In 2007, Superman: Doomsday, an animated movie from Warner Brothers Animation, represents an interpretation of the comic book, The Death of Superman. In 2018, Detective Comics Entertainment and Warner Brother’s animation will deliver, on home video, the first of a two- part series, The Death of Superman. How does this happen? Superman: Doomsday capitalized on the success of the comic book, a few years after the phenomenon. The 2018 movies look to get closer to the full comic book interpretation. The point is it takes time to get what you want.
This is similar to Nintendo’s relationship to the beat’em up genre of video games. It takes time for Nintendo to get it to their loyalists. In 2006, Nintendo Wii, while part of the motion control era, did offer games like No More Heroes, Spyborgs, Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire, and others titles in the genre. Whereas in 2012, Nintendo’s Wii U offers so much less. Currently (2018), Nintendo Switch has Die for Valhalla, Fire Emblem Warriors, and in this case, the game Raging Justice.
Bar Room Brawl by Team17 and Makingames, Ltd.
Back In the Fight
MakinGames, a former Rare developer, and Team 17, have brought a different beat’em up title to the Nintendo Switch. The companies, responsible for games like Overcooked and Yooka Laylee, create a solid, side- scrolling, action game. You play as Nikki Rage, Rick Justice, or Ashley King in a game where you take on a city full of crime and corruption. Players must “punch, kick, and brawl” their way “through the deadly streets, to bring those punks to justice.”
It takes its influences from games like Sega’s Streets of Rage, Capcom’s Final Fight, and other similar games. Nikki Rage acts as the fighter with balance. Rick Justice brings a powerful, brawler’s style to the fight while Ashley King fights with a speedy, Capoeira style. Players, in portable, tabletop, or television modes, use the X and Y buttons to punch and kick. You use the B button to jump. The A button allows players to arrest, grab, and throw massive enemies in the game. Raging Justice, with throwback graphics to game developer Rare’s Killer Instinct (1994) graphic style, is a necessary title for Nintendo Switch owners.
Head in the Game
Fair Ground Fun by Team17 and Makingames Ltd.
Raging Justice cannot afford to be mindless. The game controls well. Players’ attacks crush all the enemies on screen, with ease. You can press the X and Y buttons together to activate a special move. Every player starts with seven continues and three lives, with the ability to increase your bounty. While, it is easy to mow down enemies in the game, points and success come from enemy arrest and completion of level goals. Each level has a global, online, leader board. Players on each Nintendo Switch compete for the best scores per level.
The game controls well, but it does not give you an advantage over enemies’ bad intentions for you. For example, enemies use knives, bottles, and bats, along with their own special techniques, to take you down. They can also use these same techniques as a distraction. The game realizes players must accumulate points. If necessary, non-playable characters will take out other non-playable characters to put points, and special items like 1-ups, out of arm’s reach. Multiple enemies on screen will take you and other non-playable characters out in order to take away your lives, and continues. The game has a nice pace and gets faster as it continues.
Conclusion
Raging Justice is a beast. It can be an easy adventure or a grind, but it does represent its ancestors well. You can take this game into a summer. Invite a friend over, travel and battle with a friend, in an outdoor or other location, and really scratch your action itch. The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2018 hits in June. Nintendo’s fame has never been higher. The Outlast series, Splatoon 2, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze, NBA Playgrounds, Raging Justice, and other great games are available now. Nintendo’s online plan is almost a reality.
What is next? Nintendo fans know it will get better. Smash Brothers for Nintendo Switch is around the corner. A new Pokemon game will come to the console. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus and other big games will come to this system. It will be better.
Purchase Raging Justice for Nintendo Switch (online download code) from Amazon.com
Weight cutting is still a big problem in modern MMA.
You would think with all the information available today it would be a non-issue excluding unexpected circumstances. The UFC especially has suffered from this even though some rule changes have been made to help make the cutting process easier.
At UFC 199 we witnessed the first ever morning weigh-in instead of the usual 4 pm afternoon timeslot, the advantage of weighing in early is fighters spend less time dehydrated & then have more time to rehydrate before competing the following day. This rule change was implemented to aid the health of fighters both before and after the weigh-ins but there’s still been some who have missed their intended mark on the scales.
In 2017, the first full year with the new weigh-in time there were 21 cases of fighters missing weight, 2 more than the previous year. In 2018 there have been 6 instances of fighters missing weight so far.
The fact remains even with all the resources available some athletes are still getting it wrong at the highest level. why?
With all the financial incentives in MMA now it’s become a mainstream sport, fighters are looking for any chance to gain a competitive edge. Coming into the Octagon physically bigger & stronger than your opponent is almost like having a head start, some athletes are cutting vast amounts of weight to come in with that size as a way of getting ahead.
In general, if you look at the size of fighters in any division now compared to the early years the fighters are considerably bigger. Jon Jones would have been a reasonably sized heavyweight at the time Chuck Liddell was the light heavyweight champion to think they both fought in the same division is stunning. Conor McGregor would have been gigantic compared to B.J Penn at 155lbs but somehow McGregor was making the 145lb limit just 3 years ago.
The examples I used were purposeful, Jon Jones & Conor McGregor have never missed weight. They seek a size advantage but get the science of the weight cut right. Kevin Lee & Mackenzie Dern haven’t been as clinical.
One part of the problem is giving yourself too much to do, which is Kevin Lee’s problem.
He clearly executes the weigh-in with the correct protocol however he’s pushing his weight so low he’s malnourished. In giving himself too much weight to cut hitting a specific target will always be a lottery, the best long-term solution for him would be to compete at a higher weight class like Rafael dos Anjos has elected to do.
The other issue is fighters dietary discipline in between fights, this is where Mackenzie Dern went wrong.
Missing weight is unprofessional
Dern’s particular situation was inexcusable. The fact that she attempted to make weight and still missed by 7lbs indicates to me she must have been very heavy before beginning training camp for her last fight. Fighters ideally should be somewhere in the region of their weight category between fights, if Lee & Dern applied that philosophy to their regime they would find it much easier to hit their limit despite having different circumstances.
Chuck Liddell was recently talking to Ariel Helwani, expressing his surprise at how many fighters miss weight these days, he said: “I don’t know what’s wrong with people nowadays with this cutting, I don’t understand“. he went on to explain how he would be around 225lbs before cutting down to 205lbs which isn’t much weight to cut at all, maybe that’s why he never encountered any problems making weight.
Seeking an athletic advantage is understandable, fighters will look for ways to get ahead with all that’s at stake. Each fighter has a responsibility, however, to make the weight they intend to compete at. The answer to this problem if you ask me is adding more weight divisions in conjunction with stricter penalties for missing weight, I’m positive both those solutions applied together would reduce the number of fighters failing to make weight dramatically.
Slickster: Dancing is obviously a huge part of who you are and what defines you. How long have you been a ballet dancer and what have you learned from it?
Michelle Chrystal: I’ve been dancing since the age of 3, starting with Ballet and later branching out into Contemporary and Spanish. Dancing has taught me how to completely lose myself and find myself at the same time. It also confirmed that with hard work, dedication and passion, you will achieve more than you could ever have imagined.
Slickster: Do you have any advice for young artists or athletes who want to be successful in their field?
Michelle Chrystal: Don’t get caught up in the stigma that accompanies dancers. Compete to be the best version of yourself, and remember that you all share the same common goal. Don’t waste your time on jealousy – sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, but in the end it’s only against yourself.
Slickster: Can any girl become a ballet dancer, regardless of her body shape or size?
Michelle Chrystal: Yes, anyone can dance. Looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally is particularly vital in the dance industry, but it’s about doing it the right way. Eat healthily, train hard, but allow yourself some breathing room to relax, and eat the chocolate you’ve been craving! Enjoy your body. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it – it’s the greatest instrument you will ever own.
Slickster: You love the beach. Why are you drawn to sun, sand and bikinis?
Michelle Chrystal: I love the outdoors, who doesn’t?
Slickster: Do you have any advice for men who may be intimidated to ask a woman out in these strange online times we live in?
Michelle Chrystal: Times have definitely changed, but the way women want a man to treat her hasn’t. Ask her out, plan the date, and open your car door for her. Never underestimate the power of chivalry.
Slickster: Is it ok to remain friends with your EX on Facebook?
Michelle Chrystal: Staying friends with your ex after you’ve broken up, is like kidnappers asking to “keep in touch” after they let you go…
Slickster: Blank slate… anything goes! What message do you want to share with the world.
Michelle Chrystal: Life is too short to be anything but HAPPY!
Recently there was an infographic that hit the front page of the internet.Of course, we’re talking about Reddit.There was a time-killer post about the famous actor Johnny Depp.The graph demonstrated that as Depp increases in age, his romantic partners get younger and younger.Here is the Johnny Depp graph in case you didn’t see it.
Quickly Redditors pointed out that Depp’s girlfriends weren’t getting younger.A more accurate description was, Depp was aging, but his girlfriends were staying the same age.That age is early to mid 20’s.No doubt the top comment on the Reddit post was a reference to Mathew McGaunhey’s famous line from the cult classic Daze and Confused.He says, “No man, I’ll tell you.That’s what I love about these high school girls… I get older. They stay the same age.”
Dazed and Confused – High school Girls Quote
No doubt, this a humorous example that depicts how some losers keep hanging out with high school kids after they graduate.Senior year was the best year of their entire life and they want to continue to relive it in perpetuity.Most of us get a life and move on to college, the work force, or join the Armed Services, etc… But we all know someone who acts like a creeper this way.
Before we get into why the question of why older men enjoy dating younger women and how to meet young ladies, let’s debunk two common myths about this subject.
Myth #1 – All men like younger women
A common misconception is that all men like younger women.This couldn’t be more untrue.Especially with younger men, if you reference the Depp graph again, you’ll see that men in their early twenties frequently date women older than themselves. This could be for a few reasons.Perhaps the male is more socially mature than his peers and doesn’t like to associate with girls his age.
The classic example is the sexually active older female wants a young man who is at his peak sexually and can satisfy her carnal desire in a way that older men can’t.Many studies point to the fact that men reach their sexual peak at the age of 17 while for women it can be as late 35.This phenomenon, a younger male with a sexually aroused older female, has been played out many times in pop culture as well.Here are three well known examples:
The Graduate (1967)
The original bored housewife seduction story, The Graduate, was ground breaking in many ways.Featuring razor sharp humor and social commentary on taboo sexual subjects, it was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won in the category of Best Director.Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), sets her lustful eyes on a 21 year Dustin Hoffman as he courts her daughter.You’ll have to watch the movie to find out who wins. Simon and Garfunkel contribute some classic songs to the film too.
My Teacher’s Wife (1995)
Tia Carrere sizzles as a math tutor from My Teacher’s Wife as she seduces her young student.
American Pie (1999)
American Pie, in the vein of raunchy frat humor the likes of Animal House or Porky’s, virtually introduced the acronym M.I.L.F. into the English lexicon.Short for Mom I’d Like to Fuck, the movie follows are group of horny guys one their unique quests to get laid.Hilarity ensues.If that wasn’t enough, exactly one apple pie gets violated and the then-neveau item of webcam delivers an eyeful. A sexy young Shannon Elizabeth portrays the forging exchange student Nadia as she explores masturbation on cam, but little does she know that she has an audience! Classic good times.
Myth #2 – All younger women who like older men are gold diggers
There is no question that women can be mean and extremely cruel to each other.They nitpick, degrade and conspire to discredit other women based on their looks, behavior, or just about anything else.Why is this, who knows?Maybe it’s jealousy, but one thing that woman generally admit is that other women aren’t as supportive as they outwardly appear.
As a result of this, a young woman who is attracted to older men is often branded a golddigger by other women.They might whisper to friends that she is just craving a ‘sugar daddy’.The derogatory term, ‘sugar daddy’, refers to a man who financially supports a younger woman.He may shower her lavish gifts, favors and/or cash.In return she either acts as his girlfriend, and despite a wide age gap, she enters into a romantic relationship with him. One of the most famous examples of this, was when the Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith married the Texas oil billionaire J. Howard Marshall.In 1994, Nicole-Smith was 26 years old when she married the 89 tycoon.
Now, some of you guys reading this article are saying, “Hell yeah Grandpa! Get some Playmate action for the old guys out there!” But can you really blame Marshall.Here is an extremely sucessfull man at the end of his life and he is being pursued by a voluptuous blonde Playboy centerfold.This a man who has grown accustomed to winning throughout his entire life.Is it that hard to imagine he truly believed that this 26 year old blonde sexpot didn’t genuinely love him?
But while this clearly was the case with Nicole-Smith and Marshall marriage, the same doesn’t apply to all women.The fact is many younger women enjoy dating older men because the older man has more life experience and she may want associate herself with that.
Why are men attracted to dating younger women
3 ways to meet younger women
o you want to meet a younger woman for dating?Here are a few ways that you can make that happen, but remember not to be ‘the creepy old guy who stares’. You need to have your basics like, personal hygiene and grooming, ability to recognize flirting signs, and fundamental understanding of what women want down first.For most of you, this won’t be a problem.You’re looking to date younger women, which means that you’ve already learned a lot about dating from dating women your own age or older.
Take a class
We aren’t advocating you cruise the local high school like Dazed and Confused clip.You’ll probably get fucking arrested or your ass kicked by a protective father.That being said, you could always take a couple of college classes.A handful of college credits, wether you need them or not, could get you around some ladies that are younger than you.A blunt suggestion; You might want to update your wardrobe if you haven’t since you graduated from your alma mater.
A yoga class is another great way to meet younger women.These are spaces where women feel safe, and they enjoy the comfort of breaking a sweat and blowing off the day’s stress.Beware, yoga classes aren’t laying around on a mat and sleeping.These young ladies work out hard!There are difficult poses and holds that will definaelty push you to your physical limit.However, the payout can be worth it.Don’t go into the first class with the intention of banging the first young woman you meet.You need to pace yourself, and become a familiar face at the classes overtime.Gradually strike up a conversation, and build reporie from there.Oh, and we have a bonus for you, two words; Yoga pants.
Volunteer
Volunteering your time can be a great way to meet younger women.That doesn’t mean you have to spend your Saturday afternoons scooping bowls of gruel to unthankful homeless bums.There are many opportunities for volunteers that are both rewarding and meaningful.Being a volunteer firefighter is a classic example.Young women love firefighters!There is an ongoing joke among the rank and file of fire fighters about the proper way to ‘pick up fire hose’.Double entendre jokes are always funny.
If your level of fitness isn’t on par with fire fighter standards, don’t fret.There are other beneficial volunteer programs that you get involved in.Being an usher at concerts or sporting events can be a good way to catch a free show and strike up a conversation with a single young lady. River and hiking trail maintenance groups are great way to get outdoors and meet new people.Young women frequently take Earth stewardship seriously, and what a fantastic way to give back and introduce yourself to a younger woman.A sturdy pair of footwear will pay off dividends if you decide to go this route.
The holy grail of volunteering opportunities that young women flock to, is spending time at the local animal shelter.Cute puppy dogs attract more young women than you’ll know what to do with.If you love dogs, you’ll demonstrate to her that you are trust worthy and compassionate; both qualities that women are looking for in a man.Dog walking is also a great way to pick up chicks, in case you didn’t know.
Check your local newspaper or bulletin boards to find out when groups meet up. You’ll be on your way to dating younger women in no time if you make the effort to get out there and meet them on their own turf.
Online Dating
Ok, this is the area you can absolutely slay some bitches.Online dating is the area where you get your profile in front of the most qualified candidates. Search engines also allow users to select age ranges for possible matches.However, young women can specify and auto-reject men who don’t fit their age requirements.The good news that most of the women on online dating don’t do that. They want their profiles to be visible to largest number of potential suitors.If you need a refresher for online dating, read the our tips for online dating article.
Women are 13 percent more likely to use sex toys than men, according to a study by the Guardian. Male sex toys are sadly still shrouded in shame, and yet they’re a valuable part of a sexually-satisfying life. Sex toys have become much sexier and realistic, plus they can be good for your health. Here are important reasons to use them.
Boost Sexual Pleasure
There’s no reason why male sex toys shouldn’t be as mainstream as female ones. They’ve been around for ages. Sex toy usage in 800BC involved goat eyelids that were shaped into rings to help them get erections. Thankfully, these rings later became made of silicone. Sex toys have come a long way since then, by including anal toys, vibrators, and more. They boost sexual pleasure, which is the whole point of sex toys to begin with – and there’s no shame in having pleasurable sex that doesn’t hurt anyone. In fact, they can be really good for your sex life. Research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men who used vibrators regularly had higher levels of sexual desire, sexual pleasure, and erectile function. Sounds good to us.
Orgasm In New Ways
There’s something empowering about purchasing a sex toy – you’re taking control of your sexual pleasure. Women have been embracing their sexual discovery and pleasure for years by investing in sex toys, so why shouldn’t men be doing the same thing? If you fear that society views it as inappropriate for heterosexual men to use sex toys, consider this: it can help you explore new ways of achieving sexual nirvana. An example is with prostate orgasms. These can be 10 times stronger than penile orgasms, but to stimulate the prostate if you don’t have a partner, you’ll probably need a sex toy designed for anal play. Exploring new ways to achieve climax with the use of sex toys can benefit you and your sexual partner, helping to keep your bedroom antics interesting and stimulating.
They Keep You Healthy
You know orgasms are good for you, but sex toys can help you to improve your health. By using a sex toy that feels realistic, you can achieve orgasm which prevents prostate cancer. Research published in the European Urology journal has found that ejaculating 21 times or more every month can cut a man’s risk of prostate cancer by around 20 percent or more. Another study, this time by Indiana University, found that almost half of men between the ages of 18 and 65 who used sex toys were more likely to look after their sexual health, such as by going for regular testicular exams. Sex toys make you become more in tune with your body, which can alert you to strange health symptoms, such as those associated with STIs, while encouraging you to take better care of your sexual health in general.
The use of sex toys should become more mainstream for men because of their many benefits. These include improving your sexual pleasure and maintaining your sexual wellbeing. Instead of feeling shameful about using sex toys, you should embrace them as part of a healthy, active sex life.
Model Whitney Cole has grown a substantial following on Instagram. It’s not hard to figure out why. The blonde stunner is based out of Toronto and works a lot in front of the camera. When she isn’t stripping down to her string bikini to pose, she is an aspiring electronic music producer.
There are numerous key skills men are stereotypically expected to know, some that are useful to know, & a few which are cool to be able to do. You can find lists on skills men should know in various places, you can search for instructional videos on how to learn or perform these skills but trying to find both in the same place is somewhat rare. I’ve taken it upon myself to create a man manual which puts everything you need in one place.
How to Change a Tire
We spend more time in our cars now than ever, long commutes to work or weekends away are becoming a common occurrence due to the advancement of modern vehicles. The more time you spend in your car the more likely you are to encounter a punctured tire. In a hurry, the last thing you want is to be stranded waiting for a recovery truck or a passerby to change the wheel. A basic bit of knowledge like this could save you lots of time.
How to Tie a Tie
As an adult male its inevitable you’ll come across an occasion for which you’ll have to wear a tie. Job interviews, meetings, weddings, fancy dinners, all possible scenarios a man could come across during his life. There’s nothing more emasculating than a grown man asking somebody else to fix up his tie.
How to Light a Charcoal Grill
Is the manliest man at the BBQ the one tending to the grill? well if the Sopranos is anything to go by it’s safe to say that statement is true. Tony Soprano was always in charge of his own grill even though there were guests more culinarily educated than him. In order to get to the cooking stage, you need to light the BBQ. With gas grills, this is an easy task but if like me you prefer to use charcoal giving the meat a more intense smokey flavour then you’ll have to light a grill the traditional way.
How to Parallel Park
As well as spending more time in our cars there are more cars on the road now than ever. With the growing rate of cars per household parking in busy areas can be difficult, instead of having a pick of multiple spaces you may have to take the only spot available, possibly a small gap between two parked cars. The degree of difficulty will depend on the size of the car and the size of the space available, as long as the gap is big enough for your car the technique will largely remain the same.
How to Read a Book
Visual media has become the primary source of entertainment, with the rise in video engagement through sites like youtube it’s almost too convenient to watch videos and neglect books. Literacy is a skill itself, at a young age literacy is practised routinely through the school curriculum, as we age in order to our retain reading skills it’s vital we read occasionally. The nature of what you read isn’t important it’s more about the act of reading itself. There are so many books for various purposes everyone can find something they enjoy, whether it’s for education or entertainment there’s a book for you out there.
I personally like to read material that stimulates my mind, three books that left a big impression for on me were:
The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
The Social Animal by Elliot Aronson
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
How to Chop Wood & Make a Fire
Some folks still use wood fires but even if you don’t it’s a useful survival skill to know how to get a fire going.
Chopping wood is a fantastic form of exercise, should you ever get the chance to try it I’m sure you would be surprised by how hard it is despite looking fairly simple when watching someone else do it. The classic image of a gentleman chopping wood is one of the more commonly associated images of masculinity.
Lighting a fire using natural resources is more of a specialist skill but one of those you’d rather know how to do it and never need too as opposed to being in a situation where you need to know and don’t.
How to do Compound Exercises
Another vital part of a man’s lifestyle is fitness. Although we’re not all aiming to become Olympic level athletes it’s important to partake in some sort of Physical exercise to keep the body in decent condition.
The fitness industry has grown exponentially this decade, from bodybuilding to Crossfit and everything in between including ball sports & self-defence the choices could drive an indecisive person insane. If exercise isn’t already part of your routine maybe you’re unsure as to what type of exercise you want to do, something really simple with huge benefits is performing compound exercises.
The gains in strength are quickly obtained, you’ll engage multiple muscle groups at one time plus it’s a manly form of exercise of course.
Squat
Deadlift
Clean and Press
How to Defend Yourself
Most arguments can be solved without using force however, there are some people unfortunately who only want to solve things with violence. In such circumstances, you may have no route of escape which in turn forces you to engage in a fight.
There is no substitute for actual experience in some form of fighting discipline but if you don’t have experience there are some basic things you can do which will give you an advantage over an untrained aggressor.
Reading some tactical analysis will give you a better chance of controlling a fight, Bisping vs St-Pierre Tactical Preview for those who don’t have the time or patience here are some basics.
Defence
With all the adrenaline running wild during a confrontation both parties will be eager to strike, knowing this allows you to control the situation by causing misdirection. The majority of guys will know how to throw a punch even if it’s not technically correct, defending one, on the other hand, is a mystery to many.
Offence
The objective of misdirection is to create space for a strike, where people usually go wrong (this is something you will notice on countless street fight videos) is loading up too much. Without gloves, you don’t need much contact to get the desired result, it’s far more important to land first than it is to land a really hard blow. In exchanges, the guy with better technique will get there first 9 times out of ten.
Amanda Nunes vs Raquel Pennington (UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship)
Betting odds: Nunes -520 or 2/11, Pennington +444 or 4/1.
The main event for this card was supposed to be Cris Cyborg vs Amanda Nunes which is probably the best fight you can make across the entire women’s roster right now. It was decided that Cyborg would instead make a meaningless title defence against Yana Kunitskaya to fill the headline slot at UFC 222 with a title fight after Max Holloway vs Frankie Edgar was cancelled through injury.
In place of Cyborg vs Nunes, we’ve got yet another meaningless title fight. Raquel Pennington is a former Ultimate Fighter winner, she’s competent everywhere without being great in any particular area. The challenger hasn’t been given this fight because she’s done anything outstanding to deserve it, there’s a lack of genuine contenders at this weight which makes her the best available choice.
Every fighter has a chance of winning so I’m not saying there’s no way Raquel Pennington can win, the problem she faces is she’s not had the required preparation for a fight with someone of Nunes’s quality. The last time Pennington set foot in an octagon was November of 2016, she earned a decision against Meisha Tate that night undoubtedly her biggest win to date. Since then nothing, no one was pushing Pennington for a title fight at that time so why she’s got one after such a long period of inactivity is beyond me. If Raquel Pennington is to be a championship calibre fighter, time and experience are needed but as of now, she’s in over her head.
I don’t mean to portray Pennington as a terrible fighter because she’s not, the problem is that Nunes is a great one. Fundamentally that’s the issue with this fight, to give Nunes trouble an opponent needs to present something special. Raquel Pennington is tough and durable, you need more than that against Nunes.
The brutality of Nunes’s style & finishes is unmatched at this weight class, it was almost hard to watch the way she dissected Meisha Tate at UFC 200.
Ronda Rousey didn’t fare any better, she was routed by Nunes in the most one-sided women’s title fight I’ve ever witnessed.
The only woman I see giving Nunes any trouble is Cris Cyborg, it’s a shame that’s not the fight at the top of this card.
Jacare Souza vs Kelvin Gastelum
Betting odds: Jacare -142 or 4/6, Gastelum +128 or 6/5.
The co-main is providing the competitive edge which is lacking at the top of the bill, uncertainty has surrounded the Middleweight division for the past two years, only recently have we seen some order restored with Robert Whittaker promoted to Undisputed Champion after Georges St-Pierre relinquished the title. With Whittaker fighting number one contender Yoel Romero next month, there’s a need to clarify who’s next in line.
The rankings were mostly ignored during Bisping’s run as the champ, he fought nobody ranked within the top five for over two years. As you can imagine the rankings have become rather cluttered, this fight pits number 2 against number 5. The two places in between are occupied by #3 Chris Weidman who is unable to compete as of this moment due to injuries & #4 Luke Rockhold, who’s fresh off of a loss to Yoel Romero.
The only two fighters inside the top five who are coming off victories & healthy enough to fight right now are Jacare Souza & Kelvin Gastelum, so one can assume the winner of this fight would be next in line for a title fight. To make this match-up even more appropriate than it already is the pair produced similarly impressive finishes last time out.
In the case of Gastelum, he’s been shockingly good since moving up to 185lbs even though he’s clearly undersized for the weight. The only hiccup during his middleweight run has been losing to Chris Weidman however, the fight was competitive enough to retain Gastelum’s stock.
Michael Bisping took a fight with Kelvin Gastelum shortly after being defeated by GSP, Gastelum disposed of Bisping with another stunning knockout to add to his highlight reel.
Jacare has been a stalwart of the Middleweight division, he’s gotten close to a title fight on two occasions only to fall short at the final hurdle. During his UFC run, he’s only ever lost to the two men in next month’s title fight which is no slight on Jacare’s overall record.
Jacare reminded us all what he is capable of when he emphatically dealt with Derek Brunson earlier this year.
Gastelum at 26 years old is a young, hungry fighter who’s enjoying the best form of his life just as he enters the prime of his athletic career, he’s got a solid wrestling base and possesses the gift of speed despite his soft appearance. Kelvin Gastelum maybe the only man to get hit cleanly by Tyron Woodley without hitting the deck which indicates how difficult Gastelum is to put away.
His opponent on Saturday night Jacare Souza can beat any Middleweight on the planet, including the two men he’s most recently lost to. One of the more clinical finishers in the world Souza can put any man to sleep standing or submit anybody who spends a prolonged period of time on the floor with him. There is simply nowhere to hide against Jacare.
To summarize this fight I would call it a battle of speed vs power between two of the most exciting fighters at 185lbs.
Vitor Belfort vs Lyoto Machida
Betting odds: Belfort +231 or 2/1, Machida -245 or 2/5.
One for the sentimentalists, before UFC became mainstream these two were icons of the sport. Belfort was the first real breakthrough talent the UFC ever produced. Machida was a complete enigma upon his arrival to the octagon, bringing an unorthodox style we’d not seen before.
Former champions now reduced to gatekeepers of the middleweight division, I think it’s fitting that they fight each other rather than one of the higher ranked fighters who they’d clearly be outmatched against at this stage of their careers.
This fight is a little too late in terms of relevancy, it would have been quite the spectacle a few years ago at which time they were delivering memorable knockouts like these.
Vitor Belfort has announced this will be his last fight, I won’t be at all surprised if Lyoto Machida announces his retirement from the sport at the conclusion of the contest either. Two of the last few former champions left standing from the early days of MMA, this fight is a milestone if nothing else to signal the end of an incredible era for the sport.
Predictions
Amanda Nunes vs Raquel Pennington (Nunes via KO/TKO)
Jacare Souza vs Kelvin Gastelum (Gastelum by Decision)
Mackenzie Dern vs Amanda Cooper (Dern via Submission)
John Lineker vs Brian Kelleher (Lineker via KO/TKO)
Vitor Belfort vs Lyoto Machida (Machida by Decision)
Slickster: How do you stay in shape for your photos?
Heather Wrixon: Too stay in shape I go to the gym twice a week, and I go to a weekly yoga class. Although if I can’t go out I occasionally do at home work outs. During the summer to stay fit, and keep it fun, I love to go surfing.
Slickster: What, in your opinion, makes an Instagram selfie sexy as opposed to trashy?
Heather Wrixon: I believe if you show your confidence in your photo as while as staying humble, and classy that is what makes a selfie sexy.
Slickster: Is it ok to stay friends with your EX on Facebook?
Heather Wrixon: I am gonna with no, only because when someone is your EX you don’t really wanna be looking at their photos because it will remind you of the good times you guys had, but its not realistic. I think its best to try and move on instead of holding on to someone who is no longer in your life.
Slickster: What is your best feature?
Heather Wrixon: If I had to pick my best feature I think it would be my eyes because they are very blue like the ocean, and thats one of my favorite places to be.
Slickster: Anything goes?! What’s your message to the world.
Heather Wrixon: Be kind, and be respectful. You never know what someone could be going through.
Modern society typically associates value with quality, in particular, the more expensive an item is the better it must be. In some cases yes premium products come with a price when you think of Apple or Sony products they aren’t cheap, but the brands come with a reputation for delivering reliable well-manufactured technology.
There are exceptions to every rule, in each market be it technology, cars, gaming, or even clothing exist items of high quality at a lower than expected price. I’m going to highlight some of the best wines from around the world which are affordable but don’t compromise on flavour.
Red Wine
Rioja Crianza 2014 CVNE
Average price $14.
Region of origin: Rioja, Spain.
Founded in 1879 by two brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa, CVNE has stayed in family hands, now in their fifth generation.
A lively cherry-red appearance leading to a nose of light summer fruits. This wine has undergone a period of one year in oak giving beautiful hints of vanilla amongst fruity cherry notes.
Château Recougne 2015 Bordeaux Supérieur
Average price $15.
Region of origin: Bourdeaux, France.
Recougne castle has a nose of red fruit, liquorice attack, marked by roasted notes. Concentrated, it can boast a good ageing potential.The wine is racked every 3 months and therefore only needs a light filtration. Final blending and bottling take place 18 months after harvest.
Fleshy and robust, full of ripe black fruit accented with hints of mocha, smoke and toast. Plenty of fine-grained tannins providing prodigious grip and savoury texture.
White Wine
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay
Average Price $13.
Region of origin: South Australia.
Founder, Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold emigrated from England to Adelaide in 1844, bringing with him vine cuttings from the South of France. He established the Magill vineyard and winery, marking the beginning of one of the worlds great wine stories.
A wine of both quality and value full flavoured and creamy, with flavours of melon and peach and a hint of vanilla.The Koonunga Hill name has carried Penfolds to the four corners of the wine-loving world, offering an extraordinary combination of quality, value and consistency of style.
Chateau Laulerie Bergerac Blanc 2016
Average Price $12.
Region of origin: Bergerac, France.
Château Laulerie’s vineyards stretch out on the right bank of the River Dordogne in the Western part of the Bergerac wine appellation. This prized area, known as Montravel, is characterized by its clayish hills, facing in an ideal southerly direction.
On the nose, this white wine combines gooseberry, exotic fruit and peach. The palate is rich and generous, with a fresh, tasty finish and a fruity after-taste.
Rose Wine
Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé
Average price $14.
Region of origin: California, USA.
The Grenache for the Vin Gris comes from bespoke sections of the Alta Loma Vineyard, harvested at the appropriate maturity level for this elegant style of wine. About 24% of the wine is composed of traditional white Rhône varieties in substantial part from the Beeswax Vineyard in the Arroyo Seco district of Monterey, adding a surprising richness and foundation.
The wine does not overwhelm one with fruity flavours; its charms are seductively subtle. An extremely elegant and complex Vin Gris de Cigare.
Bila Haut Rose 2016
Average price $15.
Region of origin: Languedoc, France.
Bila-Haut was the first producer in France to print their labels in braille – not that you need to know that to love them because they are renowned for producing consistent quality wines.
Each of the varietals in the blend offers up their unique flavours to combine a refreshing and crisp wine with “high resolution” of flavours. The Grenache supplies the crisp mineral flavours with a hint of citrus in the lingering finish.
Sparkling Wine
Freixenet Cava Carta Nevada Semi Dry
Average Price $9.
Region of origin: Catalonia, Spain.
Freixenet Carta Nevada Semi Seco is a wine from Catalonia, region of Spain, The Catalan wine region is located along the Mediterranean coast in northeastern Spain and is strongly influenced by its Mediterranean climate.
It is toasty in aroma, yet fruity and flavourful on the palate. It tastes of creamy, sweet peaches with rich custard flavours. A nice zing of acidity keeps the wine balanced. This wine pairs well with spicy foods, brunch or as a dessert wine.
Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut
Average price $13.
Region of origin: Columbia Valley, Washington, USA.
Made in the traditional, Methode champenoise style, Michelle sparkling wines have delicate varietal aromas and flavours that are nicely balanced by the fruit’s natural acidity.
With delicate flavours of apples, citrus, and lively acidity, Michelle Brut is the perfect accompaniment for a wide array of foods. Enjoy with spicy fries, artichoke or cheese dips, calamari, even salty snacks.
Ruffino sparkling rose
Average price $15.
Region of origin: Northeastern Italy.
Ruffino Sparkling Rose is created in an extra-dry style and comprised of predominantly Prosecco (Glera) grapes from the vineyards within the Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions of Northeastern Italy.
This sparkling Rose is a pink hue with aromatic notes of strawberry and hints of rose petals. On the palate, this wine has crisp acidity and “elegant” bubbles, the company says, offering flavours of red berries and white fruits through the finish.
Whilst this is a fairly small sample of wines you can purchase without having to stretch your budget, the wine market is vast and as such, the sheer number of products you could put on this list is virtually endless. After doing some personal research you may find your own preferred selection of affordable wines using the ones listed above as a starting point.
If you don’t have time to read the whole thing, here’s an abridged version of growing your Twitch channel!
Streaming on Twitch is hitting the mainstream. We’ve all seen the recent reports on how Ninja makes $500,000 a month. We all know the numbers for the Overwatch League (Well over 100,000 viewers). Streaming on Twitch has gone from something that only the most awkward of nerds and loudest of personalities did, to the hip thing. Stars from YouTube, Professional Athletes, and even Drake are dropping into the purple brand. Everybody has a Twitch Channel. Yourself likely included.
As Twitch continues to climb the ranks on Alexa for world website rankings (Right between Netflix and PornHub) more people want in. The problem is that a lot of people think that streaming on Twitch and getting viewers is as easy as 1-2-3. Fire up Fortnite, turn on OBS and a webcam, and silently play while the viewers clamor for your content. That is called being totally delusional. The fact of the matter is if you want viewers, donations, subscribers, etc. you have to work our ass off for it. This is going to give you all the tools you need to make a kick-ass Twitch Channel. (or Mixer if you stream there for some reason…)
This one is optional, but it can provide a pretty big boost to your watchability. Why? People like seeing other people, and seeing the reactions that you have to the events that transpire. And you also might be really hot. And hot people get views, much to the chagrin of my fellow non-models. But you know what? It isn’t your fault if people watch your stream because they like the way you look. If you got it, flaunt it.
Logitech c922x Pro Stream
The gold standard when it comes to a quick and easy webcam. Nobody has the kind of market share that Logitech has, and for a good reason. The webcam quality is really nice, and it’s a good price for less than $100. You might be paying a little extra for it, but it’s absolutely worth it.
Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000
It’s hard to go against Microsoft in terms of webcams. You won’t be getting the same level of color or clarity on an HD-3000 as the c922x, but at almost a third of the price, it’s REALLY hard to hold it against them. A great starter cam if you don’t mind lower resolution.
Aukey FHD Webcam
Lower profile and similar quality to the LifeCam for the same price. If you aren’t a fan of Microsoft products, or just want something a little sleeker this bad boy won’t let you down or set you back far.
Sound:
Nobody likes a garbled mess of sound during the streams. And a low-quality microphone is going to be the worst thing for that. You might not be recording the next Thriller on your streams, but ensure your sound quality is as high as possible. A few good microphones you can pick up on the cheap when you’re just starting out are:
Cheap microphone options for beginning streamers
Blue Snowball
This is the go-to choice for all streamers just starting out. Connecting via USB, you get a good quality of sound. It comes with some settings on the back to choose how your voice is picked up. You won’t break the bank with it, and the ease of setting up is really handy.
Fifine
Amazon’s #1 choice for a plugin mic is this bad boy. The sound quality is definitely on the average size, but for the price, it’s really hard to beat. Not to mention it’s low profile. So if you just want your beautiful mug in the shot, this is going to do a good job of staying out of sight.
Neewer NW-700
This is a microphone for people trying to get something a little more quality. Setting up isn’t super easy, but if you have everything in one place, it’s really nice having a condenser mic with phantom power. The sound quality is better than the other options available, but you’ll need to work with it more.
Higher end microphone options for streamers
Audio Technica AT2020
One of the most popular brands in Twitch, the Audio Technica is in the condenser microphone realm, so you’ll need a full phantom power setup for the microphone.You will need to buy the wire separately, but this is a really quality choice. It doesn’t come with a pop-filter either, so you’ll be investing in more than just the mic. But it’s truly worth it.
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
An absolute step up from the Snowball, the Yeti really gets things done as a pure USB microphone. Its simple plug-in-to-start formula is fantastic for anybody who wants high quality without going through the rigamarole of using a condenser microphone.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio USB Audio Interface and Recording Bundle
If you want to take care of everything all at once, this is your best bet. Not only are you getting some really beautiful sound, but you also get a sold set of headphones and some really nice software to mess around with. So if you want to work on adding sound effects and the like to your stream, you’ll be killing two, three, maybe four birds with one stone. Talk about collateral damage.
Besides getting your mics set up, you also want to think about how you mix your sound. That is to say, how everything works together in terms of you, your game, and maybe some background music. This is purely a matter of taste, but remember that your audience’s taste should take precedent. If they want the music higher, or the song changed, do it when you have a moment.
BIG WARNING FOR COPYRIGHT: Be sure the music you play on stream is something you are allowed to. Believe it or not, you blasting the latest song by Bieber, Imagine Dragons, or whoever the kids are listening to these days isn’t allowed. Just like on YouTube, copyright issues can put your stream in jeopardy.
Make sure your music is either copyright free or cleared by Twitch. Looking up music for Twitch is an easy gig, but if you want a place to start, try out their library at Music.Twitch.tv.
Overlay:
Check out Woodpunch’s Graphics for some examples.
This is honestly bigger than a lot of small streams realize. Whether you are streaming games, art, music, or whatever, think about something. How many of them have overlays? Streaming on Twitch is like streaming on television. And outside of syndicated programming, almost everything has overlays on it. It’s visually dynamic. It puts a lot of different things on the screen. That also goes back to the webcam thing. A good overlay will create an interesting and visually appealing stream.
Other things could be the bit jars that you see. It’s fun and helps promote the idea of giving you the money. And money is nice, isn’t it? Other ways to have a good overlay are notifications. Third-party apps like Streamlabs are damn near an absolute must at this point. Somebody seeing their name on your channel when they follow, host, subscribe, donate, etc. just feels good. I know one of the reasons I host one of my friend’s stream is because her notification is funny.
Having a good theme for everything is also going to be your best bet. Having consistent messaging is extremely important. Remember, you are building a brand. So your brand must be recognizable. You don’t have to remake the wheel, but you do need to have things like color, font, logo, tone, etc.
If you want to do it yourself, I suggest using GIMP, it’s a free tool and has a lot of great plugins you can add. If you are like me and have the artistic capabilities of a 1 armed crab, there are some more options. You can use some pre-built assets that are available for free like at WDflat. They’re chock full of good assets you can be using.
Or, if you are looking for something a bit more detailed, find artists who do commissions. And yes, you have to pay them. Because nobody cares about getting “exposure” on a channel with 4 followers. If you don’t have any friends who could do it, ask for places like Reddit, Facebook groups, or Discord. One person I’d recommend would be the artist Laavka. Really high-quality stuff and uber helpful. But, there is a waiting list. One of the things you could also ask about is Info Panels. Which is a perfect segue to…
Info Panels/Buttons:
You know that bottom of the page underneath your stream? The thing you left totally blank and put no effort into. Big mistake there buddy. Info Panels are incredibly important to the success of your Twitch channel.
Here are some key reasons why:
It makes you look professional/interesting.
A well done Info Panel section is like a high-quality pamphlet from a university recruiting someone to attend. Sure, some people will just throw it away immediately. But other people will actually take the time to read the thing. And the better it looks? The better information flows? The more relevant the messaging is? The better the attendance. Or in your case, viewer retention.
It draws viewer interest/helps them get to know you
So long as you don’t break terms of service, you can put anything you want in that section! Fun facts? Sure. Computer Specs? Nerd it up bruh. A good panel can effectively introduce yourself to anybody who’s watching your stream. So make sure it’s not just good info, but good visuals too!
It helps with SEO
SEO or Search Engine Optimization is tricky with witch Twitch. When you search for “____ + Twitch” you don’t always get an actual Twitch channel. But, when you do, you want to make sure you’re at the top. And based on my tests, panels DO help with on-page SEO.
They create Calls to Action
Nobody likes it when someone says “Be sure to like, comment, subscribe!” At the end of the video on YouTube. Thing is: Call to Actions or CTAs are insanely effective. Especially for videos. So if you want people to subscribe, donate, join your Patreon, join your Discord, sign your petition to make the Macarena the national dance, use the Info Panels for it!
Your Name:
What? Who? Slim Shady.
Your name is extremely important. Like… it will be one of THE determining factors for whether or not you get traction going. Why? A good, easy to remember name is exactly that. Memorable. You’ll stick into their mind and be easy to search. And that’s the other key. You want to make sure your name is something that doesn’t require a lot of digging. This could be from a specific style to the spelling, an unusual word/name, etc. But if you pick something like Ninja, you’d better be ready to grind for that Search Engine Result Position. Here are some examples of easy to remember names that won’t be buried under a thousand pages on Google:
A good logo creates a clear image. A clear brand. And a clear identity.
A good logo is important. Your logo is you. It’s a little square of colored pixels that are going to tell the whole world who YOU are. What kind of message are you sending? Because, if you are on Twitch, you are a brand. Control it! Make sure everybody knows that when I click on THIS picture the channel will meet the expectations that it sets forth. And the colors you pick matter as well.
Emotes:
POGGERS IN THE CHAT BOIS!
PogChamp. OmegaLUL. TriHard. The thing about how often you see a Twitch channel comment section become a wall of emotes. Wouldn’t it be nice if that could be yours? Now that being an affiliate streamer is a very low bar to cross, you have no reason not to be thinking about an emote. I’ve seen cases where streamers are told outright: “I only subscribed to your channel because your emote is really good.” Know what I say to that? Enjoy my emote and thanks for the cash!
Emotes are now an integral part of your Twitch channel, and again, your brand. You can do it yourself, or find someone to do it for you. There are plenty of tutorials on how to do this, but make sure you read Twitch’s guide first. And even if you aren’t an affiliate, don’t worry! Use Better Twitch TV for emotes as well. Just on Google Chrome, there are 1.5 million unique users of BTTV, and it’s completely free. So really, what do you have to lose?
Up next is what do actually do on stream.
Making your Stream Entertaining
Next is the “you” of the stream. What is appealing about watching you? The biggest complaints I hear from people about small streamers are how boring they are. There’s nothing exciting or interesting about them. They just sit there, never talk, never check on chat, and play the game. They might as well not have the stream on. Stop that.
Does this mean I’m saying you need to ham it up and scream like a child 24/7 ala Ninja? No. But it does mean that you need to know why and show why you’re worth watching. There are four main areas of what makes an interesting streamer. Now, this isn’t a hard and fast rule, but these are the most common reasons people watch a certain streamer. These commonly work in tandem with each other, so don’t think you just need to focus on one area and ignore the rest:
Personality
Skill
Appearance
Novelty
Personality:
This is the most important aspect of your Twitch channel. How you interact with the situation. Be it game, guests, and especially chat. There are plenty of personality types, and it’s important to know what yours is. Some people are more energetic like Ninja. Some are hyper-competitive like xQc. And some are so chill you’d think that they’re not even paying attention to the game, like the bearded wonder MattyP89.
What did you notice about the examples? They’re not for everyone. These are streamers that other people would describe as annoying, unfunny, or boring to watch. That’s OK. They’re not for everyone and neither should you. Now, that doesn’t mean you should be an asshole, but it does mean that you should be honest about who you are.
Skill:
If you look at some of the top streamers in the world, they’re pretty damn good at what they do. Ninja, Dr. Disrespect, Ryujehong, Seagull and the like are all “godlike” in their respective games. Like seriously, if I could aim half as good as them I’d feel like Achilles of Troy or something.
But that doesn’t mean you have to be some crazy no-lifer at a game to be watchable. One of my favorite streamers, ParallaxStella, is lucky to get into high silver in Overwatch. But, she’s still tons of fun to watch because you can tell she’s getting better and having fun. (It also helps that she’s a beast at other shooters like Titanfall.) The point is, play to your strengths, and if you aren’t particularly good at a game but love playing, roll with it!
Appearance:
Ah yes… appearances. This is controversial I’m sure, but the truth is, some channels are popular because they are pleasant to look at. This might be because of strong facial features, or they’re “blessed” in certain areas, it just is what it is. But they might also have a kind of “uniform” that they wear. Dr. Disrespect is not only really good at the games he plays; he’s also got sweet hair, a killer mustache, and some slick sunglasses. The dude rocks it.
Additionally, this goes into something I’ll talk about later, and that’s how your stream looks. The way your stream looks is just as important as yours. So even though you don’t walk down the New York runway, you better make sure your stream does. You’ll find out how below.
Novelty:
The best way I could describe this is that it’s your gimmick. This is the special sauce that makes you different from everybody else. Your X – Factor so to speak. Here are some examples of what I’m talking about:
EatmyDiction1 had a running series called F*cked Up Fridays where everybody got trashed.
MattyP89 does giveaways of games regularly during streams.
Dr. Disrespect does his slick daddy shtick.
Rudeism will play games with ridiculous controllers. Like he’ll play the gorilla character Winston with actual bananas. (Seriously.)
Other ways to be novel I’ve seen are things like streaming while in the character of the game (Dressing like Mario while playing Super Mario Odyssey), having a mini-league hosted by the for viewers to form teams and compete in, using a heart-rate monitor for stressful games, and many more.
So go out there and try to do something different. Do something that only you can do. (Or at least something that not everyone does.)
These are only parts (large parts) of what makes a streamer who they are. And don’t think that you have to be in the top 10% for absolutely everything. Try to look at these four things and assign a percentage out of a total of 100. Higher % means you want to focus more on that.
Here’s an example for you:
Personality: 30%
I’m pretty fun to watch once I get going and have some people in the chat or online to play with. But if things are slow, or nobody is interacting, I get really quiet. So people who stumble onto my stream are likely to just click back out once they realize that I’m just another boring streamer. I will focus on being more actively engaging. I won’t wait for someone else to talk to me first.
Skills: 10%
I know that I’m not really good at any games that I play. I strive for mediocre. So I’m just going to try to focus on being watchable to play. I won’t be on many highlight reels, but I’m going to avoid being on /r/LivestreamFail.
Appearance: 20%
I probably can’t do a whole lost about how I look. I’m pretty average to look at and honestly, I don’t want how I look to be any kind of focus. But, I am very expressive, so I want people to see my reactions to the game as I play the games. So I’ll try to get a better webcam that is clearer. Also, I want to focus on how my channel looks. Getting a new banner, buttons, and a better logo would do me a world of good. An angry looking blue worm probably isn’t working.
Novelty: 40%
If anything, I want to make my stream different. It feels generic and if I was a viewer I don’t know what would make me want to stick around. I don’t want to have a “character”, and I can’t afford to invest a large amount of money.
“Maybe I could do something to incorporate more sound effects based on what’s happening while I play the game? Like, if I die, the “Fatality” sound effect from Mortal Kombat will play. Or maybe I could do themed days for every day I stream. Throwback Thursdays I’ll play games from my childhood. I have a friend who does a league on Fridays. Maybe I’ll stream my perspective for it. Weird Wednesdays could be dedicated to doing weird indie games…”
The point of this exercise it to think about how you’re going to improve your stream. If you do that and follow through, you will get more viewers. Your retention will go up as well. And if someone stays to watch your stream more, they’ll be more likely to tell other people about you!
But if you’re going to do it, you need to keep doing it.
Maintaining a Schedule for Your Twitch Channel
This one is pretty simple. MAINTAIN A DAMN SCHEDULE! Stream every day? Awesome. More of a weekend streamer? That’s fine. Only available between 3 and 4 in the morning Mondays and Thursdays? That’s… okay, you might want to figure something out on that. But the point is you absolutely MUST have a regular schedule. Here’s why:
People need to know when you’re on. They won’t just drop what they’re doing every time you stream. TV shows keep a schedule for the same reason. So people make time to tune in.
It keeps you motivated. If you don’t have a schedule for when you work out, you quit working out.
You won’t forget. If you don’t remember to schedule your appointments at work, you miss meetings. You keep yourself honest with a schedule.
It enables you to do something else. The worst thing you can do is keep thinking “Oh, should I be streaming NOW!?” Because then you won’t because you work yourself up. Make a schedule, stick to it, and do something else when you aren’t streaming.
You get organized with the rest of your Twitch channel. Guess what? If you’ve got a consistent schedule for streaming, it’s a lot easier to work on the other things I’ve told you to do in this article!
Now, we’re going to talk about one of the trickiest and most important parts. Marketing yourself and your channel.
Marketing Your Channel on Twitch
Promoting your Twitch channel is a very delicate balance.
This is going to sound obvious, but it’s true. You need to market yourself because Twitch will not do it for you. When you start out streaming you be at the bottom of the search results. Twitch bases who is at the top of the search results on how many viewers they get. So the more views someone has, the more likely others are to discover the stream. Just as an example, about 67% of clicks on Google go to the first five search results. The other 33% goes to the other 13,000,000 results. The same idea applies for Twitch. So you already need to have those viewers to get picked up on the search results.
Telling people you are streaming is the best and most effective way. Tell your friends, tell your family, and tell the discord channel you’re on. Tell the press and town crier! Being active on social media is the most important thing to do. Some people will think that sounds like you’re being really spammy. Well, if you do it wrong, it absolutely is. But there is an easy way for that to not be the case which we’ll get into when I tell you how to social media. If you’re doing something you really want to do, people will support you. Who cares if it’s Granny who’s spamming PogChamp in chat? Grinding out every viewer is what it’s all about. Build that momentum.
Doing the Social Media Dance
Social Media is the gateway to growth for your Twitch Channel
Listen, I get it. Nobody wants to be that guy/girl who only uses Twitter for the same tweet. “Grinding to 50 followers guys! Get in on Good Vibes. #SupportSmallStreamers #Twitch #Fortnite #Overwatch #Whatsajungler #ThankTwitterformoreroomtohashtagspam…” you get the idea. The best method for not being a total douche-canoe on Social Media with announcing your streams is to follow a Marketing rule called 80/20. 80% of all Social Media you do should have nothing to do with your “product”.
Think about companies like Oreo, Wendy’s, or RedBull. What are they most famous for on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram etc.? Shouting out the latest Quad Stuffed Cookies? The New Taurine and Bull Piss flavored drink? Nope. Jokes. Sassiness. And dropping mother fuckers from the edge of space. Does this say a word about their product? Nope. Does it say something about the brand? Nope. It says EVERYTHING.
Like I said before, if you have a Twitch channel, you have a brand. And you need to understand that you control your messaging. So you need to be interesting and engaging on Social Media. You don’t have to be Khloe Kardashian or anything like that, but you do need to provide value on Social Media. Whether it’s funny quips, highlights from streams (doesn’t have to be yours, just make sure to credit others), or the latest gif from Stranger Things you need to provide value.
Okay, so you’ve got a good social media plan filled with good hashtags, memes, and shout-outs to other streamers, what’s next?
Cross Promotion
What is this a crossover episode? Now, before I begin I’m going to preface this: DO NOT SPAM PEOPLE ASKING FOR SHOUTOUTS. This isn’t 2008 YouTube. That being said, cross-promotion in the digital realm is extremely important. There are categories, sub-categories, and micro-categories of viewers on Twitch. There are tens of thousands of different communities all co-existing in their own insular groups. But before that, here are keys to being genuine with cross promoting:
Actually watch their streams. Make sure that you enjoy their streaming and you aren’t just trying to use somebody. Support them, be active in chat, participate!
Build a relationship with these people first. Don’t just get down to brass tacks. Make sure that you build a familiarity with them. You all might be brand building, but you’re all people as well.
Go into this with a positive attitude. To get away with being an asshole on Twitch you need to be famous. And if you’re reading this article, I doubt you qualify. (Self-burn!)
So what are ways to cross-promote effectively and courteously?
Social Media Shout Outs.
Give somebody a shout out on Social Media. If they reply or reciprocate, awesome! If not, you gave somebody you like watching a little ego boost. You can’t expect every good deed to get tearful thank-yous.
Cross Clip Posting
Show that you actually watched their stream and post a clip of something awesome/funny/interesting they did. If it’s somebody you know, set up cross shout outs.
Discord Promoting
If you don’t have a discord to go with your Twitch channel, you’re doing it wrong. Typically streamers have a channel shoutout section, and you can pick up a couple viewers this way.
Streaming together
You’d be surprised how often people forget this one. If you and somebody else like streaming similar games, try doing a duo stream! Even if you lose a few viewers during the stream to the other, you’ll have more exposure for next time. And if you see a lot of people switching to them, doing be offended. Take it as a learning experience and try to understand WHY it’s happening.
Now onto the million dollar question:
What games should I stream?
To be honest, you can’t go wrong
Oh, what a wonderfully dangerous question. Do you blaze your own path? Follow the big waves of the hottest trends in gaming? Honestly, this one comes down to preference. Stream the kinds of games you want to stream. Are you a variety streamer who’s key to views is their personality and interacting? More of the competitive gaming type threading the needle as a sniper? Probably better stick to games like CS:GO and Overwatch.
But if you really don’t care what kind of game you’re streaming, go ahead and try different things out. But make sure that no matter what, you don’t spread yourself out too thin. A good case study for this would actually be Pewdiepie. You know, the guy with over 60 million subscribers on YouTube. When he started out, he did one kind of game: Horror titles that would scare him. (Or make him pretend he’s scared.) Eventually, he started to do more different titles because he had grown enough of a following that he wasn’t as likely to lose all of his viewers because he changed things up.
A good example of this would be YouTuber and streamer Lt. Eddy. When he first started doing gaming content, his channel was almost entirely animation based. But then he started to upload highlight reels of him from Overwatch. He then saw his subscriber count fluctuate massively. Why? Because he was also still uploading animations. The people who subscribed for game highlights didn’t care about animations. The people who subscribed for animations didn’t really care about his Overwatch highlights. So he split his channel in two. One for animation, one for gaming. Then, after he got a large enough following, he began to do other games. Games like Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds, Fortnite, and… Sakura Swim Club. Gotta get that anime boob demographic. Ah! Demographics.
Choosing your Audience
Building a community for your channel is one of the most fun aspects.
Remember when I talked briefly about how you can’t please everyone? The same goes for your Twitch channel. I’m going to give you an example of why you shouldn’t try to just be a “general streamer”. Go and ask a hundred people what their favorite topping is for pizza. You’ll get answers like, pepperoni, sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms, ham, *shudders* pineapple, and maybe some others. Do you know what happens next? You order a cheese pizza because everyone wants something different. And hardly anyone gets excited about a just cheese pizza.
You need to think about what your pizza is going to look like, and who’s going to want that pizza. (Okay, enough pizza metaphors I’m getting hungry.)
Your channel is exactly that: A channel. Just like how TBS, CNN, Spike TV, and Disney channel target their markets, you need to as well. The message you send out and the product you present needs to match up. (Remember the brand identity stuff?)
More Handy Tools:
Here are some other handy tools that you can use to help your stream. Mess around and try some different things out for your channel. Experiment around and try some things out!
Italian prog metal band touring in support of new album
Featuring a collection of seasoned metalhead from Italy, Walls of Babylon (WOB) has released a new full length album on Revalve Records. A Portrait of Memories gathers searing riffs, epic vocals and interesting arrangements together in a meaningful way. Their’s is a mature progressive metal sound. WOB pays homage to great prog metal pioneers, especially those from their homeland, yet this is no Dream Theater clone. Opting to write and perform the band’s vocals in English, singer Valerio Gaoni stands out in the crowd. We caught up with Gaoni while WOB is out on tour promoting the new album (released 4/13/2018) and got the low down on A Portrait of Memories, the legacy of great Italian wine, why the band enjoys partying with fans and whole lot more.
Walls of Babylon interview.
Questions answered by Valerio Gaoni.
Walls of Babylon on tour in April 2018. The band is on tour in support of the album, A Portrait of Memories.
Slickster: A Portrait of Memories is your new album available now. After several listenings, I can definitely say there are many bad ass tracks on this record. Track #2, Starving Soul, in particular, has gotten quite a few plays on my iTunes. Can you describe the process how you and Walls of Babylon (WOB) composed and recorded this song?
Valerio Gaoni is the lead singer of Walls of Babylon.
WOB: Well, Starving Soul, had the same process of production and songwriting than the other tracks. Francesco, our guitarist brings to us the riffing and the structure of the song, then any of us give to it personal arrangement and ideas. Then came the recording session of pre-production, after this we play it in the rehearsal room many times until the groove and the sound are ok.
Slickster: So many of these power prog metal bands have great drums, guitars, and even keyboards, but they fall short in the vocals department. Nothing is worse than hearing a smoking hot guitar riff followed by some half-assed singing. WOB is based out of Italy, but you have chosen to sing all of your lyrics in English. By the way, speaking of the vocals, Valerio Gaoni, absolutely nails it. Sorry for the rant… let me get to the question! Why did you choose to make the lyrics in English instead of Italian?
WOB: Thank you very much man!!!!! We have chosen to sing in English because metal, and especially progressive metal, doesn’t have a great audience in Italy. Not enough to become popular to sing metal songs in our language anyway. But our choice is due to the target of our music and ambitions. We hope to play and to be listened to not only in Italy, but also in Europe, Japan and America.
Slickster: It’s pretty clear from your Instagram page that WOB likes to have fun when they are on tour. Do you remember how back in the day heavy metal bands had to look super serious and pissed off all the time? When do you think that image and attitude changed? Can you still create heavy music and laugh?
WOB: We love to play, get drunk and laugh at our concert and we hope that our fans love it too. Playing is a party for Walls of Babylon, but this doesn’t mean that our professionalism as a musicians comes in second place. We like to rock and give to our fans all the entertainment that they need to relax and to listen to good music. After the stage we still enjoy that party atmosphere and spending time with the people who were just headbanging in front of us. This is metal. This is the life we like.
Slickster: Italy has always been groundbreaking when it comes to prog music. Back in the day, it was the band Goblin and all of the zombie horror movies that Italian filmmakers are known for. In the modern era, bands like Walls of Babylon and DGM continue the trend of crafting superior prog metal. What do you attribute this uniquely Italian trait too?
WOB: As you’ve said, progressive culture is deeply rooted in our DNA. This is due to Goblin, PFM, Banco del mutuo Soccorso and recently in progressive metal with DGM. In italy, if you begin to play metal or any other underground genre you are almost forced to follow these artists. Also, in an almost unconscious way, you must follow them because it’s a strong, deep, influence. Our path is strictly linked to them too, however it is in a more natural way! ;D This is our music, our culture, our inheritance, and like good food, beautiful women and most of all great wine we embrace our own culture.
Slickster: WOB is actively touring in support of Portrait of Memories, including the Power Regressive Tagliata Party on July 15th 2018. Will this be your first time playing at this prog metal festival?
WOB: AHAHAHAH the Regressive Tagliata!!! IT was a 2016 event, when almost nobody knew of Walls of Babylon, but anyway, it an awesome gig 😉
Slickster: Uh oh, looks like we’ve got some wrong notes in here. Sorry for the mix up, but is it pretty safe to assume the Power Regressive Tagliata Power festival was comprised of 98.9% dudes wearing black leather jackets and <0.01% chicks? (Lol) Basically, what we’re saying is that prog metal festivals are total sausage fests right?
WOB: Yeees! It was a great night but none of us remember anything about it… Do you remember what I just said about Italian culture? It has great wine!
Slickster: So if a metal band wanted to get chicks, then they could play shitty music like Nickelback or Coldplay. Would it be considered metal to do a Coldplay cover, or does that just cross the line? (Lol)
WOB: NO! NO! NO! This is the bitterest question of all times. I respect every kind of music (no wait; that trap could kill me), but what I want to play is the music with my band, with our own music, and for everyone to know. I’m still continuing to learn and grow as a musician everyday, and in my own way, my focus it’s all referred to it. Naturally the chicks are welcome, but the music comes first.
Slickster: What advice would you like to share with young musicians who are interested in learning more about progressive metal?
WOB: Just listen to it everyday of your life, but also listen to every “pop” song that plays from a radio or a radio ‘in your head’. Listen to learn, listen to grown. Everything that you don’t expect can make you a better musician.
Slickster: Thanks again for talking with Slickster Magazine. Is there anything you’d like to discuss that maybe we didn’t touch on? Anything goes!
WOB: Thanks to you guys! We only hope everyone that listens to our music will be happy, crazy and so fucking drunk 😉
I would use a cherished amount of quarters at the laundromat my mom brought me to as a kid to play Rampage while she willingly washed my dirty underwear. Arcade games and arcades in general have become a forgotten treasure in this day and age. While you have the likes of Dave and Busters and Main Event being the modern equivalent, it doesn’t beat going into a video arcade as a kid in the 90s with a fistful of quarters and rotating that joystick in all directions and punching two to four buttons in and out of sequence as your childhood literally melted away one hour at a time.
Directed by Brad Peyton (San Andreas, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island) and written by Ryan Engle (The Commuter), Carlton Cuse (San Andreas), Ryan J. Condal (Hercules), and Adam Sztykiel (Due Date), the reasoning behind these giant monsters wreaking havoc in Rampage the film (the other film, not the Uwe Boll one) falls onto the shoulders of a gene manipulation company known as Energyne. Energyne CEO Claire Wyden (Malin Akerman) has developed a pathogen that greatly increases the size, strength, and speed of animals that are exposed to it while also genetically altering their DNA.. Canisters containing the pathogen fall from the sky after a space station researching the canisters explodes. Debris falls across the United States including near an albino ape at the San Diego Zoo, an American crocodile in the Everglades, and a gray wolf in Wyoming. The fate of the world rests in the hands of a San Diego primatologist and former US Special Forces soldier named Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) and a genetic engineer who works for Energyne named Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris).
Lizzie brushed all of her teeth for her close-up in, “Rampage.”
In the arcade game, these kaiju/giant monsters used to be human but an experimental vitamin turned George into a giant ape, a food additive altered Ralph into a monstrous werewolf, and a radioactive lake transformed Lizzie into a colossal dinosaur-like lizard. You destroyed buildings, ate people, and stomped and punched tanks and trolleys in order to get to the next level. Instead of dying, you reverted back to your naked human form and tried to cover up your most sensitive areas as you scooted off-screen. The monsters in the film are all modified versions of regular animals with Ralph having the ability to glide like a flying squirrel and throw his porcupine-like quills and Lizzie (who isn’t named in the film) who has elephant like tusks, spikes all over her body, and a bulbous tail that is especially good at bashing people and fellow monsters.
Rampage struggles from what typical modern monster movies suffer from; a heavy focus on the human characters while the monsters are left to pick up the scraps in the background. The human interactions are pretty ridiculous with most of the laughs coming from sign language conversations between Dwayne Johnson and a CGI albino ape. The screenplay seems to also be purposely outrageous with Kate telling her boss that she’s running late to work because the car ahead of her just exploded and Claire Wyden’s brother Brett (Jake Lacy) always seems to be eating and or drinking something whenever he’s on-screen. Like the recent run of films that were based on board games, movies based on video games are generally pretty awful. Luckily, Rampage is slightly better than the bar set by video game films that came before it.
Ralph shows a stray dog what dominance really is in, “Rampage.”
The sci-fi monster film may have a juvenile screenplay, but the monster sequences feel naturally influenced by the original video game. George, Ralph, and Lizzie tear up the entirety of Chicago, eat people regularly, and the film ends with a free-for-all that is genuinely exhilarating. The helicopter without a tail being the saving grace of Davis and Kate falling to their deaths was a little much as was whatever the intentions were of the mysterious government agent Harvey Russell (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Morgan throws around this Southern sass in Rampage that is exceptional, but his motives are so wishy-washy and it’s disappointing that they chose to make him one of the good guys when Morgan is so good at portraying the bad guy.
Rampage is worth seeing for the Ralph/Special Ops sequence, the George air transport sequence, and the final 20 minute battle royal. That is what embodies the beloved video game and delivers what you enjoy as a fan. George is basically King Kong and Lizzie is like a cross between Godzilla and Biollante, at its core Rampage is more of a corny giant monster movie than a representation of the video game it’s based on. The film is absurd from its concept from the acting to the way it’s written to the Weta Digital special effects that are usually so high in quality but slightly cheesy here thanks to so obviously being done in front of a green screen.
Rampage is pure unfiltered cheese and the type of big budget B-movie trash that would kill as a late night feature on cable television. Rampage isn’t really a work of art, but it is popcorn entertainment at its most disastrous and serves as a satisfying placeholder until the next Godzilla film arrives. It’s a hell of a lot more fun than that horrid Pacific Rim sequel even if it goes out of its way to point out that two of the main characters are bigger A-holes than these monsters are in size.
Slickster: You’re a obviously a fan Princess Leia from Star Wars. Did you think she got a fair death in The Last Jedi?
Dare: I am a huge Princess Leia fan but she technically didn’t die in The Last Jedi, but I think her character was needed in the return of Luke Skywalker. Because he did have a sit down conversation with her, and it was important to the story. Now I have heard she is suppose to pass in the next movie and I am curious how they are going to play that out.
Slickster: You really love showing off your booty for the camera. How can other young ladies develop the confidence to wear thong bikinis and show their butt?
Dare: I wouldn’t say that it’s just my booty, it’s more like my confidence as a younge ladie that’s being presented on social media. I personally think that me being as confident in my body will help inspire. Other models and ladies to feel the same way towards themselves. Honestly nothing is sexier then self love.
Slickster: What is it like to be a woman on the dating scene with all of the social media?
Dare: Social media has been a huge help to my personal success as a model. Honestly I don’t use any dating apps like most young ladies my age do, just because I feel like if I a meant to meet someone I will meet them. Dating apps are okay but I always felt like the connection wasn’t as organic.
Slickster: Any creep ‘horror stories’ from a photo shoot?
Dare: I have been very lucky that all the photographers I work with have been professional and treated me with respect. So sorry, no crazy story’s here (thankfully!)
Slickster: What message would you like to share with the world?
Dare: The most important thing to know about me is that I would like to encourage more younge people to have self confidence and self worth. Because it’s not only attractive to them as people but can help them become more successful in life if they believe in themselves. I grew up with one side of my family being unsupportive to my acting and Modling career. I always knew I would be successful if I believed in myself, and kept working hard! As to this day with my Patreon, and acting jobs I still have to encourage myself to keep working hard in order to fulfill my goals.
I want to thank you very much for sending me these questions, and giving me a chance to show personality as well! If anyone is interested my Patreon is Patreon.com\dare2plz they do have to be 18 years and older to pledge. But trust me their is allot of body positivity on there 😉
The second annual Las Rageous music festival rocked LVNV on 4/20/2018. Slickster Magazine sent veteran rock photographer, Ken Howard, to cover the scene. The results were as expected, bad ass! In the wake of the terrible mass shooting that occurred in 2017, it’s great to see that music fans aren’t going to be scared off by some loser with a vendetta. Crowds packed the concert venue and had a blast celebrating their love of hard rock and heavy metal music.
Don’t think that we are changing our opinion of Las Vegas just yet though. As of yet, UFC won’t grant Slickster ring side media passes, and here is our Top Ten Reasons Las Vegas Sucks.
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Ivan L. Moody, lead singer for the band 5 Finger Death Punch performing on stage day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Ricky Warwick frontman for Black Star Riders performing in concert on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Biff Byford of Saxon on stage on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Saxon Guitarist Doug Scarratt performing in concert on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – The crown awaits the next bband on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images / Alamy Live News
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – , Ivan L. Moody of 5 finger Death Punch performing on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – 5 Finger Death Punch lead singer Ivan L. Moody on stage on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Jason Hook guitarist of 5 Finger Death Punch performing in concert on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Jeremy Spencer, Drummer for , 5 Finger Death Punch performing in concert on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Nibbs Carter the bass player for Saxon performing in concert on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Rob Halford singer for the band Judas Priest performing in concert on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – Rob Halford of Judas Priest performing in concert on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Las Vegas Nevada, April 21, 2018 – 5 Finger Death Punch band member Zoltan Bathory on stage on day 2 of the second annual Las Rageous heavy metal music festival held at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Photo Credit: Ken Howard Images
Title Screen by Team17 and Makingames, Ltd.
