gear
A gamer is only as good as their gear; discover the best headsets, keyboards, mice, controllers, speakers and more.
From the Dugout to the Deal Table: Applying Baseball and Football Tactics to Smarter Lending
In professional sports, winning is rarely accidental. Baseball managers and football coaches rely on preparation, analytics, timing, and disciplined execution to outmaneuver opponents. Every decision—whether it’s calling a curveball on a full count or going for it on fourth down—reflects calculated strategy rather than impulse.
By James Cretellaabout 22 hours ago in Gamers
How Gaming and Pop Culture Shape Our World and Ourselves
In an era dominated by digital landscapes and shared narratives, gaming and pop culture have transcended mere entertainment to become powerful forces shaping our identities, communities, and even our understanding of the world. From the intricate lore of a sprawling RPG to the layered themes of a blockbuster film, these mediums offer more than just escapism; they provide platforms for connection, critical thinking, and profound emotional experiences.
By Being Inquisitive3 days ago in Gamers
My 400th Story: Celebrating 10 Years of the NES Classic
Greetings, Vocal readers and subscribers! I've reached yet another milestone: 400 stories on Vocal. I'm aiming to reach the 500 stories mark by the end of this year. Is it doable? There's only one way to find out. To celebrate this milestone, I'll be talking about a game console that will turn 10 later on this year, except it's a miniature version of an old game system that everyone wanted to get their hands on. I'm talking about the release of the NES Classic. I'll be sharing the good and the bad of the game console.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 18 days ago in Gamers
Why Rayo Vallecano demonstrated their superiority
Why Rayo Vallecano demonstrated their superiority When football fans hear the name Real Madrid, they immediately picture power, victories, and superstars on a global scale. When they hear Rayo Vallecano, they think of a small, hardworking club from the heart of Madrid, fighting season after season to survive among Spain’s elite.
By Farida Kabir24 days ago in Gamers
When Is a Move Final?
The Commitment Problem in Modern Chess Modern chess operates under a fractured commitment model that no longer aligns with how players think, how turns function in most games, or how chess itself is actually played across physical and digital formats. At the heart of the problem is that chess treats physical contact with a piece as binding commitment while simultaneously relying on a separate explicit action to end a player’s turn. This creates a logical contradiction: a move becomes final before the turn is over. In most turn-based games, interaction with game components is provisional until the player explicitly signals the end of their turn. Chess is an anomaly in this respect, and the inconsistency becomes increasingly visible in modern play.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcastabout a month ago in Gamers
The Boy Who Watched the Giant
I didn’t go for the stars. I went for my nephew. He’s eleven, wears his hair in messy curls, and talks about football like it’s a secret code only he and the ball understand. “You have to see how they move together, Tío,” he’d said, eyes wide. “It’s like they’re speaking without words.”
By KAMRAN AHMADabout a month ago in Gamers
The Night the Stadium Felt Like Home
I didn’t go for the spectacle. I went because I was lost. It was my first winter in a new country. The language felt like glass in my mouth, the streets unfamiliar, the silence in my apartment louder than any noise back home. I missed the rhythm of my old life—the market vendors who knew my name, the neighbors who waved from their windows, the comfort of being understood without speaking.
By KAMRAN AHMADabout a month ago in Gamers
The Night the Gym Felt Like Church
I didn’t go for the basketball. I went because my nephew asked me to. He’s thirteen, wears his hair in messy curls, and talks about the game like it’s a secret language only he and the ball understand. “You have to see how they move together, Uncle,” he’d said, eyes wide. “It’s like they’re speaking without words.”
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Gamers
The Night the Future Felt Like Hope
I didn’t go to the store for inspiration. I went because I was out of coffee. It was a Tuesday in early March—gray, damp, the kind of morning that clings to your shoulders like a wet coat. I hadn’t slept. My mind was a tangle of unread messages, overdue bills, and the low hum of dread that had become my baseline. The grocery store was just a pit stop on the way to another day I wasn’t sure I could face.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Gamers
The Night the Arena Felt Like a Time Machine. AI-Generated.
I didn’t go to the library for answers. I went because it was the only place where silence wasn’t judged. It was the winter after my divorce. My apartment felt too loud with absence—echoes in the hallway, empty chairs at the table, the hum of a refrigerator that used to be background noise but now sounded like loneliness amplified. So every Tuesday at 2 p.m., I walked the three blocks to the public library, took the same seat by the window, and opened a book I never read.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Gamers
The Porch Light That Stayed On
I didn’t notice the porch light at first. It was just another fixture on a quiet street lined with oak trees and tired mailboxes. But every night at 9 p.m., without fail, it clicked on—even in rain, even in summer heat, even when no one was home.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Gamers
