Decoy Blue Force Projection In The Battlespace

Writen by Lance Winslow

In the future warfare will be much different than in any other time in human history. Mankind has been settling their difference and forcing their political will over opposing civilizations for as long or longer than we have been recording the human record. As we enter the future period and shed the methods of war of past periods we will see conflicts start and end quickly. We will see precision strikes, simultaneous attacks and a digitally mapped net-centric battlespace. New techniques to fight these battles will be thru Electronic Attack, robotic warfare, military hacking of computers and target decoy mirages.

I therefore propose that we use this technology to create a decoy of our friendly "blue force" signatures to trick the enemy on firing up on it, thus allowing them to give up their stealth and allow us to pin-point the enemy locations. How so you ask? Well with full motion Holographic Technologies, which are getting closer to becoming reality and soon we will be able to project in 3D, 4D and 5D anywhere, at anytime.

Our military strategists and war fighters can play out the battle in the virtual battlespace in advance and then watch it un-fold in real time in the command and control center war room table. This latest technology will be used in planning, strategizing and executing our political will to keep our nation free and strong from any foe or enemy. Think on this.

Lance Winslow

Computer Traumas

Writen by Ieuan Dolby

It has happened! Computer games have started to control my life on and off the screen. No complicated games like Age of Empires, just the simple one of Tetris. You know the one, where different shaped and colored bricks fall out of the sky and you have to arrange them in nice lines at the bottom? Hopefully with the end result of all colors matching in straight lines so that they can be removed and point gained.

Crazy really, it first happened many years ago when I had this stupid bet that I could get more points than the next guy. What that really means is that, "I am going to be up all night playing this game and will be totally incapable of staying awake in the office tomorrow, unless of course I play the game in the office as well". That's what computer games do to us. We become machines where food and sleep are secondary items to all else. Just keep on playing.............till you drop.

I managed to get through that episode with only a slight increase in my weight and a damaged back from not having moved anything else except my two fingers for a sustained period of time. The latest episode though has created havoc with my life in more ways than one and I am getting seriously worried about it.

I had been playing that game in the evening for around three hours and had then gone to bed early for a dreamless and normal sleep. All okay and expected you say? Well, the sleep was but when I drove to the office the next day things started to happen that rapidly woke me up to the danger that I was in. There I was in my blue car approaching the traffic lights when all of a sudden I swerved into the other lane thus ending up stopped neatly behind this other blue car. Behind me, confused and irritated drivers with green and red cars tooted their horns angrily wandering what this maniac was doing. But I? I was happy in that I had managed to get the colors arranged and all I needed was another blue car and then we could have a full line................oh, no, what is happening to me? I sat there for a while shivering as it dawned on me that I had entered the game itself, it had taken me over.........I was a brick!

Yeah, and that was not all. I found myself one afternoon staring inanely at a house wall and following the line of bricks along trying to sort out in my mind which pattern was best and which was not. And at my desk I found that I had arranged all files and papers in a neat pattern according to color and size having totally disregarded any format associated with the importance of in-going, outgoing, urgency, etc. Extremely worrying to say the least!

I have withdrawn from playing Tetris and other games of that sort hoping that I will stop having these off the screen episodes in real life. In the hope that I can return to a normal existence without having off-the-screen battles. Do other people suffer from this or is it just me?

The other game that I played to have a break from Tetris was "Prairie Dog". One of those annoying games where you have a choice of guns and dogs keep on appearing on the screen. Aim and fire being the next step. Bang, Bang, Bang, another dog bites the dust. Yes, I know, pathetic really, but great fun. Volume up full, there I would be furiously firing at any movement, reloading and starting again and the dogs would make a strangled sound as I hit them. But once again I one day realized that all was not well with me, as I used to sit on my balcony and take imaginary potshots at cars as they appeared on the road. Or in a busy street I would say "bang, bang" and pretend that I had cleared a path for myself through the crowds.

I played that other game Age of Empires many times to. Love that game as it takes s kill and thought as well as two fingers and rapid movement and I became extremely proficient at it as time went by. My computer often struggled to cope with the size of my army and the enemies that I faced. I would sit there for hours on end, maneuvering, shifting, attacking and withdrawing till the sun started to come up on the horizon. It would be then that I would force myself away and climb into bed only to resurface two hours later, make a large urn of coffee and re-attack with a vengeance. Although this game never caused me to start charging at other cars on the highways or lobbing screwed up notes at others in the office it did cause me to take a good look at myself.

What would happen if suddenly I started to do this sort of thing in real life? If I started to make deals with my neighbors to attack next door offices or ping elastic bands at the mail delivery boy? I've stopped playing games now and have become a serious and boring "been there, done that and cured myself" type of person. I do have long and empty hours where I feel the urge to take up where I left off and I get extremely jealous when others talk about games or I see others playing them but I resist. I think it must be like smoking where one never loses the urge to light up and take a draw – just the one! No, No, I cannot! I now sit there and lecture others on the dangers of playing games and that they should stop before it is too late. And they? They just nod politely and then disappear to talk amongst themselves............."must be and ex-player", whisper, whisper, whisper.

About The Author

Author and Webmaster of Seamania. As a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy Ieuan Dolby has sailed the world for fifteen years. Now living in Taiwan he writes about cultures across the globe and life as he sees it.

Learning The Backgammon Rules In 10 Minutes

Writen by Sky Joe

Backgammon rules are short, simple and easy to remember. You will need no more than ten minutes to understand these rules. It is essential that you have a basic idea of the rules before you learn the mechanics and different strategies of the game. The backgammon rules are divided into: The Game, The Rolls, The Play and Scoring.

The Game

The game is played by two persons and 30 pieces, 15 of one color and 15v of another, are used. They are being set up on a standard board of four quarters, having six points each. For entering and bearing off, the points in both inner boards are considered as numbered from 1 to 6, beginning with the point nearest the edge of the board. The direction of play is from opponent's inner board to opponent's outer board, to player's outer board, and then to player's inner(home) board. In addition, the play of the pieces is governed by two dice, rolled from a cup in which the dice are shaken before rolled. The choice of seats, pieces, set-up and dice shall be made by the player winning the opening rolls.

The Rolls For the opening roll, each player rolls a single dice. Every tie requires another opening roll. Whoever rolls the higher number wins, and for his first move plays the numbers on both dice. After that, each player in turn rolls two dice. The dice must be rolled together and come to rest flat on the board at the player's right; otherwise they must be rolled again. If a roll is made before an opponent's play is completed, or if either player touches a die before it has come to rest, the opponent of the offender may require a re-roll. A player must leave his dice on the board until his play is completed. Should he pick them up or turn them over before the completion of his play, the opponent may declare the play void and require the offender to replace the piece and to roll again.

The Play

This consists of:

a)moving a piece the exact number of points indicated by the number on a die rolled. b)entering a piece, in the opponent's inner board, on a point corresponding to the number on a die rolled.

c)bearing off a piece in player's inner board when no piece is left outside that board or on the bar.

d)doubles require four plays-if possible-of the die number rolled.

In addition, no play may be made that lands on a point held by two or more of the opponent's pieces. A player having a piece on the bar may not play until that piece has been entered. Plays must be made for both dice when possible. Either number may be played first. If only one number can be played and there is a choice, the higher must be played. Besides, whenever a piece has been moved correctly and quitted(the player's hand removed), that play cannot be changed.

Scoring

A game is won by the player who first bears off all of his pieces. A gammon(double game) is won if the opponent has not borne off a single piece. This doubles the game value. A backgammon(triple game) is won if the opponent has not borne off a single piece, and has one or more pieces in the winner's inner board or on the bar. This triples the game value.

For more information on the playing backgammon online, learning backgammon rules or joining backgammon clubs, please visit the following website: Backgammon Guide

©Skyjoe. All rights reserved. This article may be freely distributed as long as it remains unaltered and the copyright notice is intact. No alteration is allowed without express written permission from the author.

Game Design And Development

Writen by Eddie Tobey

Game development is used to describe the process by which a game is produced. It is usually used to refer to the development of computer and video games, and varies according to the company and project.

Game development involves game designing, sound designing, music composition and writing. To enter the world of game development, one has to have serious communication, theatrical and imaginative skills. Some companies also require a BS in Computer Science. Artistic experience is required for game development, as computer games have color and resolution restrictions. So if you have skills in this area, you can easily get a job. Most companies ask for a portfolio of your work. However, don't try sending this electronically, as most companies respond better to snail mail than e-mail.

Writers are hired by contract, and have to write scripts, character dialogue and 'online helps' for the game. The software developer need not always have a BS in Computer Science. This is because companies usually look at your samples in your portfolio, before hiring you. If you don't plan on working full-time in a company, consider part-time work. Whatever the case may be, you need resources to work. Get good books on programming, a compiler and game development books. Programmers should have knowledge of C++ and Java.

If you plan to become an artist in game development, then take art classes with a good paint program and a 3-D modeling program. Those with writing skills should vie for writing positions in game development. Create some sample scripts with story lines to succeed in game development! Game developers should also have some experience laying out levels. Note the structure of levels and environments in the top-selling games. Take theater, communication and computer science classes to get a good job. Once you enter the game industry, you'll find this field is always changing, very addictive and as challenging as it is rewarding.

Game Design provides detailed information on Game Design, Video Game Designs, Game Design And Development, Game Design Software and more. Game Design is affiliated with Kid Board Games.

The Growing Link Between Video Games And The Music Industry

Writen by Mary Anne Winslow

When one thinks of video games, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Graphics, sound, etc., but certainly not music. Because of the major technological advance within the 10 years, video games and music is something that now walks hand in hand. The more complicated and realistic, the better the music will be.

In the early days of videogames, music played no great part when it came to playing a game. Sounds were used simply to illustrate actions. Take for example Pong, one of the original commercially available computer games, developed in the 1950's. It comprised of two 'bats' represented on screen as rectangles and a ball. The object was to play a kind of tennis game, while bleeps represented the ball hitting the bat. The game was basic but it caught the imagination of players around the globe. In 1972 the Magnavox Odyssey was released in the US, the first games console ever made. However it was a completely silent machine. It was not until Atari released the Atari Video Computer System in 1977 that sounds really made impact upon games. These were still only very basic sound effects though.

What came next could be described as the beginnings of video game music. Space Invaders, a basic arcade game arrived with a menacing tune set to put fear into its players. The tune actually became more frantic as the 'Invaders' came closer to their goal, while the player tries to destroy them. This had the effect of raising the blood pressure and heart rate of its players, absorbing them fully into this world. The game was phenomenally successful due to the fact it was the first interactive audiovisual game that made its players feel an adrenalin rush.

Over the next 10 years, games were to become more sophisticated along with their sound tracks. Through the eighties, well known games such as Pacman, Donkey Kong and Tetris all arrived with unique soundtracks played through low-tech sound processors. Individual composers, such as Shigeru Myamoto, creator of music for the Zelda series of games, became recognised through their work on games, and in 1989 Michael Jackson saw the potential video games had for promoting music, releasing his own title, Moonwalk. It featured synthesised versions of Billie Jean and Beat It. He was to pave the way for many artists who have contributed to computer games in more recent times.

It is indisputable that since the release of the Playstation, Sony has dominated the games industry, with Nintendo lagging behind. The newest console from Sony, the Playstation 2 does everything the PSX did, but with much improved graphics and sound, and a DVD player. It can be connected to the net for online gaming and web browsing. This machine is a true multimedia system. Nintendo has caught up slightly with the game cube, and Microsoft has made their entrance with the X-Box, both offering high quality sound and visuals. Sony's success can be put down to the fact they applied quality music and video to their games from the start.

With CD quality sound now commonplace on consoles, the music within a game is no longer limited to synthesized sounds. This allows the game environment to become more atmospheric. This also means well known music can be placed within a game. When Sony released the play station, it was not long before they released their groundbreaking title, Wipeout. This game was a high energy racing game, accompanied by a fast and thrilling soundtrack featuring such artists as the Chemical Brothers, Orbital and Leftfield. Within the game it was possible to select the track you wished to be heard as you raced through winding tunnels and over vast canyons. The music in this game was possibly more important than the game itself, and indeed the soundtrack was released as an album. This illustrated the soundtracks importance within a game, akin to film music, and paved the way for musicians' involvement in the games industry. The follow up titles in this series also involved acts such as Prodigy, Underworld and in the most recent version, DJ Sasha. A host of acts have appeared on games since. Mogwai created the soundtrack for Actua Ice Hockey 2 and Ash earned ?600,000 in royalties for their track on Gran Turismo. Grand Theft Auto is known for its in game radio stations, and Grand Theft Auto 4: Vice City, Interactive eighties themed version of the game boasts several selectable radio stations with a variety of artists from the Eighties including Gary Newman and Blondie Again the soundtrack to this game will be released as an album. So it seems that, as the case is with a good film, the soundtrack to a game provides as much of the experience as any graphics.

The music industry is set to benefit from this relatively new medium. Artists being heard on games are able to promote their music directly at their target audience, 18-25 year olds, while collecting royalties from the sale of the game. The artist's appearance also works as promotion for the game, meaning the two industries work well together. Music is also significant as far as determining the quality of a game. The soundtrack plays a very important role; similar to the way it works in film. However, there are of course, major differences between games and film In fact it seems the music within a game is more important than it is in film, interacting with the players reactions and completing the full experience.

Over the next few years, consoles such as the Playstation 2 will start to integrate more in homes, becoming as common as items like video players or stereos. This new entertainment system encompassing audio-visual playing with multimedia capabilities will replace the need for such items. It is important therefore the music industry keeps up with this medium in order to continue benefiting from it

Mary Anne Winslow is a member of Essay Writing Service counselling department team and a dissertation writing consultant. Contact her to get free counselling on custom essay writing.

World Of Warcraft Hunter Pet Guide

Writen by Gen Mason

Here you have it, the guide you've been waiting. This World of Warcraft Hunter's pet guide will list the best pets a hunter in this fantastical world will use. We will go into details about some of them and leave the lesser beasts to the weak. We answer some of your questions and send you away with a range of useful information so you can go head first into the world of the unknown with confidence.

So, we will start out with listing all pets and showing you what their abilities are and what some of them ea,t so you can win every battle with beastly ease. We will first focus on the animals with the abilities to slow you enemies down, which give you the opportunity to do what you need to do – even if it is to just run away.

First in this World of Warcraft Hunter's pet guide we show you the Bat, which could screech the ears off a deaf monkey. The bat shares this ability with the Carrion bird and the owl. This skill is very useful during battle if you are looking to disorientate your enemy for a short while – before you kill him, of course.

If you are looking to do more damage, you will be happy to know that the game does offer animals with a healthy appetite. In the World of Warcraft Hunter's pet guides the Bat and the Carrion bird will fall into this category, along with Bear, Boar, Cat, Crab, Wolf and Spider among many others. Now this ability allows the player, you, to be quite a distance away from the target. It's a really simple way to not lose any power and bring your enemy down to his knees. However, sending your tiny pet out to do your dirty work has its disadvantages, like it getting killed before it kills your enemy. These beasts don't come at a cheap rate, so be sure to keep this mode of attacked right up to the last minute – when you are sure your animal will only sustain the minimal amount of injury, and won't die.

The World of Warcraft Hunter's pets guide also explains that before you can tame and train your new pet you have to be disciplined. You have to be willing to learn from the animal as the animal is always willing to learn from you. As in life everything with a pulse needs to maintain nutritional eating guidelines, in the World of Warcraft Hunters pet guide we let you know that there is an abundance of food for your pets all over this wonderful world. These pets eat anything from bread, cheese, fungus and fruit to something more substantial like fish and meat (there is nothing better than a nice piece of steak.)

Now, even though it seems like a walk in the park to raise a pet, making a choice of which pet to raise, is not that easy. There is a skill to choosing your pet in WOW and this World of Warcraft Hunter's pet guide will show you a basic way of doing this.

So, you want to know the best pet will be for you? This issue comes up a lot, so don't feel like you are alone in this. Millions of World of Warcraft players around the world search the web to find out more about the topic and the all end up in one place (we will not be giving that away in this World of Warcraft Hunter's pet guide). If you really want to know more about this topic, I suggest you look around a bit more, go ahead, you are sure to find more World of Warcraft Hunters pet guides lying around somewhere.

Gen Mason plays World of Warcraft almost everyday. Discover free World of Warcraft tactics and tricks at WOW Powerleveling

Let The Addiction Begin Ipods Games Bring It On

Writen by Chris Ryerson

Not sure about all of you out there but I was a product of the Eighties. I was one of those kids that grew up with the old school Atari and Commodore 64 systems. For some reason I have found that many of us from this generation and forward are highly addicted to games. There is something magical about a game. In fact it can almost be any type of game as long as it fills long gaps of boredom easily and transports you to a happy time and place away from the reality of the world. Even if this is just a short term fix that lasts for only 15 minutes a game can be such a wonderful escape. Sure the psychologists will throw up their arms about your coping mechanisms and your parents or wife will nag at you about it but honestly for those truly addicted to gaming this is just a little side chatter. The wife, parents and psychologists are probably right to some extent but lets be honest how harmful can a game be anyway.

So if you are like me, and into games, then the little iPod sitting in your pocket right now is a goldmine. There are tons of games that you can play on an iPod and many of them are very addictive and fun.

The most important thing about playing an iPod game and something you have to ask yourself before you get started is what type of game genre do you like to play? This is an important question because you want to start with a game that you will like and if it is in your genre of games that it is sure to please. So think about the games you like.

Do you want to pretend to be in a fantasy adventure game where you are the hero or heroine? There are many different types of fantasy adventure games even and you should think about time period and genre even within the fantasy adventure arena. Do like the slaying dragon of fighting aliens or does it really matter? You can find an iPod game no matter what your liking is everything from dragons to aliens can be found in the action adventure genre.

What about a mystery detective type of game? How about pretending to be Sherlock Homes and wrapping up another murder case? This can be pretty exciting and a lot of fun and there are iPod games that fill the mystery niche.

Want something a little more reality based? Why not try a sim game where you are a beach resort tycoon. You can build profitable hotels and airports and really rake in the big bucks and feel like a big time investor or should I say player!

Since iPods are built to be so portable the iPod game is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You are no longer tied to your Nintendo, GameCube or other gamming system sitting in front of your TV. You are now mobile son and you can take your games with you where ever you go. Are you stuck in some massively long line to register for classes at a college or stuck in a boring lecture hall in high school. Maybe you are just waiting for some friends to pick you up to go out on a Friday night for a party. Well, since you are now mobile don't let those idle minutes pass you by get started playing young one. Go for it and seize the day Carpe Diem and Carpe Play Games! Most important have a lot of fun and play a game for me.

For more free iPod power user tips, hints, cheats, hacks and everything else to do with your iPod check out Podplayerz.com. Also for more great information on Downloading iPod Games check out the site.

Action Games The Thrill Is Addictive

Writen by CD Mohatta

When you watch live action on movie screens, you get excited. Combined with sound effects the action can be a real thrill. Some actions that we watch takes the breath away. How about Action games on computers?

Some of the makers of action games make great animations and may include a story line. Stories always attract us. Tell a story and everybody will listen. The action games on computers use this very well to produce games that can take your breath away thinking of the imagination and artistry applied by the maker.

Adventures, space fights, planes colliding in mid air, think of any action and you will find it used in a game. Most of these games are free online. Action games give great thrill and despite called for teenagers they are for the family to enjoy them together. Action games test the response of the player and sharpen the judgment. Such games are not pure fun. They can help as training tools if used properly.

Other free online games that are currently becoming very popular are- Arcade Games, Board Games, Card Games, Casino Games, Strategy Games, Sports Games, Shooting Games and, Puzzle Games. Most of the online games are free. Look for a good website and play the games. They are a fabulous way of enjoyment. As I said in the heading these games can become addictive. Take small doses and life will be a joy.

The author, C.D.Mohatta writes for http://www.ecarduniverse.com/ which has free ecards on holidays, birthday, love, friendship, family, expressions, celebrations and all events and occasions. He also writes fun quizzes and fun tests at http://www.funquizcards.com/ on topics like love, personality, dating, relationships, friendship, movies, tv, music, business, etc. One more site associated with the author is http://www.yourfungames.com/ - it has lots of free flash games which anyone can play online.

The Next Generation Console Debate

Writen by PJ Tucker

High Def vs. High Creativity......

There is much talk these days of the high tech hoopla involving the next generation consoles. Microsoft and Sony have both announced that their next gen systems will include High Definition as one of the key new features, while Nintendo has stated that it will pass up on the High Def for now and go with a more creative system instead. Both Microsoft and Sony have showed and their consoles and both look really good so far, thus most hardcore gamers have written Nintendo off as being a contender for the next gen crown. Is this possibly an oversight?

YES, this is an oversight. How can anyone write off the brilliant minds at Nintendo? IGN's people seem to think that HD trumps creativity, as do Gamespot and most of the major gaming media organizations. It is with this knowledge that I give fair warning, DO NOT UNDERSTIMATE THE POWER OF CREATIVITY. Nintendo has brought innovation throughout their term as leader in the video game world. They have brought us to know innovations such as the Game Boy, the touchpad (touching IS good) and a host of creative and innovative games throughout the years, which by the way, will be downloadable with their own upcoming next gen system, the Revolution. They have been a staple of the creative prowess that it takes to push this industry in the right direction. How can anyone overlook that? I constantly see people and hear people say, "Nintendo isn't even offering HD in the Revolution, what's up with that?"

What's up with that, is that while Microsoft and Sony spend their time trying to trump each other with their HD and other technologies, Nintendo is creating new technology that will "Revolutionize" the way that we play games today. It is true that both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 will be very nice consoles, and give us every little slice of tech heaven that we have been yearning for, but Nintendo may just trump them all with the invent of new technologies the likes of which Microsoft and Sony have never even dreamed of. It will be much easier for Nintendo to solicit companies to help them make their next console (the one after the Revolution) be HD compliant and up to times with the technology than it will be for Microsoft and Sony to find a company to help them to get creative.

Eventually, I see all gaming consoles going in the same direction, high end technology, with first rate creative input and output. The difference in the console war will be which roads that each company will take to get there. Microsoft and Sony seem to be taking the easy road, by updating their consoles to the more advanced technologies during this generation, while Nintendo takes the harder road by knocking the creativity factor out first. This is why they may not have a leg up on the competition this time around, but in the next great next generation console war, they will have TWO legs up on their competition.

PJ Tucker
EIC
The Game Cheat Machine
http://www.gamecheatmachine.com

World Of Warcraft Farming Guide

Writen by Gen Mason

In World of Warcraft, knowing how to farm for gold is quite important. Whether you are playing for the Horde or Alliance realm, you will need money at some time or another during the game. There are World of Warcraft Farming Guides to help you find the best and quickest ways to do this. You can farm for gold, silver, or bronze in many regions in World of Warcraft, and players have created World of Warcraft Farming guides to show you tips and some secrets.

The World of Warcraft Farming Guides are a great help to many players, as they can learn ways of acquiring bronze, silver and gold in order to purchase necessary item that each character is looking to buy. The Hunter will need to farm for enough gold to summon a pet and pay for the training of this pet. A Warrior will need to use World of Warcraft Farming Guides to pay a vendor for weapons he might need to have during battle. Farming for gold, silver and bronze – which is your currency in World of Warcraft – is easy once you have read a couple of the farming guides, and choose methods best suited to your character.

Upon taking up quests and challenges you will have access to plenty of money, which the World of Warcraft Farming Guides will further explain. It will show you which weapons, potions, or other skills you will need to defeat your enemy or complete the quest. Usually you have to kill some other characters in the game, and they will have valuable item on them which can be sold at the World of Warcraft Auction House. This Auction House is available to Alliance player, as well as the Hordes, although they are situated in different regions. It is possible to trade with Horde or Alliance if you so desire, but this must be done at a neutral Auction House.

Some of the World of Warcraft Farming Guides have been put together by players that have done it before. They have figured out through trial and error, and are willing to assist other players in order to enhance and improve their gaming experience. At many of the quests the loot that is dropped after you win a battle, is not always gold, silver or bronze. Other things like elements, blues for disenchanting, recipes for potions, different epics like world drop epics and lots more are farmed, but these items can be valuable to sell, or even to keep for later on in the game. You never know when you might need them!

It is a good idea to read the World of Warcraft Farming Guides, along with any other bits of information you get, because this game is very complex and you might just miss out on some loot, extra currency or the chance to trade it. The guides are there for you to use, and putting it off because its too much reading is understandable. You just want to get out there and play the game. However, taking the time to go over the guides will help you in the long run, and make the World of Warcraft gaming experience so much more enjoyable.

Here is one guide for you to get you going taken from the World of Warcraft website:

Hederine Slayers (In Winterspring, Southern part, across the bridge)
Level: 59+ Elites
Type: Demons
Abilities: Mortal Strike
Loot table: Eye of shadow, Epic world drops, 15ish silver and various of other items.
Comments: The Eye of shadow sells for approximately 100-175 gold depending on server.
Tactic 1: Just fear kite the slayer, Be careful, as they hit very hard. So be careful with the DoTs since they can break fear early. They also have high shadow resist so Curse of Shadows is recommended here.
Tactic 2: You can also try to banish it, let a voidwalker aggro it, then fire a shadowbolt, and try to banish again. Will hardly hit you. Safe but very slow killing then.

Gen Mason plays World of Warcraft almost everyday. Discover free World of Warcraft tactics and tricks at WOW Powerleveling

Pinball Machines

Writen by Ross Bainbridge

Pinball Machines are available in a wide range and promise unlimited action and challenges. Most machines have all the regular features like ramps and flippers, with a few differences here and there. One has to master the correct and most effective use of the controls to be able to utilize them to their fullest extent.

Pinball machines that have withstood the test of time are those that have people coming back to play them over and over because the attraction proves too much to ignore. The Simpson's machine is an example. Technology plays a large part in the manufacture of these machines. Some even have multi-player functions for a group of players. Sounds and graphics are created to perfection giving the player an authentic feel of the arcades of yesteryears. Many are jazzed up with LED lights or infrared lights.

What is also taken into account is the tilt factor of the game, which is a debated issue. On the one hand, you have French players who are not happy with the very tilt-sensitive American machines. An interesting point to note is that the French are very good at nudging. The Americans, on the other hand, do not perform to their fullest as they are unaware of the full potential of the machines.

The earlier machines were actually tagged as boring. Students of engineering at various levels were then given a project to improve them, and they came up with some interesting concepts. Using the same old machines, games like the Comet Commander were introduced. They had mechanical challenges that were never before thought of. Electrical engineering students introduced new lighting excitement to the games. And pinball machines, which challenged the players, found a lot of takers.

Pinball is on a kind of seesaw right now - on its way out in some states and a rage in others. But once the bug bites, it's an addiction few want to leave. All it needs is quick reflexes, and it can keep you suitably occupied for hours.

Pinball provides detailed information on Pinball, Pinball Machines, Pinball Games, Pinball Parts and more. Pinball is affiliated with Online Bingo Games.

Why Downloading Games Before You Play Will Save You A Bundle

Writen by Jesse Harwell

Have you ever gone online and saw a game that looked amazing? It had the elements of fun, addictiveness and cost you were looking for. You paid your $20 and was ready to have hours of unadulterated fun. Slip into another world and let the troubles of this world pass you by. Then something happened. After you downloaded the game, installed it and then played it some… you came to a realization…. This is a TERRIBLE game. You feel ripped off never to play a game again purchased online. Was this the publisher's fault exclusively, or do you bear some of the responsibility? Let's take a look and see.

If you go onto any major game site, you will normally see two separate links. One link is to purchase a game, another link is to try it. If you have never played the game before, it makes much more sense to try the game. You may find that after 15 minutes you are bored to death. You have not spent any money and you are free to try another game or go on a cheap date with another gamer friend who is equally frustrated with the quality of some game he/she bought.

There is another way! You may want to go with the "try" links and compare several games from the same genre to see which suits you best. What can it hurt? If you are into Match 3 games, maybe it is best to try 10 different games and see which is the most fun. You can delete the lame ones from your hard drive and settle into the game YOU like the best. Not just the one that is rated the best or has the best marketing spin… but the one YOU find to be the most fun.

There is no reason to go out online and spend hundreds of dollars buying games you don't like. The game distributors promote the use of "try" links to web publishers because the thought is the game will be fun enough for you to want to purchase. Will you every time? No, but they understand this and still want to give you the opportunity to try the game before you buy. Who buys a car without test driving it? Who buys a house without looking at it? Who buys clothes without trying them on (OK, I might be guilty there…) You get the point, products should be tested before they are bought and if there is system in place for you to test the product and you choose to ignore it… does the distributor bear the blame?

Pit one game against another and see what you like the best before buying and in doing so you will find that your game playing enjoyment will increase and your costs will decrease.

Jesse Harwell is the owner and contributer of several internet websites including http://www.download-free-games.com and http://www.usedcollegelaptops.com

Computer Games That Help Your Babies Learn

Writen by Natalie Aranda

Playing games has been a common activity of humans since ancient times, not just for fun but also aimed at learning basic life skills. PC games come in a large array of forms and intended for the most diverse objective from mere entertainment for leisure time to children's early instruction at home, thanks to their undeniable power to motivate them to approach learning from a fun perspective.

Baby computer games are a useful tool for parents fostering valuable early skills in areas such as strategic thinking, socialization and collaboration, while developing basic understanding of their surroundings by identifying colors, shapes, numbers and more, associating at the same time places and names in an easier way with the aid of the games audiovisual experience.

Many parents and even educators still underestimate PC games considering them as a waste of time and irrelevant to set the basic of learning for kids during preschool age, and even considered harmful for individuals of any age. Fortunately, the percentage of adults who are convinced of the role of fun in education are higher today and the computing industry develops new digital games for both, learning and fun each and every day.

The surprising benefits of PC games have been evident over the supposed disadvantages and the branch of baby computer games offers a range of activities from early stimulation to the learning of basic skills and challenges useful for preschool children.

Most baby computer games stimulate the baby's brain development, coordination and motor skills enhancing language and problem-solving skills, making a strong bond between baby and parents because playing computer games with babies can become a pleasant family activity. Encouraging baby intellectual development is necessary but love and physical closeness is as important as the learning itself for healthy emotional growth.

Educators promote PC games as a fun activity for children and parents making a retrospective on how families were engaged though time in various activities that created stronger ties. The bedtime story tradition that still survives in many homes, the family shared time listening to popular radio shows that later evolve to watching TV together, the picnic and camping days, and so on.

Today time runs fast and for many parents is not possible to continue old traditions, but computers and the internet era have brought a whole universe of exciting family activities. PC games are classified by ages as baby computer games, toddler computer software, preschooler games and activities, etc. Regardless of the age, games are equally exciting for parents and teachers.

If you are a parent seeking PC games for your children, keep in mind that most baby computer games are just for fun but are an aid in developing the baby's intellectual, emotional and physical stability.

Natalie Aranda writes about, familay, fun and learning. PC games are classified by ages as baby computer games, toddler computer software, preschooler games and activities, etc. Regardless of the age, games are equally exciting for parents and teachers. The role of computer games in education and learning is a new and interesting research topic.

Former Sony Playstation 3 Developer Talks About Getting Fired

Writen by Ron Swerdfiger

Many of you will no doubt remember a rather controversial comment from a "former" Sony developer Josh Robinson, who said that the Xbox 360 is better than the PS3. Like wildfire, his observations spread across the internet sparking debate among fanboys

PS3Week.Com has followed up on Josh's story with a great interview regarding his comments and the repercussions of speaking your mind while two monster companies are competing for millions of dollars.

"reviewing" the PS3 and declaring, "I started [off] VERY excited about the PS3. I was very confident that it was going to just destroy the XBOX 360 just on the name SONY alone. The more time that goes by the more I am becoming doubtful. Everything I've developed or seen developed has yet to be 'next gen.'"

Robinson says, "Did I knowingly break NDA? I absolutely did not. I would never do that and I would never want to hurt Sony Online. Did I dance in the grey area by even opening my mouth? Yes I did and I was fired for it. So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever."

His comments are a bit tongue-and-cheek, but to be honest, I don't blame Sony for showing him the door. Bad mouthing your company to a group of friends is one thing, but expressing your discontent online with the intention of being noticed is a completely different. What was he expecting?

However, don't feel sorry for Mr. Robinson. Josh has a book deal in the works, and several job offers as well.

For more news, check out our Xbox 360 site or our Nintendo Revolution site.

Action Figures Bridge The Gap Between The Present And The Past

Writen by John Gibb

As a child I spent countless hours collecting and playing with action figures of all shapes, sizes, and characters. My favorite by far were my Star Wars action figures but I spent many hours playing with G. I. Joe, Transformers, Masters of the Universe. There are so many of them, and they were such a vital part of my childhood experience that I couldn't really begrudge my sons love of those very same things.

His current collection is of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle™ action figures. He is also starting a nice collection of matchbox cars, but he really loves his Ninja Turtles. For a while he was seriously interested in light sabers from Star Wars. I was so excited hoping I could share my old love for my Star Wars action figures with him, but his interest stopped at the light sabers and he never really got into those action figures that were once so special to me.

Ah well, I still have two daughters; perhaps one of them will love those as much as I once did. The real beauty of action figures is that you can keep them and share them with your children, you can sell them, or you can consider them as an investment. However you look at your action figure collection, don't underestimate the many hours of fun they can provide your children. The right set of action figures can ignite their imaginations and keep them occupied for endless hours on those rainy summer days.

If you wonder about whether or not action figures are good toys for children to have, think back to your childhood and how these action figures enabled you to use your imagination and creativity. Think of the endless hours of fun you had with these awesome toys and how you could share these toys with your friends and double the fun. I know that I feel any toy that helps children use their imaginations is a good toy for them to have.

John Gibb is the owner of Action-Figure Guides, For more information on Action Figures please check out http://action-figures-guides1k.info

How To Download Xbox Video Games Hacking The Xbox

Writen by Troy Harbour

For those of you who found my PSP Article to be useful and informative I am writing another installment only for the Xbox!

XBox is one of the other great consoles out there that games are available for download online. It isn't very difficult to get games uploaded and running. I personally was able to accomplish this after a small purchase of a Hard Drive I found on tiger direct. I was able to score a 250 GB drive for $70.00 at Christmas time in 2005.

Can you imagine how many movies and games that equates to? A WHOLE LOT!

After installing the drive I began downloading games and movies like crazy. After the 8 months of having this new and improved XBox I have only managed to fill up half of the space. I could even delete some of the movies/games I don't want anymore to free up space if I were to need it.

Getting games up and running on your X Box isn't very difficult and won't cost you too much compared to the amount you could end up spending on 5 games. I would say for the price of 1 game a month I can have 20 games. Just by downloading them. Not to mention I don't have to pay for movies either. I just download them from my subscription site and upload to the XBox and watch them on my Big Screen TV!

Here is what you will need to get this up and running:

• A mod Chipped XBOX or A Soft Boot CD(Google them)
• A Larger HD(highly recommended since you will be getting games like CRAZY!)
• Internet Connection(You should have this if you are reading my awesome articles.)
• A Few Hours a day.
• DVD Burner if you want to put games/movies on DVD. Not a requirement really!

Hey, that doesn't sound like too much to me. I will try to explain these requirements. The modified XBox is required to install larger HDs and software to allow you to play movies and downloaded games. If you don't want to buy a pre modified XBox or know how to solder then the soft boot cd is for you. You just put the CD in then put in your downloaded game. Internet Connection - obviously you need to download them somehow? The few hours is what it usually takes me to download any popular title. Finally the DVD burner, this is only if you want to burn games or movies to DVD. They won't fit on CDs. I personally upload all of my titles to the xbox via an Ethernet cable.

If you would like more information on downloading video games you can check out this site I stumbled across. They seem to provide the better sites and information about downloading games. I use them for all my video game needs.

http://videogamesdownloads.info

Troy is an experienced IT network administrator. He handles the networks of 3 small offices for private insurance agencies. In his spare time he can be found downloading and playing games for his XBox and PSP.

Spades Take Your Game To The Next Level Bid To Win

Writen by Donald Hammond

So you think you know how to play spades. You've learned the rules, played some games, and finally you have won some and are feeling pretty good about your play. Okay, let's talk about the end game, or "BID TO WIN!". More tight games are lost at the end due to poor bidding.

You simply MUST look at all your options and pick the one that will give you the best chance of winning, even if the odds are stacked against you. Let us look at a few situations to see exactly what I am talking about.

Whenever we talk about hands, it is just assumed that we are in the SOUTH seat and our partner is in the NORTH seat.

We will examine these situations without ever looking at cards because you need to know what your options are even before you look at your cards.

Let's assume that the score is 360 to 450 (we are listed first). We are bidding last just for the sake of arguement.

West bids 3, your partner bids 3, and East bids 2. What are your options? Was your partner's bid a good one or not?

Your partner's bid actually is very poor. He should have bid at least 4 even if it didn't look like he had it. The reason is simple, it puts the pressure on your opponenets (if they can do math). With a 4 bid, if you NIL and make your bid, then you have 500pts. If they bid team 5, then it comes down to bags. Not the way you want to play a game for the win.

So if your partner bids 4 this forces them to look at bidding team 6, which they may not have. This of course then puts the situation right smack in your lap.

Now in the case given, you have only 2 choices for a bid. You must bid 6 or blindnil. The logic is simple for the 6 bid. You either set them or lose. If you set them, you may as well get the points for it and not just bags. You are telling your partner (and opponents) you are going for the set.

Change this a little bit. IF your partner actually bids 4 or more, they may not bid the 5 necessary to go over 500 for fear of pushing you into a nil bid. In that case, there will be at least 1 more hand unless you do bid nil and make it.

This is what I am talking about with "BID TO WIN". Analyze ALL of your options and decide what will put you in the best position to win. Even if the win is unlikely. Do it whether you are bidding first or last. Do the math.

I've seen people bid blindnil when it would do absolutely no good at all and it turned out they had the cards to set the opponents and add a hand to the game.

This isn't just if you are behind either. I've seen people blow it totally by trying to stretch for the finish. Don't overbid your hand unless you have no choice.

I one time played a game that looked hopeless. Nothing was going right. My pard and I couldn't make the Ace of Spades fly, that's how bad it was. Game looked over. It was for the top spot and the opponents had made a lot of tough talk about how they were the best of the best and they would crush us.

So here it was, the game was at -150 to 479. Seemed pretty bleak. Of course on the next hand, the opps were saying things like "cream rises to the top, we the bomb" blah blah blah. They were patting each other on the back and figuring it was over. Little did they know.

Of course in this situation, they figured we would go for the bag set. So they overbid their hand and we set them 70 pts. while going up 70 pts. Yes, we had followed our "bid to win" strategy and my pard had bid last and took it to a 14 bid total.

Score was now -80 to 419. "Oh well, just delaying the inevetible". So they thought. Now one of them got antsy and decided to get this game over with or at least get rid of the bags while going up in score. So he bid nil. As it turned out, it was a very weak nil. But he thought he could get away with a piggy back nil. I had bid nil. One that I could have slept through. 1 very low spade and nothing over a 9. So we bid nil/5 and they bid nil/5. My partner knew she had to set some part of their bid. The obvious choice was to give them a bag. But if they pulled off the nil, it still put them going up 50 pts.

Instead she went for the set on the nil. She knew I wouldn't have gone nil in this situation unless it was in the bag. So she went after their nil with a vengence and sure enough, nailed it. As a bonus here, their 5 bid was set also. Between the 2 of them, they pulled 4 tricks.

Score now 70 to 269. They still had 9 bags.

Next hand they had a weak bid of team 3 and we bagged them out. We ended up winning the game in a blowout as they tried desperation nils to get back in control. They had been so focused on those 9 bags, that we were able to set them.

Bid to win. They should have just bid their hands and eaten the bags right off the bat. Don't push nils unless you have to.

Always look at all your options on every bid before you even look at your cards.

Of course being the good sportspeople we were, we only rubbed in the victory a little.

Donald "Dinghus" Hammond has been playing spades since he was a child. Over 40 years of experience playing against some of the toughest players in the world. He has won live tournaments and cleaned up on the online gaming community. At the MSN Zone he was rated over 2100 playing with random partners. His win/loss percentage hovers around 70% consistantly with random partners. With steady partners it is over 90%. He has seen it all when it comes to spades and can hold his own against anybody, even the dealer. DonOmite

The Potential Of Ps3 Games Console

Writen by Carver Tate

The word wars between Sony and Microsoft just won't die down. With Microsoft's Peter Moore's ragging about the PS3 games console's price, surely, people don't expect the Sony CEO, Steve Howard, to turn the other cheek. It's pathetic to see two guys in power suits and power ties bicker like two kids in a playground. Sounds to me like they're fighting about who could spit the farthest. But since Moore has been hounding publicity, well, we might as well give shy Howard a chance to defend his PS3 games.

It can be recalled that Peter Moore of Microsoft used Sony console's price as a spring board in launching a new Xbox 360 marketing campaign. Moore released statements that gamers get more value in buying a Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360 for the value of a single PS3 games console. No doubt that the statement made even hard-core Sony fans hesitant about buying a PS3. After all, $600 is big money. Plus, the possibility given by Moore is a no-brainer: it is a choice between two next-gen consoles and more gaming options or one PS3. Sony has to act; and the usually quiet Steve Howard finally broke his silence.

In a recent press conference in Tokyo, Sony Corp's Steve Howard released a statement justifying the new Sony console's price. He claimed that the in buying a PS3 games console, the consumers are actually buying potential. Such a vague statement needed further clarification and Howard obliged. According to him, though the PS3 console is admittedly pricier ($599) than Microsoft's Xbox 360 ($300) or Nintendo's Wii($250), it provides users Blu-ray technology-- touted to be the technology of the future. Further, if the new Sony console's performance reaches its full potential, users would benefit from higher technology and longer years of use. Howard also implied in his statement that Xbox 360s and the Wii's are cheaper because they are merely "transitional" consoles with inferior technology when compared to the futuristic PS3.

However, market analysts and yours truly, seriously doubt this claim by Howard. Times are hard, and people are sure to think about whether the PS3 games console deserves its price tag. This can look bad quickly for Sony because reviews show that PS3's Blu-ray-supported graphics are only equal to that of the cheaper consoles. If there are differences, these are highly indistinct, unless you want to spend game time analyzing the graphic pixels. Even the controller is deemed inferior to that of the PS1 from seven years ago.

In fact, the Wii sports a much better controller. Also, Howard's potential-based argument is stretched too thin and poorly supported. What if the new PS3 didn't reach its full potential? Then, there is the case of disappointed consumers whining over their loss. What about the long years of use? I doubt that five years would pass before the gaming giants come up with a new console prototype. Surely, Howard can come up with something stronger than an argument based on "potential". PS3 games enthusiasts need more fuel for their cause. Meantime, do you know what I'm excited to hear about? Peter Moore's response to Sony's "potential".

For more valuable information on ps3 games please visit http://www.ps3-game.com

Keywords Groups Participation In The Austin Game Conference Leads To New Partnerships

Writen by Giordano De Sanctis

The Austin Game Conference (AGC), which was held last September in the Texan city, is one of the main events for the industry worldwide. By participating in the last edition of that conference, Keywords International (to which Keywords Italia belongs) was able to present its linguistic localization, testing, and quality control services to major videogame publishers and developers that attended the event.

Giacomo Duranti, an engineer who is the Localization Manager at Keywords Italia, commented on the Austin Game Conference: 'As in the Game Developers Conference held in San Jose, California, in March, 2006, the AGC gave Keywords' managers the opportunity to meet with many clients and international partners. It was also an excellent opportunity to exchange views with other companies in our field in a stimulating environment, where initiatives were plentiful.

In addition to managers and technicians, Duranti added, 'we also had the chance to talk to many young people and attendees who visited our stand and were interested in finding out more about the short video-films we produced in order to show the actual differences between an amateur localization job and a professional one. For this event, we used different versions of videogames that are widely known amongst the general public.

The objective of this initiative was to show that the work of localization and language quality tests are essential steps for a product's success, including its technical design, the writing of captivating story-lines and the creation of heroic characters. It is this mix of components that makes a game appealing and exciting. Given the feedback we received from attendees and the number of requests for more detailed information, the initiative was a great success.

Here are some of the conclusions we reached and the results we obtained: At Austin we made contact with some of the major videogame developers – especially from the U.S.A. and Japan – with whom we are planning to establish new short- and long-term partnerships for the localization of new videogames that will soon be launched or are now in a development phase. Altogether, our experience at Austin allowed us to confirm once again that the efforts we have made to improve our services and the quality of all aspects of our work have paved the way of the future for Keywords International and Keywords Italia. Our secret, if I may call it so, is that we consistently aim to personalise services even more and integrate our processes with the production cycles of our partners and clients. The advantages are measurable, and not only in budget terms.

About the Keywords Group: With offices in Dublin and Rome and ten years of experience, the Keywords Group is now a major player in the international market of linguistic services.

The main services we offer are: localization of software, videogames and manuals; technical translations, linguistic and functional testing, quality control and consultancy on internationalisation projects.

These are some of the titles on which Keywords has worked: Halo 1 and 2, Rise of Nations, Age of Empires, Guitar Hero 1 and 2, Project Gotham Racing 1, 2 and 3, Perfect Dark Zero, Dead or Alive 3 and 4, Flight Simulator (several versions), Zoo Tycoon 1 and 2, Grand Theft Auto, and many more.

Keywords International is the sole provider of linguistic quality control services for all games produced by Microsoft.

For further information, please visit us at: www.keywordsintl.it Or write to us at: marketing@keywordsintl.it

Giordano De Sanctis Resp. Progetti Multilingua KEYWORDS ITALIA Viale delle Province, 2 - 00162 Roma - ITALIA tel. +39 06 4420 2521 fax +39 06 4411 9217 http://www.keywordsintl.it

What Is World Of Warcraft

Writen by Kevin Wong

World Of Warcraft

World of Warcraft is a teen-rated massive multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG) created by Blizzard Entertainment. As with most MMORPGs, World of Warcraft accommodates players of varying skill, dedication, and experience by providing more than 60 different levels of difficulty.

As is also typical of these kinds of games, World of Warcraft has a complicated backstory, although it is not necessary to know it before beginning the game. There are a number of sites for fans, and a visually complex and engaging world of fanciful characters and settings. The game world is persistent--that is, a player may log off and return at a later time, picking up from where he or she left off. Fans of these types of games may play over a period of many months, gradually accumulating experience, alliances, and online friends.

Basic Features of World of Warcraft

A new World of Warcraft player will customize a hero (his or her online game-playing identity) from within the universe of choices provided by the game. Experience points may be gained through combat or non-combat quests through the mythical world of the game. Cities, dungeons, forests, mountain peaks, and other environmental elements of the game create an entire virtual world for the player to explore.

New quests and elements are added to the game regularly, so even veteran players need never get bored. The graphics, gameplay, and interface are generally considered to be among the best in the field. Blizzard Entertainment has also made a number of other titles in the Warcraft series.

Kevin Wong - webmaster of Warcraft Exploits

One Hot Box

Writen by Terri Wells

As a child I have joyfully played with home video game systems. As a woman I have never really been interested in video games. Even though I do warmly miss the semi-antique Atari 2600 and 7800s.

With the development of the XBOX 360 Microsoft has brought the Game System World into a whole new reality! This hot little box can do just about anything a professional gamer would expect and more!

Not only will you be able to play games, you will play them in High-Definition. Listen to digital music, look at your favorite photos and videos. Not excluding DVD's. You will be able to stream H-D television and movies directly from your Windows Media Center Edition PC to your Xbox 360.

While, enjoy playing your favorite games online, you will also be able to video chat and video message with the Xbox 360 Live Camera,. How KWEL is THAT?!?

When you feel the creative mood stirring inside of you, you can customize your XBOX 360 with the many different Faceplates that will be available!

Here's what Jonathan Hayes, Microsoft's Xbox 360 Design Director has to say..

"I think of the design's iconic gesture as the inhale of a Martial Artist before a burst of power."

But to get the real feel and knowledge of the XBOX 360 watch the Press Conference Photostory, go to. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=5398&v=95858&bw=hi The video is less than 5 minutes in length.

Microsoft has brazenly announced they are after the Female market and this is one female who must say that they are definitely on track with that goal!

They have kindled my interest in the world of gaming systems. Even I, Terri Wells want one! November 22nd, 2005 is the Official Launch date of Microsoft's Xbox 360 into the North America, Europe, and Japan market. The retail price will be $299.99 for the Core System and $399.99 for the Platinum System.

I was happy to discover http://www.inspirationmall.com where easy installment pay is welcomed, so you will not miss out this Christmas Season!

The XBOX 360 is One HOT Piece of Gaming Entertainment Console All-In-One!

Terri Wells 2005
http://www.inspirationmall.com
http://www.createinfo.com

Terri Wells is a Free Lance Writer. She writes for websites to promote their sites and EZines using Free-Print Articles.

To have an Article written for your site or EZINE write to: twells@writeme.com

A Family Friendly Video Game That Anyone Will Love

Writen by Gregg Hall

One of the favorite games for the game cube is Mario Power Tennis. It is great for all the sport lovers and game lovers in the world. It all began years ago with Pac Man, Mario Brothers and the list goes on and on. The game world has come a long way since the days of Pac Man and Ms. Pac Man. There are adventure games, sports, racing, karate or ninjas, and many more. There are games to please everyone.

Today's games are looking more like reality than ever before. Mario Power Tennis is however just a game for fun so they are still more like the basic Marios. Some people like the reality games but they are also scary when it comes to your kids knowing how to distinguish the difference between a game and reality. Much like some television shows and movies, there are some games that children should not be able to play.

Some of the games can mess up a child's mind. Parents should control what games their children play. Mario Power Tennis for Game Cube would be a fun and safe game for them to play. The characters are fun and very distinguishable from reality.

Some of the more reality killing games are hard to deal with because they even look real like adults. There is enough killing and crimes without playing the games and killing others. We are at war and killing is a reality so we do not need games with people killing other people in them. It isn't near as bad if we are slaying a dragon. The games today are so realistic, they include blood and everything to make it look like it happened right on the street. It is bad enough to make even some grownups have nightmares so we can only guess as to how it is affecting our kids. Thanks to games like Mario Power Tennis, there is still hope for the world.

There are many testimonials of game players who are very pleased with the Mario Power Tennis game and claim that it is a lot of fun and very up to date in their maneuvers and plays. The power shots like the slice, topspin, drop, flat, and lob are all included, and different positions are an added plus to the game as compared to the basic game.

The game is exciting to play if you are a tennis player and even if you aren't. The game can be great fun especially with multi players. But for the single players, they can still challenge Mario, Luigi, Peach, and the gang. Mario Power Tennis may just be the favored tennis game of all time. Some may not agree about Mario games and other not so realistic games but they are some recommended games for children and adults who do not want to see all of the blood and hear all of the foul language.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as wacky gift ideas at http://www.wackygiftideas.com

Online Gaming Future Mmorpgs

Writen by Mark Waters

MMORPG stands for massive multiplayer online role playing game…and now you can see just why MMORPG is shortened! It sounds fascinating and it is, players play in a constantly evolving virtual world online simultaneously with other online gamers.

The Internet age has brought us so much that's available instantaneously right in our fingertips, MMORPG's aren't like Nintendo's or even PlayStation's because there is far much more interactive things going on. When a player plays one of the traditional forms of gaming like the Nintendo and etc., it's not the same because you're only limited to your environment and you can't tell anyone if no one is home plus who cares if you beat a machine?

Most major MMORPGs require players do both these things. There are free-of-charge online games found on the Internet, although their production quality is generally lower compared to their "pay-to-play" counterparts.

MMORPGs are immensely popular, with several commercial games reporting millions of subscribers. South Korea boasts the highest subscription numbers, with millions of users registered with the more popular games; see list of MMORPGs for a list of the most prominent MMORPGs.

MMORPG's are played head to head against real people, real competitors and relationships are formed via Internet to talk about it or players can write user reviews about the games they've played. The bottom line is, it's fun!

Author is running free multiplayer online games portal http://www.bigonlinegames.com and mmorpg site http://www.orpgames.com

Blackberry Legal Woes Impact Pda Gamers

Writen by Damian Julien

Things are getting a bit messier for our Pocket PC kin.

Research In Motion attempted to lift the Blackberry injunction pending a Supreme court appeal, but this request was turned down on Wednesday according to a CBC-based Blackberry news article recently released.

The lower court decision and injunction against US sales stays in place for the time being.

In keeping with the functionality convergence theme music that's been blaring in the handheld realm, Palm and RIM recently signed a licensing deal.

In essence, Palm Treo 650 smartphone owners will be able to synchronize with Blackberry servers and sync their email and calendar options using Blackberry Connect, according to eWeek.com.

If things continue in the vein, Blackberry game junkies in the US will have to turn elsewhere for their PDA game fix.

PDA gaming corporation like Magmic may have to shift their emphasis from quality Blackberry games. Perhaps Blackberry 7290 game sales will be buoyed by other sources, just not in the US.

Inevitably, Treo 650 users will tap into a portion of the Blackberry gaming market as consumers are lured by higher 320x320 resolution and non-volatile memory.

In short, PDA gamers will be assured that neglecting to charge their smartphone isn't synonymous with PDA game loss.

The tentatively titled Treo 700w remains the PDA gamer's dark horse as they've eschewed the Palm OS in favour of Windows Mobile 5.

The ever-increasing list of quality titles like Warfare Incorporated for Pocket PC are blatantly ignoring the Palm community as ports for real-time strategy gaming goodness fail to be realized.

Maybe these Pocket PC game developers know something that we don't.

I'll keep musing on this as I place my Warfare RTS game units into formation and prepare for the OMNI faction onslaught.

Damian Julien is a Pocket PC gaming authority and long time general gaming hobbyist and reviewer.

He is an IT specialist by trade and has posted numerous articles on Pocket PC emulators, gaming and trends in the industry.

http://www.pdagameguide.com/

An Unbiased Look At The Epidemic Of Video Games In Our Youth

Writen by Steve Scheele

Since the creation of video-games, parents, and children alike have been wondering about the usefulness, and disadvantages of playing these technology-based diversions. If moderated, games can be a great medium for social bonding, and an outlet for a well deserved break. Recently many studies have been released showing many effects of playing video-games, and many times, their data is misinterpreted. Instead of taking the radical approach to denying the advantages of playing video-games, or even proclaiming them as the savior for today's youth, it is necessary to take the middle road, and adjust it according to your own values.

On one social aspect, video-games are a great way to enhance friendship, or even make new relationships. By sitting down to a nice game of Madden 06 (A football game) or even playing co-op mode on Halo 2 (a first person shooter), you can develop bonds between you and your partner. By playing these games you are working on your teamwork, it being necessary to be corporative and work out a game plan to win. However you can also play on opposite teams in Madden 06, or even fight against each other in Halo 2. If taken too seriously, this can prove to be harmful to a relationship. Nonetheless, usually these games provide a light healthy competition, and hopefully allow the loser (and winner) to practice sportsmanship skills.

Unfortunately there are also negative effects on social behavior, almost directly linked to playing too many video-games. Many times, if gamers become too obsessed, playing some single-player games could cause social-isolation. These games (if abused) could take time away from being with friends and plant gamers in front of a screen. At an early age this could prove very harmful as kids are still learning better social behavior and skills. Becoming "addicted" to video-games could cause a child to grow up as an introvert, shy, and/or anti-social.

Another ill-affect of video-games besides the social health of gamers is there physical health. Many conditions and injuries have been linked to repetitive use of video games. Some of them include: Eye Strains, Wrist/ Neck/ injuries, Back Pain, Photosensitive Epilepsy, Headaches, nerve and muscle damage, and even hallucinations! Currently researchers are examining the effect of video-games on obesity, and whether it is a factor. Even though these alone sound like a reason enough to eradicate video-games you must look at the conditions of the studies performed to come to these conclusions. Many of these injuries are very rare, and you also must examine the word repetitively. Most of the cases of an injury or disease as a result of playing video-games happened because the person was playing too much. Therefore with moderation, one can enjoy video-games with a much lower risk of besetting one of these injuries.

Even though there are negative risks to playing video-games, there are also many positive effects on physical health brought upon by playing these games. Many studies show, including one by Stanford University, that video games have a great effect on player's problem solving skills and alertness (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2001-01-19-video.htm). The US Governments National Institute of Heath also recently released a study showing amazing increases in visual skills and attentiveness after playing video-games (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2943280.stm). Among these increased skills is also the better ability to follow directions. Teachers for centuries have been trying to instill the educational ideal of following directions upon students. Now with the advances in video-games player's skills in directional following will also hopefully rise.

In additional to the capability to follow directions, come many other educational benefits to playing video-games. It is proven that many strategy games such as Age of Empires and Rome: Total War, increase logic and thinking skills. In these games, players are required to engage in critical thinking and decision making that will influence there gaming experience. In order to win, you need to think through a decision before you do it. For example in Age of Empires, choosing whether to build an archery range or a stable could influence the result of your next battle. Many role-playing games (such as Final Fantasy X) also require you to read great amounts of text scrolling fast through the screen. In fact, many American teachers have been noting improvement in spelling, reading, and even mathematics due to video-games (http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/2-27-2004-51038.asp). Many readers may now be thinking that it is obviously more beneficial to reading skills to read a book, but how much easier is it to ask a child if they want to read a novel, or play the latest blockbuster game to hit shelves?

The content of games is also important. Today the array of genre and content of games has increased ten-fold. There are games designed for pre-teen girls, violent teenagers, sports lovers, history aficionados, anybody you name, and there is probably a game that was designed with them as demographic. The same study by the US Institute of Health also used different games as variables (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2943280.stm). They had some children play modern games, just released in the last few years (such as Medal of Honor), and grievously released games (such as Tetris). The Medal of Honor players improved there visual and attention skills significantly, whereas the Tetris players had almost nil improvement.

Regrettably, many of today's youth are using video-games to escape the stresses of daily life. It is also ultimately one of the best tools for procrastinators. This can have a negative effect on daily life. Children will play video-games instead of doing there homework, instead of studying for tests, even instead of conversing with their own family! In addition, many video-games are understandably "addicting" and cause many "hard-core" players to lose jobs, fail school, and even lose a relationship. These qualities of video-games make them seem almost drug-like possessing some of the same social negatives as alcohol. However just like red-wine (which appear to be positive to your health (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1719675.stm)) video-games are great in moderation.

Ultimately if a player practices self control video games can be positive for them. As long as they keep track of time, choose good games, and balance their life, gamers around the world can all feel these productive effects. Fantasy is an essential part of a kids growing imagination. So as long as they do so wisely, let them play, let them have fun.

Online X Box Game Rental Top Game Rental Site

Writen by Troy Harbour

Driving to your local video game store has become a thing of the past. I am sure most of you know by now that online DVD rentals have become more and more popular in the last couple of years. Now you will be seeing most of your game rentals take place online.

Why is online rental going to become more and more popular? Convenience my friend. What would you say if I told you, you never had to leave the house again to rent the latest title for your X Box or X Box 360? I'm sure you would be extremely excited, I was. Whats even better is I was paying less to rent games online than I was in the store. I never got hit with late fees and I didnit have to pay that extremely high price for gas to get to the store.

How is this possible you are thinking? Basically you sign up for the service, load up your favorites list, and wait for the games to come in the mail. Here is one downfall.. With your basic plan you can only have 2 games out at a time. Ok, so what? I can hardly ever play 2 games at once as it is. What I do is play one until I am done, put it back into the prepaid envelopes they send me and then by the time I am done with the second game my other has arrived and the process starts all over again.

All of the major consoles are covered and the amount of titles they stock are sometimes better than your local store. Renting games has gotten so simple. If I don't know exactly what I want then I don't have to decide right then. I just keep adding to my list and they keep sending me games. The best part is the no late fee. I sometimes had games that I like playing longer than the 5 or 7 days they allotted to me.

They offer a Free trial of their service to boot. Sometimes it is 10 and regularly 7. There is a no risk no obligation to try the GameFly service.

For more information on renting XBox games online visit:

http://freevideogamerentals.com

Troy is an experienced IT network administrator. He handles the networks of 3 small offices for private insurance agencies. When he iisn't working he can be found trying to beat every game possible for his XBox 360.

A Monkey On A Pogo Stick

Writen by Max Pow

I was browsing the web t'other day as I do and I came across this sentence … "a monkey on a po-go stick" and in the same way I assume this title has attracted your attention, it attracted mine.

I clicked on the link expecting to find a picture of a depressed chimp stuck on a po-go doing embarrassing tricks for the heartless public and to my surprise and delight t'was a game and being only human I decided to see what it was like.

The game started and I thought what a load of rubbish. Of course this was before I knew what I had to do, and being an impatient sort of guy I wasn't prepared to read the instructions.

After a little while I got the hang of it and wow! I loved it.

The idea is to wait until the monkey falls to the ground and at its maximum up thrust level you press the space bar and this sends the po-go, monkey attached, to the sky and when it falls, you wait and press the space bar at the right time again. You have to time it perfectly and your rhythm must be top notch or you will find this game difficult. That's the game anyway.

I was getting high scores and beating my personal best. Nearly an hour flew by and I had mastered the art of monkey po-go jumping. I still play it every now and then when I'm bored on the pc. I love it so I just had to have it on my own website.

If this bouncing monkey tale has attracted your interest then why not see what I'm talking about first hand by visiting my website.

Here's a link to this game -> http://www.geekazoid.co.uk/Games/Games-Page/Action/Reach-The-Sky.php

Free Online Rpg Games

Writen by Thomas Morva

Role-playing games, or RPGs, are quite popular among those who play computer games. This is because such games allow you to take on different characters and use the capabilities that these characters have as you play the game.

Some of these characters include being warlocks and wizards who have magical powers, military generals that command a large number of forces, and even wealthy tycoons who can purchase anything they want. There is a thrill in taking on these characters and using their powers to achieve a mission or solve a mystery.

The plots of these role-playing games are also as varied as the characters that players play. In these games, military generals are tasked to create empires; tycoons are encouraged to make more money; and wizards are tasked to do accomplish a mission or go on quests. The plots of these games, which started out as the classic battle between good and evil, have now evolved into games that also deal with the gray areas of life and other situations outside the conventional.

Apart from being available in computer games stores, these RPGs have also become available on the Internet. There is also a large number of websites that offer these games for free, and most of these can be played while the user is online. RPGs have also been a good avenue for different players to play with each other using a network. This has enabled players from different countries to play the same game with each other and has added to the popularity of this type of game on the Internet.

Role-playing games have become a popular download among fans of games that let the player take on different roles, be in different time periods, and interact with various people across the globe. The popularity of such games is increasing, as evidenced by the number of players who actually download and play the games. As technology continues to improve, innovations in these types of games can only further fuel its popularity.

Free Online Games provides detailed information on Free Online Games, Free Online RPG Games, Free Online Kid Games, Free Online Multiplayer Games and more. Free Online Games is affiliated with Free Mobile Games.

The New Xbox 360 Next Generation Technology

Writen by Greg Culver

You must have heard about the the next generation games console Xbox 360 by Microsoft. Xbox 360 provides the new world of community, information, innovation and entertainment with its fusing games. If you live in Europe, Japan, and North America then you will have to wait only till November this year to experience the ultimate gaming experience.

While combining the powerful technology in a sophisticated exterior to give an amazing look, San Francisco and Japan has joined hands to craft a stylish system that conveys the very essence of Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 has one of the best games with a quality sound and perfect looks. It would be a new and unique experience to play with those animated characters that would display the emotions and acts in full depth. What's more all All Xbox 360 has 720p and 1080i resolution with 16:9 widescreen which would let you experience the multi-channel enclose sound with smooth and movie like experience.

You would be driven to a new world in this Xbox 360 with its amazing games and the new technology all devised and arranged to give that special feel. You can play your favorite games with the friends or players of your choice, watch digital music, photos, videos or play games alone and much more. There are no boundaries for the imagination and possibilities of this Xbox 360. The games of Xbox 360 can be experienced in HD, that depicts the beginning of next generation. You can use the Windows Media Center Edition PC on your Xbox 360 to stream HD television and movies.

You can personalize your own system according to your requirements and desires with the Xbox 360. You can even change the exterior of you Xbox 360 with the interchangeable faces easily without any professional to change it. Download premium levels and character skins into your Xbox 360 to give a unique look to your system. There are many different pictures and skins available to load from.

If you face any problems or is confused about functioning of your Xbox 360 then the help is just a click away. Open the Xbox Gamer Guide and you will be connected to the downloadable stuff such as music, movies, games and would be connected to the friends. Using Xbox Guide Button would connect you to the world of Xbox Live that has all the features like games and digital media. You can even turn the system on and off without ever leaving it using this Xbox Guide Button.

Do you want to connect to the Xbox Live Silver? Just plug your Xbox 360 into the broadband connection and the instant access would be at your fingertips. So many free features are available like; Xbox Live Marketplace, talk with others using voice chat, build your gamer card and your gamer tag or your profile. If you upgrade the account to Xbox Live Gold then you can play with the player of your choice using Intelligent Matchmaking. Not only selection but Xbox Live Gold provides an opportunity to select from a range of games or video message or video chat.

http://www.onlinegamesarena.com is a online games site dedicated to providing quality articles and information. Click through for more articles.

Psp Blender Review

Writen by Jesse Miller

Here is a great ideal that I had while I was playing my favorite Game Underground. I thought what if I could find a site that I could just go to and get what ever game I wanted right away. I wouldn't have to spend a lot of money on these games because I would only have to down load and play the game and then move on to the next. So I went online and searched for this site and I found hundreds of companies that were selling this same thing I was wanting but only one stood out "PSP Blender". I bought it and before I new it I was playing what ever games I wanted. I was pretty excited but in all the rushing and excitement I didn't notice that not only does "PSP Blender" allow you to play any game you want but they have all the latest new releases on movies and songs for my IPOD. Man what the hell I hit the jackpot I don't have to ever go out again I can order pizza and download my movies to watch while playing my favorite game and listen to my favorite songs on my Ipod at the same time. Man I am a genius. Not really "PSP Blender" is the genus but you can reap the benefits. "PSP Blender" I would recommend it to anyone.

The only thing that I found negative about it is that if I needed a game that was outdated I couldn't get them but that really doesn't matter to much because I like most of the new games better. I get bored fast from the old games after I beat a game I am ready to move on to the next game. If you are like this than PSP is definitely for you it gives you all the newly released hot item games to choose from and download fast. Excellent gaming practice.

If you have a PSP then you shouldn't be without this great system to keep your gaming moving everyday. If you love movies and like to have the actions at your finger tips than this is definitely the place for you to be. To get started with all the action go to PSP Blender for the fun.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PSP GAMES HERE =>http://unleashed-reviews.com/PSPGAMES.html

Download Free Game For Psp Yea Right

Writen by Anthony Pace

If you see an ad on the Internet that says "Download Free Game for PSP" be very wary. First of all the site is probably illegal and for you to download a game from the site is also illegal.

The internet has seen the rise of file-sharing networks, which are basically, peer to peer networks. They are a repository of material that individuals can log into and download anything they want, including games, music, movies, etc.

Besides the issue of legality many of the files that are downloaded can contain viruses, spyware, and adware that can really mess up your computer and your life. Spyware programs can collect log-in and passwords for your online banking site and share this information with a third party. Adware can overwhelm your desktop with multiple pop up ads that you can't get rid of. Browser hijackers and key loggers are also a threat to the safety of your personal information.

Seeing what potential risk is inherent in visiting one of these sites why would someone click when they see "Download Free Game for PSP"? It seems people just can't pass up something for nothing and the risks be dammed! A word of caution to the lawbreakers; the Internet content providers are taking piracy much more seriously these days and the chance of getting caught and prosecuted is becoming more of a reality.

Next time you see "Download Free Game for PSP" make sure what you are entering is a legal site that will let you download unlimited games, music, and movies for a nominal fee. You will be legal and you can rest assured your computer will stay free of viruses and your data will remain safe.

Anthony Pace is the author of this article. If you would like to learn more about what is discussed in this article please visit: Download Free Game for PSP

Questions To Ask While Purchasing A Game

Writen by Jason Pullara

There are many games out there clamoring for your hard earned money. They all try to dazzle you with fancy artwork, big name stars, and amazing graphics; but, what makes a game fun and what makes a game look good are two separate things.

The majority of your purchases will be dictated by what type of game you prefer. While we prefer RPG and Adventure games, other people prefer sports and action games, and still others prefer puzzle and mystery games. While there are a vast number of game genres out there, there simple tips will help you get the most bang for your buck.

• Listen to reviewers, but don't depend on them. Reviewers are often pressed for time and while big name games (Final Fantasy, Zelda, Metal Gear Solid, etc...) can garner a very in-depth review, most games are only played for one or two hours before a final verdict is made. What should you look for in a review?
  • Graphics
  • Gameplay
  • Controls
  • Bugs

  Each of these will manifest themselves throughout the game. If the game has any of these problems in the few hours the reviewer had with the game, then you can be certain that those problems will continue to manifest themselves in the rest of the game.

• Narrow your scope. When I go shopping for a video game I try to limit the genre of game I'm going to pick up. While I like to keep my options open, there are too many games in too many categories for me to make a decision on. The more I focus on one (or two) genres, the faster I can make my decision.
• How much value does this game offer for your dollar? This is the meat of your decision. To better answer this question, I break value up into several categories:
  • How much time does it take to beat the game? This depends on what type of game you're looking for. If you want an expansive RPG you probably don't want to pick up Tetris (of course, if you're looking for a quick 'pick up and play' game, Oblivion isn't your cup of tea).
  • Can the game be replayed? You can start every game over, but they often get repetitive; for example, playing Halo 2's single-player missions a second time around tend to get boring.
  • Does the game offer multiplayer/online play? Supporting multiple players can help extend the life of the game ten-fold. With its online component, Halo 2 has managed to be a stable game that I go back to again and again.
  • What content does the game offer? In other words: what reward system does the game use? Are you able to unlock features or components of the game, or is it a linear game? Generally speaking, games that offer "unlockables" also offer more content, thus more bang for your buck.

By asking yourself these simple questions you can separate yourself from the marketing hype and determine if you're going to have a fun time with the game you're going to purchase.

A gamer for 24 years, Jason Pullara write articles and game reviews for Geekstreak, a site dedicated to the inner geek in all of us.