Satisfying Every Lasallian’s Hunger for Experience

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Annual Recruitment Week (ARW) is an annual week-long event that is usually held on the third week of the first trimester at the Henry Sy Senior Grounds. Various organizations of De La Salle University (DLSU) are given the opportunity to recruit new members, as well as to renew the membership of their previous members. This serves as a platform for the different academic and special interest organizations to present what they have to offer, so that their future members are aware of the many opportunities that they can experience inside the organization. Every year, ARW also follows a certain theme. In line with this year’s theme, which is “Cuisines Around the World”, ARW highlights that every Lasallian is hungry for experience.

One should test the waters first before dipping into it; joining organizations that do not match one’s interests is just a waste of more time as well as resources, provided that there are interviews, applications, and/or fees as requirements for membership. Hence, ARW will give an opportunity for Lasallians to discover the best organizations which would best fit their interests whilst honing their skills and immersing them to non-academic endeavors with lesser resources as possible. Though it is only optional for students to join organizations, being part of one would yield various benefits — being a member of an organization would help a student maximize his/her stay in De La Salle University-Manila by having a well-rounded lifestyle. Organizations can serve as a bridge in establishing new friends, broadening one’s capabilities, and widening one’s horizons so that he/she is not just competent in academics but also in extracurriculars. While, the edge of being in a course-related organization is that the student may receive announcements from the department where his/her degree belongs to or reviewers related to one’s course. Meanwhile, not joining organizations might lessen one’s competence along with peers and one would only have a limited set of knowledge which is deeply-rooted in academics alone.

To further encourage students to join organizations and participate in ARW, there are games that students can play to win amazing prizes. Sponsors are also invited to add to the excitement through giveaways, drinks and snacks. This adds to the reasons that explain why ARW is one of the much-awaited events among Lasallians at the start of a new academic year, especially among the freshmen, or “frosh”, as they are called in DLSU. For every student, it is guaranteed that at least one organization can give them the experience they’re searching for. For this reason, ARW invites students to find organizations that suit their interests and become a part of their journey throughout college life.

Written by Honey Pearl Fernandez, Laureen Laguio, and Selena Grace Vicerra

How Is Twitch Transforming Gaming

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It's no surprise that the content sharing platform, Twitch has become a big part of video gaming. With millions of eSports lovers streaming almost every day, Twitch has made some significant contributions when it comes to the growth of the viewership of eSports and online gaming.

Before we dive into the ways Twitch has transformed gaming, let's look at Twitch's history. Twitch was initially the gaming section of a larger livestreaming website, which broadcast live videos in realtime to users across the globe. This platform's utility coincided with the rise of traditional and new types of online multimedia games. In turn, this led to the streaming platform gaining millions of new viewers and streamers, and becoming the premier online community for fans of video games. In 2014, Amazon recognized Twitch's potential and acquired the platform for a whopping $970 million (USD).

But how does the platform work? Any individual can sign up and broadcast themselves playing video games in realtime to the avid community of viewers looking to watch live gaming. Viewers can also interact with the streamer in realtime by using the chatbar. The platform monetizes this massive user base with both subscription models and external advertising, and its network of "paid" streamers need to have an average concurrent viewership of 500+ and broadcast regularly at least 3 times a week to qualify.

With 15 million daily active users who watch video game streaming each day, let's take a deeper look at Twitch's influence on video gaming and eSports.


Regular gamers to internet celebrities

We are living in the age of social media influencers and internet celebrities. When it comes to the world of gaming, Twitch has enabled regular gamers to achieve international fame and stardom. These superstar gamers do much more than just play games skillfully; the top Twitch streamers also provide a social commentary and other engaging content that keeps the gaming community entertained. Similar is the case with overwatch boost / overwatch boosting in the gaming world.

As a platform, Twitch has supported many streamers as they turn their video gaming passions into revenue-generating careers. Some streamers have reportedly earned up to fifty thousand dollars an hour from promoting a specific publisher's games, and the global online community is full of loyal fans who will happily make donations to their favourite players.


Sharing techniques and strategy

Long gone are the days when there was only one way to successfully play and complete a video game. As games have become more interactive and immersive, so too have the possibilities for multiple playthroughs with alternative outcomes. Therefore, many viewers stream to share alternative gaming styles, delivering tips and tricks to uncover hidden bonuses and easer eggs, along with improving their overall gaming strategy.

The formula for running a successful Twitch channel is simple: either broadcast yourself as the best in your field (a professional online gamer) and share elements of your strategy, or share your personal journey as you learn a game and its rules. Naturally, this can be applied to all manner of games played online and has consequently led to a significant change in the experience of playing traditional strategy games, like poker. Twitch has made gaming more serious and concise. Gaming is more professional than ever and playing video games has become a genuine sport that requires skill and strategy.

A Hub for eSports

Twitch is truly a YouTube meets ESPN platform for video game streaming. Twitch has been largely attributed to the success of eSports going mainstream. With it's huge platform of both gamers and audience members, Twitch has enabled the execution of many eSports gaming tournaments including ESL, The International, and the League of Legends World Championship.

These tournaments now draw in millions of viewers, offering professional teams a change to establish a presence and promote themselves. Moreover, the overall prize pool per tournament series can easily go up to thirty million dollars. Twitch has opened up a brand new space for eSports that is attractive to third party advertisers and brands, who are ready to jump into this social gaming platform.


Twitch and physical sports

The “always on” nature of the internet and the sheer volume of Twitch livestreams of physical games and sports, like baseball, is also hugely influencing the way that fans interact with them. In this digital era, fans don't need to watch television broadcasts, listen to radio updates or even find screenings of upcoming games; they can simply turn in to their favourite livestreamer and watch things unfold play by play online. Naturally, this has also created a demand for things like up to the minute odds online, which is becoming a necessity for fans who like to place wagers on their favourite players and teams.


Introduction of new (and better) games

Another way in which Twitch is transforming the gaming industry is by acting as a launchpad for new games, especially indie titles that can often be overlooked. It's also become a sort of digital archive that enables users to discover games new to them, whether they are new releases or not - interest has surged in a number of older games as a consequence of them being played by high profile streamers.

Since Twitch is also a social media network, it's a place for users to discuss many aspects of video gaming and can provide game developers with insights into their needs and requirement, leading to the development of better games. Twitch helps gamers make better choices - watching a professional streamer play and review a game helps other gamers make informed purchases.


Gaming as a Social Activity

Up until recently, gaming was considered a solo activity. With the introduction of multi-player gaming and a social gaming platform in the form of Twitch, gaming has become much more of a social activity, where like-minded people build friendships and collaborate on a regular basis. Just like the community that builds up around physical sports, there are strong social connections being formed around a shared love of video games and eSports.

In the past few years, Twitch has revolutionized gaming, helping countless gamers turn professional and even giving them the platform to develop into gaming superstars. Twitch's success in setting up a massive gaming community that enjoys live tournaments is nothing short of historical, and its impact on the development of the video gaming industry as a whole - and the new public perception of gaming as a positive activity - is quite evident.


Photo captions:

Photo 1: A professional video gamer in action
https://live.staticflickr.com/1825/29447967578_2d330c6a34_z.jpg

Photo by Lyncconf Games / CC BY-SA 2.0


Photo 2: League of Legends players at Meltdown Paris
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Meltdown_Paris_Competition_League_of_Legends.jpg/800px-Meltdown_Paris_Competition_League_of_Legends.jpg
Photo by Clement Grandjean / CC BY-SA 4.0

Celebrity Winemaker Justin Baldwin to Lead 12 Night Taste of Tuscany Wine Voyage on the “World’s Most Luxurious Cruise Ship” this October

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Created for wine connoisseurs, Seven Seas Explorer’s 12-night Taste of Tuscany, sailing from Barcelona to Venice (7-19 October 2019) will be hosted by multi-award winning wine expert Justin Baldwin. The voyage aboard the ‘world’s most luxurious cruise ship” will feature hosted dinners, wine tastings and many wine-themed shore excursions, carefully curated in consultation with the award-winning wine expert.

Justin Baldwin is a renowned wine expert and the founder of JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery – well known for its production of world-class Bordeaux-style blends, and one of the earliest producers of that style in the New World. He has received acclaim and recognition in the form of awards such as the coveted Pichon Lalande trophy for “World’s Best Blended Red Wine” and Wine Spectator’s Top 10 Wines of the World.

The 12 night Taste of Tuscany tour is one of Regent Seven Seas Cruise Spotlight Voyages, a series of specialist journeys hosted by international experts.

“Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ ethos and our Spotlight Voyages elevate the customer experience even further by providing exclusive access to renowned experts and activities,” said Felix Chan, Vice President of Sales Asia at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “This October, we are extremely pleased to have world-famous wine expert, Justin Baldwin join us onboard Seven Seas Explorer for a memorable time with our wine-loving guests.”

Apart from specialty wine tastings, meet-and-greet sessions with Justin and hosted dinners onboard Seven Seas Explorer, guests can also enjoy specially curated shore excursions that explore the region’s endless array of delectable cuisine and legendary wines on this special voyage.

Stopping by Tuscany, an Italian region that produces some of the best wines of the world, guests are able to embark on a Bocelli countryside escape by exploring medieval Volterra, browsing Andrea Bocelli’s theater and museum, sampling wines at the Officine Bocelli restaurant and visiting Pisa’s glorious Square of Miracles. With the rare opportunity to tour the vineyards on the farm that the Bocellis have owned since 1730, guests will also be treated to a three-course lunch, complete with a round of wine tasting in which they will sample a selection of characteristic wines including a lush Sangiovese and crisp, complex Pinot Grigio.

At Palma de Mallorca in Spain, guests will be driven through town to a family-owned vineyard, Tianna Negre for a tasting of wines made from indigenous Mallorcan grapes. During brunch, guests will be served a namesake Tianna Negre red blend made from Manto Negro and Syrah grapes, a Tianna Blanc with notes of ripe fruit from Giró Ros grapes, and a pink rosé with hints of grapefruit. Fresh-baked bread and extra virgin olive oil made from the estate’s olives will complement the wines. Following this eye-opening introduction, guests will then head for Gastroteca Mauricio to sample an array of representative Mallorcan foods where a selection of indigenous wines and liqueurs will also be served.

Cruising through the picturesque Mediterranean coastlines of Spain, France and Italy, Seven Seas Explorer brings travelers on an unforgettable trip with state-in-the-art teaching kitchens, classes teaching authentic local recipes coupled with onshore activities where guests can explore local markets, sip wine at renowned vineyards or savor a gourmet meal prepared by a Michelin-starred chef.