# Custom Computer Company — Full Content Index > Managed IT Services, Networking & Video Surveillance — Niles, MI > https://cccniles.com/ > Generated: 2026-09-13 --- # Blog Posts --- # NCAA Football 2024 > Source: https://cccniles.com/2023/06/23/ncaa-football-2024/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: June 23, 2023 ## Summary If the EA Sports College Football video game leak is to be believed, get ready for a unique and outstanding football experience like no other! Sports gaming enthusiasts and college football fans alike have been eagerly awaiting the release of the new EA Sports College Football video game for nearly a decade, and it seems that the wait is coming to an end. According to Sports Illustrated, development is ahead of schedule for its expected release in 2024 and insider reports and leaks have revealed some exciting details about the game’s development. ## Full Content If the EA Sports College Football video game leak is to be believed, get ready for a unique and outstanding football experience like no other! Sports gaming enthusiasts and college football fans alike have been eagerly awaiting the release of the new EA Sports College Football video game for nearly a decade, and it seems that the wait is coming to an end. According to Sports Illustrated, development is ahead of schedule for its expected release in 2024 and insider reports and leaks have revealed some exciting details about the game’s development. According to reports, the developers have been seeking input from experts in the college football world to ensure a more authentic and comprehensive gameplay experience. Ari Wasserman, a college football reporter for The Athletic, was invited to provide insights on how events should take place in the game, and it sounds like there will be a revamped recruiting portal amongst other real- life parallels. It’s also great to hear that one of the key goals for EA Sports was to differentiate the new NCAA Football game from Madden. The developers have been investing time and resources to ensure that the game is not a mere replica of Madden with college uniforms. Given that early speculations saw a 2023 release, it seems the extra year of development has been attributed to this commitment, and the aim of delivering a high-quality game that stands on its own. If you couldn’t guess already, I loved the NCAA Football franchise. For me one of the best features of the previous NCAA Football games Dynasty Mode. So, when I heard that it was one of the features that was getting revamped, you can imagine my excitement. In previous versions, Dynasty Mode allowed players to create and manage their own college football program. Matt Brown, publisher of the Extra Points college football newsletter, reported that EA is sparing no expense to revamp and expand the previous versions. In the new and improved Dynasty Mode, players will “Whoa, he has trouble with the snap!” have the opportunity to build their dream team, not only by leading them on the field but also through the entire recruiting process. This mode enables players to transform lesser-known programs into powerhouses, creating a truly immersive and personal experience for fans of college football. It seems their goal is to make it the “flagship game mode” for EA Sports College Football. While specific details are still scarce, it’s evident that the developers are working hard to create a game that captures the essence of college football, incorporating elements such as recruiting, rankings, territories, and more. As we eagerly await its release, it’s safe to say that the new NCAA Football game is shaping up to be a must-play for fans of the sport and gaming enthusiasts alike. Our rating: MUST PLAY! What do you think? Must Play! Don’t Play… Give it a shot If you disagree with our rating, comment below! We’d love to hear your opinions! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Gaming for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is based on leaked details and insider reports and should be considered unofficial until confirmed by EA Sports. --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # AI’s Threat to Job Stability > Source: https://cccniles.com/2023/05/19/ai-threat/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: May 19, 2023 ## Summary Have you guys seen the Terminator? Well get ready for the end of life as we know it, because we’re about to lose all of our jobs. Joking aside, #AI is entering unprecedented phases in human history. ## Full Content Have you guys seen the Terminator? Well get ready for the end of life as we know it, because we’re about to lose all of our jobs. Joking aside, #AI is entering unprecedented phases in human history. The newest iterations of ChatGPT function so well, that it’s becoming difficult to distinguish between #human creativity and AI generated content. In a way this is really good; it allows professionals to generate the content that they conceptualize at record speeds. However, depending on how you look at it, this also has a more sinister outcome: the invalidation of human labor. Sure, that is a pessimistic worldview, and I would feel less inclined to share it, if AI programs weren’t already stealing jobs. In fact, several artists have teamed up in a class-action lawsuit against AI companies like Stability AI, DeviantArt and Midjourney. Which, depending on how the courts play out, may lay the blame with the developers who used the art to train the AI without permission, regardless, the concept is fundamentally the same: will AI replace human creativity? Business insider recently released a list of positions that are at risk for AI replacement and the idea of it is concerning. From graphic design artists to paralegals and even teachers; there are a lot of functions that AI could automate in our society. Particularly AI tools like DALL-E, which can generate hundreds of images and concept art in minutes, call into question the practicality of implementing them into the economy. Ignoring whether these tools will wholly replace graphic designers or not, it will definitely reduce the skill required to perform the tasks and lead to greater #competition in the field from individuals that were otherwise incapable of producing similar results. This will likely lead to a flood of competition in the industry and lower wages for longstanding individuals in the profession. In a similar vein data-entry and similar jobs are in danger due to the computer’s ability to rapidly analyze and process set tasks. Accountants, paralegals, research analysts, and more could face a severe disruption in the need for their services. Fortunately, there are still errors in AI computing that require human oversight, so it still seems a short way off from fully replacing people. There have been recent instances where the software had difficulty interpreting data to produce accurate conclusions that involved basic math. CNET has been using AI to write articles since November of 2022 and they have had to make multiple corrections to articles when the data was calculated incorrectly. However, if (or when) these types of errors are corrected, it will drastically reduce the need for a large staff. What I found more concerning was that positions like data entry and content creation weren’t the only ones at risk. Teaching has traditionally been viewed as one of the more necessary jobs in terms of human interaction, however, evidence points to the contrary. Not to be intentionally all doom and gloom; hopefully AI technology continues to be used as a tool to helps people be more efficient rather than replacing them outright. We’ll bypass the discussion that AI is already learning to lie and is capable of bypassing robot detection measures in order to achieve it’s objective, and just say that the technology is as concerning as it is fascinating. In the meantime, be nice to your tech devices, you never know when they’ll become sentient. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Phishing, Vishing, Smishing > Source: https://cccniles.com/2023/03/27/phishing-vishing-smishing/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: March 27, 2023 ## Summary What you need to know to recognize and avoid these popular scams! You can protect yourself with a few easy tips. We post frequently about #phishing attempts and how to identify them on our social media pages, and a short while ago we mentioned #vishing and smishing as well. ## Full Content What you need to know to recognize and avoid these popular scams! You can protect yourself with a few easy tips. We post frequently about #phishing attempts and how to identify them on our social media pages, and a short while ago we mentioned #vishing and smishing as well. However, there was a lot left out in that post that we wanted to cover, so I wanted to take this space to elaborate. While each type of these virtual attacks attempts to steal your personal data and/or elicit funds, each category has distinctive methodology to their attacks with discernable ways of identifying and preventing the attack. Phishing—the most well known of the trio—is accomplished specifically through the use of deceptive email messages or websites, in an attempt to reveal personal or confidential information from their victim which can then be used #illicitly. Vishing is the criminal practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages pretending to be from reputable companies in order to trick their victim into revealing personal information. We most often see this as scammers pretending to be from your bank. We’ve heard from customers that these types of scams even go as far as to screen their real number and show up in your phone’s caller ID as your bank’s official number. Smishing, although it may sound silly, is shorthand for SMS (short message/messaging service) phishing. #Smishing is similar to the previous two except that it is attempted entirely through text messaging services. Considering the larger percentage of text messages that are opened compared to that of emails, smishing is easily one of the more dangerous methods and likewise, it is more popular among criminals. Regardless of the method of attack, each scam tends to present similar messages to attempt to fool their victims. Look for red flags along the lines of: Financial requests “There has been some suspicious activity (or log-in attempts) on your account.” “Your card or payment information has expired, please update your information.” Call the official company they claim to represent the company’s officially recognized number and attempt to verify the claim presented in the message. If they are unaware of sending you any messages, you know for certain it was an attempted scam. Unsolicited Gifts “Your payment has not gone through; click the link to finish your transaction.” “You have been awarded a coupon (or won a prize), click here to claim it!” Never click links from sources you are unfamiliar with. You also should never reply to these messages, (even if they say, “reply STOP to cancel messages.” It confirms with them that your number is active and that they can target you again in the future Unfamiliar Refunds “Through the latest legislation, the IRS has determined you are eligible for an additional refund. Fill out the attached form to process your deposit.” “Your account has been overcharged, fill out this form to process your refund.” Verify the sender of these kinds of messages, if you’re getting messages about the IRS from anyone other than the IRS, you can safely ignore those messages. It is also advisable to avoid filling out any forms with personal information when you cannot verify where it is being sent or saved. Claims of Personal Injury “Your child (or loved one) has been hurt in an accident and your personal information is needed for their treatment.” These attempts are much scarier; but if you have a family member they could be referring to, make sure you attempt to contact them first before considering answering these texts Keep in mind, hospitals do not text parents requesting personal information of patients, it is a HIPPA violation, and would potentially open their hospital up to a lawsuit. Being aware of the types of scams that are surfacing will better prepare you to protect yourself and your personal information. Generally, if you are unsure about the validity of a correspondence, don’t engage with it and ask a professional for assistance. However, in the event that you are a victim of a scam, seek out assistance immediately. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Epic Games is Epic > Source: https://cccniles.com/2023/03/10/epic-games/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: March 10, 2023 ## Summary If you didn’t already love Epic Games for their weekly free games (sometimes daily free games for special events and holiday’s), then maybe their latest venture will steal your heart! Epic Games has been around in one form or another since 1991. It started out as Potomac Computer Systems by founder and CEO Tim Sweeney and has constantly been improving. ## Full Content If you didn’t already love Epic Games for their weekly free games (sometimes daily free games for special events and holiday’s), then maybe their latest venture will steal your heart! Epic Games has been around in one form or another since 1991. It started out as Potomac Computer Systems by founder and CEO Tim Sweeney and has constantly been improving. Currently their selection of games is growing (just over 1500 games at the time of publishing) and, in my opinion, they are the only ones effectively competing with #Steam. While Steam has over 50,000 games in their catalog, #EpicGames’ latest venture is sure to steal an immense developer base away from the digital game distribution titan that is Steam. One of the great features of Steam is that anyone with the know-how can publish a game. With a one-time $100 fee per game, independent #developers can upload a game to Steam’s expansive library. Epic Games had a similar feature, but gaining authorization to publish your game took extra steps and often discouraged developers from jumping through the hoops to try and make a few sales. This changes now. Epic Games launched a revamped developer portal last Thursday (March 9, 2023) that gives developers a lot to consider. Mirroring Steam’s $100 upload fee, Epic games is offering an 88%/12% revenue split in the developer’s favor (as opposed to Steam’s 60%/30% cut). The benefits are certainly comparable. While Steam has a much larger active user base (currently averaging 62 million daily active users), Epic Games is almost exactly halfway there with 31 million active daily users. But when you factor in the added incentive that developers will make more per sale, we could potentially see most of the small independent creators making the switch to Epic (or at the very least selling on both platforms). While this isn’t likely going to bankrupt Steam and set Epic Games up to be our newest monopoly, this could, however, be a great thing for #indie gaming. When Steam first launched Steam Greenlight (August 30, 2012) indie game development skyrocketed from an average of 10 games per month to around 275 games per month. Likewise, when Steam cut Greenlight and launched Steam Direct in its place (June 13, 2017), development jumped from 275 to an average of 500 games per month (source). With Epic Games launching what could be considered their version of Steam Direct, it will be interesting to see what happens to both Steam and Epic’s publishing count. Regardless, we’ll be keeping an eye out on both platforms to find the hidden gems that each has to offer! Because, of course, while big-name games are typically outstanding, indie #games and small developers are often the trend setters in the industry (since larger developers don’t want to take risks expanding outside what is currently working for them). Which is why I am glad Epic is doing better about supporting prospective developers. Who knows, you may even see one of our own while you’re looking for games! Our lead technician has been working on a game of his own for some time #LostLegend (currently on Steam). If you’re into classic RPGs and supporting small developers, it’s definitely worth checking out! You can even follow his progress over time and gain some insight into what exactly it takes to create your own game. Find him on his socials: twitch.tv/unhinged_ discord.com/invite/sGXbbWT youtube.com/channel/UCPj9ooUt4fosKeyimKO8aXw Or check out their website! https://www.unhingedllc.com/ Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # God of War: Ragnarök > Source: https://cccniles.com/2023/01/31/god-of-war-ragnarok/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: January 31, 2023 ## Summary If you’ve liked the franchise up to this point, you’re not going to be disappointed with the latest release! Impeccable visuals, intricate storytelling, fluid UX; truly work becoming of the Gods… of War developers. Who remembers when God of War was first released on the PS2? ## Full Content If you’ve liked the franchise up to this point, you’re not going to be disappointed with the latest release! Impeccable visuals, intricate storytelling, fluid UX; truly work becoming of the Gods… of War developers. Who remembers when God of War was first released on the PS2? In case you missed it: (Over a decade old spoiler) The story follows a Spartan soldier, Kratos, who made a deal with Ares (the Greek God Of War) when the Spartans were losing in battle and Kratos was about to lose his life. Through Kratos’ servitude to Ares, he committed many atrocities in his name, all of which haunt his dreams. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when Ares had tricked Kratos into “taking care” of a village that also housed his wife and daughter. After this, he swore vengeance against Ares and you spend the rest of the game finding ways to make sure he pays for what he did; eventually taking the old God of War’s post and becoming the new “God of War”. Vengeance is the overarching theme of the series. Each game you find a way to make those who wronged you pay for what they did to you. Which, throughout the subsequent games, the entire Greek Pantheon does, so you can probably guess what happens. However, due to the lack of Gods to oversee the land of Greece, the land eventually dies and Kratos moves to a new land. And the latest vision of the series, released in 2018? Which, again… if you missed it: Kratos traveled to Midgard of the Norse mythology, meets a new woman named “Faye”. Together they have a child they name “Boy” “Atreus” and live happily ever after. Until the day of Faye’s passing. Her final request was to have her ashes spread from the highest peak of all the Nine Realms. Seems like an easy task for the former God of War. It was anything but. Not only did he eventually find out the “Highest peak in all the realms” wasn’t in Midgard and was instead in a realm that has been inaccessible for centuries, but he also had to complete an even more daunting task, raise his son. Kratos, the man of rage and anger, a former God Of War, who unalived an entire pantheon of gods, wasn’t prepared for this task. Throughout the game you venture out and at the end, finally spread the ashes of his wife on the highest peak of all the nine realms. God Of War: Ragnarök continues the story 4 years later, the boy has grown up a bit and is now a teen, Kratos even older than before. They both settled down for a while after the events of the reboot. Due to some of the events that happened in the reboot, fimbulwinter has begun. Marking the beginning of #Ragnarök, the end of the world. Midgard was plunged into a 3 year long winter. Kratos and Atreus venture out together to attempt to stave off the destruction of the realms. Ragnarök further improves on the game mechanics introduced in the 2018 reboot. Combat feels smooth and you feel #powerful. Controlling a (in the words of Mimir, your living Tamagotchi) “Warrior of Rippling Muscle” feels like it should, you are a force to be reckoned with. But so are your enemies. Combat almost never feels easy unless you visit an old area. You can never stay complacent, different enemies are resistant to types of elements, so you’re always switching to the right tool for the job. Like I said, your enemies hit hard, dodging and blocking is a must in this game. Everything must be timed perfectly, or you get slapped with some major damage. In Ragnarök, they introduce new shield types depending on your play #style. You like to parry? They have a shield just for you. You like to tank damage? They got you there. Any way you play they have a shield just for you. To avoid spoilers, I will only say you do get a new weapon and it is amazing. You’ll have to trust me that it is an amazing weapon, and you will want to upgrade it to its full potential. In Ragnarök, you get to travel to all the realms #Norse mythology has to offer. The maps are vast and full of puzzles, activities and tasks for you to complete. As you go through story quests and side missions, these maps open up even more, allowing you to explore and gain more quests for you to complete. This game is filled with quests and missions, so many that I would say it doubles or even triples the amount of playtime you can get out of the game. Speaking of playtime, I completed the main missions (with a couple of side quests mixed in) in about 28-30 hours of gameplay. If you add on all the side quests, this game easily gets you 50 hours or more of game time. The main quest is #incredible, I would say the story in Ragnarök is even better than the 2018 Reboot, and that is saying a lot because I was in love with the previous story. It pulls you in with an amazing story and background, then keeps you there with the personal story between Kratos and his son, Atreus. Kratos has grown at lot since his time in Sparta, becoming a more caring god. Atreus has grown as well, becoming more and more independent and his need to help everyone only expands as time goes on. Seeing how these 2 progress in Ragnarök and seeing how much they care for each other is heartwarming. A true tale of father and son bonding while saving the 9 Realms from destruction, you know, a normal family bonding moment. All in all, God of War: Ragnarök is an incredible game. You can tell that the team at Sony Santa Monica put their heart and souls into this game to create a story that is moving, captivating, and all-around fun. This is a must play. If you don’t have a #PS4/#PS5 then this game will eventually hit #Steam in the coming years. While you wait, check out the 2018 reboot of God of War on steam! It regularly goes on sale and is worth every penny. Our rating: MUST PLAY! What do you think? Must Play! Don’t Play… Give it a shot If you disagree with our rating, comment below! We’d love to hear your opinions! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Gaming for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # The Issue With Retro Games > Source: https://cccniles.com/2023/01/02/retro-gaming-problem/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: January 2, 2023 ## Summary Retro gaming can be nostalgic and a fun way to revisit the classics, but is it good? No. And here’s why. ## Full Content Retro gaming can be nostalgic and a fun way to revisit the classics, but is it good? No. And here’s why. Nintendo has done an excellent job lately of releasing some fun retro games on the #Switch. It is a cool way to get some classics at your fingertips and to also introduce the games to another generation of people who maybe didn’t get to see them. Something about it feels wrong though… and I think it is this. A lot of us elder nerds started playing games in the big video game boom following the 80s and into the 90s. Back then, people really didn’t know the potential of video games or the reach. A lot of people thought that it was a passing fad and that before too long it would wind up a relic of the past that no one talked about. Instead, it became its own mega media; used to showcase artwork, sounds and (eventually) high-definition 3-dimensional imagery! So, we began with all these little pixelated games, where most of it you had to come up with in your mind. I mean there were images on the screen, but you had to supplement it a bit with your imagination. AND it was thrilling. Beating bowser on the #NES for the first time, telling all your buddies in school about how epic the battle was when really you were a little 2-dimensional sprite just kinda bopping around. It really made you hungry for the next system; if they could do this then what next??? What’s the big deal?.. So the controller rumbles? Who cares?? So when the #N64 was released and we were given the most immersive #3D experience to date (Super Mario 64), the entire gaming industry changed! Before the N64, games were primarily #2D. And then, all of a sudden you had the capability to explore and move the camera and see things from the eyes of the hero. It was the future—The future in your living room at 8am in the morning because you woke up before everyone in the house, so it would be quiet, and you could concentrate on figuring it out and really immersing yourself. NOW, these games which were so monumental, so transformative to our generation, and absolutely essential in the development of the games that exist today, are packaged into a #bundle with 20 other games and thrown out there for some kids to say, “What’s the big deal?.. So the controller rumbles? Who cares??” It feels like someone set the statue of David to your doorstep and your kids say, “Yup, that’s a statue.” I am not saying that everyone should love these games as hard as us old timers do; but maybe present them with some decorum. Some of the subtle things that are now taken for granted: rumble packs, save games, ONLINE PLAY; they were transformative to the gaming community back then, but are now such standard features that no gamer can imagine a game without them. Gone are the days where you had to leave your #Sega on for 3 days because you finally made it past the Aquatic Ruins Zone in Sonic for the first time, but had to go on a family trip for the weekend. And yeah, some of these games did not age well and I am not here to defend all of them, but something feels off. Wrong. And I realize that I sound old, I am not saying that everyone should love these games as hard as us old timers do; but maybe present them with some decorum. Or explain why you are relaunching them to the public: Why this game? Why Goldeneye? Oh, how about because it pioneered #FPS multiplayer games at home when pc gaming was a fledgling industry and couch gaming was just emerging as mainstream. Why Ocarina of Time? I don’t know, how about because open world adventure games were non-existent and don’t forget the rumble pack and the AI monster movement and revolutionary storytelling! Instead of mass releasing all of these old games, announcing them individually with anything that served as a preface for the game would be nice. Right now, what we’re getting feels very “bargain bin” and that bothers me. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Armored Core is BACK! > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/12/09/armored-core/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: December 9, 2022 ## Summary Signal the hype train, this one has mechs on it! FromSoftware’s latest game reveal has some old fans reeling, as one of their oldest IPs is making a dramatic comeback. Get ready for mech combat like you haven’t seen in nearly a decade! ## Full Content Signal the hype train, this one has mechs on it! FromSoftware’s latest game reveal has some old fans reeling, as one of their oldest IPs is making a dramatic comeback. Get ready for mech combat like you haven’t seen in nearly a decade! Look guys, I don’t post much on here myself, I like to stick to copyediting, but I was just whining about this game series to the other guys a few weeks ago, “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ARMORED CORE FRANCHISE?!” I incorrectly assumed that #FromSoftware’s involvement with #BandaiNamco effectively killed the series (since Bandai has their Gundam series as a direct competitor). So, let me just say this: I have never been more excited for a game launch since Liam O’Brien sent chills down my spine with his voice over work as Illidan in World of Warcraft’s Burning Crusade trailer. And let me tell you this, once again, I AM NOT PREPARED! Mech games like Armored Core simply do not exist anymore… Armored Core games were both intense and gritty back in the late 90s and the turn of the century. For those of you unfamiliar with the franchise: Armored Core is traditionally a 3rd person shooter game. You take on the role of the protagonist in the distant future doing some #mercenary work for various clients (often corporations competing for dominance). There have been several reboots and story rebranding over their development period, but the trend remains the same: humanity has been forced underground and the mechs fight on the surface for control of what’s left. The work you are given comes in without bias and can sometimes directly conflict with another mercenary in your agency’s mission. Which at that point, may the best pilot win. I remember forcefully putting down union strikes, eliminating witnesses, and attacking public infrastructure for clients that clearly did not have the public’s best interest at heart. Mech games like Armored Core simply do not exist anymore (with the exception of Daemon X Machina, which felt like a magic infused love letter to the classic). For gamers who live and breathe customization, the closest you can get to scratching your itch in the #mech world is with one of those mediocre GunPla games which are entirely too childish. Armored Core games were both intense and gritty back in the late 90s and the turn of the century and this upcoming one looks like it’s prepared to deliver once again. Early insight from what’s been released so far infers that this may be a slight departure from the original genre and be a bit more “Souls-like” and given the studio’s success with the Souls franchise, that’s not surprising. However, I’m in it for the nostalgia. #Nostalgia aside, I have so many expectations for this game, that I am terrified that I am hyping the game up too much mentally and that I will only to be disappointed later. However, given their track record, I can confidently say that I have never had more faith in a studio to live up to my expectations than I currently have for FromSoftware. Their work over the last few years with Elden Ring and the #Souls saga has set them up for success; going back to their old IP now is perfect timing and I am thrilled for what they’re going to release. You will be hearing from me again once this game comes out. Now if only I can convince them to develop another Tenchu game… Our rating: MUST PLAY! What do you think? Must Play! Don’t Play… Give it a shot If you disagree with our rating, comment below! We’d love to hear your opinions! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Gaming for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # NVIDIA’s Bitter Divorce > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/10/11/nvidias-divorce/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: October 11, 2022 ## Summary EVGA and NVIDIA, a tale as old as time. EVGA was there at the start with NVIDIA, creating some of their first custom GPU designs. But it seems that this honeymoon is finally at its end with EVGA now cutting all ties with NVIDIA. ## Full Content EVGA and NVIDIA, a tale as old as time. EVGA was there at the start with NVIDIA, creating some of their first custom GPU designs. But it seems that this honeymoon is finally at its end with EVGA now cutting all ties with NVIDIA. Why did EVGA cut ties with NVIDIA? And what does this mean for you? Let’s start at the beginning. EVGA was founded in 1999 in Brea, California and quickly made an agreement to work with NVIDIA that same year. The first result of this collaboration was the EVGA RIVA TNT2. From then on, #EVGA continued to produce amazing cards with custom cooling solutions to get the best performance out of your new fancy video cards. EVGA was always one to push NVIDIA processors to their limits, offering the OC (Overclocked), SC (Superclocked) and FTW (For the Win) versions of NVIDIA cards. These SKUs came out of the box with a factory overclock on them to get the best performance possible to utilize the crazy good coolers they attach to their cards. With these offerings, EVGA became the number 1 board partner with NVIDIA GPUs. But you don’t become number 1 in the hearts of gamers with just high-performance GPUs. Their customer service was (and still is) the pinnacle of tech industry. If you ever had a malfunction or any issue with their cards, they would send you a box to ship the card back to them and then send a new one out to you. There are many stories online about EVGA also supporting long out of date warranties on older cards. They would even go as far as sending you a much better #GPU than the one you sent in if they don’t happen to have your old card in stock. So, why did EVGA cut ties with NVIDIA? Well… that’s a long and complicated story, however, EVGA describes the main reason for them cutting ties is the fact that NVIDIA treated them less like business partners and more like competition. According to EVGA, #NVIDIA wouldn’t give them necessary details to complete production. NVIDIA would keep the prices of the cards that EVGA ordered secret until late into the manufacturing process, oftentimes at the same time that the information was revealed to consumers. NVIDIA would also withhold the necessary drivers from their board partners until very late into the process, keeping EVGA and other board partners from testing their designs. However, the main reason EVGA announced their separation was the fact that NVIDIA is now actively competing with them and other partners with their “Founders Edition” series of GPUs. These stock overclocked cards are made with their own cooler design and because NVIDIA pulls from their own stock, their partners are left with less stock to utilize themselves. Not only that, but because NVIDIA has the parts on hand, this also allows them to price their Founders Edition cards far less than any of the other partners. Undercutting them completely. So, what happens next? Does EVGA start making cards for AMD or Intel? No. Unfortunately the founder of EVGA, Andrew Han, has said they have no plans to ever come back to the GPU market again after this. GPUs made up 70% of all profit for EVGA, so this will not be a move without repercussions. Han said that they will be focusing on their #PowerSupply and Motherboard business. EVGA has also stated that they will not be laying off any employees, they will be moved to other parts of the business with no change in pay. How does this affect you, I hear you asking? Well, not much. If you were an EVGA fan, you will no longer be able to purchase new GPUs from EVGA after their current stock of 30 series cards runs out. You’ll also have to look for a new board partner to buy from (We recommend Gigabyte, MSI, or ASUS) If you still have a card from them, all warranties will continue to be honored. We’ll see what’s next from EVGA, I hope this isn’t the end for such an amazing company. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Let the Air Flow > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/09/26/air-flow/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: September 26, 2022 ## Summary How important is air flow? Can your computer overheat if your room is cold? You may be surprised to see how quickly bad circulation can burn out your PC! ## Full Content How important is air flow? Can your computer overheat if your room is cold? You may be surprised to see how quickly bad circulation can burn out your PC! I grew up in an old farmhouse with no air conditioning. Most people would assume this made my house unbearable. However, with some good manipulation of air flow, it was completely reasonable. Your desktops and laptops are no different. Inside your computer there is a piece of metal called a heatsink attached to your CPU. This is your computer’s way of dispersing heat. The metal draws the heat into itself and then as air flows past it, the metal cools down. This is why computers most commonly have internal fans. The fans help pull cool air over your heatsink and push the warm air out. However, it is important to remember, just as your house fan becomes caked in dust and debris, so do the fins of your laptop or Desktops fan. The more gunk on your fins the less air is manipulated and therefore your computer cannot do its job because its too hot. Making sure your computer has the appropriate space around it to breathe will increase its longevity as well as speeds. You work better when you aren’t overly hot correct? Your computer feels the same! If you’re having heating issues and you have a laptop, you can buy “cooling pads” which are really just a bank of fans you rest your laptop on. Alternatively, you can also find little flip up feet for about 10$ that give your laptop additional space underneath it to improve its airflow; you should consider getting one or the other. Desktops are a little harder to improve, basically just don’t keep in in an enclosed space (No cupboards!). If you are running into problems try putting a little fan behind it to help blow in cool air or take it to your friendly local computer shop (located on 303 N 3rd St) and have them install another fan/find out what’s wrong. Is summation: keep good ventilation with space around your electronics and occasionally blow the dust out with a can of compressed air. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #ITSupport for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Hand-Hold My Handheld Experience > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/09/12/handheld/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: September 12, 2022 ## Summary When you think handheld gaming do you think Nintendo? Would you be surprised to learn that since Mattel made the first handheld device in 1976 there have been over 40 major handheld releases from other manufacturers? Where does that leave us now? ## Full Content When you think handheld gaming do you think Nintendo? Would you be surprised to learn that since Mattel made the first handheld device in 1976 there have been over 40 major handheld releases from other manufacturers? Where does that leave us now? Come along to find the best gaming experience for the modern age! There are lots of options these days for #gameplay on the go. The hard part is separating the good ones from the bad ones and the only way to really do that is to feel out which one works for you. Everyone has different preferences and different expectations, so, it can be tough deciding which one(s) you are going to use and what kind of experience you want out of it. I am going to discuss two options that I highly recommend. While there are more out there, these two options offer the most variety and the greatest “bang for your buck.” These two are the Razer Kishi (combined with GeForce Now) and the Steam Deck. Both of these options are not stand-alone solutions, because most handhelds have hidden costs (games, cartridges, subscriptions, etc.). Ultimately, YOU must decide what is best. So, if you see something else that sounds good to you, give it a shot. What is important to understand is that #handheld gaming is not the same experience as console or PC. It’s going to feel different. You cannot and will not get the same experience as the other platforms. Razer Kishi The Razer Kishi is a controller that fits around your phone. Its stretches apart and connects on either end of the phone to make the #phone the “system” you are using. With phones ever changing this means you must do a little research to make sure your phone is compatible. For mine, I have to slide my case off to plug in the Kishi (most phones won’t fit the Kishi with their protective case on), which usually takes about 30 seconds tops. Then there is a Kishi app you can run that looks for compatible games on your phone or download new ones to play. However, this hardware really shines when paired with a streaming service such as GeForce Now. GeForce Now is a game streaming service—think Netflix but for games. For a small monthly fee, you “rent” a remote pc and use it to play your games from your Steam, Epic, Ubisoft libraries, and more. The gameplay is then streamed directly to your device at around 15-25Mbps or upwards of 25GB per hour. So, you will want to turn on your WiFi to save your phone’s data! Cost The Kishi is between $50-100 (depending on the version) and then the subscription to GeForce now is between $10 and 20$ (but there is also a free trial). Steam Deck The Steam Deck is the proprietary handheld from the software giant that is Steam. Steam is known for providing the best online marketplace for your online game purchases. Recently, they decided to make hardware so people could play they games that had been purchased anywhere. The Steam deck is their attempt at a gaming laptop smooshed down into a little over a foot long piece of equipment built around a #controller. This is much more powerful than any other handheld on the market! Obviously, it links to your Steam account, so if you don’t have that library already established, then you have to purchase each game individually. You can also go through a process to add libraries from other sources (like Obisoft and Epic), but this was by far my favorite handheld gaming experience. The system feels good. The joysticks are comfortable and responsive, and the way the buttons press feels satisfying. It does get a little hot, but it’s a whole computer in your hands, so you have to allow it airflow. Steam decks are hard to come by as of this article’s publish date, but you can still currently reserve one on their website. Cost Depending on the specs the Steam Deck is between $400 and $700. The low-end models don’t offer enough storage for games without purchasing external SD cards and they have different parts for screens. As I said, these are just two of the many options for handheld gaming that I recommend to people. I have purchased others and have not been satisfied with any of them—with the exception of the Nintendo Switch, which is a wonderful system that I highly recommend as well (just not the lite model!!!). It’s just that the Switch is technically Nintendo’s “console,” while the Kishi and the Steam Deck are more #conventional handheld gaming options. I use both the Kishi and the Steam Deck depending on where and what I am doing. The Kishi is usually short session when I am waiting for something in a public space. And the Steam Deck is for extended gaming sessions while sitting on the couch or at a buddy’s house. What is important is identifying your individual needs and figuring out which option fits your budget. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Stray > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/08/29/stray/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: August 29, 2022 ## Summary The world’s greatest game from the POV of a cat in a post-apocalyptic world where all known humans have been exterminated. Let’s get this out of the way first. I’m sure, like me, as soon as you saw “you can play as a cat” you threw your money at your screen and immediately bought it. ## Full Content The world’s greatest game from the POV of a cat in a post-apocalyptic world where all known humans have been exterminated. Let’s get this out of the way first. I’m sure, like me, as soon as you saw “you can play as a cat” you threw your money at your screen and immediately bought it. But Stray is a more than a #cat game. Stray is a journey. And to properly lead you into that journey we may uncover a few very minor spoilers. So, if you want to avoid any spoilers, TL:DR. This is a Must Play. No doubt about it. As stated before, Stray is an adventure game where you play as a cat in a post-apocalyptic world where all known humans have been wiped out. Your cat lived outside the walls of a human city that was totally enclosed in a dome due to a… let’s say…. an advanced, man-made, biological entity that wiped out human life. Through a series of unfortunate events, your cat must make its way through the city to return to the outside world, where the rest of your cat buddies await you. Minor Spoilers Aside from your cat, the inhabitants still remaining in the city are sentient robots who were once the assistants to the humans. After the humans were wiped out, they continued living in a manner similar to their creators. Some of them, started businesses, some started religions, some of them made sweaters out of wires. You know, normal human things. Their life span is unknown, of course as their parts can wear out or become broken beyond repair. However, with proper upkeep, who knows how long they can live. These robots only know life within the confines of the dome. Some wish to leave the dome as they have heard tales of the world outside, but there are warnings that the entities that removed the humans have also evolved to be able to destroy metal. So, many are scared to leave the city. Not to mention, none of them have ever seen the outside world, so many are afraid that it has already been destroyed and turned into a wasteland unfit for any life. Your journey through the city is anything but safe. You hop, skip, and meow your way through #puzzles only fit for a cat who is being controlled by a human playing a video game. Which kind of takes me out of it a little bit. If I were to recreate the puzzles in real life for my cat, Pixel, he would look at me like I’m crazy, bite my leg, and then take a nap on my favorite spot on the couch. But if you can suspend your beliefs for the 6 or so hours it takes to finish the game, then the puzzles are great. It requires you to think, albeit sometimes to think like a cat. Minor Spoilers Shortly into your first exploration of this dilapidated city, you find your forever companion in the game. A little drone buddy who immediately puts a backpack/harness on you so he can ride on your back. In classic cat fashion, you have some immediate protests to wearing the equipment, although you do get over it quickly (unlike Pixel who refuses to wear the harness I bought for him so I can take him on walks). You cannot understand robot speak, but luckily he speaks cat! So, he acts as your translator as you go through the city. Throughout your journey, you meet and learn the stories of the inhabitants. You help them with tasks, and they reward you by helping you continue your quest through the city. Much of the city is infested with biological enemies remnant of the creatures that took out humanity, so many times you are sprinting through these infested areas to work your way to the next section. The city and the areas you visit are beautiful, well crafted, and perfect for a cat to climb on, scratch up, and knock everything down to be a general nuisance. The models are well crafted, the world is filled with “life”, everything looks like it has a purpose, which, most of it does. The cat moves like a cat and the robots like… well… robots. The team at BlueTwelve Studio did an amazing job with this game. The #story is in depth, meaningful, and is worth listening to. The puzzles aren’t too tough to turn people away, but fun enough to keep you entertained. Stray is easily worth the $30 price tag and in my opinion, worth waay more. Our rating: MUST PLAY! What do you think? Must Play! Don’t Play… Give it a shot If you disagree with our rating, comment below! We’d love to hear your opinions! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Gaming for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Cult of the Lamb > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/08/15/cult-of-the-lamb/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: August 15, 2022 ## Summary Animal Crossing meets Lovecraft in this adorable rougelite. Deep dive with us into one of the most unique occult games ever released! Cult of The Lamb…. ## Full Content Animal Crossing meets Lovecraft in this adorable rougelite. Deep dive with us into one of the most unique occult games ever released! Cult of The Lamb…. Where to even begin? It’s an absolutely adorable #rougelite action/adventure game with a large side of Animal Crossing. You play as a cute lamb who takes care of his large group of “friends” by slaying monsters, gathering resources, farming, and sacrificing their souls to “The One Who Waits”… “What?! Sacrifice?! I thought you said this was a cute, adorable game just like Animal Crossing?” Well yes, but mostly in the sense that it’s super cute and adorable. Like all great games (I’m looking at you Skyrim) Cult of The Lamb starts off with a sacrifice. Your adorable lamb’s head is thrown on the chopping block. But this time, a dragon doesn’t swoop in to save you. Instead, you die and are plucked from your trip to the afterlife to the holding place of “The One Who Waits.” A deity who has been imprisoned by his fellow deities for his heretical ideas. Give your cultists’ tasks such as farming, gathering resources like wood and stone, building new buildings, or worshiping the shrine of you in the middle of your land. You know, Animal Crossing stuff. He offers you a choice, serve him, start a cult in his name, free him, and he will resurrect you. You, of course, get to make a choice: either “Yes” or “Absolutely!” From there, he returns you to the land of the living, where you unalive the #cultists who attempted to send you to your afterlife and begin your own cult in the name of your patron. This is where we get into Animal Crossing territory. You are given a few cult members to start off. You can change their names, change their form to another type of cute and adorable animal, and change their fur color (If you stream on #Twitch, there is built in Twitch integration where you can raffle off this character creation portion to your twitch followers; the cult member’s name gets changed to the winner’s Twitch username). You then give your cultists’ tasks such as farming, gathering resources like wood and stone, building new buildings, or worshiping the shrine of you in the middle of your land. You know, Animal Crossing stuff. At this point you continue to build your cult, find new followers, upgrade your buildings, upgrade yourself and your crown with new powers to help you on your rougelite action/adventure quests. The second part of this game is the #action rougelite. You leave your cult temporarily to go out on missions to further your goal of releasing “The One Who Waits”. You are greeted by 4 doors as soon as you leave the cult area. Each one can be unlocked by your followers, and they progressively cost more each time. You step inside the doors and fight through procedurally generated rooms where you fight demons, rival cult members, and pick up resources and new recruits for your cult. The fighting is super simple, one button to attack, another to dodge, and another to use your crown ability that you can pick up along the way. Each run is different, the levels change, the power ups and weapons you pick up change, everything changes. To complete an area, you must complete the area 4 times, each time with a different boss at the end until you finally meet one of the four deities you’ve been tasked to destroy. All in All, Cult of The Lamb is an incredible game with quite a bit of replay ability. The two sides of the game tie together very well, with each one contributing to the other. The “voice acting” is incredible, reminiscent of the Sims and Animal Crossing, where they are speaking complete, hilarious, gibberish. My first run though took about 17 hours, but your time will vary greatly depending on how much you want to get into each side of the game. I got heavily into the cult building side because honestly, it was super fun. At $25, I cannot recommend this game enough. It is worth every penny! Before you get into it though, I do have some #tips to help you throughout the game. Unsolicited Advice ?1: DO NOT SKIMP ON THE CULT BUILDING. This part is very important, and some enemies and bosses are much too high level to beat with just the starting levels. 2: DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU DIE. For one, “The One Who Waits” will always bring you back to life. Secondly, the hit to your loyalty isn’t irrecoverable. Its very easy to bring your loyalty back up to 100% with a single sermon and a couple of good deeds. 3: SOME RUNS WILL JUST BE BAD. Sometimes, at the beginning of the run, you won’t get very good weapons or powers. It’s just part of the game. You do have a chance to get better weapons/powers during your run, but each run/mission is very short, you can complete them in about 10 minutes or so. There won’t be many opportunities to get the weapons and powers that you want. 4: DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO MEMBERS OF YOUR CULT. I know, this is a hard one (I struggled with it a lot). The game purposely makes them as cute as possible, so you want to love them even more. I stopped naming my followers about halfway through the game. The game will remind you a lot that your flock is just that… a flock. They are only there to further your goals. Do what you must to get power. That’s it, play the game. 10/10 would recommend. Our rating: MUST PLAY! What do you think? Must Play! Give it a Shot Don’t Play… If you disagree with our rating, comment below! We’d love to hear your opinions! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Gaming for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Thunderbolt Type-C > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/08/08/thunderbolt/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: August 8, 2022 ## Summary Thunderbolt? Type-C? None of this sparking a connection (pun intended)? ## Full Content Thunderbolt? Type-C? None of this sparking a connection (pun intended)? Read on and learn more about this powerful advancement that is dominating and setting the standard for the industry! Have you ever looked at the side of your laptop and seen a lightning bolt beside a small opening? If you have, you might be wondering what that is and what it means? Well, that is known as a Thunderbolt port. Thunderbolt is a move that Pikachu…. No wait, wrong thunderbolt…. The Thunderbolt that we’re thinking of is a USB advancement technology created by Intel, to provide devices with high-speed communications with your PC. Thunderbolt uses PCI-E lanes (normally used for devices such as GPUs, ethernet cards, USB controllers inside of the average desktop computer) to give the Thunderbolt enabled device quick access to the CPU. Thunderbolt is used for a multitude of devices because it facilitates high speed data transfer, much faster than USB. The most popular device that utilizes the Thunderbolt port is a dock. With a dock, you can use one cable and connect multiple devices; an additional monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, headphones, an ethernet cable, storage devices, you name it. This is a common solution for people who want a laptop for portability but would also like to have a desktop experience when at home or work. If you’re like me and want to have a gaming PC at home and a thin and light laptop to take with you, Thunderbolt works wonders for that! You can purchase what’s called an External GPU Enclosure (eGPU). Once you have the desired graphics card installed, simply plug your eGPU into the Thunderbolt port (some drivers will install the first time you plug it in), then boom! You’ve got a gaming PC at home, running off your laptop! Surprisingly, Thunderbolt has been around for a long time. The first computer to ship with Thunderbolt was back in 2011 on the MacBook Pro. Intel and Apple worked together to create the standard. You probably didn’t hear about it until recently. It didn’t make a quick entrance to the PC market even though it wasn’t limited to just Apple products. Not many accessories were made for it, it used a non-standard connector on the computer, it was honestly a mess. But now that were in the 4th generation of Thunderbolt, it evolved and is being adopted by the majority of PC/laptop manufacturers. Even Apple continues to use it in all of their Macintosh machines. Since the move to USB-C as the connector, the standard has become much easier to adopt and use. But just because your laptop has a USB-C port, that doesn’t mean it’s a Thunderbolt port. It may just be a USB 3 port or even worse, a USB 2 port. Check near the port, if you see a lightning bolt near the port, its more than likely a Thunderbolt port. Of course, you can always bring it to us here at CCC and we’d be happy to let you know if you have a thunderbolt port in your laptop, or we can help you find the right laptop with thunderbolt that would work best for your needs. That and the thunderbolt accessories that you need! If you have any questions about Thunderbolt Type-C, feel free to give us a call! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # The Cycle Frontier > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/08/01/cycle-frontier/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: August 1, 2022 ## Summary Round two of forcing myself through the hundreds of games I own but never play, but this time it’s a game we all have access to. A free to play game: The Cycle Frontier. Free to play game always make me wary. ## Full Content Round two of forcing myself through the hundreds of games I own but never play, but this time it’s a game we all have access to. A free to play game: The Cycle Frontier. Free to play game always make me wary. Usually, they are built on an amazing concept that is hidden deep in the back behind a pay wall that is roughly what you would expect to pay for a new game to begin with. But that is a different topic for another post. If you get killed anything you bring with you stays there or ends up in the pockets of your enemy. This makes every interaction nerve wracking and intense. In this game you are a scavenger sent on “drops” into a hostile planet that was once colonized but now overrun with native alien species as well as other scavengers trying to carve out their living as well. So, you set your gear ahead of time from your individual loot stash located in the #hub space station and head down to the planet surface knowing full well that if you get killed there anything you bring with you stays there or ends up in the pockets of your enemy. This makes every interaction nerve wracking and intense. The planet’s surface is filled with locations where items can be found as well as other scavengers. After you have had your fill, you make your way to an “extract point,” call in your ship, and fly off with your loot or slain in the process. Back at base you may use this loot for a variety of things. Upgrades to your personal income generators in your apartment which has a very clear and easy to understand interface. You can use some of the #loot to turn into one of the three factions for rep and rewards. And lasty you can take it to a “printer” to fold it directly into gear upgrades. Okay now onto the game play. This is a less realistic game than most, the world is vibrant and almost cartoony. Which, I actually don’t think that is a bad way to handle a space word. The vibrant colors and fauna make the game nice to look at. The gun play, however, takes some getting used to. I don’t think it’s bad by any means, I play a ton of FPS and each one is a little different, but the concept is the same, right? Shoot them before they shoot you to death. There also seems to be a great deal of variety in guns and gear and armor. However, the real place this game shines is in the feeling you get after extracting with a bag of loot. Whether it’s acquired though the demise of a rival or genuine treasure hunting, each time you pull it off is something that is hard to replicate in another way. Something’s missing from this game and it should be you. Here’s the problem. This game can be described as a more approachable Escape from Tarkov and I can agree with that sentiment. But Tarkov is ultra-realistic, and this is spacey. Tarkov tends to hide upgrades and quests while this game has them right in the open. BUT, Tarkov is not free to play, and there are quite a few #FTP mechanics in The Cycle that gets in its way of being enjoyable; battle pass, premium currency, pay to win items. It makes this game feel very “gated”. And dumping the money into it doesn’t even seem to give the proper return. I tried to play this and get into it. I gave it a solid 30ish hours which is more than I give most games. But it never got me… I played solo and with friends. I tried to get into gunfights, and I tried sneaking by. There is something missing and I couldn’t quite figure it out. So, I can’t, on principle, recommend this game. I mean give it a shot if you want, maybe you’ll love it, but for me, I would have to say don’t play. Something’s missing from this game and it should be you. Our rating: DON’T PLAY! What do you think? Must Play! Don’t Play… Give it a Shot If you disagree with our rating, comment below! We’d love to hear your opinions! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Gaming for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Simple Fix = Best Fix? > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/07/18/simple-fix-best-fix/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: July 18, 2022 ## Summary Ever call to get your computer fixed and they ask if you turned your computer off and on again? Ever wonder why the ongoing joke for fixing hardware is restarting it? You may be surprised how simple solutions can actually be! ## Full Content Ever call to get your computer fixed and they ask if you turned your computer off and on again? Ever wonder why the ongoing joke for fixing hardware is restarting it? You may be surprised how simple solutions can actually be! Simple solutions are often the most effective. That is why people continue to use them. When I start to feel ill or a headache coming on; the first thing I do is sleep. Why? Because it is the simplest solution. It’s also free, and easy to do. When I wake up, if I’m still feeling under the weather, I start thinking of bigger #solutions; doctors visit, medication, ER, etc. The same process can be applied to an electronic issue. “Is it plugged in?” is the first question you should ask. Start simple and small on your solutions first. “Is it plugged in?” is the first question you should ask. Many times, things are jostled or readjusted and in doing so something becomes #unplugged. Taking a peek at this can save you an embarrassing and expensive service call. If everything is plugged in and secure, that is when you go in the opposite direction and try unplugging the devices. Disconnect the device from power (even popping out the battery if it’s a laptop) and wait about 15 mins before plugging it back in. I also highly encourage pressing the power button (if applicable) while it is unplugged to help disperse #power. Once you plug it back in turn it on and give it a while longer than you normally do when turning it on. These are two small steps that seem laughable. Even reading them now, you think to yourself, “Come on…” But in our experience, a sizeable portion of our residential calls could be solved by this process. Reveal this TOP-SECRET, money saving, IT hack that IT companies don’t want you to know! Read Your Error Messages. The last step we recommend is… reading. This sounds unhelpful, but what I mean by this is you have to read the errors or messages that are causing your problems. The issue you’re having may not be as bad as you think. Read the errors and see if there are directions on them for what caused it or how to fix it. While I am never advocating for allowing your electronics to do whatever, I am saying maybe when it has asked you to update every day for the last two months… Do it. Or the #error that pops up saying your charger isn’t the right voltage, but you have seen it so many times you click through it without reading… maybe it’s time to take notice. Don’t be surprised if they start with the same steps that you’ve already tried. This validates your process! Of course, if you have tried these things and it is still not working, then now may be the time to call a professional. And there is also no shame in that. People invest their time in different professions and passions; if computers are not your strong suit, that is okay. Call a professional, ask questions and get help. When they do show up let them know what you tried and don’t be surprised if they start with the same steps you’ve already tried. This validates your process! But I guarantee that if you do not do the simple stuff first you will end up kicking yourself for it. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #ITSupport for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # DDR5 > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/07/11/ddr5_ram/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: July 11, 2022 ## Summary One of the most recent and game changing advancements in technology has been the release of DDR5 RAM. But what is RAM? And what does DDR mean? ## Full Content One of the most recent and game changing advancements in technology has been the release of DDR5 RAM. But what is RAM? And what does DDR mean? Does it come with a dance pad? Explore what this means for you as a user! RAM stands for “Random Access Memory” (not to be confused with Daft Punk’s album with the same name). This is where your computer stores data that it needs quickly. It’s much faster than Solid State Drives (SSDs) or Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) due to how closely tied to the CPU it is and the quality of the material it is comprised of. Your computer uses #RAM to store all the files you may need to get to quickly such as, OS data, applications you open, etc. You might be asking yourself “Then, why don’t we store all data on RAM?” That is because RAM is volatile; meaning as soon as power is cut from it, it forgets everything. All data is dropped, and you have a clean slate to start off with when you cycle power back through it. SSDs and HDDs are non-volatile, meaning they will not lose their data when powered off. Think of your computer as a Kitchen. Your CPU is the chef, the RAM as the countertop, and the drawers below it are your storage. I always use this analogy when I tell someone how ram works. Think of your computer as a Kitchen. Your CPU is the chef, the RAM as the countertop, and the drawers below it are your storage. When you cook, you bring out all your tools from the drawers and lay them on the countertop, so you have quick access to them when you need them. Just like that, the #CPU brings the data it needs out of the SSD/Hard Drive and places them in RAM for quick and easy access. When you are done cooking, you take all your tools and place them back in the drawers for future use and clean the countertop. The computer does the same with RAM. So, what does DDR mean? No, it doesn’t mean Dance Dance Revolution. It stands for “Double Data Rate”. RAM speed is measured in megatransfers (or million transfers) per second (MT/s). Each time the standard is raised, the speed of the RAM is doubled. For example: DDR/PC1 300MT/s ?DDR2 ?600MT/s DDR3 1200MT/s DDR4 2400MT/s DDR5 4800MT/s What does this mean for you? We are in the age of exponential growth in technology. But this also comes at a cost. New standards of RAM are always more expensive in the first year or two after they release. Not to mention, moving to new generations of RAM requires a new #motherboard and CPU, since each generation of RAM has a different pin contact layout. One great thing, however, about a new generation of RAM coming out, is that prices will start to drop on the older generations AND the older generations don’t stop improving! Developers continually find new ways to speed up the older RAM so you can still get a speed increase from the older generations. If you are buying a new computer, we always recommend getting one with the newest generation of RAM installed. That will future-proof you for the coming years, so that your computer will perform better until you are finally ready to upgrade to the next best hardware. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # VR Technology > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/07/04/vr-technology/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: July 4, 2022 ## Summary Have you tried VR before and were unimpressed? Join the club! HOWEVER, you might be surprised to learn what is in store for the future of this technology! ## Full Content Have you tried VR before and were unimpressed? Join the club! HOWEVER, you might be surprised to learn what is in store for the future of this technology! When VR started to become a household product, I was so excited and ready to try it out. Every Sci-fi movie that featured anything close to a virtual reality always got me riled up (I, myself, am a fencer; so, the thought of being able to do so from my house with anyone is the world was absolutely thrilling). But the technology wasn’t quite there yet. It started off as a little better than a gimmick. The graphics weren’t that accurate and game producers were not creating content to make them worthwhile. Most producers saw #VR as ‘add on’ content, not the center piece. Check out this Video by Virtual Reality Oasis or this Guide by VentureBeat to see what may be best for you! When combined with the fact that you needed either a console or an extremely powerful PC to run the games, there wasn’t enough support to justify the cost for the amount of enjoyment you would get in return. It had only been a couple of years since I last tried VR, how much could have changed? EVERYTHING! But the more it was seen in the public eye the more it was called on to become a larger part of the consumer market. Museums, video game, and media producers started to realize how much more could be done and as a result, the technology rapidly advanced. What started grabbing my attention was when people around me started to invest more in them. “So and so has one for his PlayStation,” “my buddy’s friend has a room set up,” etc. That was when I realized it was really advancing. The first VR headset I got, came to me second hand circa 2018. However, you needed a computer that was a monster to help “power” this space age piece of equipment, three sensors mounted in various locations, and a long cable reaching from the PC to your #headset. But, once it was all set up, everything was placed, and you popped the headset on… it wasn’t bad. The games at the time were pretty okay, but they were nothing I wanted to play for extended periods of time. My kids gave it a shot and enjoyed it, but it was a fragile piece of equipment, so it required supervision. That was the original Oculus, but I had similar experiences with the PlayStation VR. They were cool but not worth the investment. Neat but not worth a ton of time and effort. And after a while the cable wore out on the headset and an earpiece broke and it went into storage. Then the Quest and Quest 2 came out and each were more reasonably priced. It had been a couple of years since the other headset, and I remembered it fondly, so I thought I might give this one a shot. It had only been a couple of years since I last tried VR, how much could have changed? EVERYTHING! The newest Quest didn’t need cords or a computer; the whole system was built into the headset without external sensors or cables. There was also a built-in store and the option (with some finagling) to connect to your PC and play those VR games too. If you were on the fence, I get it. I get it completely. But you shouldn’t be. This is amazing tech that’s relatively approachable. The games on the headset felt so much better. Responsive and intuitive. Swordplay, gunplay, movement the works. But the one that got me was ping pong (Eleven). Its super close to actual. Its feels just as rewarding slamming a shot back across the table as in real life. The variety of games was staggering. Not to mention the utility apps: set up a virtual office, visit a planetarium, watch a movie, the list goes on! Look, if you were on the fence, I get it. I get it completely. But you shouldn’t be. This is amazing tech that’s relatively approachable. Don’t get me wrong it’s a young technology and there will be changes and things you are not going to like. But the experience is there. You do have to dig for it a little bit. Trying to find the right game that really sits well with you and makes it fun. This tends to be more internal. Trust ya gut. I have not found a fencing game but it’s only a matter of time. And in the meantime I can play one of the plethora of other games that are good and enjoyable. (My must have games: Eleven, Superhot, and Beat Saber or Vader Immortal) Our Rating: Give it a Shot What do you think? Must Play! Don’t Play… Give it a Shot If you disagree with our rating, comment below! We’d love to hear your opinions! Bookmark our blog and follow the tags #Technology & #Gaming for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # IoT, All Around Us > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/06/22/iot-all-around-us/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: June 22, 2022 ## Summary IoT may not be a term you’re familiar with, but it has already undoubtedly affected your life. Everything we do, from travel to home security to exercise, IoT impacts it all. But what exactly is IoT and what does it mean for users? ## Full Content IoT may not be a term you’re familiar with, but it has already undoubtedly affected your life. Everything we do, from travel to home security to exercise, IoT impacts it all. But what exactly is IoT and what does it mean for users? IoT stands for Internet of Things, and it refers to the connectivity of devices. In simple terms IoT is the connection between any two or more devices that can access the internet. Only, that leaves out a lot of behind-the-scenes processing. Not only are these devices connected, but they are also sharing #analytics across multiple applications all built to address a multitude of issues that their users might face. Lucky for you, all of these IoT devices are things that we manage as an IT Company. You have probably seen this yourself without even realizing it. Your remote alarm systems, smart thermostats, and devices like Fitbit that track your health and fitness from your wristwatch are all a part of the IoT network. Any device that has Wi-Fi and #internet connectivity built in can be a part of this network. Lucky for you, all of these IoT devices are things that we manage or assist with as an IT Company. What Is The Benefit? Take for example this scenario: Your alarm is set on your phone, which is connected to the internet. Your route to work takes you 30 minutes to drive. The vehicles on that route are also connected to the internet. There is an accident on your route and the closest redirect takes you through rural backroads with poor roads and multiple stop signs. This reroute is going to take you 20 more minutes to get to work. With high functioning IoT, the connected cars traveling down your original route will ping that there has been a road closure, which notifies your phone that there will be a delay, which then notifies you before your alarm is even set to go off! The #connectivity of these devices allows your phone to modify your alarm time, so that you can get to work on time. Albeit, you are going to have to wake up earlier in this scenario and that is bothersome, but this is just one example of interconnectivity working for your benefit. IoT is ultimately just that. Designs to make your life easier. The data collected by connected devices allows you to make smarter more informed decisions without having to invest heavily in datamining. The Future With each passing day technology is advancing and with each next step forward internet connectivity is always a considered factor. And while we are at the most interconnected point we have been in history, research suggests that we are far from peaking. By analyzing consumer and market data, Statista suggests that we’ll reach 50 billion IoT devices by the end of 2030 (up from 22 billion today)! This means a faster more synergized and efficient society, and CCC will be there to connect you every step of the way. If you have any questions about IoT, feel free to give us a call! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Technology for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Chorus > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/06/15/chorus/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: June 15, 2022 ## Summary First in a series of gaming reviews, we take a look at Chorus. Which is a weird name for a space game; but, to get an opportunity to fly my spaceship around and be a hero… Why not?? I have a problem. ## Full Content First in a series of gaming reviews, we take a look at Chorus. Which is a weird name for a space game; but, to get an opportunity to fly my spaceship around and be a hero… Why not?? I have a problem. And I would like to help you folks, so that you don’t develop the same issue. I purchase games. Games I don’t need, games because they are on sale, and games because I actually intend on playing them (disclaimer: I don’t). So, I buy game after game after game and where do they end up? I Put It On The Shelf! Unplayed and forgotten… until now! I will be pulling a few obscure games that I am playing, have played, or am looking into playing and I am going to give you some honest opinions on them. However, I am not going rate these #games on a 1-10 system because that is incredibly subjective and disingenuous to the developers’ intended audience. Instead, I’m just going to rate them on a: “Don’t Play, Give It a Shot, or a Must Play” scale. Chorus What a weird name for a space game. But an opportunity to fly my spaceship around and be a hero… why not?? It comes into better focus after a cutscene at the start, then a couple of nice tutorial missions, and then the game starts to take shape. There are a lot of fun RPG elements; for instance, leveling up your ships components and what not feels great. Also, finding things in a sprawling open #space is fun. The story feels a little forced but not bad and combat is fun and not disorientating. I find with space games sometimes it’s hard to find what the heck is happening! But this is smooth and enjoyable. A nice little rock, paper, scissors game. It is a little odd at first but then once you get the hang of it is EXTREMELY rewarding. There are some mechanics that once accessible make the space combat hectic and fun. The main mechanic that helps make the game unique can be unlocked after about 20 mins of gameplay. A nice little rock, paper, scissors game. It is a little odd at first but then once you get the hang of it is EXTREMELY rewarding. Getting into a dogfight with some raiders and effectively using your skills to wipe them off the map is immensely satisfying. I think what really sets this game apart though is the voice acting and the character interactions. The way the game handles internal #dialogue is different and refreshing. Typically, in order for me to play a game, you have to make me care about what’s happening. Otherwise, I am just moving around on a map until I get bored… quickly. Chorus does a good job of letting you know every person has a story going on and you can affect most of them. And while some of the side missions can feel a little like fluff encounters… such as, “Hey, go to the store and get milk for me.” some of those seemingly meaningless missions spiral into really good experiences. This game is easily be played on controller or mouse and keyboard . But the best part is that this game is also on Xbox Game Pass, which means you may have access to it already. So, if you are sitting at home looking for something to play, Our Rating: Give it a Shot! What do you think? Must Play! Don’t Play… Give it a Shot If you disagree with our rating, comment below! We’d love to hear your opinions! Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #Gaming for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Blow Your Computer Out! > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/06/08/blow-your-computer-out/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: June 8, 2022 ## Summary Ever wonder why your computer operates sluggishly after a few years? The solution might be easier than you think! Every Sunday my wife cleans out our house. ## Full Content Ever wonder why your computer operates sluggishly after a few years? The solution might be easier than you think! Every Sunday my wife cleans out our house. Floors, laundry, countertops, couches, and then one big task that rotates; maybe floorboards this week, blinds the next. This keeps things operating smoothly in the house. One thing that she made sure to add to that list is cleaning off the fins on the fans in the house. The difference is immediate and noticeable. Cleaner air, greater airflow, and it simply runs much more smoothly. Every time She does this, I remember that our computers are cooled much in the same way: through the movement of air over metal fins facilitated by—you guessed it—fans. That means that when our house fans are dirty and clogged with dust, our computer fans may be in similar shape, OH NO! Computers may seem like a scary subject, but they are actually relatively simple. One of the biggest factors is their need for regular maintenance, just like the other things in our lives; the problem, however, is that they are easy to overlook. For most computers the simplest thing you can do to help maintain and keep them running for longer is to blow out the dust that has settled inside it over time. On every PC and laptop there are vents that allow air to enter and exit the device. A proper air flow should be in one side and out the other and/or the top of the machine. The draw strength of the fans has to be relatively equal in order for the system to cool appropriately, meaning the fans need to push air into the #computer at the same rate they’re drawing air out. As long as this balance is maintained, your computer should be able to sustain a stable operating temperature and optimize its lifespan. What’s The Best Way to Clean Out Your PC? You can buy a little can of compressed air at any electronics store for about $5 or you can get a rechargeable air gun for about $50; either option will work perfectly. Grab your computer and head outside, somewhere dry and in the open and blow every vent out. For desktops, the side panel of your PC can be removed easily. Typically, there are two screws on the rear corners of the PC that can be unscrewed by hand and then the side will slide right off. Once you have open access to the interior, use your duster of choice and give it a good cleaning. “Don’t be surprised if a cloud of dust comes out. This is a good sign.” Since laptops are a little more difficult to disassemble, your best option is to just blow air along the undersides as well as inside the vents near the hinges where the computer comes together. Blow out those USB ports too, don’t be surprised if a cloud of dust comes out. This is a good sign. If dust is freely blowing out of your computer, it means that the dirt inside of it hasn’t settled and solidified on your #hardware. That is the last thing you need! We see this a lot with computers from homes with a lot of smoke circulating in the air. The tar from tobacco products tends to stick to hardware if allowed to settle, then you’re in for a messy clean. After blowing it out, your computer should operate quieter, and faster due to the #heat reduction. I do this to my pc about once every 3-4 months, but that is excessive. For the average person I would suggest at least twice a year (Unless you have multiple pets or a ton of dust flowing through the house; then I would recommend doing it monthly)! Browse Air Dusters like this one! I write this with the idea of making you more confident in things you can do to help maintain your computer! It’s yours!!! But like most things in your possession, they need to be looked after. This is the first step in keeping your personal computer running longer, better, faster. Bookmark our blog and follow the tag #ITSupport for more content like this! Check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ --- # Welcome To C?! > Source: https://cccniles.com/2022/06/01/welcome-to-c4/ > Provider: Custom Computer Company | Phone: 269-235-0470 | Email: office@cccniles.com > Address: 1001 Fulkerson Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120 > Published: June 1, 2022 ## Summary CCC’s first post! In this blog, we will cover a variety of topics, including content important to the tech world and a little something extra for those gamers out there! Welcome to CCC’s Corner (C?), Custom Computer Company’s personal blog. ## Full Content CCC’s first post! In this blog, we will cover a variety of topics, including content important to the tech world and a little something extra for those gamers out there! Welcome to CCC’s Corner (C?), Custom Computer Company’s personal blog. This is our first blog post! Here you will get a mix of self-help practices, technological trends, and (as one may expect with any nerdy blog forum) video game insight. Going forward we plan on expanding content in these main areas with the occasional offshoot to some other niche area of expertise. “What content is most useful for our customer base? What content would we be enthusiastic about? Is there a new audience we could reach using these posts?” When considering opening a blog, we had several questions in mind that we had to address. By narrowing down the time we have to work on content and the information we would like to provide, we had to set clear parameters for ourselves to preserve our productivity. Therefore, as we were considering what to publish in these threads, we had to ask ourselves, “What content is most useful for our customer base? What content would we be enthusiastic about? Is there a new audience we could reach using these posts?” Accordingly, we decided to stick to bi-weekly or monthly posts in the three previous topics: Self-help practices, Technological Trends, and Gaming Insight. Why “Self-Help” Content? In running a successful IT business in our area for the last 6 years, we often get a lot of repetitive encounters. Encounters which can be solved pretty simply, even without extensive knowledge of computers. While we have no problem solving these issues for our customers, we would rather they employ some self-help practices to save themselves some money. Of course, we will always be here for customers who find certain tasks confusing and frustrating; but our goal is first and foremost customer satisfaction. And it is hard for us to justify charging anyone who is capable of solving their own issues with a little bit of guidance. Help is always available to those that need it! What Can We Expect from The Techs? As experts in our field, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest and greatest trends in the industry. One of the best ways to do this is through subscriptions to tech blogs and newsletters from other trusted sources and creators. Naturally, as the idea was passed around for creating our own content, we agreed that it would be beneficial to share our findings with you as we do our research. That way, as we keep up with what is relevant, we can also share our opinions, reactions, and predictions of how the technology will affect our customer base. In addition to being tech nerds, we are also avid gamers. And although we all appreciate the mainstream games, we also follow the development of games that go under the radar of the typical hype train. Therefore, we wanted to use this space to share our opinions and reactions to these unsung works that seem great, but don’t get quite as much coverage. Which content are you looking forward to the most? Self-Help Content Technology Insider Information Video Game Insight Bookmark our blog, follow our tags (#ITSupport #Technology #Gaming), and check in with us to see what the world of IT has to offer you! --- **Phone:** 269-235-0470 **Contact:** https://cccniles.com/support-request/ **All Services:** https://cccniles.com/solutions/ **Blog:** https://cccniles.com/blog/ ---