Category Archives: Tech/Games

Tech/Games

PERSONAL RANKING OF ‘UNTURNED’ OFFICIAL MAPS

Leave a comment

By: Hoaseng Thao

‘Unturned’ is a free to play survival zombie game made by Smartly Dressed Games, and is personally one I hold very dear to me. I’ve owned the game for at least six years now, and it’s only recently that I’ve tried to play it again after so many years, but one of the things I do remember about the game are its official maps.

Why am I saying “official” maps and not just maps? Well, that’s because ‘Unturned’ hosts what’s known as “curated” maps or maps made by the ‘Unturned’ community, and while I would want to write about how great those maps are, I want to mainly talk about the maps I grew up playing in.

There are five official maps in ‘Unturned’ and I will be ranking them based on three categories:

ENVIRONMENT – How the maps look as well as any lore present in the map.

GAMEPLAY – Are there elements that add to survival or challenges that force the player to change how they play?

UNIQUENESS – What makes this map stand out from the rest?

I will score each category out of five points so the score will look something like this: X/15

And for clarification, these are my personal rankings of these maps, they don’t represent everyone’s opinions on these wonderfully made maps other than my own.

PEI

Also known as Prince Edwards Island, PEI is the first official map of ‘Unturned’ and is located in the great nation that is Canada.

ENVIRONMENT

PEI’s environment is not one to write a whole lot about, it mainly consists of one main island surrounded by a couple other smaller islands. It has a large civilian presence with a small military garrison.

The towns located on the island are also very bland looking, and they’re very simple in design with little to no details on them that makes it feel like a once populated town.

Lorewise the island doesn’t have too much lore to it, there’s a military document calling for the destruction of the bridge connecting to the island, there’s a diary entry from a girl who begins to question her own memories, and there’s a journal referencing the infamous Roswell alien incident.

Overall I’ll give it a 3/5, mostly because the map layout is not too interesting and the towns present on the island are very small in size.

GAMEPLAY

PEI is mostly a PVE (Player vs Enemy) oriented map, and since it’s the first map in ‘Unturned’, there isn’t really much to do but to scavenge for supplies and weapons. Loot is okay, your best chance of actually arming yourself is by looting the military base or police stations scattered across the map.

I give it a 2.5/5, there’s nothing in the map that adds to the gameplay in an impactful way other than the fact you’re limited to civilian grade firearms.

UNIQUENESS

One thing that is unique about PEI is that it’s the only official map set on an island, but other than that there’s nothing much to say about it except for the fact that it’s the first map to be released.

I’ll give it a 3/5 for that at least.

FINAL SCORE: 8.5/15

WASHINGTON

Welcome to the US state of Washington. This map is known for its high-rises, military presence, and tourist attractions.

ENVIRONMENT

Washington takes place near the city of Seattle, and throughout the map we can see the final efforts to contain the infection with destroyed military convoys scattered throughout the map, as well as the destruction of underground tunnels to prevent the spread of the infection.

One thing I really like about Washington is that it has a lot of lore to it. We learn that the zombie infection may have started there by an organization known as Scorpion-7.

I give it a 4/5, I really dig the idea of piecing together what happened in Washington based off of scattered notes and environmental storytelling, and I really like how tall the buildings are in Seattle; it gives off the idea that you’re in a once populated area.

GAMEPLAY

Military loot is pretty easy to find due to the large presence of the military, so finding yourself with a firearm is your number one priority since this map is kinda PVP (Player vs Player) oriented. Other than that, there aren’t any other factors that make the player think about their choices other than to eat and drink often.

I’ll give it a 3/5, since I see Washington as a more PVP oriented map, finding a gun quickly really helps out but that’s about it.

UNIQUENESS

Washington is the first map to have an actual city instead of smaller towns as well as making Seattle the main landmark for navigating the map.

I give this category a 3/5, it’s the first map to include an actual city in it that not only is good in loot but is also a key element for navigation.

FINAL SCORE: 10/15

YUKON

Located in the Canadian territory of Yukon, it is covered in snow, snow, and even more snow with little human presence.

ENVIRONMENT

Yukon’s environment is harsh since there’s little presence of civilization other than a couple mounted police outposts, a city, and an airport but other than that, most of the map is covered in snow and trees with the occasional secret Scorpion-7 projects. When it comes to night time, you can even see the northern lights shine above you which is a very beautiful sight to see.

I give it a 4/5, Yukon is environmentally beautiful, and watching the northern lights above really nails it in.

GAMEPLAY

One very unique thing about Yukon is that since it’s a snowy map, you have to always be warm no matter what because this map introduces the temperature system. This system forces players to consider bunkering down and heating up from the harsh winter environment that is Yukon.

I give it a 4.5/5, for what it tries to do with temperature mechanics, it does very well.

UNIQUENESS

Yukon is by far the most unique map in ‘Unturned’, it forces the player to utilize the plentiful trees to build bases and create warm spots to survive the cold and it’s also the first winter oriented map that utilizes it as a gameplay mechanic.

I give it a 5/5, it is by far the most unique map in ‘Unturned’ and nothing beats it.

FINAL SCORE: 13.5/15

RUSSIA

Welcome to Russia, or at least the western part of it. There is a large military presence as well as signs of hope in a dire world.

ENVIRONMENT

It is absolutely stunning and beautiful. Russia is the first map to have a large deadzone which can kill any player who dares enter it without a gas mask. It’s also more detailed compared to the other maps, with entire railways that flow throughout to help navigate this large map.

Just like in Washington, there is a large military presence that helps emphasize that there was an attempt to stop the infection from spreading with notes from both the military and the civilian population documenting everything falling apart.

I give it a 5/5

GAMEPLAY

One major thing that Russia adds to the gameplay, are NPC quests. In the South lies an aircraft carrier belonging to the “Coalition” faction, a faction that was created in the wake of the outbreak, and by completing quests from its members, you can earn items, experience, and ranks within it.

To the North lies the “deadzone” an area covered in radiation but is home to really good military loot, but the only way to get there is to get a gas mask and stock up on filters if you want to stay there for a while.

I give it a 5/5, it’s the first map to introduce quest mechanics that greatly benefits the player if they want to get supplies without going on a scavenger hunt.

UNIQUENESS

It is by far the most ambitious map in the game, it not only introduces NPCs and quests but it’s also the first large map that doesn’t feel empty. Plus, it’s set in Europe.

I give it a 5/5, Russia for me has always been my go to map as a kid not only because of the quests but because it’s also the largest map that feels great to scavenge through.

FINAL SCORE: 15/15

GERMANY

Welcome to Deutschland, where you’ll find too many mountains, flooded areas, a failed rocket program, and of course the German supermarkets.

ENVIRONMENT

Now I have a weird connection with this map, because the one I grew up playing is not the same one that is in the current game. The one I grew up with was brown and unlively, but this new Germany is greener.

Other than that tidbit, Germany is a mountainous map but it is also one of the most lore heavy maps in the game. You’ll find remnants of the Coalition as well as the entire destruction of the city of Cologne following a failed rocket launch as the government tries to make the best they can before it collapses. It’s very heartbreaking to see the remnants of an entire nation when you travel across the map.

Germany gets a 4.5/5 for this one, having been released after Russia, this map doesn’t really live up to it as much but it does have better environmental storytelling.

GAMEPLAY

To be brutally honest, Germany is just Russia but without quests and NPCs. It contains unique deadzone locations and even a secret boss but other than that it’s not really different in any other way.

I give it a 4/5, not bad but could’ve been better.

UNIQUENESS

Germany is the first map to be centered around mountainous terrain, and since it’s Germany, there is a large element of Oktoberfest being held throughout the map since Germany canonically was one of the first nations to be a safe haven against the infection before it all fell apart.

I give it 4/5, although the Oktoberfest did make the map feel more unique, there wasn’t really anything else unique about it when compared to Russia which both maps are the exact same size.

FINAL SCORE: 12.5/15

FINAL RESULTS

  1. RUSSIA 15 POINTS
  2. YUKON 13.5 POINTS
  3. GERMANY 12.5 POINTS
  4. WASHINGTON 10 POINTS
  5. PEI 8.5 POINTS

If you want to play ‘Unturned’ I highly recommend downloading it on their Steam store page, https://store.steampowered.com/app/304930/Unturned/

Tech/Games

‘Lethal Company’: Probably the best co-op game to date

Leave a comment

By: Julia Yang

Warning: this game includes spiders, jumpscares, creepy sounds, and many other horror elements.

Fun fact: ‘Lethal Company’ is one of the most positively rated games on Steam. It’s currently in the top 24 of most positively rated, and was the top rated new release game of 2023.

‘Lethal Company’ is a game where you and your chosen buddies are hired by a pretty hazardous company— some might even say lethal— where you’re tasked to land on a variety of moons in outer space to collect scrap for money to meet the assigned quota. Upon entering the main building containing said scraps, little did they tell you that the moons are infested with monsters, creatures, and creepy crawlers that will almost never hesitate to kill you on sight. You’ll encounter a variety of beings like large spiders, a nutcracker with a shotgun, a totally innocent butler, and even deadly blue goo!

Fail to collect the money needed to meet the given quota, and you’ll be blasted off into space. Do whatever it takes to get the scraps you need. Or don’t. I’m not here to tell you how to play the game.

This game truly is the best horror game to play with your friends and family — if you’re not too scared of course. Despite how the game graphics look, ‘Lethal Company’ delivers some of the most terrifying scares of all time.

This game includes voice proximity, meaning if two players are close then you’ll hear each other, but the further away, the quieter you are. Proximity chat makes any game immediately 10x funnier and scarier with the right moments. You’ll be collecting scraps for the quota and then you’ll hear your friend screaming for their lives in the background, it’s hilarious.

What makes ‘Lethal Company’ so good I believe is the overall multiplayer horror factor and the hilarious moments that come out of it. You see, ‘Lethal Company’ is so terrifying that your friends can’t help but laugh at your demise. I will say, this game may not be the best of games to help bond, but man does it get your adrenaline going.

Yet again, another factor that makes this game so awesome really doesn’t come from the game itself, but its fans. Mods. The mods made for ‘Lethal Company’ are so fun, one of my personal favorites is the “Skinwalker” mod.

This mod basically takes voice snippets of you and every other active player and makes it so the monsters can use you or other players’ voices to lure players to their doom. You don’t understand true fear until you hear a dead player’s voice call out to you.

There are an unbelievable amount of mods to make ‘Lethal Company’ even better than it already is which immediately bumps up the rating once again.

The title may look to be biased, but I haven’t actually played the game myself and many across the globe can agree with it. Honestly, if you want to find out what the hype about this game is because I can’t explain what makes it so good that well, then be my guest; the game is $9.99, only found on Steam.

One last fact: This game is completely made up, developed, coded, modeled, and sound designed by one person.

Tech/Games

HOW TO GET ALL ‘ACE COMBAT 7’ “ACE” SKINS

Leave a comment

By: Hoaseng Thao

‘Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown’ is a video game made by Bandai Namco, and if you’ve ever played the campaign, you may have seen certain enemies with names on them.

These named aircrafts are actually ace pilots and as a brief explanation to why they’re called an “ace”, an ace is a pilot who’s shot down five or more aircraft in aerial combat.

Each enemy ace flies their own aircraft so by downing one of these aces, you can unlock their unique skin for that aircraft, however if you want to fly around with the skin, you do need to finish the main campaign first.

There are a total of 24 named aces throughout the campaign, but they don’t appear right away as they require a couple of steps to be spawned in.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to trigger them, and what’s the best way to unlock them.

I’ll start off in chronological order of the campaign, starting from mission 1 to 19. I’ll also show the name of the ace, and their specific aircraft.

Mission 1 “Charged Assault” | PYRO | Mig-21

To unlock this ace, you need an aircraft that can equip a special weapon that can launch multiple missiles, any variant is fine. The trigger for this ace is that you need to kill at least the third wave of bombers in one volley.

Mission 2 “Charge the Enemy” | JESTER | Mig-29

Enemy ace “JESTER” can be triggered when you destroy the control tower right after destroying all radar vehicles, but before the drones spawn in. As long as you destroy the radar vehicles before the drones spawn, you’re good to go.

Mission 3 “Two-pronged Strategy” | BAYONET | F-16C

“BAYONET” can only be triggered when you down four aircraft within two minutes, so the best way to achieve this is to use an aircraft with long range weapons. “BAYONET” will spawn behind the Arsenal Bird.

Mission 4 “Rescue” | RONIN | F-15J

“RONIN” is an F-15J that can be triggered when you fly below 200 meters during the stealth section, after that you can find him in the North.

Mission 5 “444” | FANG | F-15C

For “FANG” to spawn in, your aircraft has to take on at least half of your health for them to spawn.

Mission 6 “Long Day” | KITTEN | F-14D

To unlock “KITTEN”, you’re going to have to just fly through the tunnel at the western base, then they’ll spawn in.

Mission 7 “First Contact” | FAUCON | Typhoon

This ace is pretty easy to trigger, as you’ll need to eliminate all non-target enemies and they’ll spawn in to intercept you.

Mission 8 “Pipeline Destruction” | GAZELLE | F-15E

“GAZELLE” is one of the trickiest ones to trigger, as you need to destroy all oil tanks before the timer runs out. I recommend using aircraft that can launch bombs with a large radius. “GAZELLE” spawns alongside the drones.

Mission 9 “Faceless Soldier” | SPIDER | F-18F

In order to get “SPIDER”, you need to shoot down at least half of the non-targets for them to spawn. The best way to achieve “SPIDER” is to use air to ground missiles, as you can just shoot and forget.

Mission 10 “Transfer Orders” | LOUVETEAU | Gripen E

Just like for “BAYONET”, this one is time based as you need to defeat all SAM sites within five minutes so you’ll need a fast aircraft. “LOUVETEAU” will spawn from the east alongside other Gripens.

Mission 11 “Fleet Destruction” | IBIS & CHASSEUR | SU-33 & RAFALE M

There are two aces in this mission, “IBIS” and “CHASSEUR”. To get “IBIS”, you must fly through the cores of the sea platforms, and they’ll spawn near the Erusean Fleet. For “CHASSEUR” you’re going to have to destroy all fighter jets on the northern platforms before they go airborne, only then will they spawn.

Mission 12 “Stonehenge Defensive” | WALRUS, FOUDRE, BUFFLE | SU-34, MIR-2000-5, A-10C

There’s a lot of aces in this mission, so to be brief, “WALRUS” can be triggered when Stonehenge has taken no damage, “FOUDRE” will spawn once you fly underneath any of the Stonehenge turrets, and “BUFFLE” will spawn when you destroy the three A-10Cs from the east.

Mission 13 “Bunker Buster” | COMET | MIG-31

“COMET” is pretty easy to do, just get a fast aircraft and just target the bunkers, but the only problem is that “COMET” does spawn behind you when the ICBMs launch.

Mission 14 “Cape Rainy Assault” | GLADFLY | SU-47

Just like in ‘Star Wars’, the trigger in this mission is to complete the trench run within 2 minutes, so equip a fast and agile aircraft for this one in order for “GLADFLY” to spawn.

Mission 15 “Battle for Farbanti” | BOGEN & SERPENT | F-2A & SU-37

“BOGEN” is pretty easy, so target the Aegis ashore platform and they’ll spawn in, but intercept him quickly or else they’ll flee south. For “SERPENT” to spawn just get around 15,000 points before the timer reaches five minutes, and he’ll spawn in.

Mission 16 “Last Hope” | AXEMAN | SU-45S

Achieve at least 10,000 points in the first section of the mission for “AXEMAN” to spawn, however identify them first before shooting.

Mission 17 “Tyler Island” | MANTIS | F-35C

For “MANTIS” to spawn in, you need to fly above but also very close to the mass driver, only then will they spawn in when the bombers arrive.

Mission 18 “Lost Kingdom” | LYNX | YF-23

“LYNX” can be triggered when you destroy all targets leading to Shilage castle within three minutes, however if you don’t engage them, they will flee southward.

Mission 19 “Lighthouse” | TEMPEST & CALAMITY | F-22A & SU-57

These two are fairly simple, so to trigger both of them, you need at least 20,000 points for them to spawn in. “TEMPEST” will specifically target you while “CALAMITY” will try to flee south.

That is all the named aircrafts in ‘ACE COMBAT 7’, and I hope this guide will help you collect them all!

Tech/Games

‘The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’ is the first main Zelda game where you actually play as Zelda.

Leave a comment

By: Munira Ahmadad

In May 2023, Nintendo released ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’ (TOTK) which was one of the Switch’s most anticipated games after the success of ‘Breath of the Wild’. Unfortunately, the creators of the game had stated there would be no follow up content or a DLC for TOTK, as they believed that it had everything they had intended it to be on its initial release. While the game was considered amazing, plenty of fans were disappointed that was where it was going to end. 

It appears the Zelda developers are serious about moving on from the 2017 ‘Breath of the Wild’ world that remains a fan favorite even half a decade later, as in June 2024, the new main Zelda game had been announced. ‘The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’ is scheduled to release on September 26, and it’s style is the same as ‘The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening’, which has led me, and other fans to assume it’s a sequel or set in the same Hyrule as ‘Link’s Awakening’. 

One thing that you can immediately notice is different from the other LOZ games when you first watch the trailer is that you do not play as Link in this game, but rather Zelda. This is the first main Zelda game in which you actually play as the princess Zelda. The trailer displays a recurring gameplay mechanic that revolves around collecting items and creating imitation versions that are useful for exploration and combat. 

Personally, I am very excited for a new main title game in the series, but I’ve never been a fan of the toy-like and simple graphics. It makes it hard for me to take the gameplay seriously, and it’s indicative to me that the game will be easy. I’m aware Nintendo makes their main games for kids and families, though, so it’s not something I am upset about. 

Tech/Games

F-18C start up in ‘Digital Combat Simulator’

Leave a comment

By: Yohan Lee

‘Digital Combat Simulator’ is an aviation air to combat plane simulation game. You can play it on a PC. Here I will explain how you start an F-18C.

To start the F-18C in ‘Digital Combat Simulator’ you first must have your battery switch in the upright switch near your right console.

Now look at your left console and locate APU and click right to turn it on. You will see the APU ready light has turned green.

Below the APU there is an Engine Crank switch and right-click to put it in the Right Engine Crank.

Now look at your IFEL panel. When you crank your right engine you should see a number moving on the right side of your IFEL panel. That is the right engine. Once the number has reached 25 percent move your right throttle to idle or press RSHIFT+HOME. Your 25 percent should move up to 65 percent. Your engine crank switch should automatically go to the off switch.

Now do the same procedure  on the left engine. Left-click engine crank. Left at the IFEL panel. 25 percent, and move your left throttle to idle or RALT+HOME. Check that both engines are at 65 percent.

SCREENS

Now look at both DDI and right-click the top knob to day. Now turn on your HUD by turning the knob next to the IFF. At the bottom, you should see the AMPCD screen. Turn the knob to the right.

FCS AND AVIONICS

On the far left of your left console, you should see your rudder trim. Press the button on the top to put your elevator into takeoff trim.

Near that you should see a FCS Reset Button. Hold that for 5 seconds. Look at your right DDI and press the FCS-MC button.

Take a look at your far right and you should see your FCS-BIT switch. Hold that for 5 seconds then look at your right DDI and press the FCS MC button again. It should say in Test.

Close the canopy or CTRL+C and look down and turn your INS to IFA. At your far left, turn your OBOGS on. Press the FCS MC button again. It should all say GO.

Finally, turn your seat arm and parking brake off.

Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

Impact of virtual reality on gaming

Leave a comment

By: Hyde Moua

Image created with Openart.ai

Virtual reality is a multi-dimensional artificial environment for video games. This has transformed our imaginative worlds of gaming into existence through artificial environments that we can interact with using virtual reality headsets.

The purpose of virtual reality being made was to create an immersive experience that can be used to explore an environment that helps to educate or entertain the user that is playing. Because of this, virtual reality has revolutionized gaming by offering a more immersive experience when playing games, allowing players to physically interact with the environment.

Virtual reality transforms traditional gaming by allowing users to engage games with an unmatchable level of realism. Virtual reality games are usually task based games, with challenges similar to real world problems and the players are tasked with finding solutions or opportunities to finish their task for a reward. Other games are based around having you save your own virtual character. Virtual reality also brings opportunities for people to interact online; people have created games online solely to interact with other people.

Virtual reality is an ever-evolving field, with revolutions in the future that may enhance the immersive experiences of players and the potential to change the players’ engagement and gaming experiences of virtual reality. Virtual reality is playable on any electronic device, like phones, tablets, console devices, and pc’s.

In my opinion, virtual reality has drastically changed how gaming is today because we can experience realistic virtual spaces that act and behave similar to the real world. I really enjoy playing VR games because it feels much more immersive than traditional gaming which I can enjoy playing alone, or with friends. Either way, virtual reality is a huge step in gaming and I am really grateful that virtual reality was created because it is an experience that you could never forget.

Tech/Games

What’s the ‘Thats Not My Neighbor’ game and why is it so popular?

Leave a comment

By: Julia Yang

Warning: before watching/playing, this game may include trypophobia (fear of holes), ommetaphobia (fear of eyes), unsettling faces, mutation, blood, stitches, and drooping organs/skin. This is a mild horror game with horror elements.

‘That’s Not My Neighbor’ is a game developed and released by solo developer Nacho Sama.

‘That’s Not My Neighbor’ is a game where you are playing as an employed security guard by the Doppelganger Detection Department (D.D.D) for an apartment building. Your job is to detect and call in any Doppelgangers who are trying to enter. Scan through identification cards, call apartments, analyze the individual, ask questions, and protect the residents.

It’s a lot harder than it seems, a change even as small as a few numbers off of a 12 digit number on their card can lead up to your failure.
Keep a watchful eye and take your time.

As to why it’s a popular game is due to the increasing number of “spot the anomaly” games. Ever since the release of ‘The Exit 8’— the anomaly game took the internet by storm— other game developers have been picking up on the trend and giving it their own spin. Developers as popular as Puppet Combo have released an anomaly game.

If you don’t have a clue what I’m talking about, let me explain the premise of “spot the anomaly”: the point is to spot changes and differences in a person, place, or thing. You’ll be able to see the person, place, or thing in its normal form, afterwards, you’ll have to be able to tell if something has changed or not. One wrong move, one wrong “it’s probably fine” or “looks good to me” can completely ruin your run.

Anomaly games like ‘That’s Not My Neighbor’ are games that are going to be released— for what I think, a while. Since it’s such an interesting and interactive plot to a game, no one can really get tired of playing as every run is a new anomaly, new gameplay.

I myself have not played any anomaly games, but watching others play is fun too. Watching them miss things that you notice are different, and having the same “wait what did I miss” moment as them is super enjoyable since you’re also trying to look for any anomaly— even if you don’t really mean to.

Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

Positive & negative effects of video game addiction

Leave a comment

By: Hyde Moua

Image created with Openart.ai

I think that video games are beneficial and will have a positive effect as long as you don’t play for more than 4 hours every day because I also enjoy playing video games a lot and I think they have clearly helped me in my basic everyday life.

Some positive effects of playing video games are that your memory and learning abilities are enhanced. Your reaction time can also be enhanced if you play video games like first person shooters that are necessary to have faster reaction times to beat the opposing players.

Some more positive effects of playing video games are increased problem solving skills, decision making, and multitasking capabilities. Video games positively affect the brain by boosting cognitive functions which will also improve your hand eye coordination along with your spatial awareness because most games will need you to be aware of your surroundings. In a way, video games can be a workout disguised as fun because video games regularly increase and boost brain connectivity.

Some negative effects of video game addiction are vision problems. The most common type of vision problem is eye strain, which can lead to headaches or poor concentration. Video game addiction can also lead to seizures and psychological problems that will occur over time.

Some more negative effects are when video games are overused as a coping mechanism. This really becomes a problem when video games disrupt your normal and healthy life. Excessive video game addiction can also lead to mental health problems such as depression, social anxiety, and a lack of motivation. Video games will worsen the symptoms of a person who already has depression because excessive gaming removes a person from their real life responsibilities, relationships, and emotions, which can result in feeling numb and socially isolated from your life.

Personally, I think that video games are enjoyable every once in a while because I have gone through some of these symptoms due to excessively playing during the weeks. Overall, I think everyone should play video games, even if it’s just a little bit, because this way you can have the benefits of better problem solving, and decision making during stressful situations, and faster reaction times which could potentially benefit you in work or future situations.

Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

Body image and the media

Leave a comment

By: Brogan Frey and Abisola Dosunmu

Image created with Wonder

If you’ve been on social media in the last decade, you’d recognize the constant push and pull for our brains attention, interest, and money. For some, it’s blatant, with the ads pulled from what you’ve liked or previously engaged with, on what you’ve shared or reposted. For others, it’s more subtle, with notifications to get the rush of dopamine into our brains, and the constant and never ending stream of content that keeps us on our phones scrolling (and makes what we’re scrolling through more personalized). It’s all led to an almost dystopian reality, a social epidemic of “perfect” faces and bodies beaming up at us through our screens.

The media is constantly impacting our daily lives. Our society greatly relies on the media to get all or most of our information, and that includes teenagers. According to a 2023 survey, 29% of teens get news from social media everyday, with another 23% getting news from YouTube. And while this is understandable, after all, using social media can help relieve the hardships of navigating through several websites and articles to find one source, this can also be quite harmful. The risks of social media are great. While on social media, people can be exposed to harmful or inappropriate content, dangerous people, they can be cyberbullied, they are at risk for identity theft, and that’s just naming a few. But the largest one that affects so many young people, is the interference with sleep, exercise, homework, or family activities.

If you asked a group of teenagers what the ideal body looked like, could you guess what they’d say? The majority of teenagers that we have asked described a very specific body type for men and women. For women, they said that the ideal body type is extremely thin, much like fashion models. For men, they said that the ideal body is tall and slender, but also muscular and toned. These body types are quite hard to acquire, but many will spend their whole lives trying.

When we look at images in magazines, on tv, or on social media, what we’re seeing isn’t real—it’s all edited and airbrushed to look perfect. These “perfect” bodies set up unrealistic expectations for how both men and women should look. As a result, many people end up spending a fortune on products trying to match these impossible standards. Some go to extremes and develop eating disorders or become ill in their pursuit to resemble the models and influencers they see online.

All of this quickly culminates into self esteem issues, anxiety about your appearance, and eventually body dysmorphic disorder, a condition defined by anxiety about how you look and the things you feel are “wrong” with your body.

Now, this frenzy about one’s appearance isn’t only limited to children and young adults. Anyone can experience this, though it may be more acute in anyone under the age of twenty-one due to the time period adolescents spend on social media affecting their still developing brains.

So, how do we stop this? There are countless resources available online and in schools, aiming to help people who idealize these bodies develop a realistic idea of what bodies are really supposed to look like. There are also several self help options that may not completely eradicate the self esteem issues at once, but will definitely help with time.

  1. Take brain breaks – knowing when to take time off of social media is vital to improving your self esteem. Implement that by limiting and scheduling your screen time, and recognizing when to drop the phone.
  2. Find what you like about yourself – find things that don’t necessarily include your looks, (like your personality) and capitalize on them. Focus on what you like about yourself, not what you don’t.
  3. Appreciate what your body can do – things like laughing, dancing, and making yourself and other people happy are things our bodies do everyday that don’t involve feeling conventionally attractive. Instead of looking at what you feel your body can’t do and feeling insecure, research what your body does everyday to keep you alive.

Below are some resources you can use if you need someone to talk to. A counselor is always available in the counselor’s office, in room 1303. If you need more support, here are a few therapists and counselors in the Twin Cities who specialize in body image:

Norris Vorasane – provides therapy to a diverse range of adult clients, including, but not limited to, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, military, students, and immigrants.

Dr. Alina Aloma – she is a bilingual Latina psychologist specializing in multicultural, gender, and LGBTQ affirming care.

Anna Stern – she is more interested in who you are than helping you be normal. Antiracist, affirming, social justice oriented and accountable.

For more information, please visit:

Music/Concerts, Tech/Games

JOYSTiCK empirical non-review – Ranking every ‘Minecraft’ Music Disc

Leave a comment

By: Daniel Kendle

In the game ‘Minecraft,’ a rare set of items are the 19 Music Discs. These discs can be found in a few ways, such as monster drops and loot in structures. They can be played in a block known as the Jukebox, causing a song to play. These songs are by various composers, including the artists Daniel Rosenfeld (commonly known as C418), Lena Raine, Samuel Aberg and Aaron Cherof.

However, just because they’re rare doesn’t make every disc “good.” That’s natural, and there’s definitely some that are better than others, and some that are worse. So, here’s a ranking of every ‘Minecraft’ Music Disc, listed from worst to best.

Discs will have 1 category they’ll be reviewed in: how good the actual song is. I was originally going to also judge them on how the disc looks and how hard it was to obtain, but I removed them as categories due to being too biased for my article. However, if I have anything to note about their looks or rarity, I’ll mention it in their section.

Finally, I should also mention that I have a very loose grasp on music theory, so lots of jargon and terms used in the medium will be absent here. Maybe that makes me unqualified to make this report, but what I do have is a very strong grasp on ‘Minecraft,’ as well as knowing what I like and what I…don’t but with that out of the way, let’s begin.

…..

No. 19 – “Stal” 3/10

“Stal” is easily the worst out of the lineup, and it’s clear to see why. The main instrument of the track, a recorder, is played without much of a melody or tempo, just screeching throughout. The song definitely feels like it was going for an ironic appeal, but just sounds cruel to the ears and never truly becomes what it sets out to be. As a 1-time listen it’s alright, but anymore and it becomes a dread to finish.

No. 18 – “Thirteen” 4.5/10

This is the first of 3 “story discs,” as I’ve come to call them. The trio don’t focus on traditional music, but instead audio that is used to tell an ambiguous story. There are fewer melodies and rhythms throughout the 3, instead there are sound effects that emphasize a horror aesthetic. These are cool, but due to the fact that they’re not so much “music” as audio horror, it’s hard to rank them higher than other songs here.

“Thirteen” is my least favorite of the trio, however. While I can appreciate the composer going for something different compared to his other discs, this never has much of a scary vibe for me. The other 2 at least have collective moments of both intensity and quiet somberness, but here it’s just a flat tone throughout. Strange siren-like noises are heard, but other than that and a couple other types of sounds, it’s very uninteresting and pretty boring.

No. 17 – “Chirp” 5/10

Now that the obvious worst 2 are gone, we can finally get to the harder discs to place. “Chirp” isn’t bad by any means, but compared to the rest of its family, it never reaches the highs that others hit. Interestingly, the main instrument at hand here is the Octigan, a piano-like keyboard from the ‘70’s that sounds unique, to say the least. I do like its usage though, but it nonetheless doesn’t save this track from being pretty forgettable.

No. 16 – “Precipice” 5/10

One of the newest of the bunch, “Precipice” is a disc that I’ve flip-flopped on since its introduction a couple weeks ago, as of writing this. My main issue with it stems from its overbearing melody; the entire track, from start to finish, consists of blaring synths that make the song very… boring? Repetitive? Either way, it’s definitely my least favorite of this new wave of music discs that’s been happening since 2020.

No. 15 – “Eleven” 5/10

The second story disc on this list. While iconic within the community and certainly a spooky listen, it has even less elements of standard instruments and notes. Instead, we have heavy breathing, matches clicking, and – my favorite – the sound of an unknown beast at the very end. It’s interesting, but again, not being a traditional song hurts its rankings here.

No. 14 – “5” 5.5/10

The final story disc! Not a lot to say here that I haven’t in the past 2, but I like the sound effects in this the most; they definitely build from the previous 2 discs in neat ways, but alas, this is the highest on the list that I can put it.

Also, this is the only disc that can be crafted, which is cool. That also helps it a bit due to being more unique. You craft it with 9 Music Disc Fragments, found in Ancient Cities underground, which are one of my favorite structures in the game.

No. 13 – “Mall” 6/10

This is the most relaxing of the discs, and I can see why. It veers into the LoFi area of song: a relaxing, quaint melody supplemented by synths and beats. In “Mall” it can be a bit forced and repetitive, but it’s all-around a good listen. Not one I’ll listen to over and over, but once and twice every blue moon; it’s solid.

No. 12 – “Mellohi” 6.5/10

“Mellohi” is an interesting one. Using a vibraphone, trombone, and accordion (among other instruments), it’s definitely one of the most unique discs here. It has what some call a “swing” vibe, to my knowledge named after the dance, but what do I know? Anyways, I like it, but it’s a bit out of place next to the rest of the discs, even the newer ones. Like, it doesn’t flow well if you listen to them all one after another. Nonetheless a solid disc.

No. 11 – “otherside” 7/10

This is the most controversial pick in this article, by a landslide. This was one of the first “new music discs” that have been coming since 2020, as I said before. A lot of people seem to like this one more than I do, and usually call it among the best discs. For me, I’m not so sure; it’s definitely good, but is a bit too slow for me, and I just find it to be repetitive, much like “Precipice.” Again, it’s a nice song though. I really like how it’s much more cheerful than other songs before, and has an optimistic vibe throughout that I enjoy.

No. 10 – “Blocks” 7.5/10

Pretty simple and laid-back, “Blocks” is the antithesis of older discs: a retro-esque track that uses some wacko instrument to give it a unique flavor compared to others of its kind. With that out of the way, I think this song in particular could’ve improved with some more dramatic elements, since the final product almost feels a bit too retro without much substance. Then again, maybe its simplicity is what’s fun about it, I don’t know. The bottom line is: this is really fun, and cool, and I like it!

No. 9 – “Cat” 7.5/10

“Cat” is a great track. One of the earliest, it’s another very happy and bubbly song that makes you feel as if you’re just discovering the ins and outs of ‘Minecraft,’ like you’ve built some stuff, looked around, and now you’re finally getting to exploring this vast world. Granted, another song later on in this article does this “vastness” idea much better, but for now this is really great. Bordering on an 8, but I do wish it had some louder instrumentals in the beginning, and throughout the song, to be honest.

No. 8 – “Wait” 8/10

Another short review. “Wait” is a quiet little disc, but is great for background melodies if you’re busy doing something else in-game and want to put a disc on. It’s not rocket science, but a lovely song overall.

No. 7 – “Creator (Music Box Version)” 8/10

Basically a shortened, simpler version of “Creator,” this disc is one of the few that’s a riff on another. It’s cool, and while maybe a bit high for a song who’s only real instrument is an actual music box, I think it’s very fun, and a bit creepy, which is perfect. It and its brother disc have such unique and different vibes when put against other discs, which gives them both high marks.

No. 6 – “Strad” 8.5/10

This was the most surprising disc on this list, partially because I get it mixed up with “Stal” all the time (which isn’t a good thing). Despite that minor setback, “Strad” is so cool and funky, and arguably uses the most synths out of any song on this list, which is really cool! Not ground-breaking or the best thing ever, but a sick track that I CAN listen to over and over.

No. 5 – “Ward” 8.5/10

When I say that “Ward’s” best moments are its first 3 seconds, that may seem like an insult. Well, it’s not. Those first moments begin with a haunting organ, followed by an eerie, yet much more suave and cool-headed song that’s also distinct from others. These top 5 discs all do something very different when looked at as a standard music disc in ‘Minecraft,’ and for “Ward,” it’s balancing both the grotesque and the funky. While I do wish it kept to the organ and creepy vibe, it’s still a great song.

No. 4 – “Pigstep” 9/10

“Pigstep” is easily the most popular of the newer music discs. Obviously a parody of dubstep music, it’s found in Bastions, one of the hardest structures in the game inside another dimension. It’s super great, and such an already-iconic track that it’s scary. It’s funky, it’s bold, and feels so unique. I really like it, as I imagine most others do. However, while it may appear at the top of almost all Music Disc rankings, it’s got a couple of nitpicks that bring it down slightly for me.

No. 3 – “Creator” 9.5/10

This is another one of the newest discs, and is the “normal” version of its music box version. It’s really great to see multiple variants of 1 song make it into the game, since the only times this has happened in the past are small parts of some songs referencing others. Granted, this is easily the best variant of the original disc. Pretty much everything from the music box applies here, except for that this one introduces electric guitar into the fray and it sounds really neat. What a lovely song!

No. 2 + 1 (Tie) – “Far” and “Relic” 10/10

I’m grouping the best 2 songs together because they’re the only 10/10’s on this list, and are each amazing. #2 is “Far,” the oldest of the pair. This one is similar to other relaxing songs here, but compared to those this feels much more somber, yet still holds a lot of optimism. Once again it’s primarily a song that emphasizes the vastness of this virtual world, but is just so good at it that it makes second place in the ranking.

Meanwhile, “Relic” is my personal favorite music disc in the entire game, with no discernible reason why. It’s just so good that it makes the top. It has some cool synthesizers throughout that makes it purposefully old-sounding. These make it different from all the rest, and lead it to being my favorite Music Disc in ‘Minecraft.’