Guild Wars

As April starts to end, some gamers are starting to get a little excited. On April 28th Guild Wars will be released. Guild Wars is an online game with no monthly fee and it's made by some of the makers of Diablo 2. Players will have tons of exciting areas to explore and monsters to kill with their friends. Be sure to get it!

Zuma Deluxe Style Games Evolution

As I think most of gamers who play in shareware games know game called Zuma Deluxe (created by PopCap Games). This game was extremly popular some time ago and still popular now. It's now a classic game!

Long time nobody in game development industry try to make a game with Zuma gameplay. It was a fear of fail - as someone can know big portals like RealArcade or Shockwave.com don't take for publishing game clones.

But in last time we see a lot of games what takes a Zuma gameplay idea plus some interesting own ideas. Let's look at whis games.

First game will be Luxor (published by Gamehouse). Main idea is the same, but here one deferent feature - you blast a colored spheres from the bottom line. Game use ancient Egipt styling with pyramids and Pharaoh, you explore the path of the Nile. The game very popular right now.

Next game we will look at is TumbleBugs(created by Wildfire Studios). IMHO this game have one of best graphic work (also as last game in this article) and use very interesting design - you need to save your beetle buddies from the Black Bug Empire. According to game info "In a deep dark lair, in Any Backyard USA, creep the Evil Black Bugs. You, the hero "Tumble", hold the fate of your beetle buddies in your hands. Save the colorful beetles from being enslaved by the Black Bug Empire". It has some unique power ups not presented in other games and has some features to talk about - how about two sources of bugs and two places to shoot from?

Another two games Bubblefish Bob (created by Game Gekko) and Aqua POP (created by Sunny Games) uses sea adventure design. It first game you need to save small fishy friends. The second game objective not known. As I think this game was created in zuma gameplay with only design changes.

Next game have extremly diferent gameplay but use some ideas from parent game - Twistingo. Main Zuma idea - colored shperes presented, but gameplay based based on the bingo cards and the numbers on it. It requires you to stay focused and yet still full of situations to think over in every minute. You need to explore the Big Island step by step to find and save the cute animals that need your help.

Last game I want to say named Zzed (created by NevoSoft). This game was created by developers from Russian Federation and have very interested idea mixed with some zuma elements. It's puzzler-shooter game with a space theme. In Zzed, you are a plot of space garbage truck. The space craft is located in the middle of the screen and can rotate both clockwise or counter clockwise. You can also move the spaceship, albeit in a very small circle. A continuous flow of space junk gravitates toward you (rather fast, sometimes) and you have to destroy it, before it damages the ship. This is the action part. What makes the game tricky (and addictive) is the puzzle part. All garbage is "color-coded". In order to destroy it, you have to get 3 or more pieces of garbage of the same color stuck together (here we have some Zuma ideas). Since you pilot a space garbage truck, not some super-cool X-Wing interceptor, you call only shoot with garbage pieces. Occasionally, as you get bonuses like missiles or bombs, which will allow you to feel yourself like a space commando for 0.17 seconds, but other than that, it's all about waste management. The storyline of this also very interesting, but I don't want to open all - try by yoursef!

Here we see 7 games in some parts based on Zuma classic game. I try all of them and think what Zuma, Tumblebugs, Twistingo and Zzed is the best and have very much difference to explore. How you think?

P.S. In time I already finishing this article I see one new game based on Zuma gameplay (or it's more similar to Luxor). It's named Atlantis (created by FunPause Games) - as the head of a team of explorers on a classified mission, you unlock the secrets of the long-lost city. If you succeed you will get fame, fortune, and world-changing technology from Atlantis. I don't play so much in this gam yet, but I see what it's very good.

About the Author: Denis Snow, owner of game related web http://www.ChocoSnow.com site where you can find all of this games in one place, also as many another games. [ http://www.GamesChoco.com ]

Source: www.isnare.com

Check Out The Teva Mountain Games

Televised sporting events have been common place for sports such as baseball, basketball, and football. However, other lesser known competitive sports are making their mark on cable television. Cable television networks such as the OLN are a welcome sight for passionate kayakers. OLN was proud to broadcast the “Teva Mountain Games” this past June. Kayakers, bikers, and rafters were among many adventure athletes that were showcased.

What are the Teva Mountain Games? The Teva Mountain Games is the premier outdoor adventure sports festival. Events include: kayaking, rafting, biking, climbing, trail running, adventure race, fishing, and even a dog challenge. The Teva Mountain Games were first held in 2003. This year’s competition took place in Vail, Colorado. The games consist of amateur and professional athletes. Arts and music are an important aspect of the festival.

The kayaking event has a number of different races that test novice and advanced kayakers. There is the Kayak PaddleCross race where kayakers try to beat the clock and have the fastest time. Another race pits kayakers against each other as they battle it out over 200 meters of river. Kayaking fans will assuredly have plenty of kayaking events to experience. Attending the Teva Mountain Games can boost your enthusiasm for the sport as you admire the skills of professional kayakers. If you are unable to attend the games, then don’t worry because OLN cable network has you covered.

Fans at the Teva Mountain Games can choose from seven other outdoor adventure sports to satisfy their sports craving. Whether you are an aficionado of rafting or trail running, the games have spectacular events for you to enjoy. The outdoor sporting events are the mainstay of the festival, but art and music events are also offered. There are concerts and nightlife parties that will entertain you until the wee hours of the morning.

The Teva Mountain Games is also geared towards families. There is an event guide that will be of interest to families. For example, there is a list of events for each day. Families can figure out which events to attend by reading the tips and insights offered by festival officials. If your family has trouble deciding which events to take in, then the family information available will be a welcome guide. Plus, you’ll know where to take the kids for dinner. Finding a family-friendly restaurant is a major plus.

An outdoor sports festival wouldn’t be complete without offering clinics to the eager spectators. The games offer clinics in climbing, kayaking, adventure racing, fly fishing, trail running, and mountain biking. The clinics are geared for participants of all ages and skill levels. The clinics are free, so take advantage of them.

Set your sites on attending the next Teva Mountain Games or watching it on the OLN cable network from the comfort of your own home. It is thrilling to watch professional athletes in action. You might learn a thing or two about your favorite sport and have fun in the process.

About the Author: Monica Marty is a kayaking fan and the webmaster of http://kayakingisfun.com/ A Free Directory with a wide range of Kayaking related categories and information allowing users to easily find services.

Source: www.isnare.com

Different Categories Of Computer Games

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

Category based on permission to use

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

Online Games

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

PC Games

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

Downloadable PC Games

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

What you need in your PC to play these games?

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

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

Source: www.isnare.com

Integrate Fun And Learning With PC Games

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: www.isnare.com

Reviving Old Computer Games

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

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

Emulation is not a new idea. I had a hardware emulator for the VIC20 that plugged into the back of my Commodore 64 and allowed the use of the older VIC20 cartridges with the new hardware (I never actually owned a VIC20 or any programs for it but that’s another issue). Emulator popularity has been fading in and out for many years, only coming into many people’s attention with the release of Bleem!, a Playstation emulator for PC that was released while the PSOne still held a dominant share of the video game market. Bleemcast (a Playstation emulator for the Sega Dreamcast) soon followed causing one of the more interesting video game legal battles as Sony fought to have the emulator shut down. However, the emulators have a strong following and very active user base. Emulators are easy to find and download. Simply search for the system you want and add the word emulator to the end (e.g. “SNES Emulator”) and you’ll probably come up with a lot of hits. Be slightly wary as some emulator sites will either be false links or may contain pornographic ads. Setting the emulators up to run is usually fairly straightforward and there’s a fair chance that you’ll be able to find some documentation and help. Some of the newer systems require a BIOS image to be installed with the emulator. This is to get around the legal issues raised by Sony in the Bleem! legal battles by requiring you to be in possession of a Playstation BIOS (and hence, presumably, a Playstation) in order to play the games on your computer. Making a BIOS image to load into your computer will most likely be beyond your technical expertise, but a quick check of your console’s case will reveal the file you need to get and then it’s as simple as searching the internet for a BIOS image that matches the BIOS you already own.

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

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

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

Some of the old games have even been remade and updated for this modern world we now live in. Try doing a search for remakes of a game title you particularly enjoyed and you may be surprised at what you find. There are games that have been updated to be 3D, such as some old favourites of mine: Pac man (http://www.caiman.us/scripts/fw/f1292.html) and Barbarian (http://www.dgdevteam.tk/), and while these might not always be brilliant games or remakes in their own right, the thought and effort put in often leads to an enjoyable diversion. There are also more traditional versions of games that have just updated the code as well as possibly the graphics so that they can still be run. So if you’re feeling nostalgic or just can’t get the hang of these new-fangled games that require you to push fifty buttons in a precise configuration just to jump, you may like to check out the emulation and remake scene. It’s surprisingly entertaining to go back in time to when games were simple yet fun.

About the Author: Daniel Punch M6.Net http://www.m6.net

Source: www.isnare.com

Jacks Or Better Video Poker - Getting The Basics Right

Video Poker is a game of skill - and using the simple combination of playing strategy and mathematical know-how, can be beat. Take note of the "pay schedule" shown on the front of each machine, and look particularly at the most important information - how much the machine will pay out for a Full-House versus a Flush. An advanced video poker player will also realise that a "Jacks-or-Better" machine - classed as a 9/6 machine for paying out 9 coins : 1 for every Full House and 6 : 1 for every Flush, can be beaten using perfect Basic Video Poker Strategy. Another machine offering the advanced video poker player an edge is the 10/6 Deuces Wild machine. These odds have been proven as a result of computer modelling. For the other machines - even if a player plays the Perfect Video Poker Strategy game, he will still not win, though will have fun playing!

There are set rules defining Basic Video Poker Strategy whether playing online or in a casino - much like the Basic Strategy for Blackjack.

Jacks-or-Better Video Poker Strategy

In any hand holding a Jack, unless the hand is already a winner! - 4 to an open-ended Straight, 4 to a Flush or 3 to a Straight Flush or Royal Flush - reject all cards only keeping the Jack.

In any hand holding only 1 card Jack or above, keep the single high card and reject all other cards and redraw.

In any hand holding 1 pair lower than Jacks, keep the pair and reject all other cards - unless the hand is 4 to a Straight or 4 to a Flush.

In any hand holding a 2-pair, keep both pair and reject the odd-card.

In any hand holding 3-of-a-kind keep the 3-of-a-kind and reject the other 2 cards.

In any hand holding 4 to a Straight, keep all 4 Straight cards and re-draw - unless the Straight draw is NOT open-ended and the hand is holding a Jack).

In any hand holding 4 to a Flush, keep the 4 Flush - unless the hand holds 3 to the Royal in which case you would draw to the Royal Flush.

In any hand holding 4-of-a-kind, hold everything since a 1-card draw will not improve the cards.

In any hand holding 3 to a Royal Flush, reject everything else and go for the Royal - unless the hand is already a Straight Flush!

Practice these strategies whist playing - perhaps even print this page out to refer to the Basic Video Poker strategies until they become 2nd nature. Go on ...get the skill and hit those machines!

About the Author: Ryan D. Read more about playing Video Poker and other Online Casino Gambling games at http://www.online-gambling-insider.comSource: www.isnare.com

Video Game Violence...What Do You Think About It?

Ever since video game designers were able to put red pixels on their imaginary characters that had recently deceased, there have been people crusading against their subversive ways. The outrage at video games seems to be cyclic, fading very briefly before exploding into the public eye once more with renewed frenzy. The controversy seems to have sparked up again in recent times, with numerous crimes being blamed on the corruptive influence of video games. There have also been various "controversies" surrounding recent video games and their content in the areas of both violence and sexuality.

The first game to receive widespread criticism and media attention was the martial art fighting game "Mortal Kombat". This game included large spurts of blood emitted from attacks and also "Fatalities" that could be performed on stunned opponents after their defeat. These Fatalities were gruesome animation sequences showing the victorious player killing their defeated opponent in a vast variety of ways. Gamers revelled in this new experience and the controversy surrounding the violence caused mass hype that informed the less informed gamers that the game was out there. Consequently gamers played the new game just to find out what all the talk was about, thereby greatly increasing revenue.

One of the largest sparks of controversy has been the recent "Hot Coffee" modification for "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA:SA)". This involved unlocking a sexually oriented mini-game that had been removed from the game before release, although evidently not from the source code. The creators of the game, Rockstar Entertainment, obviously realised that this particular part of the game was not appropriate for the video gaming public and removed access to it. An enterprising fan of the game found out and modified the original code to give access to the content once again. Lawsuits were brought against Rockstar for including such content in their game, although the validity of the lawsuit has to be questioned. If the game is simply purchased and played as intended by the developers, this admittedly tasteless and inappropriate mini game would never be encountered. It is not until the user-made modification is downloaded and installed that the player is able to access the content.

Regardless of who's to blame, "GTA: SA" was re-rated in America and banned from sale in Australia. Oddly enough the gratuitous and encouraged violence in the game went largely unnoticed in the wake of the "scandalous" sex scenes involving clothed, cartoonesque people. When examined objectively almost all games contain a certain amount of violent content. The kid-friendly bright and colourful "Mario" games by Nintendo feature a character stomping on animated creature's heads. In fact the majority of games, even children's games, involve the protagonist crusading against an enemy horde of some sort and generally "disposing" of them in some manner, whether it be striking them with a weapon or body part (feet, hands, possibly a tail depending on the nature of the character). The only real stand out difference is that in a children's game the 'bad' characters will generally bounce backwards in a cute manner and explode with a humorous puff sound (or simply disappear) whereas in a game oriented towards older mature players, the characters are more likely to be (somewhat) realistic, spraying a gusher of red upon their demise.

Whenever some young person somewhere commits a violent crime these days it seems to get blamed on a video game, from "Duke Nukem" and "Quake" being accused for the Columbine High massacre, to a more recent incident involving a group of minors attributing their violent actions to the "Mortal Kombat" video games. Without any solid evidence either way it's hard to say whether or not video game violence actually has much of an influence on players. To really be sure you'd probably have to have a control group of isolated children that have never seen a violent movie or played a bloodthirsty video game. History does however show that brutal crimes were committed long before video games or even movies came into existence.

Children are quite easily influenced by something that they're excited about and I've seen this happen a lot. Playing a wrestling video game with a group of eight year olds often leads to the eight year olds screaming raucously and trying to pin each other down on the ground. Pre-teens will often punch and kick their way out of a cinema in terrible combat stances after having viewed a martial arts movie. The current content rating system in place is not geared towards consumer restriction; it is largely aimed at simply informing the public about what they are going to experience. Legal restrictions are not actually put in place until the higher, more severe ratings like in x-rated films. Parents, guardians, and society in general need to start taking an interest in who is viewing certain types of content. Instead of complaining about the entertainment a child is enjoying, the parent could be there at the beginning looking at the rating that is printed clearly on the packaging of all entertainment. A simple "I don't think that's suitable, how about this game? It has a lizard!" distracts the child a surprising number of times. In my experience, children genuinely just want people to take an interest in what they're interested in, not just murmuring indistinctly, "Yes dear, that's nice." as the child installs the newest violent game.

What about the children that are playing the games in the restricted ratings categories? The only way that they can even get the game into their possession is if a parent (or someone of legal age) purchases the game for the child, or if the store disregards the rating guidelines in place and sells it to them regardless. Either way the fact that a game's content has fallen into a minor's hands is not the fault of the game developer.

I'm not out to defend the integrity of artistic vision presented in video games as many other gamers are. Frankly there seems to me to be little artistic integrity in rendering blood that is ever more liquid in appearance. I do however enjoy playing some games that are quite violent in nature and in many cases the violent nature of the game increases my enjoyment. Video games are escapism, there's (arguably) no point in playing a video game that simulates something you can just walk outside and do (and yet sports games somehow consistently sell in large numbers... curious...). Interestingly I have never yet felt the overwhelming desire to break down into a kung fu stance and commit murder. Perhaps more important than simply banning questionable content in video games would be studying why this content is so appealing to today's society?

About the Author: Daniel Punch M6.Net Web Helpers http://www.m6.net

Source: www.isnare.com

The Future Of Video Games

I’ve recently been thinking about where video games could be going in the future. I’m hoping to work in the game industry one day after I’ve finished university study and I’ve been wondering about it a lot. What do I want to see happen in the future? Well I may not have too many answers right now, but I have come up with a few ideas that I think may come into ‘play’ in the not too distant future.

Firstly forget Virtual Reality, as we know it. They’ve tried VR goggles and they made a lot of people sick in doing so. It’s probably never going to work very well in its current form. They’re still around and you can still buy them but they really don’t seem to be taking off. It will probably take a lot to get people totally immersed and involved in a new form of game play. It’s threatening to lose touch with the outside world and the people around you aren’t going to appreciate it much either. The Sci-fi neural implants are also both a long way off and not likely to be accepted by a majority of the general populace without some severe marketing and luck. I for one am not planning on going through brain surgery just to have a computer attached to my head. In fact I never want anyone to able to plug into my brain.

A technology that was brought to my attention by a zealous presenter at the local ‘Science and Technology Centre’ (a sort of science museum aimed at making science fun for children and juvenile adults such as yours truly) is that of ‘Augmented Reality’. Augmented Reality is essentially the overlaying of virtual elements onto the real world, such as a pair of transparent glasses that can display certain elements over the top of what is actually there. I agree with the presenter in that this could indeed have some awesome potential. Forget all the socially beneficial applications such as workmen being able to view underground pipes before digging, think about it from a games point of view. This technology could provide gamers with the ability to run around looking like complete idiots shooting at things that aren’t actually there and that no one else can see, kind of like in the film ‘They Live!’ The upside to this is that it would be a lot of fun. A group of people from the University of South Australia created the ‘ARQuake’ project, http://wearables.unisa.edu.au/projects/ARQuake/www/, merging the classic shooter Quake with this Augmented Reality technology. Again, this technology may not ever become overly popular, but it would be entertaining to play with.

Technology has driven the games industry for a long time with new games always trying to keep one step ahead of the competition. It started way back at the dawn of technology and it continues to this day. 2D graphics gave way to 3D and 3D is becoming ever better. Graphics are starting to lose the ability to impress like they once did. The step between Quake 2 and 3 was amazing, but DOOM 3 while being visually very impressive isn’t leaps and bounds ahead of its competitors in the same way new games used to be. 2D graphics encountered a similar problem; there comes a point where you just can’t do much more with graphics technology. It is this that turns graphics from striving for technological achievement to becoming art. It is my hope that we will start turning away from tech demos and return to game play and making great entertainment. Games such as Zelda: The Wind Waker or The Sims that strive to show greater depth of character through simplifying the game enough to portray emotions will hopefully become more common (and more fun… but that’s just one person’s view…). Technology plays a certain part in the conveying of emotions and story but it’s quite hard to focus on everything at once. When technology is easier and less essential to game sales we’ll hopefully see an increase in games that cast a lasting impression.

Somewhat unfortunately the rise of the ‘Casual Gamer’ will probably lead to more simplistic games being released. While personally I would love to see depth of story and characters, there are a significant number of players out there who want to pick up a game for twenty minutes or so, have a bit of fun, and then put it down until another time. These gamers are generally less interested in the latest greatest technology and more interested in a ‘fast food’ kind of entertainment that satisfies the moment, despite the lack of quality or the lasting effects. Hopefully the two game types can co-exist peacefully although recently it has been seen that some developers are cutting down on some of the planned depth of a title in order to accommodate the more casual gamer.

As technology pushes forwards boundaries are slowly being broken down between systems. We saw the Bleemcast a few years back enabling the running of Playstation games on the Dreamcast, and the PC is able to run almost anything given the right emulation software. Consoles are able to emulate other consoles and new consoles are being announced that promise the ability to play PC games. The Xbox 2 is reported to have a model in planning that comes in a PC case and with the ability to run both PC software and Xbox software. Macs can emulate Windows software and vice-versa. We’ll probably start seeing less of a distinction between consoles and PCs as the price of technology continues to drop and consoles continue to become more and more powerful and able to compete with the more expensive computers. Ideally we’ll see a single platform come into prominence so that everything can be run without purchasing a copious number of different machines, although that does have a downside in that it can establish a monopoly for one particular company.

The technology price drop and increase in power has also lead to more powerful hand-held machines than before. Real games, not just simple toys are now available for the portable market. The advent of PDAs and mobile phones with the ability to play games raises awareness of portable gaming and new competitors are starting to get in on the field that was once primarily dominated by Nintendo’s GameBoy. There is a new product, the gp32, that can run many different emulators and hence, many different system’s games (including some PC games).

I can’t say for sure what’s going to happen but these are just a few ideas that I’ve had recently. Hopefully the games industry will continue to strive towards new heights with new and interesting game play, stories, characters and ideas. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next few years.

About the Author: Daniel Punch M6.Net http://www.m6.net

Source: www.isnare.com

Games To Encourage Thinking Skills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author - Steve is a member of the GrandMatrix team. They provide a broad range of games, puzzles, articles and reviews. Read more articles, download and play the latest PC games for free plus enjoy thousands of user submitted puzzles, quizzes and word games at GrandMatrix Free Game Downloads

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Rent Games Online for the Kids

It’s risky business allowing your children to play games online. I know that may sound funny but I have a good argument to back up my opinion. If you continue reading I will share it with you.

I work from home on my computer; my computer is my livelihood and it is how I make my money. Allowing my kids to play on my computer also makes my computer susceptible to ad aware, spam and the like. For someone that works from home, this can be a very big problem if my computer ends up infected with a virus! Every single time I go to a cheat code site for my son, I have to go remove the entire ad aware I just picked up. Not to mention that due to my working, I can’t always let him sit and play his games and we were both frustrated.

We than saw an ad to rent games online, we have been happy ever since! I have the games shipped to my house, there are no late fees and the monthly fee is a flat rate for unlimited rentals. As you can see, this a win/win situation for us! He gets to play all games he wants and I get to keep my computer.

Rent games online will also save you time and money! No longer will you have to go wait in line to rent a game, you can now have them sent to your door – I have to tell you, this is my favorite part. Along with saving money of course!

About the Author - Jay Coleby is a writer that specializes in informational articles on various topics. His most recent projects include articles on cell phone batteries, rent games and noni juice. Jay can be contacted if you need an article written on a specific topic.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Next Generation Games Consoles - Separating Fact from Fiction

Over the next 18 months the 3 giants of the Games Console world will be battling it out in stores and homes across Europe, America and Asia for the title of the world greatest Games Console. The stakes are high in this multi billion dollar business, not just for the console sales but for the games sales that go along side it. Since the launch announcements of all 3 consoles in May at the E3 conference in LA. The 3 combatants have been vying for the millions of column inches that have been written about the Next Generation Consoles. Each Press release has been hotly followed by another press release from a rival company so much so that extracting the facts from all the hype has been nearly impossible. At the launch press conferences Microsoft boasted that the Xbox 360 could do 9-billion-dot-product-operations per second. Sony then came out and said that the PS3 could do 51-billion-dot-product-operations per second however Sony had combined the CPU and GPU performance numbers whilst Microsoft only reported its CPU performance number. When the consumer is up against this sort of publicity blizzard it is best not to believe a thing until you can check the facts for yourself.

So what do we know?

Well for the Xbox 360 and the Sony Playstation 3 we have lots of lists of hardware and specifications which actually don’t mean very much in isolation. The main thing that need concern us are the processor speeds and they are both stated as being 3.2 GHz The only time that the hardware will mean anything is when we get to run them side by side and then if experience is anything to go by the difference in real life performance won’t be noticeable and will just be used by the press departments to battle it out.

Despite all the press releases and information that has been spewing out of the headquarters of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo we actually know very few facts. We know that in all likelihood the Xbox 360 will be on the shelves in time for Christmas, Amazon are currently taking pre-delivery orders and are quoting a release date of November 28th. The prices have been set at $299 for the Core System and $399 for the Xbox 360, the difference being that the Core system doesn’t have the external hard drive required to save games and download new content or the headset required to play online on Xbox Live! Why 2 prices? and why a version that hasn’t got everything included? This looks very much like a product of the marketing department trying to get a product at the historically important sub $300 level more than anything and this may backfire on them in the long run.

Next to hit the Shelves will be Sony’s Playstation 3 supposedly in spring next year once again we have very few facts to go on, Sony are continually releasing press releases and mentioning in public that the price will be high and the figure of $500 has been mentioned but many industry experts suspect that this is a ploy so that when they release it at $300 or $350 it will look like a bargain. The final console to hit the shelves will be the Nintendo Revolution some time late in 2006 and 2007. Since the “launch” at E3 this year very little has been said about it by Nintendo. It seems at this time the “Launch” was just a way to deflect some of the publicity away from Microsoft and Sony. One fact is certain, If Microsoft do get the Xbox 360 onto the shelves before Christmas it will be this year’s biggest selling Christmas gift. So until you get your hands on one of the consoles….Question everything!

About the Author - Mark Thompson ran an IT consultancy in London for many years. He now live in Spain and runs an number of websites including NextGen Consoles and World of the Weird
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/