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👋 We’re back with your regularly scheduled Genius Guide, which will now be in your inbox every two weeks.

In this issue we have an online gaming safety guide for parents as school is out 🏖️ and gaming is in 🎮️ . In Screen Studies, we’re breaking down the hottest game right now🔥, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. From the Coach’s Corner mailbag, we’re sharing the typical day for an esports athlete. And ICYMI, the Steam Summer Sale arrives today, prepare to save (and spend 💸 ) on games 🤑 .

Plus, check out our newly launched referral program at the end of the email. Share this with friends & family to earn some free merch 👕 , a gift card 💳️ , or even an Evil Geniuses jersey 😈 !

It’s a good one this week!

All Fun and Games: An Online Gaming Safety Guide for Parents

Times have changed.

Video games have evolved beyond the solo adventures and couch co-ops of titles like Ocarina of Time and Goldeneye. The kids and young teens of today - your children and their friends - their video games are primarily online, engaging in games like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox. If you’re not familiar with gaming, the time your child spends in these virtual worlds might seem concerning.

However, it’s more than just play; newer generations use these online experiences to form communities, bond with each other, and express themselves creatively. They’re making things in Minecraft and Roblox, sharing those things with their friends, and getting a sense of fulfillment from the enjoyment they're sharing. They’re cultivating competitive spirit and skills in Fortnite and Fall Guys. And they’re doing all of this from the safety of your home. What’s not to love?

As parents, we just want what’s best for our kids. That’s why we have put together this online gaming safety guide not for the kids (because they definitely wouldn’t read it), but for the parents out there who want peace of mind while their kids explore virtual worlds with their friends. 

The guide will cover some of the most popular online games today and their various platforms, as well as what your options are when it comes to making those experiences safe.

ICYMI

• THE STEAM SUMMER SALE IS HERE 🤑 - Promising deep discounts on some of the biggest games. It starts today (6/27) at 10am PT and goes until July 11.

  • The Steam Deck, which we reviewed as one of our best items for gaming on the go this summer, is on sale for 15% off - the lowest price it’s ever been!!

• Prime Day Games - Free for Prime Members through July 11th are hits like Call of Juarez, Hitman Absolution, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, & Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 🤘 

• Video game habit fuels 16 year old’s passion for coding and AI, wins $55K at a Science Fair 🤯 

• For those with elementary schoolers, have them learn about money and saving with these games from PBS Kids

• Streamer Kai Cenat beats Shadow of the Erdtree after 1K+ deaths and a 99 hour marathon stream that included a live therapy session (we said the game is hard)

• One of the biggest gaming streamers admits to sexting a minor - Dr Disrespect loses sponsors and is removed from some of his business ventures

SCREEN STUDIES

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion for Elden Ring, one of the most acclaimed games of 2022. Elden Ring was directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki with worldbuilding & lore provided by fantasy author George R. R. Martin.

Deemed an action RPG, this game is usually called a “Souls-like”. A subgenre known for high levels of difficulty and emphasis on environmental storytelling, typically in an epic, dark fantasy world named after the Dark Souls game series. These games have core concepts of repeated character death driving player knowledge and mastery of the game world along with a sparsity of save points.

The battles can be brutal, but extremely fulfilling when you defeat a boss.

The Basics:

Released: June 21st, 2024

Platforms: PS4 / PS5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S / PC

Pricing: Standard Edition - $39.99 / Base + Expansion Edition - $79.99 / Physical Collector's Edition - $249.99

As this is an expansion, the base game of Elden Ring is required in order to play Shadow of the Erdtree.

Whether you’re watching your favorite streamer or family member play, or you’ve been thinking about trying it out, here’s what you’ll be seeing on screen:

1. The blank square is for when you take on powers granted by defeating major bosses. You activate the power, or Great Rune, and it appears there. The squares to the right are the buffs/character effects currently active

2. Your key info bars: red = health, blue = mana, green = stamina

   1. Once your health bar is empty you are dead, but you can use health potions to replenish it 💓 

   2. Mana (called Focus Points or FP) is used for some abilities, special moves, and spells ✨ 

   3. Stamina is the most important to manage: Every move matters and “Spamming” (pressing buttons over and over) = death. Stamina allows you to sprint, jump, dodge, roll, block, and even swing your weapon. 💦 

3. An enemy - in this case, the big bad is an Ancient Dragon 🐲 

4. This is a ghost of another player, it shows you how other players have died to the boss 👻 

5. YOU - the hero! You’re on your mount in this screenshot.

6. This “ghostly” symbol means you can summon help, basically a ghost form of one of the enemies in the game, but you need to find something called spirit ashes to do so.

7. The weapon special move assigned to the current weapon, using it drains mana. The name changes based on your weapon

8. Name and health bar of the boss/enemy

9. Your items. The left and right slots are for weapons/shields/other equipment. The top slot is for spells while the bottom slot is for consumables

10. Your currency (called runes). You can use it either increase stats (which levels you up) or buy items. You lose it on death and can pick it back up by going to where you died, but if you die before getting it, it's gone forever

COACH’S CORNER 

Susan F. from Dallas, TX asks, “What does the typical day look like for a pro esports player? Are they really at their computer all day?”

During a typical practice day, professional esports players do spend a significant portion of their day at their computers, given that practice, strategy sessions, and film reviews are core components of their daily activities. One unique aspect of esports players is that many of them also play the game outside of team practice to further work on their individual skill, for fun, or to build their brand while streaming on Twitch. This is in stark contrast to traditional sports where it's unlikely that a professional player would play multiple pick-up games after a full day of team practice.

Their overall schedules, however, are structured to include various elements that balance intense gaming with physical, mental, and personal well-being. Here’s a more detailed look at what a typical day involves:

Morning (~9am-Noon)

• Physical Activity 🏋️ : Some players start their day with physical exercise to maintain their physical fitness, which is crucial for endurance during long gaming sessions.

• Breakfast 🍳 : A nutritious breakfast is common to fuel the day’s activities, especially as most eat a later lunch during a mid-day break.

• “Server Time” (Strategy / Review Sessions): Team practice usually begins with a dedicated session for non-playing activities such as tactical discussions, game analysis, and team meetings. This might involve reviewing footage of past games or discussing upcoming opponents, and generally sets up both team and individual goals for drills and/or scrimmages for the day.

Afternoon and Early Evening (Noon-6pm)

• Drills/Scrimmages 📆 : The bulk of the afternoon and early evening is dedicated to practice, which includes scrimmage blocks against other professional teams (called ‘scrims’, this is just playing full matches against another team) and internal drill teams (think practicing set plays or situations like Red Zone offense in football).

• Breaks 🏓 : One long and one short break is common during this period to mitigate fatigue and to re-energize. These often involve relaxing, stretching, playing ping pong with each other, and eating protein-rich and low carb meals.

  

  Ping Pong at the facility

Evening (6pm+)

• Physical Activity 🏋️ : Some players also prefer to get their daily exercise in after practice ends

• Dinner and Downtime 🛋️ : Players have dinner and might engage in some leisure activities away from the screen. This helps them relax and maintain a social life, whether online or offline.

• Individual Practice / Streaming: Our players also build their brand and get in additional individual practice via pick-up games (often with other professional peers) while streaming to their fans at least a few evenings per week. Other nights, they might engage in activities that help them unwind, such as hanging out with their partners, pets, watching shows, or playing other games.

• Sleep 😴 : Adequate sleep is a priority, and players typically ensure they get enough rest to support high performance.

Send your hot takes, burning questions, or random asks to [email protected]. We’ll answer the best ones in upcoming newsletters.

LEARN THE LINGO

buff: (Verb) - Synonyms: boost, enhance, upgrade

nerf: (Verb) - Synonyms: debuff, weaken, downgrade

OP: (Adjective) - Synonyms: Overpowered, broken, godlike, ‘imba’(lanced)

LOAD OUT

As a gamer, there’s no better time than the summer. I remember the days of being so excited to not have school and being able to game all day. This is also an amazing time because of the massive sales leading into the July 4th holiday. Steam has the most prominent, but use the other sites I shared as well, because many also have their own sales. As an adult, I now have the disposable income but not the time I once did, so I definitely own more games than I can ever play 😅 .

With my own kids, managing screentime and online safety has been top of mind. I love the guide that Mike put together and its one of those areas you hear so much about but sometimes are unsure of where to start. I have used the Amazon parental controls on the Fire Tablet I mentioned in a previous email and I found them very easy to use.

GLHF,

Chris

[email protected]

What I’m playing right now: