Jimmy Samsonite, Author at MediaMikes

What should you do before switching to a new games console in the coming weeks?

To say that it is an exciting time for gamers right now is an understatement. With both the new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 ready to drop soon, all gaming fans are getting revved up. Each machine boasts more power, better graphics and better features than before – this sees them set to make a real splash. However, if you are planning to make the switch to one of these new consoles over the coming weeks, you should first think about what you need to do beforehand.

Of course, for some, this could be trying out online gambling Florida wide or enjoying fun casino games in other states while they wait. Just remember to check out the BonusSeeker site first to find the most reputable sites to game at with the best bonuses. As well as playing online games, you could pass the time waiting to enjoy your new console with music, sports, exercise or movies. While this is fine, there are actually some key tasks related to gaming and your old console to sort out.

What are they?

Enjoy the last few weeks with your current console

However long you have had your current machine, why not spend the last few weeks before you switch saying farewell in style? For some users, this could actually be quite a big thing, as they may have had their current console for many years. Even someone who purchased a PS4 when it came out in 2013, for example, will have spent seven glorious years gaming on it.

The Xbox 360 launched in 2005, and if you still game on an older machine like this, you could have been playing on it for even more years! With this in mind, take some time to go through your favorite games on it and relive some of those memories you spent years building up. This will leave you ready to move on when the new console arrives.

Clear your diary

If you are planning on picking up an Xbox Series X or PS5 (or both!), then you will naturally want to have plenty of time gaming on it. You cannot do this if you have a lot going on in your life in the weeks after you have brought it home.

A sensible thing, therefore, is to clear your diary, tell your friends that you will not be out for a while, and unplug the phone. This will mean that you get to enjoy your new console fully and in peace. Of course, if you want to arrange an online gaming session with friends on the new machine, then that is entirely acceptable!

Think about making your old console safe

Whether you plan to simply put your old console in the loft, sell it, or trade it in for the new one, you must make it safe. Modern consoles contain a lot of sensitive, personal data. You do not want to leave it on there for other people to steal. Most consoles now will make formatting the hard drive and wiping off your personal details pretty easy.

The PS4, for example, lets you delete any data stored via the Initialization option in System Settings. Once you’re in this, you just select Restore Default Settings to make it safe. If you own a different console, then a quick search online will throw up how to go about it.

Consider sorting out your storage and saves

One key thing is making sure that any old saved games make it over to your new console. You do not want to lose any saved progress that you have spent many hours, if not years, building up when you make the switch. Luckily, this is also pretty simple for most consoles now. If we stick to the PS4 as an example, it is wise to check that Online Storage is where saves go. This means that they are then easily accessible if you upgrade to a PS5.

It is also worth making sure that you have gone through what is stored on your old console if you plan to transfer the data over to your new machine. In simple terms, the more data you transfer, the longer it will take. It is worth clearing out any screenshots your console has taken over its lifespan that are not really needed.

Getting ready for your new console is key

There is currently much speculation about what to expect from the latest Xbox and PlayStation. This level of excitement means that you might be eager to get playing as soon as you buy one. Making the switch to a new machine is best done with some planning in place though. This will ensure that you are fully ready to make the move and that the whole process does not take too long.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: coming, console, games, switching, weeks

Win It All Movie Review

Win It All is a compelling movie that showcases Jake Johnson’s acting range brilliantly. Although it’s essentially a comedy, it does feature some great dramatic moments throughout. The main character, Eddie Garrett, spends his evenings playing poker — and, sadly, losing. Even though it’s a modern movie, Eddie doesn’t play at online casinos, and uses the old-school method of finding poker games around town instead.

Jake Johnson Shines

Jake Johnson is excellent as Eddie. Anyone who’s seen New Girl will know just how good he is, and he brings some much-needed sympathy to the character. This is vital as, throughout the movie, you’ll find yourself rooting against Eddie.

He ignores the good advice offered by his friends, family and even GA sponsor, and continues to get himself into trouble. This could be why Johnson was chosen to play him, because without his natural charm, Eddie would definitely be the villain of this movie.

This makes it extremely hard to root for him, and the viewer ends up becoming more sympathetic towards the various people that he hurts instead. However, Johnson is so charming and such a likeable actor that it’s easy to connect with him at times, even when his behaviour is so questionable.

Doesn’t Break New Ground

The movie’s storyline is relatively easy to follow. Eddie Garrett is a habitual loser. Everything that he touches goes bad. This includes his poker playing. One night, a local criminal drops a bag off at his house and asks him to hold onto it until he gets out of prison. He tells him that as long as he doesn’t look in the bag, he will give him $10,000 when he gets out. Eddie agrees, and of course, looks in the bag. He finds piles of money in there, and as he’s a gambling addict, he uses some of it to wager with.

The movie takes him on a journey of highs and lows that are generally quite cliched. There’s nothing unexpected to be found in the film. That doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining, it’s just not quite as good as the previous Joe Swanberg and Jake Johnson collaboration, Drinking Buddies. But if you were a fan of Drinking Buddies, Win It All is definitely worth a watch.

There’s of course the obligatory romantic storyline that underpins everything, but Johnson plays it with such charm that it feels natural. It might be a familiar trope, but it’s not overbearing and doesn’t take away from the enjoyment the film offers.

The undoubted highlight of the movie is Keegan-Michael Key. He plays Eddie’s Gamblers Anonymous sponsor, Gene, and brings a lot of energy to the part. It also helps that he has the best lines of all the characters, but his delivery of those lines is excellent. You’ll find yourself looking forward to seeing Gene on screen more than Eddie.

Entertaining but not Spellbinding

On the whole, the movie has a lot going for it, yet there are just too many flaws for it to be heralded as a classic. The cast are all likable and play their parts well. The writing is sharp and funny, with some excellent lines that will have you laughing out loud in places. But, sadly, the story is a little too similar to so many other movies and generally cliched.

If you’ve seen one romantic comedy, it’s fair to say you’ve seen Win It All. This doesn’t mean it’s a bad movie, not by any stretch, but it does mean that it’s nothing new or original.

If you’re a fan of Jake Johnson or want something to watch for a lazy evening in, Win It All is a great choice to watch. If you want something that has some depth or originality to it, maybe this isn’t the movie for you. It’s definitely an entertaining film, but it’s been done before many times in the past.

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Filed Under: Movies Tagged With: movie, review, win

Are these the Top 5 Casino Movies of all time?

Throughout cinema history, the role of the casino has been an important one. Setting the scene for power struggles, deception, intrigue and of course, winning big. Here are some of the top 5 casino movies of all time.

Casino

The epic crime drama Casino is the leader of the pack when it comes to the top ranked casino movies. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film teams Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone as we follow De Niro’s character Ace through his career running the Mafia fronted Tangiers Casino in the ever-evolving gambling industry of Las Vegas. The film has been a fan favourite since 1995 when it also won critical acclaim on release, seeing Stone secure the Golden Globe for best actress for her role as Ginger McKenna along with an Academy Award nomination. Inspired by real people, the Casino story continues to mesmerize and thrill.

Casino Royale

Nothing brings to mind a casino setting more than a James Bond movie and Casino Royale is top of the list when it comes to 007 casino show-downs. This 2006 film sees the famous MI6 agent come face-to-face with terrorist financier and money launder Le Chiffre, played by the mercurial Mads Mikklesen, who Bond must bankrupt in a high-stakes poker game. Poker expert Thomas Sandbrook was on hand for filming and the scene is shot with meticulous accuracy and detail, so if you are looking for some No Limit Texas Hold’Em tips, this is the movie to watch. With all the excitement of a real-life poker game, Casino Royale really brings to the big screen the adrenalin rush of gambling in a lavish casino setting. The scene is the epitome of casino chic and Bond girl, Vesper Lynd, brings more than just money to the table, providing a rarely seen meaningful female love interest for Bond, which continues the Casino Royale story arc into Quantum of Solace.

The Hangover

Unlike the previous two films on the list, The Hangover doesn’t quite bring to mind the same level of casino sophistication and high rollers. Instead, the film focuses on a group of regular joes and what happens when a night of bachelor party casino fun goes awry. Outrageous, slap-stick and unapologetically crude, The Hangover is a great casino movie for those after the more hilarious side of Sin City. Featuring unexpected cameos, a missing groom, a bizarre baby subplot and even a tiger, this comedy became a star vehicle for the then relatively unknown Zach Galifianakis as well as one of the highest grossing film of its release year, 2009. The first of three films of the same name, The Hangover is the perfect gross-out comedy and has a plot that will keep you guessing.

Ocean’s Eleven

The original heist franchise began all the way back in 1960 before being revived in 2001 by director Steven Soderbergh. The 1960’s film cast the Rat Pack, synonymous with casinos and Las Vegas, in this high-speed caper about a group of friends trying to steal millions from an unsuspecting casino boss. George Clooney and Brad Pitt star in the remake and their natural onscreen chemistry helps to create a film that is both light hearted and technically sound, satisfying critics and fans alike. Since then, Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven followed up with two sequels, creating the Ocean’s Trilogy, and even brought an all-female ensemble cast together for the 2018 release, Ocean’s 8.

The Sting

Following on from their success in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting sees Paul Newman and Robert Redford bring their incomparable partnership to the screen once more as a pair of grifters looking to outsmart the Mob. Inspired by real-life con artists, Fred and Charley Gondorff, The Sting is as exciting today as its 1973 release. The title pays homage to that pivotal moment when a con cashes in and takes money from his unsuspecting target or mark. Although the plot may be a little complex for some, all the twists and turns give rise to plenty of jaw-dropping gambling moments with stakes staying high until the very last frame of the film.

Conclusion

Casinos have always been and will most likely be forever an exciting and popular element for movies. But actually, it is also the other way around, meaning that Casino-Software Developer more and more create games which are based on popular movies and/or franchises, just like for example Batman: The Dark Knight. This Casino-Slot has literally gone through the roof targeting the fans of the Batman-Franchise. If you want to know more about the Slot, you can read an in-depth review about the game on www.top10-casinosites.net.

As you can see, the movie- and the gambling-branch kind of synergize with each other. Hollywood knows to use the exciting and kind of mysterious atmosphere of Casinos for their movies, just as casino businesses target fans of movies with slot games which are much more interesting than the usual classic casino slots we all know, because of implementing movies.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: 5, casino, movies, time, top

“Cashing Out” Movie Review

Cashing Out
Starring: Tyler Mills, Michaela Lichvanova, Tremont Turner
Directed by: Alex Srednoselac
Running Time: 1 hr 58 mins
AWS Films

Alex Srednoselac is the man behind the newest movie about gambling. The director hopes to move away from all the tired casino clichés and show the world of gambling in a more raw or realistic way. Sresnoselac, who had worked at the Portage 16 movie theatres for almost a decade, shares a deep love for films and cinematography. Over the years, his desire to direct or shoot his own films has only got stronger. Having lived around films, and interacted with viewers on a daily basis, Sresnoselac managed to learn a fair bit… Despite never attending a film school or receiving any formal training.

Cashing Out follows the main character, Allen. Allen wants to play casino games with high stakes and work on his skills as a professional gambler. He pursues his love for gambling, but he finds himself tangled up in organized crime. During one of his high stake games, a group of robbers disrupts the game, stealing everyone’s cash. Later, the protagonist reveals that he was also involved in the robbery and actively helped to make it happen. The plot thickens. We follow Allen as he tries to disassociate himself from the messy crime scene, manage his love life and family affairs, all while keeping his “special relationship” with poker. The movie is relatable, exciting and feels fresh. It is rare to surprise or impress anyone with a gambling move… It has been a while since we saw anything this original, offering an interesting take or angle on gambling and casino-style games.

Besides the intriguing plotline, the main appeal of the story is that it takes gambling in a completely different direction. We are used to bland portrayals of casino games as tropes and set-ups for other more important storylines. Unfortunately, movies tend to show a completely one-sided view of what it is like to be a professional gambler. What sets this movie apart is the director himself, Alex Srednoselac. Srednoselac has been an avid poker player for as long as he can remember. The Portage 16 movie manager has a first-hand experience of what it is like to enjoy professional gambling. While the director is definitely the main hero of the story, the movie was only made possible thanks to the active involvement of the local community in Chicago, where he is based.

As we mentioned before, the director has been working in the theatre since 2007. All of his co-workers, as well as the local residents, were more than excited to help him out! The whole movie crew was made up of “just” 60 people. The budget was minimal. The Portage 16 also offered to screen Srednoselac’s movie in the theatre. This already is a “tradition” that the cinema follows every year, in order to help those young creators gain more exposure or wider recognition for their work. The years spent serving movie-goers have not gone to waste. In fact, they helped Srednoselac achieve his dream. The film is already in line for multiple awards and has attracted all-positive reviews on the leading movie ranking sites.

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Filed Under: Movies Tagged With: cashing, movie, review

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