As we reflect on the journey of Bayside Gamers throughout 2024, it’s clear that this year has been one of progress, growth, and continued passion for gaming. From welcoming new members to hosting a variety of events, the community has become a stronger, more connected space for everyone who shares a love for gaming.

A Year of Growth and Expansion

One of the most notable aspects of 2024 was the steady growth of our community. While the focus hasn’t been on rapid expansion, the addition of new members has enriched our group. These newcomers brought their own experiences, skills, and interests, and we've seen a great mix of casual players and competitive gamers come together to enjoy the shared experience of gaming. The year also saw an increase in engagement across our platforms, especially on Discord. It’s been fantastic to see how members are using the server to share their gaming experiences, discuss new titles, and even organize informal events. This interaction has made Bayside Gamers a more vibrant community, where members can easily connect and contribute.

New Initiatives and Events

2024 was a year where we put more emphasis on creating events that bring the community together. While the scope was smaller compared to major competitive leagues, we successfully hosted a few internal tournaments and casual game nights. These events were less about competition and more about creating a fun, laid-back atmosphere where everyone could enjoy themselves, whether they were playing, spectating, or chatting. Alongside these casual events, there was a notable effort to keep members involved in ongoing discussions about new games and gaming trends. This helped keep the community active and responsive to the latest gaming news, allowing everyone to share their thoughts and experiences with each new release.

Welcoming New Members

BaysideGamers’ growth in 2024 wasn't just in numbers but in the diversity of members. We were pleased to see new faces joining our ranks throughout the year, from long-time gamers to those just starting their journey into the world of gaming. Each new member has contributed in their way, whether through hosting events, sharing tips, or simply joining in on conversations. What stands out the most is how seamlessly new members have integrated into the group. The welcoming and supportive nature of the community has ensured that everyone, regardless of experience level, feels at home. This year has truly highlighted the importance of inclusivity within our group, as we've seen a mix of people from different gaming backgrounds and interests coming together.

Looking Ahead

As we move toward the future, there’s a sense of anticipation for what 2025 will bring. While 2024 was more about maintaining and nurturing the community, we are excited to explore new ways to enhance the experience for our members. This could involve more organized events, collaborations with other gaming communities, and continuing to build a place where everyone can feel comfortable and engaged.

There is a lot to look forward to, and we're hopeful that with continued effort and dedication, Bayside Gamers will continue to be a space where gaming enthusiasts can connect, grow, and, most importantly, have fun.

Thanks to everyone who has been part of the journey so far. We look forward to growing together in 2025!

The year 2024 has been a rollercoaster for the video game industry, showcasing a mix of highly successful titles and unexpected flops. As the gaming community reflects on the year’s releases, several standout games have captivated the hearts of fans and critics alike, while others have struggled to make an impact.

2024 Hits
One of the year’s biggest success stories is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the eagerly awaited continuation of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy. Building on the success of its predecessor, Rebirth has garnered widespread acclaim for its breathtaking visuals, enhanced combat system, and emotionally charged narrative. The game has managed to strike a perfect balance between honouring the original and introducing fresh elements, making it a must-play for both veterans of the series and newcomers.

Another standout success in 2024 is Hades 2, the sequel to the beloved rogue-like from Supergiant Games. Hades 2 has expanded on the formula that made the original such a hit, offering new characters, deeper gameplay mechanics, and an engaging story. Its addictive gameplay loop, combined with rich character development and stunning art direction, has cemented Hades 2 as one of the most talked-about games of the year.

Released in March 2024, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, a major expansion for the critically acclaimed Elden Ring, was another huge hit in the first half of the year. This expansion brought new life to the game with a vast, mysterious new area, challenging bosses, and expanded lore that deepened the overall narrative. Fans and critics praised the expansion for maintaining the high standards set by the original game, with many considering it a must-play addition for anyone who enjoyed Elden Ring. This successful expansion has kept Elden Ring in the spotlight throughout 2024, ensuring its place as one of the year’s most celebrated titles.

2024 Flops
Not all 2024 releases met expectations. Echoes of the Multiverse, a highly anticipated action-adventure game released in the first half of 2024, was one of the year’s biggest critical failures. Despite an intriguing premise that promised a complex narrative across multiple dimensions, the game was plagued by poor execution. Critics pointed to its disjointed storyline, repetitive gameplay, and numerous technical issues that severely hampered the experience. The game’s ambitious scope was ultimately its downfall, as it failed to deliver on its potential, leading to disappointing reviews and poor sales.

Another game that struggled to make an impact is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, released in early 2024 from Rocksteady Studios. Launched amid concerns with no reviews codes even distributed to press outlets, the game was met with harsh criticisms and immediate disdain from critics and gamers alike. The game is a generic by-the-numbers feeling game with unimaginative combat and lacklustre characters. The feel overall does not drive gamers to want to play the game and the narrative lacks any compelling reason to push forward. Warner Brothers even mentioned the game as the reason their financials were so lacklustre due to the impact the game had on the company due to lack of sales.

Looking Ahead to 2025
As 2024 draws to a close, anticipation is building for the major releases scheduled for 2025. One of the most eagerly awaited games is GTA 6, expected to launch in the fall of 2025. The hype surrounding Rockstar’s next open-world epic is immense, with fans eagerly anticipating what is expected to be a groundbreaking entry in the series. 

Another highly anticipated release is Civilization 7, which is set to arrive in February 2025. The latest instalment in the legendary strategy series promises to introduce innovative mechanics and expansive world-building features, making it a potential game-changer for the genre.

Avowed, an RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, is also generating significant buzz ahead of its February 2025 release. Known for their narrative-driven games, Obsidian’s latest project is expected to deliver a richly detailed world and complex character interactions, making it a must-play for RPG fans.
 

With such a strong lineup of games on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for gamers, building on the successes and lessons learned from 2024.

Librarians call for a national audit after inventory count of Suffolk libraries reveals 10,000 books are missing, despite computer records saying otherwise

The decline in books stocked by public libraries may be far worse than official figures indicate, with industry sources claiming that it may be many millions higher than the 25 million books recorded as missing, meaning that the number of books available to borrowers has plummeted by more than 50% since 1996.

Librarians are calling for a national audit to reveal the true extent of the problem, with the news coming as the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Cilip) sent an open letter to chancellor Philip Hammond calling on him to increase funding for the sector, to protect it from irreparable decline as part of his strategy for economic growth.

Official figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) for library books stood at 52.3 million at the end of 2016, a drop of almost 25 million since 1996. But that number reflects computer records rather than physical stock checks made by librarians. Earlier this week, it emerged that libraries in Suffolk had 10,000 fewer books than listed on its database after an inventory count by librarians. Insiders said similar disparities were likely to be reflected across the 151 library authorities in England and Wales because cutbacks had reduced librarians’ ability to do shelf counts.

Library campaigner and former head of Waterstones Tim Coates said: “It’s not just Suffolk that has this problem. This is a national issue, because librarians are not doing enough stock checks because cuts mean they can’t do their job properly.” He added that throughout the book industry, it was acknowledged that inventory reviews always revealed there to be fewer books in store than databases suggested.

Cilip chief executive officer Nick Poole agreed with Coates, and said that six years of austerity had left librarians unable to keep track of their book collections as well as in the past. “We need a national audit of what’s in our libraries,” he said. “Because we have had to pursue lots of other activities, we have taken our eye off the ball with books and they are absolutely at the core of what we do and why people use libraries.”

Poole blamed the problem on swingeing cuts to budgets as a result of austerity measures imposed on local authorities by central government over the past six years. Cutbacks have resulted £25m being slashed from library budgets in just the past year. Since 2010, 8,000 librarians have been made redundant across England and Wales – a quarter of the workforce – while the number of libraries has fallen by 340 since 2008.

The level of books stocked by individual libraries has also fallen dramatically. In 1996, the average library stocked 23,000 books, Coates said. “Since then we have removed the equivalent of 1,000 public libraries worth of books and the picture may be much worse once audited,” he added.

Stock is lost through damage, loss and theft. In the past, books would be automatically replaced, but there is less money available in budgets to buy replacements. In Birmingham, savings of £113m imposed on the city council led to book budgets being suspended across its 38 libraries in 2015. Some branches appealed to the public to donate books less than a year old in order to maintain their collections.

The head of one library authority told the Guardian they were confident that Suffolk’s missing stock levels were typical, but there was little money to fill holes. “Most stock budgets have gone down on the premise that we can buy more ebooks, but the money is spread thinner because we have to buy electronic copies on top of the paper copy of each title, so we can’t buy the multiple paper copies of books that we used to,” she said.

Book budgets have been first in line for cuts because they were less visible to the public, she added. “People can see when hours are reduced or libraries closed, but stock budgets are not so obvious, so they are easier to cut.” Books not being replaced were most often children’s books, she said, and self-help books, a genre most likely to be stolen from her library.

Council leaders laid the blame for the destruction of book stock firmly with central government. Ian Stephens, chair of the Local Government Association’s culture, tourism and sport board, said local authorities were doing everything they could to support libraries, but were “stuck between a rock and a hard place”. “On the one hand, demand for social care will create a funding gap of £2.6bn by 2020. On the other, councils have experienced a 40% reduction in central government funding over the last parliament alone, and serious funding pressures continue,” he told the Guardian.

In his letter shown to the Guardian, Cilip’s Nick Poole called on the chancellor of the exchequer to ring fence library budgets in order to protect them from cash strapped councils trying to shore up frontline services. It also called for investment by central government in the sector in recognition of role libraries play in promoting knowledge, information and data, which, he said, were vital for the economic future of the country.

Describing investment in the library and information sector as a “low-cost, high-impact” way to deliver the government’s goals of creating strong growth while maintaining low taxes, Poole wrote: “As a nation, at exactly the moment when we ought to be investing in literacy and skills, we have allowed at least 10% of our public libraries and many of our much-needed school libraries to close while many others have been forced to implement drastic reductions to opening hours and services.”

Hammond had an opportunity to kick-start Britain’s knowledge economy by being the first UK chancellor to truly invest in our world-class library and information sector, Poole added. He warned: “If you don’t take this opportunity, there is a real risk that your government’s aspirations for a global Britain will be built on thin air.”

The Libraries Taskforce, a government-appointed body, outlined a national strategy to tackle problems faced by libraries in December 2016. A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said ebook and e-magazine stock across the country had increased by more than 50% in the last year and added: “The Libraries Taskforce is committed to working with councils to improve procurement processes.”