The Rise Of Mobile Gaming

I remember the first mobile phone I ever had. A chunky Nokia with a pixelated black and white display. At the time this was the cutting edge of phone technology. It could make calls, send texts, and even play games. The ability for a phone to play games was huge at the time. Despite the fact that games were simple ones such as Pong and Snake.

These games might seem like relics now, but they were the progenitors of what would become a massive gaming industry. Mobile gaming slowly started to take shape as mobile technology advanced. Improved displays and graphical capabilities lead to companies developing better looking games.

Then came the age of smartphones. And with them mobile gaming really came into its own. If you look at the state of mobile gaming today you will see a huge selection of 3D games from all genres of gaming. But are mobile games taking over console games?

Pokemon Go and Fitness Games

On the 6th of July, 2016, Nintendo took the world by storm with the release of Pokemon Go. A new style of mobile game that made use of its most popular franchise to get people outside and active. The game used maps of the real world to function. As players walked around, their character would move on the map and encounter new pokemon, gyms, and pokestops.

This meant, to progress in the game, you needed to be active and moving. And this encouraged millions of people to become more fit. Since the only way to get high level pokemon go accounts was to be on the move, the game was well received by a lot of national governments as well. And this, in turn, encouraged more companies to turn their hand toward making fitness based games. Warner Brothers commissioned a Harry Potter game, and Minecraft World was popular for a short while too.

Competing With Consoles

Fitness based games weren’t the only reason mobile gaming was becoming more popular. One of the main reasons it was becoming a success was due to the fact that getting a mobile phone was far cheaper than buying a new console or a gaming PC. And, most importantly, a lot of the younger generations were getting their first mobile phone long before they got their first console.

Not only that but mobile gaming was far more accessible to non-gamers as well. For example, there is very little chance someone from the older generations would be buying a new Xbox. But, as we have seen from its incredible popularity, Candy Crush was loved by millions of people from all age ranges.

These factors slowly led to mobile gaming being as popular as console gaming in terms of numbers. But socially, in the gaming community at least, mobile gaming was still seen as being very uncool or ‘not proper gaming.’

Advanced Mobile Gaming

The reason that mobile gaming wasn’t taken seriously by gamers was because of the quality of mobile games. Previously the height of mobile gaming was Candy Crush or Angry Birds. Fun games. But by no means technological marvels. Mobile gaming was still limited and behind the modern gaming technology of today.

But in the last few years we have seen this change. Mobile phones are now as powerful as some computers. And, as such, can run games far more advanced than anything we have seen before. To the extent that a few major franchises now have mobile versions.

League of Legends dipped into the world of mobile gaming with Wild Rift and Team Fight Tactics. Both of these mobile apps are as good as their PC counterparts. There are also now versions of Call of Duty on mobile as well. And, of course, Minecraft has had a mobile client for some years now.

It was the rise of games like this that have pushed mobile gaming a bit further ahead of console gaming. And, if this trend continues, we might see them replace console gaming completely. But how likely is this?

The Death of Console Gaming

Will console gaming be totally killed out by mobile gaming? Experts are divided on this front. Especially because you have consoles like the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo’s popular portable console provides the best of mobile gaming with console gaming. The portability paired with the power.

But we also did see an issue with supply and demand with the PS5. Millions of hopeful gamers failed to ever get their hands on the new console due to supply problems and, most importantly, scalpers. And with the price of consoles going up, as inflation also rises, more and more people are turning away from console gaming in favor of the cheaper mobile gamer. Alternatives.

Our conclusion is that mobile gaming could very well replace console gaming. But that day is a very long way off yet.

Our society has become increasingly loud as the decades go on. Thanks to smartphones and social media it is now impossible to avoid the onslaught of marketing. Which you think would be a huge boon for businesses. But this often isn’t the case. With the world being constantly flooded with marketing, how can you cut through the noise and increase your businesses’ exposure?

We have put together these six easy steps guaranteed to help you boost your business’s exposure. We will be looking at how to refine your marketing strategy and branding. As well as how to better engage with potential customers.

Perfect Your Brand

The ultimate test of a brand is how recognizable it is. Think of companies like McDonalds or Disney. Their logos don’t need any slogans attached to them. The golden M or the Mickey Mouse symbol are both instantly associated with their parent company. And that is what you want from your brand marketing.

Granted, you will need to build up the exposure over time. But you want a logo that is minimalist and stylish. It needs to catch the eye without being overbearing. Try to avoid clashing colors or lots of overlapping shapes.

Utilize Social Media

Once you have your brand perfected you will want to start working on your social media accounts. To maximize exposure you will want an account on every major platform. Facebook, TikTok, and most importantly, Instagram.

You will need to maintain a consistent upload schedule and take the time to respond to messages on your social media platform. We also recommend buying extra Instagram followers and likes in the early stages of your company’s development. Buying extra Instagram likes will boost your profile and bring in a lot more followers. This will, in turn, increase your exposure on the platform.

Physical Marketing

Sometimes the old methods are best. While the digital marketing landscape is so cluttered, there is always only limited physical space for advertisements. Billboards and posters are extremely effective as they dominate the space they are in and pull the eye towards them. And, unlike with a social media post, someone viewing a billboard can’t just scroll it away.

You will also want to create leaflets and business cards. Especially if your company is offering a physical service. You should place these in public locations such as libraries or information offices.

Trade Shows

Trade shows are one of the best ways of boosting your exposure with potential clients and with other businesses. A trade show is a convention filled with different companies offering a closer look at their products or services. It is the ultimate networking opportunity and a great way to connect with potential clients on a more personal level.

Trade shows are also a great place to show off any new products or services your company offers. Customers love to see new innovations. And will be dazzled by being some of the first people to ever see your latest product.

Word Of Mouth

One of the most tried and tested methods of building up exposure. People are more likely to listen to recommendations from their friends than anyone else. Which is why you want to get as many people talking about your business as possible.

This could be through exceptional customer service. A lot of companies never check in with a customer after they have provided a service. A follow up enquiry about the service you provided is a surefire way to keep your business in their mind. And if you’re in their mind, chances are they will talk about you to others.

SEO

Search engine optimization is one of the most powerful tools for any company looking to increase their online exposure. The idea is simple, SEO is the process of modifying and streamlining your content so that your website is featured further up in search results on Google and other search engines.

A lot of SEO is based on keywords. Your website’s pages and your online content should contain words relevant to things people might search. If you own a gardening company you will want to use keywords such as gardener, landscaping, garden care, and hedges.

SEO is also based on how often your company is mentioned on other websites. To that end you will want to network with other companies to get your name out there and featured on their sites. Speak to bloggers and company comparison websites. Get your name out there and you will soon see your website’s traffic increase.

I remember when Minecraft first appeared on the scene. The early alpha version was a far cry detached from the Minecraft we know and love today. It didn’t have half of the blocks and mobs in it. Multiplayer was little more than co-op survival. And the graphics were a lot more simplistic, which might come as a shock considering how simple Minecraft looks overall.

These days Minecraft is the most popular game on the planet. It overlooked Tetris for the top spot not too long ago and chances are it will remain in that spot for years to come. It is so popular it is used in schools as an educational and creative outlet tool. And the game has shifted from being a primarily single-player experience to put a much larger focus on multiplayer.

Minecraft Server Variety

You just need to look on any Minecraft best servers list to see just how popular multiplayer Minecraft has become. There are hundreds upon hundreds of game modes such as bedwars, island survival, tag, wacky racers, zombie apocalypse, and much more. And there are thousands of servers hosting these games.

Minecraft is consistently one of the most popular games on Twitch as well. Millions of people tune in to watch their favorite streamer playing some Minecraft. And many viewers revel at the chance to hop onto the streamer’s public server and play with them.

There is no greater feeling than running your own Minecraft server. The creative freedom that comes with it. Having a space to hang out with all your friends and play some fun games. But it isn’t always as simple as just setting up the server and going. If you want it to become popular you have to keep improving it. So today we are going to look at how to improve your Minecraft server to make it better for your players.

Boosting Server Speed

Online gaming changed the way we play. It allowed us to play our favorite games with our friends whenever we want, even across the planet. Where before we had to rely on split-screen co-op. But there is one downside to online gaming. The most agonizing thing for any gamer to experience. Lag.

Latency issues are common in any machine. When the demand on the processor or the internet connection is greater than it can supply, things start to slow down. And nothing kills a Minecraft server than poor connection speeds. No one wants to play on a laggy server. If you want to succeed in this competitive world you need a fast server to optimize your gameplay to ensure people keep coming back to your server.

There are a few ways of doing this. If you’re operating your server out of your own home you could look at upgrading your internet package to include faster download and upload speeds. If you are renting a server you might want to consider upgrading your deal with the company to get faster connection speeds.

Cooling is another issue that can impact the speed of your server. Servers run hot, especially ones that are on 24/7. Without adequate cooling, they can become damaged or just slow down. If overheating is an issue facing your servers you will want to look at adding more fans or maybe even a liquid cooling system.

Hiring Good Moderators

While there are plenty of technical ways to improve your server, you also have to look at how to improve it within the game world. Public servers are a lot of fun. You meet new people and enjoy some fun game modes. But there is one type of player everyone dreads meeting. Griefers. These are trolls who only seek to ruin the fun of other players. If griefers make it onto your server it can put people off returning.

Beyond that, arguments do happen. Players end up disagreeing with one another and things can get nasty. So you need to make sure you have a good team of moderators. You can’t be online 24/7 to be dealing with disputes or banning griefers. So you need moderators to do it for you. A good moderator should have great conflict resolution skills, remain impartial, and not let power go to their heads.

But be warned. If you have bad moderators on your server we can guarantee your server will fail. Power-mad moderators are worse than grifers. This is a common opinion amongst nearly the entire gaming community. Whereas griefers can just be ignored and banned. A bad mod has all the power and the only way to avoid them is to leave the server altogether.

Adding Fun Commands

A basic server will do a few things. It will allow you to host different game modes. It will let players join and interact with each other. It will let moderators ban griefers and settle disputes. But a great server? That will do so much more.

A good way to spice up your server is to look at adding some fun commands. There are thousands of server add-ons you can look into using. Some range from simple stuff like allowing users to add specialized tags to their name, while others are a bit more advanced letting players unlock fun cosmetic changes like giant heads or invisibility. Server commands like this are particularly great on creative servers where it doesn’t matter too much if players are doing crazy things.

Learning to use coding can seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many available tools, resources and techniques today to assist you in becoming a self-taught programmer. The best investments you can make are to teach yourself coding, whether it is to create web pages, create applications or automate your day-to-day tasks. The good thing is that you can make improvements step by step even without being in a formal setting provided you have the right steps.

Here are simple ways you can teach yourself how to go about coding.

Start With The Basics

The very first thing that you should learn, at the same time you are teaching yourself how to code, is the basics of programming. Thus, you may want to begin with a simple programming language, like Python or JavaScript. Programmers use these languages because they are user friendly. They have no complex syntax and there is a large and knowledgeable online community that can assist you when you are stumped.

For example, Python can be recommended to most people as their first step in programming, as the code can be read almost like English. Small scripts can be learned in a very short period of time to perform number computations, text manipulation, or do other simple tasks automatically. JavaScript is a necessity when you desire to make interactive websites or applications.

Use Online Learning Platforms

One of the most effective ways to teach oneself how to code is through online learning platforms. FreeCodeCamp, Codecademy, Coursera and Udemy are the websites that provide well-structured courses in which you can learn step by step. You have the chance to get lessons, exercises, and real world projects in these platforms.

Online learning is advantageous in that it is flexible. You have an opportunity to study at your own pace, reread the lessons when you have to and read new themes. Certain websites even provide certificates upon completion of a course and this can assist you in demonstrating your skills to employers or clients.

Practice With Coding Challenges

After the basics, you need to practice coding frequently in a challenging way. This is a good and entertaining way to achieve mastery of coding. Different exercises with different challenges can be found on websites such as HackerRank, LeetCode, or Codewars.

The challenges teach you to think like a programmer. You will train problem-solving, logical reasoning and writing efficient code. An example could be to be given a problem in which you are asked to write a program to reverse a string or to find the shortest line between two points.

Build Real-World Projects

Projects are the most effective way of learning how to code. You apply what you learn to practice and get practical experience when you create something that answers a problem or performs a useful task.

You can simply create a basic to-do list application, you can create a personal weblog, or you can create a budget tracker. Further on, you will have the opportunity to do more complex tasks, including the creation of a weather application, chatbot, or game. Doing projects enables you to observe how other elements of coding may form together.

Learn From Open Source Communities

Another easy way to teach yourself coding is to get involved in open-source communities. An open source software is one that can be viewed, edited and contributed to by anybody. Websites like GitHub host millions of open-source projects. Contributing to open-source projects, you get to know how to cooperate with other developers. There is also on-the-job experience as you read the code of other people and learn how big projects work.

Use Browser Automation Tools

As you move forward with your coding career, you will find out that a few tools can even make your job more exciting. The tools let you write scripts that drive web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari. You can test web pages, scrape data or automate repetitive tasks over the internet.

Browser automation tools work very well with programming languages you may want to learn. I will give an example of using Playwright with Python, where you can learn to code by automating simple browser actions that produce immediate, visual feedback. For instance, you will not only learn about loops and functions in theory, but you can also write a short script to open your favorite news site.

Learning these tools can teach you about automation and provide you with a practical tool to use during a project or job. With these types of tools in your possession, you have an advantage over other novice programmers since you can now explore more than you could with simple tools.

Starting a venture in the field of technology is really a wonderful way to bring innovation and business solutions. However, one of the major hurdles that come with starting up this kind of business is the issue of acquiring clients. In this sector, whether you are creating software, creating an application, or offering IT services, clients are the heart of your business. It is a must to find ways of securing clients, especially in this competitive tech startup market. You will need to employ a mix of marketing strategies, customer understanding, and other means to reach potential clients and make sales.

Know Your Target Market

First, you need to identify our clients by identifying your audience. Which industry are you addressing? Who are the key decision-makers within that industry? What particular issues will your product or service help your target consumers overcome? These questions will help you determine your marketing strategies and which angle to use for prospective clients.

In order to effectively serve your market, you need to conduct market research. Research and collect information relating to the customer’s existing trends through market reports, competitor analysis, and customer feedback. This information will help you tailor the marketing messages and develop products that meet or alleviate the discomforts of your potential clients.

Strengthen Your Online Presence

The idea of creating an internet presence has become relevant because it is necessary for generating trust while demonstrating one’s knowledge and offering products or services.

First, design to highlight your startup’s objectives, how it will help clients, and why people should choose you rather than your competitors. Consider adding case studies, testimonials, and a blog that provides readers with useful information in their field. Second, consistency in updating your site with new content not only assists with your SEO but also encourages engagement.

Further, social networks can be used to reach potential buyers. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook make it possible for you to communicate with your potential clients, discuss important topics, and advertise products/services.

Networking and Partnerships

Recruiting customers depends on networking, especially in the field of technology. Attending industry conferences, seminars, and trade shows is a good platform to present your startup company and its products and speak with potential clients and major purchasers.

It is advisable to contact other businesses with services you do not offer since you can partner with them. For instance, if your startup is all about software development, working with an IT consulting firm could result in a stream of clients. Another benefit of strategic partnerships is that they widen your circle of contacts while providing you with more reputation and adding value to your clients.

Utilizing Email Marketing

Email marketing has been a very successful method of targeting potential clients. It enables direct and relevant communication with decision-makers and provides updates on your products and services. Nevertheless, for email marketing to be effective, it’s important to have a clean list of people who want to receive the emails and who are potential consumers. Here is where email finder tools come in handy.

These tools assist you in discovering the e-mail addresses of potential leads so that you can approach them to extend your marketing campaign. A tool like Prospeo or Findymail has a sales navigator scraper that automatically cleans prospective data and finds emails from LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Thanks to the email finder, you can search for specific contacts of people in that company. Hence, you are sure of sending the email to the right person compared to sending out messages to many people who may not be interested in the subject matter.

However, personalization remains an important concept in any form of email marketing. Segment your emails according to the recipient’s needs and preferences. Say their name, state their company, and explain how your product or service can address their issues. Only tailored emails can elicit a positive reaction and get a better response from readers.

Offering Free Trials

When you offer the product or service for free, maybe for a limited time, it ensures potential clients get to experience the offerings you provide firsthand, making it easier to encourage them to make a purchase. An organized offer of free trials or demonstrations can help articulate your start-up’s capacities and provide clients with the assurance they require to proceed.

Factors such as quality customer support should not be compromised during the trial or demo period. Make yourself available for questions to assist and guide the potential client so that his or her encounter will be positive. This level of attention not only assists in the process of managing leads and transforming them into paying clients but also lays the platform for continued business.

The evolution of technology might have led to many positive changes and achievements in the UK, but it has also caused some negative effects. When these negative effects or impacts keep recurring, the government takes it upon itself to investigate the issue and provide the best solution. Sometimes, the best solution may be to ban the product.

A product is said to be banned when it is legally prohibited. Further use of the banned product without adhering to the law makes you a defaulter.

Some gadgets have been banned in the UK, mostly because they have been found to compromise the safety of citizens in one way or another.

Gadgets Banned in the UK

Banning a product from a country is an act that only takes place when warranted. Before a product or service gets banned, it would be properly scrutinized to determine if banning it is the best option.

We will list out some of the gadgets banned in the UK, but they will be listed in two categories.

Not all bans in the UK apply to the whole district. Rather, some of them apply to specific industries and groups of people.

1) Banning of mobile phones in schools

For now, this law is only regulated in England. Children in schools are not allowed to use smartphones as long as they are on school premises. This law was released due to the decline in the educational performance of children caused by distractions from their smartphones. All phones are to be submitted by students on arrival at the school premises.

2) Removal of fax machines across the NHS

In a bid to enhance security and improve the health sector in terms of embracing technology, fax machines will no longer be used across the NHS. Fax machines were used as a means of communication between the patients and the practices or between the NHS. Based on the new law, sending emails will replace the use of fax machines. Using emails to communicate is more convenient, efficient, less time-consuming, confidential, etc. Confidential discussions can easily be seen by third parties when a fax machine is used to communicate. The safety of the patients can be compromised when the wrong diagnosis is picked from the fax machine and the patient gets treated for the wrong condition. Some of the heads of administration at the Five Valleys Medical Centre are on the move to prevent the safety of patients from being compromised by ensuring that the use of fax machines is eliminated from the establishment.

Some of the generally banned gadgets or tech include:

3) Laser Pen

Laser pens were once one of the favourite gadgets for adults in the UK until the number of reports on injuries they caused grew. Pointing the laser pen directly to a person’s eye could cause severe damage to the eyes. Some of the injuries were caused on purpose, while some were due to carelessness. The reckless use of laser pens led to the banning of the gadget in the UK.

4) Disposable Vape

The use of disposable vapes in the UK keeps growing in numbers, and most of the users are minors. Disposable vapes are way cheaper than regular vapes hence the reason even minors can afford them. Vaping is a legal activity in the UK but the market is being closely regulated to ensure that things do not get out of hand. Banning disposable vapes and imposing a tax on e-liquids will help control the use of vapes by those below 18.

5) Huawei 5G Equipment

Due to the growing concern about cyber security in the country, drastic measures are being taken in the UK to ensure that the country maintains its safety. One such measure is the removal of Huawei from the UK 5G network. Huawei is not banned in the UK, rather, it is its 5G equipment that is no longer allowed in the country.

Another tech prohibition in the UK is the one that bans TikTok for government devices. This ban was based on some suspicions about how the data and information are used on the app. Using a government device to access the TikTok app may put the confidential information on the device at risk of exposure.

Conclusion

Once a product is banned in A country, the distribution and production of the product also stops. There may be a few stubborn law breakers but the repercussions of breaking such laws are often severe.

For example, being caught with disposable vapes in the UK Will be treated as a criminal offense. The buyers, retailers, suppliers, and distributors will all be held accountable by the law when caught with band items. Once a ban is placed on a product strategic steps are taken by the government to enforce the new law.