Jan
20
I always said, that the real reason God invented computer computers, was to play video games. And I stand by that assertion. At least in my world, that’s the way things work, and maybe it does in yours as well. Computer games have really moved mainstream a few years ago. Have you ever seen how surgeons work these days. The more intense surgical procedures are practically like computer games these days. Doctors watch video screens, as they manipulate tiny robotic devices to do work that used to be done by the hand of a surgeon only a few years ago. How about the industry of design and construction. All those simulated virtual computer programs, that allow them to visually move walls, furniture and floors around a home look like a level designer for Unreal Tournament or Quake to me. At least, I’m pretty sure that’s were they came from. And the list of simulators used for strategic decision making is really pretty endless these days. Military commanders use it, project managers use it, and even farmers use it. It really is true I think, that sometimes the world is just one big computer game. I love it.
Mar
20
Can Tiger Woods on the Wii improve your game?
Filed Under Free Games, Mac Games, PC Games, Retro Games, Shooter Games, Video Games | Leave a Comment
If Tiger Woods 09 was the game i was talking about then most certainly not. A well made game for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, they really only apply to the people who enjoy sporting games over the shooters and others. With the new MotionPlus technology in place it means I will certainly be buying the new game for my Wii over my Xbox and PS3. What is pushing me to even consider this? It’s certainly not because I’m saving money on electric golf trolleys that’s for sure. However it is in fact due to Nintendo facing that in fact their motion sensing technology however amazing it is to five year olds, it just doesn’t work as well as it should. I wont go into how much of a disappointment Nintendo have been over the last 3-4 years however with the invention of the MotionPlus attachment for the Wii remote this makes the game respond to how you move, something which should have been researched into more before the console was released.
When the weather is grim and there is no way that you are going to be able to get out and play on the local course all you have to do is turn the Wii on and you can get going without even having to brave any of the weather. It is a great way to see what a golfer goes through on the course from trying to figure out the wind direction to how hard they have to swing and what club to use.
The new game which is due out later this year will sell more than than last years edition that much is certain. Being rubbish at golf myself should mean that I would be equally as bad at Tiger Woods but it makes it a lot easier than the real thing and even if you do find yourself failing then you still have the safety knowing that only you and your family will see you fail rather than the whole golf course. As an added bonus you can shout as loud as you want without some old guy moaning at you for being too loud! A few years ago I helped out the greenkeepers at the local golf course and I will say there is no way playing golf on the Wii will beat watching people try to play on the course and fail miserably, however it could improve things that can help your game like the way you swing as well as hand eye co-ordination.
The best thing of all is that you no longer have to charge golf batteries up, just walk into the room, pick up the remote and have a game!
Mar
15
Guarding Your Kids While Playing Games Online
Filed Under Free Games, Mac Games, PC Games, Retro Games, Shooter Games, Video Games | Leave a Comment
We are faced with additional challenges compared to those that faced our parents. Back in the days of our youth almost all play took place outside the walls and protection of our house where concerns about skinned knees and bruises ran rampant, at worst we might talk to a stranger. Those are all things that our parents would be forced deal with back in the day. Now that we are parents ourselves, on top of these run of the mill problems, we now face additional worries whenever our children play online games. Online gaming usually offer two things that you might need to protect your child from. Firstly because the online gaming world is virtually anonymous you can never know if it is a bad person talking to your kids who may want to do them harm. Second is that griefers, also known as cyber bullies, can target and can make your chilled extremely miserable.
Online gaming usually has a chatting option wherein our little one can chat with others. Mainly in strategy or barter based games talking is a huge part of the gameplay, but often talk spills over into the personal sphere. Stick to the basics before you go out and find your kids cheap street fighter 4
To ensure your childrens safety online here are a few basic tips that I would suggest implementing in your house to protect them from grifers and pedophiles alike, just do these before you go and find halo wars for sale or some other games:
1. Ensure that your kids comprehend – If you are about to set rules or boundaries, make sure you set some time for you to explain why you are doing this. Let them know that it’s not an issue of trust between you and them, but your skepticism of people online.
2. Move the gaming system – Make sure that the computer is in the kitchen or the living room area. This will ensure that you can check up on the gaming activities of your child once in a while. Also, if the computer is in a well trafficked area, your child will also be able to interact with people in the real world.
3. Educate – Tell your child to never give out the following information to people online:
a. True name
b. Address or phone number
c. Location
d. Passcodes
e. Credit Card Numbers
4. Make sure that they use a pseudonym as a log in ID.
5. Ignore – Ignore both strangers and bullies online. Because if there are no responses, no matter how persuasive the stranger is, they will usually become bored and leave you.
6. Keep above those below you – Make sure your kids know two rights don’t make a wrong and should never retaliate to a bully. This will only make matters worse.
7. Ask an adult – Tell your child that when in doubt, when they do not know what to do and when they are scared, to ask help from you. Let them know that you are never too busy for you and that they shouldn’t be afraid to come and ask or call you to discuss any complex issues.
Keep all this in mind when your kids are engaged in online gaming and they should be able to stay safe resident evil 5 for sale
Mar
3
Wii Breakfast
Filed Under Wii Games | 25 Comments
They’ll make anything into a computer game nowadays!
Also please digg the video here http://digg.com/comedy/Wii_Breakfast_by_Idiots_of_Ants
http://www.idiotsofants.com/home.htm
Mar
2
What are the best computer driving games?
Filed Under Free Games, Mac Games, PC Games, Retro Games, Shooter Games, Video Games | Leave a Comment
There are several ways you can buy a car whether it’s from a retailer or contract hire. In a way the same goes for the way games are made, they can be realistic, pc usable or put on a console, whether their there for a laugh or not what is the best driving game?
The first on the list is not what you would expect from a normal driving game. It is certainly not a realistic game at all. Got to be in the top three of all time and not just my personal opinion, its Mario Kart. Mario Kart proves that you dont have to have a game that looks amazing to be able to have fun with it. You can take your pick from loads of different bikes, karts and characters. Seeing someone get hit by a giant shell or run over by you when you are giant is the most satisfying element of playing Mario Kart and is what makes it so good.
Forza 2 is another great driving game and it’s on the Xbox 360. This game is brilliant in that the customisation element is limitless, you can choose the coloour, wheels, hood, interior everything. In this game you take realistic damage and have to stop at the pit stops so you can make proper repairs. Ranging from the Golf GT right the way up to the Lotus Elise this game has hundreds of cars to choose from. If you are using a wheel then the handling of the game becomes even more realistic. Going at 100mph round one of the games corners and you are going to see your car spin out of control and hit many others along the way.
The Grand Turismo games really do look brilliant. These games have always been known for their reality and number five certainly does not steer away from this. The game truly represents the cars in the form you would see them in reality.
The same is true in real life. You can get brilliant cars at such affordable prices. You can get car contracting on pretty much any model nowadays ranging from mini’s right the way to Mercedes contract hire. Some of the prices are under £300 which is an absolute bargain and a great way to beat the downturn.
Even though games show us all these brilliant cars and even though every car manufacturer is having huge sales, it is still expensive to buy a new car.
Mar
1
Xbox RROD Problem
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The Xbox 360 is a games console with a reputation for technical problems, and entire phrases have become synonmous with the failure of the popular gaming machine. The most famous of these phrases is easily the ‘red ring of death’, which is named after the three status lights on the front of the console. When they are green all is well, but when they turn red then they signify a technical failure within the Xbox itself.
‘Core digital failure’
The three red lights indicate a “general hardware failure or “core digital failure,” meaning that the console may be “fatally” damaged. Although when the console first launched, Microsoft said that the Xbox 360’s failure rate was the typical 3 to 5% of the rest of the electronic industry’s goods, in fact, it is purported to be much, much higher than that. Today, Microsoft has not released official statistics on the failure rate of the console and instead has a “public relations” policy to promptly resolve any technical problems customers have.
Since its launch Microsoft has refused to reveal any statistics to do with hardware failure of the Xbox 360, but as of July 2007 they have agreed to have an extra 3 year warranty extension for any of the consoles that had previously suffered the ‘red ring of death’.
What causes this error?
Any number of reasons, but it is looking likely that most can be traced back to poor business practices initially, if a source is to be believed. One of major sources of information on the Xbox 360’s technical problems has been an anonymous tipster, who is suggested to have been one of the team leaders on the Microsoft development teams. The source suggests that it could be any number of things from parts to material quality, manufacturing to system design.
It is claimed that Microsoft were aware of such issues, with as much as 68 out of every 100 units tested suffering a technical failure of some kind. The major problem being that the system design was such that any small issue or fault could cause the whole system to crash, the Xbox 360 did not have the flexibility required to keep going if there was a problem.
What causes Xbox 360’s failure?
Overheating. When the cooling systems within the Xbox 360 are unable to keep the console cool the machine will overheat. When this happens the thermal plates contained within the console will become too hot and start causing electrical failures. Microsoft have recognised this problem and, in October 2008, introduced a new motherboard system called ‘Jaspar’ that is designed specifically to work with reduced heat emmissions, which it is hoped will help reduce technical failures.
What are you able to do should you get the ‘red ring of death’?
As mentioned earlier if this happens Microsoft have offered an additional 3 years cover for anyone who suffers from a technical fault indicated by the ‘ring of death’, though this only counts for the warranty holder so is not of use if you have bought the console 2nd hand. If you took out the extended warranty on the machine when you purchased Microsoft will also repair it and give you a 1 month gold card subscription. Should you not be covered like this there are repair services available for you to pay for.
If not you are able to try fixing the Xbox 360 yourself, but this is not reccomended. If you do try doing it yourself you will be invalidating your warranty and risking damaging the Xbox beyond repair. So only do this if you have no other option.
Feb
28
How I Get My Kids Away From The Television
Filed Under Free Games, Mac Games, PC Games, Retro Games, Shooter Games, Video Games | Leave a Comment
All my kids talk about getting every year for Christmas is video games if they don’t go downstairs and find Gears of War 2 under our new flocked christmas tree I do not know how they will survive. It makes me a little nuts since I do all I can to get my kids outdoors. I would much rather give them a pair of new skates or golf clubs then some mind numbing thing that will enchant them in front of the television. Oh well I guess you just learn that kids are kids. Fighting with them is just too much work.
After saying that I guess I should get to the point that I’ve developed a few ways to control their television addiction. I do a couple of things in an effort to force them outside. First off I limit their time every day to one hour (they can earn more). I have discovered that limiting the time is key to everything else because then they know time above and beyond that is to be earned. To be more fair I’ve allowed them some methods of earning more television time. That leads me into my second trick. They can get more television time by either doing chores or spending time outside. I like the chores option because it is nice for me to have a few less things to do, and the reward for them isn’t bad either. I set it up so it ends with one hour of chores earning one hour of television time.
The number two way they get more television time is by spending some of their time outside. When they go outside and play nice I allow them 15 minutes of gaming to every hour of outside time. Like I say this isn’t a huge payoff, but I also don’t really think asking them to be outside is a huge thing to ask. That option works the best of their long Saturdays where they spend the majority of the day outside anyway. They spend all day outside on Saturdays and earn themselves a couple of hours in front of the television. Realistically a night of playing games and watching movies isn’t so bad after a full day outside.
That being said I’m ok with one or two ending up under flocked christmas tree this year if it has the effect of getting my brats outside and getting some stuff done around the house for me. I hope they like their games, because I am going to like my “gift” of a little more control around the house.