A montage video featuring clips of me and my friend who's name is also Brian play Volibear Singed bot lane in a normal game of League of Legends. We like to go flippy dips VoliSinged often. I edited everything in Sony Vegas, but I do admit after watching there are several things I should have done in After Effects like particle effects and more 3D stuff. However now that I'm back to my PC I will be uploading a lot more again!
Yes, I am finally back to my desktop computer. I know there was a large break in between making videos that's because I moved all the way from Tennessee to Boston, Mass temporarily and I didn't have access to my huge desktop PC for editing and recording tools for the whole 2 and a half months I was there. While I was there I worked at a grocery store and only had access to my laptop which is 5 years old now, the Dell XPS 17. Can you even buy these anymore? If only I was a famous YouTuber and had the money to drop on a fancy gaming laptop hehe. That will come soon enough guys. Keep those likes and subscribers comin!
Should I make them?! If you don't already know Hearthstone is an online card game created by Blizzard entertainment. It is extremely simple and easy to learn for any age really. The game is very clean and well made seems to run smooth on every device whether it be a desktop computer, laptop, or even mobile devices like my Galaxy S5. It is free to play but you are able to purchase expansions that reward you with legendary cards as well as packs of cards that would otherwise cost you quite a bit of in game gold. Nearly everything is obtainable with in game currency that you can earn every day by doing daily quests!
Hearthstone is a game that I have been able to enjoy for nearly a year now! I am strictly a free to play player. As an F2P player the game is much harder than buying all of the expansions with real money. The expansions can be bought for around $4 each and every single one comes with some extremely useful and more often than not "OP" cards. However in this year I have been able to cop a couple legendary cards on my own with no money. Why? Cuz I'm broke foo'!
However I wouldn't mind spending a bit on the game if you guys want to see more videos. Anything for you guys <3
One of the things I like the most about Hearthstone is the fact that it does not punish you very much for losing. Stats are not saved, and I feel it is just a very easy going fun casual game to play.
I'm often doing other things on the other monitor when I play Hearthstone. Whether it's doing some SEO work for my clients over at Daily Audience, playing old school runescape, or reading my e-mail.
Drop by my youtube channel and drop a comment if you enjoy my content! Have any suggestions? I will never turn down a video suggestions if I already own it.
The galaxy s5 has a great camera on it! With the ability to record full HD at 60 fps it can be used to catch every frame of extreme sports and other things. A wide angle lens is nearly essential to recording such things like skateboarding. I purchased this with recording skateboarding in mind.
It was only $6 so I didn't expect much from it. However I was very surprised at the quality of the product. It does exactly what I want it to, and I will be using it to record videos for my youtube channel.
Blue Yeti Microphone for gaming commentary and more
I purchased the Blue Yeti Special Black edition microphone from a user on Ebay for $90. I've been recording videos for years and I didn't have a high quality microphone which I feel is essential at this point. Before this I was using either the microsoft HD lifecam mic that was listed in the my computer setup post. I will be making a video comparing all of my microphones very soon!
First impressions
Packaging was strange to get into but very nice and appealing. I was very surprised at the weight of it! It is quite heavy. However I feel that quality equipment would have weight to it so I'm happy. The build is very sturdy and it looks extremely elegant in any office. No troubles installing it and getting it to work on my computer running Windows 8.1.
Using it for commentary
I have not made a commentary video YET but I will link the video here of me using it for gaming commentary as soon as it's released!
Using it for Skype, Vent, etc.
I have however been using it to talk my friends on skype quite a bit. When it comes to communication microphones or headsets there are a couple variables that one must worry about. First off let me say that I use it simply standing there on my desk with no pop filter or booth or anything of that nature. Anyways those variables usually consist of:
-general quality and ability to hear voice at any pitch
the Blue yeti excels at this even if I don't speak loudly my friends are always able to hear me.
-not picking up annoying background sounds such as...anything ever.
Have you ever had a headset that picks up every car and truck that passes down your road? That's what I'm talking about. Technically you should be able to control this with ease using the properties of the device and changing the levels and what not. That is the case with the Yeti. It has perfect control to choose how much you want to pick up. If I didn't want my keyboard to be too loud I might have to turn the levels down because it will still pick up me typing over 100 words per minute on the loudest keyboard ever Black Widow Ultimate also mentioned in the computer setup post.
The other noise factor you must worry about is your own computer
I have an AMD fx 8150 with a stock cooling fan. It is NOT quiet. When I'm playing the more intense games like Guild Wars 2 or Battlefield 4 I will have to turn my mic volume down so my friends don't hear hhhHhHHRRHRHRRRRMMMMMMMMMMMMM in the background.
Final Thoughts
Overall I do like my purchase, I'll get a pop filter and then maybe create or buy some sort of booth for it. As for my computer I need an aftermarket cooling setup or a quiet water cooling solution. Have anything to recommend me? Go ahead and comment!
This is an in depth tour of my current home office setup. Yes. This machine is what is pumping out all of my content! There are still many improvements to be made as I'm writing this on 11/30/2014 I love my computer but the MSI motherboard is too glitchy. (I will never buy another) I also find myself deleting footage to make space on my HDD, and wishing more games could fit on my SSD. My graphics card could be a bit beefier so I can play BF4 smoothly on ultra but other than that it plays most games on their highest settings. Most importantly my next upgrade will be a $100 blue yeti microphone so I can give you guys the best quality sound during my youtube videos. So here is my setup:
Alright let's start with some of the outer peripherals first
Desk:
I have a customized computer desk that was built by my step dad. He is a great craftsman that can create just about anything you can think of that is made of wood. Check out his etsy store and Facebook page. He also does custom objects as well. The holes for wire management is a very nice custom feature!
I plan on doing a review video for this soon. It is truly a wonderful product. I enjoy typing on it as well as the loud clicky sound of the mechanical keys. It has macro keys as well which I have put to use in some games. It might be a little difficult to find my exact keyboard because razer doesn't seem to be making the blue ones anymore. The price of the blue one has actually gone up!
I really like this mouse! It is very affordable, and does just as good a job if not better than the expensive competitors. It really feels like a premium piece of gaming equipment. It also has 3 extra buttons that I have macro'd to do several things. I used to use it with all of the weights in to make it feel heavy but lately I have switched to having absolutely no weights. Can't really say which I prefer. I love how you can choose any color you want for the mouse it is great for someone as picky as myself!
I am also planning to do a review video of this headset soon. I have tried many many headsets and I have to say this is by far my favorite one yet. Turtle beach tended to break on me every single year, and other headsets just didn't seem on par with what I wanted. I was extremely happy I made the Tritton purchase. This headset has the most amazing bass I have ever heard wirelessly around my ears while I'm on the porch enjoying my morning coffee. I bought it over 2 years ago and still am wearing it currently listening to itunes while I'm typing this! :D
The samsung on the left has been really great. It has a matte finish, looks crisp and clean at 1080, and does everything I need it to. The one on the left is a 19 inch I'll have to upgrade at some point. It has a glossy finish so at least I have the best of both worlds!
Sony Home Theatre System HT-CT150 Sound bar + Subwoofer
I don't think they make this exact model anymore but this thing really bumps! Whether you're watching scary movies, or listening to music this system sounds GREAT! I rarely get to enjoy it on its max setting because it is LOUD! Everything sounds crystal clear and I have it connected to my PC via optical.
THE 3 YEAR OLD RIG
Yes I bought all of the components to build this computer 3 years ago! I can't believe it. It really has served me well, and I have accomplished many things with this machine.
With all of the features that come with this case it is hard to complain! I chose it 3 years ago because it was big enough for a good card, looked fantastic, and had extra cooling with all of those fans! It also has plenty of card readers, and USB ports 2 of which are USB 3.0. I'm still happy to this day with it besides the fact that maybe I was a little rough on the external headphone jack but it does not always work anymore. (it actually could end up being my garbage MSI glitchy PoS motherboard) No problem either because I never use the 3.5mm jack. if I'm not bumping my sub I'm wearing my headset which uses optical.
Okay so this is the motherboard that I am hesitating to recommend. If it worked correctly and gave me no problems I believe it would have been great. However it limited my options when it came to overclocking, and the ports have been a little iffy. I did contact MSi and they did offer me an RMA program but I don't have a second motherboard to fall back on. I had to say no because I can't afford to be without my computer for that 2-4 week process.
I am extremely happy with this 8 core processor. I really don't remember paying that much money for it but I bought it 3 years ago and still today it is playing some pretty intense games and managing my heaviest tasks with ease. Not only am I play CPU intense games like Guild Wars 2, or Battlefield 4, but I am also editing and rendering videos from Sony Vegas, After Effects, etc. This thing handles it all. HOWEVER. You must keep this thing cool. Like me you probably understand that CPU cooling is essential. If you decide to use the stock CPU fan that comes with it that is acceptable. If liquid cooling is in the budget then you'd really be golden! If you're using the stock fan cooling like me you MUST KEEP IT CLEAN! I give my PC a very heavy cleaning probably about once a month. I'll also go ahead and re-apply thermal paste if I think it has deteriorated. If I notice temperatures get unusually high it means that there is likely some dust clogging up the CPU cooler.
Gigabyte GTX 560 Graphics Card
I really have gotten everything out of this card. So many games have been played and enjoyed. This thing has no problem with any of the "typical" games with graphics. Diablo 3, League of Legends, Warframe, Guild Wars 2, Call of Duty. These are examples of games that this rig can handle absolutely no problem at all. It'll run all of these 60+ FPS. However if you throw some Crysis or Battlefield in there you will be running a laggy 30-40 FPS on ultra highest settings. You'll need to lower the settings down 1 notch to just "high" where you'll be getting 50-60 FPS, and even another notch down to medium or so if you want that solid absolutely no stutter performance of 60+ at all times. Overall I'm very happy with the card and I believe the price was fair when I bought it. However today there are much better cards available to choose from.
Thermaltake Toughpower XT TPX 675W PSU
I bought this because I wanted something that I could rely on when using powerful graphics cards and other components, and because it is modular. Modular Power supplies used to be the future, they should be standard by now I'd hope. Modular power supplies make for much easier installation and LOADS better cable management. Enabling you to use only the cables you need for your setup.
If I'm not mistaken these are pretty close to top of the line when it comes to high speed high performance gaming memory (RAM) You're able to overclock them to 1887mhz I believe it was. However my system does not like when I use them that fast so I run them at 1600 and it has been great. I am a HUGE MULTI-TASKER. Not even exaggerating the least bit I have on average 20-30 windows open at the same time. When I have a lot of projects I'm working on at the same time it can become even more hectic. I'll have all of these open, be editing a picture in photoshop, and have Guild Wars 2, and hearthstone in the background at the same time. Never a stutter.
I purchased this to use both with my phone and other various accessories. Too bad I tend to use things like Skydrive and Dropbox more than the bluetooth file transfers.
Nice webcam. I actually used it to record this video here. The auto focus can get kind of annoying. I'm sure there is a way to manually set it. It shoots 720p at 30 fps which is pretty standard for a webcam these days.
I purchased this because it would enable me to use the microphone on my Tritton Warhead 7.1 headset. It also lets me use my wireless xbox 360 controller with my PC. Occasionally I will play a game whatever it is from my bed with my controller. Most modern PC games will recognize the controller immediately which is very convenient. For other games like Guild Wars 2, or any emulation I use a program called Xpadder.
That about wraps up my setup! Are you a PC gamer/enthusiast too? Tweet me or connect with me on instagram! I'd love to see what everybody else has going on.
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The Best MMORPG of 2014 with no subscription fees!
Guild Wars 2
Hello fellow MMORPG players. Have you often tried the subscription based MMO's, and spent more money on expansions every year they come out to stay updated in the game? Gone are those days with games like Guild Wars 2. Watch my video here 7 Reasons why Guild Wars 2 is the Best MMORPG of 2014 for your money:
Defeating Zaitan (story mode)
There are a million amazing things about Guild Wars 2 that I haven't mentioned in the video. For example, the fact that GUILD WARS 2 IS NOT DEAD! There are always thousands of players online and I have no trouble hopping into a dungeon, or finding allies to help me in minutes or even seconds! I will talk more about the way this work later in this post.
Another thing not mentioned during the video is how the weapon and skill system works in Guild Wars 2. An experienced player will be using many different skills, weapons. An experienced player will be able to think for example: okay this is the part where arrows will be raining down on my team if I switch to a shield before this fight I will have the skill to protects us from projectiles. Or this is the boss that uses many condition damage skills and weakens us, I should switch to the utility that cures mine and my allies conditions. This is not the normal MMO where you have a 4 rows of skills some of which you seldom even use.
One last thing I must mention is. NO! Guild Wars 2 is NOT pay to win! The cash shop mostly is full of appearance type items. The only items you can buy in the store that give you a better advantage over other players is things like storage space, character slots, or a pickax that will never break so you don't have to keep replacing them. These things are incredibly minor and actually good because it allows the players to continue supporting Arena Net if they would like to!
PVE
CyanGuardian venturing Tyria!
The PVE or player versus environment is to me the best part of the game. I love everything else but I tend to dedicate myself more towards collecting exotic gear, doing many achievements, jumping puzzles, etc. As of writing this I am now at 85% of the world completion. This is when you travel throughout Tyria and visit all waypoints, points of interest, vista's, and complete the heart quests. This is actually fun and rewarding to me! The world has loads to offer and because of the way the level system works in guild wars 2 it allows each and every zone in the entire game to actually be CHALLENGING! There will be areas that have many veteran mobs. You might need to visit that area for a point of interest only to barely make it out alive. Throughout every zone there is also live events where most of the players in the area are notified of a quest that often times can be too difficult to do alone. It might be a chain quest that involves more than one, or you might need to kill a champion boss monster! Doing all of these things rewards you very well because you will receive gold, karma, achievements, etc that will only grow your character and make your toon stronger.
Dungeons
Fractal dungeon!
Dungeons might technically be considered PVE but I wanted to let you know how different dungeons are in Guild Wars 2 compared to other MMORPG's. First of all there is no "Holy Trinity" system in Guild Wars 2. This is the tradition system of most MMO's which involves 3 roles during dungeons. A tank, a healer, and a DPS. This system works but has several flaws. The first being that you must wait until you find the correct party members to do any dungeon. It limits who you can and can't dungeon with and can give you wait times as long as 20-25 minutes just to find your party and get going with the dungeon. In Guild Wars 2 I'm able to dungeon almost instantly by either checking with my guild, or using the LFG or Looking For Group option. This will piece together a party of people who want to do same dungeon as you. I have tried many Dungeons and fractals and I have to say I very much enjoy them in comparison with many of the dungeons in other MMO's. Dungeons used to seem very boring to me just going from room to room killing mobs and finally killing a boss with a lot of health. Once again Arena Net has made some significant improvements with their dungeons in Guild Wars 2. Don't worry though because if the mindless mob killing is what you're into that is still an option. You are given different path choices to take in Guild Wars 2 where you will be presented with different challenges to complete the dungeon. Complete with a strong boss that differs greatly from the next. It is always incredibly satisfying to complete dungeons and they all rewards you with awesome loot! Dungeons will challenge you, your friends, and your guild and is always a fun enjoyable experience!
PVP
I have not spent too much time playing PVP in fact I might come back and write more about it later. However from what I have tried it seemed to be pretty damn fun! There are many maps to be tried, and the gametype is similar to domination on Call of Duty, or King of the Hill on Halo. There are multiple areas that are trying to be taken by either team and you are rewarded most for controlling more areas on the map.
World vs. World
Once again World vs. World is nothing that I am a true expert on. However the first time I played it I was having so much fun I literally couldn't stop and stayed up till 5am conquering lands with my guild. World vs. World is extremely fun! It consists of multiple maps with bases, and pits you up against 2 other servers on Guild Wars 2. My server, Gates of Madness, seems to be composed of a bunch of beasts because whenever I look we are almost always winning! Guilds make WvW a truly epic experience. Seeing my entire guild flood into their base as we stomp enemies in our path is excilerating!
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If you'd like to play with me in game add me "Levelchaser.8290"
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