Author: Christopher Harper

Should you be gaming over Wireless HDMI? How does it work, why should you try it, and why shouldn’t you? I’m going to tackle these questions in this article, so by the end you should know for sure whether or not this is a worthwhile gaming solution. What is Wireless HDMI? First up, let’s talk about what Wireless HDMI actually is. There are two basic versions of this technology: one where both the device and screen are bound to an antenna for casting and receiving, and one where only the receiving device has an attached antenna and you instead cast…

Will you lose your savegames when uninstalling a game on Steam? Is there a reason the answer might change depending on the game you’re playing? This is a good opportunity to talk about how Steam manages game saves, and what you can do when you need to pick up its slack. Let’s get into it! How Steam Manages Game Saves So, the exact way save games are managed by Steam will still depend on the game itself. Some games are fully integrated with Steam, including Steam Cloud support. Others don’t support Steam Cloud at all, and even among Steam Cloud…

Can you use an Xbox Controller on a PlayStation Console? What about the reverse scenario, where you want to use a PlayStation Controller on an Xbox Console? Let’s get into the answers together. Fortunately for my PC gamers out there, platform-specific controllers and controller adapters aren’t really a concern on the PC platform, since Steam has built-in compatibility for literally hundreds of controllers and custom drivers can do the rest from there. It’s a bit more complicated for a console gamer, though, so let’s talk about that. Can You Use an Xbox Controller on a PlayStation Console? Unfortunately, no- at…

Ever wondered what PS5 equivalent PC parts would look like, and how much the resulting PC build would actually cost you in comparison to the PlayStation 5? Let’s dive into that together today, and help break down the PlayStation 5’s hardware and how it stands compared to current-generation PC hardware. Understanding The PlayStation 5’s Hardware Architecture PlayStation 5 Cost: $499 ($399 Digital Only; Digital not recommended for long-term savings or physical game ownership) First, it’s important to understand that everything on the PlayStation 5 is built around a central SoC, or System on a Chip. The PS5’s SoC holds pretty…

Motion blur is a controversial topic in the gaming space, but outside of gaming is generally accepted as a valid technique in film, TV, animation and so on. What makes motion blur in gaming unique, and contentious? What makes it different from other versions of motion blur? Today, I’m gonna walk you through all of that, so by the end you’ll have a solid idea of what motion blur actually is. What Is Motion Blur? Motion blur in general refers to the visual blur that is added to moving objects. If you wave your hand in front of your face,…

Today, I’m going to walk you through how to set up Moonlight on Steam Deck. If you aren’t sure what Moonlight is yet or why you should use it, don’t click away- Moonlight is a superb application for making the most of your Steam Deck’s game-streaming capabilities, even outside of Steam. Let’s get into it! What is Moonlight? Moonlight is an open-source client for Nvidia’s GameStream technology. Nvidia GameStream requires an Nvidia desktop GPU on the host PC, and is meant to only use compatible Nvidia Shield devices as clients. With Moonlight, you can turn your Steam Deck into an…

Ever wondered how to use back buttons on a controller, how to configure them in your games, or just want some good ideas to start with? This is the article for you. What are Controller Back Buttons? Controller back buttons, also known as controller back paddles, are basically extra buttons on top of a standard gamepad layout. Depending on the exact brand and implementation, you may see anywhere from 2 to 4 back buttons. What Major Controllers Support This Feature? Xbox Elite Series Controller Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller SCUF Brand Controllers (PlayStation and Xbox) Standard PS4 Controllers /w Back…

What does anti-aliasing do for your games, why does it seem to have such a high performance cost, and what’s with all the different versions of the technology running around? In this article, I’m gonna try and break all that down for you, including plenty of real-world examples of anti-aliasing techniques across various games. Let’s get into it. What is Aliasing? First up, think of “aliasing” as the presence of unwanted jagged edges and breakdown of fine detail at long distances in video games. The most common culprits of aliasing include things like distant staircases, power lines, and especially fencing.…

What are the best games for aim training, and why should you be bothering with them in the first place? Speaking as a washed-up competitive FPS player and a still pretty-active competitive fighting gamer and professional writer, I think I’m in a good spot to tackle these topics and walk you through them. So let’s get into it, together! Wait, There Are Games For Aim Training? Yup! Anything becomes an industry if it tries hard enough, and professional FPS gaming has been up there for a pretty fair amount of time now. Not all FPS games have particularly good training…

So, you just got yourself a Valve Steam Deck, but maybe you’re new to PC gaming or just aren’t quite sure how to make the most out of this little device. That’s what I’m here for. Let me preface with this: I have yet to find a Steam title game that is playable on Steam Deck that I can’t force to run at a stable framerate with the correct settings tweaks. This is in line with most statements made by Valve and by press prior to the Steam Deck’s release, but it doesn’t necessarily tell the full story. This is…