Tag Archives: E Sports

NoScope Gaming Glasses – Gimmick?

Professional gaming used to be a thing made fun of by most entertainment platforms. Back in the early 2000s, the only ones who dared broadcast high level competitive gaming was G4. Most “pro” gaming took place during LAN parties in organized events like the legendary, high-profile Doom deathmatch tourneys or the underground Super Smash Bros Melee matchups.

This is what large gaming tournaments used to look like.
This is what large gaming tournaments used to look like.

However, with the birth of online streaming sites like Twitch, everything changed. Suddenly, game development teams had an easy way to show off their top players. This sort of entertainment sees millions of hits across the world in everything from Super Smash Bros. to the stadium held events of League of Legends.

This is what they look like now. Image courtesy of PC Gamer.
This is what they look like now. Image courtesy of PC Gamer.

This is why there was a sudden increase in products that are meant to enhance a player’s skills. Razer builds top notch gaming mice, keyboards, and more. Astro makes super high-quality headsets for hearing the footsteps of unaware foes. All of these companies saw a need in the market and fulfilled it.

There is always some skepticism with these sort of products. A Razer mouse can cost at least $80, forcing one to question whether it will truly make one a better player. For most gamers, the difference is slight, but some folks swear by these accessories or companies.

Gaming eye-wear came into being from a simple problem. Gaming for long periods of time, whether training for a tournament match against a team of rivals or trying to get every star in Super Mario 64, hurts the eyes and can cause headaches. The solution? Yellow tinted lenses that filter out the harmful blue light of monitors.

Yes, it sounds like the kind of thing followed with, “Wait! There’s more! Act now and get a second pair free!”

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However, I decided to put these lenses to the test. To do so, I purchased a pair of moderately priced glasses from NoScope Gaming. I would love to compare them to their direct competition, Gunnar Glasses, but being as they are quite expensive I won’t be doing so.

First, I do like the build of the pair I bought, the Geminis. They are sturdy enough and come with a snappy pouch to keep them in and they look pretty stylish. I ended up picking up a hard case at a local eye doctor’s office to keep them safer though. You can purchase a warranty through the site, which does get you a case. Might be something I do with the next pair.

To start things off, I chose a game I’m likely to spend many hours at a time with, Smite. Smite is a competitive game, fitting in with the targeted audience of gaming glasses, so it made sense. With all of the flashy effects and quick camera movements, the game does have a tendency to give me some brain pains.
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Yet, even after only a few hours of playing, I could feel that my eyes didn’t feel as strained. Of course, I spent almost 7-8 hours playing in total, but even in those first hours I could tell that these glasses were fairly effective. I also went on to play long periods of console games, handheld games, basically anything I was playing I threw on the glasses. I also tried a few sessions without, more times than not, I did get headaches for longer sessions.

Not only do I enjoy games, but I’m also a writer (surprise!) and spend a lot of time staring at a bright white screen. Even though the NoScope glasses are meant for gaming, anything that’s being done on a computer screen will benefit from wearing them. I even wear them at work, which is handy considering I edit sports clips, run news casts, and answer emails.

I did worry about games looking funny under a yellow tint, and yes it does seem weird. Luckily, the art direction isn’t skewed and the tint is slight enough that one can quickly get used to it. Basically, its not enough of deep yellow to throw off the style of the game.

Artistic games are treasures. I was worried gaming glasses would sully this.
Artistic games are treasures. I was worried gaming glasses would sully this.

Overall, the science behind gaming glasses isn’t really a new idea. Computer glasses have been in use for a while, but they weren’t specifically marketed to gamers until here recently. Most glasses companies have options for coatings to help those who use computers for long periods of time. Are gaming glasses something that will instantly fix a problem? No, I wouldn’t use NoScope glasses or Gunnars if I thought there was a serious issue with my eyes. That’s what doctors are for.

So far though, from my use and tests, NoScope Glasses seem to be beneficial. Do I feel like I have an edge over opponents? Not really, but I do feel like I have better gaming stamina. My work is also a little less painful, and that alone is definitely worth the thirty bucks I spent to get them.

Functionality. Did a top brand make this shotgun? Who cares. Image courtesy of Rock Paper Shotgun.
Functionality. Did a top brand make this shotgun? Who cares. Image courtesy of Rock Paper Shotgun.

So what’s the difference between a cheaper brand and a more expensive one? Think about it like a pair of sunglasses. Sure, Oakley makes a sharp pair, but do you really want to spend more than a hundred on eye wear that isn’t prescription? For some, the brand, the design, and the slightly higher craftsmanship is worth it. Most just want to keep the sun out of their eyes, though.

I can honestly recommend NoScope Gaming Glasses. They’ve provided an excellent starting point for this sort of eyewear. Really, it’s hard to explain, so try it for yourself. They might be the coolest thing ever or they might not feel that great. Either way, worth a shot.

Note: NoScope did not sponsor this article. The author does have a sponsorship account with NoScope, but was not given any products for the purpose of this post.

 

Smite World Championships 2016

Yes, I’ve harped about Smite for years, almost since its inception, but it has become one of the top E-Sports spectator games available. That is a fact, Giga Bytes. Riding off the success of League of Legends treatment of high level play and showmanship, Hi-Rez has created an amazing environment for community members, fans, and players that rivals all other gaming events.

SWC ENEMY

This year’s World Championships saw some awesome match ups and included a whole new platform with the release on the Xbox One. Both tournaments were filled with exciting moments from Thanatos triple kills to Adapting‘s dominating presence with Thor. Every god kill, tower takedown, and objective acquisition was met with the roar of thousands of diehard fans at the event. Even I, at the comfort of my home on Twitch’s livestream, found myself shouting and clapping with each battle.

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On the Xbox One, controls were still a factor, even after being available for almost a year, making dangerous gods like the Egyptian assassin Serquet less mobile. Even with less precise options, the players in the finals make it look easy. In fact, some teams opted most of their members out of the PC bracket to try to take the gold on the newest console.

The final match-up on the Xbox brought EnVyUs against COGnitive, who won last year’s World Championships. One player in particular, dubbed Omega, showed excellent play for EnVyUS with the tanky Xing Tian, forcing COGnitive to keep an eye out for his mobility and dominance.

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Unfortunately, COG was dominated by EnVyUS 3-0. The competition was fierce, but a closer margin would always have been better. Despite a fairly split record this year, COG, last year’s champions still impressed by earning second. EnVy, celebrates as the first to claim victory on the Xbox One.

The PC tournament held the most excitement, bringing more than 50,000 people on Twitch, let alone the packed house at the venue in Atlanta, Georgia. While this pales in comparison to League of Legend‘s numbers, it stands as a testament to just how far Smite has come.

The final match up put the North American underdogs Enemy against the European Epsilon who’ve put up consistent victories throughout the year. Would Enemy’s new team prove the perfect formula to combat Epsilon’s solid structure?

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No secrets here, I wanted Enemy to pull through with a victory for North America. Even though, I usually spend my picks on Epsilon, due to their record, remaining almost undefeated with a 27-1 record for the year. Enemy were definitely the underdogs, almost completely reforming their team not long before the Championships. Many were surprised at their positioning, but their skills just weren’t enough for the expert objective coverage of Epsilon.

In each match, Epsilon kept objectives on their minds, rotating in and out of their lanes, baiting in Enemy at every turn. It seemed like every time the Fire Giant was contested, one of the game’s strongest power ups, Epsilon was there to capitalize on it. The third match was the closest, as Enemy lead significantly in overall character levels and stayed ahead a few hundred gold.

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However, smart plays by Epsilon turned their potential Championship victory around, not even giving Enemy a single match victory. The European Epsilon finished out their amazing year as the top Smite team in the world, beating Enemy 3-0. Epsilon takes the one million dollar prize pool, the beautiful champion cup, and each of them earn a championship ring.
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smite ring

Now, I eagerly await a character skin to congratulate them, and give them a permanent mark in Smite history.

Not only did the Smite World Championships bring high octane competition, but it also brought a god reveal. A while back, Hi Rez confirmed it would be adding a new pantheon. Japanese gods will prove to add some more variety in the character roster, starting first with Amaterasu, The Shining Light.

Adding Japanese deities is a big step for Smite as a game that will stay in the minds of players for many years to come. Fans have been asking for new pantheons for quite some time, asking for Japanese, Celtic, and the twisted creatures of Lovecraft. Hi Rez have been at the forefront of letting the community help shape Smite, adding a Cthulhu inspired skin and many, many balance changes over the years.

All of this was built on the free to play model, offering much of the game’s content for no cost at all. Combine this with the ability to purchase every character and all future characters for about thirty dollars. Smite has become a dominant force on the PC marketplace.

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E-Sports continues to fascinate, considering most of my peers are into professional football and basketball. What’s interesting is that these people miss some games due to it not being on a TV station or stingy leagues having the rights to live streams. On the other hand, almost every major E-Sports event is streamed on Twitch for free. That alone is a dead giveaway for the popularity of the sport, aside from the support developers have given.

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Smite has been a game that I continue to come back to. It’s mechanics and competitive nature creates a timeless play environment. Hi-Rez continues to impress with their support of the game and of high level competitions.

Needless to say, Smite has a permanent home on my PC’s hard drive.

Watch the final day of the Smite World Championships in full below. Might have to skip a countdown timer to get to the action, but there are some truly epic moments.