Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

A Revolutionary First-Person Shooter Series

Ever since the year 1999, a very innovative and fresh first-person shooter (FPS) has been evolving and revolutionizing the FPS genre, known as Counter-Strike (CS). Valve Corporation, the game company responsible for creating the game over the years, has released 3 follow-ups to the original Counter-Strike; Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (early 2004), Counter-Strike: Source (late 2004), and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012). 

The thing that makes CS so different from other, larger, more expensive shooters (*cough* Call of Duty *cough*) is that the gunplay feels more heavy and real, because the weapons have recoil patterns when you spray that create a sense of accomplishment when you defeat someone. Also the tactics needed to win in the competitive scene is much more advanced than in other shooters. Since you are only allowed 5 teammates on very small and complex maps, you must work with them to make sure that all of the areas are covered, so that sneaky-beaky players don't pull flanking maneuvers on you.

The newest game released in the series, Global Offensive (CSGO), contains the same core gameplay as past titles. The recoil, tactics, and map complexity have remained almost identical. The only things that have changed over the years is the graphics...and the craze for the competitive scene.

As I talked about in my last post about eSports, I used CSGO as an example for the popularity of online sports. A ton of people tuned in to watch their favorite professional players duke it out in Stockholm. The craze for competitiveness in this game is amazing, and I am just as caught up in it as anyone else. I spend hours playing game after game trying to improve my game sense and aim just to get ranked up in the game. I love the feeling that you get when you clutch a round, or even get a singular kill. The joy that overcomes you is immense, and I think that the game design plays a big role in that. I believe that the hours you put into something results in such joy when you complete it or overcome it, and that is what makes CSGO so addictive to players. When you beat someone, you feel like it was YOU doing it, and that is all you can as for from a game.

CSGO is a solid shooter that I would recommend to anyone starting off in the genre, or looking for a change from the mainstream shooters.

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eSports

Professional Players and eSport Competitions

In the last few years, the overwhelming popularity of video games have created the newest form of professional competition: eSports. There are many different games that hold tournaments and events that tons of people tune into to watch and play video games. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) is just one example of a growing eSport competition.

In the wake of the last major tournament in the CSGO season, Dreamhack Winter 2014, the craze for virtual sports has never been higher, as just under 400,000 people tuned in to watch. The tournament was filled with nail-biting action that make people like me clench their fists in disgust and jump in the air when their favorite team pulls off an amazing play. The 16 best teams in the world met in Stockholm, Sweden this November and competed for the $100,000 check and eSport glory that awaits the victor.

So how does that impact people who don't care about this form of sport?

Well, eSports is a sign that our world is becoming more and more technologically involved. Think about it, there is a community of people that is willing to pay players massive amounts of money to beat teams and win tournaments, while sitting at their computer. It is amazing to think about how the little swipe of a mouse or the tiniest stroke of a key can win you thousands of dollars. This is why the idea of professional video-gamers has taken hold. Individuals have made a living out of this lifestyle through forming teams and practicing day-in-day-out to improve their play as a unit and win tournaments in order to make money.

For people who say that eSports is not as influential as other sports, for instance football or basketball, I would respond by saying this: 

The generation that has created this scene is still very young (an "old" age in this sport would be 25-30). This means that in 10-20 years, the form of sport will span from 5 year olds to 50 year olds, thus creating a massive following of eSports ranging all across the age spectrum. I think that in 20 years, eSports will be just as popular as football and basketball, not just because of the following it will get, but the new technology that will come out by then will be amazing. Everyone will want to be a part of the technology craze, which will pave the way for even more creative and fun competitions to be conceived.

I love video games, and I am very excited to watch and play games with friends and connect with new people who share the same passion as I do. eSports is a wonderful new form of social competition that can unite people across the globe together on one playing field...compiled of pixels. 

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Mainstream Music's Unoriginality

Where Has the Soul Gone?

You have all noticed it. Radio stations broadcasting the most popular music out there today, and most of it is the same song over and over again. This is sometimes literally the case, but even when its not, songs usually contain the same general structure over different artists or genres. There is no passion, no care, no soul that music had 20 or 30 years ago, even 50 years ago, with the classic rock bands (yes, they were the mainstream back then) that I refer to in a few past posts. The music today is not created to make people feel emotion in the lyrics, or feel the rhythm of the beat. The songs are made by massive recording studios looking to make a fortune on the next big pop love tune, or the next hardcore rap song. That is why modern music is so tasteless, and it is very unfortunate.

Companies are recreating the same songs because they worked the first time. Their motto is 'if it sells, don't change it.' Song after son on the pop radios just seems like the same theme and the same generic chord progressions and repetitive lyrics, notes, and styles. There is no thought going into this music, and I think that needs to change. If you really look at the music from the underground, indie, or alternative bands that I talk about, you will see that there is a lot of soul that goes into their music. They don't recycle songs done before, or just copy and paste their guitar riffs from staff to staff on their computer-generated music machines. They do the opposite. They come up with new, refreshing material that touches the hearts of their listeners and makes them sing at the top of their lungs and dance like there is no tomorrow. I love that kind of music and what it can to to change someone's mood, or even inspire a life-changing idea. What is so hard about making that kind of music? All it takes is some talent and real imagination. Which, ultimately, fuels our entire society.

Super Bowl Halftime Show 2015

2015 NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show Proposal

This year, the NFL has asked three big time acts, Coldplay, Katy Perry, and Rihanna, to do their halftime show for 2015. The only catch for the acts, however, is that they have to give a portion of their post-performance cash back to the NFL in order to perform. Rumors say that the proposition has received some bad receptions from the artists.

This is a big deal to the pop music community. The fact that an act is having to pay the NFL for the biggest stage year-round is mind boggling and probably suggests some changes that may come later on in the music business. There is no doubt that a huge gig such as the Super Bowl will more than pay back the financial requirements from the NFL. That is not the issue here. The issue is that a big time pop artist such as the three named must pay to be featured in a concert. That has never been heard of before. I myself think that this is foreshadowing for what might be ahead for concert performances.

Because of the current financial dilemmas being faced by many of the worlds companies, there might be many gigs that artists have to pay to perform at. This could have many affects on the music business. There might be some backlash from artists towards these big music venues. Artists might back out from a lot of concerts that they would do normally. And I think that that is a shame. I love going to concerts. The music is great and the people are fun. They get you really pumped up for anything really. I would hate for that atmosphere to somehow leave the world of music.

Links:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nfl-super-bowl-rihanna-coldplay-katy-perry-20140819

Coldplay Band Review

Band Review: Coldplay

The British alternative rock band Coldplay formed in 1996 by Chris Martin (lead vocals/piano) and Jonny Buckland (lead guitar). They originally named themselves Pectoralz, but after Guy Berryman (lead bass) joined they changed their name to Starfish. Finally, Will Champion (drums/backing vocals) joined 1998 and they changed their name to Coldplay, creating the band that people know today. In 2000, they released their worldwide hit single, 'Yellow', and gained a massive following. Over the years they have released 6 studio albums, and their newest one, Ghost Stories, has topped the iTunes store album charts in over 100 countries.

Coldplay has been one of the most well known alternative rock groups for the past decade. Martin and his band mates create relatable music with a slow and soft feel, much different to the previous groups I have reviewed. They go for a more pure sound than a lot of other groups. Martin often plays the piano to back up his vocals, and the guitar style by Berryman is very laidback and "softcore." They make powerful ballads that can really move the listener (they move me quite a bit sometimes). They can also make really fun and upbeat tunes that can pump up any crowd.

Overall I think that Coldplay is definitely a band that anyone can listen to, and with their old school setup coupled to new music styles they are really a perfect example of a modern rock band.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldplay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtb11P1FWnc

Muse Band Review

Band Review: Muse

The English Rock group Muse was formed in 1994 with members Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenhome, and Dominic Howard. Their debut album, Showbiz, was released in 1999 and the group has been growing in popularity ever since. Their following skyrocketed after the release of their fourth album, Black Holes and Revelations, in 2006. They are known for their extravagant live performances and the mix of many different genres such as space rock, progressive rock, alternative rock, symphonic rock, and electronica.

Muse is a modern rock band that brings a very different vibe to the table than the last band I reviewed, The Arctic Monkeys. Muse uses a lot of electronic music to back up their space-funk style. This really shows the change in music technology from the days of classic rock to today. I definitely love the way that Muse incorporates the electronica genre, and I think that their use of it really brings out the best in Bellamy's vocals. 

Their new album, The 2nd Law, features even more of their electronic style and space feel. The jist of the album is humanity coping with a crumbling society due to the over-use and depletion of natural resources. Personally I love the deep bass wubs and the different manipulations that they can do with their sound, but they still feature awesome guitar riffs and solos that still bring out the rock and roll sound. Their second song on the album, 'Madness', really shows off their style, as it is easy to see the build in sound from simple beats in the beginning to complex chords towards the middle of the song. 

Overall I think Muse is definitely a great example of what a modern rock band can be, and I recommend them to anyone that enjoys rock but also electronic music and even symphonic rock. They are really quite a diverse group that catches your attention and keeps you on-edge.

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse_(band)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w5KCf8hXvo

Reaction to Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons 'Rock is finally dead...' Reaction

10 days ago KISS bassist Gene Simmons had an interview with Esquire magazine in which he said 'Rock is Finally Dead. It Was Murdered.' He goes on to say that file sharing and programs like Pandora and Spotify have ruined the music business and how no one values music 'enough to pay for it.'

This interview is a really big deal to people interested in the rock genre. Since Simmons is such a well known musical figure, his saying really has taken off and inspired many reactions among music fans. He really trails off into some interesting topics such as patriotism in America but I won't get bogged down with all of that. I will just focus on the main portion in which he talks about how in the 60s-80s, any group of kids with a electric guitar, amp, drums, and mics had a shot at making it big on the rock stage. All they had to do was perform at a few gigs and be good enough for a major record label to hear about them. He says that nowadays those kinds of record labels, the ones that tried to 'help the next Beatles, Stones, Prince, Hendrix,' don't exist anymore. He states that its all due to file sharing and illegally downloading music and listening to music on Pandora or Spotify.

In my opinion, I think the rock genre is no where close to being dead. Just the fact that my blog exists shows that it isn't dead. The rock genre is not the same I know, and it never will be, but there is still that style of music out there. Most importantly, however, there are still fans of that style of music, and that is what keeps the genre alive. The fans that love to rock out when they hear a sweet bass line or that air guitar their favorite guitar solo keep new modern rock bands afloat. I understand that the new age of technology has brought about illegally downloaded music and internet radio where you can listen to artists for free, but people still buy music when they can and when they think its worth it. I myself, when buying music, usually listen to an artist on Spotify for a while and then if I like it I will buy it on iTunes. My point is that Simmons has a point with the file sharing madness, but he exaggerates it too much. Rock is definitely not dead, and I don't think it will be for a very long time. 

Links:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gene-simmons-rock-is-finally-dead-20140907
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/culture/gene-simmons-future-of-rock

Arctic Monkeys Band Review

Band Review: Arctic Monkeys

The British rock band the Arctic Monkeys started out in 2005 with their first set of singles 'Five Minutes with the Arctic Monkeys.' But they became popular with their hit single 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor,' and their first album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.' Their newest album, 'AM,' released in 2013, has received great reviews.

Ever since then they have been creating original, fresh rock and roll that brings back the feelings of the popular garage punk era from the mid-late 1970s. I love their Indie Rock style and funky bass riffs that they display very well in their latest album, 'AM.' Their lead singer, Alex Turner, has a very laid-back vocal sound, which really compliments the style of instrumentals backing him. Their newest album is a compilation of what seems to be interesting love songs that are very different from the ones you hear in mainstream pop. The lyrics that Turner creates are very complex, and once you understand what they mean you love the song even more. This band is a very good representation of the Modern Rock genre, as they incorporate many elements from the bands of the late-70s and 80s. I would recommend the Arctic Monkeys' to anyone interested in either garage-punk rock or even classic rock.

Their newest album has taken a turn from their past style. Turner and his band mates have undertaken a more slow-and-sexy style and sounding more like an American band than ever before. I think this new sound can definitely appeal to a larger audience than their uptight teenage-sounding early albums.

Overall, I think the Arctic Monkeys are one of if not the best band out there today in the modern rock genre. From Turner's genius lyrics to bassist Nick O'Malley's amazing riffs, I think this band can appeal to anyone with a taste for raw, indie-style rock.

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Monkeys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN7gSMPQFss