There is no denying that Call Of Duty is one of the most prominent FPS franchises in the gaming world. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny the staying power it has. With a new title released almost every year and a consistent fanbase that is dedicated to the point of obsession. And a lot of the titles have been instrumental in shaping the FPS genre into what it is today. The original Modern Warfare and Black Ops 2 were both huge milestones for the genre.

But there is one issue facing the Call Of Duty titles and that is they are often very repetitive. Each new title isn’t too dissimilar from the last. The gameplay loops are almost identical. So it is understandable that a lot of COD players will eventually get bored. If this has happened to you then you’re in luck. We have compiled this list of 6 amazing shooters that you will absolutely love.

1- Armored Core

The first entry in this list isn’t a first person shooter. Armored Core is a third person action shooter where you pilot an advanced mech known as an Armored Core. You can customize your mech with a variety of parts and weapons. The title was created by FromSoft, the notorious game developers responsible for Dark Souls and Elden Ring. And, like all their other titles, this game is tough.

The game is perfect for fans of COD. The weapon variety and constant action will scratch that itch for spectacle fighting. The game can sometimes feel like a military call sign quiz with how the characters communicate with one another. But it all serves to immerse you in the setting.

2- Space Marine 2

The newly released Space Marine 2 has been smashing the charts. The highly anticipated sequel is a tour de force of bug stomping goodness. The game is refreshingly simple, in an age where most triple-A titles focus on complex mechanics and an expansive narrative. Space Marine 2 focuses instead on tight gameplay, immersive aesthetics, and satisfying gunplay. If you dream of mowing down thousands of aliens with a giant bolt gun, then this is the game for you.

3- Fortnite

I’m sure I don’t have to explain Fortnite to you. One of the most popular games on the planet, Fortnite is an ideal choice for groups of friends looking to migrate away from the toxic multiplayer lobbies of COD. Fortnite is a battle royale where you have to be the last man, or team, standing out of 100 players.

The game features building mechanics which can be quite daunting for newer players. But they recently added a no-build mode. Making the game more akin to a traditional shooter.

4- Rainbow Six Siege

Siege is one of my all time favorite FPS games. It is technically an arena shooter. But it has none of the hallmarks that titles like Overwatch or Valorant fall back on. Siege is an extremely tactical 5V5 shooter that puts an emphasis on tactics and map awareness. The operators in Siege each come with their own unique ability, either offensive or defensive. Most of the terrain on each map can be reinforced or destroyed. Providing a wide array of tactical choices for you and your squad.

5- Left 4 Dead 2

Zombie games have always been difficult to get right. But Left 4 Dead 2 is everything a good zombie shooter should be. You and three other players are tasked with navigating through different maps, each with their own objectives and aesthetics. Carnivals, a Louisiana swamp, a hospital, an abandoned shopping mall. The game is immersive to the point of decadence.

The AI will throw wave after wave of basic zombies at you. The real issue comes from the special infected. These monstrous foes have a wide range of abilities that work to make your life a living hell.

6- Borderlands

The Borderlands franchise is the perfect choice for anyone who loves multiplayers shooters, wacky comedy, a dazzling array of weapons, and characters with unique abilities. You and up to three friends will explore the treacherous and wacky world of Pandora. Hunting for the fabled vaults.

The Borderlands games are most notable for their random weapon generator system. There are millions of different gun combinations that can be randomly assembled by the AI. Meaning you will never run out of new weapons to try. The story isn’t much to write home about. But the engaging gunplay and unique visual style makes this a title you and your friends can easily sink hundreds of hours into.

As we see a huge shift towards fairer working conditions for our many workforces all over the world that put the hours in for many of their companies to provide us with the majority of the services and products that we buy on a daily basis. It seems that some companies are wanting to push this idea further by providing their staff with high-end social spaces and gaming rooms where they can really take some time to themselves when they are on breaks or before and after a shift.  

It is so nice to see so many big industry names taking these steps to ensure that their workforce is looked after properly and that any time they spend working hard for their company is properly rewarded. Gaming rooms are just the start of this battle to create positive spaces in the workplace, with pay rates increasing to become more acceptable and to help provide so many hard-working individuals with the rate of pay and the work experience that they deserve. In recent news there have been a number of cases where workers have appealed for compensation regarding their treatment and their pay rate, suggesting that it is not appropriate for the level of work that they do. 

As the appeal continues and workers compensation leads are being searched for it is nice to see some companies going the extra mile for their staff during these times where negative staff treatment is no longer being tolerated. Below are a number of companies who have made this effort and the one thing that I can say is that I hope more companies follow suit with this new initiative.  

Sony

Sony was one of the first tech companies to unveil their new social spaces and gaming rooms dedicated to their hard-working head forces within many of their worldwide headquarters. It makes sense for Sony to do something like this as gaming and technology are a huge part of their enterprise, so it is likely that while they are doing a nice thing for their staff there is also an element of product testing to this initiative and its implementation.  

However, this doesn’t take away from the sentiment and in a general statement from a select few members of Sony’s staff, the unveiling of these new relaxation spaces was very well received. It has been a mantra of Sony that the happiness of the workforce is paramount to the business success and the fact that Sony is doing so well within the technology industry just shows how effective it can be to treat your staff with respect and to give them the rewards they deserve when they work so hard to maintain a business.  

Google

Another company that has implemented high-end gaming and relaxation spaces within their business premises are Google, this should come as no surprise but Google is a very technologically advanced business and the tech they implement within their offices is no exception. Google recently revealed a few pictures of their new gaming rooms and the futuristic lighting and design quality that has been used is exceptionally done. The fact that Google has gone above and beyond in terms of the design and quality of the gaming rooms they want to give to their staff just shows how much the company cares about the hard-working individuals who dedicate their time every day to building such a huge company.

Microsoft

The final company on this list that has also taken the time to give their staff the gift of some luxury social spaces and gaming rooms within their premises would have to be Microsoft. Microsoft is known for their proper treatment of their workforce from their yearly charity donations on behalf of each staff member to their high-quality insurance and pension schemes, Microsoft really knows how to keep their workers happy so that they can keep up the hard work with growing Microsoft into the huge industry giant that it is today. The gaming rooms, in particular, are very advanced and equipped with the latest consoles and plenty of controllers so that each staff member can join in for some huge group gaming sessions whenever they want to.  

The biggest debate in the gaming world is often focused around what machine people game on. People love to act like the machine they use is far superior to all others. But no faction in the gaming world is more superior than PC gamers. They make fantastical claims about PC gaming. Saying it is the only true way to game and that it offers a gaming experience like no other.

But just how valid are these claims? Is PC gaming truly the superior format? Or has console gaming finally caught up and dethroned the supposed kings of gaming?

One of the main claims PC gamers make is the versatility offered by both the freedom to create a customized machine and the huge library of games available to them. And there is a lot to be said for both of these claims.

The Hardware

Let’s start with the hardware debate. There is no denying that PC gamers do have the potential to create gaming machines that far outpace even the latest generation of consoles. This means that PC gamers have the potential to run games at their maximum graphical capacity with uninterrupted frame rates.

But there is a huge downside to this. The cost. Building a high-end gaming PC is costly. You are looking at investing $1000 minimum for a machine that will last a few years. And that is another issue. PC’s require upgrades over time to keep up with the latest games requirements. Whereas a console gamer can enjoy their console until the next generation is released.

Gaming Library

Now let us turn to the catalog of games. And this one is indisputable. The library of PC games dwarves all other consoles. One of the biggest drawbacks of a console is they often aren’t backwards compatible with games from two or three generations ago. Meaning a lot of console gamers are often locked out of playing their favorite classic games. Whereas PC gamers can easily play an older title with minimum effort.

PC gamers also have access to one of the most underrated forms of gaming. Browser games. The beauty of browser games is that the designers aren’t looking to make a profit or appease investors. They are simply making fun games for the sake of it. And it is within browser gaming websites that you will find some of the most unique and wacky titles.

No matter what machine you play on you will have to deal with the issue of exclusive titles.. Games that are tied to a single machine. Sony is notorious for making titles that are exclusive to their consoles. While Xbox has been shifting towards a joint PC/Xbox library of games. PC gamers also get a lot of exclusive titles as well. Far more than any console gamer. So that is a huge point in their favor.

The Social Aspect

In the past PC gaming was the premier format for social games. It had the best online systems and most PC games didn’t require a subscription service to be utilized. Modern consoles have caught up in the social aspect now. With their online services being far more accessible and streamlined.

But it is the subscription costs that console gamers have to pay to use online features that hands this point to the PC gamers. Let’s use Elden Ring as an example. A PC player only has to pay for their internet connection and the game. Once they’ve done that they can enjoy the online features to their heart’s content. Whereas a console gamer has to pay both these costs as well as the subscription cost for their consoles online services.

PC gamers also have access to so many more social games. Both in the form of browser games like Habbo Hotel and in virtual reality games like VRChat. PC gamers are also lucky to have better integration for social apps like Discord or Twitch. Making it far easier for them to feel like part of a gaming community than console gamers.

The Result?

While it might be annoying to see PC gamers sprouting their superior claims we can’t deny the validity of them. If you have the means to soak up the initial investment for creating a powerful gaming PC then PC gaming is the truly superior format.

Arcades were a dying breed not too long ago. At the advent of video games arcades were the only place you could go try the latest titles. But the invention of gaming consoles slowly brought arcades into decline. That was until the release of functional virtual reality technology.

Virtual reality arcades are now all the rage. Most people can’t afford a VR headset for their own home. Or they simply lack the space to properly enjoy them. VR arcades offer a fully immersive VR experience for groups of friends or single players.

Running a VR arcade can be an extremely profitable and rewarding venture. But there are a lot of things you need to consider before you open to the public. This guide will help you better understand the complexities of running your own VR arcade.

The Right Equipment

We will assume that you have already secured a good location to run your VR arcade from. One with lots of space and multiple rooms so you can host multiple groups at once. After that the main thing you need to consider is the equipment.

Most VR arcades won’t use the mainstream VR headsets such as Meta Quest or the Oculus Rift. They are too expensive and often restrictive in what programs you can run. Varjo Aero is a great brand for VR arcades to use. They are comfortable, sturdy, and come with no annual subscriptions. Meaning you get access to all the necessary software.

You will also want a number of VR accessories as well to enhance the player experience. Alongside the standard controllers you might look at getting guitar controllers, gun controllers, and omni-directional treadmills. Haptic feedback jackets are also a great way to increase the player’s immersion.

Storage

VR arcades naturally need a lot of hardware to function. And you will also need to invest in a lot of backups as well. Breakages happen. So you need replacements on standby while you repair any broken bits of kit. To that end you will want to invest in proper external storage.

There are two reasons for that. First, security. VR arcades present a pretty target for thieves. So keeping a lot of your more expensive equipment offsite when not in use is ideal. Having an external storage unit will also make it easier for you to switch up the themes of your rooms.

Secondly, insurance. You will naturally need to take out business insurance and public storage insurance. But the business and public storage insurance cost will be significantly cheaper than trying to insure just your business. Business insurance firms will likely lower your premiums if you can guarantee your more expensive equipment is safely secured offsite.

Change Your Games

The biggest draw to a VR arcade is the ability to step into another world. To immerse oneself in a different reality. To that end you want to ensure you are offering your customers a wide range of games to play. Much like how an escape room company will often change the themes of their rooms, you should constantly be adding new environments and games for your customers to enjoy.

You can keep a few of your rooms consistent. The classic zombie survival VR experience is one that people love. But you should have a few rooms that switch games every few weeks. One week it could be a game room focused on exploring a fantasy dungeon. The next week it could be a team game about piloting a starship.

Social Media Marketing

VR technology is at the forefront of the digital age right now. And, as such, you will need to focus your marketing more in digital spaces. Social media is the most powerful tool at your disposal for this.

You should be creating content every few days to post to your social media pages. Videos of customers enjoying your kit. Advertisements for your new games. Reels highlighting what kit you are using. Consider parenting with the company you buy your kit from to create joint social media posts. This is a great way to boost relations with them while also bringing in new followers.