Games

The Popularity of Video Gaming and the Most Popular Free Games Ever!

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Video gaming has soared in popularity in the recent decade, the global revenue for the gaming sector was reported to be $151 billion in 2019. Due to the market rapidly growing, the global gaming market is forecasted to be worth $259 billion by 2025.

Since gaming is known to attract millions of consumers, many industries and sectors are beginning to incorporate gaming into their business models to capitalise on this. Did you know how many individuals bet on professional gamers in video games like Valorant, Dota 2, etc. Punting in this market is becoming very popular and if this is something that interests you then here are some options that will entice you.  Continue reading “The Popularity of Video Gaming and the Most Popular Free Games Ever!”

Movies

Which Christmas film should you watch?

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It’s hard to decide what’s the best thing about Christmas. Maybe it’s the food. Just the thought of a big turkey dinner with a generous side pigs in blankets, or a warm mince pie cream smothered in double cream is enough to get our mouths watering. Or perhaps it’s the presents. Everyone loves getting treated to new perfume, clothes, socks and novelty slippers.

Whilst it’s hard to say what the best thing about Christmas is, we think you’ll agree that watching Christmas movies is certainly up there. Nothing beats the feeling of being snuggled up on the sofa with loved ones binging on festive flicks.

You’ll find all the biggest and best Christmas movies available on your Netflix, Sky or Amazon Prime account throughout the month of December. Choose from family favourites like The Grinch, Santa Buddies and The Polar Express. Laugh along to comedies like Bad Santa and Elf. Or get that warm fuzzy feeling watching the seasonal chick flicks Love Actually and The Holiday. Continue reading “Which Christmas film should you watch?”

Games

Make tonight’s episode even more fun with Love Island Bingo!

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Make tonight’s episode even more fun with Love Island Bingo!

The best thing about a reality show? Hard to say, even if there’s a script in the control room you never know what’s going to happen.

The stars have to react organically to whatever drama comes their way, so there’s something to be said for watching an organic, non-staged, reaction instead of something a writer knocked out over a lunch-break. Continue reading “Make tonight’s episode even more fun with Love Island Bingo!”

Itunes

Top Five Most Downloaded iTunes TV Programmes

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There are many UK programmes downloaded to watch and iTunes keep a chart of the most watched programmes downloaded by their users. The top five as of September 2016 are described below.

Ex on the Beach

Ex on the Beach

This is a reality television series which is made by MTV. It features four single men and four single women who have a beach holiday while they are looking for love. To shake things up their ex’s are there who either ant to get revenge on them or who want to try and get back together with them. Many of the stars of the series have also featured in other reality television shows or have returned in other series of the programme as an ex. Andrew Maxwell, the Irish comedian narrates the show.

Keeping up with the Kardashians

Keeping up with the Kardashians

This is an American reality television series that focusses on the Kardashian family. It started back in 2007 and consequently is one of the longest running US reality television series. The programme films the lives of Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian who are sisters as well as their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner as well as their parents Kris and Caitlyn Jenner. Partners and some other family members have also featured in the show as well. There have been a selection of spin off programmes as well.

Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars

This is an American teenage drama mystery programme. It is based on a book by Sara Shepard and was first shown on ABC Family in 2010. The story is based around a group of four girls who were friends until their group leader was killed and their relationships break down. However, in a later series all girls start being threatened and so come together to try to find out who it is, firstly thinking it is Alison herself but once her body is found realise that it is someone else. The success of the programme has led to more books being written to follow the original eight in the series.

Suits

Suits

This is a legal drama series which is American and was first shown in 2011. It is set in a law firm and focusses on the character Mike Ross who was a college dropout but manages to help out in the company and hide the fact that he is not qualified. It has been nominated for many awards and will have a seventh season premiere in 2017.

Victoria

Victoria itv

This is a UK television series made by ITV. It follows the early life of Queen Victoria from when she first came to the throne at 18 until she marries Prince Albert. With a star cast it is likely that this series will become a popular one but to date only one episode has been shown.

Games

Top 5 Most Downloaded Games

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The figure for the most downloaded games can vary depending on which device you look at and which app store. However, we have put together what we think are the Top five downloaded games.

Angry Birds

Angry birds is a puzzle game which was developed by Rovio Mobile who started the Angry Birds franchise. Initially designed for iOS it now have versions for Android. Windows and Blackberry. The game requires players to use a slingshot to launch birds in the air. They have to aim the birds so that thy destroy the pigs on the game. The levels get harder as the player progresses but the birds get special abilities on some levels which can be helpful to complete the levels.

Candy Crush Saga

Candy Crush Saga is a puzzle game. You have to move the candies around to get rows of at least three and they will disappear. Each level has a specific aim in order to get through it and these could be to get a certain score, destroy certain types of candies or to get certain items down to the bottom of the board. The game is made by King and is free to play. It is available to play on Facebook but also has app versions for Android, Windows and iOS. Although the app is free to download it is possible to make in game purchases which can help you to pass the levels but they are not necessary in order to progress.

Temple Run

Temple Run is a game where you guide a character along the walls of a temple. You have to be quick as he is being chased by a bunch of demonised monkeys so you may be caught by them or you could fall off the wall. The game is endless so you will keep playing until the character dies. It is possible to pick up coins during the course of the game which can be used to upgrade power-ups. The game was originally 99 cents to download but was made free at the end of 2011 and then got income from players buying in-game coins that they could use to buy aids for the game. The game is available for Android, Windows and iOS.

Pou

Pou is a virtual pet who needs looking after. It is a triangular alien that is brown but can be dressed as well as cleaned, fed, exercises and put to sleep. There are mini games as well where coins can be earned which can be used to buy new outfits as well as decorations. It is even possible to interact with other Pous if you play online. The game was published by Paul Salameh and is available for Blackberry, iOS and Android.

Pokemon Go!

Pokemon Go! Was only released in July 2016 but has become extremely popular. It works with the devices GPS system to allow players to hunt for Pokemon characters as they walk around. It was developed by Niantic and is available for iOS and Android devices. It has been controversial with people not being happy that it could potentially cause accidents and being a nuisance in some public places where popular Pokemon are located. However, many people praise the fact that it encourages players to interact with the real world and gets them out of the house.

Movies

Top 5 Most Downloaded Movies

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Statistics are not necessarily that reliable but we think that the following are the most downloaded movies of all time.

Avatar

Avatar is a movie by James Cameron which won 3 Oscars. It is a story about a paraplegic marine who was dispatched to the moon Pandora on a mission but things do not go as planned. He is being paid to get insider information to help the military mine on the moon buts finds himself falling in love with one of the aliens. He ends up having to fight for the freedom of the moon and the aliens living on it.

The Dark Knight

The film centres around The Joker who is creating problems in Gotham and so it is up to Batman to save the city. Batman has to struggle hard to fight this new enemy and even finds things becoming personal where he has to not only improve his technology but also confront what he believes in to be able to stop him.

Transformers

The film is centered around the war between the Autobots led by Optimus Prime and the Decepticons led by Megatron. They both want control of a mystical talisman which will give them unlimited power. The Autobots get it and smuggle it to Earth but Megatron finds it but arrives on earth in 1850 and gets paralysed in the cold Arctic Ocean. That is until he is found and lets someone know where the talisman is. That persons grandson then buys a car which turns out to be an autobot in disguise and then other transformers also appear and a battle begins which ends with Megatrons body awakening.

Inception

Inception focuses on a thief who steals secrets from the subconscious mind during the dream state of sleep. This has meant that he is wanted by many due to his skills but is also a fugitive. He is offered the chance of one last job which would enable him to get his life back but he has to plant an idea in someone’s head rather than steal one. This leads to an enemy predicting their moves and causing all sorts of problems for them.

The Hangover

This is a comedy based around four men, a groom-to-be, his friends and his wife-to-be’s brother. They go on a 24 hour stag party but wake up the morning after with no recollection of what happened the evening before and each with a terrible hangover. The place is in a complete mess, with things missing and items there which should not have been and the groom-to-be is missing. They then set out on a journey to find out what happened the night before and where Doug is

Music

Top 5 Most Downloaded Songs

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It is not always easy to see which songs are the most downloaded, particularly worldwide, but we think we have a potential list.

I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas

This song topped the charts in 20 countries and is the most downloaded song in iTunes history. It was the groups second single from their fifth album called The E.N.D. It was released in June 2009 and got to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 below their single ‘Boom Boom Pow’ meaning that they are only one of eleven artists who have had the number one and two spots simultaneously. It was there for 14 consecutive week and won a number of awards and accolades.

Poker Face by Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga herself admitted that this song was about poker and sex so that her boyfriends would like it as well as she said that a lot of men she had dated were very into both of these. The single was from her first studio album and topped the charts in twenty countries. It was the best selling single in 2009 across all countries and is one of the best selling singles of all time selling 9.5 million copies.

Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas

This is the second Black Eyed Peas song in the list, no surprising as it was number one for twelve weeks. It was in fact the group’s first US Number One. It was from their fifth album The E.N.D. and was their first number one single. It reached the top ten in more than 20 countries and was nominated for two Grammies, one of which it won for Best Short Form Music Video.

I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

This was not a big success in the UK bit was in the US charts for 76 weeks which was the longest run in the charts in billboard history. It was his first single taken from his third studio album called We Sing. We Dance, We Steal Things. Originally released as a limited edition EP, it was already popular before it was released. It was nominated for two grammy awards.

Viva La Vida by Coldplay

This was the sixth song in digital history to reach over four million in paid downloads. This was the second single form their album of the same name and was the bands first number one single. It won a grammy for Song of the Year and had sold over 7.1 million copies by 2014.

Apps

Top 5 Most Downloaded Android Apps

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Google Play Services

Google Play is an app store and the most common app store for those using Android devices. It has all of the apps available that are compatible with Android phones and therefore is essential for anyone wanting to download apps and is therefore installed on devices when they are bought. It also includes other features such as Google+, Maps, Drive, Cast, Ads, Wallet and many more. This means that you have access to social media, maps, cloud storage, payment service and many more services all within the one services app.

Gmail

This is the Google email service and it is one of the most popular free email services available. Having the app means that anyone with a Gmail account has access to their email whenever they need it. This is handy if you want to check email when you are out and about as well as if you have no other way of receiving email.

Google Maps

Although part of the Google Play Services package, Google Maps is often downloaded separately by those that do not want al of those items. It is an app which will enable you to find your way around while out and about and can help you know where the location of places it. You can also use street view which will allow you to see exactly what it looks like on a street that you wish to go to so that you get a good idea of what something will look like before you get there. You will also be able to plan a journey in advance.

YouTube

YouTube is a website that allows you to watch videos. You can publish your own videos or watch videos that other people have put up as well. You can share, rate and comment on videos too. Some large media companies also use it to put up videos.

Facebook

Facebook is the most popular social media site and you can either use it on your PC or as an app. The app is free to download and allows you to upload photos, videos and post information and links. You can friend other people who use it so that they can see your posts as well. Many people use it to keep friends and family updating with major events in their life such as places they have visited things they have done and things their children have done. It is common to share videos and photos so that others can enjoy them as well.