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Why Use High Quality Playing Cards For Game Night

By Homer, in Gaming News, , 0 comments, 2197 views
SPONSORED ARTICLE
 
Playing card games during family nights or intimate gatherings have always been a tradition. It’s like a universal ice breaker. It doesn’t matter how familiar or indifferent you are to a group of people. You just all start playing Trump or Old Maid and it seems like you’ve known each other forever. Card games are definitely a great way to connect and bond with others. Here’s a cool list: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/traditional-games/10-family-friendly-card-games.htm.
Diversity of Card Games Worldwide
As for the types of games played, it varies per region. However, I would like to point out that many card games have the same variation. They just have different names in different countries. So if ever you get to play with someone who is not from your side of the world, you might be surprised how fast they can catch up with the mechanics. 
Chances are that they have a similar card play in their own country. After all, there is only one too many mechanics you can use for playing. Most of the time, it’s a game of pattern, luck, or memory. But it can also be quite challenging, especially when you play against others in a game of wit. It is fun how you can strategize or use different techniques to get the upper hand in the group. 
More often than not, what starts as a random and friendly suggestion of a game can turn into a full-blown competition among friends and family. I guess people just have that sense of competitiveness within them, no matter how dormant. When challenged, it just oozes out naturally and before you know it, you’re like this raging lion trying to come out on top. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be competitive every once in a while – especially when you’re with good company that believes in healthy competition among friends as well. Check this out, for instance. 
Instead of worrying about the highly competitive atmosphere, you should be more worried about this one thing:
Can your deck last through game night?
Why Choose High Quality Playing Cards

Game nights can get really heated and competitive in an instant. If you have a crazy big number of participants, you will need more decks as well – a single one can only accommodate 4 or 5 people depending on the play after all. As the games go on, the deck will soon feel the tear and wear of all the shuffling. 
If you’re not using quality cards, chances are they will start rotting before you even reach the peak of your fun during game night. If the deck gives up before the players are even close to getting their fill of the fun, then it can really ruin the whole thing for everyone. This is why you need a good deck that can withstand the heated competition for hours. 
Also, if you’re using them for drinking games, like for King’s Cup for example, you might also want to consider getting a waterproof deck. With all the insane fun going on and people getting drunk all over, a few spills are to be expected. If you’re using an ordinary pack of paper-thin cards, a little water or beer spill can instantly ruin the deck and consequently ruin the fun for the whole gang. Some will start tearing or fading which makes it easier to tell them apart from the rest of the deck. This would definitely kill the excitement of the game. 
If you don’t want a plain, low-quality deck of cards ruining your social events, it’s best to invest in high quality playing cards that are sure to last through the night. Even if the cards don’t get spilled on, they can naturally absorb the moisture that comes from our palms. This makes them bloat overtime. This is why professional casinos have to change the deck they’re dealing every few hours or so. 
Don’t let a bad set of cards ruin the exciting night you have planned out for everybody. A good deck may not just even last through the night – it might last till the next gaming sessions you and your buddies will have. I say it’s a more practical choice even if it does mean having to pay a bigger buck!  
 
 

CS:S New Years At Nuketown

By Benz, in Events, , 0 comments, 1956 views

New Year........New K/D on CS:S come and test your skill for a chance to win awesome prizes!

Graphics created by Snowymaur
Host(s): HG | EddieCam [L] [CE]
Event Manager: HG | EddieCam [L] [CE]
When:
Date: Sunday, January 5, 2020 Times: 6:30 PM (PST) - 7:30 PM (MST) - 8:30 PM (CST) - 9:30 PM (EST) Game Server: 51.81.23.240:27016 Be in our TS event channel before the event starts! TS3 IP: hellsgamers.com How to play:
Team Deathmatch.
Kill members of the opposing team.
 
Who can play:
Everyone! Event rules:
Have to stay the entire duration of the event in order to receive prizes and or badge. Prizes are restricted to HG Recruit+ General HG rules:
NO cheats, exploits, glitching, or 3rd party tools that give you an unfair advantage over other players. NO ghosting. DO NOT be disrespectful. NO sexual harassment of players. DO NOT be racist or use racial terms. NO useless spamming of the mic, text, or radio. That means no songs/soundbites, especially if fellow clan members or players are complaining. NO recruiting or advertising for other clans in here. DO NOT wear the -hg- / [HG] / HG | tag unless you are a part of HG and are assigned that rank. NO name impersonation of anyone. If you are caught trying to crash or lag the server, you will be permanently banned. Prizes:
1st place prize will be a Corsair Harpoon RGB wireless gaming mouse.  2nd place price will be an HG mug. 3rd place prize will be a $10 steam card. Badge:

Trade 5 Revival

By Admiral MacK, in Events, , 2 comments, 1777 views

Join and help us revive our Trade #5 Server on Dec. 27th! 

Graphics created by Admiral MacK
Host(s): [HG] SigBussey [S]
Event Manager: HG | Combine [L], HG | Admiral MacK [CEL] [SM] (backup manager)
When:
Date: Friday, December 27, 2019 Times: 4:00 PM  (PST) - 5:00 PM (MST) - 6:00 PM (CST) - 7:00 PM (EST) Game Server: [HG] Trade 5 Minecraft B45 (51.81.23.247:27015) Be in the event channel in our teamspeak server before the event starts please! How to play:
Since it is a trade server, this is primarily to get the population flow back up! Join and chat to help out. Who can play:
Friend of HG to Council (everyone)! Event rules:
Prizes are restricted to HG Recruit+ Must stay through the entire event to be eligible for prizes General HG rules:
NO cheats, exploits, glitching, or 3rd party tools that give you an unfair advantage over other players. NO ghosting. DO NOT be disrespectful NO sexual harassment of players. DO NOT be racist or use racist terms. NO useless spamming of the mic, text, or radio. That means no songs/soundbites, especially if fellow clan members or players are complaining. NO recruiting or advertising for other clans in here. DO NOT wear the -hg- / [HG] / HG | tag unless you are a part of HG and are assigned that rank. NO name impersonation of anyone. If you are caught trying to crash or lag the server, you will be permanently banned. Prizes:
All participants receive the badge 3 raffles of 10,000 Premium Credits (HG Bux) Badge:

HG HOLIDAY SALE!

By Homer, in HG News, , 4 comments, 2247 views

It's that time of year again as we celebrate the Holidays! Starting today till New Years you can signup for GOLD+ or VIP+ for yourself or a friend and get 50% OFF your first month!

USE COUPON CODE "HOLIDAY" ON CHECKOUT FOR 50% OFF* VIP+/GOLD+ ACCOUNT UPGRADES
SALE ENDS JANUARY 1ST
 

>> SIGNUP NOW <<
 

>> SIGNUP NOW <<
 
*Discount applies only to first month for subscriptions, regular price for VIP+/GOLD+ renewals.

The Comeback of Cocktail Arcade Machines

By Homer, in Gaming News, , 0 comments, 1801 views
SPONSORED ARTICLE
 
The games that children play have certainly changed over the years. If you do a quick run through gaming history, you would be fascinated at how technology played a huge part in creating new fads and trends in the world of play. But despite all these changes, one thing is for sure: People love themselves some good play time.
Aside from traditional types like outdoor or board games that have been around since forever, the spark of video games started in the late 70’s and 80’s. The very first ones to ever come out were arcade machines and both children and adults got really worked up because of them. There would be these huge arcade centers around town that are jam-packed with players. People would fall in line to get a go on each machine. Children would save up every penny they can scrape off their allowance just to go on a gaming spree on weekends. They would play for hours on end, or just up until their mom comes to the local arcade to move their asses out of the place!
Anyway, those times were definitely golden. It’s an era of gaming that’s hard to match. Luckily, there are still a few centers left for people who still love to do arcade gaming. In Japan, for instance, arcades are still pretty popular and students would often visit them after school. Same goes with many cities in the USA. As long as there are people who like to have some classic fun, I don’t think the arcade culture would ever die out. In recent years, it seems that the theme itself is making a comeback. Read more about this here.
But here I am talking about 80’s stuff when most readers are probably millennials that don’t know the first thing about arcade gaming. So to give you a brief overview, let’s explore the world of gaming one more time. 
What Are Arcade Games?

Back in the day, personal computers were not yet available for commercial use. The computers back then were big and bulky and they would take up a whole lot of space should you take one home. They also had limited functions. They were good for giving electronic commands and analyzing data but they’re far from the personal computers we know today. Let’s just say that they weren’t as advanced back then. However, this didn’t stop people who had a love for games in developing machines that were especially made for gaming.
An arcade game is an entertainment machine that is operated using coins. So whenever you insert a penny or a quarter (the type of coin would depend on how much it costs per play; some arcades also have their own tokens which you can get by exchanging real money), the game boots up and the play begins. Back then, the internet was non-existent too so the games ran on local and private servers which means that while they can interact with nearby machines (e.g. as in the case of multiplayer), it cannot interact with machines that are not locally available. The case is different now since users can practically game with other players who live halfway around the globe thanks to the internet.

Common examples of arcade games are Pacman, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Galaga, Street Fighter, Mario Bros., Centipede and so many more. Each machine would only have one type of game so if you would want to play other games, you would have to transfer to a different machine and insert a new coin to start playing. People adored these games. They were classic fun that’s entertaining for both the young and old. The gameplay is simple to understand and it had patterns. Decoding the type of pattern that will help you win the game is part of the fun. It is very unlike today’s video games that are focused more on the immersive experience than the gameplay itself. Check out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/best-arcade-games.
Family computers came later on and allowed children to play their favorite games at home. It’s a box-type machine that you can connect to your TV at home. You can play more than a hundred classic games including the ones I’ve mentioned above. I think that shift is what started solitary play. People soon favored the idea of playing inside the comforts of their own homes and that toppled the arcade culture down. While there are still shops that remain open to this day, it’s still a far smaller number compared to how many there were 3 or 4 decades ago. 
Not to mention, even restaurants and bowling alleys would have set up their own arcade machines in their respective shops to help entertain waiting customers.      
Is Arcade Gaming Dead?

Hardly. In fact, it’s been making a huge comeback in recent years. Since we’re on the topic, I think a lot of classic and retro stuff and activities are being re-popularized in recent years. I guess there’s just something about the 70’s and 80’s that really stick out to people the most. And I bet even you can’t deny the fact that people seemed to be much livelier and engaging back then. This is why popular media has been taking interest in themes that involve reliving the past. 
I mean, have you watched Adam Sandler’s Pixels in 2015? It was obviously and adamantly promoting arcade culture which was really cool. Pacman got a complete remake as well as other popular characters such as Donkey Kong and Q*bert. If you’ve ever played with them before, you would have loved to see them on the big screen. It’s not too late to download the movie though.
Anyway, this retro gaming culture is slowly but surely gaining popularity again. Companies are even producing cocktail arcade machines now which are perfect for get-together parties or just simple home-gaming. A cocktail arcade machine makes a great addition to your entertainment room at home.
If you’re not too familiar about them, cocktail arcade machines are those classic rectangular gaming machines that resemble coffee tables. The screen is the table top and the controls are on the sides. So the screen is face up and you can play with your drink placed down, thus the term “cocktail.” These machines are really cool and if you love the classics you would definitely want them at home.      
 

McLovin's Christmas Party

By Snowyamur, in Events, , 2 comments, 1741 views

It is the most wonderful time of the year again! In the Spirit of the Christmas Cheer, the apocalypse will be filled with gifts and goodies for all to enjoy!

Enjoy 2x the points for 2 days, and 3x the points + in-game events on Christmas!

Graphics created by Snowyamur
Host(s): McLovin
Event Manager: Snowyamur
When:
Date: Monday, December 23, 2019 - Thursday, December 26, 2019 (3 days) Times: 10:00 PM PST - 11:00 PM MST - 12:00 AM CST - 1:00 AM EST Game Server: [HG] 24/7 Zombie Survival! | US-East | Live (51.81.23.105:27015) Be in our TS3 event channel before the event starts! TS3 IP: hellsgamers.com How to play:
Double (2x) Points will be enabled from Dec. 23 - Dec. 24. Triple (3x) Points and in-game events will be enabled on Dec. 25 until the end of the event. Who can play:
Everyone! Event rules:
Must be Recruit+ rank to be eligible for the badge. Must be Friend of HG+ rank to be eligible for the prize(s). Must be present on BOTH the events server and in the TS3 events channel for at least 1 hour to be counted as a participant. All HeLLsGamers community rules apply! General HG rules:
NO cheats, exploits, glitching, or 3rd party tools that give you an unfair advantage over other players. NO ghosting. DO NOT be disrespectful NO sexual harassment of players. DO NOT be racist or use racist terms. NO useless spamming of the mic, text, or radio. That means no songs/soundbites, especially if fellow clan members or players are complaining. NO recruiting or advertising for other clans in here. DO NOT wear the -hg- / [HG] / HG | tag unless you are a part of HG and are assigned that rank. NO name impersonation of anyone. If you are caught trying to crash or lag the server, you will be permanently banned. Prizes:
Every night, 4 participants will be selected via raffle to win 200 Chest Points per winner during the event. On Christmas, these prizes will be doubled!
Badge:

League of Legends: Getting to MMR of Your Dreams

By Homer, in Gaming News, , 1 comment, 2045 views
SPONSORED ARTICLE
 
The world of online gaming is one of the most diverse and creative environments you will ever see. Due to the prevalence of the internet, people are getting into it more than ever before. There was a time when people only thought if online games as a hobby meant for “nerds” who need to “find a life”. However, the online gaming community rose into prominence when stadiums began filling in just to watch people play various games. There is an actual following depending on what you like to do, and even some international brands started to capitalize on that. It has been a great decade for gaming and will continue to do well for the next few years.
If you think about online gaming, there are a few that can be considered as internationally recognized by the community. There is one type that has been very dominant in the scene though: MOBAs or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. It is a rather simple premise. Two teams made up of at least 5 players choose their characters and fight to the death in a virtual arena. Whoever conquers the objectives or has the most kills wins the game. Some people consider it the American football of gaming, as it is the most well-known genre. Read more about them here.
However, unlike the traditional way that sports are organized, each of them has their different developers and participants. You can consider each a “game” as a sport, and there are amateurs and professionals as well. It is a large world in the virtual gaming universe, and to focus on just one is a must in order for you to fully understand what is going on. Learning through each of the games can be considered as a full on college course on its own. However, the only difference is the experience is the best and your only teacher. 
 
Journey Into The LOL Community
 
One of the most famous MOBAs of today is League of Legends. Developed by California based company Riot Games, it is reminiscent of the original Defense of the Ancients. They have just celebrated 10 years of the game last October 2019. It has gone through various iterations every two weeks. This way of updating lets the players feel like they are in a new game altogether. It has garnered 67 million monthly users this year and their numbers continue to grow. There are also a lot of creators online especially in YouTube that serves as an advertisement for the game.
Now, how do you play League of Legends? To call the entire process complicated might be a bit of an understatement. There are a lot of terminologies that you need to know like ganking, laning and other strategies. You also need to familiarize yourself with lanes. Each character also has their own specific niche that they fulfill and they have different skills as well. You also need to learn the items and what each of them does to that specific character. 
There are times that you need to adapt to the environment of the game and learn the different interactions with each character. Some classes of characters are great with a certain team composition. You also need to be updated with the patches because there are always changes every two weeks. To learn more about the basics, click here: https://kotaku.com/a-beginner-s-guide-to-league-of-legends-1703090875
 
Boosting Through the Ranks

However, what people really care about when they play the game is to go on rank. This is the time when you can prove your skills to other users and reign supreme. There are different ranks namely from beginner to expert: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond. Challenger, Master, and Grand Master. This is also known as MMR or match making rating. Each of these divisions have 4 tiers and you have to battle it out with other players for you to advance to the next division. This can be quite tough, especially on the higher ranks. This is why a lot of people look into “boosting” to help them reach the rank of their dreams. 
Boosting or elo boosting is the process by which a person gives his or her own account (the boostee) another or better player (the booster). This person will then play the game for the boostee until they reach the desired MMR. After that, the booster will give the account to the boostee so now he or she is in a better MMR. Now, why should you consider this? Even though it is technically not allowed by Riot Games, there are a lot of people who really want to be in the higher ranks. 
 
Common Reasons Why Gamers Want To Rank
 
1. Play with friends of higher rank
LOL boosting has been very common mainly because people just want to have the higher rank without all the grinding or hard work. However, there are some gamers who just want to play with their friends who already have a higher MMR. They can rank up together and enjoy the game. Coordination and teamwork is really necessary especially in the higher ranks, and having friends play the same game improves your own performance as well.
 
2. Get that Victorious Skin and other freebies by the end of the season
Every year or season of League of Legends, there are usually giveaways at the end of the season. It is a way for Riot Games to thank the participants and appreciate their efforts in playing as best as they could. For those who really excelled, they give special rewards. Those who reached at least Gold can have an exclusive skin specifically designed by Riot for that year. On the other hand, those who became Grand Masters by the end of the season will be given a special gift by the developers, delivered right to their homes. Wouldn’t it be sweet if you received even just one of these? 
 
3. Training against better opponents
Another way that boosting may help is through experiencing better players. After all, it would be best to play with someone who already knows a lot about the game. You can study how they play certain characters or roles and what do they do better than those in the lower elo. Sure, you can find a lot of tutorials on YouTube by League content creators. It would be best if you can see it for yourself. 
 
4. Escape “Elo Hell”
As League of Legends is a team online sport, you really need to play with your teammates and do the best that you can as a team. You can try to carry or take over the whole game by being a lot stronger than others, but this is not the case most of the time. It can be quite difficult to get out of the “elo hells” Iron and Bronze without some form of help. Boosting can help you get through that and play with better players who can also teach you on how to play better.
 

CS:S Christmas At The Crackhouse

By Benz, in Events, , 6 comments, 1878 views

Feeling Festive This Holiday Season? Come See What Xmas Is Like At The Crackhouse!

Graphics created by Knoxtane
Host(s): HG | EddieCam [L] [CE]
Event Manager: HG | EddieCam [L] [CE]
When:
Date: Sunday, December 22, 2019 Times: MST 7:30 CST 8:30 EST 9:30 PST 6:30 Game Server: 51.81.23.240:27016 Be in our TS event channel before the event starts! TS3 IP: hellsgamers.com How to play:
Team Deathmatch.
Kill members of the opposing team.
 
Who can play:
Everyone! Event rules:
Have to stay the entire duration of the event in order to receive prizes and or badge. Prizes are restricted to HG Recruit+ General HG rules:
NO cheats, exploits, glitching, or 3rd party tools that give you an unfair advantage over other players. NO ghosting. DO NOT be disrespectful. NO sexual harassment of players. DO NOT be racist or use racial terms. NO useless spamming of the mic, text, or radio. That means no songs/soundbites, especially if fellow clan members or players are complaining. NO recruiting or advertising for other clans in here. DO NOT wear the -hg- / [HG] / HG | tag unless you are a part of HG and are assigned that rank. NO name impersonation of anyone. If you are caught trying to crash or lag the server, you will be permanently banned. Prizes:
1st place prize will be a set of G skill Ripjaws v series RAM 16gig DDR4 2800  2nd place price will be an HG mug 3rd place prize will be an HG custom shirt Badge:

 

Nether Harvest

By Snowyamur, in Events, , 0 comments, 1948 views

The Time of Giving is here, which means it's time to give back, and for us to give more!

Enjoy bountiful ammunition, cheaper melee weapons, and cheaper blood traits for a limited time!

Graphics created by Snowyamur
Host(s): Snowyamur
Event Manager: Snowyamur
When:
Date: Sunday, November 24, 2019 Times: 3:00 PM PST - 4:00 PM MST - 5:00 PM CST - 6:00 PM EST Game Server: [HG] 24/7 Zombie Survival! | US-Central | Live (45.34.7.238:27015) Be in our TS3 event channel before the event starts! TS3 IP: hellsgamers.com How to play:
Universal 1.5x Points Multiplier enabled. Humans Resupply gives 3x the ammo. All melee weapons are 30% off from the Arsenal Crate. Zombies Blood Arsenal traits are 25% off. Who can play:
Everyone! Event rules:
Only Friend of HG+ are eligible for prizes. Only Recruit+ are eligible for badge awards. Must be in our community's TS3 event channel + respective game server for the entire event to be eligible for prizes and awards. All HeLLsGamers rules apply for the entire event. General HG rules:
NO cheats, exploits, glitching, or 3rd party tools that give you an unfair advantage over other players. NO ghosting. DO NOT be disrespectful NO sexual harassment of players. DO NOT be racist or use racist terms. NO useless spamming of the mic, text, or radio. That means no songs/soundbites, especially if fellow clan members or players are complaining. NO recruiting or advertising for other clans in here. DO NOT wear the -hg- / [HG] / HG | tag unless you are a part of HG and are assigned that rank. NO name impersonation of anyone. If you are caught trying to crash or lag the server, you will be permanently banned. Prizes:
2,500 ZS points will be raffled off to 6 participants each.
Badge: