Let’s understand the evolution of Xbox Consoles. Xbox generations and models were released from 2001 till 2020. 

1. First generation 

The first generation Xbox was released between the years 2001 – 2009. It was introduced in the market on November 15, 2001, in North America.  Also in Japan on February 22, 2002. And finally on March 14th, 2002 in Australia and Europe. 

It was the first step of Microsoft into the gaming console market. It competed against Sony’s PlayStation 2, Sega’s Dreamcast and Nintendo’s GameCube. It was the first console introduced by an American Company. Which then made many competitors. The Xbox name is given because of DirectX Box, which is a reference to Microsoft’s graphics API, DirectX. The Xbox Live service allowed players to play games offline as well as online. The integrated Xbox Live service launched in November 2002. Xbox Live has a subscription and broadband only connection. Xbox succeeds because of better servers. It has features such as a buddy list and also has milestone titles like Halo 2. Halo 2 was released in November 2004. Thus Halo 2 became the most popular and best selling Xbox video game. 

The number of units sold worldwide is 24+ million. The Launch price was $299 (US).

2. Second generation 

The second generation Xbox 360 was released between the years 2005 – 2016. It was released as the successor of the original Xbox. It competed with Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii. Xbox 360 was officially announced on MTV on May 12, 2005. As soon as its release it sold out quickly worldwide except in Japan. The retail configurations of the core Xbox 360 model were offered over its lifetime, varying the amount of RAM and internal storage offered. Later two Xbox revisions were released. First was the Xbox 360 S, known as the Slim one. The second revision was Xbox 360 E, released in 2013. The number of units sold worldwide is 84 million. The Launch price was $299 (US). 

3. Third generation 

The third generation Xbox One was released between the years 2013 – 2020.

The Xbox One was announced on May 21, 2013. It has an emphasis on internet based features and has the ability to record and stream. Also has the ability to integrate with a settop box. So that you can watch cable or satellite TV through a console with an enhanced guide interface with Kinect based voice control.

The number of units sold worldwide is 48.69 million. The Launch price was $499 (US).

4. Fourth generation Xbox Consoles

The fourth generation Xbox Series X and Series S were released between the years 2020 – present. The two Xbox models are simply named Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S which was launched on November 10, 2020. The Xbox Series X and Series S are high and low-end versions compared to the Xbox One X and Xbox One S models. The Series S is a digital only unit with less graphic processing power. The number of units sold worldwide is 3.5 million. The Launch price was $499 (US). 

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There’s a new survival-themed Xbox game on the block. Obsidian Entertainment has recently released Grounded in July 2020 for early access. But if you’ve missed your chance to access it don’t fret – full release is expected in 2021! So you don’t have too long to wait. It features action-packed and adventured filled gameplay whilst you endure a strenuous fight for survival. One thing is for sure, this game isn’t for the weak-hearted. This review will give you all the information you need so you know what to expect when purchasing this game. If you haven’t already got your hands on a copy, after reading this you’ll want to.

Theme

Anyone remember the popular 1989 science fiction American film ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’? by Joe Johnston. Well, this Xbox game undoubtedly shares a similar concept. You will wake up on an unknown island – well that’s what you think initially. But you’ll soon realise that you’re in fact in your back garden. And you’ve been shrunken to the size of a pea. Everything around you looks gigantic (even ants). Unfortunately, the only machine that can transform you back is broken. You’ll become prey in the eyes of the usual garden critters that seem insignificant… yikes! But don’t worry if you’re quick and smart enough you can escape without being harmed and fix the machine. Luckily you’ve got a trusted robot companion who will give you tips and tricks on what to do. He will suggest building shelter for protection and many other helpful tips along the way.

The adventure that you embark on will be filled with danger so you’ll need to find tactics to survive. The game features an incredible design with beautiful 3D graphics and animations. All of the colours of the garden blend together beautifully. So despite the gameplay being rather terrifying at times, it’s also very aesthetically pleasing. The slogan of the game is ‘go big, or never’ and once you start to play you’ll understand why. You either need to fight for survival by utilising your weapons and destroying all man-eating bugs that you encounter. Otherwise, you will simply die. The choice is yours and the outcome of the game will all depend on your actions. So, have you got the fight? Grab your weapons you’ll definitely need them for protection as you get closer to returning to your original form.

Gameplay

You can play a single play or multiplayer. So if you want to play alongside a friend or two you can! Within this game, there are four characters which each have their own characteristics and dialogue. At the beginning of the game, you will be able to choose out one character from Max, Willow, Pete or Hoots. You will then be able to choose which level of the game from ‘mild’, ‘medium’, ‘whoa!’ or ‘creative’. We suggest mild for first-time players (or younger children)! You need to head towards the gigantic binoculars to get back to your original size. But of course, you need to face many obstacles first. Pick up anything you see, it will be added to your backpack. And you might need it at any point throughout your adventure.

The best thing about Grounded that pretty much anyone can play it. A lot of Xbox games are off-limit to younger children because of the graphic and violent gameplay. However, in this game, you will just be up against gigantic bugs which definitely isn’t very realistic. It’s a game for the adrenaline and thrill-seekers. If you love survival-themed typed games then check out some of Obsidian Entertainment other games such as The Outer Worlds and Armored Warfare. And if you fancy an added adrenaline rush you can even check out casinosjungle.com for survival-themed games for cash. You will find games such as Vampire Senpai which you can practice in free mode for. What are you waiting for? fill your adventure-seeking fantasies.

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The nostalgia.

You can go back to the old maps and levels that you used to replay for hours and hours. The School maps, the competition levels, and even Downtown and Downhill levels bring back all of the nostalgia that you are looking for.

The new stuff.

There are not only brand new ways that you can customize your skateboard and character, but there are new characters entirely. You can now choose to play as one of the many new characters. You can enhance your skills as a skateboarder as you play through each level and complete every challenge.

The updated graphics.

Tony Hawk has been a part of all of our lives at one point. These two games specifically have been in our lives for decades. However, they were made a very long time ago. The graphics and detailing from the original Tony Hawk pro skater games are definitely outdated by this point in life. But all of that is fixed. The colors, the graphics, the detailing on both the characters and boards, and the world around you, have been updated to match the quality and style of gaming that we all have and expect to see now.

Quick timed challenges make it easy to pick up and put away.

If you want to skate around for 10 minutes and 10 minutes only, having this game makes that easy. With other skating or Tony Hawk games, you have all the time in the world to complete the challenges that you need to complete. But in this game, you have about 2 minutes each time you press play. This way, you can always keep track of how much time has passed.

Having 2 minutes to complete as much as you can is fun, but that is not the only thing the time is useful for. You can easily pass the game back and forth by having the 2 minute timer. You and your friends can gather around and swap the controller after your time runs out. No one can be greedy and take all of the game time when you have about 2 minutes on each level.

In conclusion…

This game is fantastic. If you have ever played a Tony Hawk game, you should strongly consider buying this revival. If you haven’t ever played a Tony Hawk game, you should still consider it. It’s unlike any of the games previously released and you will be skating for hours.

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Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most anticipated games of the year. It’s easy to see why people’s interest was piqued when the game was first announced in 2012. Sandbox type games reached a new level of maturity with Witcher 3. But the genre has been heavily focused on medieval, old west, fantastic post-apocalyptic and modern day settings. Cyberpunk 2077 offers something totally new for the genre. Instead of those familiar settings one can finally step out into a new cyberpunk styled environment. This is the first time that a cyberpunk setting has received a full sandbox treatment. So how does the final product hold up to all of this promise?

A fully realized vision

The answer is that Cyberpunk 2077 fulfills everything people have wished for. The first thing that a player will notice is the gorgeus aesthetics. The xbox is using every bit of power to render rich landscape and detailed characters. One of the more interesting points is how the art design compliments the cyberpunk setting.

Cyberpunk can be thought of as a retro-futurism which gazes forward from the 1980s. The art design of Cyberpunk 2077 reflects this with many nods to the art style of that period. The game never pushes aesthetics to the point of satire or parody. But one will continually see nods to the decade through neon lighting effects.

The 80s aesthetic is also reflected in seemingly minor touches which result in complex world building. One will see posters, neon signs, graffiti and other adornment which speaks to the 80s. These design choices are never just following the trends of the time. Instead it’s usually a clever reimagining of those aesthetics for a new futuristic landscape. The end result is a world which feels real. The game’s imagery evokes some of the feelings of the 80s without disturbing immersion in the larger narrative.

A world filled with people always feels more immersive

The world of Cyberpunk 2077 is filled with countless items to look at. But the game is even more lush in character design. Witcher 3 stood above most open world games when it comes to NPCs. The designers have more than lived up to that standard with the NPCs in Cyberpunk 2077.

The NPCs usually feel like real people living within a world of grit and neon. Speaking to characters doesn’t dramatically interrupt the flow of the world either. Instead of forcing the player into a new perspective a conversation will instead feel as if it’s happening in the midst of a living world. The NPC will continue to act like a living entity. This is in contrast to many games where speaking to an NPC would essentially turn them into an unmoving mannequin for the duration of the conversation.

The meat of Cyberpunk 2077’s gameplay

The actual gameplay of Cyberpunk 2077 is equally impressive. It can be divided into hacking, stealth and of course combat. The cyberpunk setting also means that one can further augment these activities with implants. While the combat is similar to Witcher 3, it feels like a more refined version of it. Full hacking in the game comes down to a number and letter based minigame. As is the case with lockpicking or hacking in most open world games this particular feature will come down to personal taste.

A great game in a different type of setting

All of this paints a picture of a fantastic game. It takes most of the great gameplay and design elements of Witcher 3 to a whole new level. What’s more, this all takes place in a novel setting for open world games. Cyberpunk 2077 is a bold push into an underserved genre. And anyone who enjoys open world games would be well advised to give it a try.

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Global Appeal

One for Football Fans

FIFA Reception & critical acclaim

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Xbox Series X Price & Dimensions

Xbox Series X Spec

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Whats the difference?

No contest?

These differences are gargantuan as the Xbox Series X, in terms of specs especially, is twice as powerful as the Xbox One X let alone the original Xbox One. Investing in the new generation will easily reward players for years to come as more developers create games that utilize the console to it’s fullest potential. There is no doubt that because the Xbox Series X opts for power, experience as well as future innovations we can’t imagine right at this moment it will certainly outperform it’s predecessor and stand the test of time.

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The background

Players will start off by meeting their character, Eivor, and pretty soon the goals become clear as you’ll be let loose to go do Viking stuff. Viking stuff like what you may be asking? Quests galore! Eivor sets off on multiple quests throughout the game that are quite memorable such as a quest involving the celebration of a marriage and an assault against a rival camp. There are two factors that make these quests memorable rather than tedious. The first obvious one is that the gameplay, mostly the combat in Valhalla, is more customizable. This allows for a far more unique or personalized experience.

Players are now being offered the ability to dual wield any combination of two weapons, including shields. They’re given access to more weapon choices in the game such as flails and greatswords as well as provided with skill tree leveling option. This skill tree allows the player to buff stats such as stealth, agility and strength while also granting access to special moves which can be used on the battlefield. The skill tree is split up in three ways between Wolf powers, Raven powers, and Bear powers. Ubisoft is throwing quite a lot at Assassin’s Creed veterans and newcomers with their newest installments; however, what are the benefits of these new inclusions?

The Game

Summary

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