Maximilian Padilla-Rodriguez-Contributor

Maximilian Padilla-Rodriguez

Contributor

Contributor Since July, 2024
Expertise
Retro Gaming, Hardware, Windows
  • 121
    articles
  • 77
    Features
  • 21
    Lists
  • 22
    Guides
How-To Geek logo Profile

About Maximilian Padilla-Rodriguez

Born and raised in Florida, Max is a longtime writer with experience covering topics ranging from obscure history, niche media, and (of course) tech advice. Currently, he is a contributing writer for How-To Geek, where he specializes Windows software and retro gaming hardware.

Max previously contributed to Study Breaks Magazine and CBR, where he wrote articles on both education and entertainment, though his favorite subjects have always involved gaming and computers.

He’s been playing video games and working on computers for longer than he can remember. Since he discovered his love for electronics, he has maintained a strong passion for video game and app preservation, and keeps a strong pulse on the tech industry.

Having earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature, Max has a habit of reading too deeply into minor details and obsessing over niche subjects. Most of his articles are an excuse to ramble about his latest obsessions, but sometimes he makes a good point or two. He also wrote a thesis paper on the theological and historical influences behind Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.

In his spare time, Max enjoys reading books from his ever-growing literary backlog, going for jogs, or training with his two German Shepherds.

Latest

Leon, Ashley, and the villagers from Resident Evil 4 Remake.
There's a better alternative to video game difficulty settings, but nobody uses it
Video Games

Developers rarely implement this superior solution to video game difficulty settings.

Collage of anime characters on a yellow background, featuring Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Devil May Cry, Steins Gate, and Castlevania, with floating gaming symbols around them.
10 Anime Adaptations of Video Games That Are Actually Good
Streaming

Who said video games can't have good adaptations?

Scenes from The Silence of the Lambs, Aliens, and The Shining, with the word 'HORROR' in bold red letters below.
Want to Get into Horror Movies? Start with These Scary Classics
Streaming

There's no better way to dive into horror than with these spine-chilling masterpieces.

Crunchyroll logo with a lineup of anime characters standing in front of it.
8 Underrated Crunchyroll Anime Series That Are Hiding in Plain Sight
Streaming

I went into these anime series with low expectations, but they're now my new favorites.

Microsoft Word logo.
Is Your Word Document Turning into a Glitchy Mess? Here’s How to Fix It
Microsoft Word

Don't worry. It's not as bad as it looks.

1
LG 55-Inch Class UHD AI 4K on a painted background with blue and red coloring.
Most Smart TVs Are Now AI Enhanced, Here's Why You Should Care
Streaming

Smart TVs are getting even smarter.

The four vault hunters from Borderlands 4.
I Kicked My Loot Addiction, But Borderlands 4 Is Dragging Me Back
Video Games

Loot games are fairly common, but few do it as well as Borderlands.

Mario from Super Mario, Ryu from Street Fighter, and Nero from Devil May Cry against a glowing blue and purple background with floating gaming symbols.
10 Video Game Exploits That Became Gaming Traditions
Retro Gaming

Some of gaming's greatest innovations were complete accidents.

A collage of games with developer commentary modes.
I Love Video Game Developer Commentaries, These Are My Favorites
Games

There's a story behind every work of art, but these games let you hear it straight from the creators.

A collage featuring Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Devil May Cry V, and Diablo 4.
Why Hack-and-Slash Is the Most Nonsense Gaming Genre
Retro Gaming

What does "hack-and-slash" mean to you?

1
A popcorn bucket with popcorn spilled around, a remote beside it, and streaming platform logos in the background.
Most Streaming Services Are Still Missing This Essential Feature
Streaming

Most streaming services are ignoring a simple solution to their biggest problem.

The Nintendo logo covering an obscured PS1 console.
Love your PS5? You've Got Nintendo to Thank for That
PlayStation

Nintendo may have defeated Sega, but its biggest mistake inspired an even bigger battle.

1
First-person view of a person falling through the sky holding two pistols, with floating film reels, a clapperboard, and a game controller.
I Need More Movies to Hop on These Video Game-Inspired Trends
Streaming

Games learned everything they know from films. Now, they're repaying the favor.

Streaming interface showing different anime scenes with simuldub options.
Simuldubs are Fixing Dubbed Anime's Biggest Problems
Streaming

Simuldubs are revolutionizing anime, but are they sacrificing creativity for speed?

Retro-style collage featuring classic and modern arcade games.
10 Arcade-Only Games I Wish I Could Play at Home
Retro Gaming

Even if you could find the arcade cabinets, these games belong on consoles

1
A collage featuring characters from Neon White, Hades, and Cave Story+.
10 PC Games I Prefer to Play on Console
Games

The PC isn't always the better platform.

A taxi driver with a passenger from Crazy Taxi next to Sonic from Sonic the Hedgehog next to fighters from Streets of Rage.
How Sega (Almost) Revolutionized Online Console Gaming in the 90s
Retro Gaming

Online multiplayer, downloadable content, and game streaming services: Sega consoles had it all.

2
A knight from Terraia jumping in between an eating hall in Valheim and a player riding a horse in Minecraft Legends.
Why I Can't Stop Playing Procedurally-Generated Games
Games

Plenty of games try to offer endless entertainment, but procedurally generated games are the only ones that succeed.

Bayek fighting multiplayer soldiers in Assassin's Creed Origins.
Why RPG Mechanics Are Ruining Modern Action Games
PC Gaming

RPG mechanics are the new open worlds, and I'm bored already.

1
Hands playing a game on a phone, with a colorful background filled with app icons from various gacha games.
Why I Want More Mobile Games to Come to Consoles
Mobile

Mobile games are worthy of a place on the big screen.

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