8-Bit Magazine

The pros and cons of cnsoles compared to other platforms.

The hidden world of repairing videogames.

Designers and developers telling how they make games.

Game artists and designers.

Barley is from Brawl Stars.

Brawl Stars is a game ttat has many recognizable characters. This is just one of the many iconic characters.

Graphic By Juan Carlos Ramirez

Table of contents Design and Develop.................................................................................................2 Top Nintendo Games................................................................................................6 How to become an Effective Artist and designer....................................................8 Top Ten Ubisoft Games...........................................................................................12 Pros and Cons-oles................................................................................................14 Sales of consoles World wide................................................................................18 Wild art..................................................................................................................20 Game Page #1........................................................................................................21 Can We Fix It!........................................................................................................22 5 reasons Why people Play Video Games..............................................................26 Credits page.........................................................................................................28 Game page #2......................................................................................................29

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Design And Develop

By Juan Carlos Ramirez Delgadillo

In video games, people appreciate the music and the characters but something gamers don’t always appreciate are the people behind the games: developers and designers.

Game designers are the ones in charge of designing characters, puzzles, coding and most things that players are seeing on the screen.

to work, and likes to work long hours likes to work on very tedious projects and very likely if you’d like to solve problems,” Andrews said. “Then, I think that the industry is going to be an easier fit for you.”

A big idea many people who enter the game design field have is that they say they like playing video games but it is not something that “Developers spend a lot will help them in the long of time working on games run on creating games. and many independent developers, or indie game “I think a lot of students developers for short, also may not realize,” Andrews spend their own money on said, “is that they’re like, ‘Oh games and risk the loss of a well I like playing games so lot of money,” according to I like making games to be Justen Andrews, program like me saying I like eating coordinator for the Hoft cake, but I may not like it Institute, which trains game all the time and energy and developers for jobs in the effort goes into making a game design field. really good cake or making something very elaborate.’”

Indie game developers are people that do not work Indie developers have it for a major company and harder than regulars game work on their free time and companies and this is a big they also don’t receive any reason why Troll House money to start off they are Games is an indie company, completely independent, they are working on a game that is the reason they are called Krumpet Town a called Indie developers. third person ad venture game.

“If you’re someone who likes

“I think that one of the best qualities that any game developer going to have is that ability to want to learn.”

-Justen Andrews, Hoft Outreach Coordinator

“No money and direct involvement,” said Jeremi Johnson, programming lead for Troll House Games.

Not having any money is the biggest problem that independent game developers have because the time and money is very limited.

“That’s a natural problem,” said Stiles Stoddard, character and prop artist for Troll House Games, “but we could do whatever, sacrificing your own personal personal time with nonecessary promise of money either by that standard either.

It is very hard to make games according to Andrews. There are events that are fun but stressful these events are called “Game Jams” in which developers, artists and others who work on making video games in less than 48 hours.

(top) Jakob Bells working on the game Troll House Games. (bottom) screenshot of the game Krumpet Town by Troll House Games.

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This is the team behind The game krumpet town .names of creators (left to right) Stiles Stoddard, Jeremi Johnson, Nicolas Gilden, Dave Alvarez, Jakob bell, Justin schieffer, Jared Cerbin, Bryan layman.

“So the concept of a game jam is where they will be over the course of 48 hours.”

Andrews said. “And it’s kind of like a slumber party where everybody gets together and they try to make a game over the course of a weekend it will be like a 48hours where people are staying up late working on games together with their friends or with strangers so it’s a good environment for someone who is brand new to games to just jump into a game jam and just start learning and start working with other people and creating a game,” said Andrews.

Something important that every person who is about to enter the development field should know is the steps to make a game from the idea to the 4 testing of the games.

“All games go through different stories on how they get made but most games you’ll start with an idea you’ve got a prototyping you’ll have a virtual slice which is kind of just a small little example of your game and then you’ll go into producing it while you’re doing testing and everything and getting people’s feedback on what they think about.” said Andrews.

Many games start that way but Troll House Games had a different approach to the making of the games.

“For a feature we usually sit down as a team find out exactly what needs to go into that system and then break off into the teams. So let’s say we’re doing a farming system.

We would need to design the

plants, to design animations, so we’d find out exactly what we need,” said Nicolas Gilden programer for Troll House Games.

“And then we all have a set deadline of when that’s going to be done and then we’ll have a game jam or something where we all put it together and then once it is complete we have a system that we can kind of build on top of.“ To make be a great designer there is a lot of things that are needed to be known and be prepared for not just about creating games.

“I think that one of the best qualities that any game developer going to have is that ability to want to learn and be hungry and ambitious towards learning new things and trying new things,” said Andrews.

“The difference between a good game designer and a great game designer is that good game designers think about game design as it compares to other game design, but great game design is about integrating other real-world concepts into game design,” said John Herdeson, program coordinator for Hoft.

what is not, and work out what is possible to accomplish goals.

Ultimately, good game design is about keeping players in the game for more than a couple of seconds’

“Anyone can make the equivalent of rock, paper, scissors, but a game like that is only going to be fun for one or two rounds,” said Henderson.

All game designers need to Keeping the audience be able to think ’sideways,’ to entertained is essential for understand what is but also both marketing and the game

because that way the fans might want more of the story.

“It’s a good game design to understand how that works,” said Henderson. “But great game design is about putting the subject or play aspects of the game in the context of the rest of the world, and everything else that is understood. The risk, as always, is that you achieve greatness but lose appeal, and fewer people will think your game is fun.”

There’s a there’s a saying in carpentry.

Measure twice and cut once. I feel it it applies to game development too. Just replace measuring with designing.”

Troll House Games is an Indie company that create games.

Hoft Game Lab is a school for designers and developers

-Bryan Layman Programming for Troll House Games

5 Screenshots of the game Krumpet Town. The game was made by Troll House Games.

Legend of Zelda: Ocari- Super Mario 64 na of Time Released on the N64 on Novemeber, 21, 1998, this game was very popular during 1999 and also being the first Zelda game in the series that was 3D.

Super Mario 64 was very popular in 1999 even if the game was released june 23,1996 selling over 11 million copies, the reason of popularity was that you were able to exploe a lot of features in the game.

Pokemon Red Released in febuary, 27, 1999 It was the first Game in the series and the reason it stayed popular was because it was an RPG even if it had a simple story, the game made players want to continue to reach the goal and with so many side quests this game 6 kept players entertrained for a very long time.

Super Smash Bros 64 Super Smash Bros 64 was thenfirst game in the series releasing january 21 1999, It included 12 iconic characters from nintendo having them fight in any 7 stages.

Mario Kart 64 The game came out December 14 1996 it was the first 3D game for the Mario Kart series and had introduced many features in the Mario Kart Series like Wario and Donkey Kong as playable characters, well known tracks like Toad’s Turnpike, Royal Raceway, and Yoshi’s Valley, also introduced the unpopular blue shell.

Top Nintendo Games 2019

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild Releasing on May 12 2017, It has caused lot of exitment and now it has caused even more exitment with the soon to be released sequel to this game.

Super Mario Oddysey This game since the release in october 17 2017 has been very popular known a lot for the big change in mechanics including a new charater named cappy used to possess enemies and use the abilities.

Super Smash bros Ultimate

The newest game in the smash bros series released in december, 7,2018 has had everyone hyped for multiple reasons it includes all characters from the past games and also new characters. “Everyone is here” is the famous quote of the game.

Cuphead

Tetris 99

Even if this game was not a nintendo original it released on switch in April 17 2019. this game is a shoot ‘em up genre and one thing that this game has is it’s art style represents 1900’s cartoons and that is what makes it unique.

Tetris 99 is a remake to the original tetris with a twist adding a battle royale aspect to the game having to compete with 98 other play7 ers to see who is victorious. this game was released on Febuary 17 2019.

How To Become an Effective Artist and Designer

Tips and Useful Things All Artists and Designers Should Know

By Ridge Flowers

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Art by Topher Sipes

Some artists may feel as though creating comes naturally while others have to work every day.

Having the skill and talent could be the most important part of being a designer, but it is only a piece of the pie.

“The more different kinds of things I can know really well, the better teacher I am,” said Jeremy Johnson, teacher at St. Edwards, The Art Institute, and a game designer.

“If art comes naturally to you than art isn’t that hard. It’s more of a challenge to put yourself out there, get the attention of the right people, and show people what you can do.”

- Bill Byrne, teacher of graphic design at The Art Institute.

Some necessary parts of design include daily or weekly purposeful practice, excellent time management, putting work out there, and trying and always doing new things.. These can be the difference between being a good artist and being a great artist, especially for a freelance artist, said Bill Byrne, teacher of graphic design at The Art Institute.

This was a piece that was put into a book, created by Bill Byrne. It helps better show students what things that they make should look like. Art by Bill Byrne.

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“Ultimately, teaching helps me make art better because I step back and look at my creative process and just get a better understanding of what that is. Sometimes I might have a teaching gig or a workshop or something and I will learn new things or realize things that I’ve been doing, from the fact that I have to share it with other people.”

- Topher Sipes, freelance artist and designer.

“Once I start, once I know where it’s going, I feel like everything gets a lot easier,” said Bill Byrne. “Although, in those early stages where you’re really not sure how to keep going, that to me is the hardest part.”

been using it for so long and so many different ways, so consistently that it has just opened up so many possibilities for me.”

Having great time management can be extremely helpful. According to the educational website Magoosh, procrastination, chronic lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of punctuality are all effects of poor time management.

While artists may draw every day, it is not the same as having daily purposeful practice.

Having a daily practice is dedicating a certain amount of time every day to focusing on weak “I like teaching a lot, it’s nice to be able to make points to grow in all areas. games at the same time that I teach them,” “Keeping the practice of always taking something with me and dedicating regular time to the creative practice, whether it’s drawing, writing, or music, significantly contributed to where I am today,” said Topher Sipes, freelance artist and designer.

Practicing something that is familiar and easy does not help anyone change and get better. The more someone stretch’s and works in areas that are uncomfortable, the more growth and progress will come.

“Art is kind of like a muscle,” Sipes said. “I’ve

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Digital self portrait. Courtesy of Topher Sipes.

Johnson said. “A lot of times when you’re making a game, especially when you’re in a small team, there’s collaboration for sure, but a lot of the time you end up working by yourself for hours and hours on some part of the game”.

Having poor management in school can be harmful, but having bad time management with a job can be devastating. Procrastination can result in bad and unsatisfactory work.

“There were some hard lessons I went through to learn that my time is actually a lot more valuable than I had been making it for a while,” Sipes said. “Since then I’ve gotten much more for the work I do. I also work on fewer projects and as a result, I have more free time as well.”

These pieces were made by Topher Sipes as artwork to put onto his website. He showcases them on his website as well as to sell the art on the website. Courtesy of Topher Sipes

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By Ridge Flower

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These are characters from games created by Ubisoft. They been ranked in a random order. The number below the name is the ranking of a hundred.

Metacritic Reviews

1) FarCry 3 88 - PC - 2012 2) South Park: The Fractured but Whole 81 - PC - 2017 3) Tom Clancey’s Rainbow Six Siege 79 - PC - 2015 4) Watch Dogs 2 75 - PC - 2016 5) Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 86 - PC - 2018 6) The Crew 71 - PC - 2014 7) Tom Clancey’s The Division 2 84 - PC - 2019 8) Trials Fusion 80 - PC - 2014 9) Beyond Good and Evil 83 - PC - 2003 10) For Honor 76 - PC - 2017

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Pros and Cons-oles

By Jose Garza

Art of Mythic Ocean. A game in which your choices influence the fate of the universe.Courtesy of Paralune Studios.

Video games have become an important part of the American culture. There are many different platforms in which players can play different video games depending on which platform players play, like Super Smash Bros Ultimate for Nintendo Switch, but what are the pros and cons?

In the video game industry three major companies, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, have competed to be the best console the last 30 years. With the past years and the creation and solidification of Steam, a video game digital distribution platform 14 in which players can buy

games to play on a computer and developers use systems like Unity, a cross-platform game engine developed

by Unity Technologies, to create games. For all this the gaming PC has gotten stronger and stronger.

Google announced its new console, Google Stadia, based not on physical games or online purchases, but on a cloud service in which players would pay $15-20 to get a library of games.

like Game Pass where I can just jump from my console to my PC is a really cool experience. I don’t need to be tethered to my console all the time, when my PC has better hardware.”

“I think all of the consoles nowadays provide their own value,” said Carl Domingo, a Unity designer. “With the Xbox, especially being a PC gamer 90 percent of my time, having options

“On the exclusives side, I’m such a huge fan of so many games on the PlayStation, that it’s become a necessity to have one, even just for those specific games like Spider-

Xbox added the Game Pass, a monthly subscription that grants users access to a catalog of games from a range of publishers, to gaming PC because they knew there was a big market.

Man or God of War.” Domingo said.

Some exclusive games could make you buy a specific console over another just because you want to play that game.

“Overall, I’m a huge fan of the Nintendo Switch. As someone who constantly travels, my Switch is always on hand, so it becomes so easy to play whenever I want to.” Domingo said. “It’s definitely become one of my favorite devices to own, and it really is an amazing achievement of the high quality games you can play with an incredibly portable system.”

Paralune Studios, a 3-person game studio based in Austin making narrative-focused games. They’re currently working on Mythic Ocean “Competition is a good thing and can both inspire and innovate”, Robey Haley a Paralune Studios founder.

“Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo all have different approaches to consoles while keeping an eye on one another to make sure they’re keeping up, which means that consumers keep getting better products. The loss of any one of them would make the other two suffer, and there’s plenty of competition now outside of the consoles.”

The team of Parlune Studios. They are Austin. Courtesy of Robyn.

Michael Taylor showing his game in San Antonio.

Courtesy of Big Niche Studios.

Negative World. He’s at the PAX event

The success of a console depends on what they can offer and how original is what they are selling to the consumers.

All consoles have their pros and cons but what are those compared to the most capable platform of all, the gaming PC?

get much better performance as well.

There are many downsides to a PC though - the first just being cost. I spent a lot of money to have a really good PC rig. I wouldn’t need to spend anywhere near as much, because a console just works out of the box. In addition, when “As an avid PC gamer nowadays, the I’m playing a game, there are certain level of visual quality I get on my PC is experiences that can just be better way better than what I can get out of my on a console, simply because you’re consoles,’’ Domingo said. “Usually, I playing on the same playing field as everyone else. In a multiplayer game, I may lose because someone’s hardware is better than mine - they can get more consistent frames per second than my own game would, which gives them an advantage. On a console, because all of the hardware is the exact same, I can expect that if my opponent and I are going to have the same experience. I won’t have an advantage or disadvantage from any hardware difference.”

Since the gaming PC has a least controlled environment than consoles leads to some disadvantage in games but in the other 15 showing their game at the Dream Hack, hand with consoles, since they are more controlled

Art of Mythic Ocean. Courtesy of Paralune Studios.

and you can’t upgrade them, you can’t in the last few years, and I think it will everywhere to play video games. Many reach the same power as a gaming go a long way in especially providing people don’t have the opportunity to PC. These competition is healthy access to people anyway;here and play video games because of internet for everyone, but how limitation or sheer cost of it will change with the devices.” said Domingo release of Google Stadia?

Google Stadia has a great idea of innovation and a way “I think Stadia is a really you can play whenever you cool product with a lot want and as easy as having a of potential. I had seen good internet connection. projects similar to that

“I think Stadia is a really cool product with a lot of potential. ” -Carl Domingo, a Unity designer.

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Art of Mythic Ocean. Courtesy of Paralune Studios.

“My feelings about the streaming idea, on the one hand it seems like the easiest and cheapest way to play a whole library game than to rent them out but what I’m worried about was that if the announcement of the Xbox One way back to 2013 where they were so ready to just kill the used game market, I worry, and again this could be doom saying from my part, that the industry is trying to phase out to the digital downloads or physical media and is just streaming and kill game ownership, and again it could be doom saying on my part, and is another difficulty and I’m not joking, I’m not overselling here but the american internet service provided industry because you know a lot of americans only have one choice of internet service provider and is little to no competition in america because they’ve carved out their own territories like the west is mostly stock with time warner, the east sis stock with comcast and with the repeal of a neutrality of almost two years ago I don’t know if the streaming market at least in america is a good alternative.”

Gameplay of Negative World. Courtesy of Big Niche Studios.

called

Negative

World.

“Competition is a good “I love all the possibilities have to offer.” thing and can both inspire games Haley said.“They provide unique experience of and innovate.”-Robey Haley, the interactivity and agency no other form of media a Paralune Studios funder. that can offer. The fact that

it can be a single person experience, or something spanning the involvement of millions makes games into something that can be awe Big Niche Studios is a 1 person inspiring. I’ve made many friends and game studio based in Austin. connections either from my passion He’s currently working on a game for games or playing them together.” said of

Michael Taylor Big Niche

founder Games.

17 Gameplay of Negative World. Courtesy of Big Niche Studios.

Sales of consoles world wide

Playstation 4 95.96 million units 18

Graph by Jose Garza.

55.2%

Xbox One 43.87 million units

25.2%

19.6%

While Nintendo Swiitch is selling well, PlayStation still doubles their sales.

Nintendo Switch 34.32 million units 19 Facts provided by VGChartz.

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To celebrate the soon release of Luigi�s Mansion 3, This wild art represents the second game in the series Luigi’s Mansion 2: Dark Moon Graphic by Juan Carlos Ramirez

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Can

We

Fix

The Large World of Repairs

Eight Bit

E

Nintendo

Graphic by Jake Smuts 22

It?

By Jake Smuts

Most people think of video games as just the games and consoles, but that’s not the only part of the industry.

The part that should be recognized is repairs. Video game repairs are a vast world of the unknown to many but when it’s discovered there many things to find.

from being put in landfills and damaging the ecosystems of animals. Repairing games in a way is recycling, you take stuff that is useless and make it something useful.

Hensley is a video game repair worker who always has some interesting stories to tell.

“One of the reasons we do repairs and “We’ve also seen instances where there was restore things is because often times people have items their wanting to get rid of, and they may not work properly, we don’t want them to go to the Video Games require a lot of care. Repairing games also takes many landfill,” tools and abilities and this is one of the tools needed. said Tim Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Nosworthy Hensely, owner of Gamerz at Lakeline Mall in Austin. a kid who brought in his PS3 and his little “We don’t want them to just add to brother was mad at him for not sharing,” the pollution, and many of these items Hensely said. “So he had shoved a plastic have heavy metals which can cause dinner knife into the loading bay of the problems with the water supply etc.”

PS3, which of course meant the PS3 wasn’t going to work. We were able to get it taken Video game repairs also contribute to apart, pull out the plastic piece and the environmental protection in a way, old game. while the game was damaged we as they help keep consoles and games were able to get the unit working again.”

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Blue Goji Is A company that Makes exercise games for more exerciese rates. This Machine is A representation of what one of the finished products.

Photo by Jake Smuts

One of the reasons we do repairs and restore things Some people also use is because often times peorepairing games as a hobby or a let out of emotions, and ple have items their wantthat’s just what Christopher ing to get rid of, and they Capps does. Capps repairs may not work properly, we video games and consoles on the side to make money off of don’t want them to go to the landfill,” Hensely said. it.

people who repaired it. This benefits the company and the customer because when the people trust someone they are able to appreciate the work of them. There is also another part of repairing games that is

“I kept interested in it, because I always kind of liked repairing things and making them work,” Capps said. “It seems wasteful for folks to just throw things away and just give up on them when they can be useful.“ A benefit to fixing a console is that it helps boost the sales for the companies, because the people will know that the console will be repairable and At Blue Goji they are always testing out new game ideas. This is one of their new that will make them trust the company and the Ideas.

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Photo by Jake Smuts

needed.The game is needed before it’s broken or repaired. Game design and development is very important to the game repairing process.

Adam Fung, a game designer at Blue Goji is a perfect example of the beginning of the video game process.

“You want to offer something new, and a guy came to the team and said why don’t we mix up what we do and change the mechanics for exercise,” Fung said.

Capps someone who has loved and enjoyed repairing games since he was young. He is a

person who takes something apart and put it back together to look at the problems and figure out how to fix them for fun.

“Well, it would have been probably when I was thirteen or fourteen, it was one of those situations where, I got my first Nintendo when I was eight years old and the original NES [Nintendo Entertainment System] and of course people would blow on the cartridges to fix things,” Capps said. “but eventually that for better and for worse stopped working. So I took that system apart and rebuilt it and learned how it worked and went back together.”

There are many working parts to a video game and the main parts are the Circuit boards. This is a one of the main circuit boards from and old game.

Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Nosworthy

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5 Reasons Why Pe

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Entertainment- Video Games Are used Mainly for entertainment. Video Games Are Also used to communicate with people, Thats why there are Multiplayer Games. One Famous example is Call of Duty, which has Single and Multiplayer options and has sweeped the Nations.

Stress Relief- They Are also used for relieving stress. For Some

People Video Games are their primary stress reliever. Thats one of the upsides of Video Games.

Medical Reasons- Video Games have recently been used for

help with disorders such as ADD and ADHD. A study in Boston, Massachusetts, showed results that people with ADHD improved in attention and self-control.

To Improve Certain Abilities- Video Games Are Often Used As a way to improve certain abilities. They can improve Multitasking, Hand coordination, and Problem Solving Skills.

Professional Leagues- People who play Video Games Prof-

fesionally can Make Hundreds of Thousands of dollars a year. But That depends on how good you are at the game you play. And Thats why Entertainment is the main reason people play Video Games.

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eople Play Video Games

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CRED CRED My name is Jose Garza and I like to play shooting games. I’m very competitive so when I like a game I try Mythe name Josefavorite Garza and I like to be best.isMy games areto playThe shooting I’m very comARK, Last Ofgames.

Us, and Detroit: petitive so when I like a game I try Become Human. My favorite sport to be the favorite games is tennis andbest.

I justMy moved to the U.S.are ARK, The Last Of Us, and Detroit: one year ago.

Become Human. My favorite sport is tennis and I just moved to the U.S. one year ago.

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Howdy! My name is Juan Carlos Ramirez, I like cats, drawing and video games my favorite mobile game is Brawl Stars but my favorite video game is Smash bros Howdy!

My name ultimate ( Luigi Main).is Juan Carlos Ramirez, I like cats, drawing and video games my favorite mobile game is I really like Danganronpa because of the storyline Starsmechanic. but my favorite video andBrawl the game I would like game to joinis aSmash small bros ultimate ( Luigi Main). indie group to be able to freely create a game but my I really like because of the storyline main goal is to Danganronpa become a lawyer. game mechanic.

I would like probably to join a small If i and werethe a videogame character I would be a indie group to be able to freely create a game but my healer. Did I mention I like Cats? :u main goal is to become a lawyer.

If i were a videogame character I would probably be a healer. Did I mention I like Cats? :u

DITS DITS I’m Ridge Flowers. I love to play all sports, and have spent many hours playing video games. One of my I’m Ridge love to play all favorite videoFlowers. games isI Tom Clancey’s sports, and have spent many hours Rainbow Six Siege. I do not know playing my what I wantvideo to dogames. when IOne growofup. favorite video games is Tom Clancey’s Rainbow Six Siege. I do not know what I want to do when I grow up.

My name is Jake Smuts and I want to be successful in life. When I graduate from college, my dream is to work at My or name is Jake Smuts andasIan want to NASA a large corporation be successfulI in life.

When Astrophysicist. love space andI graduate being from college, my dream is to work at an AstroPhysicist is my dream career.

NASA a large corporation as an Right nowor I like to play a lot of Video Astrophysicist.

I love space and Games in My free time. My Favoritebeing an AstroPhysicist is my dream career.

Game Right now is Probably Far Cry: RightI now I likedog’s. to play a lot of Video Primal. also like Games in My free time. My Favorite Game Right now is Probably Far Cry: Primal. I also like dog’s.

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Jose Garza Ridge Flowers @ridge_flowers @jc_garza23

Jake Smuts

Juan Carlos Ghostbuster JC

Letter From the Editors: This Magazine is based around the video game industry. The title 8-bit comes from the videogame art style 8-bit. Some articles that you will find here are, Pros and Con-soles which is aboutthe pros and cons of different Video Game Systems, and Can We Fix It which is about videogame repairs. Some ASF’s you might find are Top 10 Ubisoft games, and Sales of ConsolesWorldwide.

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4K Ninte n Switc do h

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