#Brian Kezer

[briankezer]

An Overview of Popular Video Game Genres

More than 212 million Americans, or roughly two-thirds of the population, regularly play video games, according to a 2023 report from the Entertainment Software Association. The 2023 Essential Facts About the US Video Game Industry report also found that 96 percent of the population has a positive view of games and gaming. As an industry, video games generate more than $100 billion in annual revenue and provide jobs to over 350,000 Americans. The diversity of games available to consumers is a key reason why gaming is popular among such a large section of the public. There are scores of unique genres for gamers to choose from.

Fighting games, or fighters, represent a classic game genre. Mortal Kombat, one of the most successful and influential video games of all time, falls under the fighter genre. The game’s violence sparked outrage among certain groups, resulting in a massive overhaul of how games are rated and sold to minors. Released in 1992, the game sold more than 3 million copies in just three weeks of release. Like Mortal Kombat, fighter games typically consist of two characters facing one another in a two-dimensional arena. Players enter various button combinations on the controller to execute different attacks, attempting to defeat their opponent before time runs out. Fighting games are comparable to side-scrolling brawlers and beat ‘em up games.

Farming games occupy the opposite end of the spectrum compared to fighters. These slow-paced, peaceful games simply involve managing crops and animals. Several of the most popular farming games, such as Stardew Valley and the Harvest Moon series, feature elements of romance and simulation role-playing games. In addition to managing a farm, players can interact with their employees and town members, sometimes going on sidequests or dealing with special events. Other farming games, such as Farming Simulator 22, present a more realistic simulation of the agriculture industry. There are many types of simulation games, from the best-selling Sims series to various flight simulators.

Individuals interested in farming games may enjoy another low-pressure genre, puzzle games. Like most genres, countless subgenres comprise the puzzle game category. Tetris is arguably the quintessential puzzle game, requiring players to quickly pair shapes of different sizes, colors, and dimensions. Tetris is often cited as the best-selling video game ever made, with over 520 million copies sold, according to The Tetris Company. On the other hand, action-adventure platform video games like It Takes Two and The Legend of Zelda present players with an array of puzzles to solve as they advance through levels.

For a more uptempo gaming experience, players should try shooter games. Many of the most popular games are shooters, especially first-person shooters (FPS). Shooters may take a grounded approach to gameplay, either with comprehensive tactical gameplay or by setting the game during a historical conflict. Other shooters are much more stylized and feature elements of science fiction and fantasy.

In addition, open world games break the conventions of many previously established genres, namely the concept of players progressing from one small level to another. Instead, players can explore massive game worlds that may feature little to no obstructions in the way of seeing the whole map. The Grand Theft Auto series consists mostly of open world titles, including Grand Theft Auto 5, the most profitable video game ever made. Red Dead Redemption 2, another open world game from Rockstar Entertainment, sold over 6 million copies in two days, en route to over 64 million copies.

These are only a few of the popular game genres to explore. Sports fans can choose from countless sports games. Other categories are named after specific games that inspired the genre, such as souls-like, rogue-like, and metroidvanias.

[930club]

A few weeks ago, we had a chance to ask GQ/Deadspin columnist/novelist/delectable food lover/Chopped champion Drew Magary a few questions, mostly about music and sports, and the intersection of music AND sports (planet explosion noise). Drew is also a D.C.-area resident, and has already been three sheets to the wind/a walking sauna at The Anthem. He’s one of the good guys in this town. You can read Drew’s GQ columns here, his Deadspin columns here, and purchase his novel, The Hike, here. Let’s go! With the recent passing of Hüsker Dü drummer Grant Hart, you tweeted some sympathies – I know you grew up in Minnesota. Care to give a brief idea as to what it was like coming up in/around that music scene? And, perhaps you could give some general thoughts about your early experiences getting into music. Well I grew up in the suburbs, so I wasn’t really near the scene, at least not spiritually. Where I was, the REALLY huge local acts were, like, The Jets, and Limited Warranty, and (as always) Prince. I only really learned about the punk scene well after I’d left. In 1988 or whatever, I was much more into Metallica and Guns and Def Leppard and the whole mainstream metal scene. All that shit is still formative to me. Def Leppard isn’t on Spotify and it KILLS me, especially if I’m liquored up and wanna hear me some Pyromania deep cuts.

You’ve spent some time with and interviewed the likes of Kid Rock, Scott Stapp, and even Guy Fieri - is there a certain defining characteristic, personality-wise, that is shared by all of these big entertainers?

It’s hard to say, if only because I’m there explicitly for GQ and a lot of guys will be on their best behavior. I would say that the guys I’ve profiled and admired are the ones who really, truly care about the people they’re doing the work FOR, you know? Like, Kid Rock really does love his fans as much as they love him. I know he’s pandering with a lot of that music, but I never saw him treat anyone on that cruise with contempt, you know? It’s really easy to become successful and turn into an absolute shit who hates his audience and thinks he’s too good for them. Tommy Lee still likes going out there and doing “Kickstart My Heart” for the bazillionth time. That’s nice, you know? I’d want my band to give a shit. Is there any art left in the MLB walk-up song? I seem to remember it being a bigger deal when I was younger. Does anyone care? Have you thought about what music you’d select as you prepare to hit them dingers? I just think there’s so much ambient bullshit at your standard ballpark or arena that most people just glaze right past it. I know I would. Even if a guy chose some coolass band like Metz as his leadoff music, it’s still only a five second snippet. I’d barely be able to recognize it in time. I’ll tell you what’s still cool, though. The bullpen music. If I were coming out of the pen, I’d queue up Uncle Acid and walk out there in a black robe. I know you are a Queens of the Stone Age guy, and in a recent Eagles of Death Metal interview, Jesse Hughes brought up the idea that Josh Homme was “meant to lead men” given his 6’5” frame and pristine Nordic/Viking genetics. Do you think QOTSA would be as potent/recognized of a rock band if Homme was just some random schlub?  Damn, maybe not?  I mean, the look and style DO matter, on some level. I love The Struts and one of the reasons why is that they put real effort into the presentation (again, because they care). So yeah, I’m definitely still a little 12-year-old who wants my rock stars to be shitkicking giants who take what they want.  Homme has serious PRESENCE, and that’s a big part of it. But I also think it can be a learned thing, too. Like, Thom Yorke was a painfully shy guy. But if you go see that band live, he’s fucking confident. He’ll own you.  Do you think that NFL owners like Jerry Jones/Robert Kraft/Dan Snyder actually listen to music for enjoyment? Outside of perhaps Irsay (which is a whooole other thing), it seems like music might be an afterthought to these dudes. Well you know Kraft loves himself some Bon Jovi. He’s all about the Jovi. But yeah, in general I think those bazillionaires aren’t exactly going home and poring over vinyl collections. They have private orgies to tend to.  You’ve made mention of the emotional potency of recent Disney movies. I have a young daughter and movies like The Good Dinosaur and Moana have messed me up a little bit. Did our parents have these big, life-questioning feelings with older Disney/animated films? I don’t think my Dad was reflecting on his mortality and purpose in life when Ariel was trying to be “Part of That World,” but maybe I’m wrong? He probably hid it well! You know it’s not even that the movies make me think sentimental thoughts. They just make me REACT. I get emotional for emotions sake. I may as well be cutting an onion. They’re just calibrated to hit your skull in such a way that the tears come gushing out whether you want them to or not, and they’re even more effective than movies of the past. They’ve nailed the formula.  I’ve heard guys like Brian Slagel (of Metal Blade Records) and Jamey Jasta say that when we’re in the midst of tumultuous political times, the quality of heavy music increases. Are we about to get an influx of quality heavy shit? I am skeptical of this theory, but curious as to your thoughts. 

I don’t buy that. You hear that every time some Republican takes office, but I think people just reverse engineer the cultural effect from what’s already out there. The scene is too dispersed for it to become a whole movement of bands. I wish that weren’t true. I wish Metallica 2.0 was about to fucking leap out of the bushes. By the way, all the angry metal guys I loved as a kid are all Republicans now. WTF, Dave Mustaine. You’re the guy who wrote “Symphony of Destruction!”   Finally, is there a particular band/artist that you repped to-your-core in your younger years that makes you want to crawl inside of yourself and die when thought of today?  I really liked the music side of Sam Kinison’s Leader of the Banned EP. It has NOT aged well. I have some regrets. -Dave Kezer

[briankezer]

An Overview of Penalty Shots in Golf

Golf is a game that is bound by rules and etiquette that determine how it is played, and points can be scored. Penalty shots contribute to point scoring, and the rules of penalty shots are important aspects of most golf games.

Penalty shots refer to additional strokes that are added to a player's score when they violate a rule during a golf game. Because they hold the possibility of impacting the outcome of a golf round or tournament, golf players must be efficient at scoring golf penalty shots. Depending on the specifics of the situation, different types of penalty shots might apply in a golf game. Out-of-bounds, water hazards, lateral water hazards, and unplayable lies are some of the most widely invoked penalty shots in a golf game.

An out-of-bounds penalty shot is invoked when the ball goes beyond the boundaries of the golf course. White lines usually mark the boundaries of the course. Out-of-bounds penalty shot requires the player to add a stroke to their score while they play another shot from where they left off. For instance, If a player hits their initial shot out of bounds, they need to take another shot from the tee, and their second shot will be counted as their third stroke.

A water hazard penalty shot is usually invoked when a player's shot lands in a body of water that is marked by yellow lines. In this situation, the player can choose between two options. First, they can opt to hit the ball in its status quo without the option of moving any impediment or without grounding their golf club. They can also decide to take a relief option. For instance, the player might choose to maintain the point where the ball crossed the hazard's margin, or they can decide to retake their shot from the point where they took the last one.

Another commonly invoked type of penalty shot is lateral water hazards. This type of penalty shot is relevant when the player's shot results in the ball falling into a body of water that is parallel to the hole. This situation leaves the player with a few options. The player might decide to move any form of loose impediment close to the ball or play the ball without grounding their club.

The unplayable lies are a type of penalty shot that a golf player can invoke when they consider their balls not to be playable conditions. This means that they have different options for relief, but all these carry a one-stroke penalty. The player can decide to drop the ball at two clubs' lengths or distances from its current position. They can also decide to drop the ball behind its current position or go back to the point where they last swung the shot. Whether or not a ball is unplayable rests solely on the player's judgment; hence, there is a need for careful consideration of different alternatives available before making this decision.

Also, in more serious violations such as dishonesty, an individual may be excised from play. In case a ball rolls into a wrong area and needs to be dropped, it should go behind the impediment on the direct line drawn between the flagpole and the point where the ball first crossed into it. Certain hazards, like ditches, extend along the fairway toward the green. These are called red hazards, and they prevent the ball from being dropped in the way previously mentioned.

There are different steps a player should follow to score penalty shots. It is important that they identify the type of penalty shot incurred and choose their most preferred relief option. Also, depending on the severity and type of the penalty, the player should add one or two strokes to their already existing score. Then the player can then drop another ball in compliance with the rules of the game.

[briankezer]

Brian Kezer holds an MA in computer science from George Washington University. In his spare time, Brain Kezer enjoys working out and reading.

[briankezer]

Based in Maryland, Brian Kezer has an interest in activities such as cooking, walking his dogs, and exercise. An athletics enthusiast, Brian Kezer enjoys working out as well as watching and playing sports.

One of the most compelling stories of the 2021 NFL season has been the continued resilience of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. Over the years, he has assumed the mantle of “greatest active player,” if not outright GOAT (greatest of all time). Now age 44 and entering his 22nd season, Brady attributes a part of his success to a workout regimen that he developed in tandem with trainer Alex Guerrero, with whom he founded the wellness enterprise TB12.

Rather than a conventional routine focused on weights and building up maximum muscle, Brady utilizes resistance bands that mimic the “speed of sport.” This technique induces “pliability,” or muscle fatigue, and allows Brady to hone reflexes in the exact muscles he needs in game time situations. The basic routine involves nine distinct sets, each undertaken once to the point of failure. These include standing row, banded pushup, banded core rotations, and banded deadlift. After a final set of X-band squats, Brady finishes the workout with a foam roll that targets the hamstrings, calves, and gluteal muscles.