need expensive cars, houses, expensive brand name items (unlike many of the people I know). Maybe I’m just not old enough for that stuff (on the other hand, I’m 28), or maybe that’s just the kind of person I am. All I need is a PC with internet, a mattress, healthy food and my friends and family around me. I like to enjoy the sights of nature and architecture much more than any material things.
My family was not too well off. It was a big family and we had to save on everything (we lived with two grandmas, my dad, mom, brother and sister). I remember a time when mom would try to find eggs for 18 kopiykas [the cents of Ukranian currency] rather than 19 to save money. But my parents still had me attend extra classes in English, music, acrobatics and dancing. My sister and I would split a banana (which we got once in I don’t know how many days) between the two of us and cut it into 50 pieces and enjoy each of them like it’s candy! I think a lot of people lived like that back then. :) But I’m writing this so you could understand that I’ve never had big needs.
When first I began to receive a salary in WG (my first professional team) in 2006? or 2007? I don’t remember. It was 1000 hryvnas (although I only got paid 3 or 4 times despite playing there for a long time), and that was unreal for me. :) I already knew then that money doesn’t really matter for me and the most important thing is doing what you love. Of course, my paycheck grew with time. In DTS it was $100, then $150 or $200. When we transitioned into Na’Vi it was $150 or $200 (I honestly can’t remember), but I was never playing Dota for the MONEY! It just so happened in life that I’ve always done what I enjoy, so I’m very lucky in that sense. :)
In college I skipped a lot of classes and fully committed myself to doing what I love (at the time there were no huge PRIZE POOLS or SALARIES). It was a sort of ALL-IN which took me to THE INTERNATIONAL. Maybe I got lucky? Or maybe if you fully commit yourself to doing something that you love and try to achieve the most that you can, money comes naturally.
I’d also like to clear up another myth. I’ve never received a % of the sponsorship deals with my organization. I had a lower salary for the season of 2015-2016 than the guys from VP (at a time when we looked much better). And the guys from EG or Secret got paid like twice as much. And if I had left Na’Vi, it’s likely I could have easily found a higher paying position.
I never demanded a raise from my org. The most important thing for me has always been that I can fully trust Na’Vi. I saw that they wanted and still want to grow, the staff size has grown, the conditions for training new teams have improved, etc. I have been and still am a part of Na’Vi and I’ve always wanted my home org to which I have committed many years and emotions to grow.
One last time about my pay – if I really only cared about money and wanted to earn as much as I could then I would probably not be playing with Na’Vi right now. Perhaps from the end of 2014 or 2015. Perhaps I’d try to do my own thing. Grow my social media pages, develop my brand and all kinds of stuff. Even streaming would be making me more money right now (if I had committed to it full-time). But I want to do what I love. As always, I want to do the thing that I enjoy. :)
I’ve played with all kinds of people on the team. Many of them really valued money. Some think that money itself is the goal, but I think that it’s always the result of effort and work. I don’t think they’re wrong. Everybody’s different, to each his own.
In all my career my only expensive purchases have been my laptop (to stream on the go, but I never did that :)), I’ve also upgraded my PC to improve the quality of the stream (nobody really paid any attention to that at the time, but I wanted it to look good for the viewers) and got a GoPro camera with the intent to film things for people who want to watch it. Oh, and I recently upgraded my iPhone 5 to an iPhone 10!!!
I often see it being said that I’m playing in Na’Vi for my brand and they’re keeping me for the same reason (hello again, trendsetters).
In all my time on Na’Vi I’ve done almost nothing in that regard. Although I’ve had a lot of opportunities. I could have developed my social media pages, made all kinds of posts (including advertisements), uploaded videos, appeared on different shows (both online and on TV, where I’ve been invited multiple times), recorded vlogs and done many other things. What I actually did was make a couple of vlogs at TI in 2015 and then at WDC in 2016 or 17 (“Diary of a nerd”). I just wanted to share the atmosphere with others. :) But then lack of time, full commitment to training and that same old hate deprived me of any desire to keep doing stuff like that (same as with “How to solo mid SF”).
I may have forgotten something, but that’s ALL the media work I did personally! And if I was really trying to do that stuff, I would post a bunch of stories on Instagram like Lil or opened a CYBERSPORT SCHOOL like Zeus or made videos like NS’s “I Desire Knowledge” series, but I’M NOT DOING THAT. I’m not saying that stuff is bad, and I may do it in the future. :) But at the moment I don’t have the time or energy. I really want results in the game first and foremost.
I’m getting the feeling that very often the people that talk about me growing my brand are just growing their own brand. I’m just living my life and doing what I enjoy. :) And if my organization asks me to give an interview or make a video – I do it.
I’ve seen it said that I’m a GREY CARDINAL in Na’Vi. That I’m the evil puppeteer controlling the lineup to better fit myself. Kicking players left and right. The ultimate EVIL!!!
Unfortunately, in reality it’s exactly the opposite. In all my time on Na’Vi I’ve been against any changes in 80%!!!! of cases. Starting with Seryoga “Smile” and Dima “Lost” and ending with Nikola “Lebron”.
Sasha (ZeroGravity) once said that I’m very conservative. Maybe that’s partly true, but in reality I just grow very attached to people. That’s probably my big weak spot. It’s very hard for me to do things at the expense of others, and a lot of the time I put the interests of others ahead of my own. In my time on Na’Vi I’ve always had the mindset that you can solve any problem (or should at least try). And only if the problem is completely unresolvable should there be any changes. I’ve always been for giving players more chances to solve the existing problems.
I think that’s a weak point of the CIS community in general – when teams are having problems, they simply choose the easiest way out – RESHUFFLE. But I’ve always thought that that’s a WEAKNESS!
Anyway, I haven’t always agreed with Na’Vi about kicks. But it’s very hard to make the right decisions, I understand that, and I understand that Na’Vi has always tried to choose the best option for everyone.
I’ve also seen it said that I’m kind and cheerful only in public, but inside the team I’m super-toxic and angry.
My teammates would know better than me, of course. :) But I’d like to believe that none of the people that have played with me (who are reading this right now) will write anything bad about me, because no one’s ever said that kind of thing to my face. I haven’t been able to become friends with everyone, but I’ve always tried to establish communication and be a good teammate. I’ve tried to help, to support and be a friend.
Concerning my smiles and kind demeanor. People often dislike me for my “antics” and “weird faces”. Sorry guys, my bad.
I’m actually a very cheerful person in real life. And I love to make other people happy. Of course, everybody’s different and not everyone likes that. :)
I’m not always cheerful. Many people have said that I’m two-faced and happy only on camera, but off camera I’m pure EVIL! Just like everybody else, I can be angry, sad, happy and cheerful, I can be anything! But on camera I always want to make people smile, cheer them up, make them happy. What’s the point in sharing negative emotions and sadness? Of course, I don’t always manage to keep it up, I’m just a normal person like you.
There are many haters among those that I was rude to in pubs. Sorry guys. Dota often brings out your base emotions and it’s hard to control. I’m sure that all of us have had angry moments and written nasty things that we later regretted saying.
When I started playing under a fake account I seriously reconsidered my behavior in matchmaking. I saw many two-faced players that said completely different things to me when I wasn’t on my main account (and they didn’t know it was me).
Even at 28 I often have a hard time controlling my emotions in-game, I can only imagine how hard it is for the young kids at 15. :) So we should all work on ourselves and be kinder to each other.
I often see people saying: “Let the young guys though!!!”, and I can’t understand that at all. :) How am I stopping the “young guys”? If you’re a strong player (on any position) and a young one!!! at that, any top CIS team (Vega, Spirit, Empire, Na’Vi) will be more than eager to have you. I can’t affect that in any way.
But damn it, even here I’m doing wrong!!! Not letting the young guys into the scene since 2014. And a lot of people seriously believe that. Someone hears some nonsense being said in a broadcast and starts spamming it, and everyone joins in.
We could move on to discussing age… but everyone has their own opinion on that! Esports is a young discipline and there are almost no older players. Why not? Because before it used to be impossible to support a family and provide for yourself by playing.
But times are changing and there will be more and more older players because there is money to be made in esports. I think that age doesn’t matter. What matters is the player’s well-being, their health and mentality. The problem of age is usually in shifting interests and priorities (family, kids, etc.). Some people slowly get tired of the game but try to stay in it because of the money. But that approach will never earn them any victories and take them to the top.
I think many of those who used to play Dota in the past would like to play it now. But if before people played because they liked it, for the joy of it and to win (because there was no money involved then), nowadays to compete at the highest level you have to commit incredible effort and work on yourself every day and spend even more time on the game than before! That’s why those whose interests have changed, who have grown tired of Dota, who have other problems, a family, or have just grown lazy – they can’t compete at the highest level anymore. But they can say stuff to viewers like “LET THE YOUNG GUYS THROUGH” because they’re not playing anymore. I feel like that’s ENVY, pure and simple. Maybe I’m wrong and that’s not true.
I’ll be honest! I spend three times as much time on Dota as I used to. In 2012-2013 we could defeat everyone without training. But nowadays we spend 40 days together at bootcamps and tournaments. Nearly every day we play practice games, and play a lot of games solo. And when we’re home, we keep playing.
And no! I’m not complaining. :) On the contrary! I’m loving the grind. And I don’t see any age problems other than SIMPLE LAZINESS and EXCUSES. Each of us chooses their own priorities. If you put Dota ahead of everything else (going out, drinking, resting, traveling), then personally I don’t see any age issues. But everyone has their own opinion, of course.
I’d like to clear things up about swapping positions. I play Dota first and foremost because I LOVE this game and I really enjoy DOTA. Not the money, not the fame or anything else. And I’m going to play Dota professionally as long as I love this game and enjoy it. I don’t think that anyone has a right to decide for me when it’s time for me to retire or swap positions. I play position 2 in mid because I like it! And I’m going to keep doing it as long as I see fit. Until I want to swap positions and play somewhere else. I’ll keep on doing it. :) If not in Na’Vi, then somewhere else.
You can’t affect that in any way. You can have your own opinion and believe that that’s what will be best for me or my team, but I’m playing the position that I want to play. Because, I’ll say it again, I play Dota to enjoy the game, and if I don’t enjoy it, I’ll probably stop playing professionally.
Here’s a simple example. I like to play soccer, but I don’t like to be goalie. I wouldn’t play soccer if I always had to be goalkeeper (with all due respect to goalkeepers). We only live once. And I want to do the things that I enjoy (if I have the opportunity).
Concerning leadership, shot calling and drafting. Everyone sees it differently. I’ll explain my thoughts and opinions.
I think that the leader (the captain) is the person with authority over the rest. The one who will lead the team to victory and can support the team in hard spots and be a pillar of strength for them.
To be a captain you have to have certain qualities. Some are born with them. Some have to develop them. For example, I’m fairly soft-hearted and I don’t like to do things at the expense of others. I don’t like to enter conflicts and I’d rather reach a compromise than push my opinion (although sometimes I can be stubborn too).
I think I’m a good teammate. I think that I can join any team and try to fully realize the drafter’s vision.
The Shot caller, the Drafter and the Captain – those are all different roles. And in different teams different people fill them. Sometimes one person fills all three, sometimes each one goes to a separate person, sometimes they’re split between several people. Everyone has a different definition of what’s right and every team functions differently. There is NO ideal system. That’s why it’s so funny to see so many people voice their thoughts thinking that their way is the best way. And as always, the trendsetters force their opinions onto the public.
I’ve played with Vanya “Artstyle”, Clement “Puppey”, Akbar “Sonneiko”, PJ “Pajkatt”, Andrey “PSM”, Artyom “fng”. Each of them was good in their own way and did things absolutely differently.
Back when we had just formed DTS with NS, Dread, Lost and Vanya… We couldn’t get it to work! We lost and lost and we didn’t have a single leader and captain. So we got together and I proposed that we simply vote for a captain that we will believe in and trust fully and try to realize his ideas as he sees them (no matter how childish that may sound). Two voted for Lost. Three for Vanya. That’s how Vanya became “captain” of the legendary team DTS. :) After that we started to believe in all of Vanya’s ideas and follow them. Vanya wanted to play Dota like an RPG, so I ran around as Mirana gathering all DPS items (+3 agi, +6, +10) and didn’t have the right to build anything non-DPS. :) Someone would play DAZZLE and build all HEAL items, someone would be the tank. And you wouldn’t believe it, but… we started winning!!! We would go as 4 to one lane and leave one lane empty… and we still won. And nobody tried to argue against the idea. We all followed and believed one idea. That’s how we developed different strategies and Vanya showed himself to be an amazing drafter and captain (and he was also a great player, and everybody knew that).
Each of these captains was in some way different from the other. But this small story is here to illustrate the fact that for a captain to work out, he needs not only leadership qualities, but the trust and belief of his teammates. One will not work without the other. It’s a hard thing to do for self-confident people with a big EGO. Frankly, it’s a wonder that that DTS lineup worked like it did. All of the players were experienced and had their own knowledge and skills.
In-game shot calling can be performed by absolutely different people. The team can choose from various ideas and directions. What should you do at some point or other in the game? These decisions are made by all of the players. There are small decisions (like where you should go to gank someone) and big ones (like gathering for Rosh or to push towers), and one decision leads to another.
The shot-calling for the first ten minutes is easiest for the supports because their internal processor is less loaded with micro tasks. They move around the map more and have time to think what they or their teammates should do. But after that the decisions can be made by players of any role (whatever fits you best) depending on who wants to lead in your team and who you are ready to trust. And here’s where a very important skill comes in: “TRUST”. I think that in Dota that’s one of the most important skills (if not the most important) a player can have. Without Trust in your teammates you’re not going to get anywhere. If you don’t trust that your teammate will crush the opponent in lane – he will lose. If you don’t believe that you’ll win a teamfight with your teammates – you will lose. Etc. And that’s VERY hard.
It also works the other way. You can earn trust through authority and victories, or in other ways… or you CAN just trust others! And that’s pretty hard. :) That’s a skill that you can have or can learn. Our EGO and ARROGANCE oftentimes get in the way. We think we know better and are more skillful.
Anyway. In some teams everyone does the shot calling. In some teams some people do more, some less. In some teams the 5th position does more, in some the 1st, in some the 3rd. In some spots the player that sees what is best for the team makes the call. Some calls are voided by the captain, some are supported. That’s how your game pans out.
For example, in VP (as far as I know) Ramzes does a lot of the shot calling. Maybe somewhere else Mindcontrol makes a lot of calls, maybe Ghostik. Maybe Kuro, maybe Puppey. But that doesn’t matter.
The only thing that matters is winning. :) How you get there is up to you.
Each player can make a call in-game, but the final word in tough spots is usually up to the leader (that’s how it’s usually done, but maybe there are top teams without a leader or with several).
The Drafter is also a separate role in the game. Ideally the main shot-caller should also be the drafter. But that’s not a necessity. Why should they be the same person? Because the Drafter usually has some vision of a game plan in the draft, and the team’s goal is to realize that vision in-game. :) But these things can be done by different people.
The most important thing is to believe in the idea, to try to realize it and prepare for games together, following the same path! All the things that I’ve mentioned above apply. It’s hard to do it when opinions differ. When each player is hogging the spotlight, trying to be Miracle.
For example, in some teams the coach does the draft (many teams from China? Mineski? I can’t remember). In some the 5th position supports draft. In some – the carry (Ramzes).
But the shot calling in-game is done by absolutely different roles.
In the last two months I’ve tried to take on the mantle of Drafter. I’ve tried to become the captain of the team. I’ve tried to shot call more that before (I wasn’t very good at it, everything takes time to learn).
I’ve improved a lot in drafting and learned a lot for myself (but I’m still pretty bad at it). I’ve been partially successful at becoming a captain, since, as I’ve mentioned above, that depends not only on my wishes. :) Maybe I’m lacking a lot of the necessary qualities, but I’ve tried my best to develop them. And it’s been a very hard role for me.
Perhaps under different circumstances I could have done a much better job. But I know that I’m much better at being just a player and a great teammate.
Of all the captains that I’ve played with I like Vanya the most. He could always calm everyone down and defuse the tension with a joke. :) And we shared a lot of similar views. I think he’s my favorite teammate in all my time in Dota.
But each of the captains I’ve played with has had excellent leadership qualities. Many of the players I’ve played with complemented their captains well. For example, Dima “Lost” and NS in DTS. Or Lost and Kuro in Na’Vi.
In the lineups that I’ve played in the drafting, shot calling and captaining has rarely been done by one person. Any player could always affect the draft. Anyone could offer their idea during the game or help the captain in a difficult moment.
Anyway, the point is. You – the viewers, the analysts, the casters – are not standing at the backs of the players. You can’t know what’s going on inside the team. You can’t know for sure who’s drafting (even if one player is pushing the buttons). You can’t know who’s making certain decisions in game. And who is the captain, and who is the non-obvious leader.
That’s why there’s no point in making conclusions based on imagined facts in your head. That’s like if I started talking about politics. I have no idea who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy. I don’t know what’s true and what’s lies. That’s why I avoid that topic. Unfortunately, not everyone does that. :) (Including myself in some topics.)
That’s why I ask you to not make any conclusions. We often take sides based on someone’s opinion. Sometimes that person doesn’t even have any relation to the topic (is not standing at the players’ backs and doesn’t know what’s really going on).
We all love drama. Remember Clement and Envy? Or Kuro and Arteezy? You can’t jump to conclusions based on just one side’s story or the opinions of people completely unrelated to the issue.
In the same way a simple viewer can’t judge a player’s skill, but that’s a separate topic… maybe I’ll write about that one day.
And the community’s opinion heavily influences the pro scene and organizations in general. No need to go far for examples. How our casters and analysts shat on Ana from OG? Or Notail? And everyone joined in (or the opposite).
It’s funny when a team wins a MAJOR and everyone starts giving a player from that team shit. I’m very sad that such things happen. And most importantly, sooner or later it reaches the team and 100% affects them.
Yes, guys. You can affect teams and the opinions of players. :) Unfortunately, that’s always been true. Sometimes you can boost a player’s confidence, sometimes drag them through the mud. And it’s not always justified.
Concerning the team.
After the latest roster change our performance = complete failure. I’m very sad and sorry that it turned out that way. But life goes on and the future has a lot in store for us (be it together or apart). :)
I’d like to apologize to everyone who has sincerely rooted for us and supported us to the last. I’m sure that each of us has honestly tried their best. But we couldn’t become a team. Once again, there can be many different opinions on why it turned out that way…
I won’t write about that. For myself I can say that I’m not ashamed of my level of play. I tried to give it my all despite all the stress and responsibility that were on me. Yes, I could have done a lot of things better, played better, made better decisions. Everyone makes mistakes. :)
You win as a team and you lose as a team! There are 8 of us in the team: 5 players, a statsman, a coach and a manager. I could tell you a lot of stuff, pull out a lot of dirty laundry, but I won’t.
Why did we lose? I think there are 2 main reasons. (And a looooooot of non-main ones.)
1: We are not a team (and we couldn’t become one in the time that we had). This includes a lot of things. From trust in each other, helping each other, understanding, etc. to simple friendship. We couldn’t find common ground and reach a general consensus (and without that a team can’t function or will function poorly).
2: In the games that we lost, we lost the draft (and right now 70% of your success relies on drafts in Dota). We failed, and we failed miserably.
But neither defeats not big hate can break me. I’ll continue doing what I love and what I enjoy doing. My heart is filled with gratitude for all the people who support me and still cheer for me no matter what.
I don’t know what the future holds, whether I will continue playing in Na’Vi or a different team. But I know that I’ll continue going my own way with my head held high.
It’s funny to see me being compared to Shumacher, LeBron, Kobe, Messi, Maradonna, Putin, Trump or whoever else. Sorry guys, but I’m Danil Ishutin!
I’ll go on living and doing what I love. I’m incredibly grateful for that opportunity. And I hope that all of you can live without envy, bile and hatred and do what you love doing. Or at least try to find the thing that will make you happy in life.
Take care of your health, exercise, spend time with your friends and family. Don’t waste your time on hatred and envy. We only live once.
My plans for the future:
This last year has left me very tired. I’ve worked more and more. Through fatigue and illness.
This has been a very eventful year for Dota. I’m sure that I’m not the only one like that in the community. :) But I’m not complaining! I’ve enjoyed it a lot and I’m even more eager for next season. I’m very sad to not attend TI as a player for two years in a row. But life doesn’t end there. I’ll continue moving towards my goal until my interests change and I want to do something else.
Right now I plan to take a good rest before next season. Heal up. Reset myself emotionally and work even more than before. I don’t know where fate will take me. I haven’t decided yet who I’m going to be playing with and in which team. And right now I’m not even going to think about it. Will I stay in Na’Vi? Time will tell. And that doesn’t depend solely on me. :)
I plan to play matchmaking. Perhaps I’ll stream for you and answer some of the questions that I forgot or decided not to discuss here. Maybe I’ll analyze some of our games.
I hope that the people who know me personally will write me a few words. Anything! Good or bad. There are many things I would still like to discuss with you. But there’s already too many words here.
I’ll say it again: don’t waste your time on hate, envy and similar emotions. You only live once. Sincerely yours, Danya.

Opinion: Long Live the Long RPG

(I am not the writer, but this page is not easily accessible, and I will take it down or another can if this is "violation of terms" but I would like to preserve it somewhere it might be appreciated.)
Opinion: Long live the long RPG Tweet Comments3Jason Killingsworth at 03:20pm March 2 2012 1234Next » Opinion: Long live the long RPG
Is a 100-hour videogame worthwhile? This is the question – a fair one – posed by journalist Michael Thomsen in a recent Slate article cataloguing the various resentments that piled up during his tour of fantasy-RPG epic Dark Souls. “Everyone who has played a game of [Dark Souls’] length knows too well the hollowness that waits at the end,” he writes with an implicit sigh, “brain numb, uncountable weeks and months piled on the trash heap at their backs, and no idea of what to do next. Why did I do that? Why did I keep playing? What was I after? Where am I now?”
Denizens of virtual worlds are entitled to their own existential hand-wringing. And while twig piles of minor gripes burn calmly in various facets of his screed, the one Thomsen has kindled to an infernal roar hinges on this belief that Dark Souls lured him into chasing an objective that offered little reward. His complaint bears the shrill timbre of an aspiring fiancé that’s been conned into spending several months’ wages on a diamond ring, only to realise too late that he’s been sold a hunk of costume jewellery. When it comes to spent time, the no-refund policy is well established.
Thomsen opens his piece by listing a variety of respectable pursuits that could be undertaken in the roughly 100-hour span that Dark Souls asks of players who hope to reach its closing credits. You could read Tolstoy’s classic War And Peace, and a few other novels beside, he suggests. You could take a life-enriching roadtrip from New York to Los Angeles. You could get the jump on learning a foreign language. You could train for a marathon. With his set-up complete, he uncorks his punchline: Or you could playDark Souls. In short, it’s framed to sound like a laughable proposition.
Thomsen may aspire to do nothing more than give Dark Souls a few reciprocal lashes as payback for its cruel gauntlet, but his article pulses with disdain for the videogame past-time in a far broader sense. After all, there are plenty of impeccably designed games that have no completion state. What about somebody who’s spent 100 hours fragging buddies in Call Of Duty multiplayer? Or refining tactics in the puzzle gameDrop7? Or becoming the Yngwie Malmsteen of Guitar Hero’s instrument peripheral?
Thomsen doesn’t bother to cite any narrative-driven games which offer a corrective to Dark Souls’ perceived bloat. He simply offers his assurance that “many do”. Let’s hypothetically say one of those games takes 25 hours to complete. What if somebody loved that game so much she played it from start to finish four times? At what point does the time investment become wasteful? A more honest strap for the Slate article would be: is playing hundreds of hours of videogames ever worthwhile? Dark Souls is simply the unlucky virgin chosen at random to be heaved into the volcano.
I respect Thomsen for having the courage to stick his neck out. Internet discourse is such that anybody who utters a negative word about a popular game franchise immediately gets battered with accusations of trolling fans to net a cheap boost in web traffic. Mounting an assault on a person’s motives is, of course, a cowardly tactic, as there’s no tangible proof any writer can offer to confirm otherwise. It’s a www.itch trial. And like a lawyer attempting to smear a witness’s character, these anonymous plebeians seek only to discredit, not meaningfully interrogate.
Thomsen’s Dark Souls essay warrants a far more exacting response. After all, nobody aspires to squander their life on a frivolous hobby. We must decide if the innumerable hours we spend playing games amount to – allow me to borrow Robert Ashley’s inspired phrasing – a life well wasted. If not, we’re just raking them into a pile like dry leaves and burning them to cinder. Dark Souls is not a concise game, and I hope you’ll forgive the fact that this is not a concise piece of writing.
Literary comparisons I see two core arguments in Thomsen’s piece: 1) games are capable of offering their audience gratification, but ought to be enjoyed in moderation so as not to distract from more enriching artistic works and real-world pursuits, and 2) Dark Souls is an evocative, handsome and needlessly stubborn piece of game design that outstays its welcome by taxing players with dozens of hours of stultifying trial-and-error. I’ll start by countering the larger assertion and then seek to address some of the specific complaints levelled at Dark Souls.
Let’s talk about Tolstoy. Thomsen repeatedly invokes the venerated Russian novelist’s War And Peace to describe a work of art that proves the shallowness and triviality of Dark Souls. This hits below the belt for a multitude of reasons. False equivalence is always a nasty, misleading business. How many times have you heard somebody claim that a particular movie was good but the book from which it was adapted is far better? After my eyes return to their uncrossed position, I’m always tempted to ask, what aspect of the book’s cinematography did you find superior? Was there something more lyrical about the book’s orchestral score? Did the characters in the book offer more believable performances? What about the book’s costume design? Makeup? Lighting?
Though it’s possible to debate whether or not games are art, there’s no room to argue that games are books. They function in dramatically different ways and games arguably become weaker the more slavishly they aspire to mimic the conventions of other mediums. Alan Wake’s protagonist is an author, no less, and yet the game’s delivery of story through manuscript pages remains the most unwieldy ebook that technology has yet devised.
It’s a noteworthy coincidence that Thomsen, in his opening paragraph, talks about Dark Souls distracting its players from potentially spending time learning a foreign language. In practice, Dark Souls does nothing but tutor players in foreign language. Because games vary in their mechanical rules, each one offers a slightly different ‘dialect’ to master. Some languages are quite different. The grammar of Drop7 is as different to the grammar of Assassin’s Creed as Mandarin is to German. To stretch the analogy a bit further, the gameplay language of Gears Of War and Uncharted would be more akin to the nuances separating Spanish and Portuguese. To adore videogames is to be an insatiable linguist.
One final thought on Thomsen’s War And Peace vs. Dark Souls comparison. War And Peace remains one of the definitive pieces of historical fiction. It’s a work of deep significance that’s been studied by literary scholars over several generations. Next to a canonical work of that stature, any cultural artefact – even ones that are praiseworthy in their own right – look shabby and lightweight by comparison. Like when we used to see pictures of Tom Cruise standing next to the statuesque frame of then-wife Nicole Kidman on red carpets.
Is David Simon’s TV series The Wire better than War And Peace? Perhaps not, but who cares? The Wire is still a masterful show, and arguably more relevant to our modern societal context. The Tolstoy contrast is simply meant to shame and belittle. Even worse, it asks us to choose sides. Thomsen pits games against literature and ignores the fact that both are equally valid and rewarding experiences. It encourages the kind of flag-staking tribalism that’s made the so-called ‘console wars’ such a wearying and pointless squabble.
Thomsen hopes to extract from games an intellectual reward (‘meaning’, as he calls it), and preferably at a level that feels commensurate with the time invested. This is an understandable yet altogether cynical measure of play’s value. The subtext of his essay suggests that games are only worthwhile when they resonate on a thematic level, communicating a message that can be parsed and digested as you would the text of a novel.
Play's sake Play is a primal exercise, perfectly capable of being its own reward. When you file a list of additional demands, you become the equivalent of a professional athlete who once loved the game but now only measures its worth based on the salary attached. Or a business person who has forgotten the simple joy of socialising with a stranger and instead sifts all potential conversations through the sieve of their networking value and how the other person might enhance one's career prospects.
Let’s revisit that litany of questions that Thomsen attaches to the end of his hypothetical sprawling videogame: “Why did I do that? Why did I keep playing? What was I after? Where am I now?” When he succumbs to the sweeping generalisation that “everyone” who has played a 100-hour videogame knows such frustration, he makes the wrong-headed assumption that all his readers demand something from games beyond satisfying, engaging play.
Limbo's terrifying spider chase
I’ve played roughly a dozen hours of Ziggurat on my iPhone over the past week and it’s given me no bankable intellectual reward. All it’s given me is a slightly higher level of skill at timing my laser blaster’s charge state and lining up my shots with the alien freaks closing in on my position. My average scores have gone up considerably, which suggests that I’ve become more skilful at negotiating its mechanics. But I certainly haven’t learned anything about what Thomsen calls “the immemorial questions of human nature”. I’ve simply interacted with a fabulously dynamic rule set that begs to be teased apart and admired, just as a physicist delights in gleaning insight into how the clockwork universe segues from tick to tock.
The thematic wrapping of Ziggurat is just costume. The game would be equally fun if all the aliens were represented by different coloured blocks and the spaceman hero was a projectile-firing triangle. The game is a masterpiece because of the alchemy created by the player interactions enabled by its rule set. The aliens and spaceman are just skinned over the top to provide context for why we don’t want the ‘blocks’ to get close enough to touch the ‘triangle’. Here’s a sweeping generalisation that’s actually fair: everybody knows that eye-ball headed aliens kill spacemen.
Speaking to a journalist from Gamasutra, Playdead CEO Dino Patti echoes this point while discussing the development of his studio’s indie hit Limbo. “What was important was to have the gameplay before the graphics went on,” says Patti. “We had the spider chase, which was a killer box – a red killer box, until very late in production. And it was so fun because it was so scary, this red box. If it touched you, you died.”
Thomsen is unable to engage games on their own terms because he seems incapable of seeing beyond the superficial thematic level. Where a critic who appreciates the art of game design leaps off the diving board into a game as mechanically robust as Dark Souls with a pleasant kersploosh, the critic who only knows how to parse theme smacks into the epidermal layer of that experience like a diver hitting the surface of a swimming pool that’s frozen over.
In a baffling turn, Thomsen derides his fellow game critics for expressing pleasure in how well Dark Souls succeeds at – wait for it – being a game. He characterises their response in the following way: “The game is good because playing makes you feel good, and that goodness is amplified by the recent memory of having been very bad at the game, of taking wrong turns and mistiming attacks against zombies. Think of Dark Souls as a self-esteem kit for people who can take marching orders from giant talking snakes called Kingseeker Frampt and Darkstalker Kaathe without withering a little inside.”
The reality is that Dark Souls’ refusal to engage in the rambling exposition and stilted dialogue trees of a Bethesda RPG actually makes it an even purer game experience. When you pause to appreciate such restraint, the notion that Dark Souls is a case study in bloat gets flipped on its head. Creative director Hidetaka Miyazaki offers a master class in economy, stripping back narrative distractions like so much gaudy floral wallpaper.
“Dark Souls takes so long to play,” argues Thomsen, “because it refuses to tell you its basic ground rules, then kills you over and over again for failing to understand them.” It’s a confusing appraisal, given how simple the ground rules appear. You are a mortal adventurer and the bad guys are trying to kill you. There’s nothing ambiguous about a Black Knight rushing toward you with its sword drawn. There’s nothing opaque about what might happen should you tumble from a high precipice. There are a few cheap traps scattered about, I’ll grant you, but they wouldn’t be traps if they didn’t catch you unaware on the first pass. The ground rules may be simple, but the skill required to best your adversaries takes cunning, steady thumbs and a voluminous amount of practice.
Trying times When Thomsen bemoans the stern trial-and-error loop at the heart of Dark Souls, he is quite literally expressing distaste for the gaming artform on its most fundamental level. He asks his reader to imagine the absurdity of reading War And Peace, only to have a recurring gust of wind blow your progress back five pages. “What would be the point in trying?” he asks. To answer his question, you need only reshuffle some of his own words. The trying is Dark Souls’ point.
The words “trying” and “gaming” are always interchangeable. Progression may grind to a halt when you’re revising your strategies for overcoming a given obstacle, but the game itself doesn’t. Each pass constitutes a unique slice of gaming because you are constantly becoming more skilful at negotiating the game’s mechanics. When you read the same five pages of a book, the progression of words fall in precisely the same order. Theoretically, you could attempt Dark Soul’s most ornery boss battle – Smough and Ornstein – a million times and no two attempts would be exactly alike. This dynamism is what makes games living organisms in a way that films and books can never be. So what if it muddies their ability to tell stories?
In the latter half of a sentence name-dropping his homeboy Tolstoy yet again, Thomsen accuses Dark Souls of leaving one’s head “overflowing with useless junk”. (What would he make of Tolstoy's revered contemporary Dostoyevsky who rambles on for ages in The Brothers Karamazov about the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church?) The ‘useless junk’ to which he’s referring is the statistical variations between Dark Souls’ diverse weapons types. If you’re critiquing Dark Souls from a literary framework, these stats seem like superfluous mathematical filler. But if you’re critiquing Dark Souls as a game, these variations can subtly shift the dynamic of play and bend your trajectory closer toward victory’s thrilling bulls-eye.
Thomsen’s attempts at poking holes in Dark Souls reach their facepalm-inspiring nadir when he points out the silliness of the bell tower gargoyles in Dark Souls being susceptible to lightning, given their perch atop the “medieval equivalent of a lightning rod”. In the hierarchy of irksome critiques, the only thing worse than someone talking about how a book was better than its film adaptation is the person who walks out of a Jerry Bruckheimer film and complains that “it wasn’t very realistic”.
The sad thing about Thomsen’s condescending swipes at Dark Souls’ fantasy trappings is that Miyazaki and his team have created one of the least generic medieval-fantasy games in memory. You’d think somebody had sat Thomsen down in front of Hunted: The Demon’s Forge and told him it was Dark Souls.Dark Souls’ world, Lordran, positively teems with inspired design flourishes.
If you curl up in a ball within a giant sparrow’s nest for a minute or so, the mighty bird will mistake you for an egg, pick you up in its talons and fly you to a distant asylum. The endless-night stillness of Darkroot Garden is illuminated by glowing white flowers pushing up through its soggy turf.
Boss enemies in RPGs are typically designed to look either as powerful or as repulsive as possible, however Dark Souls’ Great Gray Wolf Sif begins limping pitifully on three paws once you’ve nearly exhausted his health bar. I delayed putting him out of his misery because I hoped the game might present some merciful alternative, like Abraham dallying killing Isaac before the substitute offering bounded out of the neighbouring thicket. Another boss called Moonlight Butterfly circles you, fanning its silken wings while a gentle siren song plays. Medieval fantasy is a powerful template for games because it’s a flexible template. It lifts the barriers to imagination that real-life simulations impose. It could be said that nothing is more generic than realism.
Rousing chorus Thomsen insists that you can glean everything you need to know about Dark Souls from the first five hours and that the remaining 90 or so “offer nothing but an increasingly nonsensical variation on that experience”. But a perfectly designed gameplay loop is no different than the chorus of a timeless pop song. There’s a reason why choruses repeat. It’s not that we’ve forgotten what it sounds like and need to be reminded by hearing it again. It’s that the really good ones are so memorable that we never want them to stop playing. In the case of Dark Souls’ gothic, minor-key opus, we sing along as if our life depends on it. Because, in a world as poignantly treacherous as Lordran, it does.
emember that list of alternative pursuits Thomsen offered to fill the 100 hours that Dark Souls occupies? The game actually encompasses each one of those pursuits. We’ve already examined how gameplay mirrors the learning of a foreign language. Thomsen mentions that we could use that 100 hours to train for a marathon. Dark Souls’ vertigo-inducing breadth makes it the gaming equivalent of a marathon and each bit of practice – yes, those countless mistimed attacks against zombies – helps us build the endurance and skill needed to reach its finish line.
Reading War And Peace? Dark Souls immerses us in war, and lots of it. But it also lets us taste the most incredible peace – sublime moments of quiet interspersed between the violence like rests in a musical score. Our hero plops cross-legged beside a glowing bonfire and we exhale along with him or her. We pause before descending the staircase into Anor Londo to gaze out over Lordran’s heavenly city. It’s no accident that there’s a cathedral within, or that winged creatures – angelic demons – have carried us to its perch, which could not be scaled with human effort. It refreshes our mind from the memories of hell and fire that resides deep under the earth’s crust where lava flows and horned demons prowl and even death himself – the Gravelord Nito – waits to greet us.
Taking a roadtrip from New York to Los Angeles and back again? Dark Souls invites us on a journey that makes the sights of middle America pale in comparison. If Thomsen were to counter this point, he’d have to discount the worth of virtual experience itself. But he’d do so at great peril, because you can’t marginalise virtual experience without casting aspersion on the life of the mind. Because thoughts and ideas and creativity and inspiration all exist in a virtual space – sparked into immaterial being by the chemistry of our own brains. The return journey between New York and Los Angeles takes you across a continent. Dark Souls invites us to criss-cross a world. To adore games is to be an insatiable wanderer.
When I finished my long trek through Dark Souls, do you know what I did? I clicked on the New Game+ option and began all over again. And I didn’t look sheepishly at the clock on the wall to beg its permission.

[Survey results] Device Survey 4 (2018 Q1) results

Greetings! Hope everyone had a great time with Golden Week, CM campaign and the recent cinfes! (Be sure not to miss out the special gacha set if not done so yet! - Campaign last till June for old players!)
Still hyped with Golden Week? Check out the latest CM for Starlight Stage here!

Background

We opened the forth Device Survey two weeks ago, which we had everyone to pitch in to provide everyone a better idea of how well the game is performing on various devices. With feedback collected from past years, the survey was kept at the shortest without losing out too much critical details that may be crucial when selecting a new device capable of running the game at desirable performance level. With that said, feedback and suggestions are always available so we can improve further as always. Without further ado, let's get into the results!

Overview

This time round, we have gathered 192 submissions, part of which included device information that can be used for reference. A quick rundown of device brand will be as follows (Alphabetical order):

Device brand	Submissions
Apple	45
Asus	3
CAT	1
Google	8
HTC	2
Huawei	7
Lenovo	4
LG	7
Motorola	5
Nokia	2
NVidia	2
OnePlus	14
Razer	1
Samsung	60
Sony	5
Wiko	1
Xiaomi	20
ZTE	3

Note: We may / may not touch on every detail in this thread but just the main point of different aspects. This thread will guide you through the results, to determine what is truly of your concern when getting a new device. For detailed information of the results, please refer to the excel sheet linked at the end of this thread.
This thread will have three main sections:

iOS Platform
Android Platform
Common considerations (Applicable to both platforms)
General questions

iOS Platform

Surveyed devices include:

iPad 2017 / iPad Air 2 / iPad Mini 4 / iPad Pro / iPad Pro 10.5 2017 / iPad Pro (2018) iPhone SE / iPhone 5 / iPhone 5c / iPhone 5s / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPhone 6s/ iphone 6s plus iPhone 7/ iPhone 7 Plus / iPhone 8 / iPhone 8 Plus / iPhone X

Suggested operating system and device supported
As of 2017 September, the game supports iOS 9.0 and above, while may still function on iOS 8.0 and prior. Our players with the iphone and ipad are running iOS ranging from 9.3.2 to 11.3 depending on the update available to respective devices. BandaiNamco also provided their list of iOS platform devices tested and proven capable of executing game:

iPad Air / iPad Air 2 / iPad mini 2 / iPad mini 3 / iPad mini 4 / iPad Pro / iPad Pro 10.5inch / iPad Pro 12.9inch（2nd gen） / iPad Pro 9.7inch / iPad Wi-Fi+Cellular 9.7inch iPhone 5s / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPhone 6s / iPhone 6s Plus iPhone 7 / iPhone 7 Plus / iPhone SE / iPod touch 6th

Device age
As game performance heavily depends on a device's software and hardware capability, we have to ensure that every results submitted has this information (Device age) included. Apple has acknowledge the fact of limiting device performance when a device gets older over time, hence this should be a consideration for players to be aware of when purchasing a device. With that said, all surveyed results should be treated with consideration of their respective device age. For more insights, please refer to the excel results linked at the end of this thread.

Region purchased
Most devices are manufactured and distributed across the world, each with a different model number depending on which region model they fall under. Both software and hardware may vary but does not pose much of an issue for the iOS users at this point of time. This will however be a consideration for Android users which we will discuss later on.

MV / LIVE performance
This is the first time we specified songs to be tested, reason being that many users have feedback that the two songs ( Kawaii make MY day! and Trinity Field) was giving them great difficulties to perform as well as the other songs in StarlightStage. These songs poses major processing load, mainly on rendering and filter when running on 3D RICH. Fortunately, the game is accustomed to run on iOS, most devices of the past year (iPhone 8, iPhone X) are able to achieve satisfiable results on both MV and LIVE on 3D RICH. So which devices are falling out of the herd? We are seeing the iPhone 7 series having difficulties cranking up for 3D RICH, instead they do well on the 3D HIGH, and further behind the iPhone 6 series stays at 3D LOW.

Dropped inputs
Most users on the iOS platform did not experience dropped inputs while playing LIVE, however some have noticed that keeping devices plugged for charging will cause dropped inputs, or when the device is having a tough time processing. The cases are still low in overall, still worth taking a look in detail through the excel link below.

User interface
With the game improving their processing of User interface, older device will start to experience lag to load most of the assets, that is ever growing in size. iOS users with the iPhone 5 seires are starting to feel the sluggish result but iPhone 5S remains viable for the StarlightStage, as listed by BandaiNamco. If you are considering getting an iOS device, we will recommend looking for something above the iPhone 7 series to have a little more buffer in the years to come.

Game crashes
This is an issue that may be led by app imperfection or device capability. This is observed on various devices without a trend, that could be isolated issues. Trigger points are however common as listed below:

Scrolling through songs
Loading / Liking / Customizing rooms
Long play time

Uncommon issues noticed
Once again we ask you what uncommon issues you encountered. Note that the issues mentioned may be isolated case or user caused. If any of these will affect your decision on getting the device, you may want to search the internet for more details regaring that issue.

Device	Uncommon issues experienced (summarised)
iPhone X	It’s the only iM@S rhythm game that hasn’t been optimized for the iPhone X display :(
iPhone 8	Screen is grippy, makes slides hard if not holding phone
iPhone 7 Plus	Default recording...won't pick up any sound at all if the quality is too high ... twinkletail mv, no sound will be recorded unless the quality is set to the lowest 3d setting
iPhone 6 Plus	After finishing live and press "next" or "continue", game sometimes crashes.
iPhone 6	MVs on Rich 3D mode lags...the first time... Repeating the MV a few times lowers the amount of lag and frame drops, but there's still occasional frame drop with when the screen pans...Watching more than 3 MVs at a time heats up my device...

Do players recommend their device to others?
Most players on the iOS platform enjoy and recommend the device they are using. There are however handful of users who thinks you can get something better that what they have tried. They are mostly on the older generation devices recommending users to get something newer. For more details, check out the link below.

Android Platform

Just like the previous years, we get a whole lot of brands for Android platforms, you probably will want to take more time to go through these brands if you are looking for an Android device.

Surveyed devices include:

Asus Zenfone 3 / Zenfone Go / Zenpad 3s 10 CAT S50 Google Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL / Pixel XL HTC One E9+ / One M8 Huawei p smart / Nexus 6P / P10 / P8 / P9 lite / P9 Plus (VIE-AL10) Lenovo S1LA40 / Tab 4 Plus 8 Inch TB-8704V / Tab 4 TB-X304F / Vibe K6 LG G2 Mini / G5 / G6 / Nexus 5X / V20 Motorola Moto G5 / Moto Z / Moto Z Play / Droid Maxx / Moto G 3rd Generation Nokia X2 DS / Nokia 6 (2017) NVidia Shield K1 Tablet OnePlus one / One Plus X / 5T / 5 / 3T / 3 Razer Phone Samsung A5 / A7 (2017) / Note 3 / Note 4 / Note 5/ Note 8 / S4 / S5 / S6 / S6 Edge (SM-g925l) / S7 / S7 SM-G930 / S7 SM-G930t / S7 edge SM-935A (AT&T) / S8 / S8 SM-G950FD / S8+ / S8+ SM-G955FD / S9 / S9+ / Tab S2 / Tab S3 / Tab S3 / Grand / Tab A 8.0 / J7 Prime / Grand2 Sm-G7102t / Grand Prime / Tab S 10.5 / Sony Xperia XZ / Xperia XZ Premium / Xperia Z Wiko Ridge Xiaomi Max 2 / Mi A1 / Mi4 / Redmi 4S / Redmi 5 Plus 4GB / ram variant (MEG7) / Redmi Note 3 / Redmi note 4 (3GB Ram) / Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon 3/32 / 4A/5a (carbon copy but aluminium) / Mi5 / Redmi 5 Plus / Redmi 4A / redmi note 4 / Mi 5s ZTE Smart Ultra 6 / Axon 7

Suggested operating system and device supported
As of 2017 September, BandaiNamco has list out the recommended devices and OS version for Android as shown below:

Android 7.1.1 ～ 7.1.2 / 7.0 / 6.0 ～ 6.0.1 / 5.1 ～ 5.1.1 / 5.0 ～ 5.0.2 / 4.4 ～ 4.4.4 / 4.2-4.2.2

As for device, we will not look what was provided by BandaiNamco, as they are all japan variant and telco models.

Device age
As game performance heavily depends on a device's software and hardware capability, we have to ensure that every results submitted has this information (Device age) included. With that said, all surveyed results should be treated with consideration of their respective device age. For more insights, please refer to the excel results linked at the end of this thread.

Region purchased
Most devices are manufactured and distributed across the world, each with a different model number depending on which region model they fall under. Samsung is famous for their Snapdragon / Exynos model, Huawei with their Kirin, so on. The support for the chips may take more time than others, which players should take note. For your reference, u/AidoruRisemara posted a thread regarding this very issue for the Samsung S9 / S9+ with Snapdragon released in US / China. Hence, please check the survey results to confirm the region each device is purchased from.

MV / LIVE performance
This is the first time we specified songs to be tested, reason being that many users have feedback that the two songs ( Kawaii make MY day! and Trinity Field) was giving them great difficulties to perform as well as the other songs in StarlightStage. These songs poses major processing load, mainly on rendering and filter when running on 3D RICH. A quick glance at the performance for MV, we notice older models have difficulty going anywhere above 3D LOW.

Device Brand	Model
LG	G2 Mini
Motorola	Moto G 3rd Generation
Razer	Razer Phone
Samsung	Galaxy S4 / S5 / J7 Prime
Wiko	Ridge
Xiaomi	4A/5a (carbon copy but aluminium)

Besides those above, we are looking at 11 LOW 55 HIGH 73 RICH devices, spread across the different brands we surveyed. This is understandable since Rendering and Filter on RICH was known to give most devices a run for the performance.
When it comes to LIVE performance, we once again see a dip on capable devices, close to 10% surveyed devices are stuck at 2D graphics standard, leaving 27 LOW 60 HIGH 42 RICH devices. To overcome this issue, the game recommends players to disable tap effects in Live Settings as it was known that this will greatly reduce the processing load, giving the device more juice to work on the graphic rendering.

Dropped inputs
Unlike iOS platform, we are seeing over 38% Android devices facing drop inputs cases, spreading across the brands surveyed. As severity of each device varies, will recommend users to read through the list to get a better idea of how each device fair for this aspect.

User interface
Most users are not facing any issues on interface loading, some mention having issues with loading menus. This may be due to various reasons, such as network speed, and storage if one formats external as internal storage to put away game data. Check on your SD card CLASS when purchasing external memory. The game recommends internal storage for the best performance, and perform cache clear if needed.

Game crashes
Similar to interface loading, most users are doing fine on this, and for those who did encounter crashes are mostly at title screen, when device is establishing connection with server to check on data. Some also claim to crash when going from other apps to StarlightStage. Please check device background limitations that may have force terminate StarlightStage in the background, due to lack of memory or lost of connection.

Uncommon issues noticed
Many of the issues mention tied closely to the device features and performance, such as the followings:

Device Brand and model	Issues encountered
Samsung S9	Turning Dolby Atmos on will cause noticable hold sound effect glitch (the sound will occur later on with much louder volume). The issue still occurs with Atmos turning off but very rarely.
Samsung S8	At the beginning of songs some notes won't have hitsounds. It happens all the time, but only at the start.
Xiaomi Rednote4	FPS drop when playing for more than 1h (device heat up)
OnePlus 3	Has some slight desync (chart goes ahead) if the phone is not rebooted for a while

Be sure to check the list for full details and device conditions.

Do players recommend their device to others?
This half half divide is expected for such range of devices surveyed, will leave this reading to you, for your device interest.

Common considerations (Applicable to both iOS and Android platform)

3.5mm Audio port / Audio latency
It's been awhile since Apple started releasing devices without the 3.5mm audio port, instead having two other options (Adapter / wireless). This has led many other companies to drop their ports too, following the mind blown movement.
Regardless of brands, audio latency can be overcomed by other methods for audio playback on device wirelessly. However, what we want to achieve for StarlightStage gaming experience requires technology beyond that capability. Just like any other rhythm game, StarlightStage requires minimal response time from a physical input touch to basically, play the game well. Players can try making a compensation with the time adjustments in Live Setting, well, if you are fine with that. We do not have excessive amount of users feedback with their wireless earphones but you will notice the commend trend, most of those in the subject has two timings or a even a range of values.

Device	Wireless earphones	Time adjustment
iPhone	Bose - soundlink Bluetooth headphones	SE 18 with headphones, 0 without headphones
Pixel 2 XL	Sennheiser Momentum Free	24, normally 20
Razer	Zolo Liberty+	-17 or -42 w/ Zolo Liberty+

Processing / Heating
With 100 No heat / 75 15~30mins / 15 under 15mins, we are getting half the number of devices suffering from overheating under 30mins of gameplay. One advice to remedy this issue is to ensure background apps are closed, to give your device more processing juice to run the game without getting overheated immediately!
Devices overheating below 15 minutes gameplay:

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017 / iPhone 6 / iPhone SE, A1723 (MLM62J/A)
Asus Zenfone 3
HTC One E9+ / One M8
One Plus X / 3T (A3010)
Galaxy S4 / S7 / S6 / Sm-G7102t
Sony Xperia Z
Xiaomi Redmi 4A

Shake Select
Gyro, one of the easiest feature to miss out when not paying attention when we seldom use it. Always good to have it checked to ensure you are ready for any new features that require this functionality.

General questions

Which is your favourite MV?
Not really sure if everyone just choose the MV they last watched, we are once again back to TF and KMMD for this device survey! Top 5 votes with draws shown below!

Song	Votes
Trinity Field	27
Kawaii make MY day!	17
美に入り彩を穿つ	15
Twinkle Tail	8
Happy new Yeah!	6
Souyoku no Aria	6
∀NSWER	6

What room theme do you wish to see next?
What can I say?.... Let's submit these suggestions. Here are some of the submissions. I personally will like to get a recording studio!

A sailor theme, with like boat equipment and nautical stuff arcade room BaLounge Theme Baseball Stadium Dojo Game Centre (Arcade) Hanami Hot Springs/Public Bath where idols can actually soak. It needs more shiitakes Magical Girl Theme. Magician Shop Maybe a haunted house or something~ Nature-themed set Outdoor cherry blossom to make use of the invisible walls practice room Racing or pit crew theme. Recording studio Summer matsuri

What game feature do you wish to see next?
Seeing some of these after our previous feedback / suggestion thread sure makes me want to add them to it. Will get working on it when I have time again.

1. Implementation of the Kirarin Robo Haruna Minigame, MV Fast-Forward/Rewind Feature 3D mode in dorm/housing a button to choose the card that you want as your homescreen (without having to use the card in your room/team) A repeat button after playing a song to play it again without going back to song select. Ability to see friends event ranking (with options to hide it) Characters actually interacting (like chatting) with each other in rooms. Costumes: Ability to select any of an idol's unlocked costumes when using their different cards(e.g. can use Uzuki's SSR costumes if using an Uzuki SR). i think adding alternate colors to ssr outfits, like they have in mirishita, could be very cool, and make getting dupe ssrs less disappointing Live2D for the idols Master+ for stamina, or Master+ Live Party Multiple choice questions similar to older iM@S games and Shinim@s. Used to help increase number of fans. Some kind of "guild", something like the Lounge in Theater Days. Some QoL update such as detecting which cards we already awakened, feeding the idol affection candies outside of rooms

Producer Level and PRP
If we were to plot a graph with these figures we are probably at the median!

Level range	count
2~50	6
51~100	46
101~150	64
151~200	50
201~250	20
251~300	4

PRP range	count
<500	4
501~1000	66
1001~1200	41
1201~1400	48
1401~1600	21
1601~1800	7
>1800	0

What do you hope to see for the next collaboration?
No one mentioned Avengers. Producer, I don’t feel so good...

All I can think of is Aikatsu ~ Photo on Stage ~ lol BanG Dream so that we can have Roselia cover Trinity Field and it would basically fit along side ONENESS :miku: Characters from the same franchise (765, Million, SideM). (not gonna lie I'm secretly still sold on CG x Tekken from a past survey, plus a Tamami, Ayame, Hitomi, and Yao FueiFuei (+ someone else?) fighting unit would be an event I'd T1 for and yes I know half of this unit is unvoiced a man can dream ok)" Costumes or other wearable cosmetic for idols beyond usual song/room items. More note skins would be great (taiko note skin would be great if it didn't replace idol faces) Either Neptunia or Azur Lane, and the return of the GBF collabs. "I would like something crazy.A part of me really wants to see a FGO event just to see how each idol plays (And hopefully a berserker class Syoko/caster class Shiki).But being a bit more realistic....I would really like a Taiko no Tatsujin collab.There are a LOT of songs I would like to see some idol singing songs from that game and seeing them on Deresute wil make me even happier" IM@S x Super GT. Build a Super GT car using a girl of IM@S that gets voted on very other season. Like Racing Miku but with IM@S. okay this is probably really stupid and very niche but hear me out: we need an official evangelion and deremas crossover collab so we can get some nice art of the girls in plugsuits. get in the robot, nono. Priconne so that I can pull idols in that game Shadowverse crossover Shinymas, Macross Symphogear.... Ahem.. I mean - SYMPHOGEEEEAAAAAR! Tales series TOKYO 7TH SISTERS COLLAB PLS Uma Musume Pretty Derby! (once the game gets released). A GranBlue collab where they finally release fantasy themed cards in Vocaloid

What kind of new event type do you wish to see?
Well, I handpick a few, let's work towards these...

1 vs 1 PvP A PvP type event in which the game gives every producer the same team and deactivates skills so that it only comes down to skill. If you keep winning you increase your tier and compete against better producers. Low tier players should still be able to get the event cards. An event with more interaction with other producers, like live party. Boss fight (similar in mobamas / greemas) where everyone cumulates LIVE scores as damages Competitive Score match Event that encourages competition between players. Event that gives dress for high tiers Faction event pick a faction and fight the other factions by accumulating pts. Factions(Cute, Cool, Passion), Prizes determined by the highest accumulated faction pts. Good question, what about an event which is similar to LIVE PARTY, but working together to score and get better rewards or slight chance of a single ticket. Idol Sports festival - players split into CuCoPa teams and fight for rewards Maybe an event that makes you play song according to the event story?....but I think that would be too story-based so...it'll probably wont work... Maybe an expanded "raid" type event similar to the New Year one using the map like Parade type with area missions more multiplayer dependent event More non-ranking event types More of a side event, but something similar to the mini-games from April Fools. Multiplayer Multiplayer score battle Something involving puchis; something that can include unvoiced idols Something that alters the live part, like the battle part in the 2018 April Fools Kirarin Robo event Story mode like llsif RPG-like. Refer to T7S Raid events. Score Match like SIF. Other producers face each other to see who scores higher to get event points. Similar to Live Party, but instead of competing against 4 people for a high score, you work together to achieve a certain goal, such as total score, total combo, etc. (ref. Nakayoshi Match in LLSIF).

What do you hope to see for 3rd Anniversary Campaign?
How many "Free" can we find here?

10 free pulls per day. 10 pulls 2-3 new voices (Layla please). New free outfits for all idols (wafuku style) "A few things:Bonus: Free 10 pulls, 2500 jewels, and a lottery seem to be a given, so I will instead hope for a Limited SSR Ticket where you can choose any limited SSR. The back can be 6000 Yen and even without a scout that comes with it and I'd still buy it 100%, though this could create a power imbalance if everyone just tickets Princess cards. Still, some implementation of that would be nice (missing Lim. Asuka 2 years in a row hurts)Event: I like Live Grooves but I also like pain, so I was thinking of a Kaede Tier, Uzuki Points event that features NewGens + Kaede and Nana, which of course may sound very odd but I would just love to see how high T1 ends up being(ok realistically I just want an event with Rin and Syoko in the same unit, so I hope for that to happen)Feature: I hope we can choose splash screens because I fear that no song will be able to surmount to Illusionista in terms of an anniversary song, but also it would be neat to be able to revisit the splash screens that appeared during the events (perhaps only if you participated in them?). This can even be for the ""off-season"" in-between events, since they release splash screens for each event and it would be a waste if you always kept your screen at, say, Trinity Field." A really cool new outfit and lots of free pulls! a retweet campaign like t7s where you can get in game items etc A ticket that allows to pick any SSR, but this time including limited SSRs also (excluding Cinfest idols though, that would be too much) Able to pick limited SSRs at 2500 jewels just like in 4th Anniversary of Granblue Fantasy, that would be the best. Another free costume for all idols Any content for the 6th election winners or 7th election unvoiced winners (I have hope that there will be a few unvoiced girls, even if they are unvoiced for this content initially). Anything fun Anything would be welcome :) arrival of SSR4 At least daily free 10-pulls Commu story(ies) involving as much idols as possible Daily 10 pulls Double Princess Gatcha, New Gen 4 free 10 pulls Free 10 pulls during, login bonus, boosted rates for drops, free choice ticket, paid choice ticket free 10 pulls o-o Free 10 pulls, lim scouting ticket (paid) Free 10 pulls! free 10 roles daily Free 10 rolls Free 10 rolls Free 10 rolls during cinfes Free 10 rolls... Free 10-pulls Free 10-pulls and free jewels. That Limited paid ticket. Maybe a guaranteed perma SSR ticket for free? Free 10x rolls, and a (paid) ticket to scout past lim SSR and SR idols Free 30 draw for a week or selectable 3 ssrs Free daily 10 pulls and/or a scouting ticket that includes limiteds Free gacha rolls, new outfit, new ticket pack Free gems free jewels Free jewels / roulette free 10pull, limited SSR ticket??? Free jewels, Rin. Free live viewing oh wait I'm not in japan FeelsBadMan Free pulls Free Pulls Free pulls! Suptix! Kuji? New MV/event (maybe new 7th election event if it doesn't take as long as the 6th election stuff did...)! Old MV revamps! Revival of the unvoiced idol election, but in deresute too! (Note: a lot of these are just pipe dreams) Free Roles, A lot of Free crystals, new songs, and more voiced characters. Free rolls Free Select SSR Ticket... (it will be another lottery thing and I will not win anything worth again). Free SSR tickets free SSRS Free star jewels and to be able to pick 1 perm ssr Free star jewels to save for lim revivals because free rolls give me dupe SSRs (130+ dupes and counting rip) Free stuff Free ten pulls Free Ten Pulls Free tenpulls Free Tentpoles freeeeee gachaaaa Fumika, Kaede, Miyu i hope unvoiced girls get some love, somehow i'd love to see the return of th free pulls and new dresses!! Just great stuff Kaede "LE scout for cards 1-2 years older (not current year LEs), but everyone is asking for this. More dynamic movements for MVs (∀NSWER, J純情Midnight伝説, etc) Localization included into the game like GBF, maybe? (not a separate release) Even if it's delayed Something more to grind for" like new year, free ten pulls counted by community participation Like the 2nd anniversary, but better, if thats even possible heh. Free pulls, lottery, etc. Lim/Cinfes choice ticket (or just give me Sachiko2 already) Limited cards select ticket. Limited pull ticket Limited SSR choice ticket. limited ssr tickets, free draw roulette like gbf Limited Suptix Lots of gems lots of star jewels *_* Lottery for more jewels and tickets Maybe a limited SSR Ticket? Miria tier reward in that time's STARLIGHT MASTER (won't place some hope in the composearranger being something like Shinozaki Ayato and Tachibana Ryousuke a.k.a Massive New Krew) (well, the reason why these is technically Massive New Krew did the Himouto! Umaru-chan R OP so it might work if they went the same way with the OP or like Hige Driver and Powerless) Moar jewels Moar jewels More costumes More draws! More dresses and one guarenteed selectable SSR in a 10-pull! (Every few days in the anniversary event if possible!) more free 10 pulls More free gems, more free 10-pulls, more interesting features, increasing SSR gacha rate permanently, less bad luck with lotteries. More free jewels, free pulls More free pulls and a Chihiro SSR (Kappa) More free pulls www More free rolls, lol More free stuff More free stuff, maybe a random SSR ticket for all players more gems More jewels More Lottery Tickets! or Free Pulls once again. More outfits and other free stuff. Chihiro added as an idol would be nice. More Star Jewels for free More star jewels, always more star jewels More star jewels? More unvoiced girl love. More use of 3D sprites and upgrade the game engine if possible (sounds hard hahaha) More Yoshino More Yoshino n/a NANA. or, let's have another Rika limited. Jk, but I want a really amazing song that can outdo Illusionista and Beyond The Starlight. Also, one that doesn't get tiring to listen to every day. Illusionista gets boring to hear whenever you open up the game, despite me being a big fan of the song. Oh, and free star jewels! Let's pull out all the stops! New costume(s), new game features new free costume, new song and daily 10 pulls during cinfes New outfits!! New song with an MV to match illusionista! or Yes! Party Time!! Noa getting an SSR card Not getting 6th (or lower) in the lottery... again One SSR for each type Paid ticket for limited SSRs, maybe? Pinch the multi 10-oull roulette from Granblue - they won't be using it for a while I hope Real-life prize campaign similar to 2222万 one ROULETTE PULLS Seal Shop, auto sell Single payed Star Jewels pick from the limited SSR pool (haha, keep dreaming...) Something exciting and new. Something for dupe ssrs something fun SSR Rate UP Surprise voice Surprise voices. The most angelic smile from Support-Chan (Yeh,that's how I call Chihiro) UI Overhaul

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Conclusion

Well, that marks the end of our 4th Device survey! Once again wana thank everyone who participated in this survey to help everyone out with device replacement! I hope everyone had their fun and information with this survey, be sure to throw in any feedback / suggestion for how the next device survey can be improved! With all that, I hope everyone will have a great weekend ahead!
Tata
Link to survey result (Feel free to download the excel sheet to perform filter.

update

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best iphone rpg games that don't need internet video

Best Offline Games for iPhone to Play Without WiFi. There are times when you don’t have access to WiFi and you don’t have an active internet connection as well. Games that do not require an internet connection or mobile data are of great help in such times. Games like Temple Run and Subway Surfers are popular as hell, but the style of art displayed in those games is boring at best and downright bad in some cases. Run Sausage Run, on the other hand, has a 2D cartoonish style that is bright, vivid, and looks fantastic on smartphone displays. Fans of the role-playing game (RPG) genre know how engrossing the gameplay and storylines can be. Some RPGs require you to be online for everything to work as expected. If you don't have access to an internet connection but want to loot a dungeon or hunt down a boss, here's a list of offline RPG games. Before going towards the categories, I am going to discuss the ten best no internet games that will be from different genres. Top 10 Best Free Offline Games For Android & iOS There are loads of offline games for Android and iOS available via Google Play Store, and Apple’s App Store that does not require internet. Today, we’re going to show you some of the best free RPG games that don’t require a WiFi connection to play. Be sure to follow along below! NOVA Legacy. One of the top offline RPGs is NOVA Legacy. These are the best iPhone games that don't need WiFi. Temple Run 2 (Action) Temple Run 2 is one of the most popular endless runner games for the iOS. This app will easily keep you entertained on a long trip without an internet connection. Just keep running and watch the time fly! Download Temple Run 2 - Imangi Studios, LLC Angry Birds (Strategy) 20 Best Offline iphone (iOS) Games to Play Without Internet (2020) Are you looking for a great little handful of games to play offline on iOS iPhone mobile devices? All 20 of the following games can be played without an internet connection and offer a great gaming experience. Baldur’s Gate was a landmark RPG, developed by BioWare in 1998 for Windows and Mac. Upon its release, the game was hailed as single-handedly reviving the market for role-playing games on PC, and now, you can finally play it on your iPhone or iPad in a brand new Enhanced Edition.This new touch-friendly version of Baldur’s Gate helps to improve managing real-time combat, with added gestures And for those moments, we have the solution for you: a list of the best offline iOS games you can play without WiFi in 2020. Usually, it’s the premium games (those you have to pay for) that give you the option to play without an internet connection, because they don’t need to rely on microtransactions or ads in order to generate revenue. 11 Best Games That Don’t Need Wifi or Internet Connection 1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. The latest of the COD series, Black Ops 4 is a game that can be played without Wi-Fi, and one of the games built to allow a more aggressive play that is, of course, a bit more engaging.

best iphone rpg games that don't need internet top

25 Best RPGs of This Generation You NEED TO PLAY - YouTube

Register now at whatoplay.com: https://bit.ly/2yZFomFhttps://whatoplay.com/ios/free/ - Complete list of all free-to-play iOS games.Our updated ranking of the... The RPG genre has seen some truly wonderful games releasing over the last few years. In fact roleplaying games take up a large portion of the gaming market.T... Ranking of the best free-to-play iOS mobile games that you can play even without an internet connection; the top-rated free offline iPhone, iPad & iPod games... How to play game without download and without wifi Faizan Ali. ... Don't like this video? ... Android iPhone Simple Easy Quick! 2020 - Duration: 10:11. TM Videos Recommended for you. 10:11. Hi guys, In this video I want to show Play 10 Top Free Games That Don't Need Wifi or Internet Best Offline Games for Android..!! I hope every gamer love th... I have picked 25 best iOS & Android RPG offline that you can play without internet connection. Every gamer loves to play those games wherein he plays a role and accepts heavy challenges to complete. New best high graphics offline (play without internet no WiFi needed) games for android & iOS 2018 l VinIsHere Brought y'all some well made beautiful looking offline games on mobile hope you find ... Business Inquiries - [email protected] Click show more to see links below -----... RPGS are lengthy and compelling experiences. Here are the ones we think are worth playing attention on Android & iOS.💣 Subscribe for more Games!http://bit.l... Top 10 The Best Offline Games For Android & iOS in 2018 No internet required Gamerzed TV The best games are always at the end of the video! so watch full Introduced on Google Play in July ...

11 Best Games That Don't Need Wifi or Internet Connection

best iphone rpg games that don't need internet

best iphone rpg games that don't need internet - win

Flourish: sequence 1 and 2

[Discussion] Using an Ipad 1 in 2020(IOS 5.1.1); games and apps and possible youtube fix listed below

What can you do with an Ipad1 in 2020?

Legacy Ipad 1; Looking for ios apps

Things to Consider first (skip if you are an IOS tech chad):

Games/APPS and more!

Apps for Ipad 1:

Getting YOUTUBE to work

Games and Apps:

Master List (check each link for more games)

My personal list

First build! $1500-$1800 PC gaming budget not super strict on the budget.

[Discussion] Using an Ipad in 2020 (IOS 5.1.1); List of games and apps below

Legacy Ipad 1; Looking for ios apps

Things to Consider first (skip if you are an IOS tech chad):

Games/APPS and more!

Usable apps that work on an Ipad 1:

Games and Apps:

Master List (check each link for more games)

My personal list

Be Yourself, and Try to Have a Good Time: The Ultimate Guide for New Nintendo Switch Owners

Accessories

Screen Protectors

Carrying Cases

Additional Controllers

Headphones and Earbuds

Charging Solutions

Portable Docks

Miscellaneous Accessories

Common Questions

You should buy physical if you:

You should buy digital if you:

Other Information

Translation of Dendi's TwitLonger post. <3

Opinion: Long Live the Long RPG

[Survey results] Device Survey 4 (2018 Q1) results

Background

Overview

iOS Platform

Android Platform

Common considerations (Applicable to both iOS and Android platform)

General questions

Conclusion

update

best iphone rpg games that don't need internet video

best iphone rpg games that don't need internet top

25 Best RPGs of This Generation You NEED TO PLAY - YouTube