FromSoftware’s latest masterpiece, Elden Ring has taken the gaming world by storm since its release in February 2022, having peaked at 953 thousand concurrent players. https://espritfc.com/ This action role-playing game, set in a vast and beautiful open world, engaged players with its challenging combat, deep lore, and unparalleled exploration, with many players claiming that “walking around feels amazing!”
Like Cyberpunk 2077, this game featured an awkward launch with unstable servers – but still managed to gather over 264,000 players over its first weekend. And, with a robust development roadmap for the next 4 expansions, Last Epoch’s future is promising.
But what’s the secret behind their overwhelming success? What makes them reach so many players and keep them interested for months or even years? Well, for one, a solid understanding of game design principles and the ability to implement them is a must, and so is choosing the most suitable art style for your game.
It is amazing to consider two of the greatest Game 1s in World Series history both happened in Dodger Stadium with MVPs (Gibson won his in 1988, though Freeman’s was back in 2020) hitting hobbled home runs.
If this wasn’t the greatest Game 1 in World Series, perhaps it was another hobbled player right here in Dodger Stadium hitting a walk-off homer. Yep, this one definitely felt at least a little reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s legendary game-winning home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series for the Dodgers against the A’s.
In 2017, the kick off to the Houston Astros-Dodgers series, which would become a scandalous black-eye for the Astros following a sign-stealing and cheating scandal, brought in 15.3 million viewers, per Fox.
That’s basically what MLB was envisioning when the Dodgers clinched their trip to face the Yankees in the World Series. The league couldn’t ask for much better than its premier AL team, featuring presumptive AL MVP Aaron Judge, and its premier NL team, featuring presumptive NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, facing off in a battle of its two biggest markets.
Then Freeman hit his first home run since Sept. 16. He didn’t even have an extra-base hit in the playoffs before his “triple” (it should’ve been a double and an error on Verdugo) in the first inning in this one. With that injured ankle, he loses some power from his swing. It just didn’t seem realistic to imagine he’d be able to park one.
Friday’s game was the most-watched Game 1 since Los Angeles’ 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in 2017 averaged 15.33 million. It also was the most-viewed Friday broadcast on Fox since Game 3 in 2017 (15.68 million).
New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo tosses his bat after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in Game 3 of the baseball World Series, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Big D M.: As a neutral, The difference between these teams isn’t the stars. They both have plenty of those. Rather, the Dodgers have real ballplayers at the bottom of the the order and the bottom of the roster. The Yankees are thin behind the big guys.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith celebrates after tagging New York Yankees’ out at home during the fourth inning in Game 3 of the baseball World Series, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
From there, Los Angeles’ bullpen and the team’s defense handled its business. Some diving plays and an outfield assist kept the Yankees scoreless into the late innings, and they couldn’t get their bats going as the Dodgers added some necessary insurance.
9:31 p.m. — The Dodgers’ offense is alive once again. Leiter Jr. remains in the game for New York, and Lux leads off the top of the fourth with a walk. Kike Hernandez follows with a single into right field, putting runners on the corners.