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PSP Game Download: How To Play Game Save?

2007-07-02T15:34:00.000+08:00

by: Ray Summer

There are places where you can downlod free PSP game save . These save game files can then be transferred to your PSP, and you can play the game from your PSP’s memory stick. Assuming you have obtained a game save (either you or your friend had save it earlier or you download free psp game save from somewhere), all you need to do is to follow the simple steps outlined below to start playing the games again.

What You Need To Have :

PSP Console

Memory Stick Duo (enough space to hold your game save file)

Save game archive file

USB Mini cable

PC running Windows with a free USB port

Step 1: Unzip Your Game Save File.

You can get game save for different sources. It can be the game you have saved to emergency purposes.

Make Sure You Have Your Game Save File in your computer already. If the Game Save is in ZIP format, you need to unzip the file.

After unzip, you will see a folder looks like:

"ULJM05006_DATA" (this is just a sample only, the actual name could be different).

Step 2: Connect Your PSP To Your PC.

Once properly connected, you need to use File Explorer to go into the PSP folder of your PSP. Just like exploring any folders in your PC. At the top level, you should see these folders:

MP_ROOT, PSP

You need to go into "PSP" folder. In there, you will see these folders:

GAME, MUSIC, PHOTO, SAVEDATA

Go into "SAVEDATA"

Step 3: Copy The Game Save Into The "SAVEDATA" Folder of Your PSP.

You will have to copy your game save into this folder. Go back to where you have unzipped the game save. In this example, the sub-folder name is “ULJM05006_DATA”. Highlight the whole sub-folder and “copy” and paste inside the SAVEDATA folder.

You need to be careful not to over-write any sub-folders inside the SAVEDATA folder. For example, you you already have "ULJS00002" and you game save name is the same, make sure you do not over-write it. Rename the original sub-folder first before you copy over.

Here you are. All Done! Disconnect your USB and you are ready to play the game on you PSP. You should be able to go into your PSP game console and load your game from SAVEDATA.

About The Author
Ray Summer does reviews on PSP products. You can find information about PSP Game or Movie download from his website (http://www.pspproductreview.com). The full article of how to play PSP gamesave is also found on his resource page, including how to download free PSP Games and how to select good PSP download site.

This article was posted on July 01, 2007

PSP- The Ultimate Handheld Gaming System

2007-07-02T15:29:00.000+08:00

by: Jack Colton

The PSP is the ultimate in handheld gaming platforms. What you hold in your hands with the Sony PSP is a superb gaming platform with incredible graphics, pinpoint clear details and a large, hi-def widescreen of 4.3 inches. This may not sound like a large screen but is the widest screen available. With the quality of the graphics, you'll feel like it's much larger.

The PSP has so many incredible functions, making it the only toy you might want or need.

The obvious function it has is superb gaming abilities, with the great graphics and audio. The console is also very user friendly, with comfortable handholds and easy use of controls. There are so many games to choose from, not only to beg, borrow or buy, but also to download. An example of a great download site is the PSPBlender.

The PSP has many other download capabilities such as music, videos, DVDs, photos, text, and even your favorite tv shows. You can even download movie trailers to view with your friends. It's a great way to figure out what movie to go to on a Friday night.

Downloading to the PSP is an easy thing to do. Mant of the download sites give you easy instructions, thousands of downloads to choose from and great technical support. Make sure you use a reputable site, preferably one that charges a one-time fee for endless downloads. It's important to make sure they have the helpful technical support, often 24/7.

Another way to download is directly from your PC. You can download and view your favorite photos, free wallpapers, videos and your favorite music, with only a few extra items neede such as a USB cable with a mini-B connector. You may also want to get o Pro-duo memory stick. A great place to buy these extras is from eBay.

With the many functions, superb visuals and audio, easy downloads and comfort in use, it is a no brainer that the Sony PSP far outshines anything else on the market.

About The Author
Jack Colton owns and operates http://www.bargainsgolore.com Psp

This article was posted on June 28, 2007

Choosing A Good PSP Download Site

2007-07-02T15:27:00.000+08:00

by: Ray Summer

When you choose a download site, there are a few important Criteria that you must apply in order to choose the correct site for you. Here is a summary of steps you should take to make your download smooth.

1.One-Time-Fee: This usually means you will need to pay a small one-time fee and you do not need to pay any more. You need to be able to choose the titles you want and there should be no time limit of when you should download.

2.Unlimited Download: The one-time-fee should allow you to download any file at any time. Ideally, there should be no limit on the number of files you can download.

3.Reliable: The system must be up and running 24x7. You certainly don't want to be limited on when you should download.

4.Privacy: Make sure that the PSP games database is private. Ensure that all the files have been checked and secured as having no spyware or viruses. They should not share your information with others.

5.Customer support: If your are a novice, it is critical that there is good customer support at the Free PSP Games Downloads.

6.Fast downloads: Make sure also that the Free PSP Game Downloads on the site are fast downloads and you don't have to leave your PC on all night just to download half a game!

These are 6 very important factors to consider. If trying to find out which one suites you best, you can visit the following review site which gives you the best information you can get: http://www.pspproductreview.com/?source=art

About The Author
Ray Summer reviews PSP download sites and recommends them to readers. You can see his reviews at http://www.pspproductreview.com.

This article was posted on June 25, 2007

Key Accessories Can Increase The Nintendo WII Price

2007-07-02T15:23:00.000+08:00

by: Michelle Bery

The Nintendo Wii is the hottest gaming system on the market. Even now many retailers are sold out and awaiting new shipments of this revolutionary game system with its remote sensing control system. The Nintendo Wii is a hot commodity, and like any commodity the laws of supply and demand are in play, and high demand can often equate to high prices. If you are one of the millions of people considering a purchase of the Wii System then you are probably among those for whom the Nintendo Wii price is a consideration.

Fortunately, the Nintendo Wii price is at a point that is affordable for most people, and for approximately $249.99 USD you can jump right in – almost literally – and begin playing the game that everyone is talking about. However, the $250 dollar price point only gets you the basic Wii package, which includes one game – Wii Sports – one controller, the sensor bar, and the assorted power cords needed to plug in and play. While this assortment is more than capable of getting you up and running, the $250 Nintendo Wii price does not include many items you are sure to want as soon as you tire of playing Wii Sports against the computer.

One way to avoid endless shopping for additional games and accessories is to purchase a Nintendo Wii bundle from a retailer who offers such deals. Various retailers offer bundles – all inclusive package deals – that include the Wii system as well as additional memory, additional controller, and several additional game titles. While such packages can greatly increase the Nintendo Wii price – by $200 to $400 dollars depending on the number of games and their titles – it can give you all you need, and more, to get started gaming.

The Nintendo Wii price, without accessories, is roughly $250. But it is the accessories that make the Wii such a powerful and dynamic system, and the Nintendo Wii price does not include those additional items. While new game titles will cost roughly $50 each, it is not the new games that will take your Wii to new heights; it is the add-ons. A second controller and Nunchuk - secondary controller that plugs into the primary, wireless controller; the Wiimote – will cost approximately $60. For those who wish to offset the Nintendo Wii price by continuing to play games from their Nintendo GameCube, they may need to purchase a GameCube controller if they do not already have one ($25). Further, if you want to save your ongoing GameCube games – like you could do on the original GameCube – then a memory card is needed ($25). For roughly the same prices as the memory card, an SD card – 1 GB of additional memory – can be purchased allowing you to download classic games through an Internet connection.

Like other accessories, Internet connectivity is not included in the Nintendo Wii price, and a wireless Wi-Fi USB connector is required ($100 and up). And if you want to see the fruit of your investments in the quality of High Definition, then a component video adapter is needed to deliver that crystal clear picture ($20).

After reading a list such as this one it is easy to wonder what you really get for that $250 Nintendo Wii price. The truth is that you get a lot, but if you want more – and you want to maximize the capabilities of the system – then investing in accessories that cost above and beyond the Nintendo Wii price will deliver exactly that. Fortunately, you don’t have to buy them all at once.

About The Author
Michelle Bery

For easy to understand, in depth information about Nintendo Wii price visit our ezGuide 2 http://nintendo.ezguide2.com

This article was posted on June 29, 2007

Playstation

2007-07-02T15:18:00.000+08:00

by: Marc Günzel

By the end of this article, you should have gained enough new knowledge on this subject to be able to explain its main points to another person.

The PlayStation 3 is the third videotape ready console of the PlayStation call from Sony notebook Entertainment. It is the successor to the awfully successful PlayStation 2. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of videotape ready consoles.

The important configuration of the console has a 20 GB inner hard send. The "premium" make of the PlayStation 3 comes with an inner 60 GB 2.5" soap ATA hard send, IEEE 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity, various moment recall license readers (SD/MultiMedia license, CompactFlash, recall affix) and skin a chrome-decorated neat. Both consoles mark a silver-decorated textbook logo on the top face of the approach. The hard send is upgradeable, with the ordinary soap ATA boundary. No formal Wi-Fi or moment recall license adapters have yet been open by Sony, while procedure for such add-ons are in place. Nevertheless, as both values mark four USB 2.0 ports, wireless networking and moment recall license assist can already be obtained through the use of broadly presented outside USB adapters. No high-definition videotape cables are involved; instead, a composite videotape/stereo audio cable ships with the approach. While Sony has open an formal PS3 factor cable, the formal PS2 factor cables are compatible with the PS3, as both consoles use the same AV Multi Out jack. The converse is firm as well; formal PS3 factor cables work with the PS2. In tramp 2007, papers scraped by Sony with the FCC hinted at the launch of a new text of the PS3 with an 80 GB hard send. In April 2007, a Bloomberg word quoted Sony spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka as aphorism that the band is genuinely considering introducing a standard with a bigger hard send.

The PlayStation 3 is based on open and overtly presented application programming boundarys. Sony has unusual numerous technologies and approved numerous sublicensing agreements to start an higher software development kit for developers. In addition, in 2005 Sony purchased SN Systems, a previous source of Microsoft Windows-based development tools for a make of console platforms; plus PlayStation 2, GameCube, PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS to start additional GNU development tools.

What we have explored up to now is the most important information you need to know. Now, lets dig a little deeper.

Open ordinarys for OpenGL, matrix algorithms, and fuss facts are precise by the Khronos Group, and are projected to work with nVidia's Cg programming tongue. sight facts are stored with COLLADA v1.4, an open, XML-based scrape plan. Rendering uses PSGL, a tailored make of OpenGL ES 1.0 (OpenGL ES 2.0 yielding excluding for the use of Cg instead of GLSL), with extensions specifically estimated at the PS3. Other specifications involve OpenMAX, a collection of speedily, oppose-platform tools for broad "media acceleration," such as matrix calculations, and OpenVG, for hardware-accelerated 2D vector graphics. These specifications have GPL, open for any use, and/or commercial implementations by third parties. Sublicensed technology involves perfect ready engines, physics libraries, and unusual libraries. Engines involve Epic's replica engine 3.0. Physics libraries involve AGEIA's PhysX SDK, NovodeX, and Havok's physics and spirit engines. Other tools involve Nvidia's Cg 1.5 (a C-like shading tongue, which HLSL was based leading), SpeedTree RT by Interactive records Visualization, Inc. (high-trait virtual flora in genuine time), and Kynogon's Kynapse 4.0 "large magnitude A.I.".

Sony has considered with IPv6, the next generation of the Internet Protocol. Some titles, such as Genji: existence of the Blade and pucker Racer 7, tolerate users to settle 4-5 GB of ready facts to the hard send, which dramatically improves fill time. In Genji, for example, the cached facts reduces fill time from 15 seconds to around 4 seconds. This has been proven.

Just, Sony announced a new toolset that will be open to all developers known as 'PlayStation border' that will proposal awfully optimized lightweight libraries for cabal SPUs. These libraries will supply system for spirit, compression (estimated to awfully help filling time), and many more skin. The container will also supply 'GCM repeat', a robust RSX profiling tool to tolerate developers to increase the most out of the PlayStation 3's graphics disfigure.

As they say, knowledge equals power, so continue to read information on this topic until you feel you are adequately educated on the subject.

About The Author
Marc Günzel write many articles for blogs and news sites. He also help to create one of the biggest gamer searchengines in English and German.

This article was posted on June 27, 2007

The Cost Of Getting A Free Playstation 3

2007-02-09T12:09:00.000+08:00

By Brad Johnson

Although there are many offers around the Internet that can be found at such websites such as YouTube, Google Video and more, one should be careful to take into account that getting a free PS3 or any other device for free involves giving out personal information across the Internet. Although, many of the hardcore PS3 fans out there will practically do anything they can to get a free Playstation 3 in their possession. Many individuals would jump at the fact to participate in any type of program to get a Playstation 3 delivered to the door, but take into consideration that a free PS3 is not as easy to get “at no cost” as it may seem.

Many websites that giveaway a free Playstation 3 often want you to either sign up for a particular third party company (such as Blockbuster video) that require you to either purchase something from them directly, or begin a free trial account and leaving behind your credit card number. While some companies seem trustworthy and noticeable, it should be considered that anyone wanting to sign up for these companies just for the chance to get a free Playstation 3 be very cautious as the last thing anyone wants is to have their privacy exposed across the Internet.

The second method involves referring others to the free PS3 giveaway websites where they are also required to participate into one of the third party company programs. As there are a certain required amount of referrals that need to sign up, don’t expect to have your free Playstation 3 system in your hands by the end of next week. Your referrals must participate in a program and must pass through it in order for them to be counted as a qualified referral. Once you have completed a successful free PS3 giveaway program and you have attained the appropriate number of qualified referrals, then you are well on your way to getting a free Playstation 3 sent out to you.

Free Playstation 3 giveaway websites will use this tactic to help promote other advertisers by getting those guaranteed purchasers or participators. What needs to be done here for anyone looking to get a free Playstation 3 is that they should really do a background check on the advertisers they are looking to participate with. Regardless of reputable companies, the last thing anyone would want to have happen is having their credit card number and personal information fall into the wrong hands.

There is no doubt that many hardcore PS3 fans would love to have a free Playstation 3 that averages $600 or more in their possession at a much lesser cost: The cost of a website giveaway promotion and collecting referrals. In the long run, it can be considered an excellent trade between an advertiser’s program and getting a free Playstation 3, but the best reward of all is being able to get a free PS3 without having your personal privacy at risk.

Brad Johnson is the founder of his own Playstation 3 resource website where visitors can view videos, articles, giveaways and more involving Playstation 3. Check out Brad’s free Playstation 3 website at http://www.ps3-unlimited.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Johnson

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I support Ituloy Angsulong

Introducing the Nintendo Wii Console

2007-02-09T12:05:00.000+08:00

By Darren Lintern

The Wii which is the newest console to be released by Nintendo which was released on November 19th; just two days after Sony officially launched its PlayStation 3 on the 17th. The release of the Wii has had gamers the world over excited about gaming.

Nintendo is back for another round of the console wars with its Wii (pronounced "we"). As the GameCube failed to meet expectations, Nintendo has changed its focus and it intending to take console gaming into a brand new direction. With the Wii, Nintendo are attempting to attract not only the hardcore gamers, but also the non-gamers to its new console. It may sound crazy, but if the recent popularity of its handheld system the DS Lite is any indication, Nintendo may surely be on to something.

What is Nintendo trying to do to make the Wii so special? It isn't simply relying on its graphic capabilities. In truth, its graphics are only just superior to that of the original Xbox console. What truly has the gamer captivated is the way the games are played. Nintendo is attempting to change the way in which people look at the games console, by introducing a brand new way of playing games.

With the Nintendo Wii the days of button bashing on a joystick or gaming pad are gone. The controller is now simply intended to be moved like a wand. Your actions are than represented in real time on your TV screen. The hand controller does still have some buttons on it, but there are still far less of them compared to the likes or the PlayStation3 and Xbox360 controllers.

Although only the more basic games can be played with the wand type remote, the more complex games will need to use a special remote attachment. This attachment is referred to as the "nun-chuk" which will need to be plugged into the base of the regular remote. It will add the benefit of an analogue stick, in addition to two trigger buttons. The nun-chuk is needed during game play for actions such as moving your character, shooting guns, and interacting with various objects.

There is another benefit that is available on the Nintendo Wii that is differentiating itself from the other consoles. It is equipped with something that is called the "Virtual Console". To define this briefly, the Virtual Console enables you to download games from older gaming systems. Although at the stage, not every game is readily available for purchase, however, Nintendo has plans to release new titles to its Virtual Console every week.

At the present time, games from the following consoles are available: the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, and Turbografx -16. These games can than be purchased via a points system. These points are available either thru the Wii console itself, or at nationwide retailers. Prices start out at $5 for the NES Games and increasing up to $10 for the N64 games. A separate control is likely to be needed to play the games of the Virtual Console. However, most games can be played using a GameCube controller.

The current retail price for the Nintendo Wii stands at $249.99. However, due to the continued shortage of the Wii, it is difficult for many to get their hands on this console system. It can easily be found on many of the major auction websites, although at a much steeper price.

When unpacking the box you will discover: the Nintendo Wii games console, all the required cables and adapters, Wii Sports (a game featuring 5 different sports), and the controller, which is split into two variants; the regular remote, as well as the nun-chuk remote attachment. If required additional remotes are available for $39.99 and the nun-chuk attachment sold separately for $19.99. Also, to take advantage of the Virtual Console, the "Classic" controller will retail for $19.99 each.

If early sales and buzz during the launch together with the continuing demand are anything to go by, the Nintendo Wii is, and will continue to be, a smashing hit. Nintendo is not only intending to please its hardcore gaming fans, but also to cater to the casual and non-gamers as well. This is the complete opposite of Sony with its PlayStation 3 and Microsoft with its Xbox 360, who are mostly going after the many hardcore gamers.

For more Nintendo Wii information try visiting www.andallconsoles, a popular games console website that provides console news, tips, and game reviews for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Lintern

Naruto's First Important Mission

2007-02-09T12:02:00.000+08:00

By Amyobus Key

Back at ninja headquarters, while the cat is reunited with its owner, Hokage-sama reads the next missions to his new recruits: babysitting, grocery shopping, digging up potatoes... Naruto lets out a yelp. He wants something important.

Hokage-Sama explains that many clients come to the village daily requesting missions that range from easy to dangerous. It is his job to separate the missions into classes, the most dangerous being assigned to the Jounins, the second and third classes assigned to the Chuunins and the easiest relegated to the junior-ranked Genins.

When Naruto indicates that he is no longer a kid pulling pranks, Hokage-Sama relents, and assigns them a more challenging mission. They are to escort Tazuna, a bridge builder to his home town. The old bridge builder enters, but is unimpressed by his guides, referring to Naruto as the small one with the idiotic face. Naruto jumps up and proclaims: "I'm going to kill you!"

In his usual dry fashion, Kakashi advises not to kill the man you are supposed to escort.

The journey begins, and they pass out through the fortified gates. It is the first time Naruto has ever left the village. As they leave, they are watched from the trees by mysterious eyes.

During their journey, Kakashi explains that not all villages have ninjas. There are hidden villages where ninjas exist, these villages being the equivalent of a country's military power. The countries that have ninjas are represented by the elements: fire, water, lightning, wind, and earth, and are known as the Five Great Ninja Powers. The first is their own village: the country of Fire's hidden village of Konoha ("leaf"), the second being the country of Water's hidden village of Mist, the third being the country of Lightning's hidden village of cloud, the fourth being the country of Wind's hidden village of sand, and the last being the country of Earth's hidden village of rock. Each has a leader known as Kage, yielding the titles: Hokage, Mizukage, Raikage, Kazekage, and Tsuchikage. These are the Five Kages who reign over the tens of thousands of ninjas in the world.

As they walk through the forest, Kakashi spies a puddle that appears unusual. After they have passed by, from out of the puddle emerges two cloaked and masked ninjas, who immediately attack the group from behind. They launch a metal chain from a throwing weapon. The chain binds Kakashi, immobilizing him. The earth then opens up and sucks the teacher beneath. They refer to him as the "first one," and they now turn their attentions to Naruto, referring to him as "the second." They launch the chain again. The terrified boy is unable to defend himself and is quickly injured. From his side, Sasuke makes a move, launching his weapons which pinion and disable the chain. Sakura positions herself before the old man, attempting to protect him from the next assault. Sasuke then dashes toward the attackers, striking them repeatedly, but he is no match for the experienced ninjas. Suddenly Kakashi reappears, snags the attackers by the necks, and they fall limp and unconscious.

The teacher had avoided the initial assault through a replacement technique, transforming himself into images of wooden logs which received the attack from the chain before they were broken and destroyed. For their efforts, Sasuke and Sakura receive praise, while Naruto only concern for his injury, the boy having been too paralyzed by fear to participate in the defense of the group. Sasuke asks if he is hurt, then refers to him slyly as, "Scaredy Cat." Naruto is angry, but Kakashi intercedes, warning him that the attackers have used a poison, and he requires medical assistance.

Kakashi explains that the attackers are Chuunin-class from the hidden village of Mist. As they revive, they groggily ask their captor how he detected their presence. Kakashi replies that it hasn't rained for the past few days, and today it is sunny, therefore the puddle should not have existed. The old bridge builder wants to know why he let the children fight. Kakashi explains that although he could have defeated the attackers at any time, he first needed to know who the real target was. He correctly surmises that the old bridge builder has not been honest with them. The purpose of his escort had not been protection from robbers, but from ninja, redefining this as an expensive mission of a much higher rank.

Believing they must quit this dangerous mission, and needing to take Naruto back to the village for medical attention, they suggest going back. The embarrassed boy objects to being treated like a burden and takes out his knife, stabbing it through his hand to bleed off the poisoned blood. He stubbornly concludes that he will never again require anyone to help him, that he will not be frightened, nor will he back out of a fight. He vows by the pain in his left hand, that he will protect the old man with his kunai (throwing knife).

Kakashi remarks, "it is nice you took out the blood so spiritedly, but you're going to die from loss of blood if any more comes out."

Naruto panics and is about to pass out. While Kakashi binds his wound, he observes that it is already starting to heal. Without telling the others, he suspects that it must be by the powers originating from the Nine-tailed Fox sealed within the boy.

Back at the enemy's camp, the man who has hired the assassins berates his men for their failure. A dangerous-looking ninja says that he will use his decapitating sword and go and kill them himself. Even though the Group of Seven and the bridge builder will now be on high alert, he, "Momochi Zabuza", will not fail for he has been called the Demon of the hidden village of Mist.

Checkout all the Naruto character desktop wallpapers at http://www.narutoboy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amyobus_Key

Introduction to the Playstation 3 (PS3)

2007-02-09T11:58:00.000+08:00

by Darren Lintern

The Sony Playstation 3 console is without doubt the hottest item on the market at this moment. Thousands of individuals are searching for one to purchase, unfortunately most retail stores throughout the United States are only able to stock a handful. People were reported to be camping outside these stores the night before to get their hands on one. Due to their limited stock some stores choose to give each person who showed up on the release date a ticked. Then drew their numbers from a box, those with the lucky tickets had the pleasure of purchasing the Playstation 3 console.

For anyone that was unfortunate to miss out on purchasing from a retailer, it is going to cost a lot more to get one elsewhere. Ads are appearing in the newspapers all the time offering them for sale. Online auction site eBay and Yahoo Auctions are selling them like hotcakes. The opening bids in many cases are several hundred dollars more than the system would cost you retail. For those parents that dont want to disappoint their children for this much anticipated console, the cost is not an issue. Many gaming enthusiasts are also trying their hardest to grab hold of the new Playstation 3.

The retail price of the Playstation 3 console is on average $499.00. You may be lucky to find it a bit less if you shop around, but that price is the general ballpark figure. At the time of writing this article, I had a quick glance on eBay to notice that they are currently selling between $800 and $1,250 on eBay. If your not one of the many gaming enthusiasts you may be wondering what it is about the Playstation 3 that is leading such a demand.

If you get you hands on the latest hot property, be careful. In some cases, shoppers have been mobbed for their console as soon as they started out of the store. Only to have left empty handed within minutes because of thieves. Also, the number of break-ins that are taking place around the Nation of electronics stores is unimaginable. In most cases, all that was taken was the stock of Playstation 3 consoles. This all seems a bit harsh to me, but it is happening.

So, what is included with the Playstation 3 console? Firstly, it incorporates outstanding memory capabilities. You are able to play games on it as well as watch your favourite movies. The games for Playstation 1 & 2 are intended to work on the Playstation 3 Console, and you will be able to experience high definition on them. The Playstation 3 is reported to be the most powerful video games console on the market at present; it’s twice the power of the Xbox. It has also be designed to be 35 times more powerful than its predecessor, the Playstation 2.

An additional benefit of your Playstation 3 console is that it can be used for online gaming free. You have the choice to download games from the internet as well as videos to the consoles hard drive. Onto the technical stuff, the Playstation 3 comes equipped with 256 MB main RAM @ 3.2 GHz and 256 MB VRAM @ 700 MHz. The system is equipped with Dolby sound for great quality. The higher specification in the system is very evident in the graphics of the games.

The Playstation 3 console is the most in-demand item at present. Game players all around the world have been anticipating the arrival of the Playstation 3. It is still to be released worldwide. The expected launch date for the territories of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia is 23rd March 2007. It is expected that there will be approximately 1 million units available at launch date, which will be split over all PAL territories.

For more PlayStation 3 information try visiting www.andallconsoles, a popular games console website that provides console news, tips, and game reviews for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Lintern

Comparing The Playstation 3, Xbox 360, And Nintendo WII

2007-02-09T11:51:00.000+08:00

by: Gary Ruplinger

Finally, they’re all here. The Xbox 360 has had the next generation gaming market to itself for a year. Now its two competitors, the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii, are here. No more speculating about speed. No more guessing about memory. Now we can take a look and see exactly how they stack up compared to each other.

Let the console wars begin again.

Price

The PS3 has two configurations much like the Xbox 360. The PS3 comes in a $499 version that comes with a 20 GB hard drive and a $599 version that comes with a 60 GB hard drive; Wi-Fi; and memory stick, SD, and Compact Flash slots.

The Xbox 360 has two configurations. It comes in a $299 core version and a $399 version that comes with a 20GB hard drive.

The Nintendo Wii is the cheapest of the bunch with just one configuration that costs $250.

Processing Power

The Playstation 3 comes with its Cell processor. It’s a PowerPC based core that runs at 3.2 GHz that also have seven DSPs that run at 3.2 GHz. This configuration can do about 2 Teraflops.

The Xbox 360 has a Custom IBM PowerPC processor. This processor also runs at 3.2 GHz. However, Xbox went with a true 3 core processor compared to the one general processor of the Cell and seven additional DSPs. This configuration can do about 1 Teraflop.

The Nintendo Wii includes its Broadway processor, a PowerPC based processor running at 729 MHz.

Disc Media

Part of the reason the PS3 is so much more expensive than the Xbox 360 is because the Sony decided to include a Blu-ray drive on the system. The drive can play both Blu-ray movies and regular DVDs. The Xbox 360 comes with a DVD player and an HD-DVD add-on is planned. The Nintendo Wii uses a DVD drive; however, the system will not work for playback of movies, just Nintendo games.

Backwards Compatibility

The Playstation 3 is just like the PS2 was. You’ll be able to play both PS2 and PSone games on the PS3. Nintendo is taking things a bit further. Their system will be compatible with the Gamecube games and also the Gamecube controllers since the two systems use very different controllers. Not only that, but the Wii will also have the ability to download games from the original Nintendo (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES), and the Nintendo 64.

Sweet Features

If you want high definition gaming, then the PS3 is the way to go. It comes with a Blu-ray drive built in and can output in 1080p. Although the PS3 controller may look familiar, it’s had some updates. The controller is now motion sensing so in some games you’ll be able to move your character or fly a plane just by moving the controller.

The Xbox 360 was built to work with Windows XP media center. If you have a computer that already has media center on it, you’ll be able to view pictures, videos, and even recorded TV by using your Xbox. You won’t need to put your PC in your living room to take advantage of having a Media Center PC.

The Nintendo Wii decided to completely change the way gaming controllers are built. In the past, one controller was always held with both hands. The Wii’s controller looks more like a TV remote control than a game controller. It has a built in motion sensor so, for example, to swing a sword, you simply move you hand just like you were really swinging a sword.

Hopefully this review has helped you compare the three next generation gaming systems. Each has its pluses and minuses, and feature that are unique to it. Ultimately, your decision will likely come down to which system has the games that most appeal to you. And that is a decision that only you can make when deciding on a system to buy.

About The Author
Gary Ruplinger is the editor of http://www.ps3asap.com, a resource for getting the in demand PS3 system. He also is a writer for http://www.gamesystemreviews.com where you can learn about all of the next generation systems.

This article was posted on December 11, 2006

Privacy Policy

2007-01-01T21:17:00.001+08:00

I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at my site Wantusawa. The following discloses the information gathering and dissemination practices for this Web site.

Log Files
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Cookies
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The Nintendo Wii is NOT the Game Cube

2006-11-29T16:55:00.000+08:00

by: Kit Allen

As Nintendo chief Miyamoto says about the Wii…

‘The hardware is basically a GC. We’ve upgraded our development tools to new versions but, you can still use GC programs as they are. With that in mind, I thought we could remake GC titles for the Wii and modify them to work with the Wii remote so that they’re more fun to play.’

This statement been making its speedy journey around the web, with the predictable result.

‘i tuld u tha Wee sux0rs!’ ‘Thus proving the Wii is infact.. a repackaged gamecube’ ‘Rofl @ Nintendo’

The argument need to be split in half to avoid confusion. Lumping the two arguments together ends in a negative situation, where neither of the debating parties can influence the opposition.

Firstly, The Wii is GameCube 1.5?

Miyamoto, in his cute little ‘Wish we had an international auxillary language to stop english speaking ‘l33t’ gamers from mocking our consumers’ way, was accurate with his statement. The hardware is similar to the GameCube. WAIT! Don’t go running away just yet, for here is a word equation that will float your boat.

The Nintendo Wii hardware is similar to the Gamecube, as A gaming PC is similar to a Windows 95 word processing computer.

What! Says you, but my ‘uber el33tzo0r’ Gaming PC has 4 GB of Ram! It has 6.7 Gigahertz of processing power! THINK. Instead of thinking about the technological specifics of ‘hardware capabilities’, when the above statement is made, one is referring to the style in which hardware and software are created. The Architecture of the device.

Going out on another tangent, Nintendo would not be stupid enough to make the GameCube mistake again. The GC was not a high point for flailing Nintendo. Why now, riding on the success of the Nintendo DS, an innovative handheld device that has taken the world by storm, would Nintendo choose to release an updated version of a failure?

Wii Vs Xbox360 Vs Playstation3

To be blatantly honest, the next-gen console battle will be fought between the Xbox360, and the Playstation3. Unfortunately for Sony and Microsoft, they have launched products capable of the same types of activities, with the same types of controls and the same types of games. It’s a marketing battle to see who will triumph. But for those looking for new, innovative [ie: Not BluRay] technology with an element of fun and a totally unique experience will choose the Wii. There is nothing else on the market to compete with it.

So who would buy the Wii? Just little kids right? Nintendo has many different demographics to target. From the very young, to the very old. The DS has opened the eyes of previously video game free generations, and inspired those just entering the market, as well as gameboy fans looking for a quality handheld. Half-core gamers want something fresh. they want to play with their friends and have fun. They don’t want to shell out big bucks for a gaming system, but would be happy to pay a much lower price for entertainment.

You can not compare consoles on specifications alone. You must use implementation examples to compare things. On paper, the Playstation 3 is the strongest console. Better than the Wii, better than the Xbox360. But does it have quality games? Will there be many games? Will Sony finally be able to create a game that creates a third of the hype that Halo does? Until all consoles have been released internationally, it is futile to argue over which console is ’superior’ and which will succeed.

The Nintendo Wii is not a Game Cube. As the old saying goes, it’s like comparing apples and oranges. Both are in the same general class, yet there are fundamental differences that make comparing them pointless.

About The Author
Kit Allen, the chief contributor to Nintendo Blog, http://nintendocommunity.com wrote this article to inform the world about the Nintendo Wii.

This article was posted on November 28, 2006

How To Cheat In A Computer Game

2006-11-21T17:12:00.000+08:00

by: Beverly Kane

The definition of a cheat is pretty easy to figure out. If you have an affair with someone other than your lover, you can be called a cheat. If you copy answers from another person during an exam, you can also be called a cheat. In sports, if you try to win or get an advantage by disregarding the rules you are cheating but in computer games this definition become hard to follow. Taking advantage or lying to your fellow game players does not automatically mean you are cheating.

Cheating in a computer game is defined by the game and the people who are playing it.A lot of computer games come with a “cheat code”. This is usually to help a person get started and makes the game a little easier. They are usually designed for a single player. If you use these cheat codes you are cheating technically but it doesn’t mean you have an advantage.

The most common occurrence of cheating is when there are multiplayer and mass multiplayer games through the internet. In this instance, the players are not known to each other so they don’t have the restrictive influence of being seen by their opponents.

There are two main areas of cheating in computer games. You can change your settings through the use of exploits, bugs and external software or cheesing.

If you alter your computer settings, the layout of the computer’s hardware or the computer game to fit your gaming style you are cheating in a sense and this can be alright. But if you went even further and changed the brightness or the color of the screen in order to see better in shadow areas it becomes questionable.

Exploits are termed as errors in the game itself that give an advantage to one person or another. If someone deliberately uses those it a game, it could be considered cheating but it also could add to the excitement of the game.

There are software programs you can purchase that modify a program that runs computer game. This is a more serious form of cheating. Other software programs study the status of the game through the computer’s RAM

Another form of cheating is called cheesing. This is when the players do things that cannot happen in real life or are not allowed in real life.

The most common of game cheats these days find ways to change the game’s software. Even if the game developers try to encrypt or protect the files, there are software programs that will be able to change the game’s code without changing the main program. Cheats of this kind may be detected using programs that are installed on a server.

Preventing computer game cheaters is not easy. There are a lot of grey areas to agree on and consider before you term someone a cheat.

About The Author
Beverly Kane is a staff writer at http://www.gamesenthusiast.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.theshoppinggazette.com.

This article was posted on November 17, 2006

Having A Ball with X-Box Games

2006-11-21T17:09:00.000+08:00

by: Morgan Hamilton

I love playing video games. I love it so much that I even have two video games systems at home — an x box and a Playstation. I used to play with my Playstation most of the time because it had all the games that I love to play. But recently I’ve noticed that I now have an extensive collection of x box games and my Playstation has been collecting dust in a corner.

It all began a year ago when I saw the x box in my neighbor’s multi family yard sale. He wanted to get rid of it because his son has been spending all of his me on it and I was able to get for a reasonably low price. And since he also had lots of x box games to go with the system I was able to get them for a few bucks as well. I was able to get my favorite fighting games for a lot less money than of have I bought them from a video game store.

The x box game that I’ve grown to really love is the Dance Dance Revolution. It’s a new type of game that combines a workout with the normal gaming experience. It’s a revolutionary video game that tries to accurately simulate dancing. At the time that I bought the game I had no idea that it would be challenging.

To my surprise it was quite difficult and I actually felt that I was really dancing as I played the game. It’s amazing to play a game that stimulates your mind while giving you a cardio-vascular exercise.

X box games can cost quite a lot and I learned that it would be wise to rent a game from a video store to determine if it’s worth buying. However, Dance Dance revolution was the exception. It’s the only game that was more convenient to buy than to having rent the game and the mat. The idea of using a mat that was used by other people seemed quite unhygienic.

X box games on eBay can also be bought for less money than those on video games stores so I go there to check out some games. The most economical way to get new games is to trade games with other x box gamers but you have to make sure than you ca get your games back. In recent months the only games I buy are the ones that I’ll really like and of course, the exceptional Dance Dance Revolution.

About The Author
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning X Box Games. Get more information by visiting http://www.xtraordinarysite.com/g......having-a-ball-with-x-box-games.html.

This article was posted on November 20, 2006

Gaming Laptops - The Five Essential Features To Consider When Buying A Gaming Laptop

2006-11-17T14:54:00.000+08:00

by: Laura Alter

Gone are the days when you would have been laughed at if you walked into an all-night LAN party carrying your trusty laptop and expecting to hang with the giant computer towers standing at everyone's feet. The gaming laptop computers of today sport huge, crisp LCD screens, cutting-edge video cards and full-size keyboards. Not only can these gaming laptop computers hang with the standard clunky computer tower, but they can also be ordered fully custom to meet the exact specifications of any gamer.

Since there are so many customizable components in these laptops, a standard practice has been to create what some call a "system builder." This is the page where you get to add and subtract components through drop-down menus in order to create the best gaming laptop computer for your needs and your budget. This type of page can be overwhelming to someone just starting the gaming laptop shopping process, but it is very manageable if you take it just one component at a time.

The gaming Laptop GPU

This is the heart of a gaming laptop computer. The GPU – graphics processing unit – is a component that will make or break your gaming experience. If your GPU isn't up to snuff, your games won't play.

Without getting into specific models since they change all the time, the key is that the graphics card not share resources with the computer. A gaming laptop video card must have its own memory on board. Generally speaking, standard off-the-shelf laptops will not have this feature. The two current makers of laptop video cards are nVIDIA and ATI.

Without the Screen, You Don't Have Much

What good is a gaming laptop without a screen that can actually render your games? Now certainly, you can connect an external monitor, but if you can't actually play on your gaming laptop without that external monitor, then your laptop isn't all that mobile.

While the technology and terminology for LCDs (liquid crystal displays) could take up an entire article in itself, there are a few key points to keep in mind when choosing from available LCD options for your new gaming laptop computer: native resolution, aspect ratio, rise and fall time, contrast, viewing angle, and size.

Native Resolution. The native resolution is simply the setting at which your screen will render the clearest images. Since games are constantly in motion, slightly soft edges may not bother most gamers, but keep in mind that while this is your gaming laptop, you will likely also use it for other things like surfing the Internet. If the resolution isn't comfortable, you aren't going to enjoy using it.

Aspect Ratio. As you probably know, a movie theater screen and a TV screen have different proportions. Likewise, there are widescreen format gaming laptops and there are laptops that have a standard aspect ratio – like that of a TV. A widescreen format gaming laptop has advantages and disadvantages. Many games today do not have a widescreen mode. This means that the game may stretch across the screen and become distorted or you may run it with black bars that fill in the sides. There are ways to get around this, but if you want an out of the box perfect experience, the widescreen format may not be for you.

That said, a widescreen LCD does offer plenty of screen real estate for web surfing and other type of computer activities, and a game played in a wide format setting offers an expansive field of view. For this reason, there are some very loyal widescreen-loving gamers out there.

Do your best to find a balance between current and future technology and what your computer habits are beyond gaming. Even with its limitations, the widescreen format is found on most of the best gaming laptop computers.

Rise and Fall. The phrase ‘rise and fall time' is used to describe how fast the LCD can respond to changes. In the past, LCDs have been plagued with the inability to render images as fast as computer games can spit them out. This presents a major problem for laptop gamers because if they can't see the images properly, they can't play the game properly. This lag can mean the difference between playing to win and barely playing.

Fortunately, gaming laptop LCDs have come a long way and they are only getting better. While once it was impossible to game on a laptop screen, the gaming laptop LCDs of today offer 25 milliseconds or less rise and fall time while generally off-the-shelf laptops have 40 milliseconds or less rise and fall time.

Contrast. If a gaming laptop LCD has poor contrast, that means that the black areas aren't quite as black as they should be and the white areas aren't quite as white. This is important to a laptop gamer because you have to see the game properly – as it was intended to be seen – in order to compete effectively. Look for a contrast ratio of 400:1 or higher in a custom gaming laptop computer.

Viewing Angle. This is an often-overlooked LCD feature, but it must be considered if you are building a gaming laptop computer. Many high quality LCDs on the market are difficult to see clearly at any angle other than straight on and at the right height. This can be a big drawback to gaming on a LCD screen because a screen with poor viewing angles won't allow others to watch the screen as you play and also hurts your view when doing something as simple as adjusting your seating, which can require you to then adjust to position of your laptop screen to see it properly again.

But gaming on a laptop does not mean that you are doomed to have poor viewing angles. There are LCDs on the market that have amazing viewing angles – up to 120 degrees. These screens not only allow gaming onlookers, but they also allow you to use that giant, crisp screen to do things like play movies and even make presentations.

Size. In a gaming laptop computer, size is everything. Most gaming laptops are large, robust pieces of electronics. Having a machine of this stature means you also get to have a large screen. The best gaming laptop computer LCD screens out there are at least 15 inches. A crowd favorite is a 17 inch widescreen (even with the challenges that widescreens present). Largr 19 inch laptop screens are just starting to be talked about with consumers expecting to see 19 inch or even large models on the market in the near future.

The best way to really get a feel for what laptop LCDs are all about is to take a trip to a local box store and play with the LCDs on the display laptops while keeping in mind what you have read here. While these laptops are not custom gaming laptops, you can see what the sizes really look like, what different resolutions look like, and what the viewing angles truly are so you can start to develop your own preferences.

The RAM – What Type and How Much?

The RAM (random access memory) found in laptops is called SODIMM (small outline dual inline memory module). The RAM is responsible for your processing power. If you are shopping for a custom gaming laptop, you will generally be offered DDR2 RAM with the choice of how much you want in your computer. Most high-end games being released today need 1GB of RAM for optimum, lag-free game play. Some people are going with 2GB to ensure that they can run multiple applications along with the game and not experience any slow down in response time. This is a large investment and you want to be able to use this gaming laptop for some time in the future. Most custom laptops are user upgradeable, but this should be left up to professionals.

The CPU – Not Just Mobile Technology

The CPUs (central processing units) found in many custom gaming laptops are identical to those found in desktops. These chips require a great deal of cooling power, which in turn can make your laptop louder than light weight, lower power ultra portables when the fans kick on and it can become somewhat warm to the touch. Don't be alarmed by this – it is normal. And with these desktop processors comes screaming power! Don't waste your money on the latest CPU release that likely has an inflated price tag (and that price will likely come down before long). Stick with a current CPU speed that is offered by a reputable custom gaming laptop reseller, and you really can't go wrong.

The gaming Laptop Hard Drive

This is the final component to consider when building a gaming laptop. Laptop hard drives come in a variety of speeds and capacities ranging from 4200 to 7200 RPMs and 40 to over 100 GBs. For the most part, this is user preference. Whenever possible, go for a 7200 RPM hard drive, but if you need a capacity not offered in this speed, it's okay to go for the 5400 RPM drive. Take a look at your current computer, and buy your capacity based on this. Also keep in mind that with many custom gaming laptop manufacturers, you have the ability to upgrade or add another hard drive at a later date.

At the end of the day, gaming laptop computers are all about power. Don't expect a twelve-pound notebook with a desktop processor, numerous fans, a giant heatsink, and independent video card to last on battery power all that long. But do make sure to enjoy the jawdrops that you'll get as you walk into your regular LAN party location with your new, screaming-fast gaming laptop computer. Crack that puppy open, fire it up, and stand clear of the drool as you take on your favorite game with fellow gamers gathered around to take in the action. gaming is not just for desktops anymore!

About The Author
PC Torque Ltd is a leading authority on laptop gaming news and technology. For more information on how to to build the best gaming laptop, or to check out the latest offerings in the custom gaming laptop industry, visit http://www.pctorque.com

Copyright Laura Alter - http://www.pctorque.com

The Future of Submarine Games

2006-11-17T14:52:00.000+08:00

by: Neal Stevens

In the last six months, the demise of sims has been pronounced in abundance. Print mags and sim webzines have been telling you sims are being cancelled left and right Jane's A-10: Cancelled. Wolfpack II: Cancelled. Silent Steel II: MIA. M1Tank Platoon 3: Cancelled. Fighting Steel Deluxe: Cancelled. Jane's Attack Squadron: MIA. Thunder Over Europe: MIA. The list goes on.

We all know that this is a down cycle for sims and we believe there is hope that in a couple of years, things will turn around and sims will be hot stuff again. Hey, I remember in 1973 when the EPA and OPEC throttled the life out of the muscle car scene. I had a 1970 Cobra Torino that had 450 hp and ran the quarter in the high 13s. In less than three years every car out of Detroit was a smog controlled, gas economizing slug. They even started making them as ugly as they were slow! It was heartbreaking.

But over time, things change. Now you can get a high performance machine that handles and has luxuries like front/rear AC. My '99 Riviera has a supercharged V-6 that would make my old Torino proud.

So, keep the faith. Things will improve, even if no one knows when. Silent Hunter II and Destroyer Command are showing signs of life. Harpoon 4 is still under development. There are stirrings from the Sonalysts camp.

When a new subsim does hit the shore, try to remember, the developers and game producers are our friends. They make the kind of games we like because they like them too. Why would they labor over armor thickness tables, ship model physics, and torpedo trajectories for a niche market? I know a few developers and they all love the genre.

Try to keep your criticism balanced. Should you blast a sim you had trouble with or didn't enjoy with all the invective and animosity you would normally reserve for someone who stole your car or used your toothbrush? I was told by one producer that high-level executives frequently ask him about hard-core negative postings on newsgroups and forums. The industry sees us as demanding, unappreciative, and impossible to satisfy. It's much easier and more lucrative to crank out Deer Hunter and Barbie games and their users rarely flame the game company to a crisp.

I work with a CPA accountant who likes computer games and is pretty good at them. He can play a mean Age of Empires warrior. I tried to interest him in learning Jane's 688(I) for some multiplay. He took one look at the hefty manual and waved it off. He assumed he would need to learn all the material to play competitive. The blessing and the curse of a good sim is its complexity. You want to command a battle fleet or do TMA on a Los Angeles class submarine? You need to learn skills and study. And this restricts the popularity of the sim. Mass market games generally do not carry the steep learning curve a sim does. So while we hard core sim players are delighting in the minutia of seven different stations and all their controls, casual gamers are passing up the sim at a 20 to 1 ratio. Sims truly are a niche market.

Niche market games have limited budgets. This mean a small number of programmers and artists must concentrate on the basics. Don't expect to see everything you want and imagine in a sim. Oh yeah, I'm with you--I wish a subsim could have full motion crews and other fun stuff. But as one producer told me, "We don't have the money to design and integrate these features into the product. I wish we could, too."

We should be finding out the status of Silent Hunter II soon. Either Mattel Interactive is going to sign someone to complete it or it will be canned. I went through the "we are planning to do this" stage with the fabled Jane's Ice Pack add-on for 688(I), Crusader Studios' Akula: Red Hunter, Silent Steel 2, and the interoperability between Jane's Fleet Command and 688(I). I'm not passing judgment here, just stating that when the momentum dies, so does the objective. For whatever reasons, the product champions behind those sims were unable to secure the financing to start work. To get a better feel for the whole process, read my friend John Sponauer's analysis of the life and death of a sim, M1 Tank Platoon 2, from its early development as an upgrade all the way through its last couple of weeks.

Despite my previous experiences with other sim companies, I am optimistic that Carl Norman and Rick Martinez mean what they say and SSI will continue to raise the banner of the Digital Combat Series while the Jane's, NovaLogics, and Microproses around them fall like unfortunate tin soldiers. This is not to say SH2 is a done deal--that moment will come when you hold the box in your hand. We look to the next rumored subsim as our best hope for advanced underwater warfare. All we can do is stay positive, supportive, and if it's decent, buy four copies when it comes out.

About The Author

Neal Stevens is the editor of Subsim.com and contributing author of the coffee table book United States Submarines.

Computer Game Review - Innovations And Developments

2006-11-17T14:49:00.000+08:00

by: Sandra Stammberger

The continuing advances in graphics technology, platform gaming infrastructure, processor technology and innovations in design will see more aggressive developments in computer games this 2006.

Gaming has traveled a long way today from the baby steps of the video games about thirty years ago. The square and jagged edged figures that used to dominate and entertain gamers on the screen is now more video-movie like if not life like that people today finds computer games more challenging and exciting.

The constant improvements made in computer technology exceeded expectations in the sales of computer games soft ware and has turned it into one big business in a very short span of time. The biggest impact on these games coming form the role playing games and the first person shooters.

The development of broadband had contributed very substantially to online gaming that in countries like South Korea, online gaming (Starcraft Gozu) has gathered a lot of followers dubbing the game fondly as its national sport. Online gaming has gained a popularity never seen before (or possible before), that international tournament are waged and battled online. Always trying to outwit and outplay the competition, world wide, online gaming has become very challenging and intense.

Where computer game designs used to be a simpler affair, today teams of artists, musicians, producers and gaming industries are working together to make the best and offer their best to the public that has patronized the games very well. The industry however has not, in marketing parlance, reached the peak. In my opinion, it is nowhere near it. The constant innovations that are shaping the computer games industry is so vast varied exciting and rewarding, enough material to motivate the designers and gamers to move on, that who knows what surprises are in store for the gaming public in the future.

What make computer games very popular are the regular releases of good computer game software. If you have not yet tried out the following, find a demo and find out for yourself.

1) Backyard Baseball 2005
2) Battlefield 2
3) Civilization IV
4) Dance Dance Revolution ULTRAMIX3
5) FEAR
6) Fifa 06
7) Food Fight!
8) Grand Theft Auto
9) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
10) Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
11) Mario Kant DS
12) Need for Speed
13) Ninja Gaiden Black
14) Peter Jackson's King Kong
15) Resident Evil 4
16) Sid Meier's Pirates!
17) Sly 3: Honor Amongst Thieves
18) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
19) The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer
20) We Love Katamari

Console Gaming
The technology race in the computer games category will be heavily participated by Microsoft with their Xbox 360 - powered by a multi core processing unit, Sony's Playstation 3 by a cell processor technology, and Revolution by Nintendo will allow player interaction through a wireless motion sensing controller.

The popularity of the computer and video games has been a big business that it has surpassed the revenues of the film industry excluding the films ancillary revenues. However additional business for the computer games also comes in the form of trading cards, T-shirt prints of popular characters in video games and game titles and television shows that features reviews and gaming competitions. Judging from continuing developments and innovations in the game designs and computer technology, the year 2006 will even be more exciting.

About The Author

S. stammberger is the owner of A1 computer Games. A daily updated blog dealing with video and computer games. http://www.a1computergames.co.uk

Copyright Sandra Stammberger - http://www.a1computergames.co.uk

Learning About Computer Game Design

2006-11-17T14:40:00.000+08:00

by: Ron Eletrick

Computer games have become extremely popular in the past few years. With new games being launched almost every year world over, the demand seems never ending. Those adept at computer programming, computer aided art and computer hardware are the masterminds to produces these extremely sought after games.

Usually, an interest sparks if you are a passionate about playing games. One may be an expert player, but subsequently gets bored of the games available and there by begins thinking of concepts for new games or means of improvising the already existing games. Taking a computer game design class and ultimately enrolling in a full fledged course for the same are the next steps. At the end of it a new computer game designer is created.

Computer games have become such a technology rage in themselves that schools have begun offering classes in computer game design. The popularity of these classes leads to their getting filled up soon and they can be a bit expensive. I found some great computer information at http://www.mycomputingnews.com. Hundreds of schools, most of them very much techno oriented have come up in order to fulfill the desires of those who wish to learn computer game design. Those who opt for a complete course of computer game design will be exposed initially to concepts like game balance, level design, narrative and storytelling, basic game architecture, motion planning and control.

As a career, it's not at all simple. Hundreds of different aspects that comprise the computer game design have to be considered. Those aspiring to learn all will learn about the history of computer games, software architecture, animated sprites, sound and music, realism ,challenges, level design, plot pacing, interface techniques, 3D loading , camera control, rule based approaches among many other concepts.

Most fail to understand that designing a computer game is just like writing a technology filled book. A good game needs a good storyline that comprises a plot, characters, narrative, a thrilling begin, middle and end. Also emotion, repercussions and interaction also are a vital part. The domain of computer game design has many challenges for anyone who aspires and decides to master the basics.

Computer game design, has become a profession for many today. The average money one can spin is about $74,900 annually. That's not bad at all to work on especially when you enjoy it thoroughly. Some computer game designers are able to clinch contracts with big players and make over $100,000 per year. For those who indulge in computer game design as a freelancer can enhance their earnings from a regular job by about $10,000 to $30,000 a year. Hence, in conclusion, computer game design is surely fun filled, challenging and lucrative from every possible perspective.

About The Author:

Ron often works with: http://www.communicationroad.com http://www.ecommercetrain.com

Dora The Explorer Online Games: Giving Your Child Fun For Free

2006-11-17T14:14:00.000+08:00

by: Low Jeremy

What can be better than getting your children something to play with in your computer that provides fun, excitement, challenge, and education for free?

The internet provides these kinds of games that will really get your children excited. An example of free online games for children is Dora the Explorer. You may have seen Dora the Explorer on TV. And, you may notice how your child can really learn about math, music, physical coordination and even learn how to speak some basic Spanish language with Dora the Explorer.

Dora the Explorer online games will let your children interact with Dora and her friends and can take them to the imaginative world of Dora where your child can meet Dora’s friends.

You may notice that Dora the Explorer television show can also teach your children how to observe situations and solve problems. Because of this, you may want to consider letting your children play Dora the Explorer free online games.

Dora the Explorer free online game is available in a number of websites where you can easily access it and let your child start playing the game. All you have to do after the play page load is to read the instruction and orient your child how to play with Dora the Explorer online game.

Dora the Explorer online games, like the TV show will let your child interact with Dora and her pet monkey, Boots, to help them solve different situations and problems. And, like the TV show, your child can learn a bit of Spanish language.

Dora the Explorer online game can be fun for your child to play with and it is also a great way to spend some time with them. Dora the Explorer online game has easy to understand instruction where your child can easily comprehend and figure out how to play the game.

There are a number of different kinds of Dora the Explorer free online games available, some are adventure games, some are puzzle games and some are downloadable games that you can play even if you’re offline or when you’re not connected to the Internet.

These games usually include Dora’s voice to make it more appealing to your children. Another great feature is that it teaches your children about things while they are having fun. Playing these games can really develop a child’s problem solving skills. This is because, it provides fun and as you may know it is easier to learn something when you are having fun.

Dora the Explorer online games can also make your children more outgoing and sociable with other children. They will be more willing and eager to explore their surroundings and learn new things about it. Dora the Explorer online games can really make your child very eager to explore their surroundings and can really develop their situational skills and problem solving skills.

So, if you want a free online game that is both fun and educational for your children, Dora the Explorer is perfect for it. It will provide your children fun and excitement and at the same time, learn something from it.

Dora the Explorer TV and games will really develop your child’s mind at an early age. Just imagine your 6 year old child can already speak basic Spanish simply because of playing Dora the Explorer games and watching Dora the Explorer TV shows.

About The Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on dora, wallpapers, websites, information & story, please visit http://dora.articlekeep.com.

This article was posted on November 16, 2006

Xbox 360: Which Core Bundle is Right for You?

2006-11-17T14:09:00.000+08:00

by: Barry Games

If you've lived under a rock since May then you'd be surprised to learn that Microsoft has released their second Xbox titled XBOX 360. Upon your emergence it wouldn't take long for you to figure out that this is no regular system; the XBOX 360 will lead the next generation consoles by including some of the latest wireless and graphic technology to-date. What some of you may not know is the fact Microsoft will release TWO different systems. They were concerned about the price of all the gadgets so they made a second, cheaper system. What's the difference? This article will explain some of the must knows before buying the XBOX 360.

First off, what do the systems hold that are the same? Both hold a DVD-ROM so you can play DVD's, CD's, all XBOX 360 games. You can plug into one of the 3 USB ports to access iPOD's, video, cameras, MP3 players, etc. pretty much the generic gaming experience will be available on both systems. But now for the fun stuff. Should I shell out the extra $100 for the more expensive system?

You'll be surprised about the differences between the two bundled systems so consider these things before buying. In no particular order here are some CONS of buying the CHEAPER system. (Believe me, I wouldn't pump the more expensive system if it wasn't a big deal, I'm here to save gamers money.)

First off, remember backwards compatibility? Your ability to play 200 XBox games on the next generation XBOX 360? Well you NEED to download patches for most games and those patches stay on the hard drive. The cheaper system does NOT come equipped with the 20GB hard drive.

What's the difference in cables? The cheaper version comes complete with AV cables for your TV, the expensive version comes complete with cables for HD-TV hook up. BUT get this: the graphic difference of the Xbox to Xbox 360 will be marginal if you have an old TV. This is what we've been told, and if you experience otherwise post it in our Xbox forum. It seems that you need a new TV to really experience the bells and whistles of the new system.

If you want to save games then you NEED to buy a 64MB memory unit (for the cheaper system) which will cost 40 bucks. That bumps up the price of the original to $340 from $299. For an extra $60 bucks you can have EVERYTHING in the better system. (As an aside, the Canadian companies are going to make a bundle (well not a bundle since Microsoft will likely loose money to start off with.) But, the US price for the basic system is $299 while the Canadian counterpart is $399. The current exchange rate does not warrant a $100 increase to adjust. The price should be closer to $350. Just a thought.)

The one controller that comes with the new cheaper bundle is wired, whereas the more expensive bundle will come complete with a single WIRELESS controller. Enough said. You be the judge regarding its value.

Judging by looks, the Xbox 360 games will typically be sharper and crisper, but not an all out blow out. I'll say that Microsoft BETTER get some more games going than the initial 18 or risk losing market share and interest in a hurry. This article concludes that for the extra $60 bucks (you need the 64 MB card to save games so that's why it's $60,) you shold go out and place an order for the more expensive system. Why Xbox made two different ones when the prices would be so close is beyond me. Mind you, coupled with game packages, the price does climb up there. That's my take, now back to gaming.

About The Author

Barry Games

Visit DiscussVideoGames for online Xbox 360 video game forums that includes all gaming systems. Dedicated Halo 2 forum, Xbox 360, Xbox live, and Xbox cheat code forums for your enjoyment.

discussvideogames.com

This article was posted on December 05, 2005

Should You Upgrade To An XBox 360

2006-11-17T14:07:00.000+08:00

by: Colette Ianieri

The XBox 360 is going to be one of the most sought after gifts of this upcoming holiday season. However many people want to know is it worth upgrading now, or should you wait, here are some factors you may want to consider.

The base price for and XBox 360 is $300, the most common accessories are the 20GB hard drive ($100), wireless controllers ($50) and headsets ($20). Many vendors are offering packages with a variety of options with prices of $500 or more. While some of these options depend on your gaming style and preferences the hard drive is the one option we recommend you get right away. The hard drive allows you to save games to play back later and install updates that make many older games compatible on the new platform.

One of the advantages the XBox 360 will have over other game systems is graphics. The graphics of other gaming systems are top notch but on newer games like Project Gotham Racing 3, NFL 06 and Call of Duty 2 which were written for this platform, there simply is no comparison. When you compare the specifications the XBox 360 to any of its competitors, it’s anywhere from 2 to 10 times more powerful. If you are lucky enough to own and HDTV you will really notice the difference, although it will work on standard TV’s as well.

With this console Microsoft is also making a concerted effort to make the Xbox part of your media center. It can connect to any other windows networked computer in your house. It can be used to play movies, slideshows of pictures, and MP3 files. If you own and IPod or digital camera you can also connect them directly to the USB port located on the front game console.

Lastly you’ll want to think about Xbox Live. This is a paid online membership that allows you to get free trials of new games and play in head to head action against other players over your high speed internet connection. You also have access to updates and patches as they become available.

For hard core gamers there is no choice, they will do practically anything to get their hands on the newest and latest systems available. For others it may be worth waiting until 2006 when Playstation 3 is released to see how platforms compare.

© Copyright Gamer411.net, All Rights Reserved.

About The Author

This article was written by Colette Ianieri who runs http://www.Gamer411.net which features news and reviews of video games, game systems, and portable video games.

This article was posted on December 12, 2005

Xbox 360: A Revolution in Console Gaming

2006-11-17T14:04:00.000+08:00

by: Mitchell Medford

It wasn't so long ago that kids who got the "new" Nintendo 8-bit gaming console or the Sega system for Christmas were the envy of every less fortunate and burned out Atari owning neighborhood playmate. As time elapsed, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and NES's Turbo Graphix 16 became all the rave. Anyone now in their twenties can recall being impressed by the awesome advancements in playability and graphic display of the Nintendo 64 and Sega's Dreamcast system, and even more recently (only five or so years ago) the advent of Microsoft's Xbox, Nintendo's Game Cube, and the Play Station by Sony. The Video Gaming industry has made great strides in the past twenty years: from slow-moving, barely recognizable forms on screen in original Atari games such as Pac-Man, Calga, and Tron, to the extremely vivid and life-like graphics of Tomb Raider, Splinter Cell, and Tekken; available for the Xbox and Play Station. Now, just in time for Christmas 2005, Microsoft has made the next move in the continuing race for Video Gaming Supremacy with the introduction of the Xbox 360. The result is truly phenomenal.

The Xbox 360, as with all video game consoles, is basically just a computer with hardware and software dedicated to the function of running video games. The original Xbox was pretty much just a Microsoft PC with a modified Pentium III processor, some powerful graphics and audio capabilities, and a modified version of the Windows 2000 operating system, all packaged in that distinctive black box.

This year Microsoft has released two versions of the Xbox 360: the Xbox 360 and Xbox 360 Core System. The Xbox 360Core System is "plug and play", that is, that in addition to the console, it includes an integrated controller and an AV cable. The Xbox 360 (not the "Core system") comes with a wireless controller, an HD AV cable, an Ethernet connectivity cable, a headset, a media remote, and a removable 20-GB hard drive.

For anyone who thought the original Xbox was a technological marvel, you must try this out! As amazing and realistic as the play on the first Xbox was, the Xbox 360 makes its predecessor look tired and worn-out. Microsoft has rebuilt the Xbox from the ground up. From the name to the look, from hardware to features, the Xbox 360 is a radically different and more powerful machine than the original Xbox. Far more than a video game console, the Xbox 360 is a total media center that allows users to play games, network with other 360 owners; rip, stream and download all types of media, including high-definition movies, music, digital pictures and game content, as well as play DVD movies and audio CD's.

The Xbox 360 will revolutionize the gaming world. Microsoft has definitely set the new standard in video game technology.

About The Author

Mitchell Medford is an author and product development consultant for several consumer electronics manufacturers. Visit his websites for more information on the Xbox 360 and satellite TV:

http://www.newtechnologytv.com

http://www.1stboard.com

This article was posted on January 05, 2006

PSP Game: Online PSP Game Membership versus Buying a Game in a Store

2006-11-16T12:09:00.000+08:00

by: Paquita Gillis

What do you think would be the best value for money, the best deal?

Have your really compared all the ways of purchasing PSP Game, Full length Movies even Music, TV shows, Game demos for your PSP.

There is a bit on a tendency to race down to the nearest Games Shop to find the latest and best Games out there but, are you getting your moneys worth?

Have you ever thought of and done any comparing to other methods?

Have you ever thought that an Online Internet PSP Store could offer exactly the same quality and quantity of Games plus so much more for minimal cost?

Let’s take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of doing two methods of obtaining that new game you want so bad.

Buying Games in a Games Store Versus

Buying a Membership with an Internet PSP Download Store

Advantages Buying in a Game Store

• Usually first with the latest game
• Nothing like browsing and reading the back and checking out the graphics.
• Gaining extras like a poster, t shirt, competition entry etc
• Discussing the game with so called experts (sales assistants) who you would only assume have flogged the latest to give their critique on the game.
• Potential to buy second hand games that are no longer available.
• The thrill of handing money over the counter!

Disadvantages buying in a Game Store

• Paying in excess of $60+ for the latest game
• Buying more then ONE game at a time will get really expensive.
• If you don’t like the game it collects dust on the shelf (some places will give you 3 days to exchange it though).
• Shops don’t stock all the games that are on the market, you may have to wait weeks to get it once you have ordered it in. (If it is still available of course!)
• Shops can get crowded with over zealous gamers, especially if latest game is out on shelves.
• Shops Close at night!
• Getting only a DVD and that’s it, nothing else.
• Having to buy the latest magazines for reviews and checking the Internet for possible reviews.
• An old Game is no longer available.

Advantages buying from an Internet Download Store

• One time fee nothing over $40US and that’s it no more to pay for life.
• Having the ability to download anything at anytime any hour your want regardless 24/7
• Over 20 000000 items to download (including music and movies, cheat codes etc)
• No dust collecting DVDs
• On going support & tech support, manuals galore!
• You can Store all Games Music, Movies on your PC or your memory Stick
• Easy instructions to pop anything onto your PSP
• Competitions are available at times
• Easy access to Reviews on Games and Movies which is included in your membership (no downloading something you don’t want to play.)
• Extra items that can convert your old DVD’s (Games Movies) onto your PSP
• Read the Reviews on the Game download it; get a few Cheat codes and you’re on level 20 within a couple of hours!

Disadvantages Buying off an Internet Download Store

• You don’t own a computer!
• No CD/disc Cover to peruse and graphics to admire.
• No T shirt, poster promotions etc
• Buying a couple pieces of extra equipment (Requires Sony Memory Stick to play games, mind you the largest can hold up to 20 games)
• Not sure which Internet Download PSP sites are scams and rip offs!
• You only have dial up!
• An old Game is no longer available

Well after a little brain storming it really is up to the individual.

There is nothing like going into the store to grab the latest and best new Game on the market, but we all have to ask the question is this one CD/DVD worth the money.

My verdict is that I feel that since the younger generation tend to play the PSP Game more so then the older generation then the $ factor has to be taken into consideration. It’s a case of stating that “Yes the cover of the latest Game is “cool” with the promotional T shirt but, is it worth $45-90 bucks.

Especially when you know that you can get that game and a thousand other Games and items for half the price of that one DVD.

It all boils down to what is the most economical and what suits the individual. And what you are prepared to do to get the most out of your PSP.

Plus There is a tendency to not trust the Internet and assume that somewhere somehow you may get “ripped off”.

However there are respectable services available it’s just a matter of looking and researching and finding consistent reviews on whom and what is out there.

On that note there are a handful of respectable and legal Online PSP download centers that come highly recommended for quality quantity and value for money such as such as http://psp--game-.blogspot.com Enjoy.

About The Author
Paquita Gillis owns blogs on how to get the best PSP Game and provides articles, tips and ideas So you can have the best PSP entertainment available. http://psp--game-.blogspot.com

This article was posted on September 18, 2006

How to Watch Movies on Your PSP

2006-11-16T12:06:00.000+08:00

by: Neil Wallace

If you’re like most people who own one of Sony’s beautiful PlayStation Portables, you’re probably in love with it. But you also want to be sure you get the most out of your investment and enjoy every one of its incredible features. And that includes the ability to watch all your favorite movies.

Sony’s PlayStation Portable or PSP, built primarily for gaming, comes fully equipped with superb multimedia features. So if you thought it was just for playing games, think again. Not only can you play multiplayer games over the Internet, you can also watch movies, listen to music, browse the Internet, and more. It uses a small, yet powerful, Memory Stick PRO Duo, and the performance is superb due to advanced technology using Mp4 encoding.

Mp4, also known as MPEG-4, is the global multimedia standard defined by the Moving Picture Experts Group that delivers professional-quality audio and video streams over a wide range of bandwidths. Mp4 enables DVD-quality video to be delivered at lower data rates and smaller file sizes, and that’s very important on smaller devices with limited storage capacity.

Your PSP comes ready to play music and movies in Mp4 format. Transferring music and movie files to your PSP is easy. First, download the files you want from the Internet to your PC. Second, ensure any movies are in mp4 format. Third, transfer the files to your Memory Stick PRO Duo. Your PSP instruction manual offers several ways to do that. Finally, insert the Memory Stick PRO Duo in your PSP and select either video or music from the home menu.

This is a beautiful device and it would be a shame to use it only for one purpose and to miss out on all its other uses. So I guess now you’ll be watching movies, listening to music and playing games, all day long. Who’s going to get any work done?

About The Author

Neil Wallace is an avid multimedia enthusiast and the editor of Mp4 Magazine. For movies, music and multimedia resources, visit http://www.Mp4Magazine.com.

This article was posted on September 01, 2006

Unleash The Power Of The PSP Gigapack And PSP Download Services

2006-11-16T12:04:00.000+08:00

by: Terry Brazil

The PSP Gigapack is the most powerful handheld gaming package ever created. But not only is it powerful it is also a great value if you are looking to get the most out of your handheld gaming.

The heart of the Gigapack is the Play Station Personal handheld gaming system. The PSP is the most powerful handheld gaming device ever created. The PSP runs on a 333Mhz processor that is almost equal to that of the Play Station 2. It incorporates 32MB of main memory and 4MB of DRAM.

The screen measures at 4.3 inches. This is the largest screen size for any handheld with the Nintendo DS measuring in at 3 inches. The PSP also has a screen resolution of 480 x 272 pixels. This is almost double the Nintendo DS’s screen. This makes for a really high resolution image.

The PSP has built in stereo speakers as well as a slew of different ways to communicate with it. Among the communication methods are 802.11b wireless networking, USB 2.0, Pro Duo memory stick, IrDA, and an infra red remote.

The PSP takes UMD cartridges which is made for the PSP exclusivly. The recognized file formats are the PSP game format, UMD Audio, and UMD Video. All of these can easily be created on a computer and loaded to your PSP’s memory stick via the USB cable. This allows you to download a very large variety of files for use on your PSP.

The PSP also features a headphone and microphone jack. This allows you to talk to others while playing online. The PSP is basically a computer you can fit in your pocket. It also has a power connector to recharge the PSP’s built in battery.

The buttons consist of the standard PlayStation controller buttons with a few extras. The additional buttons are home, power, brightness control, sound mode, volume, wireless networking on/off switch, and a disk eject button.

The PSP also features parental controls. This will allow concerned parents to lock their children out of games and movies they shouldn't he seeing. This is a great feature and the PSP is the only handheld gaming device to offer it.

Sony also plans on delivering a slew of accessories to even further your handheld experience. You can also pick up the USB Camera for PSP, USB GPS for PSP, and USB Keyboard for PSP.

The Gigapack takes this outstanding gaming system and teams it up with a bunch of the added extras. Some Gigapack vary in what they give but most are the same. Included in the Gigapack is a 1GB memory stick (to hold your favorite games, movies, music, and more), PSP headphones with remote control, soft carrying case, PSP AC adaptor, PSP battery pack, travel plug (so you can charge your PSP anywhere in the world), PSP stand, USB cable, cleaning cloth, and usually two games.

You can obviously see why the PSP Gigapack is the most powerful handheld gaming package in the world. Teamed up with a great PSP download service you will have all you will ever need for handheld entertainment. Even if you already have a PSP you should at least invest about $55 on a 1GB memory stick.

There are a few PSP download services on the market and I have tried most all of them. The one I am most satisfied with and use on a daily basis is PSP Download Services. They offer a ton of benefits to get the most out of your PSP.

Although you can find PSP files for download on the Internet for free they are usually fairly speratic. It may take a few hours just to locate what you are looking for and a lot of the time the file may be taken down. This happens a lot if the game has not just recently been released. The same is true for PSP movies that can be found for free.

I strongly suggest you use a PSP download service. This way you will not waste away hours just to find out that the file you are looking for has been taken down. With a download service you simply search for what you are looking for and it will come back with a list of results. You are usually guaranteed to find what you are looking for. For instance PSP Download Services offers an amazing 20+ million files. You will always find exactly what you are looking for.

Depending on who you choose you may have a monthly download limit or even a monthly bandwidth limit. Others may give you a content limit so you can only get a certain amount of say games or movies in any given month. You will never experience any of these problems with PSP Download Services. You will always get UNLIMITED PSP game, movie, music, mp3, software, screen savers, background image, themes, e-books, and more.

PSP Download Services also runs on the world fastest network and uses a download excelerator. That means that you can use this great service even if you only have dial up. What this mean for you is that your downloads that usually take a matter of hours will only take you a matter of minutes with PSP Download Services.

You will also get step-by-step instructions on how to use this great technology. Even a complete computer novice can use this service with no problems. Even if you do get caught up on something you can always call technical support. They will also give you the file transfer software needed to load your PSP full of your favorite titles.

Now that I have packed you full of wonderful information on how to get the best out of your PSP the choice is yours. Quite simply it is a no brainer. How could anybody ever go wrong with a PSP Gigapack and PSP Download Services. There is no way for you to loose. Even if you end up wanting to try another download service they offer an unconditional 60 day money back guarantee.

Don’t hesitate though act now and get your own piece of handheld gaming heaven. This is only high tech device you will ever need. You can surf the Internet, chat, play games, watch movies, talk with friends, listen to music and mp3’s, read e-books and much more with this astonishing piece of hardware and PSP Download Services is its perfect match.

Below are a list of where to find the best deals to start your PSP gaming experience.

entertainment.guruofinfo.com/ultimatepsp.htm - PSP Download Services

entertainment.guruofinfo.com/bestpspdeals.html - Best Deals On PSP Gigapack And Memory Cards

About The Author

Terry Brazil
www.guruofinfo.com

This article was posted on March 24, 2006

Christmas PS3 Blues

2006-11-16T11:56:00.000+08:00

by: Rob O'Neill

Patience is a virtue, and you're going to have to be pretty virtuous if you're one of the millions of UK PlayStation Fans awaiting the arrival of the PS3. As if it wasn't bad enough we had to rewrite our letters to Santa this year (because it now won't hit our shelves until March), we're also all going to be green with envy as the web fills up with the usual reviews, cheats, and walkthroughs etc from sites in the States where they will get their hands on the console from November 17th.

Personally, my patience (lost my virtue a long time ago) ran out already, and my craving for HD gaming led me to the XBOX 360. I suspect many others will do the same this Christmas and I don't blame you. To not release the most hyped console of all time for Christmas has got to be the craziest decision Sony has made (apart from the choice of software packed with their MP3 Walkman - but don't get me started on that one). It can't even be based on format because the PS3 will be region free, and you can play any PS3 game on it no matter what part of the world you bought it from.

If you do decide to cut your losses and go for the XBOX 360 you won't be disappointed, I certainly haven't been. But you should be aware that in their hurry to steal the HD gaming market, Microsoft left a couple of jobs as 'work in progress'. Although the list is growing, the XBOX 360 still only plays a handful of original XBOX games. If you're starting afresh that?s fine, but if you've got a hefty back-catalogue of XBOX titles you were planning to play then that?s a real bummer. Backwards compatibility was a target that simply wasn't reached in time for release and early release was obviously of greater importance to Microsoft than it appears to be for Sony.

However, if you're a PlayStation purist, or simply do not fancy the XBOX 360 or the Nintendo Wii, then your virtue will be well rewarded. Although I find it difficult to understand some of Sony's business decisions, I can fully understand the hype surrounding the PS3. It will be without doubt the most powerful domestic games console available, boasting the 'Cell' processor, twelve times faster than processors found in top range PC's. The PS3 will also offer 'Blue-ray' technology which Sony are heavily promoting to take over from DVD, as well as offering free 'out of the box' online gaming (broadband connection required).

All of this extra 'oomph' inevitably comes at a cost, and you should expect to pay more for the prestige of owning such a machine. You'll also need to keep an eye on game prices too from November and compare them to its rivals, afterall there is no point owning the thing if you have to rob a bank every time you want something to play on it. On the plus side it will play any PS2 or PS1 titles you have tucked away.

Whatever you decide, have a happy Christmas, and keep on gaming !

About The Author
Rob O'Neill is owner of Console Fun, the one stop shop for information on video games consoles including XBOX, XBOX 360, PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, and DS.

http://www.consolefun.co.uk

This article was posted on October 18, 2006

PS3 Game Previews and Reviews

2006-11-16T11:52:00.000+08:00

by: Andrew M. Lawrence

The Sony PS3 will be the most powerful game console ever released. The impressive parallel processing architecture and powerful GPU allows for arguably the most ambitious releases on a console ever. Certainly, the graphics and performance the system will deliver will outstrip that of its more prudent competitors, Xbox 360, and Nintendo's Wii. It should come as no surprise then, that many of the most anticipated titles of 2007 will launch on the PS3, some on multiple platforms, others exclusively. As impressive as the hardware is, it's really not important in the scheme of things; what really matters is what games you can actually play!

The PS3 is costly enough as it is, and as with anything else you invest in, you wouldn't want to do it before reading up on it first. What better way to do that, than to check out some PS3 game previews? Generally speaking, the best sources of PS3 previews will come from those websites and magazines that have generally covered PS2 and the original PS from the outset. General gaming sites like Gamespy/IGN, Gamespot, 1up, and GamesIndustry.biz are generally good sources of quick, easy to read news, game previews, and reviews. The quality varies, but what is common to each of these is that they will compare their subject matter to the competition. In this case, exclusive PS3 titles would be compared against games on Xbox 360 and Wii in any PS3 game review.

If you're already a fan, and you're set on having a PS3, you might prefer PS3 reviews from sites that deal with nothing else. Dedicated community fansites tend to have active discussion forms full of analysis of every last detail. More to the point, the staff who run such sites are generally fans themselves, and are just as interested in the system and games they post about, which is usually reflected in their reporting. Sites like PSXextreme, PSrules, PS3 Power, and PS3 Land are all good sources of PS3 game previews. Naturally, there aren't any PS3 reviews out yet, but these sites are already geared up and equipped to start posting them as soon as they hit the shelves in November.

Anticipated titles at release time will include the fourth game in the ever popular Gran Turismo series, Madden 07, Vampire's Rain, Crysis, Fatal Inertia, MotorStorm, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 3, NBA Live 07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire, Resistance: Fall of Man, and F.E.A.R. Also keep in mind that the PS3 is going to be widely backwards compatible with older PS and PS2 games, which you'll be able to buy from Son'y PNP service, if you don't already have them – one of the major selling points! For your PS3, game reviews already written will be just as useful. Finally, going back even further, Sony has announced that a wide variety of Sega Genesis (MegaDrive) games will be also be compatible with the PS3, opening up yet more games to its repertoire.

About The Author
Andrew Lawrence is the developer of http://www.e-bookz-online.co.uk a site that promotes mostly info products on all subjects.

To find out more info on the PS3 you can find a full in depth report at http://www.theps3report.e-bookz-online.co.uk.

This article was posted on October 30, 2006

How Kids Learn To Cooperate In Video Games -- A Guide for Parents and Teachers

2006-11-16T11:47:00.000+08:00

by: Marc Prensky

A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games their kids play are teaching the kids “negative” messages such as aggression, violence, and isolation from real people. I want to illustrate here how computer and video game playing, can have positive effects on kids. This includes even the “addictive” game playing associated with many of these games. The learning from these games is well worth the effort the kids put in playing them, and kids typically sense this at some level, which is one reason they fight so hard for their games.

One key lesson many of their games is teaching them is the value of people working together and helping each other. To illustrate how this occurs, I will use one particular game, Toontown, as an example.

Toontown (www.toontown.com) is the Walt Disney Company’s entry into the Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) category. For the non-initiated, that means a computer game that supports thousands of players online simultaneously, all of whom can see and interact with each other. A key feature of these worlds is that they are “persistent,” meaning that the worlds continue to exist and change whether or not you are there, just any other place in the real world.

[Note: There are two types of multiplayer online games, both of which have their advantages. One type, the “multiplayer” game, lets you interact with a limited group of people, such as those on your team or squad, in a game world that typically exists for only the time you are playing. The game America’s Army is a good example of this. The second type, the “massively multiplayer” game, lets you interact with everyone you meet in the ongoing world. Massively multiplayer games like EverQuest, Asheron’s Call, and Dark Age of Camelot have captured the time and imaginations of hundreds of thousands of US teenage and older players. The Korean massively multiplayer game Lineage has over 4 million registered users, often with up to half a million players on-line at once. The players typically meet in relatively thinly-populated areas of very large and often interconnected virtual worlds, so even with these huge numbers, it is not like pushing your way through Times Square on New Year’s Eve.]

Toontown is the first massively multiplayer game designed specifically designed for younger kids (pre-teens, I think, though they don’t specifically say.) In addition, many older kids and even adults enjoy playing it. In the game you create, name and dress a character, and then you take it out to play in the virtual world. Your character is the representation (“avatar”) of you playing in the world – it is the “you” that other players know.

Although if you wanted to you could spend your entire time in Toontown merely running around the virtual world, the “object” of the game is to defeat “Cogs,” members of the evil gang that wants to take over the town. The Cogs to fight come in many varieties and strengths. To defeat a Cog you employ “gags”– such as squirt bottles or pies in the face – that you purchase with jelly bean currency that you earn in a number of ways.

In your early days in Toontown, when you have earned relatively few gags, you typically run around alone, deciding when to confront a low-level Cog you pass in the street. (You do this by running into it.) You and the Cog then square off and do battle, taking turns throwing gags at each other. If you defeat the Cog, he explodes and you are rewarded with points towards additional gags. If the Cog defeats you, you “die,” which means you lose all your gags (although, importantly, you do not lose the “experience” you attained – i.e. the types and levels of gags you are allowed to purchase and use.)

There are a lot of other twists, but that’s essentially the game: Earn and buy gags, use them to fight Cogs.

But here’s where the cooperative part comes in. As you move to higher experience levels, the tasks you are required to accomplish become more and more difficult. You often have to “rescue” buildings that the Cogs have taken over, buildings that have multiple floors filled with high-level, hard-to-defeat Cogs.

And you can’t do this alone, no matter how much experience you have. So you begin to learn to play the game with others. The game encourages this, with “friends lists” and built in “speed chat” menus consisting, for kids’ protection, of a limited number of phrases you can use. For example, you can invite your friends to help you defeat a building (or, if you prefer, you can just wait outside for others to show up.)

But it gets subtle. Just because someone is your friend (or wants to be) or happens to show up, doesn’t mean he or she has the experience to defeat the higher-level Cogs. You can check out someone’s gags when they are in range to help you decide whom to work with, but success depends not only on the level and number of gags one has, but also on knowing how to use them in battle. You learn over time what players you want on your team to achieve success in particular situations. Sometimes, to be sure all of you survive, you have to reject players who ask to work with you on a certain task. One of the things you can say through the speed chat is “I think this is too risky for you.” Just as in the real world, such advice is not always well-received, and the game gives you the opportunity to learn to deal with this.

In the midst of any battle – players typically fight higher-level Cogs in groups of four – a player can choose, rather than to throw a gag at the Cogs, to instead give his or her fellow players additional “laff points” (i.e. health). Doing this helps prevent them from “dying” and dropping out of the battle. One skill typically gained from frequent play is knowing when to help your teammates versus when to attack the Cogs. This is not trivial. One adult player described her first battle with ultra-high-level Cogs as “extremely nerve wracking,” and characterized the strategies she had to employ to work successfully with the other players as “the most emotional experience I’ve ever had in a game.” And this is the version for kids!

And there is yet another way Toontown players learn there is value in cooperation. Some of the tasks available to higher-level players allow them to earn jelly beans by helping out new players. When these experienced players see a Newbie fighting a Cog on the street, they can join in and assist. When the Cog is defeated, both the experienced player and the Newbie get rewarded game at their own level.

Is it Boring?

Still, while the tasks at the start of the game involve defeating only one Cog at a time and the tasks at higher levels require players to defeat hundreds of Cogs on their way to liberate bigger and bigger buildings, the battles are very similar. “Isn’t that boring?” I asked one “addicted” player. “After all it’s basically the same thing over and over – fighting Cogs.”

“I like going up the levels,” she replied. And of course the only way she can do this is by learning to cooperate well with real people, in real time – while sitting at her own computer.

I encourage readers of this article to try Toontown, both with your kids, and even on your own. (You can go to www.toontown.com to get started.) See how far you can get. If you happen to enjoy the experience, you can go on to the aforementioned “older players’” games, where the enemies are fantasy monsters and the buildings castles to storm, yet where the principles of cooperation are basically the same. If you actually get addicted to cooperative play, don’t blame me – these games are designed to reel you in.

But even if you don’t get hooked yourself – and the more you are from the “Digital Immigrant” generation the less likely it is that you will – hopefully you will have learned this important and generally-overlooked lesson:

What keeps the kids playing these games is not the violence (that’s all fake and the kids know it), but rather the ability to work together with others to achieve more and more difficult goals.

Can you think of any skill more useful for children to spend their time learning? I can’t.

About The Author

Marc Prensky is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, and designer in the critical areas of education and learning. He is the author of Digital Game-Based Learning (McGraw-Hill, 2001). Marc is founder and CEO of Games2train, a game-based learning company, and founder of The Digital Multiplier, an organization dedicated to eliminating the digital divide in learning worldwide. He is also the creator of the sites and . Marc holds an MBA from Harvard and a Masters in Teaching from Yale. More of his writings can be found at . More of Marc’s writings on the positive effects of video games can be found at www.marcprensky.com/writing/default.asp.
marc@games2train.com

This article was posted on June 14, 2004

Really Good News About Your Children’s Video Games

2006-11-16T11:43:00.000+08:00

by: Marc Prensky

Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green and Daphne Bavelier has grabbed national attention for suggesting that playing “action” video and computer games has positive effects – enhancing student’s visual selective attention. But that finding is just one small part of a more important message that all parents and educators need to hear: video games are not the enemy, but the best opportunity we have to engage our kids in real learning.

Any observer knows that the attitude of today’s children to video and computer games is the very opposite of the attitude that most of them have toward school. The amount of time they spend playing computer and video games – estimated at 10,000 hours by the time they are twenty-one, often in multi-hour bursts – belies the “short attention span” criticism of educators. And while years ago the group attracted to video and computer games was almost entirely adolescent boys, it is now increasingly girls and all children of all ages and social groups. One would be hard-pressed today to find a kid in America who doesn’t play computer or video games of one sort or another.

The evidence is quickly mounting that our “Digital Native” children’s brains are changing to accommodate these new technologies with which they spend so much time. Not only are they better at spreading their attention over a wide range of events, as Green and Bavelier report, but they are better at parallel processing, taking in information more quickly (at “twitchspeed”), understanding multimedia, and collaborating over networks.

What attracts and “glues” kids to today’s video and computer games is neither the violence, or even the surface subject matter, but rather the learning the games provide. Kids, like and all humans, love to learn when it isn’t forced on them. Modern computer and video games provide learning opportunities every second, or fraction thereof.

On the surface, kids learn to do things – to fly airplanes, to drive fast cars, to be theme park operators, war fighters, civilization builders and veterinarians. But on deeper levels they learn infinitely more: to take in information from many sources and make decisions quickly; to deduce a game’s rules from playing rather than by being told; to create strategies for overcoming obstacles; to understand complex systems through experimentation. And, increasingly, they learn to collaborate with others. Many adults are not aware that games have long ago passed out of the single-player isolation shell imposed by lack of networking, and have gone back to being the social medium they have always been – on a worldwide scale. Massively Multiplayer games such as EverQuest now have hundreds of thousands of people playing simultaneously, collaborating nightly in clans and guilds.

Today’s game-playing kid enters the first grade able to do and understand so many complex things – from building, to flying, to reasoning – that the curriculum they are given feel like they are being handed depressants. And it gets worse as the students progress. Their “Digital Immigrant” teachers know so little about the digital world of their charges – from online gaming to exchanging, sharing, meeting, evaluating, coordinating, programming, searching, customizing and socializing, that it is often impossible for them to design learning in the language and speed their students need and relish, despite their best efforts.

An emerging coalition of academics, writers, foundations, game designers, companies like Microsoft and, increasingly, the U.S. Military is working to make parents and educators aware of the enormous potential for learning contained in the gaming medium. While “edutainment,” may work for pre-schoolers, it is primitive when it comes to the enormous sophistication of today’s games. We need new and better learning games, and these are finally beginning to appear. Microsoft has sponsored a “Games-to-Teach” project at MIT which is building games for learning difficult concepts in physics and environmental science on the X-Box and Pocket PC. Lucas Games has lesson plans to help teachers integrate its games into curricula to teach critical thinking. A UK study by TEEM (Teachers Evaluating Educational Multimedia) has shown that certain games can help youngsters to learn logical thinking and computer literacy. Given the almost perfect overlap between the profiles of gamers and military recruits, the US Military uses over 50 different video and computer games to teach everything from doctrine, to strategy and tactics. “America’s Army, Operations,” a recruiting game released for free in 2002, now has almost 2 million registered users, with almost a million having completed virtual basic training.

Academic research into the positive effects of games on learning, which not so long ago sat unread on the shelf, is being noticed by national media. Theoretical and practical guides such as “What Video Games Have To Teach Us About Learning And Literacy” by Professor of Education James Paul Gee, and my own “Digital Game-Based Learning,” are now on bookshelves. Experts, such as former Stanford CFO William Massey, who created the learning game “Virtual U.” are working with game designers to build games that communicate their knowledge and experience. Foundations like Sloan, Markle and others are funding these efforts. The Woodrow Wilson school has begun a project called “Serious Games” to increase the use of gaming in public policy debates, picking up an effort that begin 10 years ago with “Sim Health” from Maxis.

Yet despite all the findings, research, and cries for help from the kids in school, many parents and educators still tend to think of video and computer games as frivolous at best and harmful at worst. The press often encourages this with headlines about “killing games” when in fact two thirds of the games are rated “E (everybody),” and sixteen of the top 20 sellers are rated either “E” or “T (teen)”. To counteract this “name prejudice,” users and funders of today’s “new” educational games often refer to them by “code” names, such as “Desktop Simulators,” “Synthetic Environments,” or “Immersive Interactive Experiences.”

Yet what these new, highly effective learning tools really are a combination of the most compelling and interactive design elements of the best video and computer games with specific curricular content. The tricky part is doing this in ways that capture, rather than lose, the learner’s interest and attention. We are now becoming much better at this. The money and will is there to do it, and our students are crying for it.

About The Author

Marc Prensky is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, and designer in the critical areas of education and learning. He is the author of Digital Game-Based Learning (McGraw-Hill, 2001). Marc is founder and CEO of Games2train, a game-based learning company, and founder of The Digital Multiplier, an organization dedicated to eliminating the digital divide in learning worldwide. He is also the creator of the sites and . Marc holds an MBA from Harvard and a Masters in Teaching from Yale. More of his writings can be found at . More of Marc’s writings on the positive effects of video games can be found at www.marcprensky.com/writing/default.asp.
marc@games2train.com

This article was posted on June 14, 2004

Playing Baby Computer Games – The New Parent-Child Tradition?

2006-11-16T11:39:00.000+08:00

by: Emma Rath

Imagine cuddling up with your small child to look at a picture book together that is interactive, musical, responsive and talks to you?

This is the experience that people are having who are engaged in that relatively new pastime – playing computer games with babies.

JumpStart’s Knowledge Adventure calls it “lapware”, Kiddies Games’ logo is “Hop on the lap and tap”, and Sesame Street’s “Baby and Me” opens with an animation of a baby monster hopping onto the lap of a Daddy monster to play the computer. Playing computer games with your baby is being promoted as a fun activity that a child and their caregiver can share together. And rightly so, because whatever the activity, physical, loving closeness is an important ingredient that infants need for healthy intellectual, emotional and physical development.

Reading a bedtime story to a small eager child is a tradition in many homes. As the children get older, this may be replaced by watching TV together. Our parents’ families listened to the radio together. Playing on the computer with a small child may become a new type of family tradition. Home computers and internet are making their way into more and more homes. Some parents use the computer in their work and are delighted to share the computer for a fun activity with their kids. Other parents want to make sure their children become computer literate. Well-designed, interactive, educational computer games engage small children as much as the television and are more educational than TV because they incite the child to interact and think, rather than passively watch and listen. These are the reasons for the increasing popularity of toddler computer software. Although a relatively small industry, software for infants has been cited as being a very fast growing industry.

What type of computer software is available for babies, toddlers and preschoolers? There are free games on websites and there are download and CDROM software that you can buy. Most software for this age group is games, but computer story books also exist. Wonderful websites that offer free games of which many are suitable for preschoolers (preschoolers are able to do directed clicking with the mouse) are:

Great free sites for babies (whose skills tend to be more limited to banging the keyboard) are:

CDROM or download software that you buy is usually better than free internet games. The games are usually superior (more graphics, more music, more involved games for older kids) and the software takes over the entire screen, which is more appropriate for very young children who click anywhere and everywhere on the screen. Some of the well-known producers are:

Reader Rabbit software from http://www.learningcompany.com
JumpStart software from http://www.knowledgeadventure.com
Fisher-Price software from http://www.knowledgeadventure.com
Sesame Street software from http://www.encoresoftware.com or http://www.amazon.com
http://www.babywow.com

Computer game softwares for this age group make conscientious efforts to be suitably educational. To judge their effectiveness for your child, try them out with your child. If your child finds that it’s fun, then it’s probably educational. For a baby, fun usually means that the game responds in some way to random keyboard presses and mouse clicks, and that the game continues in a positive way even when no input is forthcoming from the baby. A preschooler will need more of a challenge or more educational content, but the game should be designed to be always fun, reactive in a positive way and self-resolving when the child does not get the correct answer. At this age, it is more important that computer games contribute positively to self-esteem, rather than conscientiously correcting incorrect answers about educational concepts that the child will master when they’re older anyway. The KiddiesGames.com software is meticulous about adhering to these rules.

What types of skills are learned by playing toddler computer games? Obviously, computer software is not suitable for practicing gross motor or even fine motor skills. However, there are many types of educational concepts that computer games can help a child master, including shapes, sounds, cause and effect, identifying and naming things (such as objects and colors), increasing vocabulary, language concepts, the forms of letters and numbers, counting, pattern recognition, detail observation and word construction. At KiddiesGames, we strive to offer games for small children that are out of the ordinary, such as foreign language exposure and practicing the positions on the telephone for dialing emergency. The reactiveness and interactiveness of computer software is, of course, superior to that of books, and can be superior to that of toys, especially in the area of language. Infant computer games are also being cited as excellent resources for children with special education needs, because such games are simple, happy, brightly-colored, patient, controlled by the child and allow the child to make things happen.

An official recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics at http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3B107/2/423 is to “Discourage television viewing for children younger than 2 years, and encourage more interactive activities that will promote proper brain development, such as talking, playing, singing, and reading together.” This has been taken as advice to avoid exposing those young children to the computer. However, well-designed infant software actually encourages those great activities of “talking, playing, singing, and reading together”. By carrying out the play activities proposed by the computer game, the caregiver is actually prompted with a framework or script for carrying out those “talking, playing, singing, and reading” activities with the child. Experts are now saying that while computer games for infants should not replace toys and blocks and books and should not be used as an electronic babysitter, that they are yet another valid toy resource. For example, a summer 2004 newsletter from the Hawaii State Health Department at http://www.hawaii.gov/health/family-child-health/eis/summer2004 encourages playing with lapware. The emphasis is not on acquiring measurable skills or getting correct answers, but is on open-ended exploration on the part of the child – which is another way of saying “having fun”. Children are programmed to learn and practice what they learned by playing and having fun.

Playing computer games with your small child is not yet a family tradition. However, it is an enjoyable, sharing activity that is becoming more and more popular.

About The Author

The author of this article, Emma Rath, produces free online and purchasable download baby and preschooler software, available at http://www.kiddiesgames.com.

This article was posted on January 07, 2005

Great Games You've Never Played

2006-11-16T11:35:00.000+08:00

by: Chris Campbell

Do you know what you're missing?

Some of the best computer games ever made are likely games you've never heard of. Created by individuals and small companies working in relative obscurity. They don't have million dollar budgets, some don't even have hundred dollar budgets. They don't have dedicated marketing departments, research analysts, sales teams, fancy offices, and cutting edge tools. They scrape together whatever tools they can, often discarded by the ultra rich game designers of big shiny game studios.

Making Miracles.

In spite of these deplorable working conditions, they create some of the most amazing games around. How do these game gems get created, and who are the miracle workers creating them. They're independent game designers. Sometimes called Indies for short. Working out of their bedrooms, garages, spare offices, and basements. They have a passion for what they do. They love games, they love the act of creation, and are relentlessly committed to their vision of what a game should be. They often build games they themselves would love to play. Simply because no one else will. These kind of games you won't find at the big box electronics store casting it's shadow over your end of town. These passionate Indies could care less what the marketing boys up on the 26th floor have to say about the latest game trends. Probably because their garages don't have 26 floors. They just know their love of games, and how much they enjoy playing.

Where do Indies come from?

Indie game developers come from all different areas. They're often former artists, programmers, or designers of some big name software companies. Maybe that quiet little programmer in that tiny corner cubicle dreams of being an Indie one day. Tired of the corporate rat race, and looking to express themselves creatively they become Indies. Some of been lucky enough to avoid the corporate avenue altogether and make a living doing what they love from the beginning. Regardless of their origins, they all have the passion and desire to create. To be able to put their name on something really great. They want to be recognized for their abilities and worth. But more than that, they want you to play their games, and have fun doing so.

Why are Indie games so good?

Indie games are good first and foremost, because they're fun. It's a game after all, and if it's not fun from the get go, then what's the point. They're also highly original, sometimes mainstream funny, sometimes just weird funny, sometimes morbid, sometimes creepy, and sometimes just downright gross. But, thats OK. Games should be a departure from the everyday. They should make you think in different, fantastic ways. So many big name games are just rehashed ideas done a thousand times before. Another sequel of the same old games from last year. Indie games are adventurous and risky. Indies take chances and devote their time to making something unique. So, take a look around, and try a few, till you discover the one that matches your own bizarre and fantastic interests.

About The Author

Chris Campbell, is that quiet little programmer in the tiny corner cubicle harbouring dreams of an Indie life. He likes to surround himself with his gaming masterpiece and those of other Indies at his website http://www.SunAndGames.com.

This article was posted on January 31, 2005

Integrate Fun and Learning with PC Games

2006-11-16T11:33:00.000+08:00

by: Steve Hall

Children are always up for a good game. Well, who isn't? Pretend that you are back in school. For the rest of the class period you have two choices as to how you can spend your time. Option #1 is to struggle through endless arithmetic and English worksheets without any feedback except for a stamp that says "Great Job!" Option #2 is to work on the same arithmetic and English content, but on a computer. Yes, you can play a computer game to learn your numbers and verbs. Which option would you choose? Which option would children most likely choose? Option #2 of course!

Using computer software in education is not a new concept. Computer games have been used as a learning tool for the past two decades because they help students with basic skills, logic, problem solving, and various other academic skills. The Oregon Trail was a popular computer game in the 1980's. This game helped students to work on their planning and problem solving skills. If you have ever played that game you might have realized that it was difficult to complete the trail. Everyone in my wagon always died of Cholera.

Parents and educators that are unfamiliar with computer game technology may automatically dismiss the use of computer games for learning. They view computer games as nothing but "shoot 'em up" and mind numbing entertainment. As avid computer gamers we all know that they are way off base. Just think of all the problem solving, logic, and planning that goes into working on a team in a computer game, playing a puzzle, or figuring out a code.

There are computer games that are specifically based around educational learning standards. These games explicitly include counting, grammar, etc. They range from learning software that has a battery of tests to mimic standardized testing to fun, interactive learning games such as Caillou Magic Playhouse. This game allows a child to learn about numbers, patterns, spelling, phonics, and many other skills.

One advantage of using computer games in education is that the student is learning whether they realize it or not. Many children sigh when it is time to work on multiplication, but if you bring out a computer game - poof! They suddenly want to go through their multiplication tables. The computer game presents the same academic material, but makes it fun by integrating colorful animations and cool sounds. Plus, computer games allow for instant feedback and gratification. We have become a society that runs on instant gratification. A computer game can provide this feedback and it can also provide a means of competition. You will be stretched to find a student that wants to "beat" their worksheet, but a child who wants to beat a computer game? You will find them everywhere you look.

Computer games are advertised as forms of entertainment, which they most certainly are, but they are learning avenues as well. Gamers of all ages are learning every time they play a game. For example, there are games that work on your business skills. Games like Lemonade Tycoon and Mall Tycoon are prime examples. You are learning the skills to succeed in a business through simulation. Simulation is how many professionals acquire the skills for their occupation. Even though you are in a computerized environment, you can still come across many different business situations.

Computer software is here to stay. Email will one day override handwritten communication and perhaps games will take over traditional education. Granted games most likely will not take over traditional education, but they should become part of the educational experience. A child is learning while playing a computer game. Their memory and reaction time increases. They are sharpening various parts of their brain. The key is to play a mixture of games that range from pure entertainment to ones that are specifically designed for educational skill sets.

If your child or student is having trouble with math, English or any academic subject, set them up with a computer game. Their interest in learning will soar. Computer games can bring any student that is hesitant about school to learning whether they realize it or not. Computer games make learning fun.

About The Author

Steve is a member of the GrandMatrix team. They provide a broad range of games and puzzle articles and reviews. Read more articles and play the latest PC games for free plus thousands of user submitted puzzles, quizzes and word games at: http://www.grandmatrix.com.

This article was posted on August 1, 2005

Which Way Are Mobile Phone Games Heading?

2006-11-16T11:29:00.000+08:00

by: Peter Lenkefi

Aside online games and static game devices like Playstation, mobile games are the next most popular games around now.

The popularity has grown so big that mobile operators are competing against each other by offering their subscribers loads of both free and paid games for their pleasure. Not only mobile operators, cell phone manufacturers are also pre-programming their phones with a variety of games.

The growing interest in mobile gaming is producing a lot of benefits for the mobile industry. The operators are deriving sizable revenue from selling these games, software developers are regularly deriving royalties from phone manufacturers and the manufacturers themselves are cashing in heavily on revenue from subscribers. You will appreciate the level of income in this are if you consider the fact that by the year 2009, there would be 220 million mobile phone game fans in the world.

Now lets delve into the kinds of games we have around:

We have the embedded games that are factory coded into the phones, SMS games that operate by interacting with a SMS server upon which the game resides and browser games that are played online using the cell phones mini browser. Of all these games the cheapest and most popular is the inbuilt ones though the excitement offered by SMS and online games are not a deterrent to people who would spend every dime to get hooked on. The reason is browser games are of multi-media origin and can be compared to the type experienced on Playstation or xbox.

There are several ways to develop mobile games though the most popular language used are C++, Java and Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW) platform .

Out of these three, Java is the most popular method. The reason is obvious – java is widely supported by the web and supported by all the principal phone manufacturers. Again a medium like J2ME is open source and thus cheap to use as a development medium.

Java as we know it is highly portable across platforms and leaves developers with little worry that their program will not work on certain phones. Programmers choose this language platform because it does not interfere with programs running natively on the phone.

But in reality the future of mobile game development is in MIDP 2.0 API which is a compilation of high end applications that allow developers to come up with sophiscated and highly interactive games for fans. It is fast to use and ensures a stable program after compilation.

It is projected that this program, though futuristic, shall be the standard for mobile game developers for a long time as it exhibits versatility and the quick deployment – qualities programmer love.

About The Author

Peter Lenkefi

For more more information about mobile phone games please visit http://www.cellular-mobile-phone-games.com.

plenkefi@yahoo.com.au

This article was posted on August 17, 2005

Games To Encourage Thinking Skills

2006-11-16T11:26:00.000+08:00

by: Steve Hall

There is no doubt about it, using computer games is a great way to encourage children to expand their realm of thinking. Your options for entertaining your child may seem numbered. Many people allow their children to spend quite a bit of time in front of the television. But, what good does that do? If you want them to learn something while they are zoned out, you are completely lost. But, if you flip on the computer, download a great game, you may actually be able to encourage them to learn more and you will encourage good thinking skills as well.

Thinking is not something that everyone can do well. Now, we are referring here to the thought process that goes along with solving problems. For many children, this is something they struggle with. Mom or Dad always takes care of the problems. If something isn't right, just call mom or dad. Even on the television, that is full of real life and imaginary "problems" that need to be solved, there is no encouragement for children to come up with the solution. What happens then? They just sit and watch and let someone else handle the problem.

But, what happens when they are older or in a situation where they have to solve the problem at hand? Do they know how to analyze their thoughts, ideas, and to find the right solution? Many don't. But, if you would like your child to be the one who does know how to flip the switch on and solve the problem, consider allowing them to sit in front of the computer as opposed to the television.

Okay, so too much time in front of the computer isn't much better, but there are ways to you make what time you do allow them to sit at the computer to be good times. This is you simply need to maximize what they are doing. There are several good games out there that can be used to stimulate thinking in children. For many people, this is the perfect way to go to encourage children to learn how to solve problems without letting them in on it! Yes, because games are fun, the child will not fight you on playing them. Much unlike a lesson plan, this way seems to encourage children to come back to the game time and time again, therefore getting the experiences they need to learn a thing or two.

But, what are these games? What are the options that are out there for your child? There are many games, and although we will only talk about a few here, find ones that will work well with your child. What are his or her likes and dislikes? Sports? Television characters? Perhaps they enjoy space or under water adventures. Search out those games that will intrigue them as well as encourage them to think.

Some to consider include 'Big Thinkers Kindergarten' and the series of Freddi Fish Adventures as well as many other games specifically for children. These are mainly for younger children, but you'll find many more for older children as well. In fact, consider giving your older kids more puzzle related games to help them along this course as well.

When you give your child the gift of being a problem solver, they will work through the situations that happen to them, big and small, without fear of not knowing how to handle them. They will be more likely to do well in the real world then. What's more is that you can feel good about all that time they spend in front of the tube (even though it's the computer not the television!)

About The Author

Steve Hall is a member of the GrandMatrix team. They provide a broad range of games, puzzles, articles and reviews. Read more articles, download and play the latest PC games for free plus enjoy thousands of user submitted puzzles, quizzes and word games at: http://www.grandmatrix.com

articles@grandmatrix.com

This article was posted on September 08, 2005

Finding Friends By Playing Online Games

2006-11-16T11:24:00.000+08:00

by: Dakota Caudilla

There are tens of thousands of websites offering free online games for those who want to have some fun online or find friends online. Don’t believe me? Make a simple search through your favorite search engine and you’ll see the vast amount of websites offering free online games. Finding friends through online games is easy and simple because you get to understand each other while playing games and connect with each other through the website’s chat or communicate function available right there in the website.

Although not all online games website requires you to sign up in order to play their online games, some websites do require a simple sign-up. The information that you input into the online games website will become your member’s profile. Other members will be able to view your profile. Your likes, dislikes, favorite games, favorite movies, location (not address, please. Never enter your complete address online, anywhere), and personal characteristics will help you find friends through online games.

Engaged in a competitive battle with each other, you are in a better position to gauge the kind of person that your opponent is, for instance, is he/she an aggressive person? Is he/she a strategically-minded person who is capable of planning everything from scratch? What is his/her favorite character and how does he/she use that online game character to his/her benefit?

The reason why finding friends through online games is easy is because there are forums and chat rooms that online game fans can use to connect, share tips, communicate, make alliance, and chat with online. They share a common interest, a common goal...and the online games that they like become the foundation for their friendship. Not only do they battle it out playing online games but they essentially turn into friends after chatting and communicating with each other.

It’s also safer finding friends through online games. Because the common interest is online games, basically, they just want to have some fun online and not lurk around endangering the lives of others. Although we should still be careful about revealing too much of ourselves online, we generally feel safer when we make friends through online games.

You not only make new friends through online games, you can also connect with and play online games with your friends without having to visit an internet café. Even if your friends have gone to college or are working elsewhere in the world, you can still log on at the same time and enjoy a couple of hours of fun, unbridled fun through online games.

About The Author

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.toy-fun.net on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

This article was posted on November 03, 2005

Are Toys & Video Games The Right Christmas Gifts For Kids?

2006-11-16T11:22:00.000+08:00

by: Rosie Fletcher

It’s the age of innocence when their eyes a little brighter and their smile are full of possibilities. Their minds are being shaped by everything around them and it’s important to make sure that those surroundings are positive and promote good character traits.

The question is are toys and video games the right Christmas gift for kids? The simple answer - yes.

Creative Development

Children love toys and they love to play video games. Imagination is the greatest gift that we can give our children and toys are essential to their creative development. With so many toys on the market, it’s difficult to choose which are best for our little ones during this holiday season. The best way to know is to ask your child to write a Christmas list. Go over the list and make sure that everything will be a positive learning, or playful, experience for your child. Avoid buying anything with an implication of violence or negative influences, which is sometimes present in current video games.

Promote Healthy Competition and Creativity

On the other hand... Video games can offer a very positive learning experience if selected carefully. They have the ability to promote healthy competition and creativity. If a child fails to achieve the next level in a video game, they are forced to come up with more creative ways to move forward. This creativity can lead to a wonderful imagination in all areas of life. Video games can also promote persistence and shows a child that patience is a key factor in achieving any goal. If a child begins playing a video game and stays with that game until he/she defeats it, this promotes patience, determination and intelligence. The child will learn that, if he/she works hard enough, they can achieve anything. This will carry over into other aspects of life and will be a positive experience. The most important thing is, that now, the child is simply having fun and doesn’t even realize how beneficial a creative mind can be. They don’t realize that they are learning and, to them, they’re just enjoying their toys.

Promote Sharing

Toys and games are terrific Christmas gifts for kids also because they promote sharing while keeping the child entertained and happy. Some toys promote learning, such as math and board games. Others, such as building blocks, promote creativity and the ability to build things on their own. A karaoke unit could help a child overcome shyness while a Barbie doll will allow a child to make up story lines and create fictional events.

Age Recommendations

Before choosing any toys or games as Christmas gifts for kids, make sure to read the age recommendations printed on the box or noted in the description. It’s important that the age recommendations match that of your child for safety reasons. If a toy needs batteries, don’t forget to include them in the box.

Unconditional Love

Keeping in mind that children are very influential, the best gift that we could ever give is unconditional love. Perhaps you can’t wrap it up or even add a fancy red bow, but that just goes to prove that the best things in life really are free.

Happy Holidays!

About The Author

Rosie Fletcher

For great Christmas gift ideas check out http://gifts.christmashub.com and my main site http://www.christmashub.com.

This article was posted on November 10, 2005

Create Video Games As Your Fun Career

2006-11-16T11:19:00.000+08:00

by: Charles Edwin

Do you like video games? Do you beat video games after playing once? Do you feel like the games are too easy? Well, it sounds like you have a passion for these things then you should go where your heart leads you.

If you at the point where you are thinking about your career, I suggest that you do what you love to do. You should consider a different course of action: majoring in something you TRULY enjoy... something you could do hours on end without feeling like you are working at all. And if you are like many people, this 'something' would be playing video games.

That's right! You can actually get a job creating and/or playing video games. Below is a list of some of the careers available for those with a video game degree.

1) Video Game Programmer

Gameinformer Magazine mentions that, video game programmers are the "heart and soul" of the industry. They are the ones responsible for creating the code necessary for getting video games to function. And contrary to popular belief, their jobs aren't always easy. Video game programming often involves creating complex functions and algorithms often times more challenging than programs created in Corporate America.

Indeed, game programming may not be the appropriate course for everyone seeking a video game career, but if you were deciding to go into the computer field anyway, which job would be more enjoyable... coding the next Halo, or working on a boring, hum-drum piece of no-name software?

2) Video Game Tester

As a video game tester it is a position in which you truly would get paid for playing video games. According to current game tester Doug D. from Electronic Arts, he say's as a game tester you would "go over different components of a game and look for things that just don't make sense." You would also "break the game," meaning you would "do things a normal user would do and accidentally see something go wrong."

Doug Powell further adds that video game testing is a good place to start for young people who want to "break into the industry." To get such a position in it is best to have a "passion for gaming" and some educational background. Doug recommends a degree, or some form of higher-level education.

3) Video Game Animator

Animators are in charge for coordinating the movement of video game characters. Accomplishing requires more than drawing something on a piece of paper, which according to Alex Jones, an established game animator, occurs after a lot of "brainstorming, chilling, playing, planning and testing" with the programmer. But when the busy work is done, the video game animator will finally get a chance to do what he or she does best... animate. Alex Drouin says the thing he liked best about his job was "being able to come there late in the morning, sit behind his computer, put on a great CD, and then create crazy animation that will end up in a game that will be seen all around the world by gamers." With a video game degree it is certainly possible!

4) Sound Designer

Sound designers are responsible for creating the music and sound effects of video games. Video game music is created either from digital sources or real-life stimulation. As video game consoles become more advanced, many sound designers favor the latter when deciding on what type of music they want in the games they are working on. Creating appropriate sound effects, on the other hand, sometimes requires more creative experimentation.

To be successful at designing video game sounds it is best to: 1) have an interest in both music and sound, 2) possess knowledge of recording equipment and 3) be familiar with the types of music and sound used in today's most popular video games. A video game degree will help develop these talents and skills.

5) Game Designer

Video game designers are responsible for creating the 'experience' of a particular game. Charles Perry, a video game designer, sums it up by saying "the main tasks of the designer is to make sure the game is fun."

Wells further adds that game designers are responsible for macro and micro level design. Macro level design involves "figuring out the core mechanics of the game; the variety of level looks, power-ups, etc." Micro-design involves creating the "actual levels and the moment-to-moment gameplay within those levels... the enemies, the objects, and the particular way you encounter those enemies and objects."

Good game designers should obviously have an interest in video games along with some drawing and programming skills.

About The Author

Charles Edwin

Please visit my website at: http://www.video-game-directory.com where I review the hottest new video games and cheat sheets for your gaming pleasure! My name is Charles Edwin and I'm looking forward to you joining our newsletters valued a $24.97 for free!!

This article was posted on December 01, 2005

Thinking Games

2006-11-16T11:17:00.000+08:00

by: Steve Gillman

Classic thinking games are a great way to tune up your brain. You can use these mind games to help you increase your brain power and to get you out of your thinking "ruts." Play them enough, and they'll habituate you to using creative problem solving as a normal part of thinking about things.

Thinking Games For Groups

Group thinking games are especially good for long trips in a car. Have someone look out the window, for example, and randomly choose an object. Everyone in the car then tries to imagine a new way to make money with it. Common street signs become places to advertise, trees are sold with names, and a truck becomes a traveling grocery store.

Use the "change of perspective" technique as a problem-solving game. Just pick any topic, and see who can come up with the most unique new perspective. Could there be a world where jobs weren't necessary? How would a virus define morality if it was conscious?

One creative thinking game uses a technique called "concept combination." You simply combine random concepts or things in interesting ways, and see who has the best idea. A chair and a microwave? Maybe an easy-chair with a built-in cooler, microwave and television, or microwavable "couch potatoes" - a potato snack in the shape of a couch.

More Thinking Games

A lateral thinking puzzle you can try right now involves nine dots, layed out three by three. Connect them all with four straight lines, without lifting the pen or pencil from the paper. When you figure this one out you'll appreciate the expression "thinking outside of the box."

Many lateral-thinking puzzles use a scenario, real or imagined, with a selection of things you have to use to accomplish something. Imagine a ping-pong ball in an iron pipe that's set in cement. The pipe sticks up three-feet high, and has almost the same diameter as the ball. Using only a box of frosted-flakes, and a t-shirt, and your body and mind, how many ways can you find to get the ball out of the pipe? You could also set this up for real, to know if a proposed solution will really work.

Many riddles are just mind games or lateral-thinking puzzles. You move laterally in your mind, away from your usual line of thought, to solve a riddle. For example, what did his friends do when the canibal was late for dinner? They gave him the cold shoulder, of course! Keeping your brain in shape doesn't have to be a matter of serious study. Why not play some thinking games?

About The Author

Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower and related topics for years. For more on How To Increase Brain Power, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com.

This article was posted on December 05, 2005

Massively Multiplayer Online Games

2006-11-16T11:08:00.000+08:00

by: Jonathon Hardcastle

The most important aspect of a game that inspires more gamers to play it is the amount of challenge it provides. The best way of making a game more challenging is to make it multiplayer. Because Artificial Intelligence in computer games has not reached a point yet where it can predict every kind of move you make and also every kind of player, they are easy to beat once you understand the patterns they follow. In multiplayer games however, you get to play with and against other gamers, and each time you play someone new you face a new kind of challenge. Owing to this fact, the game developers came up with a new category of games. This category is Massively Multiplayer Online Game or MMOG and enables thousands of players to join and play the game simultaneously via the internet.

There are some MMOG's these days that have servers all around the globe connected to each other, enabling gamers to interact and play each other from every corner of the globe. Most MMOG's create a persistent universe where the game goes on whether any player is online or not. Since however, it stresses on multiplayer gameplay, they usually have Artificial Intelligence, to allow the game to be played in single player mode and people do not leave if there is no other person online.

Unlike single player games MMOG's do not have an end point in the game. They are modeled in a way that the game goes on and the characters within it develop like real life. Only a few MMOG's have a winning condition that too based on the standings of the players after due time the game has been played.

MMOG's are able to support thousands of players online simultaneously. Because of the diversity of gamers playing these games from around the globe and the amount of detail the game developers put into these games, they are very challenging and filled with endless new experiences. Some MMOG's allow clans to be formed, so people can form their own groups of gamers and compete with other groups. This makes the game even more challenging as each clan tried to overpower the other clans.

MMOG's are most suitable for gamers with loads of free time as they are quite addictive and time consuming. However, for any gamer who appreciates game details and quality, MMOG'S are heavenly.

About The Author
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://fortheloveofgames.net/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://thetravelinglifestyle.com/ and http://esportssource.net/

This article was posted on September 19, 2006

The So-Called Evils Of Roleplaying Games: Courage, Opportunity, and Friendship

2006-11-16T11:02:00.000+08:00

by: Claire Cruver

I was never a normal child. My parents split when I was eighteen months old, and, living with my mother, we always struggled with having "enough" - enough food, enough clothing, enough for bills. My stepfather had no desire to help raise us three children, and as my older brother hit the seventh grade, my stepfather uprooted our still very young family and moved across the city.

In the fourth grade, having just moved schools, I was friendless. Because of some oddly placed school district line, I would have to attend another school in another district after that year. With this knowledge, instead of trying to be social, I turned to the books. That year, I found out that I was able to do complex algebra. By sixth grade, I was into factoring multiple-page geometric formulas; I switched schools again from elementary to middle school to attend seventh grade. I was on the fast track there, taking every excelled course that the school would allow me to take.

By the time I reached 10th grade, I had a 4.0 GPA, a high IQ, and no social skills. I could count my friends on one hand. I was living in a family situation that was less than desirable; my mother was divorcing my stepfather and my brother was moving away. Again, I poured myself into studies, graduating two years early and going to college on a state grant. Though my history may sound like the typical, run of the mill social misfit's background, mine was given a light when I came across a multi-user dungeon called "World of Darkness".

Despite its cheesey title, I had hopped aboard because I was an angry teenager, and I just wanted to chop the heads off all the little, text-based fanged bunnies, but I found that the community provided by the game was something like a chatroom mixed with a video game. While I was gleefully lopping off limbs on dwarfs, I started speaking with my groupmates, and found that I was not precisely the odd one out when it came to problems. The online world effectively introduced me to the notion that other people had problems, too.

The older generations believe that chatting and being part of an online community exposes you to the evils of the internet world - the evils that are the people purposefully choosing to hurt others by misrepresenting themselves and their intentions. What is often overlooked is that, for people like me, it is much easier to speak freely with your peers if you do not have the physical awkwardnesses that accompany speaking to them in person.

In gaming, I also relearned how to interact with people. Gradually, I made friends, switched games, and fell upon a game called FiranMUX after a random search for something new and original, for something that required more brainpower than typing "Kill Bug" fourteen times in a row to level up. FiranMUX, written and run by the husband and wife team of Stephanie and Adam Dray, is an original-themed text-based roleplaying game with heavy leanings toward the Greek and Roman periods in our own history. The characters, storyline, and playerbase have been the spawn of this original story ever since. FiranMUX became my new escape from the ordinary and my vehicle to speak with people like me, who actually cared about me and my hopes and dreams and problems.

For once in my life, I felt truly accepted. Acceptance is one of those feelings every misfit strives for throughout their adolescence, and a feeling that few people actually find. At the risk of sounding egotistical, I was too advanced for my immediate, school-aged peers, but the people I spoke to online accepted me without seeing my face and judging me based on age or IQ. They accepted the important parts of me - my mind, my feelings, my personality.

With their ready acceptance of me, the struggles of my real life melted away. I had people with whom to speak. My parents' divorce, my lack of a normal college life, my frustration at the world holding me down because I had not reached that perfect age of 18 and therefore only semi-employable, my constant fights with my siblings -- everything melted away. Call it an addiction. Call it me deluding myself. Call it turning my back to the world.

I call it finding an audience. As my new home, I soon found that FiranMUX hosted an annual event called FiranCon, where all able players congregated in real time on a hotel in Maryland for one three-day weekend of laughter, stories, amazingly strong friendships, and three long evenings of insomnia. Although I had missed that year's Con, I did make the next one. Then nineteen, I found what would turn out to be my first love nearly a year later, a new home in the world, and more opportunities to better myself than I could ever hope to count in my little town across the country in Washington State.

Con was held in May; by September, I had packed up myself and my belongings into a car purchased from the estate of my dead grandmother, and moved across the country into a better job, a better city, and a chance to start again. Now, three years later, I am still very much a part of what the Firans term "Firan Culture" as well as an active member of the local social group. I have a job that pays me three times what I could ever hope to earn in Washington State, creating a comfortable living for myself. I have a home. I have friends who care about me, and whom I actually care about. I am gradually achieving the goals that I set out three years ago to achieve.

The old cliche is that hindsight is 20/20. If I had known that gutting elves back in my World of Darkness days would lead me through romance, heartache, friendship and tears, I am not sure I would ever have had the courage to ever meet the Firans in real life. Online roleplay communities are not the evil that they are made out to be, but windows to alternate futures and betterment of oneself.

In truth, FiranMUX changed my outlook on life by changing my outlook on people. The game helped build my social skills and gave me the self-esteem needed to shed the walls I had so firmly put up around myself. In improving myself, I improved my abilities to make my world better. I shed the once angry aura and gained enough belief in myself to leave everything I knew behind for a chance. In short, the online community presented to me the leverage needed to foist myself from the hole that my life began as.

Looking back at where I have come from and what I have built for myself, I can honestly say that without games like the World of Darkness and, very specifically, FiranMUX, I would probably be a depressed word-processor, stuck in a bad neighborhood with few, if any, friends. As a person, my personality has warped into that of an optimist, always looking at the bright side instead of allowing circumstance to drag down my attitude. Instead of hiding from troubles, I face them. I could not have done it without an audience to listen.

I was never a normal child. In all honesty, I may not yet be a normal adult, but I am definitely a better person than the abusive, introverted, angry child I was once. Blame this turnabout on the supposed evils of chatrooms and text-based games. Blame this turnabout on the ability of a seemingly harmless online game to create and promote such an outstanding sense of real-life community that FiranMUX has achieved. Regardless of the reason, the fact that online gaming can impact even a single life in such a way is an incredibly geeky notion, but perhaps not one so far-fetched in this new age.

By Claire D. Cruver, of FiranMUX (http://legendary.org/firan/)

About The Author
Claire Cruver is a young author/designer/roleplayer who currently resides in Maryland.

This article was posted on September 10, 2006

Reviews of the Latest PC Games

2006-11-16T11:00:00.000+08:00

by: Morgan Hamilton

Finding some good information on the latest PC games can be quite a difficult task. I've tried to do a Google search with the key words 'latest PC games' or 'current PC games'. I got thousands of replies but most of them were not what I was looking for. I've been keen on playing PC games for a long time and I've always found it hard to come across any decent sites giving updated information about the latest PC games. Nowadays all the attention goes to gaming consoles and thus, finding news on computer games is getting harder and harder.

Probably the most popular gaming platform are computers. So you can look for the latest PC games on websites devoted to them. It is not really difficult to find lists of new games and their prices but it is a couple of times harder to find any good sites which offer reviews about the newest PC games. If I have to recommend you some sites I'd suggest you had a look on my personal favourite ones - Gamespot, Gamespy, IGN, and Gamezone.

You can always find recent reviews of the lastest PC games on them, as well as some information on the most popular and newest console videogames. Even though I sometimes fully disagree with the reviews published, I still believe they are useful, at least you can get some basic info about the game, for example what it's genre is. In my case, if it's not one of the types I like, I don't purchase it and save some money. If I have genuine interest in a particular game I usually read at least a couple of reviews on different sites about it. That way I get all the information I need before going to the store and buying it.

One of the reasons why you should try to get as many reviews as possible about a PC game before purchasing it is because the price of the latest games varies about $50 per title. I cannot imagine anything worse than spending your hard-earned money on a new PC game which might turn out to be a beta program filled with bugs, a game with a poorly conceived plot. However, it is true that most of the latest PC games are no good, as the standard is getting lower and lower.

Being completely honest, I have to admit that from time to time even nowadays a real treasure comes out of the blue. This gem gets much more appreciation and popularity now because the rest of the new PC games are not worth it. I try to regularly check for news on the latest PC games on varies sites with the only hope to find and buy one of these gems.

About The Author
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning games. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.xtraordinarysite.com...reviews-of-the-latest-pc-games.html

This article was posted on September 12, 2006

Playing Games During Working Hours – Mad Retailers Make More Money

2006-11-16T10:58:00.000+08:00

by: Steven Lipschitz

James, Judy and Judd are here today to sell. They’re on my shop floor and I have made a massive effort to stock my shelves with terrific merchandise.

It’s Thursday. James is working all day. Judy and Judd are working in the afternoon. Thursdays are slow in the morning and fast passed in the afternoon.

My Salespeople are going to play a game. It’s a selling game and they are going to be scored - on a level playing field. This means even though James is working in a slow period of the day he knows that his team mates have a handicap. Judy has to stock shelves for an hour and take an afternoon tea break. My retail management performance tracking system knows that and has accordingly given her a lesser amount to sell than Judd.

I have already entered a sales goal for the day and rostered my staff. My software spits out an individual sales target for each Salesperson which I hand out. Off they go to play a game that’s going to give me my best possible sales result for the day and their best opportunity at having fun and being motivated to do what they are here to do – sell.

The objective of the game is to achieve the highest sales. He who wins takes the spoils.

Psychologically they believe in themselves, are motivated by competition, and are interested in developing their sales skills. That’s rather utopian! The probability is 6 out of 10 of my Retail Salespeople are not like that. But my game keeps that in check by identifying their weaknesses and telling me what specific sales skill to coach them on next.

Integrated with my POS system I’m getting sales feedback on my Retail Dashboard every three hours and my system is comparing Actual sales versus Targets. It’s also comparing each Salesperson to the Store Average across 5 key performance indicators or KPIs: Sales per Hour, Average Sale, Items per Sale, Wage to Sales Ratio, and Conversion Rate.

I see that Judy has a low Average Sale, compared to everyone else. I let her know she’s been selling the cheaper items all day and challenge her to sell more expensive items for the rest of the day. James has lower Items per Sale than the rest so I tell him to focus on the products that have a natural ad-on. He’ll get more items per sale and increase his deficient statistic.

Here’s the rub for me – I have been able to tell my staff exactly what to focus on to get the maximum sales increase for my store. Individually they also have a better chance of winning the game. And this happens every single day!

At the day’s end I get a straight forward tally of who performed best overall – my winner. Apart from the statistical analysis I also get a visual assessment that uses colored symbols to identify sales performance across the 5 KPI’s.

My system tracks these numbers daily, weekly, quarterly, and annually to show me visual trends about each of my Salespeople. It tells me exactly what to coach them on to achieve the biggest impact on their own personal sales success – and ultimately mine.

I can’t get these numbers from my POS because it doesn’t have a Sales Goal framework and related Roster with Handicapping. At best my POS system gives me the 5 KPIs at store level – not individual level – and without the individual numbers I can’t make my people play a game. So while my POS system helps me compare performance across my different stores it does not compare performance within an individual store.

I care about who works in my store. When I sign them up I tell them about my sales game and they realize they have a chance to succeed within a framework tied exclusively to their own personal success - based on statistics not emotion.

If you think playing games in retail is not for you try watching your next sports match on TV without the on-screen statistics or score.

About The Author
Steven Lipschitz has a 12 year track record in Internet enabled applications and today specializes in Retail Software. He is the developer of Retail Performer - software that translates Retail Sales Objectives into an easy to use desktop and web service application. For further information visit Retail Performer: http://www.retailperformer.com

This article was posted on September 14, 2006

A Shopping Comparison: Xbox 360 and Playstation 3

2006-11-15T18:56:00.000+08:00

by: Chris Robertson

Products such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's Playstation 3 have grabbed undeniable attention in the consumer electronics market. During holidays, birthdays and other occasions, parents rush out to get the latest games or consoles to give as gifts to their children. But unlike more general products and gifts such as handbags, items for pets, household products, knives or leather goods, the electronics products such as these often come with an ongoing price tag, with new games being released indefinitely. That's why consumers should compare these products carefully before buying.

A Power Comparison

Electronics can be compared in several areas, with one being power. The Xbox 360 overwhelmingly surpasses the Playstation 3 when it comes to power. Its CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) have more processing power than the PS 3. The memory bandwidth of the Xbox 360 exceeds that of the Playstation 3 by five times!

However, don't let the power capabilities be the only determining factor. Playstation 3 still has lots of power when compared with older consoles, and the graphics are terrific as well. Also, it has a unique "cell chip," which is expected to help developers get even more power for games, but it's yet to be seen what will come of this. In comparison, there are still a couple of other things to consider.

Software Availability

The software (or video game) war is on now more than ever. Games are being defined by play-time, number of levels, quality of graphics, reality factors, and how they can be used online. Kids and adults alike are anxiously awaiting new games to be released to put them to the test in all these areas. Those wanting the online capabilities will find that Xbox 360 is geared that way.

With so many independent software developers, games are being released today that are either/or when it comes to the console Those who own a Playstation 3 console will be able to buy the PS 3 version of the game. The same goes for Xbox 360! So, this makes it more difficult to differentiate between the consoles in terms of the types of games offered. It's the actual features and capabilities of the console that will determine the consumer's final decision.

Pricing for Consoles and Games

Pricing is another determining factor. It's usually based on the "newness" of the console or game. However, with new games and consoles being released, consumers won't find cheap prices on these electronics just yet. It's like buying automotive parts for a brand new car - there are no used or discounted parts because it's all new!

Unlike buying jewelry, leather goods or a gift set of kitchen knives, choosing the right game console has to be a personal decision based on the features and capabilities desired. Many electronics are designed that way thanks to the ever-changing world of technology!

About The Author

Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.com

To learn more about subjects like electronics please visit the web site at: http://www.jssalesonline.com

For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Electronics directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/Electronics

This article was posted on August 27, 2006

What is XBox360?

2006-11-15T18:54:00.000+08:00

by: Anil Kumar Pammidimukkala

Xbox 360 is the successor to Xbox video game console from Microsoft. It was referred to in the past as Xbox Next or Xbox 2 or simply Project Xenon. Microsoft has scheduled its launch just before Christmas of 2005, the biggest shopping season although it was unveiled on 12.05.2005 on MTV. Xbox 360 is an answer to Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Revolution game consoles. Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system as it is fully known as would usher a totally new era of high definition digital entertainment which is personalized and connected always.

Who designed the Xbox 360?

Xbox 360 is designed by the very innovative Astro studios, San Francisco, USA in collaboration with Hers Experimental Design Laboratory, Osaka, Japan, resulting in sleek and stylish exterior packed with powerful hardware, software and services.

The Xbox 360 comes with:

Xbox Gamer Guide: An entertainment gateway that connects to your games, movie, friends, music and available downloadable content. The Xbox Guide Button, a one touch interface gives you instant access to content you want, be it the gamer card of the player who just invited you to play, or to new downloadable content for the game you are currently running.

Personalized interface: Xbox 360 lets you create your own customised system for a unique experience. With changeable facia plates, it is very easy to change the make up of your console. Power on your system and you can customize the look and feel of the System Guide and Gamer Guide with various unique skins. The faces and skins can form a unique combination to reflect your personality.

Ring of Light: The Xbox 360 console is divided into four glowing quadrants which are also collectively called the Ring of Light. This Ring of Light, along with the Xbox Guide button controls the entire system. The guide button visually connects you to your games. The Guide button apart from connecting and controlling your experience also controls the startup and shutdown of the system. . The Xbox 360 supports both wired and wireless controllers and accessories by the virtue of which all operations can be controlled from the comfort of your couch.

Xbox Live: Xbox 360’s Xbox Live is where games and entertainment come alive. This is a unified interface where you can play with anyone, anytime anywhere. By connecting your Xbox 360 to a broadband internet connection, you can instantly access Xbox Live Silver, to announce your digital identity via your gamer tag or gamer card. You can talk to others using voice chat, and access the Xbox Live Marketplace — all right out of the box, at no extra cost. When you upgrade to Xbox Live Gold, you get access to the ever exciting world of online multiplayer gaming. By using intelligent matchmaking, and accessing all your achievements and statistics, Xbox Live Gold brings you nearer to your competition at your terms.

Games: Xbox 360 redefines the whole gaming experience in terms of what they look like, sound like, feel like, and play like in order to engage you like never before. All Xbox 360 titles have resolutions of 1080i and 720p resolution in 16:9 widescreen formats, anti-aliasing support for movie-like graphics and of course, multi-channel surround sound.

Not to mention you can amplify your music, photos, video, and TV. You can watch DVD movies in the comfort of your couch. Xbox 360 also supports progressive-scan DVD’s. The Xbox 360 hard drive can be used to rip music and share your latest albums and pictures with friends and family.

Xbox 360 Accessories Fact Sheet

A successor of the Xbox gaming system, Microsoft’s new Xbox 360 and its unique line of Xbox 360 system accessories extend your digital entertainment experience beyond the console.

Xbox 360 Faceplates

A never before feature – Xbox 360 is centralized around gamers. As a fully customizable design, Xbox 360 gives you the freedom of changing the look of the console to reflect your tastes and personality. The face plates like most Nokia Cellular phones can be changed with extreme ease to express your moods or your sense of style.

* Interchangeable faceplates allow you to create a unique system.

* Find cool, swappable and changeable cutting-edge designs.

* Faceplates come in a lot of varieties and designs.

* Regardless of chosen faceplates, the system remains fully functional.

Xbox 360 Memory Unit

Xbox 360 comes with a 64MB memory unit to further enhance your gaming experience. This memory unit facilitates you to save the in-game achievements and gamer profiles. These units are portable and enable you to start off from where you left quickly and easily. You can easily carry around the Memory Unit in a carrying case which is extremely portable and can fit on a keychain. This memory unit is absolute plug’n’play. Xbox 360 can hold up to two memory units, thus making it upgradeable.

Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote

The Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote is designed in such a way that it becomes an integrated control center for the entire Xbox 360 system. The Media Remote facilitates your entry into the world of digital entertainment by the touch of a single button. Play DVD’s, music, control your TV and your PC with a single integrated controller. This option is to let you kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Accessories Designed for Xbox Live

Xbox Live Camera

The Xbox Live Camera for Xbox 360 lets you video chat and message with your friends and gives up the true gaming and entertainment experience. As an integrated part of Xbox 360’s Xbox Live experience you can connect and communicate with friends while playing, listening to music or watching movies. When you play motion-detection-enabled games online the Xbox live camera inserts you into the game and helps you control the characters.

Xbox 360 Headset

The Xbox 360 Headset enlivens the online gaming experience beyond your imagination helping you to talk to friends, your team mates to finalize strategies or trash talk your opponents out of the game through Xbox Live, all this during play time. Xbox Live also comes with a message service which you can use to leave short vocal messages for your family or friends.

Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter

The Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter takes your Xbox 360 experience way beyond your home, synchronizing with the Xbox 360 main system seamlessly. You can transfer videos and music to your Xbox 360 system from your PC with ease, chat up your colleagues and friends, play games using Xbox Live, and more without wiring it all up.

Xbox 360 Wireless Controller

Xbox 360 through the optimized wireless technology offers the ultimate in wireless gaming within a 30 ft range for 40 hours with the help of 2 AA batteries. With warning systems in place you can plug & charge with ample notice for uninterrupted playing. The wireless controller also supports the Xbox 360 headset for voice communication. The wireless controller has all the functionality of the standard controller enabling you to use all the gaming and entertainment features from your couch. The wired controller comes with a 9 ft cable.

About The Author

Anil Kumar Pammidimukkala

XBox 360 Modchips will be available shortly after the release of the XBox 360 at www.cheapmodchips.net, who guarantee the lowest prices and quickest service on the web! These will allow your XBox 360 to host even more features and the ability to backup games!

This article was posted on November 28, 2005

Copying XBOX Games

2006-11-15T18:43:00.000+08:00

by: Terry Dunn

There really is no shortcut to copying XBOX games. In fact, this is a mightily complicated process and has stumped some really techie people. This is evident with the prevalence of the question on copying XBOX games in Internet message boards and tech chat rooms. But why does one need to be going about there and copying XBOX games? Is this not legal?

If you have an XBOX and you have purchased original games to play on it, chances are you must have ran through a huge chunk of your savings. Original games are very expensive and because CDs are not exactly immortal, you can eventually wear out a game especially if you use it every minute of the day.

To give value to consumers, most countries allow original CD buyers to make back-up copies of their XBOX games in case their original got damaged or got lost provided that they are aware of the law against pirated software and that they actually own an original cd and are only copying XBOX games for their personal use only.

While it is relatively easy to do the copying of XBOX games, the same cannot be said in actually using the XBOX games that you have copied. Most software contain an encryption that must be met when inserted in an XBOX. Copying an XBOX game, however, does not copy this encryption. This is a protection system that most XBOX consoles have as protection against flagrant copying of XBOX games.

To be able to run XBOX games that you have copied, you need to modify your XBOX. This can be a daunting task especially to beginners who are afraid of destroying their XBOXes with their tinkering.

According to most tech experts, there are a lot of ways to modifying your XBOX in order to accommodate the practice of copying of XBOX games. Some are quite complicated and only a tech expert could do while other ways can be expensive but easy.

One is to buy and install a MOD-chip. This will allow your console to play XBOX games that you have copied as well as play imported games from other countries with perfect sound and video with no problem at all. While it may seem that all you have to do is purchase a MOD-Chip and then voila, you have another think coming. There are actually a lot of things that you should consider when buying a MOD-Chip. Most recommend the Divineo Modchips, which are purported to be really reliable. Some of the popular brands are the Xecuter 2 and 3, Xenium, SmartXX, X-bit, Alladin, Chameleon and Xchip.

Another way in copying and using XBOX games is to change the BIOS of the XBOX so that it will no longer read the requirements of the digitally-signed software. This is basically reprogramming the whole BIOS.

You might also consider purchasing a bigger hard drive and just save all your games inside the XBOX. This way, you already have copy of your favorite games inside and would no longer need to swap CDs.

The third way is to do the game swapping technique, wherein you will first boot the original CD and then swap the copy once it has already booted up. This might be very complicated and will not actually serve your purpose in copying your XBOX games… that is to preserve your original CDs.

About The Author

Terry Dunn is webmaster of http://www.Copy-Xbox-Games.biz an informational resource on software to Copy Xbox Games.

This article was posted on September 20, 2005

Top 10 Xbox Games Your Kids Want For Christmas This Year - Guaranteed!

2006-11-15T18:40:00.000+08:00

by: Greg Purnell

Here are some of the main Xbox games kids will be playing and talking about this Christmas. A variety of styles and levels of difficulty are included. Any of these games can be enjoyed by old pro's or beginners.

1. Grand Theft Auto Double Pack

For the price of one game, you get both Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City together. Both GTA games give players some of the best racing and action gameplay available. This is an Xbox classic.

2. Need For Speed: Most Wanted

Take a unique, fast-paced ride in Need for Speed: Most Wanted. Build up your Rap Sheet to become the most wanted street racer. Drive head-to-head against top drivers while evading cops. A great racing Xbox game.

3. Halo: Combat Evolved

This game is story-driven, includes science fiction, and keeps the action level high. Halo has elaborate scenes as well as a ton of pure blasting action. This first-person shooter game is the standard by which all other first-person shooters are measured.

4. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Knights of the Old Republic allows gamers to choose whether to walk the Dark or the Light side. This game mixes real-time and turn-based combat, and features tons of realistic dialogue of the Star Wars genre.

5. NBA Street V3

This is a fresh and challenging basketball game, featuring players from the fictional Street Legends team and real NBA players. The single-player game is rich but the multi-player game is even better, more complex and sophisticated.

6. Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge

This air combat game features tons of shooting action, a deep storyline, and online competition. The reward system provides a bunch of fresh airplanes opponents to add challenge.

7. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

If you or your child enjoy artistic style and texture, you'll find this game a beautiful achievement in animation, and a masterful blend of platform, action and adventure genres that players will enjoy.

8. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3

This shooter game holds many gamers into its addictive web and keeps them playing late into the night. With plenty of game maps and new ones still being released, there's still plenty to discover after the initial gametime.

9. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow

Players choose to be either Spies or Mercenaries. Each group comes with different moves, equipment, and objectives. The Spies play in third-person while the Mercenaries play from a realistic first-person view.

10. Project Gotham Racing 2

Provides amazing racing detail in various city streets where you can speed away in over 200 different cars. The scoring system allows drivers to earn points off slides, catching air, and passing opponents. Learn to drive cool.

About The Author

Greg Purnell is a free-lance writer and Xbox gamer from Dallas, Texas. See more reviews & news of Xbox gaming at http://www.eastwestinternet.com/xbox-games/.

This article was posted on March 03, 2006

RPG Games For Beginners

2006-11-15T18:38:00.000+08:00

by: Taitelul Verde

Part I – characters, attributes and experience explained

For the ones of you that don’t know RPG stands for Role Playing Game, and is one of the most played type of game nowadays.

You are the main hero, and you interact with other characters also called NPC-s ( or Non Playable Characters if you’re playing single player). They will give you quests to do, and you have to do them, in order to get experience and advance to higher levels.

The story has the main quest, that will end the game when finished, and usually a lot of side quests, that will help you develop your character. The side quests are not necessary, but will get you deeper into the story and sometimes that is really worth it!

Most RPG games allow you to choose your type of character at the beginning. Usually there are several types of characters, all with different attributes, but there are three main categories to choose from: wizard, fighter and archer. These will take different names and attributes and will be further more differentiated into subcategories, depending on the game. For example, the wizard can become specialized on different categories of spells, like earth, water, dark magic, white magic, fire, lightning, nature.

How do you grow your character? Well this depends from game to game, but basically you have :

- life, called life points in many games representing your health

- mana, or mana points representing the wizardry point you have left( these point allow you to do spells, if you don’t have them you won’t be able to cast spells)

- stamina, also found by other names, depending on the game, this represents how much time you can run, of do special moves.

Besides these three there are a few other primary attributes like:

- strength – representing the strength of your character, you’ll have to put points here if your character is a fighter.

- dexterity –representing the dexterity of your character, usually important for archers.

- intelligence – representing the intelligence of your character, usually important for wizards.

There may appear some more primary attributes depending on the game but don’t worry they are usually explained!

Experience – this is heart of the game, and this (along with the story) will keep you in front of the computer for days! Basically, when you kill monsters you get experience, you also get experience when you do the quests. This experience is used to grow in level, making you stronger and able to battle with more and more monsters. Take care how you spend your experience, because in the later part of the game it’s important to be strong so you can finish the game. Usually it’s best to choose a line of evolution at the beginning and keep it until the end of the game !

Ok, we’ve reached the end of part one, hope I was able to enlighten you a little concerning the mysteries of RPG games. See you in part two!

About The Author

Taitelul Verde's page : www.poweroversoftware.com helps hundreds of people to build their own web sites, by teaching them step by step all that is necessary to succeed. He also designed the directory www.pegasusdirectory.com in order to help webmasters increse their traffic.

This article was posted on January 30, 2006

Getting the Best Deal on PSP Games

2006-11-15T18:34:00.000+08:00

by: KC Yap

The demand for PSP games keeps on growing. With so many customers to serve, every reseller wants in on the action. Whether you prefer to shop for your PSP games online or offline, you definitely have plenty of sources to choose from.

How can you be assured you’re getting the biggest selection of PSP games at the best value? You’ve got to shop around. You’ve got to compare not only price, but availability. It’s also advisable to make your purchases from a reputable source. Once you’ve made this effort and selected a source you’re comfortable with, you’ll know right where to go every time you need to purchase more PSP games.

Going right to the source at www.us.Playstation.com is the best way to keep current with the latest new releases, upgrades to previous releases, and news regarding upcoming PSP games titles and events. You can shop there too, but you won’t find much in the way of discounted prices. If price isn’t an issue, then you’ll be guaranteed an easy and secure purchasing process. Another benefit of shopping right at the source is that you can shop for PSP-related gear including carrying cases, backpacks, clothing and apparel, accessories and more.

If you prefer to shop in person, either because it’s more convenient or because you don’t have a credit card, you’re in luck. All the major stores that carry electronics carry a wide assortment of PSP games. You’ll likely find what you need at Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, KB Toys or Toys R Us and at the stores specializing in electronic games such as EB Games and GameStop. The assortment at each outlet will vary and you won’t find much difference in pricing. These stores all want your business and in order to get it, they’ve got to remain competitive.

If you’re a PSP games enthusiast, your best deal might be to locate an online source that allows unlimited downloading of PSP games for one price. These “membership” sites offer a great selection of fully-functioning games that members download right to their computers. These games are not demo versions, although many demos are available so you can try before you buy, which is another great benefit.

Deals on PSP games exist, but it’s up to you to find them. Membership clubs, retail and online sources, and special multi-PSP games package deals are all worth investigating.

About The Author

KC Yap

For more tips, tricks and techniques to download PSP games at the very best value and at any time you want, please visit my blog on psp games (psp-game.blogspot.com) now!

And if you want to extract more entertainment value off your PSP today, you could also check out another of my favorite blog on psp movies (psp--movies.blogspot.com) too.

info@nicheifnosite.com

This article was posted on March 06, 2006

Who Plays Computer Games?

2006-11-15T18:32:00.000+08:00

by: Tony Brings

Playing computer games was once reserved for the geek of the class who would shut himself away until the early hours of the morning with no company apart from a joystick. This has changed significantly as the standard of graphics and game play has improved and the use of computers is even more widely accepted. The advance of the Internet has also made sure that online gaming has become increasingly popular allowing people from all around the world to play against one another or in huge online tournaments. The appeal has spread significantly to what it once was.

The first generation of gamers are growing older now and this is coinciding with the introduction of next generation console games that look and sound much better than was ever dreamt possible ten or twenty years ago. AS such, many of these early gamers continue to play console games and computer games meaning what was predominantly a children’s market is shifting upwards in age. It is by no means uncommon for people in their twenties and thirties to be buying the latest games.

As well as being younger, the game market used to consist of almost solely males. Again, this has changed. AS technology has become more and more accessible and accepted in the form of cell phones and computers, the playing of computer games has also increased and there are many girls and women who are just as comfortable behind a control pad or a joystick as the men.

One more factor that has changed in the gaming world is that playing computer games is a solitary existence. Again, the stereotype of previous generations of gamers is kids locked in bedrooms playing fantasy games until midnight. Now, well over half of the people who play computer games do so on the Internet or with their friends on a regular basis.

About The Author

Tony Brings is owner of Video Gaming Champ. Find out everyhting about computer games and video games, including news and cheats. http://www.videogamingchamp.info

This article was posted on March 13, 2006

Online Games – Ins and Outs

2006-11-15T18:28:00.000+08:00

by: Andy Jones

"Online Games" is just another name for games played over a network, usually the internet. The expansion of the internet has fuelled the expansion of online gaming, and vice versa, without the demand for fast internet connections from online games and gamers the internet would not be in the form it is now.

The internet plays host too many different types of games, ranging from simple text base games, to games involving a high level of graphics and video. These online games usually come with an online community, which is making gaming online more than just fun, it is now becoming a massive social activity.

"Massively Multiplayer Online Games" are an excellent example of these communities. These games paired with the growth of the internet i.e. Broadband, has made it possible for hundreds of thousands of players to play and interact together. There are different types of Massively Multiplayer Online Games, varying to suit the needs of the player(s):

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

Massively Multiplayer Online Real-Time Strategy

Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter

Only fairly recently, Online First Person Shooter Games have moved from the standard LAN and onto the internet. Meaning even more players can get together and popularize game communities and the games. Moving to the internet also meant new types of games could be produced such as head-to-head gaming.

Another type of online gaming is your Browser Games. With the development of Flash and Java, Flash and Java games are becoming increasing popular. Although these games are only fairly simple compared to that of First Person Shooters, and only having a very limited multiplayer option, best served as single player with high score lists, they are 80 gazillion free Flash games sites in the cyber world, According to Computer Gaming World.

About The Author

Andy Jones http://www.stashfile.com - Free Online Games

Contact: admin@stashfile.com

This article was posted on March 27, 2006

Flash Games VS Downloads

2006-11-15T18:26:00.000+08:00

by: Tommy Jarvis

The no download required casino games are called flash games. Flash games do not require you to download any software to play them so if you are at work or on a computer you can not download to you can still play these types of games. Flash Games will usually have better graphics because they don’t have to worry about keeping the program small enough to download.

Because they are played directly from the server where they reside they will usually be susceptible to internet traffic. This means if many people are on that server at one time the games will run very slow and the experience will not be fun, also flash games have less encryption on them. Also while you are playing it is constantly uploading and downloading info to your computer so you are using greater bandwidth while playing then a download game would. This is also true if you are trying to download other things from the internet at the same time you are playing the game. If you are playing a multiplayer flash casinos game you will find that there is sometimes lots of lag time and that is annoying for you and the other players you are playing with. No one realizes you are lagging and get frustrated because you are always holding up the game.

Download casino games are good for several reasons. They offer better protection for the player by using a more secure connection type with the server the casino is located on. Because they are running directly from your pc they will run faster and smoother. Also there is usually a better choice of games in a download casino then in a flash casino, plus with a download casino you can quickly switch from game to game. In a flash casino you would need to stop your connection and click to open another game.

When push comes to shove it all comes down to personal preference. Personally I feel safer using downloaded casino games, but I know many people that want to play roulette or blackjack from work and do not want to have the casino software on the company computer so they like the Flash Casinos.

One thing I have learned is that if you want to play the multi player games like poker in the Poker Rooms you have to use the flash casinos this is because you all have to log into the same server so you can all play together and to do it from a download game you would all have to play from one of the players computers.

I recommend you try both and see for yourself which one is better for you or if you even see a difference at all. Then you can make a more informed decision on which type of casino game you wish to continue to play.

About The Author

Tommy Jarvis spends his spare time playing blackjack at one of his favorite online casinos. When he is not playing blackjack online he writes for an online casino review for Online-Casinos-77.com.

This article was posted on September 04, 2006

Downloadable Bingo Games

2006-11-15T18:21:00.000+08:00

by: Mary Weber

Downloadable bingo games are online bingo games that are played without Flash software. Downloadable games need to instead be downloaded from the specific bingo site, whereas non downloadable bingo games are played live.

Players wishing to start playing online bingo should be cautious when choosing whether to go for downloadable or non downloadable bingo games. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each is important before making the selection.

Downloadable bingo games are available from some sites, however in recent times many sites only offer Flash bingo games. The reason for this is that downloadable bingo games take some time to download when installing the software, and the game time may be slower during actual games as well. Starting to play at a downloadable bingo site involves a standard registration procedure, and then players still need to download the software before logging in to start playing games. Most players do not wish to have the additional hassle of lengthy downloads.

Flash or non downloadable bingo games work using Flash software. Games are played live, and game time is quick and seamless. Players save time and effort, which can be better put to use by playing bingo rather than downloading software. Generally, the majority of Flash non downloadable bingo games have a higher entertainment ranking and many players cite colorful animations and vibrant game skins as top reasons for playing at their chosen Flash bingo game site.

The basic computer requirements for playing any Flash or downloadable online bingo game are most importantly a high speed modem and also a reliable internet connection. These basics are essential items which are needed to play online. Once these have been installed, the player needs to find a good online bingo site. Non downloadable bingo games are easy to identify, as the majority of there have a Flash logo or link featured on the homepage of the site. Players simply need to navigate until they see this logo to find out whether a site is played using Flash or downloadable software. Non downloadable bingo games entail new players to simply open an account to begin playing. Once the account has been opened, and the new player has logged in, they can choose the game room they wish to play in, and they can also select a game theme or skin for their chosen room. Flash graphics give these skins a vibrant look, and ensure that their online bingo experience is visually enhanced and entertaining.

About The Author

Mary Weber has been an online bingo fanatic for over 7 years. Though she has played other forms of online gambling, Mary has always stated that bingo is her true passion. Her internet bingo related publications are filled with interesting and useful online bingo tips. Her many articles she has written can be found at: http://www.online-bingo.net

This article was posted on September 04, 2006

Online Games - Touching Horizons With Teeming Popularity

2006-11-15T11:15:00.000+08:00

by: Jonathan White

Creative signatures of the human brain, depicting horizons of creativity and imagination, online flash and shockwave games are catching up for their entertainment and educational value. The contributions of the multi-billion-dollar industry is commanding attention, respect and interest from all age groups, be it a toddler or an eighty year old.

Quenching your thirst for excitement and action, the online games come in an overall enchanting package. The superior multimedia support to the bright, colorful and vibrant graphics, in tempting combination with a whole spectrum of brilliant game ideas, renders the online games popular and far-reaching.

In a further deadly combination, the games are available free of cost that do not need to be subscribed to for an instant play on site or for a download, to suit the preferences and requirements of the game enthusiasts. The economical nature of these online games is further gratified by their group presence and availability. These games can be found in a one-stop shop manner on almost all games sites that may be dedicated online games sites like pogo.com or games offered as a clever diversification of the website to attract web traffic, like Yahoo games.

In order to keep up with the ever-elevating expectations and thirst for more excitement and fun from a new game, the industry witnesses’ use of the state-of-the-art technologies in development of online games. The industry ensures delivery of mesmerizing three-dimensional true to life graphics coupled with equally realistic multimedia support, to complement a sound logic and an overwhelming game plan.

The popularity of the free online flash and shockwave games stands bolstered up by natural instincts and inclinations of human nature. As human mind is naturally attracted to a taste of excitement, challenge, achievement and an opportunity to prove oneself better, the flash and shockwave games capture the fantasy of young and old alike as a superior time pass.

Furthermore, the orthodox blemishes as regards the harmful and evil nature of these games are fading steadily and incessantly as the studies reveal their better sides to the corporate world. It is increasingly being accepted in the employment arena that proficiency in computer games is an evidence of a sharper and quicker mind. So much so that companies are actually incorporating computer games as a part of employment strategy leading to full-time absorption of a candidate into the company.

The age-old beliefs as regards the detrimental effects of computer games on health are also being defied with science revealing computer games as an exercise for eyes and the brain. Now computer games are being looked at more than means of entertainment, as studies portray online computer games as a means to nurture logical thinking faculties of human brain, sharpen problem-solving skills, increase brain function, improve hand-eye coordination and enhance social skills.

Thus, these online games allow players to explore and refine certain skills and traits of ones personality, in terms of reflexes, logical thinking, ability to work hard, patience and resolve. The tempting online games are coupled with its delivery of a fancy world so real and engrossing, presenting an irresistible challenge for the brain.

The free online flash and shockwave games also present themselves as a boon for parents looking out for a suitable time pass for their child, such that he/ she spends time keenly sitting at one place, without requiring someone to baby-sit and even learning in the process.

At last but not the least, the virtual competition offered by the free online flash and shockwave games is an unforgettable experience. Playing in anonymity with hundreds and even thousands of players simultaneously logged in worldwide, you find the taste of a win the sweetest.

About The Author
Jonathan White, owner of http://games.simplysearch4it.com & SimplySearch4It UK – Play Free Online Internet Games

This article was posted on October 02, 2006

A Guide To Starting A Career In Video Games – Prepare Yourself For A Break-In!

2006-11-15T11:13:00.000+08:00

by: Will Kalif

Starting a career in the video game industry used to a difficult thing; there were very few options and very few schools that could teach the required cutting edge skills. If you wanted to choose this path you had to be self taught. Today this dilemma has been turned upside down. You now have a plethora of schools to choose from and lots of programs and specialties to decide amongst. Here is some advice on what the industry has to offer and what you can do to prepare yourself.

The video game industry has changed over the past ten years. It has matured and is now a full-fledged industry. This means that there are plenty of opportunities to find a rewarding career without being a hot-shot game programmer. As a matter of fact, the days of the hot shot developer are pretty much over. In today’s world the creation of a state of the art video game now requires a dedicated team of employees with a wide range of skills and interests.

What does this mean for you? It means opportunity in a lot of different disciplines and it means that you have to specialize within a subgenre of the big picture of "Making Video Games". But before you pack off and go to a video game school or dish out the dollars for an online school there are some things you should do and some things you need to know.

1. Learn the basic concepts of game design

Have an understanding of video games, how they're played, and what they're all about. You should have a feel for the game industry; know what games are out there, what styles of play they have, and how they handle the game playing experience. Chances are good that you already fulfill this requirement.

Have an understanding of the underlying principles of game design. There are several ways that you can do this. I recommend one or both of these methods to get you started in this:

Build Mods – Mods are modifications of existing games. Quake is a famous game for this approach. You use the mod builder software and you build levels or worlds that can be added right into the game itself. The Mod sub culture is very vibrant and you can find a lot of support and help. To gain even better experience that translates well into a corporate environment you should join a volunteer Mod development team. This gives you good teamwork experience and gives you insight on how a video game project is broken down into pieces.

Get a free or inexpensive Game engine development suite and build your own games. You can build adequate and fun to play games on your own this way. I recommend you do this with the Genesis 3d Game development software. It is completely free.

2. Get familiar with some of the professions in the industry and the tools that are used.

There are a whole host of tools that game design teams use. And the tools you would use are dependent on what role you would play on the team. Here is an overview of some of the different jobs in the industry and what software tools they would use.

If you like drawing and painting with traditional tools you might want to consider being a concept artist. They do all their work with off computer art tools. They would conceptualize and draw the scenes and the creatures in a game.

If you think you might like computer designing worlds and scenes in a video game you should consider being a 2-dimensional artist. They create all the structures, textures and backgrounds in game worlds. Photoshop is the de-facto program for this job. If you can afford a copy of this program you will get a definite insight into this career path. If you cannot afford Photoshop you should consider getting Paint Shop Pro. It is less expensive and very similar to Photoshop and it will give you a good foundation into the world of 2-dimensional artwork.

If Characters and models are what you are enthusiastic about you should consider becoming a 3-Dimensional Model Artist. This type of artist is concerned with making the characters, monsters, creatures and objects that inhabit a video game world. In this area of game art the choice of software is not as straight-forward as in the 2d art. The most accepted software is 3D studio Max. Two other popular programs are Maya and SoftImage. If you are looking for a free 3d modeling tool that will get you started you may want to get Milkshape. It is a tool designed for the game Half-Life.

The concepts of modeling are universal so the skills will transfer from one tool to the other. You will just have to learn the specifics of the new tool which will be easy enough.

Animator - This is the person that makes the characters and objects in the game move. It is a very specific skill and it takes good understanding of animation to get things right. There are many software programs that are used for animation and they include Macromedia Flash, Alias/Wavefront, 3D Studio Max and Lightwave 3D.

Programmer - This is something that is a little more traditional when we think of video game making "Programming" and it is a very wide field that can find you doing almost anything in the video game making arena. A programmer could be called upon to do any number of things from managing a database to designing the artificial intelligence within a game or creating specialized software tools that other designers use to create the game.

Other Opportunities in Video game design - There are many other jobs in the video game industry ranging from Script and story writer to even network administrator or computer maintenance and repair technician.

Today there are many different career paths that can be taken into the video game industry. This requires you to specialize in a set of skills. Understanding what these different skills are and getting a head start now will increase your marketability in the very competitive video game industry.

About The Author
Will Kalif is the author of two self-published epic fantasy novels, an amateur video game designer and an avid classical guitarist. You can download free samples of his work at his personal website http://www.stormthecastle.com

Or you can visit his website devoted to fantasy on the web at: http://fantasyguide.stormthecastle.com

This article was posted on September 22, 2006

3 Steps to Get A Winning Career in Video Games Simply

2006-11-15T11:06:00.000+08:00

by: Todd Harris

So you want to get into the video game industry simply? Well, there are ways to do that. Every day people are asking the simple question, "How do I break into the video game industry?" Sometimes that's where the questions stop and sometimes they keep going with, "How do I get an interview?" "What kinds of companies should I look for?" "Is my dream possible?"

Well, let's back-up a little and talk about the number one word when it comes to video games. Passion. Yep, that's it. Do you have passion and love for video games? It's as simple as that. If you said yes to that answer, then you can break into the video game industry. It all follows that one word. Why passion? Because I am a true believer that where your hear lies, so does your treasure.

Okay, so you've determined that you have the passion, now what? Well, you need some skills that qualify you for the position you are seeking. I am going to focus this article on the art side since I am a concept artist, but it does apply to all aspects of the game industry. Knowledge is the next step to getting your winning career in video games. Knowledge or skills in the area that you are trying to break into can be acquired when you have the passion to learn them. But, once again, let's take another step back and look at the game industry.

The game industry is constantly changing, and this is great for people wishing to get a start in video games. As technology evolves and the industry evolves, new positions are popping up, salaries are increasing and games are exploding into the marketplace like never before. There's ample room for the taking. You'll want to keep up with industry trends as you look for your area of expertise or knowledge that you can bring to the industry.

So now you have passion and skills, what do you do with them to acquire your lucrative career? You use hard work and get past the gatekeepers. What do I mean by that? Gatekeepers are anyone standing in the way of you and your dreams. They are everywhere! Gatekeepers can be one secretary not making it easy for you to get an interview. Or a gatekeeper could be a company head not wanting you to advance for one reason or another. You can have a personal gatekeeper, yourself, that tells yourself you can't do it, you are a quitter, etc. They are all over. But here's a secret. There's one thing that can take over any gatekeeper you may come along. Hard work and determination.

Is it really as easy as hard work and determination? Yes, and hard work and easy can be in the same sentence. Let me tell you how. It's easy to work hard when it's your passion. That's why I said passion needs to be the qualifier to whether you should be in the video game industry. With it, you can have whatever you want from it. Without passion, you'll be lucky to get anything from the video game industry.

So how do we get past the gatekeepers with hard work? The old adage, "when there's a will there's a way" comes into play. Let's take the gatekeeper at a company. There's a particular secretary at a developer you are trying to get a job with, yet she won't connect you with any department heads.

Hard work and determination will pay by doing research on the company first. Find out if this developer is making the kinds of games you want to make. Are they hiring right now? If so, how do they want to see your portfolio? Find out any contacts they may have that is not the secretary. Go to their personal website and see if there are any names that deal with hiring directly. Fire them an email. Do you see my point? It's about perseverance and hard work.

You'll be able to get any job you want in the video game industry with these 3 principles. I know it sounds too good to be true but go ahead and prove me right.

Copyright (c) 2006 Todd Harris

About The Author
Todd Harris is a concept art director for a multi-billion dollar company. He loves video games as a creative medium. He is trained in the Florence Academy Method. Gamedesigner101.com is a resource web site that is devoted to helping game enthusiasts wishing to have a career in the video game industry. For more information or to sign up for a free newsletter, visit http://www.gamedesigner101.com.

This article was posted on October 24, 2006

Video Games & Sports

2006-11-15T11:04:00.000+08:00

by: Taisha Grant

Like novels, video games can be categorized into different genres. One of the genres of video games that exist is the role-playing games. Before there were video games, role-playing games were played, usually using dice. One example of role-playing in the real world was Dungeons and Dragons. In this game, you pretended to be a person who existed in a world where dragons, magic and other fantastical elements existed. Each of your actions in that world was mostly determined by the roll of the dice. You played with other people and they took on roles as well in that world as well. In the video game version, you take on the role of a person and use joystick or game console to do your actions on the screen. They just translated games that existed in the real world into video.

Sports video games are just video versions of games like tennis, football and American football. You can be Michael Jordan and play against other superstars of the NBA. Do you want to be favorite American football player? You can be that player or any other player in the video game version? You can be Tiger Woods in a video game version of golf. Video game version of real sports let you pretend to be a super star that you will probably never be in real life.

Sim is short for simulated and the video or computers usually have the word Sim in their title. It probably all started with a game called in Sim City. In Sim City, you pretend to be a person running a city. You had to build everything that made up a city and had to deal with disasters that would come out of nowhere so you wouldn’t get so bored just building things. A fire would happen in a building and would have to deal with that disaster. Some sim games deal with you being roller coaster or train baron. The popular games in this genre are simply called Sims these days. In these sim games, you pretend to be a person going through the stages of life and the troubles that you have in each stage of life.

Puzzle video games are games where you simply have to solve the puzzle to move to the next level. Some games are like the famous game called Concentration where you have to match all the pieces. Once you match all the pieces, you can go on to the next level. It can be like tic-tac-toe where you have to put three matching things together and then you can move on. Some are actually video game versions of jigsaw puzzles.

One popular genre is the strategy game genre. In this genre, you must you’re your mind against the computer or other opponents to win the game. One example of this game is the Civilization game series. In Civilization, you pretend to be a civilization like the Egyptians, Russians, Germans or any past civilization. Your civilization starts out at the cave man and you must find ways to evolve your civilization. While you are trying to evolve, other civilizations exist and they exist to destroy your civilization. You won this game by either beating all the other civilizations or by entering the Space Age. All you have really is your mind and you must use it or be destroyed in a strategy game.

About The Author
Taisha Grant writes about http://www.videogamesbox.com, http://www.videogamesbox.com/Coupons/eToys.html and http://www.videogamesbox.com/Coupons/MadCatzStore.com.html

This article was posted on September 11, 2006

Free Internet Games - Finding The Games Lovers Paradise

2006-11-15T11:01:00.000+08:00

by: Jake Jenkins

These days, playing games has been taken to a whole new level. With new websites offering free games coming online every day, the games lovers are spoilt for choice. Online gaming is fast replacing traditional forms of teen entertainment and more so as internet access becomes increasingly easy to acquire and afford.

Fast, and understandably bursting into popularity, it is addictive, cheap and most importantly FREE.

Playing free internet games is popular right across the world and across all ages. Games lovers who have access to the internet anywhere in the world are bound to find their own paradise. Hardly does age play a factor, as there are assorted games to cater for all age groups. It is not uncommon to find people in Britain, Bangladesh, Israel playing the same game on the same website!

As a result of this explosion of popularity, there are many platforms offering many kinds of free online games with no need to for downloading. As a result, gaming lovers have many possibilities available to them.

Some focus on a specific genre such as adventure, action, strategy, board, or card games while others diversify and offer a broad range of free games encompassing all the categories above.

Furthermore, there are some gaming websites that are geared to offering a wide range of games in almost every genre. One such platform is www.Arcadekitty.com which offers free games in categories such as strategy, adventure, rpg, strategy, puzzles just to name a few. It is more like a one stop shop for games only they are free. The advantages of free online games is that you can do it whenever you can spare a few minutes or during your coffee break for instance. Some of these games are educational or brainteasers, others are for pure fun. Free online strategy games, such as Sudoku, for instance test your brain intellect without needing a pen nor paper.

Free online adventure games are the easiest to come by. Role Playing Games allows the gamer to impersonate a desired character while visitors can also pick an online partner to play multiplayer games enhancing the very social nature of gaming.

Some platforms offer a system of rating which further enhances the experience of new visitors who visit later. Additionally, specific comments can be left on games on some websites. Favourite games can be bookmarked or sent to friends or placed on social network profiles such as Myspace.

Taking advantage of this social environment, some websites offer free chat so game players can hang out and chat, making new friends and meeting people from all over the world. Once again Gamerevolt.com is one such platform. Their chatroom allows visitors to create their own private rooms where they can invite their friends or new people they have met for a casual chat.

Others add more social enhancing content such as forums, downloads and games cheat to their visitors. This includes X box game cheats Ps 2 game cheats Game boy cheats and cheats for other platforms.

Playing free games is definitely exciting as teens often find themselves in groups visiting cybercafes and enjoying new online games they discover together. Factoring in the fact that, the average cybercafe charges up to $1.00 an hour, this is certainly cheaper than clubbing.

On the whole, online gaming is an explosive and social environment and set to expand futher in the future.

About The Author
Jake Jenkins
A Games Enthusiast And Programmer
http://www.gamerevolt.com/category/Strategy/1.html - Strategy games
http://www.gamerevolt.com/category/Arcade/1.html - Free Online Arcade
http://www.gamerevolt.com

This article was posted on November 10, 2006

Download Computer Games - Before Deciding To Buy One

2006-11-14T09:52:00.000+08:00

by: John Rivers

The Internet is not only a good source of information on about every subject. You will also find many sites that allow you to download new programs and other useful software that you can copy directly to your computer. It also offers files that contain videos, music and games. Before you can use these files, they first have to be copied to your hard disk. This process is called downloading. Webpages usually have links to downloadable files.

If you click on one of these download links, your browser immediately copies the files onto your computer's hard disk drive.

Today, there is a very wide range of different kinds of computer games that you can download. Very often big gaming software companies allow you to download a trial version of a game that they have just released. They call these either trialware or shareware.

Typically, the companies provide shareware so you can download the games and try before buying it. The games usually are demo versions with limited features.

A shareware is accompanied by a request for payment that the person who downloaded the computer game is required to pay after a certain amount of time has past.

Free trial software is one of the main reasons for the rapid growth of the gaming industry. Today the industry is worth more than $10 billion. With games costing an average of $40, it's a wise decision to download computer games for trial first. Most new video games released have their own dedicated website, so players can be updated on latest news and sequels. Many of the computer games offering a free trial have a specific mission that the player can try out. In this way he can get a feeling for the scenarios and the overall design of the game.

If you want a new gaming software, there are thousands of downloadable games available on the internet including classic games that you may not find in a regular software store.

Nevertheless there are disadvantages downloading shareware. The main drawback when downloading computer games is that the bigger the file size, the longer it will take your computer to write the information on its hard disk drive. This often can be a tedious process that can tie up your phone line for a long time.

Another factor that may affect the time it takes your computer to download the game is when there are a lot of other users that are trying to download the same file as you.

Then there is the virus worry. Many users worry that downloading a file could result in their computer being infected by a virus. However, times have changed and what was a problem in 2004 is no longer a problem in 2006. Big companies have their websites scanned for viruses on a regular basis and files offered for download are also scanned.

About The Author

John Rivers is the owner of Computer Training Camp. His website offers information for computer newbies. http://www.computertrainingcamp.co.uk.

This article was posted on February 09, 2006

Different Categories of Computer Games

2006-11-14T09:48:00.000+08:00

by: David Chandler

Computer games can be categorized mainly into PC games that are played in your computer after installation using the CDs that contain the software, downloadable pc games, and the online games. Many websites provide you with the downloadable version of the PC games.

Category based on permission to use

The games can be categorized based on licenses. Some of the games are free and they can be downloaded on the internet free. Some pc games are free downloadable games but are shareware. Shareware games have limitations in the features. Some of the shareware can be used for only 30 days time and some are limited by the number of times that software is used. Trial versions of the software are also available which are time limited or feature limited.

Online Games

Online games are those that are played online. The user who is playing the online games should have an internet connection in his PC. You should be aware that your internet bill is on the rise during the time you play the online games. Yahoo games are one among the popular online games. Many websites provide you online games. Some of the sites require you to become a member to play these online games. Some charge you on per game basis for playing.

PC Games

PC Games are those that require an installation through a CD to play the pc games. Some of the games even require the CD to be present in the CD drive to play the game. These software CDs are to be purchased by the user. There are many pc games available like Tomb Raider that requires you to purchase the CD. Most of the games that contain Car races and Motorbike races require the software to be installed through the CD bought by you.

Downloadable PC Games

These games can be downloaded from the internet and can be installed in your computer. Most of the free game downloads are small enough to be downloaded from the internet. There websites like www.download.com that can be searched for free game downloads. A good search engine would give you thousands of links to free downloadable games.

What you need in your PC to play these games?

Most of the games can be played without any additional hardware. If you are having the latest configuration of the PC, which has the software pre-installed in your computer, then you might not need any additional software to be installed. Some of the online games require you to install plug-ins to run the online games. Plug-in is additional software that is required to run an application in your computer. You will be provided appropriate links to download the plug-ins required by your browser or your computer. You need to check the system requirements for the computer games that is downloaded or installed in your system and install them before you start playing the game.

About The Author

David Chandler

For more information, visit http://www.ComputerGamesInfo.com.

This article was posted on September 13, 2005

Reviving Old Computer Games

2006-11-14T09:46:00.000+08:00

by: Daniel Punch

Remember the good old days of gaming, when there were only 5 pixels in the protagonist and your imagination could turn them into a heroic figure of Schwarzenegger proportions? When the enemies and the heroes were distinguished by colour and you only needed one button on the joystick? Well times have changed and technology has moved on. Pulling my old Commodore 64 or Atari out of the back of the cupboard and setting them up often takes more time than the nostalgic pang lasts. I’ve also noticed that some of my old disks are starting to age and become corrupted. Enter the Internet.

The wonderfully technologically gifted and giving Internet populace is out in force in their attempts to preserve the older side of gaming. Remakes and Emulators for almost any old machine can be found around the Internet. Emulators act as a layer between old software and new hardware allowing modern PCs to run programs that such hardware was never meant to see. Commodore 64, Amiga, NES, Master System, Arcade Machines and more have all been emulated and the necessary programs placed online for download, usually for free.

Emulation is not a new idea. I had a hardware emulator for the VIC20 that plugged into the back of my Commodore 64 and allowed the use of the older VIC20 cartridges with the new hardware (I never actually owned a VIC20 or any programs for it but that’s another issue). Emulator popularity has been fading in and out for many years, only coming into many people’s attention with the release of Bleem!, a Playstation emulator for PC that was released while the PSOne still held a dominant share of the video game market. Bleemcast (a Playstation emulator for the Sega Dreamcast) soon followed causing one of the more interesting video game legal battles as Sony fought to have the emulator shut down. However, the emulators have a strong following and very active user base.

Emulators are easy to find and download. Simply search for the system you want and add the word emulator to the end (e.g. “SNES Emulator”) and you’ll probably come up with a lot of hits. Be slightly wary as some emulator sites will either be false links or may contain pornographic ads. Setting the emulators up to run is usually fairly straightforward and there’s a fair chance that you’ll be able to find some documentation and help. Some of the newer systems require a BIOS image to be installed with the emulator. This is to get around the legal issues raised by Sony in the Bleem! legal battles by requiring you to be in possession of a Playstation BIOS (and hence, presumably, a Playstation) in order to play the games on your computer. Making a BIOS image to load into your computer will most likely be beyond your technical expertise, but a quick check of your console’s case will reveal the file you need to get and then it’s as simple as searching the internet for a BIOS image that matches the BIOS you already own.

Of interest are the PC emulators now available. Windows no longer has very good support for older DOS-based games so there are a few emulators out there now to emulate the DOS environment. DOSBox (http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/) is probably the best known of the crop. There are also game-specific emulators such as ScummVM (www.scummvm.org) or DOOM Legacy (http://legacy.newdoom.com/) that focus specifically on certain games and hence are able to improve the experience for those particular titles.

Once you have yourself an emulator you’ll need to get yourself some programs to run with it. These programs are called ‘ROMs’ and are images of the original storage device that the program came on (be it a cartridge, tape, floppy or other). The process of creating a ROM is probably far too technical for the vast majority of computer users so you’re probably going to have to find a ‘backup’ from somewhere to download. This is where the venture gets slightly foggy. Basically the deal is that you can only have a program ROM if you own the original program. So if you have boxes of old Amiga disks, NES cartridges, or other old gaming programs stored away somewhere, you’re in luck, otherwise you’re treading on legally shifty ground. While it can easily be argued that the downloading of a 1987 computer game is of no real consequence to the company that has in all likelihood closed down, copyright doesn’t actually expire for 50 years and computer games just haven’t been around that long.

Online ‘emulation’ is a new area now being explored. The idea is that you simply play the game in your browser through a Java applet or Flash application. These might not always strictly be emulated programs but many remakes are feature perfect with the originals. The graphics, sounds, and game play remain intact. One excellent place to look for online games is Every Video Game (http://www.everyvideogame.com). While the site does not in fact contain ‘every video game’ it does have a very large list of old games from the arcades, GameBoy, NES, and Master System all playable through your browser. Many remakes can also be found at Shockwave’s site (http://www.shockwave.com/sw/actiongames/arcade_classics/).

Some of the old games have even been remade and updated for this modern world we now live in. Try doing a search for remakes of a game title you particularly enjoyed and you may be surprised at what you find. There are games that have been updated to be 3D, such as some old favourites of mine: Pac man (http://www.caiman.us/scripts/fw/f1292.html) and Barbarian (http://www.dgdevteam.tk/), and while these might not always be brilliant games or remakes in their own right, the thought and effort put in often leads to an enjoyable diversion. There are also more traditional versions of games that have just updated the code as well as possibly the graphics so that they can still be run.

So if you’re feeling nostalgic or just can’t get the hang of these new-fangled games that require you to push fifty buttons in a precise configuration just to jump, you may like to check out the emulation and remake scene. It’s surprisingly entertaining to go back in time to when games were simple yet fun.

About The Author

Daniel Punch
M6.Net Web Helpers
http://www.m6.net
danielp@m6.net

This article was posted on February 28, 2005

The Perils of the Playstation 2 Game System

2006-11-13T12:16:00.000+08:00

by: Morgan Hamilton

Are you crazy about video games? Oh, come on don’t be ashamed! Nowadays this is so normal. So many people love to stay lazy at home and play video games all day long. Some even claim that video games are the best entertainment on the Earth. Let me be more specific, guys just love to waste their time playing video games. I admit, there may be women who play video games but I know none of them!

I usually have fun watching how playstation 2 game system can control peoples’ lives. This playstation 2 game system just absorbs them. Do you know that there are people who make their living in the video game contests? Yes, they earn their money with video games! They play for the big cash prizes. Does it sound strange to you? What is so ridiculous? There people love to play video games. What is better than to make your living out of your hobby? It is all because probably these playstation 2 game systems have something addictive!

I believe you know at least one person who has a playstation 2 game system. It is just impossible that any of your friends or even you do not have a playstation 2 game system. These playstation 2 game system can be seen everywhere. They are getting more and more popular each day.

Personally, I am trying not to get in touch with any kind with video games in order not to waste my time. The same goes playstation 2 game systems even. I value highly my time. I have no time to give to this playstation 2 game system.

However, if you cannot give up playing video games, before you sit think of how much time are you going to play. Don’t you think that the playstation 2 game system will take too much time from you? People become addicted with playstation 2 game system and they cannot quit playing. They always say, “This is my last game” or “just one more game.” The time they spend in front of the playstation 2 game system seem to them like minutes. But it is not. Guys do not realize that while they are pushing and pushing repeatedly these buttons, time flies away.

When I was at college, I worked at a Hollywood Video. Every day, different people were coming in search of new video games. I always asked myself whether they had not something better to entertain themselves. These people were mainly adults. Come on, when you cross the teenage years, can you spend all your time with the playstation 2 game system?

I remember a girl who worked with me. She just hated video games! She felt so bad that her 26-year-old boyfriend was playing video games constantly. She guessed that may be he was feeling depressed that he couldn't find a job. As a result, he was playing video games all day long! He didn’t even want to go anywhere. Oh, yeah, that is my boy!

I admit that video games are entertaining. However, can you spend your entire time with your playstation 2 game system? The trick of giving up video games is not to get sucked in ever. You’d better explore the real world outside. I mean the world that is beyond your playstation 2 game system.

About The Author
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning games. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.xtraordinarysite.com/games... ls-of-the-playstation-2-game-system.html.

This article was posted on October 24, 2006

The Beauty of Playstation 2 Games

2006-11-13T11:29:00.000+08:00

by: Morgan Hamilton

Can you remember the first videogames that introduced the world to the joys of videogames? I'm talking about the ones that were introduced in the 80s. We had the ever-popular Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Centipeed. Those outstanding innovations were the bomb! I remember how I used to play pitfall on my Atari and it was great fun.

It is really cool that it has gotten even better now. It amazingly just keeps getting better and better. Those amazing electronics and graphics always improve. It really is an endless source for fun and relaxation. For example, check out some of the more recent playstation 2 games. Wow, what a difference from the old-school Atari. I mean, the game depths alone are amazing. It is startling to think that there are people all over the world that love playing PlayStation 2 games. Do you have it too?

Are you a big PS2 fan? When the council first came out I was blown away. The big pitch didn't only concern the playstation 2 games, but also the DVD option. PS two was actually a flexible enough to use as a DVD player. Folks loved this convenient option. Suddenly they didn't need to purchase a DVD player. You could actually watch movies with the period It was an all-in-one deal. How cool is that?

I recall the first time I headed over to my brother's house to take a look at his new PS2 and his new playstation 2 games. Being out of the video game loop since the first Nintendo, I was utterly flabbergasted at the realistic graphics and sound effects. These new playstation 2 games are just so real. It is such a quantum improvement over the classic Atari games that it isn't even funny. No more stick men. There was anything from martial arts games to sports games to spy adventures. It looked incredibly lifelike. Who wouldn't love playstation 2 games?

Now people all over the world take great pleasure in playstation 2 games. They compete against friends and strangers alike, and battle the bad guys for as long as Mom and Dad allows it. One of the great benefits of the PS2 is the versatility. Regardless if you had a PS1, you could still play the games on your PS2 as well. How many other products can you do that with? If you're on the lookout for new playstation 2 games, you can always find a huge selection at your local Best Buy and Wal-Mart stores, or simply go online where you'll find the best deals. Buying used PlayStation 2 games really add up to considerable savings. With the world at your fingertips, you will surely find that playstation 2 game you're searching for.

About The Author

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning games. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.xtraordinarysite.com/...eauty-of-playstation-2-games.html.

This article was posted on September 01, 2006

Cool Playstation 2 Games

2006-11-13T11:26:00.000+08:00

by: Morgan Hamilton

Do you remember the really cool video games that started it all? I'm talking about those classics from the 80s. We had the ever-popular Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Centipede. Those things were really fun to play in cutting-edge technology to be sure. I thought playing pitfall on my Atari was about as cool as it can get. Man, was I wrong. It's got a whole lot better.

The quality of PlayStation 2 games that are available now are mind blowing. The storylines and graphics are incompatible. It's nonstop adventure. For example, check out some of the more recent playstation 2 games. Wow, what a difference from the old-school Atari. I mean, the game depths alone are amazing. People around the world enjoy these new-age playstation 2 games on a daily basis. Do you have the latest ones?

Do you have PS2? It's incredible how popular it has become, but it doesn't surprise me. I was astounded when this console came out. The big pitch didn't only concern the playstation 2 games, but also the DVD option. Your PS2 can also be used as a DVD player to play any of your favorite movies. Folks loved this convenient option. Suddenly they didn't need to purchase a DVD player. It was an all-in-one deal. Not a bad deal at all.

I can remember being at my uncle's house to check out his PS2 and his new playstation 2 games. I hadn't really paid much attention to video games since my days with Nintendo so I was really blown away at the realistic graphics and hot sound effects. These new playstation 2 games are incredibly lifelike. It's so far removed from those simple Atari figures that we cut our teeth with. No more stick men. There was everything from martial arts games to sports games to adventure games. I fell in love with the playstation 2 games.

Millions of children across America fire up their playstation 2 games every day and escape into their fantasy world. They can even compete with other players had to head, and battle the bad guys for as long as their parents will let them.

One of the great benefits of the PS2 is the versatility. Regardless if you had a PS1, you can play all those old games on your PS2 as well. How cool is that? If you're on the lookout for new playstation 2 games, you can browse your local Best Buy and Target stores, or just go online and have them delivered right to your door. On the Internet you can buy used PlayStation 2 games for a fraction of their original costs. With the world at your fingertips, you will surely find that playstation 2 game that will keep you on the edge of your seat for many hours to come.

About The Author

Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding the world of teens. You can get interesting and informative information here at http://www.kidsandteeninfo.com/info-for-kids... ...ews/playstation-2-games.html

This article was posted on August 28, 2006

Without Search Engine Optimisation Your Website Could Be Lost

2006-11-13T11:16:00.000+08:00

by: Gerald Chait

Building a great internet site is a wonderful achievement. But it could also be a complete waste of your time and money unless potential clients can find it. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is one way to ensure your site is seen in the most crowded marketplace ever conceived.

SO WHAT IS SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO)?

To understand Search Engine Optimisation you must first consider how people actually look for – and eventually find - products and services on the web.

Research shows that more than 80 per cent of the world’s 290 million internet users (10 million of them in Australia) use search engines to find what they’re after.

There are many search engines available to consumers – the better known include Google and Yahoo! – but in general they all work the same way. Typically a person will enter a keyword or phrase into the search engine and immediately receive a list of recommended web pages.

Internet users are impatient, which means they seldom scan though more than a page or two of search results, and generally only access sites listed at the top of the page. If you want to be seen, your site must not only appear on a list of search results, it must rank towards the very top.

Open a search engine and type in a word or phrase someone searching for your company might use – if you fail to appear in a prominent position, chances are your site has not been search engine optimised. Without optimisation, your site is about as effective as an advertisement floating in the middle of the ocean.

HOW DO SEARCH ENGINES RANK INTERNET SITES?

Search engines regularly dispatch ‘spiders’ or ‘robots’ (aka bots) to collect information on websites. Using an algorithm – a set of complex formulas or rules – the search engine evaluates each website’s relevance and then ranks it accordingly.

These algorithms are unique to each search engine, they are highly secret and they change all the time. But in general they all obey a basic set of rules. That means it is possible improve your chances of a better ranking by ensuring your website has the most appropriate content, and that the content is structured in a search engine-friendly way – this process is known as Search Engine Optimisation.

Search Engine Optimisation is not an exact science. It requires trial and error, and there is never a guarantee of success. But without Search Engine Optimisation your website is almost guaranteed of not being seen.

Of course there are other ways of reaching potential clients. You could, for example, spend money to advertise on a search engine, and only have your advertisement appear when people search for particular keywords. That is valid way to increase your chances of reaching customers. But studies have shown people using the internet tend to trust and visit the free listings more than paid listings.

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED ON SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION?

First you need to find out if your site is actually being indexed by a search engine.

Open a search engine and type your company name in the search box. If you appear in the results it means that spiders or robots have located your site. They will place the site into a memory bank, and visit it from time to time to update their information.

If your site it not listed you could consider submitting your site to search engines. This will not guarantee that they will list you, but it won’t hurt to try. A word of advice - do not submit your site multiple times as this will only annoy the search engine people, and you need to be on their good side.

Some search engines will not accept submissions – they prefer to find your site themselves. And some simply draw their information from other search engines (a disclaimer should alert you to this practice), which makes it pointless submitting your site to them.

Once you are confident your site is being indexed, you need to identify keywords – these are the terms a potential visitor might enter into a search engine when looking for your product, service or company.

Finding the right keywords is a pivotal component of Search Engine Optimisation. There are applications that allow you to test each word by showing how popular it is and how often it is used – the result might surprise you.

A good way to find keywords is to visit a competitor’s website and see what it has listed. To do this, open their site and click on ‘view source’ - a heap of what looks like gibberish will come up, but find a line which says ‘

About The Author
Gerald Chait is GM, Sales & Marketing of Software Design Group (SDG): Website Development, Design, Search Engine Optimisation, Network Support, Outsourcing Solutions, Help Desk Support, Application Development, Hardware & Software Sales. Gerald.chait@sdgtechnology.com.au or http://www.sdgtechnology.com.au.

This article was posted on November 10, 2006

The Evolution and Revolution of Search Engines

2006-11-13T09:58:00.000+08:00

by: Steve Bis

Search engines, where would we be without them? Within the past 10-15 years the internet has become a huge part of every day American life. Many people nowadays cannot remember the time prior to having this wonderful information highway we call the internet. The internet has really revolutionized the way people live their lives; for example, you can bank online, buy just about anything you want online, meet new people online, and even find local movie times. However, one of the biggest benefits of the internet is the use of search engines. At any moment in time you may have a question, or an urge to get more information about a certain topic and that information can be easily attained through a search engine. In this article I am going to give you a brief history on the evolution of the search engine, and show you how they truly have revolutionized our lifestyles.

The history of search engines is the story of university students’ projects evolving into commercial enterprises and revolutionizing the field as they went. The first attempt at creating a search engine was called Archie, and it was created in 1990 by Alan Emtage, a student at McGill University. This very primitive search engine did not use any robot technology. All Archie really did was just become a database of archived filenames, which it would try to match with users’ queries.

The next evolutionary step of the search engine was the introduction of “robots.” The first use of robot technology was in the search engine World Wide Web Wanderer. Simply what robots would do is scan the internet for URL’s, starting at one site and using the links in the previous site to find more sites. The problems with these first robots were that if they were not written properly they would cause too many hits on a server decaying the systems performance.

To combat these initial problems Martjin Koster came out with the first web directory called “Aliweb” in October 1993. Web directories are different than search engines because the sites listed in them are not from automated robots, but rather from human editors reviewing sites and placing them in the directory.

However, shortly after, in December 1993, a new robot was born. This was called the “spider.” Spiders added a much further degree of accuracy by indexing the entire text of a webpage. The older robots only indexed the URL and titles of a page, which meant that some pertinent keywords might not be indexed. This greatly improved the relevancy rankings of their results, and thus was the first major step in forming the major search engines that we have all become so used to using today.

Not long after the spider, we saw the emergence of some of the big guns. In 1994, out of Stanford University came the extremely famous Yahoo. The two guys who started Yahoo were students, David Filo and JerryYang. Basically, at first Yahoo was just a list of these guys’ favorite websites. But soon, due to its easy user-friendly interface, became the most popular web directory. Due to the fact that its websites were all human reviewed, Yahoo was only able to index about 1% of the web. At this time, Altavista became the fastest growing search engines using the spider technology and was indexing up to 10 million pages a day.

By this time there are two different types of search engines, “author controlled” such as Altavista and Excite, in which results were ranked by keyword relevancy, and “editor controlled” such as Yahoo, in which humans manually placed websites into their index.

Then in late 1997 out of Stanford University was born the most popular and well-known search engine to date: GOOGLE Google has a different way of ranking its websites. It used a Pagerank system. Simply what they did was list websites higher in their results based on how many links were pointing to a particular site. Of course, the content on the page had to be relevant to the keyword typed into the search box. But basically, Google invented what you could call a system of voting. So a site with numerous backlinks or votes would rank higher. A backlink is just when someone else puts a link on their site that points to another outside site. Jump forward to today and Google has more than 80% of the websites on the internet in their index, which is pretty impressive.

Search engines have had a huge impact on the American lifestyle. They basically will grant you just about any information you want, all you have to do is type into the search box the topic you want to find more information about. Human beings are natural born information junkies, we always want to know more and find out more and search engines have made this urge of ours extremely easy to cure. Just think about it, maybe you need to fix a simple problem you have with your car. By using a search engine to do some research you may very easily figure the problem out, saving you a very costly trip to the car repair shop. They are just great educational tools, before search engines emerged if you really wanted to learn something you would go to your library and check out a book. Now before making that trip you may find out what you wanted by just sitting at your desktop and surfing through Google. The list goes on about the many benefits of this great new technology we call the search engine. I’m sure you can recall a time when you found some very good information by using one. If you’re anything like me and find yourself addicted to this easily accessible information highway then your making uses of them daily.

Search engines by nature were made very easy to use. However, with a little extra knowledge about how they work you can really take advantage of them and find great information very quickly. With the right knowledge of search engines and the use of specialized tools you can literally find anything you want. And when I mean anything, I mean ANYTHING. For me personally I am excited to see what search engines will evolve into in the future. The sky is the limit. Who knows what type of search spiders the future will spawn, but one thing is for sure there will be newer and newer search technology it’s just our human nature to keep trying to top ourselves.

About The Author
Search engine specialist Steve Bis, is the author of the free search secrets newsletter and owns a unique web search tool that will help you find anything on the internet in 60 seconds, eliminating your search frustrations. http://www.ultimatesearchpro.com.

This article was posted on November 07, 2006

Play Free Myspace Games

2006-10-30T17:21:00.000+08:00

by: Paul Pzelf

Myspace.com has become a success story like no other in the history of the Net. Side by side with its success it has been instrumental for the creation of some brilliant websites which provide support and content to the myspace page. One such excellent website is redpython.com. You will find on this webpage the links of the most popular and latest games on the Net.

It is true that myspace.com is spreading like wildfire totally encompassing the globe roping in youngsters from all over the world. It is also true that myspace games page is self sufficient in many ways, i.e. it provides links and helps you to be as creative as you would like to be. Even so, web pages like redpython.com are exceptionally useful when it comes to entertainment upgradation. Instead of limiting yourself to the games posted on the myspace games page, you can use the redpython.com as the source and pepper your myspace page with the latest and most popular games on the Net.

You can choose from a huge library of games – as many as 2300 free games – to post on your page to make the stay of your friends and invitees as relaxing and entertaining as you want. There are new games added every week, so you will never run out of stock or feel that you need to repeat any game. Not only redpython.com has excellent choice of games, it also chooses only games which have passed their stringent quality tests. You will not find any broken links or un-uploadable links on this page because there are continuous quality controls checks which assure that whatever is showcased on Red Python is of the highest quality.

This is why millions chose this website as their source for online games. In spite of having such a huge library (2300 free games ready to be linked, downloaded or played at the click of the mouse) the redpython.com is extremely easy to navigate and you can find the game you want in matters of seconds.

The myspace games on your myspace page will be highly enriched once you link yourself to redpython.com. Check out the many links that are posted on the site and add it to your myspace games page. Your friends will love you all the more for it. You will feel good about your page because it is loaded with the latest games and the most popular ones too.

In order to have an exceptional myspace page, you will need to have a good amount of interesting information and entertainment so your visitors can enjoy their stop over and recommend your page to others. There is nothing more inviting that the listing of the latest games available on the Net right there on your myspace games page – ready to be played with, ready to be enjoyed. All your friend and visitors will appreciate your collection and definitely recommend this site to other games enthusiasts. You will get all that and much more from redpython.com. Stay in touch!

About The Author
Paul Pzelf works for http://redpython.com - Myspace Games Myspace Codes - a website which provides 2300 Myspace Games. Play free online games for and add them to your MySpace, Xanga, Friendster profile, orkut, blogs etc.

This article was posted on October 30, 2006

Why Should I Have Data Recovery Software?

2006-10-30T16:46:00.000+08:00

by: Greg Eiskins

If you are like most other computer users, you have probably some time accidently deleted some of the important data or documents from your computer. The good news if that there is data recovery software out there that is capable to recover the data you have lost, there is no reason to despair. Since data viruses have been a part of computer users' everyday life there are chances that a virus program would have deleted some of your important data from your system. Software used for recovering data is your assurance and functions pretty much the same way as an insurance policy.

There are lots of programs available in the market for recovering your lost files and for those files that were once rendered inaccessible. Data recovery software can "undelete" files or information that have previously been deleted

recover any information lost after uncontrollable instances like virus attacks, power cut, software failures and more.

Since we all know how unpredictable technology can be, we must always be prepared for the worst scenario.

One of these recovery programs are called "GetDataBack". This is one of the most popular software for data recovery. It is one of the best selling pieces in the market today because of the frequency that people are losing valuable pieces of information and valuable files. This software functions easily, as do most other recovery software products, to recover entire drives. You can achieve this just by clicking a few buttons.

Are there data recovery services available?

There are also lots of data recovery services or so called "hotlines" that can be called to help assist you with recovery of some of your lost data. It is always helpful to have a little knowledge of your computer system because this helps you to describe the problem adequately to the customer service operator of the data recovery company and they can give you as much information as poinal settings in the computer.

Data recovery is defined as the process by which lost data is retrieved from a damaged or infected hard drive or any other piece of computer or electronic equipment. Computer users today use a special software for data recovery to get back the lost information from their personal computers, business computer systems, cellular phones, Blackberries, and any other electronic systems that store vital information. There are also cases where data simply disappears for no obvious reason at all. However, the software meant for data recovery can back the data to normal.

If you are an active computer user, it is important to have a backup plan and a good software for recovering data in case you lose your data accidentally or due to a virus sweep. Data recovery software is a must for your business and very important for computer amateurs as well.

About The Author
Greg Eiskins is a writer and internet publisher who likes to publish data recovery and related info. Read more at the website http://www.datarecovery2020.com.

This article was posted on October 30, 2006

How To Go About Finding Cheap Computers

2006-10-25T16:51:00.000+08:00

by: Luke Cameron

Almost everyone knows what a computer is and how to use its basic functions. Some people have their own desktop computers or laptops. Those who do not own a computer may still be able to use one by renting or using the ones in public libraries. However, there are cheap computers that are now available in the market, so it is possible that everyone and their grandmothers will be able to afford it. Computers are really amazing. The technology has evolved so much through the years. A lot of things can be done with the newest models that were not possible on the machines which were the “top of the line” a few decades ago. Give or take a few years from now, the current computers will be phased out and replaced by a more stable, more feature-packed machine.

A few years ago computers were very expensive. One unit of a desktop computer in 1998 cost about $1,600. That’s a lot. Fast forward to the present. The computers in 1998 are nothing compared to the models that we have now. The machines are faster, more durable, and capable of multitasking. Imagine doing so much in so little time! To top it all off, the cost is definitely worth the product. Nowadays, cheap computers are very easy to find. Promo packages as low as $300 are not impossible to find. In fact, they are all over! You might think that cheap computers are not as good as the high-end ones, but that is not the case. You get the same functionality, durability and technology at a very inexpensive price. But where do you find such cheap computers? Stores like Circuit City and Best Buy offer packages that are very inexpensive. However, there is a cheaper alternative – shop online! There are a lot of online stores that sell either promo packages or individual hardware parts for you to assemble. Of course, that is up to you. You purchase a machine that is tailored to your own needs.

These days, owning a computer is essential. There isn’t any industry that does not make use of this technology. Computers aid in learning and working. The world is a much smaller place now because of computers and the internet. There are just countless of benefits you can get from one single machine. And it does not cost much. Cheap computers are now available online. That is functionality and information within your reach.

About The Author
Luke Cameron is the owner of Computer Cubicle, an online magazine offering advice and articles on Computers. You can find his website at: http://www.computercubicle.com and http://www.ecomputersmag.com.

This article was posted on October 12, 2006

Computer Games

2006-10-25T16:46:00.000+08:00

by: Robert Jones

Remember your old Commodore Vic 20? You were free to spend a Saturday afternoon doing nothing but playing video games--as soon as you found the game cartridge and typed in that lengthy run code. But man, it was fun!

Computer game plays have come a long way since those days in the 1980's. From pinging a white dot from paddle to paddle, to simple static non-scrolling games, to today's mind blowing sound and graphics, computer games have evolved into game categories that are played on super consoles.

Playing computer games is part of our everyday popular culture. The entertainment genre that was once reserved for idle teenagers has grown to be the favorite pastime of the average thirty year-old. The computer games marketed today are so varied in style; anyone choosing from a selection of computer game software can easily be overwhelmed by the available choices.

The latest development to boost computer game playing was the development of broadband. With this technology, two players can play games from different parts of the world. As long as the broadband connection is good, the game is played simultaneously in real time, with no lag. Because of the universal appeal, computer games have made it possible to interact with other players anywhere, despite the cultural, time or language barriers. Even toddlers can now enjoy software with games and software designed for their education and amusement.

Computer game playing has enjoyed such worldwide popularity with people of all ages, studies are now being conducted on the effects it has on players. The seemingly innocent invention has created so much attention that international assessments are underway to track the impact of these products on user's behavior and thinking. Initial studies hint that computer game "bestsellers" tend to be violent or ugly game styles, but the results may be leaning to a more optimistic side.

Choosing which computer games to play is a personal choice affected by a number of factors. Taste and preference of the player are the biggest determining factors. When choosing a computer game, consider these factors to find the style that suits you:

* Challenge: What are your strong points? Logic, speed, verbalizing or coordination? Find a game that challenges you and builds your skills.

* Number of Players: Do you play well with others? Team play or opposition involves organization, multi-player strategies and building coalitions.

* Luck: If you're just plain lucky, try cards or games of chance.

* Strategies: Strategic games are great for your brain. Choose titles with deeply strategic game play.

* Ease of use: Some games are so complicated they're just not fun to play. Kids, especially, should choose games appropriate to their age and skill.

* Reality: Does the game attempt to simulate real life, or is it an abstract game designed purely for entertainment.

* Objectives: What is the objective of the game? Do players get eliminated, or can everyone stay to the end?

* Style: There is an incredible range of themes and styles of computer games, from comical to downright violent.

Depending on your interests, you can shoot, race, fight or role-play on your computer. There are real time games, and simulation games.

Computer games have come a long, long way since those early blips and bleeps of the 1980's. Our screens are now graced with full-colour 3D graphics (although many still prefer two-dimensional games). Anytime you're ready to take a break, you can just turn on your computer and instantly disappear with the computer game of your choice.

About The Author
Robert Jones contributes articles to several web sites, including http://easy-recreation.com and http://kemop.com.

This article was posted on October 24, 2006

AMD Versus Intel CPU War

2006-10-25T16:40:00.000+08:00

by: Chris Hall

If you are in the market to purchase a computer there are many options in existence. You can purchase a Hewlett Packard, Gateway, IBM, or a custom built system. But there is one thing that all of these computers will utilize and that is a CPU (central processing unit). The CPU is responsible for interpreting and executing instructions for the motherboard. CPU's are key to the functioning of your new computer. CPU's from Intel and AMD power virtually every personal computer that you can purchase today.

The argument over an AMD CPU versus an Intel CPU and which has a higher functionality is currently raging. Simply two years ago this was not even a question. Anyone would tell you that the Intel CPU won the speed and complex algorithm war with AMD CPU's without question. Fast-forward to today and Intel is now playing catch-up to the latest in AMD technologies.

Intel played marketing games with their CPU's pricing them high and touting the functionality that they posses as cutting edge. AMD started out as the cheap alternative CPU manufacturer for computer brands such as e-Machines and low-end Compaqs. From the beginning, AMD CPU's were fighting an uphill battle to catch up with the technology in the Intel CPU. As the years have progressed, AMD has progressed.

AMD now clearly leads in the consumer pricing wars. AMD CPU equipped machines with similar performance specifications will cost you hundreds of dollars less than equivalent Intel CPU based machines. This cost differential is now enough to push many Intel CPU customers to the upstart AMD CPU equipped machines.

If performance is the main concern over price, the AMD CPU line was the first to include 64 bit technology. In 2003 AMD pushed the first 64 bit CPU to market. It was unstable and unreliable at first. But the underlying architecture was sound. The AMD 64 bit CPU was soon running stable and fast. The performance of this AMD CPU caught the Intel CPU team off guard.

Intel had to rush to market their EMT64 CPU to compete with this upstart challenge from AMD. The next item on the board was dual CPU power. Again, AMD one-upped the Intel CPU rule.

AMD CPU's have the information transfer on a dual chip machine flowing through the chips. The Intel dual CPU has a bridge to the motherboard where the information that is being processed by the dual CPU's flows for splitting.

The internal data flow in the AMD CPU's allows them to function with lower heat generation than the dual core Intel CPU's. As a consumer this lower heat generation allows the AMD CPU to last longer than the Intel CPU.

If you are energy conscious, then the AMD CPU will be for you as well. The AMD CPU equipped motherboard will function with approximately 275 watts of power. Compare that to a similarly equipped Intel processor at 400 watts of power, and you have major energy savings by going to the AMD CPU.

So where do the Intel CPU's win out over the AMD CPU's? The Intel CPU's are able to function faster with single programs. So, if you are going to play one game and only that game on your machine, the Intel CPU equipped machine can pull and analyze the data faster. However add in chat and e-mail running in the background and the AMD CPU machine catches up.

All in all, the CPU processor war that is currently waging between AMD and Intel is great for the consumer. Each company is in the middle of a CPU processor one-upmanship and both are looking to gain market share.

About The Author

Chris Hall has been in the IT industry for many years, and is the owner of Australian-based StoneBridge Computing (www.stonebridgecomputing.com.au), which specialises in the sale of Computers, Laptops, Hardware and Software Australia-wide. Visit his website here: http://www.stonebridgecomputing.com.au/catalog/cpu-c-70.html

This article was posted on August 21, 2006

Has Intel’s New Chip Architecture Finally Defeated AMD?

2006-10-23T19:22:00.000+08:00

by: Keith Edwards

For a few years now AMD has dominated the performance PC market, but the latest release of Intel's new desktop chips has changed that virtually overnight. Intel's new Core 2 Duo chips do not simply outperform AMD's fastest chips; they leave them in the dust. Preliminary benchmark testing puts Intel's fastest chip, the Core 2 Extreme X6800, 17 percent faster than AMD's Athlon FX-62 on the World Bench 5. The World Bench 5 consists of a multi-tasking test encoding a file with Windows Media Encoder while browsing the net with Mozilla. Even Intel's more affordable Core 2 Duo E6700 can beat the Athlon FX-62 by 12 percent. This makes a huge difference in the microchip market where gains of 10 percent or less are more common.

Intel's Core 2 Duo line ranges from a 1.86 GHz E6300 to the 2.93 GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800. These chips are already available in Dell's XPS line of desktops, in Alienware's Area-51 and ALX series, and in ABS Ultimate computers. Many of these desktops with new chips are more affordable than you might think.

How did Intel do it? One of the major features Intel improved upon in their new chip architecture was power consumption. While the Pentium Extreme Edition was burning 135 watts, the latest Core 2 Extreme X6800 burns only 75 watts. That is a 44 percent increase in efficiency. This means the new Intel Core Duo chips run a lot cooler. For the hardcore gamers and those needing the ultimate performance, such a low base temperature allows for more stable overclocking, and ABS has proven this with the ABS Ultimate X9. The Ultimate X9 runs the Intel Core 2 Extreme chip overclocked to 3.5 GHz for even stronger performance on the World Bench 5. This decrease in core temperature also means PC manufacturers will be able to build smaller and quieter systems, using fewer fans.

Another major feature of Intel's new chip architecture is the development of multiple CPU cores. This allows the chip to be more adaptable and better able to deal with bottlenecks. A great deal of the increase in performance comes from an extra executable core. While the Pentium D had 3, the new Core 2 Duo has 4 executable cores. That extra core along with some coding have allowed the chip to read multiple sets of instructions as if they are a single set. Intel has also eliminated another major bottleneck with its huge 4 MB cache. Though most dual core chips allocate a specific amount of cache, to each core, the Core 2 Duo is able to share the entire cache across both cores. Amazingly, it is able to distribute that shared cache as needed to the core working on the more complex task. This core might use 3 MB of he cache to complete a difficult task while the other core uses the other 1 MB for a simpler, though necessary, task.

So, these developments beg the question, has Intel finally defeated AMD? It certainly looks that way for the remainder of 2006 and perhaps through 2007. AMD has a new chip architecture for the desktop due out in 2007. AMD is attempting to stay competitive with Intel with some dramatic price cuts. The FX-62 has gone down in price by over $200. They have a CPU package for multisocket PCs called "Torrenza". Torrenza will debut on servers where multi-socket configurations are already common. This will not be their answer to Intel's Core 2 Duo. AMD's next generation chip architecture is due out in 2007 and it has been called "K8L". No one really knows how these and quad core chips will be able to perform. So, while AMD is still in the race for the long run, for the next 6 months to 1 year, Intel is now the unquestioned leader in high performance chips.

About The Author

Keith Edwards is chief technology author for 360 Enterprises Inc. He specializes in high performance gaming PCs such as alienware computers. http://www.gaming-pc.net

Six Common Mistakes In Website Design That Kill Your Online Business

2006-10-18T10:29:00.000+08:00

by: Mike Spence

Some websites fare well. Others falter - and miserably at that. What’s the difference? What do the successful websites do right and what do the failed websites do wrong?

The answer - or answers even - isn’t difficult to fathom. There are quite a number of common mistakes that seal the fate on internet marketers and their dreams. Here are 6 of them, which hopefully, you’d try to avoid at all cost.

1. A slow loading website. There is nothing more irritating than a website that tales forever to load. Granted that most internet users these days have high speed connections, a great percentage are still hooked up to the World Wide Web via slower 56K access. This percentage should not be taken for granted. In building your website, try to stay away from the humongous graphic files. No, you don’t need a high number of pixels. No, you don’t need fancy movies or flash animation. No, you don’t need catchy music. You need a website that will deliver the information it promises at an instantaneous rate, and for this reason, you have to choose functionality over design.

2. A navigation system that is very difficult to understand. If your menu bar is too complicated, you’ll just end up driving away a lot of your visitors. You don’t want your visitors to get stuck in just one page. You need to make it easy for them to explore your website. Your pages must be interlinked in a logical way, and this connection should be easily navigable through an intuitive interface that even a 7 year old will be able to understand. Again, this is a matter of functionality over design. Place your navigation links either at the top of the page right below the header, or at either side of the page in a separate column. This is where your visitors’ eyes will wander once they want to discover the other pages in your website.

3. Low quality content. Content is king on the internet. People log online to find information they need, and information is conveyed through your content. If your content is poorly written, who will have the patience to read the same? If your content is not unique, why will people choose your website over others? Indeed, there are two requisites for good quality content: excellent presentation and originality. Minus either of this, your entire website will be in jeopardy.

4. Poor choice of keywords to focus on. Keywords drive traffic to your website. Keywords are the terms that people search for when they’re looking for information. If you targeted the right keywords, quality visitors will come aplenty. If you targeted the wrong keywords, visitors will be scarce. So make sure you discover the right keywords even before you start building your website.

5. Cookie cutter websites. Again, this is a matter of originality - or the lack of it. Why would people choose your website over thousands of others sharing the same layout and boasting of the same content? What makes your website special? If these questions cannot be answered positively, then your online business is doomed. Worse, search engines penalize duplicate content, and your website will have a lower position in the search engine results.

6. A website that lacks focus. Focus is key in designing a website. It will be difficult for a website to focus on several, unrelated topics. Why would visitors who are interested with dogs be interested with astronomy? There’s no connection between the two subjects, and if your website caters to these topics, among others, then prepare for some rough sailings ahead.

These are the things you should try to avoid. Your online business depends on how well your website fares. So take some time to think about how you can properly build your website,

About The Author
Mike Spence has been involved in Website design and marketing for years and currently runs variety of business online and offline. Readers can visit He's http://LiveDeal.com Classified Website

Mike is in a variety of business such as international trade, publishing, media, and maunufacturing selling different types of products and offering advice to customers. For more infomation about this topic visit: http://mystore.livedeal.com/miketrader

Let A Patent Agent Patent Your Invention

2006-10-16T17:58:00.000+08:00

by: Jane Wyvern

Do you have an invention you would like to get a patent for? If so, then you have three choices for going about it. You can hire a patent attorney which is probably the safest thing to do but also extremely expensive. You can go through the patent process your self which will be much cheaper but extremely difficult to do. Or you can hire a patent agent. A patent agent is much cheaper than an attorney but has been specially trained and licensed and is fully competent to take your patent through the legal process.

A patent agent works on your behalf to draft the patent application and take it through the various stages to get it granted. A patent agent will also perform a thorough patent and trademark search in order to ensure that your invention will not infringe upon an existing patent or trademark.

This is an essential step in the patent process and one that is difficult for an individual to do alone. If not done properly, you could face legal troubles and huge fees if you are found at a later time to have violated another patent, even if it was done unintentionally.

Even though by law you are allowed to file your own patent and represent your case, the practice is actually frowned upon by the Patent and Trademark Office only because the process is so complex that an individual can rarely do it successfully. The patent examiner will encourage you to obtain the services of a competent attorney or patent agent before you proceed.

It is really in your own best interest to make sure you follow the law and properly register your patent or your invention may be at risk. You can often obtain a free initial consultation with a patent attorney to get a feel for what all is involved.

A patent attorney is an attorney at law who has also been specially trained in patent and trademark execution and law. In order to legally use the term ‘patent attorney’, he must pass examinations on the preparation and filing as well as the prosecution of patent applications.

Patent agents must also receive their designation from the Commissioner of Patents and pass similar examinations. A patent agent does not have to be an attorney, but does require special training.

Often, patent attorneys will have patent agents on staff. This makes for a good situation for you in that you have a patent attorney available if need, but can use the services of a patent agent to do the majority of the work so your fee will not be as high.

Many patent agents work for themselves and because they are independent, may offer more affordable rates. Just make sure whichever patent agent you choose, that you verify they are licensed and registered by the Commissioner of Patents.

You can find a patent agent by looking in your yellow pages or you can obtain a list of patent agents from the patent office. They will be more than happy to provide you with a list although they will not go as far as to make specific recommendations.

About The Author
Jane Wyvern is an established freelance writer. You can find more of her writing at http://www.patents-source.com/ and http://www.real-estate-picks.com/.

Investing Wisely When Buying a Laptop

2006-10-13T11:30:00.000+08:00

by: Allison Thompson

I think many of us have now noticed the prices of laptop computers recently and certainly purchasing one can be quite a big investment for any one these days, but it all depends on you just how much you want to invest in one. When trawling through the paper on a Sunday there are flyers dotted all over the place offering various models on sale week by week. When people were first looking at purchasing a laptop they would select the one they wanted by looking at each laptops specifications and its general appearance (was it pleasing to the eye). Yet in today’s market these are not the sole choices that any one will have to make when purchasing a new laptop, and because the choice of laptop now available is so extensive that are you sure that the choice you have made is the right one for you. Provided below are several points that should be taken into consideration when looking to purchase a new laptop.

Firstly let us talk about the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and which is the main component of any laptop and this determines just how well your laptop will perform as well as controlling the heating and the length of life of the battery. But remember there is no way that you can have high quality CPU whilst comprising on the quality of the battery and power provided. So if your laptop is going to be replacing your desktop computer because you will be away from the office for extended periods traveling then there are several options that you could look at which offer a CPU that is integrated in to the laptops main board such as P4. Also if you should be using your laptop for business or schooling then it may well be worth considering purchasing one that has a more suitable CPU and certainly one fitted with an AMD Athlon may be the perfect solution for you. The Athlon processor has been designed for those users who are looking for an economical solution both in cost and the way it is used. Although older Athlon models certainly do not quite have the performance of the Intel Pentium Processor models with regard to performance, certainly the more recent models such as the 2800+ are strong enough now to compete as it has P4 2.8GHz of power.

However there seems to be one model of CPU more than any other that people prefer and this is the Centrino. The Centrino has been produced by Intel to provide a balance between performance and mobility issues for all laptop users. It comes with 2MB second level cash, and the Pentium CPU has been modified for laptop use which results in the easing of the burden placed on the CPU itself. This then helps to decrease the levels of heat and power consumption produced.

Next we will discuss RAM (Random Access Memory) and also the graphics card. Both these two items are important for the laptop to be of a high quality. You will find that there are 2 sorts of RAM now available on the market, SD RAM and DD RAM, and certainly if you are looking for a RAM providing you with high quality then look no further than the DD RAM. But you should still be careful when purchasing your RAM to look at the clock specification. If you purchase RAM in your laptop of 3.0MHz clock speed then you will see that the performance supplied is to the whole system. Also if possible do not look at purchase a laptop that has two slots of 256MB Ram x 2 as this will not be sufficient for your use, rather you should be looking at a laptop which comes equipped with 3.0Mz, 512MB, DD RAM.

Now as for video cards there are many varieties around today and the first thing that should look at when purchasing a video card is its “ON-Board” specification. Video cards are integrated into the laptop main board and normally run off of the main RAM for the video memory. So if you want to use your laptop for general purposes rather than gaming or 3-D design work (which would require 3D hardware acceleration) those laptops with onboard video cards are the right ones for you. But say you are someone who plays Counter Strike professionally then you would certainly be disappointed with the way the screen freezes and play becomes delayed.

The final technical matter that anyone should be looking at when purchasing a laptop is the hard disk. When purchasing a hard disk there is a detail you should be looking at which is more important than the capacity it provides and the RPM (Rotation per Minute) which determines how fast data can be transferred to the CPU to be processed. So this specification should be carefully considered as it plays a major role in the laptops abilities when dealing with multimedia functions.

So if you are considering purchasing a new laptop then certainly one to be considered is the Centrino with its onboard video card, big RAM (for those planning to use it at school or for their business) and if you want to occasionally watch a movie or listen to music. Yet you could also consider the Pentium laptops with AGP or PCI Express off board video cards which would provide you with the performance of a desktop computer (as long as you don’t mind the weight, noise and heat produced) in a laptop.

So with so many decisions to be considered when thinking of purchasing a laptop it is wise if you take your time and carry out your research thoroughly in order to make a wise investment for the future.

About The Author
Allison Thompson a work from home mum living in Spain who is now an expert author in many fields. She has built a number of sites with her husband and one is relating to laptops and their peripherals. If you would like to learn more please visit

http://www.laptop.oneohtwo.info.

An Income Opportunity Proven To Make Money Online

2006-10-10T14:08:00.000+08:00

by: Leonard Bartholomew

Clearly one of the most proven income generating opportunities for promoting your web site or small internet business is to publish articles online. This is a very simple way to contribute informative content and best of all it is free to use. You do not need to have a lot of experience or be a professional writer, to be able to place articles on your web site. Having articles that are directly related to the theme of the web site, will in turn give you an edge on the competition. By writing an article yourself and submitting it to the directory that you are using to get your articles, you then are feeding the community with great content for everyone to share.

There are literally thousands of these directories of articles on the Internet, being a member of multiple web societies will yield more and more reference materials that you can benefit from. When writing an article that you intend on placing on one of the many directories, it is very important to keep the required formatting in mind, there are some directories that wish for you to use no formatting, this is not a bad thing as in the end it will save you time not having to set the formatting up. Just make sure it is all done in a text document, and all will be fine.

Sometimes the directory will require a keyword or keywords to go along with the article, and may or may not ask for a brief description of the article in a separate box. Along with all this information, it is a great idea for you to have a resource box at the bottom of the article. This is an excellent way for you to give information about you, and the web site or sites you may have. This is an excellent method of self-promotion. The key here is to generate as much traffic to your web site as you can, by efficiently using web content and articles that appeal to people. This is very effective when you find great articles that pertain to your site as a whole.

Here is a helpful hint - Content is king, but the choice of keywords is also an important aspect of your article publication initiatives. Simply place keywords that you use in the keywords metatag of your web site in your title and in the body of the article. You will be giving your web site a boost in the search engine rankings when your article is accepted by the directories and they link back to your web site! You can find the search engine ranking of the article directory easily by installing the Google toolbar on your web browser. You will notice that the article directories have some of the highest rankings of all web sites worldwide! This is due to all the quality submissions and links they get from online publishers.

There is a very good chance that if someone reads an entire article that you have written, that they will be willing to read more of your work. This can easily draw them to your site out of curiosity, and could generate a new sale. This new sale could then be referred to someone else looking for the same product or service, and again draw a new customer. Word of mouth on the Internet is a very powerful tool indeed. So in closing, it is clear that these services known as article directories do have a proven solid purpose in the way of generating more traffic to your intended target and increasing the search engine ranking of that tarket. That target is your web site, an income opportunity proven to make you money online!

About The Author
Leonard Bartholomew, B.S. Computer Science. Build your own proven income opportunity at http://www.moxie-drive.com.

How To Negotiate When Buying A Car

2006-10-06T12:07:00.000+08:00

by: Mary Greenwood

I recently purchased a new vehicle when visiting my son and was able to use some of my negotiating techniques:

1.Be Prepared and Do Your Research

Being prepared is of the utmost importance. Before even going to the showroom, one should first look at the ads in the newspaper and look at car sales at Edmunds.com or a similar website. That will give you an idea what is available and the going prices. In my situation, we actually went to the lot after it was closed and looked at the cars that we liked and saw the prices. One car model had a special discount of $7000. There was also a special for zero percent financing. The next day we called and asked the receptionist about the $7000 discount. She told us that the $7000 discount did not apply if using the zero percent financing. However, she did tell us that there was a $3000 dollar discount if one used the zero percent financing. That was useful information because we knew that the $3000 discount was a given and we would have to negotiate to get a higher discount. If you are not prepared, don’t go to the showroom yet. You need to know what you want before you get there.

2.Bring A Friend and Give Him/Her A Role.

Buying a car should be a team effort. Bring a friend or relative or two. In my case, I brought my son and very pregnant daughter-in-law. We each had a role. Whatever was said my daughter-in-law was supposed to say. “Let’s go home and think it over.” Sometimes the deal that the dealer presents sounds so good that it is tempting to accept it on face value. We had agreed beforehand that no matter what the deal was, I would say that we needed some time to think it over and needed to meet in private to discuss further. Our strategy was to have a dollar amount. I did not want to pay over $25,000 for the car no matter what. This kind of negotiation can be very stressful and this is another reason why having friends or family by your side is a plus.

3.Read The Fine Print And Know What All The Costs Are.

When we met with the sales rep, he started talking gibberish about the various costs and it was hard to follow exactly what he was talking about. At that point it is important to use your own checklist and write down all the costs that are being presented and add them up. Don’t be afraid to ask what a particular cost item is. Look at the sticker price and all the features that are presented. What are the extra or hidden fees? Maybe there is some leeway. Our strategy was to have a dollar amount that I did not want to go below. I did not want to pay over $25,000 for the car. It did not matter where the discounts came from, but the bottom line or deal breaker was anything above $25,000. As it turned out, this was the last day of the month, which is usually a good time to buy a car because the dealerships are very competitive as to who has the best track record for the month and are sometimes willing to go lower to get the sale so it can be counted in this month’s sales

4. Ask for One More thing

I knew which car I wanted and knew that I would probably leave the showroom with that particular car. It was the color I wanted and had the special features that were on my wish list. However, I wanted to get the best financial deal possible. I was not planning on getting financing, but the zero financing was too good to pass up. When I was comparing the price to another smaller and cheaper car, I realized that with the financing costs of the other car, my car was actually cheaper in the long run. If the dealership absolutely says the price cannot go any lower, then see if something else can be added to the deal as a sweetener. Is there an accessory you want that could make the deal more attractive such as floor mats, or steering wheel cover? Be creative and flexible. If there are two similar cars, maybe you could switch to the better car for the price you are negotiating. Maybe you can negotiate service for the car. Your want list is only limited by your imagination.

5.Stick To Your Guns and Don’t Say Yes Right Away.

As my mother used to say, it does not hurt to ask; the worse that can happen is that they say no. If you think that they have made their final offer, stick to your guns and try one more round. In my case, I was trying to stay under $25,000. The dealer came back with a figure that was a couple hundred dollars more than the $25,000 with a plausible explanation that this was absolutely the lowest they could go. At that point, part of me wanted to accept that amount and just pay the $200, but I forced myself to say that I wanted the sales rep to go back one more time to see if he could come down to the $25,000. The dealer accepted that offer, probably, because it was the end of the month and the amount in question was relatively small. If they had been resolute on the price, I probably would have paid the higher price but they did not know that.

If you follow these rules for buying a car, you will be negotiating like a pro.

Copyright 2006 Mary Greenwood

About The Author
Mary Greenwood, J.D., LL.M: Arbitrator, Mediator, Author of How to Negotiate like a Pro, 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes Available at http://www.barnesandnoble.com or http://www.amazon.com or http://www.booksamillion.com ; Email me at: Howtonegotiatelikeapro@aol.com. Visit http://www.Howtonegotiatelikeapro.com or http://www.Marygreenwood.com

Common Search Engine Principles

2006-10-06T11:56:00.000+08:00

by: Mike Francis

Search engines will be your primary assistants in the internet, to satisfy your queries. As every one is familiar with, search engines are used to list the websites, which are appropriate to provide information about the key word phrase. In the world of internet marketing, every websites developers need their website to be listed top positions of search engine results and adopt search engine optimization techniques to optimize the websites according to the search engine requirements. However to start with optimization, primarily you have to be aware about the common search engine principles, which will detail about the basic working pattern of search engines.

Search engines are computer programs, created to find out particular web sites from the millions of websites present in internet. There are many types of search engines, such as crawler based, human based and hybrid. In crawler based search engines particular programs for the searching process, whereas, for human based search engines such as directories and DMOZ, human editors will list out the pages, according to the relevancy of the content. In hybrid search engines, crawlers may be used for the search, but, human editorial intervention will be present. Out of the three, programmed search engines are more common and their principles are quite different from human searches.

The most common principle of search engines is that their language will be HTML, and all the information will be coded in HTML codes. The web server will be entry page of the search engines. And, a specific input area such as box is present in the particular HTML page to enter the key word phrase. The crawler based search engines will use specific algorithmic programs to locate and list the pages. Even though the basic components will be same, the grouping of the specific algorithms will differ according to the search engine.

Spiders or robots will be the primary searching algorithms for search engines, which identifies the web pages. It will identify the web pages in its HTML source tags, and it differs with a browser for not having any visual components such as texts or graphics. Crawlers are used to find out the documents in the links prescribed in the web pages. Indexing is the next phase, in which the web pages will be listed according to their characteristic features such as text, HTML tags and other specialties. The indexed pages have to be stored for the search engines, and databases are the common store houses of the web pages. The result pages will then rank the priority of the web pages, according to the various factors of consideration in a search engine listing. And, the viewer can see the results in the display pages of the web server in HTML visual version.

About The Author
Mike Francis' home page http://www.pegasusdirectory.com is a free directory that helps webmasters promote their sites and get relevant backlinks.We are now offering a new source of traffic http://www.pegasusdirectory.com/myspacebulletins.php.

Why I Allow People To Advertise on My Blog

2006-10-05T19:17:00.000+08:00

by: Morgan Hamilton

Today blogging is undoubtedly the last in fashion as far as the Internet is concerned. You would not believe how many blogs have been created. By blogging you can get in touch with people who share the same interests as you. This new world serves as a networking tool as well. I found this out when the idea of advertising on my blog first came to light.

I use my blog to post freelance writing jobs for other writers. With the help of my site, employers advertise indirectly. Probably there is no need to say that many visitors to my site appreciate this as they are often searching for work. Many writers come to my blog to see what I advertise as opposed to loosing time visiting countless web pages.

I take on steady projects with reliable clients as I appreciate consistency. I wouldn't neglect the great thrill of the chase, though. Despite the fact that I do not advertise on my site to find work for myself, I should admit that I get a kick out of hunting down the offers.

Another thing I like a lot about blogs is that many writers who get work through the advertisements on my site give me feedback. Personally I find it hard to imagine searching for work every single day. It is not that I don't do search all the time but I don't rely on it to make a living.

Many visitors who had been hired for a projects leave messages on my blog. I always feel so good reading these messages as they remind me that I am doing some good.

I had a bad experience with one reader in the past. I remember she was offended because I used Google advertisements on my web page. She disliked the fact that I make a profit out of it. To be completely honest, the profit is quite small as writers are not much of clickers. Apart from that, I really don't see anything bad about getting some small profit from the advertisements considering the free service I provide.

This brings up the subject about blog etiquette. I hope you will agree with me that all visitors should consider the purpose of the particular site before actually judging it.

The reason why I advertise on my site is for it offers valuable service. After all, anyone who isn't interested in the advertisements can simply scroll down as no one is obligated to click on an ad.

I know from my visitors' messages that most of them haven't even noticed the advertisements on my blog before they read a complaint posted by someone else. I do appreciate this complain. Whoever did it has done good to me as now my readers are taking some time to give a few clicks on the advertisements.

About The Author
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning sales. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.salesandcommerce.com/sales/sa... advertise-on-my-blog.html

Data and MP3 Compression: Understanding "Digital"

2006-10-05T19:13:00.000+08:00

by: Matthew Bredel

The MP3 and MP4 generation was generated mostly due to advances in data compression. Let us first take a step back and focus on digital music. There are two types of data in the world: Analog and Digital data. Analog data is real time data, and it is essentially how we perceive the world. As you listen to any music, you are listening to an analog signal. Everything we see and hear is analog. So what is the significance of digital? Digital is a way of storing and transferring this data. Think of a twelve inch ruler. With this ruler, you can measure any distance between between 0 and 12 inches. Depending on how good you are at reading the ruler, you can probably measure to a resolution of 1/16 of an inch. Even though there is measurable distance between these 1/16 inch marks, the distance is rather insignificant to you. At this point, you can record the distance two ways:

1) You can mark the ruler with a pencil and store it in its true "analog" value

2) You can round the value to the nearest 1/16th and record it. This could be referred to as a "digital" value.

Digital is a collection of zeros and ones that represent a number. Because there are two values, the system is base 2. Our normal system is a base 10 system. For example:

The number 1456 is really:

6x(1) + 5x(10) + 4x(100) + 1x(1000) = 1456

Where the number in parentheses are 10^x power.

Let's try a base 2 number of 100110:

0x(1) + 1x(2) + 1x(4) + 0x(8) + 0x(16) + 1x(32) = 38 (decimal)

Where the number in parentheses are 2^x power.

In this base-2 example, the number is referred to as "6-bits". A typical "byte" is normally "8-bits". So instead of storing the number 38, computers would store the number 100110.

So why would you want to do that? There are 6 digitals in base-2 versus two digitals in base-10. The answer is simple! Ones and zeros are much easier to store (It is like a light switch, either ON or OFF). Further, in a base-2 system, there are only 2 possible solutions. In a base-10 solution, there are 10 solutions per digit. The more solutions you have, the more chance to make errors.

Now let's revisit the the analog signal. In this type of data, there are an infinite number of solutions. Mind you, the error won't be great, but you ARE guaranteed some error every time. Every time you recall a analog signal, the results will be varied to some degree.

Think about your cell phone. About 5 years ago, all cell phones were analog. When you entered areas of poor reception, you received static, distortion and noise. Now, most cells phones are digital. As long as a portion of the ones and zeros are transmitted, you will receive a perfect signal every time. (If you transmit the number 1.2 or 1.5 or 0.8, it will always be read a one! i.e., the signal is immune to noise!) If you cannot even read these simple ones and zeros, you drop off completely. The clarity of the signal is perfect and repeatable, as long as the data is present.

Music works in the same manner. Old-school records and cassette tapes are analog signals. These media will product static and noise and will degrade over time. CDs are digital signals. As long as the compact is readable, the CD player will provide you with the exact sound as it was recorded. The CD itself might degrade over time, but the data will always be stored in its original form.

Since the inception of digitally stored music, the quality of music has remained high and to the same standard as it is today. Compact discs still offer the highest form of music available. The problem with compact discs is that the amount of bits required to store a song is high. That leads us to the modern use of data compression and MP3. (And another article for another day!)

About The Author
Matthew Bredel is a 31 year old online entrepreneur and engineer currently living in San Diego, CA.

Visit http://www.MP4nMore.com for iPod and portable media reviews and resources!

Visit http://www.TheWebReviewer.com for money making articles, resources and reviews on today’s hottest online money making ventures.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 vs. The Sony’s Playstation 3

2006-10-05T19:10:00.000+08:00

by: Mark Robbins

Microsoft has tried to catch up with some of the titans of the gaming world, such as Sony with the release of the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 offers many new features that players will love:

Free limited subscription to online gaming - This allows players who have not been participating in online gaming a chance to see what is available at no charge. All Xbox 360s come with Live-aware - This means you can get a friend invite or see who is online and what they are playing from your Xbox 360. The button in the middle of the controller makes all this very easy.

It offers great media features including listening to music while you play games, the ability to create custom playlists and your own custom soundtracks, the ability to rip songs from original CDs to your Xbox 360 and stream music from your MP3 player to your Xbox 360. You can also create slideshows of photos to share with friends and family. Xbox 360 has a wireless controller. No more tripping over the wires, although it can support two wired controllers through USB ports in the front. The game console is not only great for gamers, but developers as well. It is a powerful machine with an unprecedented amount of RAM - a feature added on the request of developers.

But, Xbox 360 still has some problems that need to be worked out:

Their Japanese third party support is lacking - While some Japanese developers offer software for the Xbox, it is small in number when compared to what the same developers offer for Playstation. While the controller is wireless, it eats batteries rather quickly. Standard alkaline batteries only last about thirty hours, so if you buy Xbox 360, invest in rechargeable batteries to save yourself some money in the end. When they were set up in WalMart stores before days before the launch, many suffered what is known as the Xbox "360 screen of death," an error screen. The Xbox 360 had also had some problems with overheating. Some report the Xbox 360 system as being very noisy when playing an Xbox 360 disc.

Many people are eagerly awaiting the release of Playstation 3, which may occur as soon as November of this year. It has been said that the Playstation 3 has an outward feel (which allows it to stand vertically or horizontally on its own), as opposed to the Xbox 360's inward feel. It is a much larger console than the Playstation 2 and closer to the original size of the Xbox. Game discs slide into the console like CDs slide into a car player.

Here are a few attractive features of the Playstation 3:

It is always on, so you can access your Playstation 3 from anywhere as long as you have an Internet connection. With a Playstation Portable, you can connect to your Playstation 3 and transfer media such as music and movies. The Playstation 3 appears to be much more powerful than that Xbox 360, Ninetindo Revolution, and Playstation 2. Initial reports say it will be twice as fast as the Xbox 360. Developers and publishers of over 230 games have announced titles for Playstation 3 games.

Here are a few reported cons and problems with the Playstation 360:

Comes with only 256 MB, less than the 512 MB the Xbox 360 will come with. Their Playstation Network Platform (the online service) is still in development and may not be ready by the time Playstation 3 is released.

The launch of the Playstation 3 has already been delayed due to disk problems.

Both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are incredible gaming consoles. It seems that although the Xbox 360 came out first, the best bet is still the Playstation 3. The strongest point of the Xbox 360 is its online functionality, but Sony may be working on something similar to Xbox Live right now. However, Microsoft is closing the gap with Xbox 360 and probably will eventually catch up with Sony in gaming consoles. For some users, it may come down to something as simple as which one is more compatible with the games they already own.

About The Author
Mark Robbins is a gamer providing valuable tips and advice on video game systems, game cheats, and giving new game reviews. http://www.xbox-360-guide.com

Do You Need A Cell Phone

2006-10-05T19:08:00.000+08:00

by: Rich Insider

Many of you whom read the headline are probably saying of course I need a cell phone. For those of us who can remember when cell phones weren’t as popular as they are now, you should know what I’m talking about. Now don’t get me wrong I currently have two cell phones one for business and personal. I just think its getting out of hand with kids getting phones, and when I say kids I mean kids 13 and under.

Also people using cell phones as their life line. It’s almost like an extra organ to their body. Even when I’m driving at least 7 out of 10 people have a cell phone to their ear. Ok so what’s the point? Yes kids are getting phones yes everywhere I look their people on the phones so what!

Well I don’t think of it like that, I think of it as someone has access to me anytime and anywhere. Of course unless I don’t have service, but do your phone is mostly used as safety use or as a tracking device. Safety is one thing such as they have new phones coming out for kids that you can activate live GPS on, and be able to track your kid where ever they are. I’m going to assume this won’t only be for kids but for some other things also. You can log in to your computer and see a live map of the location of the phone you’re tracking. That can be safe for parents wanting to know where their kids are at all times.

Let’s talk about tracking. Well as you know the blackberry is one of the mostly used devices in the business world. They are now coming out with devices that can track your sales reps, deliverers, technicians and ect. They will be able to have their employees input their daily numbers and spreadsheets. This will make business more efficient so no more goofing off on your route.

So cell phones are coming more of a tracking device rather than a communication device. I’m going to say I need a cell phone, but not all the time. Their will be a part 2 of this article soon.

About The Author
My name is Rich “The Insider”, and I’ve worked in the wireless industry for over 9 years now for each major carrier. I decided to make this blog for frustrated customers, and to keep you updated on the latest news from your carrier. http://www.cellphonetruths.com

How To Do The Twenty One Card Magic Trick

2006-10-05T19:04:00.000+08:00

by: Roger Burton

The Twenty One Card Trick is a trick illusion effect where the conjurer deals twenty one playing cards onto the table, and into 3 card value face up piles of 7 cards each, & asks the observer to try to remember any of the cards viewed. The viewer is not supposed to tell the magician which card is being thought of, but advises the conjurer which stack the card is in. This is executed three times & the conjurer is able to tell the spectator which card they had in mind. The cards are doled out into the piles one after another, like when dealing out hands in a playing card game. Every time they are dealt, after the observer indicates which stack contains the thought of playing card, the illusionist places that pile between the other two. After the first time, the playing card will be one of the ones in positions 8 to 14. When the cards are dealt the second time, the choice will be the third, 4th, or fifth playing card in the stack it finds itself. In picking up the stacks, the conjurer places this stack between the other two again. This guarantees that the choice will now be one of those in position ten to twelve. The third occasion the playing cards are dealt out, the choice will be the fourth playing card in which ever pile it ends up in. On the third deal, as soon as the spectator points out which stack contains the choice, the magician knows that it is the 4th, or centre, playing card in that stack. If the magician collects up the piles again, as before with the pile comprising the selection in the middle, the choice will be the eleventh card in the 21 playing card packet.

About The Author

Article by Roger Burton of http://www.magic-tricks-information.com ( The resource for magic trick information )

The Top Ten Security Tips For Halloween

2006-10-05T18:59:00.000+08:00

by: Nathalie Fiset, M.D.

With autumn comes a time to relax and start enjoying quality family time. Halloween is one of those special occasions where parents and children can share unique and magical moments.

People are getting more concerned with potential threat and want to assure the maximal security for their loved ones.

Allow me to review with you the top ten recommendations to insure that you and your family spend a happy and safe Halloween. You can make a game or reviewing these recommendations with your children. Let's say they get one point for every recommendation they can guess or they can draw the recommendation they liked the most and you can post it on your refrigerator.

By observing these simple recommendations, you will be able to enjoy a fun and safe Halloween. Remember it is allowed for parents to disguise themselves as they are passing Halloween with their children. Although your children will pretend to be embarrassed about the fact that you are wearing a costume, they will secretly think you are the coolest parent. Just don't expect them to say it out loud to you!

Here are the top ten tips for a safe and fun Halloween, in random order:

1) It is better to wear make-up than wearing a mask, the visibility can be greatly reduced when wearing a mask, especially if the mask is not a perfect fit for the child.

2) It is always better to pass Halloween with an adult. This parent can stay in the street and will be very helpful to carry the extra bags. Seriously, in case of emergencies, an adult carrying a cellular phone can be of great help.

3) Wearing a bright costume is highly recommended. Although a black, dark costume can have its effect it can easily be missed out by passing cars. A costume in which it is easy to walk is also highly recommended. Smaller children tend to get tired fast at Halloween and can tumble and fall if their costume is too long.

4) Carrying a flashlight or a fluorescent necklace can be very handy and will make children more visible upon walking the streets in Halloween.

5) A child should never pass Halloween alone. Furthermore, even though most people are trustworthy, children should be informed to never go into any house upon Halloween night.

6) Upon passing Halloween, street signalization should still be respected. It is highly recommended to only cross streets at intersections and waiting for cars to go by. After all, although your children are wearing Superman and Spiderman costumes, this does not make then invincible against a car hit.

7) Reinforce to your children that they should never get into a vehicle unless it is yours.

8) When your children arrive from their Halloween treasure hunt, check their candies with them making certain that none contain suspicious matters. Most children will naturally limit themselves to a certain amount of candies. It is somewhat recommended to supervise their ingestion of candies so they don't get carried away and end-up regretting it.

9) It is recommended, upon passing Halloween in one street, to do one side and then the other. This way, the children only get to cross the street once, thus limiting the dangers.

10) If your children are older and want to pass Halloween in group and have forbidden you to tag along (it can happen), make sure you know their route and what time they plan on returning. In our modern days too, it is very easy to trust your children with a cell phone and keep contact this way. You do have to remind them to turn it on before leaving…

Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor, a certified hypnotherapist and a neuro-linguistic practitionner . She is the author of the powerful hypnosis for childbirth program Hypno-Beginning© (http://www.hypno-beginning.com) . She has also created the amazing Alpha-Power© program (http://www.myalpha-power.com) for best mental and physical health with hypnosis. You can consult her other complete and professional web sites on hypnosis for well-being at: http://www.aperfectharmony.com and http://www.a-1hypnosis.com. If you are planning a big Florida vacation, go to: http://www.bigfloridavacation.com

About The Author
Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor. For more information go to: http://www.aperfectharmony.com or http://www.a-1hypnosis.com and http://www.bigfloridavacation.com

The Halloween Spirit

2006-10-05T18:56:00.000+08:00

by: Celia Namart

Halloween is a great party occasion, a truly unique chance for everyone to unload some stress and go back to a time when everything was much more simple, and dressing up in costumes made everything funny and great. This is one day you will want to celebrate, if not for the fun of it – simply for the relaxation and happiness it brings.

Halloween has its roots in past times, it has been celebrated for many years in many different ways, but the true idea of Halloween remains the same throughout times, it is about clearing all rational thought and having some plain old fashion fun for a few hours, spending time with the kids and thinking about treats and tricks.

In preparation for Halloween you will find yourself spending time on costume choosing and then costume finding, most of the original costumes are a combination of many different things put together, sometimes it does not even have to cost a fortune to combine some clothes into a spectacular Halloween costume.

The true benefit of Halloween for us adults is the opportunity to have fun and relax for a while, live in the children fantasy world, and concentrate our thoughts on candy and the funniest tricks we can think of, if practiced well Halloween can be a nice break from the every day routine and business schedule, it can be a nice chance to spend quality time with the family, and enjoy the spirit of this special day.

Once you decide on a costume you should also start thinking of the tricks and gadgets you will want to have on you once you meet those people you will ask the candy from, although you should consider the other people safety you should also think about what can make the biggest effect on them, and what will also stay in their memories of this Halloween, a good Halloween joke can survive many years.

Treat yourself and your family to lots of candy and a nice Halloween gift basket, make sure you got all the things you want to have to hand out to those nice kids who will be knocking on your door very soon, and try not to think about costs of dental clinic visits too much on this day, after all one day will not make the difference between healthy or damaged teeth.

For one day we have a chance to go back to childhood and do crazy things, this is also a very good way to leave some stress and anxiety behind and let go for a few hours, spend some nice moments with your family and behave like you were eight years old once again, you will feel a whole lot better after this day, and your family will love that new side of you too.

About The Author
Celia Nemart has been writing about travel and wellness over the last few years, this time she had decided to write about something that is even more fun, Halloween, the things you need to know about Halloween at http://halloween.advice-tips.com.

Halloween is Tricky for Food-Allergic Kids

2006-10-05T18:53:00.000+08:00

by: Ria Sharon

While kids are picking pumpkins and Halloween costumes, parents of kids with food allergies are bracing themselves. Halloween is frightening for these parents, who have to guard against bite-sized treats that as early as September, are showcased by many retailers. What are treats for most children, are life-threatening “tricks” for the 5 million American children who are in danger of anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, systemic allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system). Symptoms can include hives, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue and throat, a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Symptoms can occur within minutes or hours after contact with the allergy-causing substance. In 150-200 incidents a year, anaphylaxis is fatal. It can be caused by a trace amount of an allergen, the eight most common culprits being peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, milk, eggs, shellfish, fish and soy.

“It’s not just the trick-or-treating experience that is nerve-racking about Halloween,” says Tom Croghan whose son has a severe peanut allergy. “but Halloween also kicks off the ‘candy-on-the-coffee table’ season. Beginning now and through the holidays, my wife and I are forced to make a clean sweep of every home we visit to clear away the candies, chocolates and nuts that could land Brad in the hospital.” The abundance of accessible food during the holidays creates added danger for a child with food allergies. It is especially risky for children who are too young to comprehend their medical condition or too young to tell people around them that they have to avoid certain foods. The challenge of readily identifying food-allergic children and raising awareness about food allergies is what inspired Ria Sharon, a mom of a toddler with food allergies to create a line of clothing specifically for children at risk.

Sharon started a company called Check My Tag, which offers shirts and dresses that are alert devices for food-allergic kids. Each garment has a sewn-on badge on its left sleeve that announces, “Check my Tag! I have food allergies.” The inside tag can be personalized by parents with a list of trigger foods and important, life-saving information. The patent-pending design is specifically for children under five, whose parents may hesitate to put an alert bracelet or necklace on their young child but still want to keep their toddler safe in situations when they have to leave them with a caregiver. “I wanted something that would give me back my confidence in being able to keep him safe. To my surprise, everything that was currently available in terms of alert products were not practical solutions for us.” Ria applied her creative skills to develop a solution that eased her own anxiety and empowered her son’s teachers and babysitters to care for him safely.

The number of diagnosed cases of food allergies has doubled in the last five years. 3-1/2 year old Colin Depke from Ballwin is among them. His mom, Carol writes, “Thanks for creating such a great product with a purpose! Our 3-1/2 year old has severe food allergies and leaving him at camps and school is hard. Your shirts help to let other people know about his food allergies, yet discreetly. We love the colors and unique style to boot! The med pouch is very convenient to slip into a purse and we love that his action plan is right in the front window. Our son’s words sum it up best, “I like my tag shirt ’cause it helps keep me safe!”

HALLOWEEN FOOD SAFETY TIPS

• Have non-food treat options for trick-or-treaters
• Place treats in places that cannot be reached by young children without assistance
• Ask teachers before bringing in special Halloween goodies to classrooms
• If you are hosting a party, ask if there are food allergy concerns on your invitation
• Be aware—ask a parent or caregiver before offering food to any child
• If you see a Check My Tag shirt or any other alert device on a child, be extra vigilant

About The Author
Ria Sharon is the founder of Check My Tag (http://www.checkmytag.com), a company offering shirts and dresses that are alert devices for food-allergic kids. She is also the mother of a toddler with severe food allergies.

This article may be freely published in any form, as long as the author credit, including the website link is included.

Philippines Travel: Exploring Sagada On A Shoe-String Budget

2006-10-05T16:24:00.000+08:00

by: John Grant

Urban dwellers would normally prefer to rove around the metropolis and explore every side-street in search for ideal refuge, more than traveling to remote provinces. However, there are more than 7,000 reasons to explore the parameters of this archipelago, taking into account its profuse land and marine resources and myriad sanctuaries.

Among the many interesting regions in the Philippines is the mountainous terrain and savanna in northern Luzon as inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Part of this region is Sagada. With a measly P2,500, a determined explorer can take a fulfilling jaunt to Sagada—a serene mountain community in Mt. Province. The adventurous travelers would customarily take the 10-hour bus ride from Manila to Banaue, Ifugao (via Solano, Nueva Ecija route) that costs not more than P300.

In Banaue, travelers have the option to take the day off and trek along the well-engineered Banaur Rice Terraces or take a jeepney ride to Bontoc and from there, one can catch a bus ride to a more tranquil region, Sagada in Mt. Province.

Sagada has economical lodging houses and hotels to spend the night over. For as low as P200, a traveler can avail of a bedroom for two and a well-scrubbed common bathroom with sufficient amount of water—for an overnight abode. Even though electricity and water are accessible in these highland regions, one of the guidelines in immersing to remote areas is not to expect for urban amenities.

However, the lack of adequate necessities is not an hindrance to any devoted backpacker. Indeed, the remarkable view of the mountains, sight of abundant natural resources, and exposure to mountain community are enough reasons to enjoy the trip.

Trekking along the narrow mountain trails of Batad and Bangaan Villages in Banaue is one of the many leisure options where panoramic views of the terraces can be enjoyed. To keep track of the trail, a number of villagers can be hired for hours as tour guides.

The trip is truly breathtaking and for an amateur trekker, the long hours of walk should not impede them to reach the other side of the trail. There are a number of brooks along the curvy mountain range that are guaranteed to quench one’s thirst during the hours of hike. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring endpoint is an antidote to muscle pain.

Batad is comparable to realizing the pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow. It boasts of scenic and unspoiled layers of rice fields forming a colossal amphitheater, where native Ifugaos mostly dwell. The terraces is still a functional source of livelihood and personal sustenance for Ifugaos, except for some where irrigation systems have been destroyed through seepage, landslides, prolonged drought, erosion, and other inevitable natural calamities.

About The Author

John Grant has been living in the Philippines for 5 years and has travelled the country extensively. His online Philippines Travel Guide http://www.netguard.dk covers major destinations like Boracay, Sagada http://www.netguard.dk/luzon/sagada/ Puerto Galera and Palawan.

Subic Bay Philippines

2006-10-05T16:21:00.000+08:00

by: Nestor Santos

For many centuries, Subic Bay was recognized as a deep safe harbour. Realizing Subic Bay’s potentials, the Spaniards used the bay as a port to defend and maintain the Philippines as a part of their empire in the 17th century. In 1885, it was built into a naval base that utilized the safe harbors and natural resources.

After their victory over the Spaniards in 1898, a naval repair and supply base in Subic Bay was established by the Americans. It was only reachable by sea until 1932 when the zigzag roads were opened linking Subic Bay and Olongapo to the rest of the Philippines.

The Japanese bombed Subic Bay in 1941 and was held by them until the US took back the Philippines in 1945. The naval base was returned to the control of the United States. The two invasions by the Japanese and Americans produced a number of bombed or scuttled naval ships in Subic Bay. Scuba divers from around the world are now enjoying these wrecks in their underwater graveyards.

Control and maintenance of Subic naval base remained under the United States despite the Philippines gaining their independence. The United States was given 99 years free access of the facility via an agreement signed between the Philippines and US. With the outbreak of the Vietnam War, Subic Bay became a strategic site in the maintenance of a strong US presence in Asia.

In 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo covered Olongapo and Subic Bay with nearly half a metre of ash. After the Senate of the Philippines rejected the renewal of the US bases treaty in 1992, the Subic Bay Freeport was established after the last of the American naval ships completed its pullout of forces.

Since then, Subic Bay Freeport Zone has now become a well-known economic, commercial and tourist hub. It is booming with world class restaurants and duty-free shopping.

Subic Bay is situated in Zambales Province on the west coast of Luzon 120 kilometres north of Manila. Mountains with lush jungles bound its coastal area. Mountains with lush dense jungles, suitable for trekking, surround the coastal area. The bay cuts out into the South China Sea.

Subic Bay brags of interesting wreck dives. It is home to a impressive combination of wrecks. The six wreck sites have an average depth of 45 ft.

Subic Bay boasts of its rainforest and a white sand beach. Its world-class facilities, which include a marina, yacht club, hotels, shopping arcades and food shops, are supported by Philippine tourism. An international airport is another attraction.

About The Author

Nestor Santos is a field reporter for http://www.PhilippinesVacation.org, where you can enjoy great articles about the Philippines. Philippines Travel Tips: http://www.philippinesvacation.org/philippines-travel-tips/philippines-travel-tips/.

Boracay: Paradise on Earth

2006-10-05T10:02:00.000+08:00

By Nat Pinero

The island paradise of Boracay in the central Philippines is one of the few remaining unspoilt places on earth. It has remained largely untouched by modern civilization despite the droves of tourists that visit it every year.

The first hint of this idyllic hideaway's remoteness comes upon arrival: there is no airport or pier. Travelers are taken on small, wooden outriggers to the island, where they disembark by jumping into thigh-deep water and wading ashore.

Located at the northwestern tip of Panay in the Western Visayas region 345 kilometers from Manila, Boracay boasts 30 beaches and about 200 private resorts that cater to the more than 300,000 tourists that descend on the 630-hectare island annually.

It's not clear how the island emerged from obscurity to become one of the world's best beaches. But it's said that a group of foreign travelers stumbled upon the place by accident in the early eighties and word quickly spread about the modern day Eden tucked away somewhere in the central Philippines.

Boracay has since become a beacon attracting sun-worshippers from the four corners of the world. Its crystal-clear waters and powder-fine white sand make it second to none.

Boracay offers more than just sun, sea and sand.

The mouth-watering smell of barbecue and freshly cooked seafood lingers in the air as tourists sample the local culinary taste. Fruits are also in abundance. And for those who prefer foreign food, international cuisine is always available.

There's also a host of relaxing activities for all kinds of tourists, including sailing on an outrigger to the other side of the island, diving, exploring by bike and hopping from one beach to another.

If you're the less energetic type, you can comb the beach on horseback, lie in the sand and soak up the sun or simply watch the sun set while you finish a cocktail or a beer.

The fun doesn't stop after nightfall. In fact, the action is just beginning as travelers get ready for a night of dancing and partying until the wee hours of the morning.

If you're a sun-worshipper, Boracay is the place. If you want to forget about the cares of the world and be close to nature, Boracay is the ticket. If you just want to get away from it all, Boracay is the answer.

Indeed, Boracay is paradise on earth.

But it may not remain one for long. Civilization is fast catching up. Already the island has access to cable television and the internet.

In a world of instant communication and jet travel, the isolation that the island has enjoyed for centuries is finally coming to an end.

This has raised fears that Boracay will ultimately become a victim of its own success as development takes its toll on the once virgin territory. That day may just be around the corner.

But for the island’s residents and the many foreigners who have come and made it their home, Boracay will always remain a paradise.

More information and pictures at my webpage http://www.orenip.com

Boracay, Philippines - Incredible Holiday Value

2006-10-04T12:08:00.000+08:00

By Mike Jonson

Few can argue that the tiny island in central Philippines known as “Boracay” is nothing less than spectacular. With a 3 kilometer long sugar white beach, some of the lowest prices in the world and perhaps best of all plenty of good ole' Filipino charm and hospitality, Boracay is truly a wonder to behold.

Anyone who has been there will tell you that Boracay, or “Bora” as the locals call it, is a wonderful place to spend a vacation. During the off season (from June to mid-October) this small resort town slows way down, making it a favorite for anyone looking to spend some quiet time on the beach. Backpackers love to visit Boracay beach during the off season where they can stay in lower class hostels and villas just behind the beachfront resorts, from rates as low as $15 a night!

Families love Boracay because it is a safe, affordable and offers plenty entertainment options for those on the go. Mom will love the vendors selling jewelry on the boardwalk, and growing number of fashionable gift shops, selling everything from low cost bathing suits to Filipino pasalubong. (or “gifts from your trip”) Dad will surely enjoy a $5 massage on the beach, plenty of cold drinks and over 100 great restaurants all within a short walk of the beach.

The kids and those more active will enjoy plenty of water sports in Boracay. Just a few years ago, all powered water sports were prohibited, but now there is a flourishing water spots industry that includes jet skis, water skis, wake boarding, knee boarding and parasailing. You can even rent your own speed boat to cruise around the island in style, or a more traditional “banca” boat, for a day of island hopping.

During peak season (from Mid-October to May) Boracay beach is absolutely bustling with activity. If you plan to visit during peak season, be sure to plan your trip at least 4-5 months in advance, as all of the best rooms and resorts fill up very quickly. During peak season, Boracay has a very festive atmosphere and is crawling with people, events and activities virtually every day.

For scuba divers, Boracay has a number of high quality dive resorts located right on the famous white beach. From there you can dive any one of 40+ dive spots located in the waters surrounding Boracay. Since the water is warm in the Philippines year round, wet suits are an option for many who enjoy taking it off, for an easy dive around Bora.

My personal favorite is to rent a motorcycle for about $25 a day and “explore” the island, completely on my own. There is so much to see and explore behind the beachfront resorts, including a completely different culture just steps away from the famous boardwalk. A short drive to the back of the island for example, and you can explore the famous bat caves, enjoy some local cuisine at any number of beach front cafes (for ¼ the cost of beach front resorts) or just enjoy a care free day of fresh air riding in the hills of Boracay.

What ever your Philippine travel plans, don't miss this world famous travel destination!

The author is a professional travel consultant. He travels extensively throughout Asia, exploring new destinations as a researcher, writer and consultant for HAS Travel, Corp., one of the Philippines leading travel agencies. He is also a licensed scuba diver and helicopter pilot, who enjoys exploring new destinations from a new perspective. http://hastravel.com/