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		<title>Mikel Braman</title>
		<link>https://stayclose.social/MikelBraman3687/</link>
		<description>Latest updates from Mikel Braman</description>
		<item>
			<title>Mikel Braman posted a blog.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/blog/6623/ea-10-best-games-of-the-last-decade-ranked-according-to-metacritic/</link>
			<description><![CDATA[<br>And then there are the investors. <a href="https://apexherozone.com/posts/mastering-loba-in-apex-legends-2025-ultimate-thief-guide/">Apex Legends Support class</a> Legends dropped on Feb. 4, 2019, just a day before a major EA's Q3 2019 investor call . Perhaps if there was any indication the company wouldn't reach its revenue marks with Anthem , it instead had to find some other solution â€” even if that meant throwing away any hope for Anthem 's long-term future in favor of a short-term bump in projecti<br><br> <br>Weeks later, I invested in a gaming PC and revisited the chapter in the process. His advice impacted how I think about accessories. For example, I learned all about mouse DPI (dots per inch, for those of you who were are clueless as I was) and the relative benefits of different mouse pad sizes (big movements require a big pad). I learned wireless accessories can cause latency issues. I studied the pros and cons of different monitor sizes. I currently have a 30" monitor, but he posited a strong argument as to why I might choose a slightly smaller one in the future (essentially, something too big makes it hard to follow everything thatâ€™s happening on the scre<br><br> <br><img src="https://p0.pikist.com/photos/31/930/book-dream-travel-fantasy-woman-goal-fairy-tales-voltage-paradise-thumbnail.jpg" style="max-width:400px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;" alt="" />Pair him with me, who couldnâ€™t solve a puzzle even if it were designed for a five-year-old. Portal 2 had me banging my head against the wall. I didnâ€™t understand how he could see so many things I didnâ<br><br> <br>Lifeline can be useful in almost any team comp with her healing ability and her passive. Add to that regular drops of purple armor and she is is a solid choice, even though her playmaking ability is limited. She shines as a support, but the reason she ranks in the bottom half is that she is rarely put to good <br><br> <br>Gone are the days (for now) of trapping teams inside Bunker with Caustic traps. The open areas make Causticâ€™s speed an issue for teams, and the large buildings have enough escape routes to mitigate his effectiven<br><br> <br>The first chapter, "Gear Up," is about investing in the right gear. Unfortunately, it's primarily limited to a discussion of PC gaming gear. Given that I'm an Xbox girl in a PC world, I initially found it about as helpful as a Mozambique without a hop<br><br> <br>Star Wars might be going through a rough patch with the new trilogy of movies, but the video games released under this IP have been dynamite the last few years. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is, for lack of a better phrase, Uncharted in Star Wars . That sells it short of its engaging combat and excellent character building , but the core gameplay loop of exploration followed by epic fights bears a striking resemblance between the two ga<br><br> <br>Iâ€™m prepared to continue searching for that elusive perfect duo partner. I just want someone who likes long walks on the beach (of Geyser in Worldâ€™s Edge), enjoys watching movies (as long as they're character reveal trailers) and loves to travel (as long as it's by dropsh<br><br> <br>Given the holidayâ€™s emphasis on coupledom, it makes sense that these games would seize this opportunity to host duos events. While itâ€™s obvious that most people who are going to partner up in these modes arenâ€™t actually couples, it provides a fun take on the collective obsession with couple<br><br> <br>You see, my sweet boyfriend is extremely analytical. He addresses challenges head-on and is very good at understanding nuance. Game physics are second nature to him. In fact, his technical approach to gaming is such that it once earned him a spot on a competitive Counter-Strike team, where he and his teammates earned cash in underground tourname<br><br> <br>He impresses the importance of strategy and communication, including how to deal with teammates in high-pressure, heated moments. In those cases, Ninja suggests listening carefully to your teammates and learning from their perspectives as well. He does NOT suggest raging at them for blocking the door while you were trying to escape an enemy â€” not that I know anything about t<br><br> <br>In contrast, Anthem had no fan base to start with. EA didnâ€™t give it room to develop one. For all the criticism of Mass Effect: Andromeda , people were still talking about it. Even as a critical flop, it had little impact on peopleâ€™s feelings about the franchise as a wh<br><br> <br>In Fortnite , the right duo partner can make or break your chance to earn your half of $3 million , so it's imperative to find the right person. Iâ€™d venture to say competitive duos such as that of Reverse2k and Ninja spend more time communicating with one another than most of people will ever communicate with their partn<br><br> <br>This would usually result in disaster in the hands of a novice developer, but Bioware is anything but a novice developer. They turned the exploration heavy original and tweaked it into a dramatic thriller, filled with some of the best character and world-building the video game industry has ever seen. Reworked combat helps make ME 2 feel more visceral than the original Mass Effect . This game is a must-p<br><br> <br>Mirage likes to mess with his opponents; sending out decoys and using cloaks to hide are part and parcel of his strategy. While his decoys are not perfect, they are great for figuring out where ranged enemies are hiding. Mirage also has an excellent sense of humor and a magnetic personality, which ENTPs can relate<br>]]></description>
			<guid>https://stayclose.social/blog/6623/ea-10-best-games-of-the-last-decade-ranked-according-to-metacritic/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:52:27 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Mikel Braman posted a blog.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/blog/6613/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-apex-legends-grand-soirÃ©e-arcade/</link>
			<description><![CDATA[<br>Movement is life, almost every time. Once a team recognizes your position, they can formulate a plan to eliminate you. This even holds true in the middle of a firefight. Itâ€™s easy to get trapped in a building while the enemy flushes you out, or decides to push. Generally speaking, it is best to stick together. But it can also help to level-change within structures, particularly if your teammates are already down. Somehow, it is surprisingly easy to lose an individual if they circle around, double back, climb or descend throughout combat. And if the enemy is weakened, you can even catch them unawares while they try to loot your dead teamma<br><br> <br><img src="https://p0.pikist.com/photos/858/435/coffee-cup-pouring-cup-of-coffee-coffee-cup-drink-caffeine-hot-beverage-thumbnail.jpg" style="max-width:440px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;" alt="" />Despite speculation that Electronic Arts would shut down game studio BioWare after back-to-back flops Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem , Kotakuâ€™s Jason Schreier recently published an article claiming the beloved studio is alive and kicking . The game company is working on an overhaul of Anthem , he says,  <a href="https://apexherozone.com/posts/alter-apex-legends-2025-meta-destroying-phantom/">visite site</a> which it may call Anthem 2.0 or Anthem N<br><br> <br>Weeks later, I invested in a gaming PC and revisited the chapter in the process. His advice impacted how I think about accessories. For example, I learned all about mouse DPI (dots per inch, for those of you who were are clueless as I was) and the relative benefits of different mouse pad sizes (big movements require a big pad). I learned wireless accessories can cause latency issues. I studied the pros and cons of different monitor sizes. I currently have a 30" monitor, but he posited a strong argument as to why I might choose a slightly smaller one in the future (essentially, something too big makes it hard to follow everything thatâ€™s happening on the scre<br><br> <br>Caustic only shines when the circle is small enough to force enemy teams into condensed areas with little to no room around the traps. His position on this list is due to his lack of speed and limited utility in the current <br> <br>In this chapter, Ninja offers tips on pimping a stream to make it seem more professional. Recently, TheGamer invited me to do some product reviews. With a green screen backdrop, a nice LED light and more desktop space due to a wireless mouse option, I felt so good about my setup that I'm now convinced I'm the next Ninja (have you seen the header image on this stor<br><br> <br>It's possible the decision to release Apex Legends before Anthem was an intentional move to draw attention away from what EA knew would be a disastrous launch. Maybe in the weeks leading up to Anthem 's release, executives realized the game would be critically panned. After the beta period, players were quick to note how "broken" the game f<br><br> <br>There's then a whisper that leads into a song. "Jekyll-and-Hyde-ing me," the raspy voice says as the trailer continues before the beat picks up. The song itself is a metaphor for a number of things in the trailer, not least of which is Revenant hims<br><br> <br>This can allow you to review vast distances of the surrounding area. This will help to locate enemy squads, spot which Supply Bins have been looted, and plot your next course. Even if an enemy spots you, at least you arenâ€™t walking into their ambush up ah<br><br> <br>However, she is most clutch as a team player, granting an escape route via her ultimate in almost any situation. Whether pinned inside a building or trying to escape sniper fire outside in the open, Dimensional Rift is a life-saving ability that puts Wraith above the rest of the champi<br><br> <br>The gameplay trailer starts with a friendly-sounding advertisement for Hammond Robotics. If you're not familiar with Hammond Robotics, check out the (fake) company's website to learn about its role in building "hundreds of advanced spaceborne and mechanized defense solutio<br><br> <br>Ninja also impresses how important it is to advertise the stream. I havenâ€™t been the best at this, but when I do it, I definitely get more engagement. Turns out it's hard for people to find your stream if they don't even know you stream. W<br><br> <br>It also shows a quick flash of a MRVN billboard. This is interesting because Hammond Robotics created such robots. The image seems to reinforce the idea that MRVNs like Pathfinder are designed to be eternally optimistic, despite the truth of the circumstan<br> <br>I have a lot of respect for Ninja. The man, alongside his wife, Jessica, built an a multinational empire by playing video games. I, on the other hand, spend most of my days in my pajamas, tweeting jokes and Photoshopping bad Apex Legends me<br><br> <br>As an extra, additional bonus, this weekend will be a special Bonus Scoring Weekend. There will be 500 points of challenges available and those can be completed from 10:00 AM PT January 17 until 10:00 AM PT on January<br><br> <br>It's not unusual for Respawn and Electronic Arts to put subtle teasers into their trailers. A recent tweet from the official Apex Legends Twitter account showed correspondence that alluded to the fact that Caustic was becoming soft. One hypothesis is that this sets up a Caustic Town Takeover on Worlds Edge this season, similar to past takeovers for Wraith, Octane and Mir<br>]]></description>
			<guid>https://stayclose.social/blog/6613/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-apex-legends-grand-soirÃ©e-arcade/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:31:28 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Mikel Braman posted a blog.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/blog/6500/what-apex-legends-character-should-you-play-based-on-your-mbti/</link>
			<description><![CDATA[<br>Perhaps its continued support of the game is a redemption effort of sorts. Back in February, i n a move that signaled how drastically out of touch game publishers can be with the gaming community, EA surprised the world by launching <a href="https://apexherozone.com/">Apex Legends Beginner Guide</a> Legends within weeks of Anthem â€™s scheduled release. The former appeared as a surprise drop on Feb. 4, 2019. The latter officially launched on Feb. 22, 2019, following a beta event from Jan. 25-27 and early releases for EA Origin Access on PC and EA Access for Xbox on Feb.<br><br> <br>Should your attack fail, using a smoke bomb or artillery strike can allow you to disengage from the fight and retreat to assess what went wrong. This combined with the fact that Bangalore gets faster when under fire means that she is a hard woman to get the jump<br><br> <br>R-99 (SMG): Of all the small arms in the game, the R-99 is perhaps the closest players got to a near-AR-level weapon. Aside from having decent handling, the larger damage output of the R-99 makes it a great early-game weapon for fast-paced skirmishes involving Revenant, be it in short-ranged or middle-ranged encount<br><br> <br>Jump Towers will consistently give away your position, once you launch from the top. And often, theyâ€™re used in a hurry to outrun the relentless Ring. But those players who rotate with planned strategy can use Jump Towers for another purpose: recon. Rise up the Jump Tower, and just before you reach the balloon, drop back d<br><br> <br>Mobility inspires stealth: Unlike other Legends, Revenant has Passive traits that boost his crouching and climbing mechanics, effectively motivating stealth-inclined movements in the game. Compared to other Assault characters, these qualities make Revenant an ideal assassin, perfect for players who love springing upon enemies for quick ki<br> <br>This can allow you to review vast distances of the surrounding area. This will help to locate enemy squads, spot which Supply Bins have been looted, and plot your next course. Even if an enemy spots you, at least you arenâ€™t walking into their ambush up ah<br><br> <br>Keep Death Totems close but hidden: While Death Totem (Ultimate) is a nifty provider of a second life for Revenantâ€™s team, that life becomes useless when the Totem is destroyed. In that regard, Revenant users should position Death Totems near areas of interest but hidden well enough that theyâ€™re not the first location enemy teams would choose when looking for t<br><br> <br>Unless youâ€™re sporting some gold, healing can easily get you killed. And even if you eliminate an entire squad, you are always vulnerable to a Third Party. They will be looking to take advantage of your weakened health after hearing all the gunfire. True, many have learned that looting an eliminated enemy will offer up a full Body Shield. However, this can also be crucial in the middle of a firefight. If youâ€™re out of Shield Cells or Batteries, you can finish off a knocked opponent for their armor. More likely, it can also genuinely be worth it to swap for lesser armor sitting nearby, just to survive in a pinch. Particularly if your teammates are down, leaving you without cover or t<br><br> <br>One of the most popular titles within the battle royale style of games, **Apex Legends ** provides a rapid style of gameplay that is unrivaled in its speed and intensity. The game takes inspiration from the cult classic Titanfall providing players with a breadth of movement options. Apex combines these movement options with a hero style shooter similar to the likes of Overwatch. Each legend providing a unique and differing playstyle than their peers. This encourages a variety of different styles in which aspiring Apex players can develop and master while maintaining a sense of identity and individuality through their character archet<br><br> <br>Silence (Tactical): Thanks to Revenantâ€™s special tech, he can throw a device that acts as a weak grenade. Aside from damaging enemies, this disables all the abilities of enemies caught in the blast for a durat<br><br> <br>It's a gamble to launch any two major releases within a week of each other. However, it was especially bold of EA to bring on some of Twitch 's biggest names to play Apex Legends , spending a rumored $1 million to have Ninja play on stream . In doing so, Anthem fell by the ways<br><br> <br>As mentioned, the firing range is an essential place to improve at the battle royale giant. In this mode, players are provided ever weapon, equipable item and secondary weapon in the game. Becoming familiar with each of these weapons will make a novice player into an exp<br><br> <br>Might as well make crouching default: Players experience more benefits while crouching than ordinary walking. For instance, ADS during crouch is much faster, making Revenantâ€™s hitbox much smaller. Not to mention, accuracy is boosted during crouch aims. Moreover, crouch-walking makes no noise, making Revenant the perfect ambus<br> <br>This isnâ€™t literally a finisher, but rather, a workaround for knockdown shields. True, itâ€™s generally best to leave knocked enemies be while you finish their teammates. However, they will always give away your position. And you might actually need their armor in tough situations, like a Third Partyâ€™s attack. So, hereâ€™s a little tip for finishing them off quicklyâ€”a knocked enemy cannot turn as quickly as you strafe. Slide to the left, convincing them to point their shield at you, then promptly slide to the right. Unless they drop their shield altogether, they wonâ€™t turn quickly enough to stop your bullets. Fooling them into turning the wrong way, trying to anticipate your movement, consistently wo<br>]]></description>
			<guid>https://stayclose.social/blog/6500/what-apex-legends-character-should-you-play-based-on-your-mbti/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:28:48 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Mikel Braman posted a blog.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/blog/6390/ea-killed-anthem-by-launching-apex-legends-the-same-month/</link>
			<description><![CDATA[<br>Revenant's crouching ability allows the assassin to maintain his normal walk speed even when crouching. This may sound like an insignificant skill but it allows for some powerful in-game application. Revenant's rapid crouch speed allows him to cover a large amount of distance silently. Crouch walking in this game prevents an enemy player from hearing your footsteps and is essential for stealth-oriented success. This makes Revenant's archetype as an assassin-style character incredibly easy to incorporate in his gamep<br><br> <br>Clank is similar to BT-7274 in that the personality between the two characters is a strong bond. Even though Cooper and BT's personalities are more serious, Ratchet and Clank still have a similar relationship in a lighter tone. Clank's ability to be smart and funny in serious situations is enjoyable. Clank would make the perfect companion to any<br><br> <br>If someone told you that they spent the last few days questing to obtain the Thong of Virtue, you would likely call them insane. Yet that is what Deathspank is all about. This parody of typical aRPG titles sets players on an epic quest to find the Artifact, a bacon-looking heirloom with unimaginable po<br><br> <br>There's then a whisper that leads into a song. "Jekyll-and-Hyde-ing me," the raspy voice says as the trailer continues before the beat picks up. The song itself is a metaphor for a number of things in the trailer, not least of which is Revenant hims<br><br> <br>Many people will celebrate Valentineâ€™s Day with new loves or longtime partners, while others will lament the fact that they canâ€™t get a date at all. But in my experience, finding a date for Valentineâ€™s Day is a feat far less difficult than finding the perfect duo part<br><br> <br>Throughout the commercial, scenes flicker, projecting the aura that things arenâ€™t as safe and secure as Hammond would like you to believe. Superimposed images show a very different Capitol City, which is split into two sections with lava flowing through<br> <br>Even if you dislike the gameplay presented in this title, the amount of genuine passion present makes this game such a treat to play, finally nailing the feeling of Star Wars that fans haven't seen in arguably a dec<br><br> <br>When your carefully-crafted duo team inevitably loses, thereâ€™s no blaming the random third player that was part of your team. The second that one player makes a risky move that gets them killed, the blame game beg<br><br> <br>In its original incarnation, Destiny wasnâ€™t a great game. However, players stayed with it while the creators committed themselves to improving the game. The first Destiny went through a drastic transformation with The Taken King expansion. In Destiny 2 , which also had a shaky start, Bungie turned it around again with the Warmind expansion. It only got better from th<br><br> <br>Apex Legends was poised to immediately garner a large fanbase due to its status as a free-to-play game. Anthem , on the other hand, had a higher barrier to entry as it cost at least $60 to download and play. This alone should have led someone at the top to question whether the games would hinder one another's succ<br><br> <br><img src="https://p0.pikist.com/photos/582/676/refurbishment-apple-apple-cores-miniature-figure-modelleisenbahn-figure-miniature-art-creative-small-thumbnail.jpg" style="max-width:420px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;" alt="" />Iâ€™m prepared to continue searching for that elusive perfect duo partner. I just want someone who likes long walks on the beach (of Geyser in Worldâ€™s Edge), enjoys watching movies (as long as they're character reveal trailers) and loves to travel (as long as it's by dropsh<br><br> <br>These thematic Battle Pass skins are intriguing as they play into the Jekyll-and-Hyde aspect of the trailer. Skins sometimes connote a nod to the game's lore, such as the Wraith Voidwalker skin. While it may be a stretch, it's possible that the two-faced theme may end up with Lifeline, Wraith and Wattson usurped by darkn<br><br> <br>However, Gears 5 gave Jack a sense of individualism by letting fans control him. Players can take on the role of Jack through horde mode and the campaign. Having the ability to play as Jack is even better when he gets brand-new abilities. Jack is consistently upgraded in the campaign and his abilities are customizable in horde mode. These changes make him an enjoyable character to p<br><br> <br>Star Wars might be going <a href="https://Apexherozone.com/posts/apex-legends-season-16-revolution-class-overhaul-tdm-arrival/">click through the following web site</a> a rough patch with the new trilogy of movies, but the video games released under this IP have been dynamite the last few years. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is, for lack of a better phrase, Uncharted in Star Wars . That sells it short of its engaging combat and excellent character building , but the core gameplay loop of exploration followed by epic fights bears a striking resemblance between the two ga<br><br> <br>For decades, games have given players the opportunity to work together via two-player co-op modes. In the arcade, there was Contra and Double Dragon . Nintendo had games like River City Ransom and Streets of Rage . Sega had notable co-op duos such as Sonic and Tails and ToeJam and Ea<br><br> <br>The sheer number of decisions players can make as Connor is mind-blowing, leading to some tense moments as players try to play the game the way they want without any compromises. Regardless of the trajectory they choose for Connor, he'll stand out as one of the best video game robots that players can cont<br>]]></description>
			<guid>https://stayclose.social/blog/6390/ea-killed-anthem-by-launching-apex-legends-the-same-month/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:09:40 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Mikel Braman posted a blog.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/blog/6348/apex-legends-character-guide-to-every-playable-legend/</link>
			<description><![CDATA[<br>But whatâ€™s interesting is how Apex Legends is able to present itself as both a character showcase and a plot-driven narrative, using the battle royale concept as the story framework. Keep in mind how impressive this is in an era where some question whether games should bother to include narrative at <br><br> <br>Her abilities make sure that the squad is fully healed and equipped before their next fight. Lifeline protects her teammates in battle while she revives them with her defensive revive shield and her gifts of better mags and weap<br><br> <br>Gibraltar's Defensive Bombardment packs a real punch when you are in a tight spot. Like with Caustic, Gibraltar's large size is a bit of an issue as he is an easy target, but that is why he has shields in his arse<br> <br>While I loved playing every game in my top five, I put Control at number one because of the way it grabbed my attention and held it in a way that the other four just couldnâ€™t. It was creepy and bizarre in all the right, unique ways. Iâ€™d obviously never want to actually venture into the Oldest House for real, but Control made it a joy to explore with its unsettlingly intriguing twists and tu<br><br> <br>Pathfinder, as hinted in his name, is all about maneuverability. His grappling hook and zip line mean he can get anywhere he wants fast. The zip line ability is a huge help for the squad as anyone can use your zipline, meaning your entire team can get into the perfect spot for att<br><br> <br><img src="https://freestocks.org/fs/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/french_bulldog_on_a_leash_in_the_meadow-1024x683.jpg" style="max-width:410px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;" alt="" />ENTPs are devil's advocate types who love to get into others' heads and outmaneuver them in battle. Their leadership qualities are to be admired and their innovative thought can create interesting solutions. It is for these reasons that the perfect counterpart for them is the trickster Mir<br><br> <br>It also shows a quick flash of a MRVN billboard. This is interesting because Hammond Robotics created such robots. The image seems to reinforce the idea that MRVNs like Pathfinder are designed to be eternally optimistic, despite the truth of the circumstan<br><br> <br>A good Lifeline will prevent any of her teammates from going down. Her ability to cast a bubble shield around anyone who she is reviving on top of her multiple ally healing drone. Her ultimate allows for a support-oriented care package to drop, providing her teammates with shield, health and shield pa<br> <br>Arguably the hardest aspects of Apex to master is its roster of Legends. Each character has a very distinct style of play which requires a firm knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses. Trying to excel at playing this title without understanding how your character operates is an easy way to lose a game fast. You are not only a liability for your team but also impeding your own growth in the popular title. This guide will present the general strengths and weaknesses of each of the Legends in Apex Leg<br><br> <br>Intellectual, innovative, and creative, INTPs are all about logic and providing different perspectives. Wraith is all about flinging herself into the void, hearing voices from the other side, and weaving between dimensions, so that is awesome. Wraith is more above ducking in and out of battles; she knows when to push the advantage and when to do a tactical retr<br><br> <br>Throughout the commercial, scenes flicker, projecting the aura that things arenâ€™t as safe and secure as Hammond would like you to believe. Superimposed images show a very different Capitol City, which is split into two sections with lava flowing through<br><br> <br>As Respawn's best minds collaborated with one another, the vision grew. The <a href="https://Apexherozone.com/posts/10-game-mechanics-that-got-patented-why-it-matters/">game Mechanics patents</a> would somehow have to fit into the Titanfall universe. It would have to have a framework that supported an ongoing narrative, which the team would continue to build upon via live service updates. But most importantly, if the gameplay going to be about the characters, then the player base would need to deeply care about these charact<br><br> <br>Itâ€™s worth reading the entire thread. However, to offer a quick summary: Early in the game's development, he was unsure of his purpose as a writer in a battle royale game. Up until then, the battle royales had deemphasized the role of story. He feared this meant he may soon no longer have a job. Still, while he waited for more information, he found himself crafting lore involving the Titanfall universe. He was no stranger to this universe â€” he'd had a hand in creating as a writer on Titanfall and Titanfall 2 . Eventually, his Respawn coworkers approached him for his ideas on how the teamâ€™s forthcoming game might fit into that universe. Subsequently, the team started discussing charact<br><br> <br>None of these battle royale games drew upon "hero shooter" model that Overwatch had popularized. Overwatch is purely a team game. To succeed, individual players must combine their unique abilities to make decisions that benefit the team as a whole. And, because heroesâ€™ abilities to support one another are integral to team success, Activision Blizzard had learned to leverage characters' backstories into social media content such as alternate reality games (ARG) and cinemagra<br>]]></description>
			<guid>https://stayclose.social/blog/6348/apex-legends-character-guide-to-every-playable-legend/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:18:00 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Mikel Braman posted a blog.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/blog/6293/ea-killed-anthem-by-launching-apex-legends-the-same-month/</link>
			<description><![CDATA[<br>ISTPs are all about getting their hands dirty, inventing things, and then improving on them. One of Bangalore's strengths is her smoke bomb which allows her to engage or disengage her enemies when she wants. This means that ISTPs can allow their love of trial and error to take over and create the perfect attack p<br><br> <br>Weeks later, I invested in a gaming PC and revisited the chapter in the process. His advice impacted how I think about accessories. For example, I learned all about mouse DPI (dots per inch, for those of you who were are clueless as I was) and the relative benefits of different mouse pad sizes (big movements require a big pad). I learned wireless accessories can cause latency issues. I studied the pros and cons of different monitor sizes. I currently have a 30" monitor, but he posited a strong argument as to why I might choose a slightly smaller one in the future (essentially, something too big makes it hard to follow everything thatâ€™s happening on the scre<br><br> <br>Always Be Closing (January 20-21): This mode takes Alec Baldwinâ€™s advice a little too literally. The ring will do far more damage and will be constantly getting smaller and smaller throughout the entire ro<br><br> <br>While I loved playing every game in my top five, I put Control at number one because of the way it grabbed my attention and held it in a way that the other four just couldnâ€™t. It was creepy and bizarre in all the right, unique ways. Iâ€™d obviously never want to actually venture into the Oldest House for real, but Control made it a joy to explore with its unsettlingly intriguing twists and tu<br><br> <br>Itâ€™s hard to know what to make of another iteration of Anthem . Certainly, people wonâ€™t flock to it in droves due to name recognition or a relationship with the franchise. Without that going for it, Anthem 2.0 will have to be a groundbreaking game if it wants to attract a fanb<br><br> <br>Another great option for INTJs is Caustic the poison expert. Rather than manipulating enemies into a firefight, <a href="https://apexherozone.com/posts/mastering-caustic-in-apex-legends-a-personal-journey-of-area-control/">Caustic abilities breakdown</a> is all about setting poisonous traps for them. Getting your enemy to fall into your poisonous trap can be exhilarating for the tactical INTJ, especially when it wins you the bat<br><br> <br>It's impossible to say whether Anthem would have fared better had it not been competing Apex Legends . __ The two are very different games. One is a PvP game, while the other is an RPG with gunplay mechanics. However, they share similarities in that theyâ€™re both sci-fi FPS games that rely on gunplay and tactical strat<br><br> <br>The classic remake totally revitalized our love for the game and series overall. Pretty much everything about it was well-executed... and, I mean, c'mon. The addition of the beloved Tofu Survivor should be enough to make any Game of the Year l<br> <br>Observant and sensitive to others, ESFPs are showmen who love to put on a show. Gibraltar is a defensive shield for his friends and an absolute unit to use against the enemy. Two of his abilities are shields to protect his squad in battle or during recovery, but he does have a crazy weapon up his sle<br><br> <br>I have a lot of respect for Ninja. The man, alongside his wife, Jessica, built an a multinational empire by playing video games. I, on the other hand, spend most of my days in my pajamas, tweeting jokes and Photoshopping bad Apex Legends me<br><br> <br>This chapter is primarily about the role of deliberate practice in improvement. A major takeaway is to set goals while playing to improve specific skills. For instance, in order to become better with sniper rifles, a person should plan to spend an entire gaming session practicing only sniper rifle kills. (Note to self: "Stop being a potato" is NOT a good go<br><br> <br>_ Apex Legends _ recently introduced a Firing Range where I can apply these tactics. Typically, Iâ€™ll spend 20-30 minutes at the start of each session exploring recoil patterns or experimenting with different sensitivities. Once Iâ€™ve tired of that, Iâ€™ll then head into games with dedication to specific weapons or weapon clas<br><br> <br>Destiny 2 may not have quite as many players as other major games, but its community is passionate. They work hard to keep the game alive and support improvements. The core game itself is now free to play on all consoles and platforms, including the newly-launched Stadia . This will spawn even more revenue opportunities as players invest in seasonal content and purchase cosmet<br><br> <br>ENTPs are devil's advocate types who love to get into others' heads and outmaneuver them in battle. Their leadership qualities are to be admired and their innovative thought can create interesting solutions. It is for these reasons that the perfect counterpart for them is the trickster Mir<br><br> <br>The biggest robbery of the 2019 Game Awards? A Plague Tale: Innocence not winning anything. Sure, the game wasn't perfect, but in terms of an original single-player narrative, the game was unmatched in its story and emotional impact. Disturbing enough to make me never want to to play it again, but fun enough to make me consider it, A Plague Tale: Innocence will never get the credit it deserves. Maybe its sequel will finally bring more players aboard, tho<br>]]></description>
			<guid>https://stayclose.social/blog/6293/ea-killed-anthem-by-launching-apex-legends-the-same-month/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:54:56 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Mikel Braman posted a blog.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/blog/6208/thegamer-news-teams-favorite-games-of-2019/</link>
			<description><![CDATA[<br>LIVE. DIE. LIVE (January 16 - 17): As long as one member of your team is alive, the entire team will respawn when the ring closes, so make sure everyone you meet is good and dead or their friends might make a comeb<br><br> <br>Taking Ninjaâ€™s advice, Iâ€™ve tried different strategies: Dropping hot every game, carrying shotguns only, consistently playing a single specific character (which is, by the way, something he also recommends to maximize your success with that character). Spoiler alert:  <a href="https://Apexherozone.com/posts/ballistic-in-apex-legends-is-he-blisk-s-son/">Apexherozone.Com</a> I die a ton! It's tough to win a sniper fight with dual EVA-8s. But ultimately, this helped me learn how to better use these weap<br><br> <br>Pathfinder is the one throwing this shindig so heâ€™s all decked out in a classic outfit befitting of a upper class 19 th century gentleman. Although this does raise the question of how he was able to grow a moustache, metallic facial hair is probably low on the list of insane things in Apexâ€™s unive<br><br> <br>Perhaps surprisingly, applying all this advice made a positive impact on my gameplay. While _ Apex Legends _ â€™ new map and changes to skill-based matchmaking may have also contributed to these improvements, I noticed the changes started happening around the time I started using these strateg<br><br> <br>Ninja also impresses how important it is to advertise the stream. I havenâ€™t been the best at this, but when I do it, I definitely get more engagement. Turns out it's hard for people to find your stream if they don't even know you stream. W<br><br> <br>Rather than a combat initiator, this ability is a powerful weapon to close out combat scenarios. In the closing moments of combat, abilities will be at their most useful, whether it be a Pathfinder zipping to safety or a Gibraltar dropping a bubble on his team. Abilities tend to be used the most during the deciding moments of a team fight. So using this ability to deny these potential squad saving skills can be an easy way to wipe an enemy sq<br><br> <br>I have a lot of respect for Ninja. The man, alongside his wife, Jessica, built an a multinational empire by playing video games. I, on the other hand, spend most of my days in my pajamas, tweeting jokes and Photoshopping bad Apex Legends me<br><br> <br>He offers suggestions on how to act on stream, which essentially amounts to a heightened version of oneself: "Smile a little bigger, be a little louder, wave your arms a little wider." He highlights building a community, something Iâ€™ve inadvertently been doing anyway through my obsession with this g<br><br> <br>Disco Elysium is a game where you can be a godawful human being or a superstar cop. I don't think I've had more fun this year with a game than I did stumbling around as my drunken detective, wearing a kimono and waxing poetic about liquor, karaoke, and the pointlessness of life. It's not for everyone, but if you love world-building and playing as self-loathing scumbags, then you should be playing Disco Elysium until you're face down on the fl<br><br> <br>A huge part of what made Portal a runaway success was the personality displayed by GLaDOS, a hilarious character who tried to trick Chell into being killed by one of the many death traps she'd set up throughout the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. Her charismatic performance makes her an excellent addition to the first game, while her backstory will send chills down a player's spine if they play the seq<br><br> <br>There will be two types of rewards available during the Grand SoirÃ©e Arcade event. First, thereâ€™s a variety of gun skins and a special Mirage skin that will be given out by earning points from the event challenges. The other fancy skins will added to Apexâ€™s direct purchase shop along with other cosmetics inspired by Art Deco designs. Letâ€™s take a look at what qualifies as fancy in the world of Apex Lege<br><br> <br>Apex Legends made a powerful debut Q1 of 2019, EA opting for a bold "no marketing" tactic. Embodying the trends of 2019 by building on the popular battle royale genre, Apex Legends released on Windows, PS4, and Xbox One for free. Streamers contributed to the gameâ€™s success, but players stuck around due to the unique incorporation of ability-based heroes and a wonderfully addicting set of movement mechanics. Apex barely edges this one out due to Respawnâ€™s slow-moving developmental support, but the fact that competitives and casuals alike have stuck around is a testament to the gameâ€™s impressive fundament<br><br> <br>Wattsonâ€™s skin kind of looks like what a French revolutionary soldierâ€™s uniform would be if that war happened in the year 2525. Caustic is wearing a nice purple number, but his hair looks like he got hit by Timefall from Death Strandi<br><br> <br>Compared to other Legends in Apex Legends , Revenantâ€™s toolkit allows him to be better equipped when dealing with extremely aggressive situations, especially when zooming in for the kill after disabling the abilities of enemies. As a member of the Assault Class , Revenant has access to more options to customize his weapons to eliminate his enemies much faster than before. Hereâ€™s what the Assault Class offers Revenant players as Season 16: Revelry launches in 2<br>]]></description>
			<guid>https://stayclose.social/blog/6208/thegamer-news-teams-favorite-games-of-2019/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:38:31 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Mikel Braman posted a blog.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/blog/6207/thegamer-news-teams-favorite-games-of-2019/</link>
			<description><![CDATA[LIVE. DIE. LIVE (January 16 - 17): As long as one member of your team is alive, the entire team will respawn when the ring closes, so make sure everyone you meet is good and dead or their friends might make a comeb<br><br> <br>Taking Ninjaâ€™s advice, Iâ€™ve tried different strategies: Dropping hot every game, carrying shotguns only, consistently playing a single specific character (which is, by the way, something he also recommends to maximize your success with that character). Spoiler alert: I die a ton! It's tough to win a sniper fight with dual EVA-8s. But ultimately, this helped me learn how to better use these weap<br><br> <br>Pathfinder is the one throwing this shindig so heâ€™s all decked out in a classic outfit befitting of a upper class 19 th century gentleman. Although this does raise the question of how he was able to grow a moustache, metallic facial hair is probably low on the list of insane things in Apexâ€™s unive<br><br> <br>Perhaps surprisingly, applying all this advice made a positive impact on my gameplay. While _ Apex Legends _ â€™ new map and changes to skill-based matchmaking may have also contributed to these improvements, I noticed the changes started happening around the time I started using these strateg<br><br> <br>Ninja also impresses how important it is to advertise the stream. I havenâ€™t been the best at this, but when I do it, I definitely get more engagement. Turns out it's hard for people to find your stream if they don't even know you stream. W<br><br> <br>Rather than a combat initiator, this ability is a powerful weapon to close out combat scenarios. In the closing moments of combat, abilities will be at their most useful, whether it be a Pathfinder zipping to safety or a Gibraltar dropping a bubble on his team. Abilities tend to be used the most during the deciding moments of a team fight. So using this ability to deny these potential squad saving skills can be an easy way to wipe an enemy sq<br><br> <br>I have a lot of respect for Ninja. The man, alongside his wife, Jessica, built an a multinational empire by playing video games. I, on the other hand, spend most of my days in my pajamas, tweeting jokes and Photoshopping bad Apex Legends me<br><br> <br>He offers suggestions on how to act on stream, which essentially amounts to a heightened version of oneself: "Smile a little bigger, be a little louder, wave your arms a little wider." He highlights building a community, something Iâ€™ve inadvertently been doing anyway through my obsession with this g<br><br> <br>Disco Elysium is a game where you can be a godawful human being or a superstar cop. I don't think I've had more fun this year with a game than I did stumbling around as my drunken detective, wearing a kimono and waxing poetic about liquor, karaoke, and the pointlessness of life. It's not for everyone, but if you love world-building and playing as self-loathing scumbags, then you should be playing Disco Elysium until you're face down on the fl<br><br> <br>A huge part of what made Portal a runaway success was the personality displayed by GLaDOS, a hilarious character who tried to trick Chell into being killed by one of the many death traps she'd set up throughout the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. Her charismatic performance makes her an excellent addition to the first game, while her backstory will send chills down a player's spine if they play the seq<br><br> <br>There will be two types of rewards available during the Grand SoirÃ©e Arcade event. First, thereâ€™s a variety of gun skins and a special Mirage skin that will be given out by earning points from the event challenges. The other fancy skins will added to Apexâ€™s direct purchase shop along with other cosmetics inspired by Art Deco designs. Letâ€™s take a look at what qualifies as fancy in the world of Apex Lege<br><br> <br>Apex Legends made a powerful debut Q1 of 2019, EA opting for a bold "no marketing" tactic. Embodying the trends of 2019 by building on the popular battle royale genre,  <a href="https://Apexherozone.com/posts/ballistic-in-apex-legends-is-he-blisk-s-son/">Apexherozone.Com</a> Apex Legends released on Windows, PS4, and Xbox One for free. Streamers contributed to the gameâ€™s success, but players stuck around due to the unique incorporation of ability-based heroes and a wonderfully addicting set of movement mechanics. Apex barely edges this one out due to Respawnâ€™s slow-moving developmental support, but the fact that competitives and casuals alike have stuck around is a testament to the gameâ€™s impressive fundament<br><br> <br>Wattsonâ€™s skin kind of looks like what a French revolutionary soldierâ€™s uniform would be if that war happened in the year 2525. Caustic is wearing a nice purple number, but his hair looks like he got hit by Timefall from Death Strandi<br><br> <br><img src="http://www.imageafter.com/image.php?image=b19fabrics009.jpg&dl=1" style="max-width:430px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;" alt="" />Compared to other Legends in Apex Legends , Revenantâ€™s toolkit allows him to be better equipped when dealing with extremely aggressive situations, especially when zooming in for the kill after disabling the abilities of enemies. As a member of the Assault Class , Revenant has access to more options to customize his weapons to eliminate his enemies much faster than before. Hereâ€™s what the Assault Class offers Revenant players as Season 16: Revelry launches in 2<br>]]></description>
			<guid>https://stayclose.social/blog/6207/thegamer-news-teams-favorite-games-of-2019/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:38:26 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
		</item>
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			<title>Mikel Braman updated their profile information.</title>
			<link>https://stayclose.social/MikelBraman3687/</link>
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			<guid>https://stayclose.social/MikelBraman3687/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:38:20 +0000</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>Mikel Braman</dc:creator>
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