What’s on the menu for 2020 gaming? Part 3

Posted on January 5, 2020 by GamesandGrinds

Our first blog series for 2020 is a brief look forward at what we can expect to sate our gaming appetites in 2020. We’ll be covering 15 games over the next 3 days, with a focus on games releasing for PC and the Nintendo Switch since that’s what we currently have to play. Rest assured however, we’ve found a fun mix of mainstream and eclectic selections to keep an eye on as the calendar marches on. Here’s Part 3!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Genre: Social Sim
Platform: Switch

It’s been nearly 12 long years since we’ve had a proper Animal Crossing on a home console, and New Horizons looks to bring back the same adorable formula with a few twists. We’ll get more control of our village than ever with the ability to place villagers’ homes, build true paths, expanded character customization… the list goes on. Add in split screen co-op AND the ability to invite up to 7 friends to your island and it seems to be everything us AC fans have wanted for over a decade. Expect long sessions in a tropical Games & Grinds paradise come March 20th.

Half Life: Alyx

Developer: Valve
Release Date: March 2020
Genre: VR First Person Shooter
Platform: PC

Every time I watch the trailer for Half Life: Alyx I can hear my wallet sob for a while. I’ve managed to keep my interest in vr to a minimum out of self preservation more than anything. However, Half-Life is one of my favorite gaming franchises of all time. I have the strider fights of HL2 burned into memory forever. I’m only so strong, and I can only hold out for so long. So long as the reviews show it’s playable with the most budgeted of vr-builds I will find a way to make it work.

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What’s on the menu for 2020 gaming? Part 2

Posted on January 4, 2020 by GamesandGrinds

Our first blog series for 2020 is a brief look forward at what we can expect to sate our gaming appetites in 2020. We’ll be covering 15 games over the next 3 days, with a focus on games releasing for PC and the Nintendo Switch since that’s what we currently have to play. Rest assured however, we’ve found a fun mix of mainstream and eclectic selections to keep an eye on as the calendar marches on. Here’s Part 2!

Way to the Woods

Developer: Anthony Tan
Release Date: 2020
Genre: Indie-Adventure
Platform: Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

We are absolute suckers for games involving woodland critters of all types. 2019’s critter-classic was Untitled Goose Game, and it looks like Way to the Woods might be the case for 2020. Developed by independent Aussie designer Anthony Tan, Way to the Woods follows a parent/child pair of deer as they wander through the world on their way home. With heavy notes of Myazaki influence, it looks absolutely beautiful and incredibly emotive, two things that will always pique my interest in gaming.

Skatebird

Developer: Glass Bottom Games
Release Date: 2020
Genre: Indie-Sports, sorta
Platform: Switch, PC

Skatebird is everything that it sounds like, and potentially so much more. Initially a Kickstarter with over $67,000 and 2,500 backers of support, Skatebird continues the legacy of skateboarding games by letting you jump, flip, and grind your feathered-friend all over makeshift skateparks. Even if it hadn’t been a while since a solid skateboarding game released, simple controls and a low-fi soundtrack have me ready to chill with some Skatebirds.

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What’s on the menu for 2020 gaming? Part 1

Posted on January 3, 2020 by GamesandGrinds

Our first blog series for 2020 is a brief look forward at what we can expect to sate our gaming appetites in 2020. We’ll be covering 15 games over the next 3 days, with a focus on games releasing for PC and the Nintendo Switch since that’s what we currently have to play. Rest assured however, we’ve found a fun mix of mainstream and eclectic selections to keep an eye on as the calendar marches on.

Gods and Monsters

Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
Release Date: Fall 2020
Genre: Action-Adventure
Platform: Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

From the little we’ve seen to this point, Gods and Monsters is the answer to the question “What if Disney made a God of War game?” The “painterly” look of Ubisoft’s Gods and Monsters gives game of epic greek mythology a distinctly storybook feel. I am absolutely sold on the amount of style and personality it delivers in an open world game and a host of god-like powers. Recent rumors claim Gods and Monsters is getting delayed to Fall 2020, which should give us plenty of time to learn more.

Humankind

 

Developer: Amplitude Studios
Release Date: 2020
Genre: 4X Strategy
Platform: PC

I don’t say this kind of thing lightly, Humankind has me reconsidering my fervent loyalties to Civilization games. Humankind looks to expand on the 4X formula with custom leaders, combat with terrain effects, and a growth system that boasts one million potential ways to develop your civilizations. It’s been a while since Sid Meier had a true challenger in the historic 4x genre, but Humankind seems to be up to the task. Here’s hoping it can avoid delays in 2020.

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Cooking Preview: A few things to crack before Sunday’s omelette show

Posted on January 3, 2020 by GamesandGrinds

Omelettes are kind of scary, which is an odd thing to admit given that you see them on any good brunch menu.  But the truth is it’s a slippery slope and one wrong flip of the pan between an omlette and scrambled eggs.  I’ve avoided trying to make omlettes because of the intimidation factor, but recently decided it was time to figure it out.  

After a few months of trying, I’ve finally almost perfected the recipe.  It’s all about technique, but once you get it down it’s really pretty easy.

On Sunday at 10AM MST we’ll be live-streaming some omlette making as I teach Anthony the ins and outs of this breakfast dish.  Ahead of the stream, here’s the recipe that I’ve found works best: 

https://www.foxvalleyfoodie.com/how-to-make-an-omelet/

Some things that I found surprising about my almost prefect omelet recipe: 

  • No milk or other liquid.  The recipe reasons that adding anything extra will result in fluffy eggs, which normally is great, but not for the omlette we’re trying to achieve. 
  • I’ve typically filled my (failed) omlettes with plenty ingredients, which is probably why the fold never worked and the eggs never seemed thoroughly cooked through.  The recipe recommends ¼ cup of fillings max, and while it’s hard to not want it oozing out of the eggs, show restraint and keep the ingredients minimal.  
  • Don’t be afraid of the fold!  If you keep your eggs at 2 and use a nice medium-sized pan it gives you a nice consistenty to work with, without overcrowding the pan, making the fold and flip something that’s easy to master after a few tries. 

See ya Sunday! 

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It’s been a while…

Posted on January 2, 2020 by GamesandGrinds

Hello there Games & Grinds Faithful,

There isn’t a simpler way of saying it… we’re back! It’s been 2 years since we last posted to the blog or streamed anything online, life all too often gets in the way of passion projects, and that is what ultimately kept us from doing much of anything with Games & Grinds. However, life is an ever changing series of events, and so too is our online presence. So here we are, in yet another new location, ready to explore and share our experiences of food, gaming, and so much more with anyone interested in seeing them. Wondering what we’ve been up to the past 730-ish days? Well of course I’m going to write about it.

First things first: We are no longer in Texas. As much as we love our Lone Star State and all it has to offer, the mountains of Colorado came calling and we answered. More specifically we just hit our 1-year anniversary in Colorado Springs. Living in the shadow of Pikes Peak has been an experience to say the least, moving always brings challenges that we’ve taken on more often than most, but we’ve loved it. Sure, we’ve had to learn how to live in a place with plenty of snow and ice, a new time zone, and new local culture, but the instant access to nature and plenty of fun local breweries and restaurants have helped helped Colorado feel like home. Is it where we settle down for good? History has proven that is a bet no one should want to make, but for the near future we’ll make the most of it and see what happens.

Plenty more to follow with the start of 2020. Expect even more cooking content as we settle into our newly established Rocky Mountain set-up. As always thanks for reading or watching wherever you do, and we’ll see you online!

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