Gaming Zone - For Gammers and Gamblers.

Online casino spotlight

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:25:00 +0000

Hey friends the other day I was just thinking of how difficult it was a certain time back that if we wish to gamble we had to either go to vegas or then atleast to the nearest casino but now that we are all blessed with the online casino gambling which has become a part of our fun life...No moving out of the house and enjoying in our budget and limit just sitting at home and at any time you wish too... this is fun isn’t it? But yes I know there are few queries and few games which we always wish to play but do not know the exact rules and strategies and hence avoid risking our money but now we have onlinecasinospotlight.com that helps us in all possible ways and gives us detailed understanding of the games like blackjack,poker,roulette and many more.

They give you the list of the top 10 online casino which are reviewed and rated by their experienced players. These experienced players have rated the casinos in context of the welcome bonus offered then the percentage payout and their review in what is good about the online gambling casino. There is also a download option there. On the website you will find online gambling news that are recent enough and of quite importance. Thus we do not have to hunt for information you can find up to date and all required information at one place. You can get information about the right code of conduct by the sites and also where you can complain if you have any problems.

They give you information right from what you need to gamble online upto how to select the right online casino. You can choose the game and once on that page there is loads of information say video poker, on that page you get information of how to play the game and win it. What are the don’ts while playing the game? What is the most important aspect of concentration while playing hence it will lead to winning, On the click of each top online casino you get a detailed review about the casino and you can directly reach their website to understand the games and thus no worries of remembering their website addresses. Also as there is casinospotlight you do not need to worry about the standard of the website and your cash is safe too. Thus I suggest that anyone who wishes to play online casino must visit casinospotlight and make their process of selecting and playing easier and more enjoyable..Happy and safe gambling…

Start counting Cards on Iphone or Ipod

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:53:00 +0000

Ipod touch and Iphone has got revolution on Telecom companies and now they are getting revolution on Gambling. Application by Apple for Ipohne and Ipod touch has an application which can count cards. The California Bureau of Gambling Control has alerted Apple INC to remove that application from the application store.

February 20, 2009 Looks like crafty iPhone app developers have come up with another handy use for the iPhone. The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that California gaming authorities are warning their Nevada neighbors to be on the lookout for gamblers using blackjack card-counting programs such as Card Counter or A Blackjack Card Counter that run on either the iPhone or iPod Touch.

The California Bureau of Gambling Control was alerted to the programs by operators of a Northern California Indian casino who discovered customers using their iPhones to improve their chances of winning. While those with a head for figures can legally use their natural acuity in Nevada casinos (although you’re likely to be shown the door), it is a felony to use a device to aid in the counting of cards, so anyone using card counting programs can be detained by casino operators and arrested by state gaming agents. Making life difficult for casino security A Blackjack Card Counter, which uses four different card counting strategies, also has a “stealth mode” using vibration to signal the user that it would be a good time to place a large bet.

Anyone who would rather gamble with casino security instead of a blackjack dealer can download the card counting programs from the iTunes Store.

Darren Quick

Via ArsTechnica

ONLINE POKER STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:07:00 +0000

Poker strategy is very important when deciding on how much to bet. Yes! The size of the poker bet is very important and a poker strategy plays an important idea in deciding the size of the bet. There are not many perfect ideas on how to determine the size of the bet at any point in time. There are some prescribed standard raises for antes that most pros are likely to use. The size of the bet at any point in time should not declare the strength of the hand. Any bet that declares the true strength of the hand is exploitable.

Most of the poker strategies suggest that the preflop betting be played small. The bet should be not more than 5 times the blind; however, hilarious 10 times betting and 20 times betting are common ideas of fishes. Learned poker men always do small ball betting in pre-flop because the preflop poker strategy is one that is played with very less information about the table.

However when the prescribed betting patterns are used experienced players know to identify the 3 times and 5 times betting poker strategy and they can easily exploit such players! It is tricky, you need to follow some rules without letting others learn what you are actually up to and such comes with experience.

All the pre-flop raises should be done with consideration to the position and not of course with sole reference to pockets. Making raises in pre-flop from a weak position can be tricky and in most cases it will fail. Poker strategy in preflop should be based with reference to position and pockets with more stress placed to position.

While making any call, bet or raise it should be borne in mind that one should not give away their relation to the hand. Some raises and re-raises obviates the pot-committed pocket and such can lead to an early and less gainful winning where many might fold when they realize that a player is pot committed.

If you should not feel guilty of not sizing the bets it is high time you learn some positional betting strategies. The main goal of any bet is to have the opponent put as many amount of chips in the pot. Exploit the calling stations, check raise your turn, make a small ball preflop bet are all some important poker strategy facets that one should know.

Casino's For Noble Cause

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:36:00 +0000

Hi friends, today I am here to tell you about how I managed to become a really good player with blackjack online casino. Initially I was very bad with the game all I had is a liking for the game. Thus I started surfing for good websites which could help me develop my game and that too quite economically. That is when I came across backgammon masters and gammonish.com, the two websites that believe me have everything you need.

I am sure most of you who are fans of blackjack must have heard about these sites because they are the most famous of all the online casino players. On the website you will find all the tips and strategies on mastering your blackjack game. All the beginners can find the complete guide to learning and mastering the blackjack game and finally leading to earning a lot of money accompanied by fun filled game...All you got to do is go to the website and download your game, the best part is you will only find people of your level competing with you and thus you will not be under any stress as everyone you are competing with is in your level of the game only. There is start up bonus and also loads of tournaments in which you can participate and win loads of money to take home.

These days they are donating money won from tournaments to the children affected by the earthquake in china. So go ahead and contribute to the Nobel cause.

Latest News On Gambling

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:34:00 +0000

NEW YORK — A Canadian company has agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve charges that it facilitated illegal Internet gambling by processing payments for U.S. customers, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Federal prosecutors in New York said a subsidiary of ESI Entertainment Systems processed more than $2 billion in wagers for American gamblers between 2003 and 2007, a time period when there was confusion within the industry over the reach of U.S. law.

The company abruptly halted payments and began cooperating with prosecutors after executives of a rival Internet payment company that specialized in gambling, Neteller PLC, were arrested after setting foot on U.S. soil.

As part of a deal to avoid similar prosecution, ESI has admitted to criminal wrongdoing, will turn over some of its profits and implement monitoring procedures to make sure its services aren't being used for gambling.

Executives at ESI, which is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, did not return phone calls seeking comment Thursday.

The case involved electronic payments made to gambling websites based outside of the U.S., but used heavily by Americans. Customers could transfer money to accounts controlled by ESI, which would then be used to cover their wagers.

The company said on its website that its revenue fell precipitously after the subsidiary that handled electronic payments for gamblers, Citadel Commerce Corp., stopped doing business with U.S. customers.

source

Backgammonmasters For the Record - What I heard.

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 26 May 2008 07:15:00 +0000

Backgammonmasters which is one of the hottest online game provider for Backgammon, blackjack and poker. Among many online games, Backgammon, blackjack and poker are some hottest games that are often played. You can play any of these casino games with either BackgammonMasters.com or Gammonish.com. Both of them are the most famous online casino.

BackgammonMasters, an online gaming site featuring both casino and board games such as poker, backgammon, and blackjack, has developed a new blackjack platform, complete with a tool called the basic blackjack calculator, and has reached an agreement with a group of the MIT card players to test the system.

To celebrate the new blackjack platform, BackgammonMasters also will hold 21 blackjack tournaments, in which tables will compete against one another for prizes and top scores.Online casino is the highest booming online games right now.

Blackjack is played professionally at casinos as well as a favorite pastime among friends and family in social gatherings.To get through the losing streaks and lead a successful internet casino career, online casino gambling requires more awareness and discipline in money management. In addition, identity theft that impersonates famous personalities is now considered a serious offense.

This will certainly boost the number of online backgammon players around the world. Online backgammon will never be the same after this!

Microgaming Slot Machines

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 26 May 2008 07:13:00 +0000

Slot machines are the most popular form of online casino entertainment. Internet slot machines have the look and feel and graphics of the real ones in Las Vegas. Classic 3-reel slots are ideal games for the beginning player because of their easy and straightforward format. Microgaming, the leading software provider for the online gambling industry, has introduced a number of classic 3-reel slots over the past three years. This article summarizes 10 classic 3-reel slot machines from Microgaming, including Fruit Slots, Party Time, Pharaohs Fortune, Razzmatazz, River Belle Riches, Rock the Boat, Royal 7's, Spectacular, 7 Sultans, SWAT TEAM, Triple Magic, and Wheel of Wealth.

Fruit Slots is a very popular 3-reel, single payline slot game. It accepts coins from $0.25 to $10.00, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 3. The maximum jackpot is 2500 coins. Fruit Slots is a perfect game for the beginning slots player.

Party Time is a 3-reel, single payline slot machine with a party theme. Party Time accepts coins from $0.25 to $5.00, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 3. The maximum jackpot is 9000 coins.

Pharaohs Fortune is a 3-reel, single payline slot game with an Egyptian theme. Pharaohs Fortune accepts coins from $0.25 to $10.00, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 3. The maximum jackpot is 2500 coins.

Razzmatazz is a 3-reel, single payline slot machine that accepts coins from $0.25 to $10.00. The maximum number of coins that you can bet is 3, and the maximum jackpot is 4000 coins.

River Belle Riches is a 3-reel, single payline slot game with a riverboat theme. River Belle Riches accepts coins from $0.25 to $100.00, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 2. The maximum jackpot is 1600 coins.

Rock the Boat is a 3-reel, single payline slot machine dedicated to legend Elvis Pressley. Rock the Boat accepts coins from $0.25 to $5.00, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 2. The maximum jackpot is 1600 coins.

Royal 7's is a basic 3-reel, single payline slot game with the theme of royalty. Royal 7's accepts coins from $0.25 to $5.00, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 3. The maximum jackpot is 2500 coins.

Spectacular is a 3-reel, single payline slot machine dedicated to Las Vegas showgirls. The only coin size available is a $1.00 coin, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 2. The maximum jackpot is 5000 coins.

7 Sultans is a basic 3-reel, single payline slot game with an Arabian theme. 7 Sultans Royal 7's accepts coins from $0.25 to $20.00, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 3. The maximum jackpot is 600 coins.

SWAT TEAM is a 3-reel, single payline slot machine with a fly swatting theme. SWAT TEAM accepts coins from $0.25 to $50, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 2. The maximum jackpot is 1600 coins.

Triple Magic is a basic 3-reel, single payline slot game. It accepts coins from $0.25 to $5.00, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 2. The maximum jackpot is 1600 coins.

Wheel of Wealth is a standard 3-reel, single payline slot machine. The only coin size available is a $1.00 coin, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet is 3. The maximum jackpot is 5000 coins.

So there you have it, 12 classic 3-reel slot machines from Microgaming. Whether you play video slots online or blackjack at a land-based casino, remember to gamble only with the money you can afford to lose. Have fun and quit while you are ahead.

What does Wiki Has to Say on Casino?

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 26 May 2008 06:57:00 +0000

Well while searching for the best definition on casino on world wide web, i came across a definition from Wikipedia which was really detailed and different. Detailed because every task was given importance and different because there was a task. ok kidding. I think you should go through the definition below. You may like it.

"A casino is, in the modern sense of the word, a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are known for hosting live entertainment events, such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sporting events. Today, there are more than 4000 casinos worldwide.^[1]"

History of the term casino

The term "Casino" originally meant a small villa, summerhouse or pavilion built for pleasure, usually on the grounds of a larger Italian villa or palazzo. There are examples of such casinos at Villa Giulia and Villa Farnese. In modern day Italian, this term designates a bordello (also called "casa chiusa", literally "closed house"), while the gambling house is spelled casinò with an accent.^[2]

One of the first known casinos was established in Venice around 1638.^[3] During the 19th century, the term "casino" came to include other public buildings where pleasurable activities, including gambling, and sports took place. An example of this type of building is the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island.

Not all casinos were used for gaming. The Copenhagen Casino was a theatre, known for the use made of its hall for mass public meetings during the 1848 Revolution which made Denmark a constitutional monarchy. Until 1937 it was a well-known Danish theatre.^[4] The Hanko Casino located in Hanko, Finland - one of that town's most conspicuous landmarks - was never used for gambling. Rather, it was a banquet hall for the Russian nobility which frequented this spa resort1800s, and is presently used as a restaurant. in the late

History of Casinos

The precise origin of gambling is unknown. The Chinese recorded the first official account of the practice in 2300 B.C., but it is generally believed that activity of gambling, in some way or another, has been seen in almost every society in history. From the Ancient Greeks and Romans to Napoleon's France and Elizabethan England, much of history is filled with stories of entertainment based on the games of chance.^[5]

In American history, early casinos were originally known as saloons. The creation and importance of saloons was greatly influenced by four major cities; New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago and San Francisco. It was in the saloons that travelers could find people to talk to, drink with, and often gamble with. During the early 20th century in America, gambling became outlawed and banned by state legislation and social reformers of the time. However, in 1931, gambling was legalized throughout the state of Nevada, and Las Vegas, presently known as "Sin City", spawned America's first official casinos. Soon after, in the state of New Jersey, Atlantic City joined the Casino industry in 1978 to become America's second largest gambling city.

Almost anyone today can experience the feelings and excitement of a casino in the online world of gambling. These days, American casinos are just as likely to be hosted in the real world with a web server, and existing in a virtual format on the Internet. Online casino gambling is one of the 21st century's biggest phenomenons.^[6]^{[neutrality disputed]}

Gambling in casinos

Baccarat casino, Edmonton, Alberta

In most jurisdictions worldwide, gambling is limited to persons over the age of license (18 or 21 years of age in most of the United States and 16 to 21 in most other countries where casinos are permitted).^[7]

Customers gamble by playing slot machines or other games of chance (e.g., craps, roulette, baccarat) and some skill (e.g., blackjack, poker) (for more see casino games). Games usually have mathematically-determined odds that ensure the house retains a long term advantage over the players. This advantage is called the house edge. In games such as poker where players play against each other, the house takes a commission called the rake. Casinos often give out free items, known as comps to people who are gambling. Often, in most casinos, the more money a player uses the more benefits or comps the player get.

Payout is the percentage won by players.

Playing with house money refers to the situation where a winning player is placing bets with money that has been won from the casino.

Security

The Atrium at the Crown Casino, Melbourne

Security is tight at the Thousand Islands casino.

Casinos focus greatly on security, considering that this is a 30 billion dollar industry. Large amounts of currency move through a casino, tempting people to cheat the system. Security today consists of cameras located throughout the property operated by highly trained individuals who attempt to locate cheating and stealing by both players and employees.

Modern casino security is usually divided between a physical security force, which patrols the casino floor and responds to calls for assistance and reports of criminal and/or suspicious activities, and a specialized surveillance department, that operates the casino's closed circuit television (known in the industry as eye in the sky) system in an effort to detect any misconduct by both guests and employees alike. Both of these specialized casino security departments work very closely with each other to ensure the safety of both guests and the casino's assets.

When it opened in 1989, The Mirage was the first casino to use cameras full time on all table games.^[8]

Do you know any better articles on Casino do let me know.

X-Men: The Official Game

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:58:00 +0000

Bonus Iceman Danger Room level:
Press Right(2), Left(2), Down, Up, Down, Up, Start at the Cerebro Files
menu.

Bonus Nightcrawler Danger Room level:
Press Up(2), Down(2), Left, Right, Left, Right, Start at the Cerebro
Files menu.

Bonus Wolverine Danger Room level:
Press Down(2), Up(2), Right, Left, Right Left, Start at the Cerebro
Files menu.

Cheat Codes for NBA Live 07

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:57:00 +0000


Item                                Password
Air Jordan V Black/White            PNBBX1EVT5
Air Jordan V White/Blue/Grey        VIR13PC451
Air Jordan V White/Red/Black        IB7G8NN91Z
Jordan Melo M3 Black                JUL38TC485

Cheat Codes for Age of Empires 3

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:51:00 +0000

Cheat mode:
Press [Enter] to display the chat window and type one of
following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function.

Code                                    Effect
X marks the spot                        Reveals map
Medium Rare Please                      Stocks 10000 food
Give me liberty or give me coin         Stocks 10000 coin
Nova & Orion                            Stocks 10000 XP
                              Stocks 10000 wood
A recent study indicated that           All animals on map are fattened
100% of herdables are obese
speed always wins                       Building rate doubled
Sooo Good                               Random saying when killed by infantry
this is too hard                        Clears current map in single player
tuck tuck tuck                          Stocks monster truck in retail version
Ya gotta make do with what ya got       Spawns Mediocre Bombard at
                                      Home City gather point

F.E.A.R. - First Encounter Assault Recon

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:17:00 +0000

F.E.A.R. is the abbreviation for the game First Encounter Assault Recon is a first-person shooter developed by Monolith Productions and published by Vivendi. The game's story revolves around a supernatural phenomenon, which F.E.A.R.—a fictional Special Forces team—is called to contain. The player assumes the role of F.E.A.R.'s Point Man, who possesses superhuman reflexes and combats an army of cloned soldiers, and at the same time uncovers the secrets of a paranormal menace in the form of a little girl. It's something that hasn't been found in many games but I'm sure will be found in a good deal more in the future: the element of fear. One fairly recent game that also exploited the element of fear to a high degree was Doom 3, but F.E.A.R exceeds the standard set in this game by far.

Along with the Director's Edition, F.E.A.R. Gold Edition was released. Gold Edition included the Director's Edition and Extraction Point. F.E.A.R. Platinum Edition features the original game and two expansion packs. F.E.A.R. was well-received by critics, scoring 89% on Game Rankings, and The New York Times calling it "as thrilling and involving as Half-Life". The game holds an 18 certificate so you know that at the very least there's going to be some decent gore and killing scenes. The certificate is also enforced because of the content of the spoken language in the game; when you get noticed by the bad guys, they tend to utter one of a couple of choice four letter expletives. Once you begin playing it, you become immersed in the atmosphere of the story and your immediate environment in the game. Everything seems designed to contribute to the massive sense of foreboding you feel as you play it. Have a great game!!Enjoy!

Halo 3 Cheat codes from cheatcc

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:43:00 +0000

Lets all thanks cheatcc for giving us the Halo 3 Codes.

# Lower weapon

During a local match or replay, click Left Analog-stick + LB+ RB + A + Down for approximately three seconds. If done correctly, your weapon will not be visible on your screen. When you shoot, your weapon will be raised again. -From: Dirttbagg and darthvader302
# Show coordinates

During a local match or replay, click Left Analog-stick + click Right Analog-stick + LB + RB + Down/Right.
# Toggle panning camera

During a local match or replay, click Left Analog-stick + click Right Analog-stick + LB + RB + Up/Left.
# Infinite Spartan laser in Halo mission

Use the following trick to get a Spartan laser with unlimited ammunition in the "Halo" mission. Play through the level until you meet up with Sergeant Johnson. Shoot him until he falls down and drops the Spartan laser. Quickly pick it up, and shoot it at him. Keep shooting him until he kills you. When you respawn, knock him down again, and pick up his laser. He should get back up with another laser on his back. When he does, shoot him down again, and pick up the new gun he drops. This laser should now have unlimited Spartan ammunition. This makes it easier to destroy the Guilty Spark 343. -From: Camuel
# Katana

Successfully complete all achievements (1000/1000) and find all Skulls to unlock the Katana.
# Alternate endings

There are three endings. The first ending is shown when the game is successfully completed on the Easy, Normal, or Heroic difficulty setting. The second ending is shown when the game is successfully completed on the Legendary difficulty setting. The third ending is shown when the game is successfully completed on the Legendary difficulty setting with all Skulls activated.
# Easier Legendary mode

If you are playing alone on the Legendary difficulty setting, turn on an idle second player to stay behind. If you die, you will respawn instead of restarting.
# Super fast Spartan laser fire

In Forge mode, get a Spartan laser. Charge it until it is almost about to fire. Before you fire, turn into the Monitor. Fly around until you find a target. Before you turn back into a human, hold RT to fire the Spartan laser almost instantly (if done correctly). You can use the Monitor's aimer to aim the laser.
# Smarter respawning

When playing in Co-op mode on the Legendary difficulty setting, it is best to have one player keep their distance from the enemy at all times. By doing this, if the rest of the players die, they will respawn around the player that is farther back, rather than having to restart at the checkpoint.
# Easy experience in Multiplayer mode

Note: This trick requires four active accounts on your console that are all able to play on Xbox Live. Enter the matchmaking lobby, and choose "Social", then "Rumble Pit". Sign all four of your accounts in the lobby. In free for all modes, you have to be in the top three to earn experience points. Start matchmaking, and it should find two additional players. Once the game begins, you can simply do nothing. Once the game ends, all four of your accounts will tie for third place, giving all of them easy experience points. -From: Brandon Adkins
# Getting in the same ranked Lone Wolves game

Go to the Xbox 360 Dashboard. Change your language to the second option from the bottom, then start Halo 3. Invite four other friends that are about the same rank as you, and have them change their language to the same one as you. Get everyone in the same party; everyone must search at the same time. Everyone must then make a game in Lone Wolves. Before you go to start the countdown, press X to change the search options to the bottom one, which is to search for the same language. If done correctly, you should be in the same ranked Lone Wolves game as your friends. You can now get achievements or level someone up.
# Extra grenades

In Multiplayer or System Link mode, when you kill someone, slash their dead body with the Energy Sword for more grenades come out of it.
# Armor permutations

Successfully complete the indicated task in Campaign mode to unlock the corresponding armor part in Multiplayer mode:

Elite

Ascetic Body: Accomplish the "Up Close and Personal" achievement.

Ascetic Head: Accomplish the "Steppin' Razor" achievement.

Ascetic Shoulders: Accomplish the "Overkill" achievement.

Commando Body: Accomplish the "Triple Kill" achievement.

Commando Head: Accomplish the "Overkill" achievement.

Commando Shoulders: Accomplish the "Killing Frenzy" achievement.

Flight Body: Successfully complete the "Tsavo Highway" mission on the Heroic or Legendary difficulty setting.

Flight Head: Successfully complete Campaign mode on the Heroic difficulty setting.

Flight Shoulders: Successfully complete "The Ark" mission on the Heroic or higher difficulty setting.

Spartan

EOD Body: Successfully complete the "Tsavo Highway" mission on the Legendary difficulty setting.

EOD Head: Successfully complete Campaign mode on the Legendary difficulty setting.

EOD Shoulders: Successfully complete "The Ark" mission on the Legendary difficulty setting.

EVA Body: Successfully complete the "Tsavo Highway" mission on the Normal or higher difficulty setting.

EVA Head: Successfully complete Campaign mode on the Normal difficulty setting.

EVA Shoulders: Successfully complete "The Ark" mission on the Normal or higher difficulty setting.

Mark V Head: Accomplish the "UNSC Spartan" achievement.

ODST Head: Accomplish the "Spartan Graduate" achievement.

Rogue Head: Accomplish the "Spartan Officer" achievement.

Scout Body: Accomplish the "Too Close to the Sun" achievement.

Scout Head: Accomplish the "Used Car Salesman" achievement.

Scout Shoulders: Accomplish the "Mongoose Mowdown" achievement.

Security Head: Earn 1000 Gamerscore points.

Security Shoulders: Accomplish the "Marathon Man" achievement in the Campaign Meta-game.

# Hayabusa armor

Collect the indicated number of Skulls to unlock the corresponding piece of Hayabusa armor:

Hayabusa Chest: Collect 6 Skulls
Hayabusa Helmet: Collect 13 Skulls
Hayabusa Shoulders: Collect 9 Skulls

# Skull locations

You can only collect Skulls on the Normal, Heroic, and Legendary difficulty setting. You must start from the beginning of the mission. You will not be able to see the Skulls if you load from a checkpoint, unless doing so after dieing. In Co-op mode, as soon as one player picks the Skull up, all players will receive the achievement if there is one. Not all Skulls earn an achievement; only nine of them do. To use Skulls, press X at the lobby screen. This will give you a bonus multiplier for Co-op mode and go towards earning the Guerrilla, Demon, etc. achievements.

Black Eye Skull: At the start of the "Crow's Nest" mission, without moving anything, you can see a huge pipe above you. Walk up the stairs, then up the next set. Turn to your left and jump up on the shelf unit. Jump to the red cross beam, then up onto the pipe. Then, just walk to the end. Walk over the Black Eye Skull to collect it. You do not have to pick this Skull up, it does it automatically. The Skull description reads "Bash your way to better health." When this Skull is active, your shield will instantly charge when you use melee attacks, and will not auto-recharge anymore.

Blind Skull: In the "Sierra 117" mission, when you get to the area where you see the Phantom overhead (one of the marines will point it out), jump over the rocks, and keep following the path on the right. When you get to the cliff, there will be a rock over the side. The Skull is on the end of the rock. The Skull description reads "Shoot from the hip." Note: This Skull has to be activated before you start a campaign map.

Catch Skull: In "The Storm" mission, go to where the first anti-air Wraith tank is located. There is a large gray cylinder in the that area on the ground on the far side from where you enter. The Skull is on the top of the silo. To get up there, perform a grenade jump off a Warthog or use a vehicle to push a large crate to the side of it; jump on the crate, then the silo. Note: Do not destroy the Wraith near the door or the Skull will disappear. The Skull description reads "Pull pin. Count to three. Throw." When this Skull is active, every NPC will carry two grenades and throws them often.

Alternately, take a Warthog, and park the front of it next to the cylinder. Take out a grenade (plasma recommended), and throw it at the front of the Warthog. Jump at the correct moment (usually as soon as you throw it) to get a little extra boost to your jump to get to the top to reach the Skull. This may require a few attempts.

Alternately, play in Co-op mode. Have a partner stand beside the building the Skull is on. Jump on top of them, then have them jump. At the peak of their jump, jump off of them. You will land next to the Skull. Collect it, then drop down to allow everyone else to get it.

Cowbell Skull: In "The Ark" mission, pick up a Grav Lift from the small building near where you fight the Scarab. Then, proceed through the level until you reach the second sloping hallway (stairway). You should see some partitioned risers (platforms) halfway down. The Skull is on the top level. Throw the Grav Lift on the right side of the hall so it lands on the fourth little green dot from the door. Then, run, jump, and use the Grav Lift to propel you to the top. You should reach a checkpoint just as you enter the room, so if you miss you can try again. When this Skull is active, explosive force is increased.

Famine Skull: In "The Ark" mission, when you first go into the valley to the right after the wrecked Phantom, look to your left to see a huge boulder. Use a Ghost to get to the side of the boulder that is closest to the bridge overhead. It is easy to pilot the Ghost up the side of the wall using the thrust. To get the Skull, pilot two Ghosts up the wall to the top of the bridge and stack them on top of one another next to the beam where the Skull is placed. Then, jump from the top of the Ghosts towards the Skull and land on the beam. The Skull description reads "Trust us. Bring a magazine." When this Skull is active, dropped weapons will have very little ammunition compared to normal.

Use the following trick instead of trying to get a Ghost to the Famine Skull or risking your life with a grenade. Instead of going straight to it, go the way you do later in the level with the tank. Kill all the enemies or until one drops a deployable cover. Go the way you would have. When you get over the hill, destroy the Ghosts. Go under the bridge. You will see a big rock with a pathway leading up. Follow it. When you get to the top, turn to your right. It will not have a dirt ramp, but a wall. Walk up to it. Notice the small ledge. Jump up, and walk all the way to the right. Deploy the cover so that it lands about halfway down to where the bridge slopes. Do not throw too far or it go over the ledge. Jump on top of the cover. Jump up to the narrow ledge to get the Skull. Note: There is more than one way to jump from cover to ledge; try a few if you miss.

Fog Skull: In the "Floodgate" mission, as you are walking down from the anti-air gun you destroyed in the previous mission, there will be a ramp (next to a missile launcher). Around this ramp, there is a checkpoint. At this point, you should also hear a marine yelling, “There! Over There!”. Look up and to the right, directly at the roof of the building next to the missile launcher. There is a Flood form (not to be mistaken with the two other Flood forms jumping in front of you), which is holding the Skull. Kill him before he jumps, and he will drop the Skull down to the ground where you can retrieve it. Note: Correct timing is required because if you kill him too early, the Skull will get stuck on the roof. The Skull description reads "You'll miss those eyes in the back of your head." When this Skull is active, your motion sensor disappears.

Grunt Birthday Party Skull: In the "Crow's Nest" mission, immediately after the first objective, while en route to the barracks, you will fall down to a pipe. Go to the end of that pipe, then look over the edge to find a small space a few feet below. Drop over, then quickly pull back to land under the floor you dropped from. The Skull is at the end of this area. When this Skull is active, it makes Grunts explode in confetti when they are headshot. There will also be some cheering, like a birthday party.

Iron Skull: In the "Sierra 117" mission, after freeing Johnson and killing all the Covenant that come in the Phantoms, walk to the Pelican that arrives to pick you up. Face the cargo bay, but instead of going in, turn left and follow the path. Once you hit the wall, jump up to your right to eventually reach a walkway. Walk all the way to the end. Take a left, then a right. At the end of this, a little bit to the right is a dark corner. Press Up to turn your light on and you should see the Skull. If you cannot see it, you are probably standing on it. The Skull description reads "Death carries a heavy price...". When this Skull is active, instead of losing 25 points when you die, you will lose 75.

IWHBYD Skull: In "The Covenant" mission, go to the last tower. Before you get to the Prophet of Truth, there are a series of bridges with Halos. Do not jump through any yet. First, kill the Prophet of Truth, and defeat the bridges of enemies. Then, jump through the Halos in this order, with "1" being at the entrance and "7" being the end near where the Prophet of Truth was located: 4, 6, 5, 4, 5, 3, 4. Alternately, jump through the Halos in the following order: 4, 5, 6, 5, 7, 6, 5, 4, 1, 2, 3, 2, 7, 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 5, 4, 5, 3, 4. This is much easier in Co-op mode with three or four people. This is the Halo theme if it was played on a phone by dialing the numbers. If done correctly, the Halos will start flashing, and the Skull will appear near the Prophet's ramp. If the Halos do not flash, try again. The Skull description reads "But the dog beat me over the fence." When this Skull is active, there is bonus dialogue throughout the game. IWHBYD stands for "I Would Have Been Your Daddy", which is a level chapter from the original Halo. -From: crimsontwist

Mythic Skull: In the "Halo" mission, follow the normal path until you reach a cave. Follow the right wall until it branches off into a small path. At the end of this path is some rubble, and in front is the Skull. The Skull description reads "Coverage under the Covenant health plan." When this Skull is active, you will get a 3x score multiplier for all kills.

Thunderstorm Skull: In "The Covenant" mission, after you shut down the first tower and get access to the Hornet, fly to the second tower (the one the Arbiter shut down). While walking up the stairs, go to the middle part that connects both, and there should be stairs leading up to a platform where the Skull is. The Skull description reads "Field promotions for everyone!" When this Skull is active, enemies will be much stronger.

Tilt Skull: In the "Cortana" mission, when in the circular type room with all the Flood, look for a small structure piece next to two archways. Jump on top if it, then go up on the rocks to the top left. Turn left and jump up again, then turn 180 degrees and jump to the rocks across from you. Then, follow the rock sticking out and leading up on top of the original circular room. The Skull is in a pool of blood. The Skull description reads "What was once resistant is now immunity." When this Skull is active, enemies will have different body parts that are resistance to certain bullet types.

Tough Luck Skull: In the "Tsavo Highway" mission, once you get past the part where you are forced to leave your vehicle, you will go through a tunnel and onto an open freeway. Immediately after coming out of the tunnel, you will see a huge pipe with two yellow ladders. Climb the second ladder. You should see a Regenerator power-up. Proceed to your right onto a small platform ledge where the yellow chain link fence is located. Jump onto that ledge, crossing over the fence. Directly behind you should be a large column that is holding up the giant pipe you were just on. Below that is a walkway. Fall off the ledge onto the walkway. Walk to the end of that. You should see a hidden ledge with the Skull on it. A few attempts may be requires to jump across. The Skull description reads "Your foes always make every saving throw."

# Terminal locations

The following is a list of all seven Terminal locations. To accomplish the "Marathon Man" achievement, when you find each Terminal, press RB to view the journal. The screen will eventually start to turn red. Wait until it turns blue again and a new entry will appear. You need to view both entries in all Terminals for it to count towards the "Marathon Man" achievement. -From: Jared

The Ark

1. Start the mission, then once you enter the first building, go left into another door. You should now be in a curved corridor. On the inside is a Terminal.

2. After activating the bridge to let your comrades across the gap, turn 180 degrees, and you should see a Terminal (it does not open until you activate the bridge).

3. In the third building after defeating the Scarab, kill the group of sleeping Covenant, then follow the corridor downwards. Once you reach a door in front that is locked, immediately on the left there is an open door. Go through and walk straight off, then turn 180 degrees to find a secret room with a Terminal.

The Covenant

4. When in the first tower standing on the lift, face the access panel and turn left. Jump over to find a Terminal.

5. Land your Hornet on the second tower, walk towards the entrance, but when you see the locked door, turn 180 degrees. A Terminal should be right in front of you.

6. When in the third tower standing on the lift, face the access panel and turn right. Jump over to find a Terminal.

Halo

7. After reaching the end of the first cave, follow the right wall, and you will see a building. Jump up on the walkway, then go left once inside to find a Terminal.

# Multiplayer medals

Successfully complete the indicated task in Multiplayer mode to unlock the corresponding medal. Once you unlock most medals, they will be displayed in the corner of the screen and at the end of the match. You can view all earned medals on Bungie's official website. Note: There are two medals (Linktacular and Steaktacular) which will not display a confirmation once you unlock them, but they will still appear in your medal history.

Assassin: Hit and kill an opponent with a melee attack from behind.

Beat Down: Hit and kill an opponent with a melee attack.

Bomb Planted: Plant the bomb in an Assault game type.

Bulltrue: Kill an opponent who is in the act of a sword lunge.

Death from the Grave: Kill an opponent after you have died.

Double Kill: Kill 2 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Extermination: Get an overkill on the opposing team, wiping out all of the members.

Flag Kill: Get a melee kill with the flag in a CTF game type.

Flag Score: Capture the opposing team's flag in a CTF game type.

Grenade Stick: Kill an opponent by sticking him/her with a Plasma Grenade or a Spike Grenade.

Hail to the King: Kill 5 consecutive opponents in a single life from inside the hill before it moves in a King of the Hill game type.

Hell's Janitor: Kill 10 zombies in a row as a human without dying in an Infection game type.

Highjacker: Board an enemy ground vehicle.

Incineration: Kill an opponent by using the Flamethrower.

Infection Spree: Kill 5 humans in a row as a zombie without dying in an Infection game type.

Invincible: Kill 30 opponents in a row without dying.

Juggernaut Spree: Kill 5 consecutive opponents in a single run as the Juggernaut in a Juggernaut game type.

Killapocalypse: Kill 9 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Killed Bomb Carrier: Kill the opposing bomb carrier in a Assault Gamtype.

Killed Flag Carrier: Kill the opposing flag carrier in a CTF game type.

Killed Juggernaut: Kill the Juggernaut in a Juggernaut game type.

Killed VIP: Kill the opposing VIP in a VIP game type.

Killimanjaro: Kill 7 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Killing Frenzy: Kill 10 opponents in a row without dying.

Killing Spree: Kill 5 opponents in a row without dying.

Killionaire: Kill 10 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Killjoy: End an opponent's killing spree -- any spree.

Killtacular: Kill 5 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Killtastrophe: Kill 8 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Killtrocity: Kill 6 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Laser Kill: Kill an opponent by using the Spartan Laser.

Last Man Standing: Be the last human of the game in an Infection game type.

Linktacular (secret medal): Play in a matchmade game comprised of all Bungie.net users.

Mmmm Brains: Kill 10 humans in a row as a zombie without dying in an Infection game type.

Oddball Kill: Get a melee kill when holding the ball in an Oddball game type.

Open Season: Gun down 10 opponents with a Shotgun in a row without dying.

Overkill: Kill 4 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Perfection: Win a slayer game with 15+ kills without dying.

Rampage: Kill 20 opponents in a row without dying.

Running Riot Kill 15 opponents in a row without dying.

Sharpshooter: Snipe 10 opponents in a row without dying.

Shotgun Spree: Gun down 5 opponents with a Shotgun in a row without dying.

Skyjacker: Board an enemy aircraft.

Slice 'N Dice: Cut down 10 opponents with the Plasma Sword in a row without dying.

Sniper Kill: Kill an opponent by using a sniping weapon.

Sniper Spree: Snipe 5 opponents in a row without dying.

Splatter: Hit and kill an opponent with a vehicle.

Splatter Spree: Splatter 5 opponents in a row without dying.

Steaktacular (secret medal): Beat the opposing team by over 20 kills.

Sword Spree: Cut down 5 opponents with the Plasma Sword in a row without dying.

Triple Kill: Kill 3 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.

Unstoppable: Kill 10 consecutive opponents in a single run as the Juggernaut in a Juggernaut game type.

Untouchable: Kill 25 opponents in a row without dying.

Vehicular Manslaughter: Splatter 10 opponents in a row without dying.

Wheelman: Be the driver of a vehicle when a passenger kills an opponent.

Zombie Killing Spree: Kill 5 zombies in a row as a human without dying in an Infection game type.

# Multiplayer ranks

Get the indicated number of skill and experience points to advance to the corresponding rank. Note: You can skip ranks once there is a set skill requirement. For example, you can go from Lieutenant Grade 2 (Skill: 10, EXP: 85) straight to Captain (Skill: 20, EXP: 100)

1. Recruit: Skill: 0, EXP: 1
2. Apprentice: Skill: 0, EXP: 2
3. Apprentice Grade 2: Skill: 0, EXP: 3
4. Private: Skill: 0, EXP: 5
5. Private Grade 2: Skill: 0, EXP: 7
6. Corporal: Skill: 0, EXP: 10
7. Corporal Grade 2: Skill: 0, EXP: 15
8. Sergeant: Skill: 0, EXP: 20
9. Sergeant Grade 2: Skill: 0, EXP: 30
10. Sergeant Grade 3: Skill: 0, EXP: 40
11. Gunnery Sergeant: Skill: 0, EXP: 50
12. Gunnery Sergeant Grade 2: Skill: 0, EXP: 60
13. Gunnery Sergeant Grade 3: Skill: 0, EXP: 150
14. Gunnery Sergeant Grade 4: Skill: 0, EXP: 300
15. Lieutenant: Skill: 10, EXP: 70
16. Lieutenant Grade 2: Skill: 10, EXP: 85
17. Lieutenant Grade 3: Skill: 10, EXP: 200
18. Lieutenant Grade 4: Skill: 10, EXP: 400
19. Captain: Skill: 20, EXP: 100
20. Captain Grade 2: Skill: 20, EXP: 150
21. Captain Grade 3: Skill: 20, EXP: 300
21. Captain Grade 4: Skill: 20, EXP: 600
22. Major: Skill: 30, EXP: 200
23. Major Grade 2: Skill: 30, EXP: 300
24. Major Grade 3: Skill: 30, EXP: 600
25. Major Grade 4: Skill: 30, EXP: 1,200
26. Commander: Skill: 35, EXP: 300
27. Commander Grade 2: Skill: 35, EXP: 450
28. Commander Grade 3: Skill: 35, EXP: 900
29. Commander Grade 4: Skill: 35, EXP: 1,800
30. Colonel: Skill: 40, EXP: 400
31. Colonel Grade 2: Skill: 40, EXP: 600
32. Colonel Grade 3: Skill: 40, EXP: 1,200
33. Colonel Grade 4: Skill: 40, EXP: 1,800
34. Brigadier: Skill: 45, EXP: 500
35. Brigadier Grade 2: Skill: 45, EXP: 1,000
36. Brigadier Grade 3: Skill: 45, EXP: 2,000
37. Brigadier Grade 4: Skill: 45, EXP: 4,000
38. General: Skill: 50, EXP: 600
39. General Grade 2: Skill: 50, EXP: 1,200
40. General Grade 3: Skill: 50, EXP: 2,500
41. General Grade 4: Skill: 50, EXP: 5,000

# Weapon descriptions

Assault rifle: This is a very handy weapon to fight all enemies with, but not vehicles. It is useful against both Covenant and Flood and is available throughout the game.

Pistol/Magnum: This is a very powerful dual-wielding gun that has high firing power. The new pistol no longer has a small zoom and has very little bullets. It is useful against both Covenant and Flood.

SMG: This is as powerful as in Halo 2. It has been upgraded with higher firing power and has a recoil. It is useful against both Covenant and Flood but can be difficult to find. It can be dual wielded.

Battle rifle: This is a powerful burst-firing rifle that has high damage and high accuracy. It is better against Covenant than Flood. It is useful for sniping.

Shotgun: This is a low ranged but powerful weapon. It can hold small amount of ammunition but can fire in mid-reload. It is useful against both Covenant and Flood but is far more efficient when used on the Flood.

Sniper rifle: This is an extremely long-ranged rifle that can fire four shots in one round. This is the main weapon for sniping and usually takes two shots to kill in the torso.

Rocket launcher: This is an extremely high damage weapon that is good for taking out powerful opponents and vehicles. It is also useful against groups of enemies. It has splash damage. Be careful as it can also be hazardous to yourself.

Spartan laser: This is the most powerful weapon in the game but requires a long charged wait. It is useful for killing vehicles and powerful enemies. It is vital to kill the Monitor.

Plasma rifle: This is a powerful weapon that is great against the Flood. You can dual-wield them, but they will overheat if fired for too long.

Plasma pistol: One fully powered shot can take out your shield. A powerful but difficult weapon to use. It can be dual-wielded. It is useful because of its high range and high attack speed. It is better against Covenant.

Brute spiker: This is a Brute weapon that is commonly used throughout the game. It has a medium-sized clip and can be dual-wielded. It is more powerful against Covenant.

Needler: This can no longer be dual-wielded but is much more powerful. It can now explode with four needles. It is useful against a group and powerful opponents.

Carbine: This is a Covenant version of a battle rifle. It is very useful for sniping and in close combat. It fires single shots and has an average round. It is commonly used by Jackals.

Brute shot: This is a less powerful splash weapon that is useful for taking out groups or vehicles. It has a high range and is very common throughout the game.

Beam rifle: This is a Covenant sniper-rifle. It does not require clips but cannot be fired repeatedly due to overheating. It has high range and is powerful against Brutes.

Energy sword: This is a melee weapon that is extremely powerful against one opponent, usually resulting in a one-hit kill. It is useful against both Covenant and Flood. It has a small rush towards the target before striking.

Gravity hammer: This is a rare and powerful melee weapon. It is only used by extremely powerful Brutes. It can take out groups and can push opponents away. It has a tiny rush when attacking.

Frag grenade: This is a powerful and dangerous grenade that has the highest kill-radius. It has a bounce that can make killing opponents difficult.

Plasma grenade: This is a weaker grenade that can stick to opponents and detonate, killing those around it. It sticks only to opponents.

Spike grenade: This is a less powerful but lethal version of the plasma grenade. When detonating, it sends spikes shooting in all directions. It can stick to both opponents and vehicles.

Firebomb grenade: This explodes on impact spreading flames around the area. It has a burning effect that is good against Flood more than Covenant but can spread.

# Recharge shields quicker

If your shields are down in Forge mode, press Up and they will recharge.
# Reload quicker

If you are a Spartan or Elite and your ammunition is low, press Up again while reloading to instantly reload.
# Melee faster

To melee quicker, press B, then press Y(2), B rapidly.
# Stay zoomed in

If you are zoomed in as a Spartan or Elite and turn into the Monitor, press Up to turn back into your character and still be zoomed.
# Crouching

To crouch, click and hold the Left Analog-stick. While crouched, you will not appear on motion-sensors. This is helpful in Multiplayer mode when you do not want the other team to find out where you are.
# Play as the Oracle

At the Forge lobby, press Up to turn into the Oracle. You can pick up items by pressing A when you see a green hand.
# Exploding grenades

Throw a grenade in the air, and shoot it with a sniper rifle.
# Defeating Flood

When you kill any Flood that can come back to life by the infection forms, hit the body and it should break apart. This saves ammunition.
# Defeating Wraiths

To easily kill a Wraith and save time and ammunition, aim at the little circle on its back. It only takes approximately five to ten shots to kill it this way.
# Illegal service tags

If you go to "Appearance" and try to change your service tag to "I17" (Master Chief's number is 117), the game will not allow it. It will say that the tag is reserved for use by the UNSC.

If you try to use "A55" as your service tag, you will be told that it cannot be used under UNCS regulations and rules.
# Driving vehicles through invisible walls

In certain levels in Campaign mode, you may want to take your vehicle through most of the level. However, there are invisible walls that keep the vehicle from moving past where it is needed. To pass through this, drive your vehicle through the doorway, gate, tunnel, etc. where the invisible wall is located. Just before you go through it, jump out and let the vehicle pass through the wall. This allows you to take the vehicle through the rest of the level if desired.
# Go under map in Construct multiplayer map

To do this trick, you must be in Forge mode. Make sure you sell a respawn point before doing this glitch. Start out as the Oracle. Go down the pink Grav Lift by using your boost (press LT). There should be a few holes. You cannot fit down these as the Oracle. Start boosting into one of the holes that is not a closed circle. The Oracle should go slightly lower into this hole. Make sure you keep holding boost, then turn into either Spartan or Elite. You should fall underneath the level. Make sure you drop a respawn maker on a place where you can stand so you can get back whenever desired. To confirm you are under the level, try to fly up without going through the Grav Lift. There is an invisible wall just like in the "Foundation" level in Halo 2, except on the bottom. Note: This may require a few attempts.
# Dribble Skull in Crow's Nest mission

At the beginning of the mission, grab the Skull on top of the large pipe near the ceiling before you pick up any weapons. This is easier in Co-op mode. Press RT repeatedly. This will cause Master Chief to drop the Skull, but because he has no weapons, he will immediately pick it back up, making it appear as though he is dribbling the Skull like a basketball.
# Red vs. Blue reference in Crow's Nest mission

When you begin the mission, you will find a large roadway with many Covenant forces. You are supposed to fight your way to a door that will lead you to a room with two turbine-like objects. Instead of going through this door, follow the road all the way to the end, killing all the Covenant on the way. Once you reach the end, there will be a Marine knocking on a door wanting to get in. If you listen closely, you can hear that it is actually an excerpt from Red vs. Blue where Simmons is talking to Griff trying to get into the base. Note: There is a different message for each difficulty setting:

Easy: None

Normal: Two Marines copying Red vs. Blue.

Heroic: Simmons and Griff from Red vs. Blue.

Legendary: Church and Caboose doing a "remake" of Simmons and Griff.

# Leave level boundary in Highground multiplayer map

Go down to the beach area in Forge mode, and get in a Mongoose. Have the person in the Mongoose accelerate at the barrier. Afterwards, have the Wraith boost at the back of the Mongoose from a short distance. For a brief moment the Mongoose will be past the barrier. When this happens, get out. You will then be outside of Highground. This trick works in all ocean maps.
# Evil duck in Isolation multiplayer map

In the "Isolation" multiplayer map, go to the Flood cave where the Ghost is located. Go in front of the Ghost, look up, and walk a short distance slowly. You will see a big smudge on its face, but look carefully for the duck's body. You can partly see its face and the horns on its head. This is related to the picture in Zanzibar in Halo 2.
# Leave level boundary in Isolation multiplayer map

While in Forge mode, get as high as possible as the Monitor. Spawn a teleporter on the ground. Then, hug any wall while still being as high as possible, and spawn another teleporter. If the teleporter beneath you is lit up as it should be, turn back into a Spartan or Elite, then go through the it. You should now be outside the level boundary.
# Stretchy Master Chief in Last Resort multiplayer map

While in Forge mode, move to the two Mongooses next to the building on the far side of the map from the beach. Change into the Monitor, and place six or more Fusion Coils near the side of the bridge coming out of the building. Change back to Master Chief, and stand on top of the coils. Position yourself so that when they detonate you will fly into the side of the bridge. This may require a few attempts. Then, end the game. Go to the theater and watch the movie. Play the explosion slowly by tapping A quickly to pause and restart the movie. If done correctly, upon impact Master Chief will stretch out.
# Flipped Elephant message in Sandtrap multiplayer map

Note: This trick is best done with two players. In the "Sandtrap" multiplayer map in Forge mode, first try to get as many pre-placed Fusion Coils and Plasma Batteries before starting. Place as many Fusion Coils and Plasma Batteries as possible in front of an Elephant, then drive into the pile. Then, shoot at the pile until it explodes. It will either just jump a little, stand up on the rear, or turn all the way around. When you get close, the message "Hold RB to flip... wait, what? How did you do that?" will appear. -From: Matthew Garriga

Get two Elephants to collide into each other. Have one flip the other over. When one is flipped over and you get close, the message "Hold RB to flip... wait, what? How did you do that?" will appear.

Drive the Elephant on a hill so it stays on it. Put exploding crates around the hanger. Blow up the crates with a plasma grenade. When it is flipped over and you get close, the message "Hold RB to flip... wait, what? How did you do that?" will appear. You can keep flipping it back and forth.
# Breathing under water in Sierra 117 mission

At the end of the level, when the Pelican arrives after you have rescued Johnson, it destroys the two Covenant ships, one being above the water just outside of where Johnson is held. The other one is above the water in the place just before the Pelican lands. You can climb in. Once the Covenant ship is destroyed on the side where it picks you up, the debris that remains will float on the water. Jump onto it, and let it sink. After that, all you can do is just jump from one piece of debris to the other. If you touch the ground, you will die.
# Monkeys with teddy bear in Sierra 117 mission

After you come into contact with the snipers in the woods, follow the left rock path to find a strange family of monkeys holding a teddy bear.
# Hidden area in Tsavo Highway mission

After the part where you exit your Warthog, jump across the bridge, and kill the Brute and two Grunts that are attacking your men. Turn directly around, facing toward where you came from. Look to your left, and you will see a structure. Go up to the wall on the structure, and look to your right. There should be a pathway. Follow the path until you get on top of a bridge-like structure. There should be some dead UNSC Marines, a sniper rifle, and some other ammunition.
# Crossing broken bridge with vehicles in Tsavo Highway mission

When you reach the bridge with a Warthog or other vehicle with barriers, normally you cannot cross this area. However, back in one of the buildings before the bridge is a Grav Lift. Get it, and throw it a bit before the break in the bridge, then run the Warthog or any other vehicle over it. This will make the next area much easier, especially on the Legendary difficulty setting.
# Leave level boundary in Valhalla multiplayer map

Go to the ocean barrier (the side with the ocean). Then, you and another player must get a Mongoose and Wraith. Have one player drive the Mongoose into the barrier. Keep accelerating, and have the other player get into the Wraith. Drive behind the Mongoose inside the Wraith, and use the boost. You must be close for the Mongoose to go through. Once you hit it, the other player must jump out once he or she is pass the barrier.
# Easy "Used Car Salesman" achievement

Go to the beginning of "The Ark" mission. Make sure you have a guest or a friend to help. Continue the mission until you reach where the crashed Pelican is found (after the first terminal). Kill the blue Brute, and grab the rocket launcher under the crashed Pelican. Continue to where the choppers are located. As you are moving, a Prowler will drive by. Ignore it because it will soon stop and abandon the Prowler leading to failure of the achievement. Another Prowler will follow. Have your guest or friend shoot it twice with a Brute Shot, then shoot at it with your rockets to get the achievement. Note: If you are by yourself, do the same thing, but instead of using a Brute Shot, throw a grenade in front of it. Then, shoot it with the rockets.
# Achievements

Accomplish the indicated achievement to get the corresponding number of Gamerscore points:

Landfall (20 points): Finish the first mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
Holdout (20 points): Finish the second mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
The Road (20 points): Finish the third mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
Assault (30 points): Finish the fourth mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
Cleansing (30 points): Finish the fifth mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
Refuge (30 points): Finish the sixth mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
Last Stand (40 points): Finish the seventh mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
The Key (40 points): Finish the eighth mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
Return (50 points): Finish the final mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
Campaign Complete: Normal (125 points): Finish the Campaign on Normal.
Campaign Complete: Heroic (125 points): Finish the Campaign on Heroic (unlocks achievement for Normal, if not earned).
Campaign Complete: Legendary (125 points): Finish the Campaign on Legendary (unlocks achievements for Normal and Heroic, if not earned).
Iron (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Black Eye (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Tough Luck (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Catch (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Fog (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Famine (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Thunderstorm (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Tilt (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Mythic (10 points): Find and claim this skull when playing on Normal, Heroic or Legendary difficulty.
Graduate (10 points): Earn 5 EXP or finish 10 games to complete the requirements for basic training (Online).
UNSC Spartan (15 points): Earn your Sergeant rating to be recognized as a true Spartan (Online).
Spartan Officer (25 points): Advance to the Spartan Officer ranks (Online).
Two for One (5 points): Score a Double Kill with a single Spartan laser shot in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
Too Close to the Sun (5 points): Destroy an enemy Banshee with the Spartan laser or missile pod in a ranked playlist or in campaign.
Triple Kill (5 points): Kill 3 enemies within 4 seconds of one another in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
Overkill (5 points): Kill 4 enemies within 4 seconds of one another in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
Lee R Wilson Memorial (5 points): Score 5 grenade sticks in any ranked free for all playlist (Online).
We're in for some Chop (5 points): Destroy an enemy vehicle with equipment in a ranked playlist or in campaign.
Killing Frenzy (5 points): Kill 10 enemies without dying in any ranked free for all playlist (Online).
Steppin' Razor (5 points): Score a Triple Kill with the sword in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
Mongoose Mowdown (5 points): Splatter an enemy with the mongoose in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
Up Close and Personal (5 points): Kill 5 enemies by melee or assassination in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
Fear the Pink Mist (5 points): Kill 5 enemies with the needler in a ranked free for all playlist or in campaign.
Headshot Honcho (5 points): Kill 10 enemies with headshots in a ranked free for all playlist or in campaign.
Used Car Salesman (5 points): Destroy a vehicle that has three enemies in it in a ranked playlist or in campaign.
Marathon Man (40 points): Locate and access all Terminals in the Campaign.
MVP (5 points): Earn the MVP in any ranked playlist (Online).
Maybe Next Time Buddy (5 points): Board the same vehicle within 10 seconds after being boarded in any free for all playlist (Online).
Guerilla (10 points): Score over 15,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the first mission.
Demon (10 points): Score over 15,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the second mission.
Cavalier (10 points): Score over 15,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the third mission.
Askar (10 points): Score over 15,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the fourth mission.
Exterminator (10 points): Score over 15,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the fifth mission.
Ranger (10 points): Score over 50,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the sixth mission.
Vanguard (10 points): Score over 50,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the seventh mission.
Orpheus (10 points): Score over 15,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the eighth mission.
Reclaimer (10 points): Score over 15,000 points in the Campaign meta-game on the final mission.

Cheat Codes for WarCraft 3: The Frozen Throne

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:38:00 +0000

Cheat mode: (Single Player)
Press "Enter" to display the two player message box, type one of the
following codes, then press "Enter" again to activate the corresponding
cheat function. The message "Cheat Code Enabled" will appear to confirm
correct code entry.

Effect                                          Code
Invincibility and one hit kills                 whosyourdaddy
Full map                                        iseedeadpeople
Instant victory                                 allyourbasearebelongtous
Instant defeat                                  somebodysetupusthebomb
Continue playing after losing in campaign mode  strengthandhonor
Remove spell cool down                          thedudeabides
Disable victory conditions                      itvexesme
Gold; 500 is default                            keysersoze 
Lumber; 500 is default                          leafittome 
Gold and lumber                                 greedisgood 
Fast construction                               warpten
Fast death                                      iocainepowder
No need for food                                pointbreak
Fast research                                   whoisjohngalt
Research upgrades                               sharpandshiny
Disable Tech Tree requirements in campaign      synergy
Set time to morning                             riseandshine
Set time to evening                             lightsout
Set time of day                                 daylightsavings <1-24>
Toggle daylight progression                     daylightsavings
Unlimited mana                                  thereisnospoon
Trees disappear                                 abrakadabra
Your and allies heroes are level 10             ihavethepower
20 footmen                                      lamisilat
Level select1                                   motherland  
Hear credits music                              TenthLevelTaurenChieftain

Xbox Memo Reveals Several Exclusives

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:10:00 +0000

Dean Takahashi, God love him, seems to be the go to guy for MS when they want to “leak” something. The latest proof of this is a memo sent to Dean from the head of Xbox, Don Mattrick. The memo implies that Xbox has a few tricks up it’s sleeve. Memo and more after the jump:

Below is a memo from Don Mattrick that was originally intended for internal distribution within the Xbox branch of Microsoft. Somehow the memo ended up on ‘ol Takahashi’s desk. While the memo’s details don’t go far beyond what we already knew in terms of exclusive titles, the memo does state that the 360 has “several” unannounced exclusives. I think our readers and forum members know what some of those exclusives are. Check out the memo for yourself and tell us what you think.

Team,

These are truly exciting times for us in the Interactive Entertainment Business.

Tonight Bill Gates and Robbie Bach will take the stage in Las Vegas to kick off the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where it will be announced that according to US NPD data through November, Xbox 360 is on track to register the biggest year in video game history.

While final sales numbers are still being collected, consumers in North America have spent over $3.5 billion dollars on Xbox 360 hardware, software and accessories. That’s $1 billion more than consumers spent on the Wii, and $2 billion more than the PS3. When December data is added, we expect Xbox 360 in 2007 to have generated more calendar year revenue than any other gaming platform ever, including PS2 at its peak.

Thank you all for your hard work. It’s because of your efforts this holiday and throughout the previous year that we’ve been able to drive this historic growth and sell over 17.7 million consoles worldwide. Our growth also continues online, where I’m proud to announce we have surpassed the 10 million member mark on Xbox LIVE, over six months ahead of schedule.

This growth, however, is not limited to just Microsoft and Xbox 360. The work that you do is also driving growth throughout our industry’s entire ecosystem. History has shown that the eventual winner of each console generation was the console that generated the most 3rd party revenue, and according to the most recent NPD data, Xbox 360 generated more 3rd party revenue in 2007 than Nintendo and Sony combined.

In 2007 the best games in our industry were on our platform, driving better-than-expected sales results for both first and third party games:

· “Halo 3” sold 8.1 million units worldwide and logged over 1.5 billion multiplayer matches since launch – that’s an average of 14 million matches a day

· “Mass Effect” sold 1.6 million units worldwide, after just five weeks on the market

· We expect at least seven different franchise titles to have sold in excess of one million units on Xbox 360, including “Halo 3,” “Mass Effect,” “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare,” “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock,” “BioShock,” “Assassin’s Creed” and “Madden NFL 08”

· “Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action” has already achieved its total FY08 revenue budget in just two months, helping establish a new franchise for the Xbox 360 that reaches out to a broad audience of social gamers

· Xbox 360 titles have received the highest average review scores this generation according to Metacritic, with the majority of cross-platform titles posting higher review scores on Xbox 360 than PS3

At CES Robbie will announce new content and partnerships that cement our position as the clear leader in delivering digital entertainment to the living room. Right now Xbox LIVE Marketplace features over 3,500 total hours of downloadable content and has hosted more than 380 million downloads, along with the largest library of on-demand, high definition content in the US. Now, Xbox LIVE Marketplace will add TV and movie content from the Disney-ABC Television Group and MGM Studios, bringing hits to our platform including TV shows Lost and Grey’s Anatomy and movies including Legally Blonde, Silence of the Lambs and Barbershop.

Robbie will also announce an exciting new partnership with BT to offer a first-of-its kind complete entertainment experience to all BT broadband customers by making Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) available through Xbox 360 through BT’s service BT Vision. This groundbreaking partnership will bring BT’s extensive library of on-demand content to the Xbox 360 and give consumers yet another option to get high definition content on our platform.

This year’s CES also proves to be exciting for Microsoft as a whole, with Bill Gates introducing a new wave of software-based services for TV, online, mobile phones and automobiles.

Moving Forward

Looking ahead, I believe we will close 2008 with Xbox 360 being the leader of this generation of consoles.

We’ve led our industry in developing and publishing great games on a platform that is equal parts hardware, software and services. We’ve led in driving growth for our partners at record rates. Now, it is our mission to fully deliver on our promise for Xbox 360 to be the console of choice for everyone in the family.

This year will be judged by which console will best capture core gamers and captivate the masses with both exciting new gaming content and access to great movie and TV content online. By this measurement, I feel confident that we are best positioned for success.

Games

We have the big blockbuster hits that everyone wanted to play. Of the top 20 best-selling titles in 2007 this generation, 13 were on Xbox 360, compared to seven on the Wii and zero on the PS3 according to NPD.

Games sell better on Xbox 360 because they play better on Xbox 360. From “Halo 3” to “Mass Effect” to “Bioshock,” Xbox 360 has the highest-rated and hottest games. In fact, Xbox 360 has 6 of the top 10 highest-ranked games this generation according to Metacritic, the world-wide authority in entertainment reviews.

When you look at the best-reviewed games, consumers will find that Xbox 360 has more than double the number of titles (81) with a Metacritic score of 80 or higher than PS3 (40), and six times more than the Wii (13).

In 2008 the hits will continue to come with exclusives including “Halo Wars,” “Too Human,” “Fable 2,” Alan Wake,” “Splinter Cell: Conviction,” and several exciting yet-to-be-announced titles. Xbox 360 will be home to the next versions of great franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Resident Evil, and we will continue to be the leading choice for sports fans, with the next editions of Madden and FIFA looking and playing better on our platform.

Analyst believes PS3 will win war and I laugh

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:31:00 +0000

Can you win? Not a chance.

According to an analyst over at Screen Digest discussing video game trends with Economist, not only will the Playstation 3 beat out the Xbox 360 in this generation's console war, he fully expects Sony's console to surpass the Wii by 2011.

The reason: as more games become available for the Playstation 3, more people will find a reason to buy the console, which will propel Sony to the top spot.

Although I can see where the analyst is coming from, I think he's dead wrong. Will the Playstation 3 overtake the Wii? Absolutely. But will it beat out the Xbox 360 when it's all said and done? Not a chance.

Why Sony will beat Nintendo

As I've mentioned before, Sony and its newly refreshed Playstation 3 will kick the Wii to the curb.

Sure, with its current success, it's easy to think that the Wii will always stay atop the list of the most popular video game consoles on the market. But at what point will everyone realize that the Wii is a fun device to play when a group of people are around, but quite boring when it's just you?

I think it has already happened with current Wii owners. A quick glance at October 2007 video game sales figures show that the Wii only holds two out of the top ten places with Guitar Hero III and Wii Play.

And if that means nothing else, it tells you one important fact about Wii owners -- they really only play a handful of games and don't bother to buy most of the games that are currently available for the console.

As I've said before, the Wii is a novelty device that doesn't have the long-term appeal that the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 do. Is it a fun console to use? Sure. Are there some good games? You bet. But is there enough of a software offering and downright appeal to entice gamers to buy a Wii over a Playstation 3? Right now, it does. But within the next year, look for Wii sales to slump as the PS3 continues to grow.

Suffice it to say, the Wii is a fine device, but it's not going to continue selling this well and if Japanese console figures are any indication of the rest of the world, Nintendo won't be selling more Wii units than Sony going forward.

Look for the Wii to end this console war in third place.

The Xbox 360 will take the day

Why has everyone just about written off the Xbox 360? Let's not forget that it was the first entrant into this generation and to this day, it's still selling quite well. And although it no longer holds the top spot for most consoles sold (it has the Wii to thank for that), I truly believe it will win this war.

Remember those October 2007 sales figures I mentioned? Well if you look at that list again, you'll find that the Xbox 360 accounted for three of those spots and was tied with the Playstation 2 for most games on the chart. By the way, the Playstation 3 didn't even make the cut.

Perhaps most astounding from the report by the analyst is his assertion that the Playstaion 3 will surpass the Xbox 360 in 2008 and never look back. Huh?

Doesn't this analyst know that in the US alone, the Xbox 360 has sold more units than both the Wii and Playstation 3? And doesn't he know that in worldwide sales, the Playstation is still millions of units behind the Xbox 360?

Now, just because the console is behind now, it doesn't mean it can't surpass the Xbox 360 and contrary to what I may believe may happen in the end, I think Sony has a shot at surpassing the Xbox 360 for at least a year during this console cycle. But in the end, the Playstation 3 will fall to the Xbox 360's side because of software.

At this point, there is no debating the fact that Microsoft has been successful because of its relationship with developers and the general consensus from developers is that development for the Xbox 360 is much easier and far more efficient from a money-making standpoint.

More than anything else, this is where Microsoft will be able to take the day. If developers prefer to create games on the Xbox 360 and they find that development on that console is most advantageous, what's the impetus for those same developers to create compelling titles on the Xbox 360? And while this industry is full of game porting, if you currently own an Xbox 360 and more and more games are ported to other consoles, why would you want to buy new hardware to play the same game you can already have on your current machine?

I commend Sony on reducing development costs in an attempt to coax developers to its side and I think its decision to drop the price of the PS3 was an intelligent one. But in the end, when console sales start to dwindle and people are only buying hardware because of the games that are available and not those that will be available, Sony's console will start to falter. At the same time, Microsoft's Xbox 360 will continue to sell well and eventually take the day. Just look at either console's upcoming release calendar and you'll know what I mean.

And in the end, the tried and true trend in gaming will still be true: innovation and advanced technology are great, but it's the games that matter. And when it comes to the variety and appeal of games, Microsoft commands the market.

The Future of Sandbox Games

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:24:00 +0000

Last summer, we launched our new GAMBIT lab, which brings together students and researchers from around the world, to work together to develop projects which stretch our understanding of the medium. Thanks to a grant from the National Research Foundation and the Media Development Authority of Singapore, more than fifty faculty and students from nine different universities and polytechnics in Singapore come to MIT to work with our students, faculty, and staff, in a rapid design and development process. Students working on this project are able to go from conceptualization to user-testing, developing a finished, playable game in a little over eight weeks.

Matthew Weise is one of the people we've brought to MIT to help supervise the production process. Weise is equal parts gamer and cinephile, having attended film school before segueing into game studies and then game development. Matt is a producer for GAMBIT and a full-time gamer, which means he not only plays games on a variety of systems but he also completes (most of) them. Matthew did his undergrad at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where he studied film production before going rogue to design his own degree. He graduated in 2001 with a degree in Digital Arts, which included videogames (this was before Game Studies was a field). He continued his research at MIT's Comparative Media Studies program, where he worked on Revolution with The Education Arcade. After leaving MIT in 2004 Matt worked in mobile game development for a few years, occassionally doing some consultancy work, before returning to work at GAMBIT.

Matt, along with Clara Fernandez and Philip Tan, two other alums of the CMS graduate program who have returned to MIT to oversee the launch of the GAMBIT lab, have been the primary writers of a recently launched blog, affiliated with the lab, which showcases games research at MIT, offers reviews of innovative games, and shares commentary on trends, ranging for public policy to product placements, which are impacting the current games sector. Check it out!

If you'd like to know more about how GAMBIT contributes to undergraduate education in games at MIT, check out this recent story written by Game Tap's Jonathan Miller. Weiss is spearheading the development of a new game, GunPlay, which is featured in the story:

Consider GunPlay, one of GAMBIT's four undergrad research projects this semester. Using the Source engine made famous by Half Life 2, the students are creating a first-person shooter that doesn't feature any weapons or ammunition. Instead, GunPlay is based on the childhood game of guns in which kids used their hands as makeshift pistols and yelled out "bang!" in order to shoot.
While the early prototype is still running in the Half-Life 2 universe, the final coat of graphics will feature children scampering about a playground. The team has already replaced the Half-Life weapons with children's hands. Instead of bullets firing from a pistol, a voice yells out "bang!" You can also switch to a shotgun ("ch, ch, bang!") or a machine gun (bangbangbangbangbang). It's, quite simply, hilarious.

The point of GunPlay is somewhat more profound. First-person shooters are often denounced by politicians and parenting groups for their ultra-violent gameplay. But what if you remove the bullets and the blood and make the exact same shooter with smiley-faced grade schoolers? Is a child shooting another child with his imagination, using the exact same gameplay mechanics as Doom or Halo, still violent?

And then consider what reactions would have been if the team had chosen to take a completely opposite direction that bordered on obscene. GAMBIT faculty member Matt Weise points to Raph Koster, who examined how context affects gameplay. Imagine if, for example, that instead of placing colored blocks in Tetris that you were organizing corpses in a Nazi death camp puzzle game. It's graphic and profane and not a game you would ever want to see. But it is nonetheless an important way to examine violence in games.

It's this kind of dialogue that Weise hopes will get game designers and critics thinking. Is it the act of pulling the trigger that can be considered violent, or does it depend on context, be it the playground, Auschwitz, or the fictional City 17? Answering these questions through research is at the very core of GAMBIT's mission. "Whatever you can do to get people talking and increase discussion on designing games is a good thing," Weise says.

Still, the team behind GunPlay is focused on making the game fun to actually play. Some challenges ahead include creating an argument system for when one Child 1 shoots Child 2 but Child 2 says that Child 1 missed. While this argument was common on the playground when we were kids, how do you incorporate it in a videogame? Use a voting system? A bully meter? Such are the dilemmas for a game designer.

I asked Matt to share with my readers what he's thinking about these days. What follows are his thoughts on Assassin's Creed and Sandbox Gaming.

The Future of Sandbox Gaming
by Matthew Weise

Chris Kohler over at Wired has written a brutal review of Assassin's Creed.

[T]he open-world concept does absolutely nothing for Assassin's Creed's gameplay. I simply can't see any reason why they decided to go this route other than the fact that sandbox games are the hip new thing that all the kids are doing these days. Yes, it's initially very impressive to look upon and roam about this vast, detailed world. But a progressive, linear series of deliberate challenges would have suited the concept so much better.

Sandbox is a term often used but rarely defined. There is a general awareness that the term refers to open-ended game design, but there are many types of open-endedness. In the loosest sense almost any game that does not funnel player navigation into some obvious path could be considered sandbox. The most commonly cited example of this is Grand Theft Auto, with its giant world freely navigatable by car. Recent titles identified as sandbox games often take GTA as a model, as in the case of Spider-Man 2, Mercenaries, or Saint's Row. All these games feature massive worlds, rapid navigation systems for travel, and amusement park-like mission design.

Although Kohler never defines exactly what he means by sandbox it feels like he's using the popular definition, citing the incompatibility of stealth with a GTA-style massive world. "How do you make an open-world Metal Gear Solid? Apparently you don't," he concludes.

Ironically, I've long considered Metal Gear Solid--and many stealth games in general--sandbox games. I've used the term sandbox to refer to any game world--regardless of size and scope--that offers free-roaming, open-ended gameplay. For example, I've always felt Mario64 is the greatest sandbox game ever made because of its ingenious non-linear level design. Levels in Mario64 do not rely on multiple paths but instead allow for improvisational play based on a simple, elegant rule set. In my view this is what all good stealth games do as well. Games like Thief, Tenchu, and Hitman are based largely on open-ended spaces designed for improvisational play. And even once-linear series like Splinter Cell and Sly Cooper seem determined to adopt more open-ended design with each new installment. I'd say stealth has the market cornered on sandbox design in a way no other single genre has... which is why Creed's inability to create a deep sandbox experience is so interesting.

Assassin's Creed's problem is that it's too much GTA and not enough Mario64. The cities are massive and the player can run, jump, and climb effortlessly over every building. This lies in stark contrast to stealth games like Hitman, which also have fairly large environments yet limit the player's actions in ways that create tension and strategy. It's not the complexity of the world in Assassin's Creed that's the problem. The problem is that the player's super-human abilities negate most of that complexity. One can easily imagine a version of Assassin's Creed in which Altair is far more mortal, enemies far more deadly, and climbable structures far more limited. It's also easy to imagine a world where targets are available at all times. Then it would be entirely up to the player to decide how and when to perform a hit--sort of like deciding how and when you get a star in Mario64. In the current game, though, it's as if the designers feared Creed would be too short if players were simply allowed to use the freedom they were given, hence the GTA-style mission design in which the people you are supposed to assassinate only "appear" after you complete task A, B, and C.

When I think of open-ended world design I tend to think of worlds that don't involve such limitations. Call it the result of a childhood playing Ultima. I think of worlds in which, if you need to kill the dragon in the cave and you happen to have a drill, there's no reason you can't just drill straight down, bypassing all his little traps, and kill the bastard. That's open-ended to me. That's sandbox. The pleasure of such incredible agency is much more satisfying than any forced narrative structure.

It's true that Assassin's Creed offers some interesting dynamics. Kohler mentions how absurd it is that your targets--which are really just bosses--will follow you to the ends of the earth in an effort to kill you should you botch a hit. This is sort of stupid, but that doesn't mean it can't result in an interesting experience. Once I was being pursued by a target who had spotted me. He began following me up a ladder to a rooftop, brandishing his sword. Instead of engaging him in a swordfight I waited until his head peaked over the roof's edge, quickly grabbed him by the face, and threw him to his death. I have to admit I found this both hilarious and satisfying. It gets hard after a while, though, to see such character behavior as anything but predictable A.I. since all bosses seem to display this suicidal quirk. And even if there were deeper dynamics to be explored in each boss encounter, you cannot actually go back and explore them without restarting the chapter and sitting through endless unskippable cut-scenes. So while there may be some depth to Creed's dynamics, you'll likely never see them since you've got basically one chance at each boss.

Part of me wonders if a good chunk of Creed's problems might gave been solved by a manual save system. In most stealth games I find myself wanting to perform tasks perfectly, which means I like to replay certain moments over and over in an effort to perform them in exactly the way I find the most dramatically satisfying. Creed actively prevents this: you have to live with your mistakes. While I respect that philosophy in the abstract, I think it undercuts Assassin's Creed. Altair is a badass; the player is not. Therefore the player has to make mistakes in order to assume the role of their avatar. By the time I've replayed a Hitman level six times in order to achieve the Silent Assassin rating, I feel like I've become an assassin. The ability to engage in such trial and error in Creed might have totally altered the experience.

It will be interesting to see how sandbox gaming evolves in the future. Are we going to get bigger worlds with shallower dynamics or smaller worlds with deeper dynamics? Or maybe there doesn't have to be a trade off. I still don't believe sandbox games, stealth or otherwise, have to sacrifice depth for size. Hopefully a game will come along that will prove this someday. Maybe it will be Assassin's Creed II.

TIP N TRICKS - I

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:54:00 +0000

TO GET RICH QUICK IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY, SMART BETTING IS KEY! LEARN THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE WITH GAMBLING FOR DUMMIES

New York – Every minute of every day someone somewhere is placing a bet with the hopes of hitting it big. Gambling is a fast growing passion, and most would agree that a few tips and tricks would be much appreciated. The authors of Gambling For Dummies have just what your readers’ are looking for: a guide to the $500 billion gaming industry that could help your readers’ strike it rich (or at least hit one winning bet!)

Gambling For Dummies (Wiley; ISBN: 0-7645-5360-7, $21.99) is stocked with information that will appeal to the first time gambler who has never stepped foot into a casino or racetrack as well as the seasoned gambling veteran who is not doing as well as he thinks he should. Your audience can use Gambling For Dummies to get started on their way toward not only understanding this tricky business, but also enjoying it and possibly succeeding at it as well. Gambling For Dummies includes chapters explaining various casino games, the best games to win at and the games to avoid, gambling etiquette, strategies, tips on horse racing, sports betting and the ever so popular lottery. This book also includes information on Internet gambling, the laws on gambling, and how to report those fleeting gambling winnings to the IRS.

Some of the tricks and strategies offered in Gambling For Dummies are:

* Understanding Basic Gambling Principles. Information on why people gamble, places to gamble (legally, of course!), knowing and estimating your true odds, beating the odds and overall just ending up a winner.
* Games you can WIN!: The authors of this book believe the only games that have the best odds for winning are: Poker, blackjack, video poker, sports betting and horse racing. Here your readers can get information on the decks, smart bets, the terminology used, rankings, etiquette, strategy and more.
* Games that you should STAY CLEAR of: If your readers are serious about winning, then they should stay away from slot machines, craps, roulette, baccarat, keno, the lottery and all of those “other” casino games. These sections uncover the myths behind “easy” games like slots and the lottery; the reality of the odds (how they are always against the player); the lingo used during these games; and the games you will waste your time and money playing.
* A gambler’s guide to gaming: Discover the truths about Internet gambling and safety, complimentary offerings, gambling and the law, and the ever so famous IRS who will share in your winnings.

Slot Machines

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:33:00 +0000

First Thing first gambling is a really bad addiction.

Virtually anyone who visits a casino, even for the first time, is familiar with a slot machine and how it operates: just put in your money, pull the handle and wait a few seconds to see if you win. It isn’t intimidating like table games where you really need some knowledge of the rules before you play and it’s this basic simplicity that accounts for much of the success of slot machines in the modern American casino.

As a matter of fact, the biggest money-maker for casinos is the slot machine
with approximately 60 to 65 percent of the average casino’s profits being
generated by slot machine play. As an example, in Nevada’s fiscal year ending June 30, 1998 the total win by all of the state’s casinos was a little more than $7.8 billion. Of that amount, slightly more than $5 billion, or about 64 percent, was from slot machine winnings.

With this in mind, you must ask yourself, “can I really win money by playing slot machines?” The answer is a resounding yes...and no. First the “no” part: in simplest terms a slot machine makes money for the casino by paying out less money than it takes in. In some states, such as Nevada and New Jersey, the minimum amount to be returned is regulated. In Nevada the minimum is 75 percent and in New Jersey it’s 83 percent. However, if you look at the slot payback percentages for those particular states in this book you will see that the actual average payback percentages are much higher. In New Jersey it’s about 91 percent and in Nevada it’s about 95 percent. Even though the actual paybacks are higher than the law requires, you can still see that on average for every $1 you play in an Atlantic City slot machine you will lose 9¢ and in a Las Vegas slot machine you will lose 5¢. Therefore, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that if you stand in front of a slot machine and continue to pump in your money, eventually, you will lose it all. On average, it will take you longer to lose it in Las Vegas rather than Atlantic
City, but the result is still the same: you will go broke.

Gee, sounds kind of depressing, doesn’t it? Well, cheer up because now we go on to the “yes” part. But, before we talk about that, let’s first try to
understand how slot machines work. All modern slot machines contain a random number generator (RNG) which is used to control the payback percentage for each machine. When a casino orders a slot machine it tells the manufacturer what percentage it wants that machine to pay back and that amount is programmed into the RNG. A casino can always change the payback percentage, but in order to do that it must go back to the manufacturer to get a new RNG programmed with the new amount. For this reason, most casinos rarely change their payback percentages unless there is a major revision in their marketing philosophy. And what exactly is a random number generator? Well, it’s a little computer chip that is constantly working (as its name implies) to generate number combinations on a random basis. It does this extremely fast and is capable of producing hundreds of combinations each second. When you put in a coin, or push the bet button, the RNG stops and the combination it stops at is used to determine where the reels will stop in the pay window. Unlike video poker machines, you have no way of knowing what a slot machine is programmed to pay back just by looking at it. The only way to tell is by knowing what is programmed into the RNG.

Okay, now let’s get back to the “yes” part. Yes, you can win money on slot
machines by using a little knowledge, practicing some money management and, mostly, having lots of luck. First, the knowledge part. You need to know what kind of player you are and how much risk you are willing to take. Do you want to go for the giant progressive jackpot that could make you a millionaire in an instant or would you be content walking away just a few dollars ahead?

An example of a slot machine with a wide-area progressive jackpot is Nevada’s Megabucks where the jackpot starts at $5 million. These $1 machines are located at more than 125 Nevada casinos at various locations around the state and are linked together by a computer. It’s fine if that’s the kind of machine you want to play, but keep in mind that the odds are fairly
astronomical of you hitting that big jackpot. Also, the overall payback
percentage is lower on these machines than the average $1 machine. During
Nevada’s fiscal year ending June 30, 1998 Megabucks averaged around 87% payback while the typical $1 machine in Nevada averaged a little more than 95%. So, be aware that if you play the machines with the wide-area progressive jackpots you’ll win fewer small payouts and it will be very difficult to leave as a winner. Unless, of course, you hit that big one! If you really like to play the wide-area progressive machines your best bet is probably to set aside a small percentage of your bankroll (maybe 10 to 15 percent) for chasing that big jackpot and saving the rest for the regular machines.

One other thing you should know about playing these wide-area progressives is that on most of them, including Megabucks, you will receive your jackpot in
equal payments over a period of years (usually 25). You can avoid this,
however, by playing at one of the casinos that link slot machines at their
own properties and will pay you in one lump sum. The Circus Bucks slots at
Circus Circus casinos in Nevada offer this as well as the Million Dollar
Babies at Caesars Palace. There is also a wide-area progressive slot system
called Cool Millions which will pay the first one million dollars immediately.

Knowledge also comes into play when deciding how many coins to bet. You should always look at the payback schedule posted on the machine to see if a bonus is payed for playing the maximum number of coins that the machine will accept.

For example, if it’s a two-coin machine and the jackpot payout is 500 coins
when you bet one coin, but it pays you 1,200 coins when you bet two coins,
then that machine is paying you a 200 coin bonus for playing the maximum
number of coins and you should always bet the maximum two coins to take
advantage of that bonus. However, if it’s a two-coin machine that will pay you
500 coins for a one-coin bet and 1,000 coins for a two-coin bet, then there is
no advantage to making the maximum bet on that machine and you should only bet the minimum amount.

Knowledge of which casinos offer the best payback percentages is also helpful. When available, we print that information in this book to help you decide where to go for the best return on your slot machine dollar. You may want to go to the Las Vegas Strip to see the free pirate show at Treasure Island, but take a look at the slot machine payback percentages for the Strip area casinos in the Las Vegas section and you'll see that you can get better returns for your slot machine dollar by playing at the off-Strip area casinos.

The final bit of knowledge you need concerns slot clubs. Every major casino
has a slot club and you should make it a point to join the slot club before
you insert your first coin. It doesn’t cost anything to join and as a member
you will be able to earn complimentaries from the casinos in the form of cash,
food, shows, drinks, rooms or other “freebies.” When you join the club you’ll
be issued a card (similar to a credit card) that you insert in the machine
before you start to play and it will track how much you bet, as well as how
long you play. Naturally, the more money you gamble, the more “freebies”
you’ll earn. Just make sure you don’t get carried away and bet more than
you’re comfortable with just to earn some extra “comps.” Ideally, you want to
get “comps” for gambling that you were going to do anyway and not be pressured into betting more than you had planned.

Now let’s talk about money management. The first thing you have to remember when playing slot machines is that there is no skill involved. Unlike
blackjack or video poker, there are no decisions you can make that will affect
whether you win or lose. It is strictly luck, or the lack of it, that will determine whether or not you win. However, when you are lucky enough to get
ahead (even if it’s just a little) that’s where the money management factor
comes in. As stated earlier, the longer you stand in front of a machine and
put in your money, the more likely you are to go broke. Therefore, there is
only one way you can walk away a winner and that’s to make sure that when you do win, you don’t put it all back in. You really need to set a “win goal” for yourself and to stop when you reach it. A realistic example would be a “win goal” of roughly 25 percent of your bankroll. If you started with $400, then you should stop if you win about $100. The “win goal” you decide on is up to you, but keep in mind that the higher your goal, the harder it will be to
reach it, so be practical. And what if you should happen to reach your goal?
Take a break! Go have a meal, see a show, visit the lounge for a drink or
even just take a walk around the casino. You may have the urge to keep
playing, but if you can just take a break from the machines, even it’s just
for a short time, you’ll have the satisfaction of leaving as a winner. If,
later on, you get really bored and find that you just have to go back to the
machines you can avoid a total loss by not risking more than half of your
winnings and by playing on smaller denomination machines. If you made your
winnings on $1 machines, move down to quarters. If you won on quarters, move down to nickels. The idea now is basically to kill some time and have a little fun knowing that no matter what happens you’ll still leave as a winner.

And now, let’s move on to luck. As stated previously, the ultimate decider in
whether or not you win is how lucky you are when you play. But, is there
anything you can do to help you choose a “lucky” or “winning” machine? Not
really, because there is no such thing as a “winning” machine. Remember, in
the long run, no machine will pay out more than it takes in. There are,
however, some things you could try to help you find the more generous machines and avoid the stingy ones. Keep in mind that all of the slot machine payback percentages shown in this book are averages. Some machines are programmed to pay back more than average and some machines are programmed to pay less. Also, like everything else in life, machines have good cycles where they pay out more than average and bad cycles where they pay out less than average. Ultimately, what you want to find is a high-paying machine in a good cycle. Of course if I knew how to find that machine I wouldn’t be writing this story, instead I’d be standing in front of it with a $100 bill in my hand and looking for the change attendant. So, I guess you’ll have to settle for my two recommendations as to how you might be able to find the better paying machines.

First, is the “accounting” method. With this method you always start with a
pre-determined number of coins and after playing them in the machine you take an accounting of your results. If you have more than you started with you stay at that machine and start another cycle. Just keep doing this until the
machine returns less than you started with. As an example, let’s say you start
with 20 coins. After playing those 20 coins you count how many you got back. If it’s more than 20 you start over again with another 20 coins and then do another accounting. If, after any accounting, you get back less than the 20
you started with, stop playing and move on to a different machine. This is an
especially good method because you have to slow down your play to take
periodic accountings and you will always have an accurate idea of how well you are doing.

The other method is even simpler and requires no math. It’s called the
“baseball” method and is based on the principle of three strikes and you’re
out. Just play a machine until it loses three times in a row, then move on to
a different machine. Both of these methods will prevent you from losing a lot
of money in a machine that is either set for a low payback or is going through
a bad cycle; yet both will still allow you to take advantage of a high payback
machine or one that is going through a good cycle. Give one of them a try on
your next trip. Good luck!

Download crack version of NHL HOCKEY 08

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:15:00 +0000

Here is your second game , start downloading it and let me know how you find it. Let me know if you have any problems in downloading from the link.

NHL Hockey '08
With new features EA-Sports NHL 08 is your virtual world into hockey - almost as real as the game itself. But you're no longer a spectator. You're inside. Whether you're managing or playing, you're choices reap benefits and consequences and
Combine the elements of power, speed, and finesse like never before as you develop from an up and coming player into an electrifying NHL superstar.
Game Features:
Skill Stick Moments - Shoot, deke, and pass your way from one end of the ice to the other on offense, and throw crushing bodychecks and knock players off the puck on defense with a simple flick of the right analog stick.
AHL Integration - Choose your favorite AHL team and see if you have what it takes to skate away with the Calder Cup.
Improved AI - New Goalie AI will have netminders anticipating one-timers and poke checking offensive scoring opportunities, while new CPU logic improves player puck control and gliding changes.
Visit the official web site at: http://www.easports.com/nhl08/
read reviews from IGN http://pc.ign.com/objects/900/900571.html
or from gamespot http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/nhl08/index.html
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Ice Hockey
Release Date: Sep 11, 2007
Game Information
Number of Players: 1 Player
Number of Online Players: 8 Online
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Download crack version of Half Life Game

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:58:00 +0000

Half-Life 2 (commonly abbreviated to HL2) is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game that is the sequel to Half-Life. It was developed by the Valve Software Corporation and was released on November 16, 2004, following a protracted five-year development cycle^[1] during which the game's source code was leaked to the Internet.^[2] The game garnered near unanimous positive reviews and received critical acclaim,^[3]^[4]^[5] winning over 35 Game of the Year awards for 2004.^[6] Originally available only for Windows-based personal computers, the game has since been ported onto the Xbox and Xbox 360 console, and is also due to be released for the PlayStation 3 in late 2007.^[7]

Taking place in and around the fictional City 17, Half-Life 2 follows the scientist Gordon Freeman. Dr. Freeman is thrust into a dystopian environment in which the aftermath of the Black Mesa Incident has come to bear fully upon human society. Freeman is forced to fight against increasingly unfavorable odds in order to survive. In his struggle, he is joined by various allies, including former Black Mesa colleagues, oppressed citizens of City 17, and the Vortigaunts.

The game uses the Source game engine, which includes a heavily modified version of the Havok physics engine.^[8] Half-Life 2 has been critically acclaimed for advances in computer animation, sound, narration, computer graphics, artificial intelligence (AI) and physics. As of June 8, 2006, over four million copies of Half-Life 2 have been sold.^[9] Exact numbers for digital delivery service Steam and retail have not been revealed, but in general, the former accounts for 25% of Valve's business and is significantly more profitable per unit.^[10]^[11] Overall, the Half-Life franchise, including Counter-Strike and Day of Defeat, has sold over 20 million units.

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Gang nets $1m in one hour at casino

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:55:00 +0000

A HIGHLY organised Asian syndicate cheated the Gold Coast's Conrad Jupiters Casino out of almost $1 million in less than an hour at the high rollers' tables before being arrested trying to leave the Gold Coast Airport, a court has been told.

The meticulously planned operation, which took place in May 2005, involved one man switching cards from hands dealt by the baccarat dealer with cards hidden in the palm of his hand in a bid to weaken his chances of winning.

Other members of the Chinese group sat at the same table and bet against whatever he had bet on.

In just 50 minutes they had netted more than $750,000, but were arrested that night at the airport after casino security staff monitoring video footage alerted police.

An alleged group member, Wei Shan Liu, 44, faced trial at Southport District Court yesterday. Four of the others have already been convicted over their roles in the scam, but Liu had her verdict overturned on appeal. A sixth man was cleared of all charges.

Back in court yesterday, Liu pleaded not guilty to one count of fraud, as crown prosecutor Judy Geary told how Songtao Zhao, 35, had used the hidden cards to make his hands weaker, giving the others betting against him a better chance of winning.

"He began to manipulate the result . . . and this defendant knew he had an extra card," Ms Geary said.

She said that over 27 hands, Liu, placing bets ranging from $7000 to $40,000, won 21 times, collecting about $400,000, while Zhao, betting in amounts ranging from $400 to $1500, lost 21 times.

She said the casino's security cameras had detected 14 instances where his left hand, which stayed facing palm-down virtually the whole time, had moved suspiciously over the hand he was dealt.

She also said the group had travelled together from Hong Kong, stayed at the same hotel, and were arrested playing cards at the Gold Coast Airport as they waited for their flight to leave.

Get Your Website/Product Reviews on this Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:52:00 +0000

If you want me to Review your Website/Product/BLOG just Email me on review@rushmeon.com with the subject line Review Me. Your review would be written within 7 days of Request Received. The Pricing would be negotiable and the mode of payment would be PAYPAL. Would also appreciate if you can fill the detail of your product in the questionnaire below.

Website: xyz.com
Review Type: no preference/ beneficial/critique
Budget: Min-MAX
Length: number of words you desire me to write

Requirements
Any of things you want me to remember before and while writing your post on my blog.

FOR EXAMPLE

1) Put an Video with an image.(Every sponsored review would have an image on my blog)
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The required link(s) within the review. (There would be min of 3 links on every sponsored review)

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1)Link:http://www.xya.com
Link Text: article

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New Buffalo casino brings a crowd to Harbor Country

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:58:00 +0000

First thing's first: Gambling can be dangerous.

Casinos, on the other hand, are fascinating.

Think about it: Top-notch restaurants, well-appointed hotel suites, luxurious spa services, live entertainment, boutique retail outlets, free-flowing alcohol and, of course, gaming galore -- in most cases, at all hours. Minus the whole "experience nature" thing, casinos essentially provide all the major amenities of a luxury vacation under one neon-clad roof.

They're also not without their annoyances: that steady hum of ringing slot machines tuned to the pleasant key of C major, which can get stuck in your head for days; and, despite advanced air filtration systems, the lingering stench of smoke.

But it's all part of the experience. Staying at a casino -- even just for a weekend (I wouldn't recommend any longer) -- means immersing yourself in a culture that may be foreign from your own. Which, when you think about it, is the whole point.

So, where to go? The obvious destination for experiencing casino culture is Las Vegas.

And then there's New Buffalo.

About 2 miles from downtown New Buffalo (population 2,200) lies the brand-new $180 million Four Winds Casino Resort, which opened its doors Aug. 2. The place is huge. It boasts 130,000 square feet of "gaming positions" (actual seats at slot machines or gaming tables) which, were it located in Las Vegas, would make it the second-largest casino on the Strip; plus a half-dozen restaurants and a modest 165-room hotel.

And, when I visited two weeks ago, all of its grandeur seemed absolutely necessary, due to the sheer volume of visitors. As I approached the long, winding drive leading to the casino nestled in the woods, I encountered something I've never before experienced in New Buffalo: traffic. People were lined up in their cars, waiting to park in one of the 2,120 spots in the heated, four-level parking garage and commence spending money. And after hanging out for a few days, it's easy to see why: The place is beautiful -- and, perhaps more importantly, resembles nothing of the gaudy glam of Vegas.

Designed by Urban Design Group (which counts Disney among its clients) and owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Four Winds has the look and feel of a regal North Woods lodge, situated far enough back from Interstate Highway 94 that the "woodland retreat" facade is believable.

Just inside the entrance, a grand rotunda (on which a local Pokagon artist will soon begin a mural project) is flanked by two ridiculously huge fireplaces; the beams lining the arcades (leading to shops and a bus terminal at one end, the hotel at the other) were carved from dead standing cedar and birch trees, which are often used in tribal ceremonies for the Pokagon band.

At the heart of it all is the gaming floor itself, which, despite the refreshing lack of neon, looks like a casino (darkly lit, maze-like carpet, banks and bars at every turn), but the restaurants tucked within could stand alone -- even in Chicago.

There are six of them, ranging from high-end steakhouse (Copper Rock Steakhouse), to upscale sushi (SWIMM) and down-to-earth deli (Timbers). There are white tablecloths. There are wine lists 300 bottles strong. There is a buffet that looks, feels and tastes too good to be a buffet. And there is a 24-hour comfort food cafe whose decor rivals sit-down luncheon spots in the Loop.

And then there's the hotel. Although void of typical luxury hotel amenities -- no spa, no pool, no concierge (when I unwittingly inquired at the front desk about changing a dinner reservation with the concierge, I was met with a blank, almost apologetic stare) -- the rooms, and their flawlessly vacant views of the surrounding woods ripe with fall color, more than make up for it.

Mine, a 500-square-foot Junior Suite (from $269 per night), featured a king-size bed, two flat-screen TVs, a full living room and wet bar.

The place was big enough to justify a tiny hallway between the main suite and the equally huge bathroom, where a soaking tub and a large shower took up barely half the chamber. (Apparently, Junior Suites are the norm: there are 72 of them versus 67 standard rooms -- themselves, a hardly modest 400 square feet; more upscale yet are two dozen 800-square-foot Deluxe Suites and a handful of 1,000-square-foot Celebrity Suites.)

As a foreigner to the land of casinos, these elements -- the architecture, the cuisine, the accommodations -- are the most enjoyable things about dipping into casino culture, possibly -- no, definitely -- because they have nothing to do with gambling.

Here in Harbor Country, there are lingering reminders of Sin City stereotypes: ashtrays everywhere (literally -- including bathroom stalls), cocktail waitresses donning outfits that could pass as leftover Halloween costumes, oxygen tanks being dragged along to craps tables.

But it's also easily escapable. Downtown New Buffalo, which brings a healthy dose of weekender retreat, is a five-minute drive west; the southern tip of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail is a 10-minute drive; Warren Dunes State Park is 15. There is the lake; there are antique stores; there are quaint cafes at which to sip coffee. And none of them is smoky or ringing with slot machines (see 5 More Reasons to Go).

Unlike Vegas, when you've had enough, home is just an hour's drive away -- and as the old saying goes, what happens in New Buffalo stays in New Buffalo. READ MORE

Let me know how you find my article.

Video game hits the high notes

noreply@blogger.com (Rushit Shah) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:52:00 +0000

Are you a High School Musical fan? Do you like karaoke?

Well, I have some good news for you: "High School Musical: Sing It!" is the best video game you will ever play and you get to sing karaoke style!

The game, which is based on the 2006 phenomenal Disney Channel movie, High School Musical, and its 2007 sequel, High School Musical 2, features all the songs from both movies plus 10 additional songs by other Disney artists, including Jordan Pruitt and the Cheetah Girls.

The game can be purchased for either the Wii or the Playstation 2 console.

It comes with a USB microphone that you plug into your console and use as your microphone for the game.

To play the game, you choose one of the game's three modes: Quick Play, Story Mode or Party Mode. When you use Quick Play – you choose the songs and play the game either by yourself or with a friend. When you use Story Mode you sing the songs in movie order and get a mini replay of the movie itself.

With both Story Mode and Quick Play you can play this mode by yourself or with a friend.

Now, if you are having a party, you use Party Mode ... where you can sing with up to 8 people, either in duets or solo performances!

The whole idea of the game is to sing karaoke style as one of the characters of your choice from the HSM gang.

You can choose to play along as Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad, or Taylor. Or, you can choose to make your own character.

While you are singing, the game awards you points and grades you after each verse of the song. Then, once you finish your song you receive an overall grade.

Now, using your accumulated points from the song you just sang, the game uses the points to "give" you new characters, new outfits, new songs and new locations in which to sing. How awesome is that!

One of the best things about the game is that you don't have to worry if your singing abilities are not perfect ... the game helps your vocal chords to somehow morph into the vocal chords of a blossoming superstar (well, sort of).

There's one more reason to buy this game!

This game did not disappoint. Just like the movies, the game totally rocks!