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Riot’s Valorant Opens to a Massive Twitch Viewership as Beta Version Releases

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With most people now having to stay at home due to COVID-19, most people are now looking forward to video games. Since they cannot step out due to nation-wide lockdowns, they will have to spend time on their favourite consoles and controllers. Much to the delight of fans around the world, gaming industry legend Riot has come out with a new video game. Here’s a look at what Riot’s Valorant offers and why it has got fans excited.

Beta Release of Riot

Valorant is unique and unoriginal at the same time, being a first-person shooter that opened to a massive reception on Twitch. Riot also has a deal with the gaming platform, along with streamers a chance to test out the beta version of the new game. Other streamers also got an opportunity to watch popular streamers play and test out the competition. Valorant is a super-competitive game that offers various playing styles and experiences. However, for now, the game will release only on PC, and Riot has not released any announcement regarding a console release. The game looks like it has all that takes to become the next big gaming sensation. Though it is hardcore, it borrows components from different styles, making it highly playable and enjoyable.

Timing is Perfect

Valorant, in its beta form, is coming at a critical point of time for the competitive gaming scene. Much of the Esports scene has to do with online multiplayer battle arenas, called MOBAs. Popular games in this genre include Valve’s Dota 2 and Riot’s League of Legends. While there are peripheral communities, such as fans of Psyonix’s Rocket League, MOBAs reign supreme at the end of the day. Only games of companies with immense resources have been able to make a name for themselves in this field. Such games include the legendary Call of Duty League, Overwatch League and Fortnite.

The most significant exception to this rule being Counter-Strike, which is a tactical shooter game, from which Valorant borrows heavily. Counterstrike remains one of the world’s most popular FPS games, while the industry around it has changed and evolved much. The game is so popular that it enjoys a far-flung fan base that even Call of Duty lacks. This has helped Counterstrike remain the most-watched title on Twitch, and it continually remains in the most-played lists. While it has been eight years since the game released, even now over one million people play Counterstrike on Steam.

Highly Popular Characteristics

Maybe this popularity is why Valorant borrows so heavily from Counterstrike when it comes to gameplay and characteristics. The game brings together superpowers like from Overwatch and the high-intensity tactical shooter gameplay copied from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. In many ways, it seems like Riot is building a more modern Counter-Strike. Riot’s aim appears to be to create a modern version of Counter-Strike that will appeal to MOBA fans around the world. From what was visible on Twitch, Valorant seems to be able to attract both the streamers and pro players equally. Valorant’s beta broke the record for the most-viewed game within a day, with 34 million hours and 1.7 million viewers, second only to last year’s League of Legends Championship.

A New Era

Another interesting fact being that Valorant is not a battle royale game, but rather a tactical shooter. Since PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds came out in 2017, Battle Royale games have become the most popular type when it comes to the shooter market. Fortnite is one of the most famous examples of this type of game, with several other developers coming out with their own BR games, such as Respawn’s Apex Legends and Activision’s Call of Duty: Warzone. However, with so many companies pushing out BR games, the industry is feeling fatigued by the large number of such games out there. Therefore, Valorant seems to be a whiff of fresh air in an industry that honestly has enough and more BR games.

Valorant Gameplay

Valorant has both team-based and skill-based components wrapped in a hardcore shooter gameplay, removing the luck factor associated with BR. The basic premise sees one team plant a bomb and try to protect it, while the others race against time to defuse it. Since everyone has just one life, it makes the game extremely fast-paced and exciting. Whichever team wins 13 rounds wins the match, with this taking somewhere between 30 and 40 minutes to complete. The hero abilities, which Valorant resemble Overwatch, help add some flair and flamboyance to the otherwise skill-based game. While such superhuman skills make things more exciting, the game requires you to communicate and collaborate with teammates to succeed. More than anything else, Valorant is a tactical game that is less chaotic than a standard MOBA. As Counter-Strike proved simple tactical shooter games require just a community to become successful. Instead of having over 100 million players, such games grow in time thanks to the effort of dedicated fans.

Though Valorant has a long road ahead, experts believe that it will come out somewhere between late summer and early fall. The game’s success and early interest raised makes it evident that the game has all it takes to go a long way. With enough potential for lasting entertainment, Valorant is a game people will enjoy playing themselves and also watching others play. With enough potential to be the company’s next League of Legends, fans are excited to see how the game will pan out.

WhatsApp

Whatsapp Says Only One Forwarding At A Time

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A coin has two faces. While one side enlightens us, the other remains in dark. But, is it always the scenario? Every invention has both pros and cons and it doesn’t take much time for mankind to exploit those cons. While some people try to make the world a better place, others using the same power try to destroy it. Our world is going through a very big crisis right now. Every nation is fighting against the deadly coronavirus. These are vulnerable times when we expect everyone to be sensible. Everyone has a right to know the true facts about this pandemic. Similarly, it is our duty to spread the right message and not initiate violence by circulating rumors. And, no one by common people spread this news via social media. Whatsapp, one of the most popular social media platforms has reported that rumors related to coronavirus are spreading exponentially. When a person is receiving such a message they are forwarding it to as many contacts as possible. So, this leads to extreme misunderstandings molding misconceptions.

What will Whatsapp do?

Seeing the rumors spread like a wildfire, Whatsapp needed to land on a conclusion at the earliest. Whatsapp declared that from now on a person can forward one message to only one contact at a time. Previously, the number was five but to the urgent crisis, it has been dragged down to one. Because the wrong information has a very big potential to start some other form of violence. And, welcoming another war is the last thing our world needs right now.

The company has explained that bringing the number down to one will not completely stop this chain. But, due to the increase in friction lesser people will get the wrong information. It also said that the company has witnessed violence in previous years due to the spread of rumors. One of the biggest examples is the false news of child kidnappers in India in April 2018. Many people were killed due to these shady and false messages. So, the company is trying its best to not repeat its history.

We share other news too

We share almost every kind of content through the platform of Whatsapp. It includes long messages, GIFs, pictures, audio, and video. Apart from the platform serving as a personal way of communicating, it is also a huge source of entertainment. We keep sharing memes, funny videos, helpful information, etc all the time. But, we stop the misuse of Whatsapp on spreading false information, sharing of harmless documents has been compromised as well.

If Whatsapp identifies any message as “highly forwarded”, that is messages sent through more than five chains will be forwarded only to one. The users have also said that the rate at which wrong information is spreading can be very overwhelming. So, it’s better to take a step at the earliest. The problem is when a person is forwarding a message, there is a high chance he isn’t aware of its transparency. And, many of them don’t bother to verify if it’s wrong or right. This increases the chance of spreading rumors.

Whatsapp took precautions before this

It’s not only the rumors of COVID-19 that is spreading like wildfire through Whatsapp. Previously, when Whatsapp noticed for the first time that such misuse of the app is taking place, they took a step. They reduced the number of forwarding contacts from 256 to directly 5. This took place only in India whereas globally it was reduced to 20. But, it helped in reducing the potential degree of harm significantly. But, the outbreak has led to a decrease in that number to one.

It’s for our own good

Whatsapp also said that it is not like you can forward one message to a single person only. It is just hindering the process of sending it to 5 people at a single time. This way it will help reduce the number of forwarded messages. Since, Whatsapp first experimented with it in 2018, after one year the rate has reduced by 25%. It means the strategy is working to slow down the pace of misleading information.

Last month, much false news related to the “cure” of COVID-19 was forwarded along with the connection of military to it. So, apart from the company taking steps, it is a request to the people to think more logically and sensibly.

Sony Reveals Specs Related to its New DualSense Controller for PlayStation 5

Sony Reveals Specs Related to its New DualSense Controller for PlayStation 5

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Since the COVID-19 has forced everyone to stay indoors, they are all looking for some good news from some area. With the deadly virus continuing its rampage across North America and Europe, the lock-down might be in place for a while longer. However, gaming fans from around the world were treated to some good news from Sony yesterday, when they released some much-awaited news! Sony had not shown their fans what their new PlayStation 5 looks like. However, they unveiled the controller for the next-generation console today. Here’s a look at what the new Sony controller looks like and why it has got fans around the world excited.

DualSense Ushers in a New Age

The next-generation console will have an equally next-gen controller as the DualSense is something fans have never seen before. The new design is a significant departure from the iconic controller design Sony has done for the last 25 years. Not only does the new controller look different, but it also feels and works differently. Some of the main new features include the Haptic feedback, which replaces rumble and a new Adaptive trigger feature. The adaptive trigger option allows users to adjust the resistance that the triggers offer while putting in effect various gameplay effects.

Furthermore, Sony has brought in a microphone onto the new controller, something that has never happened before. The integrated microphone will be the first of its kind and comes with a USB-C type port. DualSense will also feature a two-tone color scheme which partially resembles the PSVR.

How does it look?

Externally, the controller has an overhauled design with a profoundly more rounded shape when it comes to the grips and buttons. Recently, Sony announced that the share button will be renamed as Create. The create button will allow players ways to better and create new types of gameplay content. Furthermore, Sony promises further details regarding this button and the DualSense will be released closer to the launch date.

When compared to the DualShock 4, individual buttons on the DualSense have been revamped and tweaked. For instance, the PlayStation button resembles the PS logo, while the triggers are more angled when compared to older controller designs. Most of the other features from the older DualShock 4 remains the same on the DualSense. These include the centered touchpad, the light bar and symmetrical layout.

However, the light bar has been moved from the top part to the left side of the controller. D-pad and face buttons will remain on the top half and matching analogue sticks will reside on the bottom.

Other Features and Differences

Further details regarding the cost, color options and additional specifications will come out closer to the actual launch date of the PS5. However, industry experts believe that the DualSense will be priced somewhere around $60, as that was the initial cost of the DualShock 4. While the DualShock had a monochrome finish and slim body layout, the new design is considerably chunkier and dual-toned. Therefore, in many ways, it serves as a significant departure from earlier controller designs for the gaming legend. Haptic feedback, which replaces Rumble, will allow users to feel levels of resistance to their movement via simulation.

Therefore, players will now be able to experience the grittiness of driving through slush or mud or even the tension of pulling a bowstring. The newly enabled adaptive feedback will allow the triggers to simulate the tension and release as per the situation in the game. Hideaki Nishino, the Senior VP of Platform Management, stated that the new controller will help players feel like they are a part of the game like never before.

The controller wishes to help transport gamers into the game world, acting as an extension of the gamer’s body while in their hands. The create button will also help with sharing screenshots and videos. With further details expected to come out in fall, gamers can rest assured that the DualSense will give rise to a new era in Sony gaming experience.

COVID-19

COVID-19 Leads to a Surge in the Global Growth of Refurbished Market Specialist Back Market

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The COVID-19 has put a lot of industries and businesses in trouble. The deadly pandemic has made governments impose nation-wide lock-downs. Such lock-downs restrict the functioning of offices, factories, schools and colleges. Furthermore, most countries have also imposed travel bans and restrictions on public transport. With transportation being hit, only essential services are now functioning in most states. This has made things difficult for start-ups all around the world. Most companies are finding it difficult to get their hands on raw materials. However, things are looking up for the catering company Back Market. Here’s a look at how the COVID-19 has led to Refurbished Market’s significant growth on a global scale.

Moving Ahead During Such Tough Times

This Paris-based start-up is a specialist when it comes to refurbished products. They allow their customers to submit their old devices and then restore and resell them. The company is a significant player in the second-hand e-commerce market. The COVID-19 has forced a lot of people to stay at home and work remotely. Therefore, more than ever before, people need access to better mobile devices. People who used their office technology for work no longer have that privilege.

Therefore, more people are trying to get their hands on better tech at more affordable prices. Hence, most people are looking at the refurbished market to buy suitable devices at lower rates. No longer having access to high-end tools is making people upgrade their own devices. Companies such as Back Market help them to do this efficiently. The company accepts their devices and then allows them to buy a second-hand model. Therefore, the search for better tools to better their remote working experience is helping Back Market grow.

“Is Back Market reliable?”

The most prominent stigma that the company has had to overcome in recent years is whether they are reliable. The company essentially allows users to ship their old devices to them and exchange those for newer, better accessories. All the users have to do is pay the difference in value, and they get to update their technology. Thibaud Hug de Larauze, who is the company’s CEO, said that the service is currently available only in France, but that they are planning an expansion soon. From the second quarter of this year, Back Market will start operation in international markets.

Growth of Back Market

The company, founded in 2014 was successful in raising € 48 million in funds thanks to two Series B investment rounds in June 2018. The company has since been running profitably with them still having money to spend on financing and expansion. While the company does not publish its merchandise volume, the CEO had stated that the company is growing in triple-digit figures. There has been a significant increase in the demand for laptops, scanners and printers. However, the COVID-19 scare has reduced the need for refurbished mobile phones, as people are trying to save money for essential items. However, the demand for laptops and printers is linked to more people practicing remote working now.

Global Demand

In the past two weeks alone, the company has received a sleuth of orders from Italy, as the entire country has gone into strict lock-down. With the country having been ravaged by the COVID-19, almost the whole nation has gone into lock-down with everyone working from home. Therefore, IT professionals have no option but to upgrade their devices and start working from home at full capacity. 

Shut Down of Stores

Another factor that has helped Back Market grow so fast is that mobile phone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung have had to shut their retail stores around the world. Such a move has helped make Back Market a leading supplier of electronic goods, helping them improve their market position. With almost all major electronics retailers and operators staying closed in Europe, Back Market has been able to corner this market position due to its internet-based operation. Also, the fact that Back Market offers a minimum 6-month warranty on the devices they sell has made them look reliable and credible to their users. Furthermore, the company offers consumers access to a plethora of refurbished products at 30 to 70% lower prices. The company’s innovative model has helped it become the leader of the European refurbished market in less than 4 years. This success has made it expand to American shores, with operations beginning in the US in 2018. Both the growth of the refurbished market and the impact of COVID-19 can be held responsible for the three-digit growth that Back Market now enjoys. With the refurbished market growing by 13% in the period 2017-2019, it sure does look like Back Market will be enjoying success in the months to come.

Quibi

Short-Form Content Specialist Quibi: An Honest Review

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The way we consume content has changed over the years. Thanks to increasing internet penetration and a rise in the number of mobile users, we now have several options to view content. Entertainment portals such as Hulu and Netflix have become popular around the world. Even old patrons of entertainment, such as Disney are moving towards a newer, digital content platform. Even in India, streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Hotstar and Netflix have become extremely popular. It is into this highly competitive field that another entertainment platform has entered. After many months of massive publicity, Quibi, which will focus on short-form content launched today for both Android and iPhone users. Here’s an honest review of the application and what it means for the entertainment industry.

Who’s Behind It?

There’s been a lot of talk of this mobile app that delivers bite-sized original content, and finally, it is out. Headed by Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is a pioneer in the field of entertainment and Meg Whitman, an experienced tech player, Quibi looks stated for success. The application centers around mobile phones and was built for use on mobile devices, rather than desktops or laptops. The application brought in over $1 billion in investment, which includes attracting significant stars for their new original content. Finally, the app is out, and the creators will get to see whether the app is worth the $4.99-with ads and $7.990 without ad package they are giving it out for.

Boon or Bane?

The main USP of the app is that it specializes in content that lasts 10 minutes or less. Since there is no TV app for the same, Quibi will have to be enjoyed solely from your mobile phone. Since most people are at home now, due to the COVID-19, this might be something that will work against the application. Whenever people are at home, they tend to prefer to watch content through larger screens, such as laptops and TVs. However, since this app is made specifically for mobile devices, users will not be able to enjoy the comforts of a larger screen. The application is also not available via a website and does not work fully optimized on tablets either. Therefore, this rules out the possibility of teaming it with Chromecast or AirPlay. So it is safe to say that it is built for your phone and nothing else!

How is the Quibi Interface?

Quibi is an app that works fine. It is reliable, though the user experience needs to be a little more intuitive and fluid. Other streaming giants such as Netflix have been able to do so well for themselves as their interface is extremely user-friendly. So, this is one area that the makers really need to focus on when it comes to updates and improvements. However, the app supports auto-rotate, so the images flip into landscape and portrait as you rotate your device. Both these orientations have been completely optimized, which makes the viewing experience a lot better.

The features which allow the camera shots and text to realign itself as per the mode is Turnstyle, and it serves as Quibi’s main feature. As per Katzenberg, Turnstyle will help bring in the third generation of film narrative. While the function might not be as revelatory as it is made to sound, it does help in making it easier to watch shows on the app. The main homepage resembles Instagram, more than it does Netflix, as it makes use of vertical cards. Lingering on any card for a few seconds automatically starts the autoplay of the video, while every time you pass through, you receive vibratory feedback. The video begins playing on full screen if you press it, and delayed holds will present more options such as download, share and information regarding the show. You also have the option of enabling notifications which will allow you to stay updated with regards to new releases and so on.

Playback and Quality

During playback, users get access to controls such as play, pause, fast-forward, share and rewind. It also includes a Left-handed mode which makes the app very easy to use for lefties around the world. The app also has shortcuts in place for muting the audio and switching on the subtitles. The Turnstyle feature works by involving two different video streams and one audio track simultaneously. The mode in which you are watching the show runs on higher resolution, while the other keeps running in the background. Whenever you rotate, the stream also changes instantaneously and therefore, there is no loading issue, quality degradation or buffering issues. However, using dual-stream video makes the app use 20% more data than YouTube or Netflix.

The major misses when it comes to the app are as follows. It does not have a family option wherein various members can stream content from one account. Not accounting for multiple people in the same house might not end up working for the app in the long run. Furthermore, since it works on a single concurrent stream, password sharing is also not an option people have. However, the short content that it features makes it the perfect app for content on-the-go. It provides excellent, no-commitment entertainment that people can enjoy while traveling or waiting for an appointment. However, the fact that they chose to launch it at a time when everyone is at home could harm the app’s impact. We will be able to gauge its real success and effect after this challenging time passes, and people start traveling once again. For now, it looks like Netflix and Amazon do not have too much to worry about.

Youtube %G network

YOUTUBE DECLARES IT WILL REMOVE EVERY CONTENT CONNECTING 5G TO CORONAVIRUS CONSPIRACY THEORIES

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The pandemic of coronavirus has already shaken up the entire world from its core. People are trying hard to keep themselves sane while being at home. But, this quarantine has indeed allowed us to binge-watch every series we were planning to. Netflix and Youtube have truly become our friends in need. But, while people are so much engrossed in these platforms, some of them are spreading terrifying contents. This is a very vulnerable phase for the entire world. And, we expect to spend some quality time in our home doing anything that keeps us calm. We do not want to grow extra terror within us by watching absurd coronavirus conspiracy theories via the 5G network.

Youtube decided to suppress such contents

Youtube declared on 5th April 2020 that it will suppress content that links the conspiracy theories of coronavirus to the 5G network. The company will remove all such contents and they won’t show them in the search result as well. People are already too scared due to this global crisis. So, promoting such fake content will just escalate violence around the globe. The news of false theories having a connection to the coronavirus outbreak has already caused some major destruction.

What has happened due to this disturbing content?

Once this kind of irrational things pops up in our screen, it spreads like wildfire. From Youtube to What Sapp, people start sharing it everywhere thus pulling the trigger. Many people have shared videos of mobile phone masts on fire. This has occurred in Birmingham, Liverpool, and Melling in Merseyside.

The violent act has not been limited to this. In the U.K. people have set at least seven cell phone towers on fire. It is reported that within the last 24 hours, the common people of the U.K has burnt down four towers due to rage, anger, and terror as well. And, when these videos will be shared on social media, citizens of our nations will be traumatized as well. It is also shocking that one of the towers that were burnt down wasn’t even a 5G mast. People targeted two of Vodafone’s masts and two shared masts.

It is unbelievable how one wrong claim or message can take the world to the edge of destruction. In this modern age, we tend to follow and praise our ideals via social platforms. This is another main reason why such disasters increased within 24 hours. When reputed and verified accounts on Instagram share such obscure videos, followers will believe it anyway. And, imagine the degree of destruction when there are millions and thousands of followers for each verified accounts.

What are the scientists saying?

Scientists have responded at the earliest and didn’t take it lightly. There is no sugarcoating to this or subtly calming the audience. The scientists have directly made the statement that the so-called imaginary connection between COVID-19 and 5G network is “rubbish”. There is no such phenomenon in this universe that can prove it otherwise and it is not possible biologically.

Stephen Powis, NHS England Medical Director said that these theories are the worst kind of fake news that can ever exist. Youtube has also declared that any other 5G conspiracy theory will be entertained except for linking it to coronavirus. The platform has also started reducing the amount of “borderline content” that can spread even tiny fake news to the people.

The kind of fake news reaching people 

The misleading videos are popping up on the platform of Facebook from late January. When the pandemic initially started spreading in the U.S., people started making up many such theories. A group of people believed that the 5G network can suppress the immune system. Thus, it will make us very vulnerable to catching COVID-19. And, some people tend to believe that the virus will directly transmit in our bodies if we use the 5G network.

One video in the U.K also showed a man saying the healthcare units conducted tests actually to spread coronavirus. And, this pandemic was just a showcase, a distraction made to diverge people from the deaths that occurred due to 5G. These are just a few examples from the lot. The only message scientists want to spread now is we should turn s deaf ear to this fake news. And, burning down masts won’t help the situation. Because they are only providing us emergency phone services in this time of need.