The Libertarian: Video Game Edition (August 2025)

Main Cover by: AWilson

Banner by: ILove0LIVIA

Banner by: AWilson / Article by: q-Thunder-q

Into the Static: A Fragmented Memory

This is a fictional slice of a video game narrative half memory, half imagined campaign. It drops you into the middle of a broken world where exploration blurs into suspense, and the unknown waits just around the corner.

The fog had encapsulated the devastated city, and it had swallowed the neon lights that once pulsed with a heartbeat-like vigor. I glanced at my HUD again. Dead battery, low ammo, low everything, and yet I kept moving. Somewhere in this ghost city of sprawled highways and glassy skyscrapers was the signal

It had been quiet, a tiny wave of code in a sea of static, but I knew it was far from random, just like I knew the ache in a wound. Someone, or something, was calling me.

I inched through a ravaged subway, glass and ash crunched beneath my boot. Silence weighed, except for the intermittent rushing water through broken ceiling tiles, until I heard the sound distant, metallic, like an engine that had never been turned off. I moved towards it.

As I neared the control room, I hesitated. I now noticed a body turned sideways and leaning on a broken sided terminal. Not a human. Too shiny plating, too sharp eyes. My trigger finger quivered.

A whirring sound surprised my ears, then a voice erupted from the machine–booming, colossal, and empty: “You returned. Finally.”

And that was the moment my screen blasted blank white, and the game blacked out.

Having not moved from the couch in what felt like weeks, I left with that cliffhanger haunting my mind.

Graphic by: q-Thunder-q

Banner by: KoalaScoop / Article by: shannon3302

Gaming Experience – Interviews

Video Games have a fascinating history, starting with using nothing but an Oscilloscope in 1958 to play ‘Tennis for Two’ all the way up to modern games such as Minecraft, Call of Duty, or Overwatch. Some games even stand the test of time, for instance Mario has been on 9 generations of consoles! We have been speaking with members of the USDF to find out their favorite games, and why they are so enthralling.

We asked, what is your favorite game?
Our USD C Suave_ said ‘recently I have gotten back into League of Legends. I am a jungler and am really trying to play more. Other than that, it’s been a long time since I have sat down and had time to play Madden, NCAA, or 2K.’. League of legends (LoL) is a long standing and successful battle arena game with similarities to games like Smite. LoL is an intense game of strategy and teamwork that involves different classes working together to progress and dominate the other team’s strongholds. Madden, NCAA and 2K are all popular American football games with most interest in the United States. These are mostly reaction and strategy based games that can improve overall response times.

CWO5 Naoxsis said ‘Recently I have started REPO with a few people in USDF, I love the massive chaos but also teamwork we put through within the game’. It’s excellent to witness USDF bringing gaming connections outside of Habbo. REPO is a unique proximity microphone based game that brings your friends into a nightmare version of Among-us. This genre of game has been known to improve communication skills.

CW5 GHello answered ‘I’m a huge Hearts of Iron 4 fan. It’s like a geopolitical / grand strategy / map painting kinda game, though I’ve got to admit I mostly play mods.’ This is a game about light overcoming the darkness, a great sentiment for any soldier/sailors/Airman or marines heart. Using Mods (while you should be cautious of malware) is an excellent way to enhance most games!

When I spoke to LTJG AceTiger2018 her response was ‘Habbo, duh’ – Of course Habbo, is our collective favorite community based game – and what better topic than BranchWars2025. This was an eventful rollercoaster of exciting competitions, battles of wit and comradery. There were a variety of team games in 2025, including 4-way football, freeze and HQ wars. 4-way football provided an uncontrolled madness that left all branches laughing and aggressively strategizing in voice chat.

CCM Chocochipsss, said her favorite game was either ‘Minecraft’ or ‘SquadGame’. It gave an exhilarating experience as it is ‘basically a military simulation game where you shoot people’. SquadGame is a fast paced FPS like COD that keeps your reactions sharp! Minecraft is much more well known and had 204 million active players as of April 2025, this is a third person resource collection and survival game. Minecraft’s popularity has generated culture waves including music, movies, merchandise and so much more.

We asked #General chat what their favorite game was!
When we asked #General as a whole what their favorite games were, even more were brought to light. For varying reasons, the USDF cited Mario, Conkers (2d Lt FiskerN), Cod – Black ops on the Xbox360 (SgtMajMC Funkymotorjoe2), Pokemon, Hogwarts Legacy (CWO4 SSaturday), GTA, Little Big Planet 3 (MCPON HackSource549), Halo (WO1 Timmy.hi2). Community, competitiveness, skill gain and comedic discussions seem consistent reasons we all retain attention in these games.

We also asked – what keeps bringing you back to your favorite games?
Our USD C Suave_ replied, ‘what keeps you playing LoL? ‘No matter what I suck. It doesn’t matter how good I get, there is always room for improvement’. This is a good motivating attitude for more than just league, we should always strive to learn new skills and improve!

When asked what keeps CWO5 Naoxsis coming back to gaming she answered ‘I’m not sure if the game does it honestly, it’s more the people! Because I certainly am not a horror person’. This is another reason for a love of gaming – connections and community. REPO is a modern game centered around a team trying to loot valuables from a monster infested nightmare. This game stands out for its proximity voice chat, teamwork and the hilarities that ensue. This game has been very popular on the internet for turning everyday gamers into Oscar worthy voice actor’s.

CW5 Ghello said ‘Geopolitics is one of my biggest interests, and the strategical aspect of the game is something I enjoy. It requires you to think ahead, create strategies and overcome unexpected challenges. The game has many different nations to play- each different from another, and with different “story paths” to go down, which keeps it interesting.’ This is a cognitive point, and something I could relate to my own (LTJG Shannon3302) interests in Rimworld, Fallout New Vegas and Kenshi. Colony simulations, decision adaptive and war games can be very educational in terms of understanding geopolitical dynamics, consequences and learning strategy.

CCM Chocochipsss, responded ‘I love Minecraft because, I just love pixel games overall and I love that we can build anything in it’…’We can also set our own goals and create our own adventures in it’. She also mentioned ‘the building feature…it’s therapeutic for me. I love designing and building rooms (even on Habbo)’.

We asked – what is your favorite gaming fact?
Our USD C Suave_ brought a very interesting AI related fact to the conversation. Saying ‘When EA was creating NCAA 25 they had to use AI to get the most accurate likeness of over 11,000 scholarship players for the games’ release.26 August 2025.’ EA is a gaming company that has created iconic franchises including the Sims, NCAA, FIFA, Command & Conquer, and so much more – they turn over an estimated $7bn/annum. NCAA 25 is a fast paced, competitive game based around American college football – boasting 5 million players the week after its launch. AI and its use in games has been rapidly increasing recently, some even going as far to use generative AI to create content i.e. Private Detective and Origins (most recently).

CCM Chocochipsss, said that her favorite gaming fact is that in Minecraft with mod assistance ‘you can craft a backpack that makes you immune to fire?!!!!!’. This specifically refers to the ‘Backpacked’ mod, and reminds us that if we get bored of our favorite games – the fan community has mod enhancements. It is always important to use firewalls and virus scanners when downloading mods, use caution and logic!

Overall we play for escapism, skill-gain, community connection and general fun. Gamification is an important step in educating the next generation, but also a vital break from the monotony of daily society. Keep building your skills and enjoying your free time – USDF members can go far with the skills we learn. Keep levelling up players!

Banner by: q-Thunder-q / Article by: 9Ten

Video Game Trivia

Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned gamer, here’s your chance to test your knowledge. No cheat codes allowed! Let’s see how many you can get right!

 1. What is the name of the princess that Mario usually saves?

 2.  Which map in Modern Warfare 2 is set at an airport terminal and became one of the most iconic maps in Call of Duty history?

 3. What is the highest-selling video game of all time?

 4. Which Pokémon is known as the franchise’s official mascot?

 5. In The Legend of Zelda series, what is the main character’s name (not Zelda)?

 6. What year was the very first PlayStation released in North America?

 7. In Fortnite, what material provides the most structural strength when building?

 8. Which video game popularized the phrase, “The cake is a lie”?

 9. Who is the main antagonist in Final Fantasy VII?

 10. What color are Sonic the Hedgehog’s shoes?

Banner by: q-Thunder-q / Article by: Kimkim25

Level Up Your Comfort: Gaming Ergonomics

What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science of fitting workspaces, tools, and tasks to the person. In practice, it means arranging your chair, desk, monitor, keyboard, and mouse to support a neutral posture, minimize strain, and reduce injury risk, improving both comfort and safety.
In gaming, good ergonomics matters. Monitor height and distance, chair height and back angle, and keyboard/mouse placement all shape your posture and can raise or lower the risk of issues like repetitive-strain injuries, neck or back pain, and other musculoskeletal problems. You don’t want to be twisted up like a pretzel or hear your joints audibly scream. Done well, a gaming setup keeps you comfortable longer and supports better performance.

Risk Factors
Poor posture can derail your gaming. Slouching and awkward joint angles load the neck and lower back and can even slow digestion. A poorly arranged setup misaligns joints, reduces movement efficiency, and can slow reaction speed. Gaming also involves thousands of repeated keystrokes and mouse clicks; if your wrist stays bent or you skip breaks during long sessions, you raise the risk of repetitive-strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome which is compression of the median nerve at the wrist that causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.

How to Optimize Your Setup
Reorganizing your setup can greatly reduce the risk of pain and injury. No more straining your neck to get that 360 no scope. Small adjustments make a big difference in posture, comfort, and long-term health. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Chair & Armrests – Choose a chair with adjustable armrests to keep your wrists aligned and reduce pressure on your forearms.

2. Monitor Placement – Position your monitor so the top of the screen is at eye level, preventing neck strain from looking up or down.

3. Viewing Distance & Lighting –  Keep your monitor about an arm’s length away, and use adjustable lighting to minimize glare and reduce eye strain.

Incorporate Breaks & Stretches
Even with a good setup, sitting still for hours can cause stiffness. Taking short breaks from dunking on your teammates and adding simple stretches can help:

1. Neck Stretch – Gently tilt your head side to side, holding each stretch for 15-20 seconds, so when you eliminate player 9, you don’t hear popcorn sounds in your neck.

2. Overhead Reach – Extend both arms above your head and reach upward to lengthen your spine, to get you closer to the tower you’ve been trying to climb for the last 3 hours.

3. Shoulder Pinch – Pull your shoulder blades back and hold for a few seconds, like your gearing up to fight that boss for the 32nd time.

Overview graphic by: AviorSonic

Fan Art Showcase Competition

1st Place (100c): :Naz
Art Piece: League of Legends – After Hours Spirit Blossom Springs Ahri

2nd Place (50c): KeiKano
Art Piece: Genshin Impact – Wanderer