Learn Gaming

Spyro's Adventure Characters Come to Life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:10:00 -0700

The world of Skyland has been taken over by KAOS and his cohorts. Skylander's original, native inhabitants have been frozen and vanquished to Earth. They can only be saved by placing them on the Portal of Power to thaw them and transport them back to their homeland of Skyland. Once there they will need to battle the evil, powerful KAOS and his forces to take back their native land. Using their magical powers and weapons, the Skylanders face many obstacles, adventures and battles before their mission can be completed.

In this adventure video game, toys come to life, characters remember and learn, battles rage and treasures are collected. Children can collect the toy character figures of Skyland and place the ones they wish to play into the game. The Portal of Power transports the thirty different Skylander figurines to life on the screen and allows interaction between toys, child and video game.

The thirty figurine characters each have their own personalities, abilities and magical powers to use to fight the dreaded Portal Master KAOS and his army of bad guys. Each Skylander character has their own personal history and originates from one of eight element categories: air, fire, water, earth, life, undead, magic and tech. The element origination helps determine their individual magical powers and abilities.

By placing these various characters on the Portal of Power, the toy comes to life in the game and can work alone or can join in cooperation with others to fight evil together. They can also fight one another in a battle arena if so chosen. Players choose which they wish to do.

Characters such as Spyros, Whirlwind, Ghost Roasters, Slam Bam and Dino Rang come in various packs. The Starter Pack, Single Character Pack, 3 Character Pack and Adventure Pack are all available and each contains characters, universe codes and sticker sheets, as well as trading cards. The Portal of Power comes with the Starter Pack which contains the adventure software for the game.

With many different adventures, locations, challenges and puzzles, the game is always a new and exciting experience rather than repetitive. Children become the good Portal Masters directing their magical warriors in a battle with the evil cohorts of KAOS, the evil portal master. There is cartoon violence in the game and it is suggested for play by children aged 10 and above. While made for children, many adults will enjoy these adventure figures and play action when their Spyro's Adventure characters come to life.

The Hipster Nerd

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:05:00 -0700

While the majority of gaming's most read publications gave Modern Warfare 3 around 9 out of 10 on average, the metacritic gaming community somehow came up with a shameful 3.2 on the Richter scale. How does a game that shatters a revenue record previously set by Harry Potter and lauded by its peers find itself under such scrutiny?

Trolls.

What is a troll? In pondering the phenomenon of hate surrounding the new Call of Duty game I came to the realization that the troll is a Hipster in disguise. Instead of tight pants and scouring Is Anyone Up he wears a World of Warcraft Tee and hits up forums.eveonline.com.

It's easy to see the parallels. Watch Hipster Jim's favorite obscure band break out of the "scene" and onto a larger stage and Jim can no longer stand the band he loved "before anyone else even knew they existed". Like Jim's once upon a time Hipster band, MW3 seems to have "sold out". The sheer amount of causal gamers that Modern Warfare has drawn into the gaming folds staggers the trolly mind. He will be damned if he lets his beloved past time fall into the hands of the jock who bullied him because of his geekery.

From his mother's basement, the troll reviled Modern Warfare 3 and its popularity drove him mad. He took to the forums and YouTube comment boards. Reading his posts, your average soccer mom would wonder how the game was so successful. But being on top makes you an easy target and this Hipster nerd isn't your average consumer. He prides himself on his active online "contribution" and in anonymity he finds his courage. The Internet is his "Second Life". While 6.5 million "bros" took to playing MW3 on the first day he was busy trolling. He hates the game for the same reason its so popular; because it easily accessible and quick fun.

The Hipster troll wants gaming for himself. It's his identity. He thinks "If it's popular there must be something wrong with it because the masses are stupid and I'm unique.". But I've been a discerning gamer for well over 2 decades and I love MW3. So what if it's the King of Pop. Sure most pop culture FAILS because it has to appeal to the middle. But if a game can retain what makes it special to it's hardcore audience while appealing to a broader audience, then it will naturally achieve a massive following. Modern Warfare 3 strikes the balance of being accessible and at the same time it rewards the most seasoned gamer.

So let me be the first to say "Hipsters you trolls shall never be.". You aren't cool enough. Let your twisted envy inform your skewed view of the best selling game of all time. You're the only one missing out and no one at Activision is losing sleep because you think their game "sucks". I know it's socially acceptable to play and no one is going to look at you the same way they would if you told them you were a level 60 battlemage. The grand irony. Real Hipsters will probably be playing Modern Warfare 3.

the Gamers Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:57:00 -0700

As the games of today continue to evolve, and in some cases, de-evolve it is interesting to note that the gamer of today seems to be much more forgiving of mediocrity. In order to examine the possible reasons why, we must take a step back into the past.

The games of yesterday, including pen and paper role playing games, were by today's standards sub-par. At least that is the assumption by many. However, if this were really the case, we would not continue to see new versions of older games. In programming, some of the first games a person will create are replicas of older falling block games, parallax scrolling level games, maze games, and of course text games. For some programmers it is a logical progression to learn from the past. For others it is because they understand that building on the ideas of older games demonstrates that there are few real differences other than the technology used.

Where does that leave us? In order to understand the games, we must understand the gamer. Like any other profession, the game developer is going to put their energy and resources into a game idea they believe will be popular. This litmus test is based on what sells and what does not. So what do gamers expect from modern games? I would hypothesize that many gamers have no idea what they expect, but they know they want something. Many of the games today are created with a limited play-time expectation, instead of looking for a formula that will promote longevity.

Many of the games today are rated by how many hours of game play they have, such as 40 hours of play. This is one of the tools that developers use, which gamers have become accustomed to. The trend for the hours of play in some game genres has continued to get shorter. Instead of gamers expecting more from the software they purchase, there is a reluctant acceptance of the lower standards. Without using names, a recent first person shooter was released with a lot of fanfare and high budget advertising. By all accounts it was expected to be the next generation of shooters for the genre. Instead of meeting the expectation, the software was released with the same engine the previous installment of the game had used 3 years prior. The single player campaign came in at a paltry 6 hours of play. In essence, the game was simply retooled from a previous game and instead of calling it what it was, the loyal following ignored the fact that they had been taken for fools. So what we have is a substandard product being released and because of pride or stubbornness, the gamers in the community have given the developer a pass instead of holding them accountable.

The game developer is going to release whatever they believe will make them money and that is as it should be due to the time and resources they put into their product. The problem isn't that the developer may release a game that is terrible. The real issue is that because the gamers of today do not really know what they want, they will accept anything. If more gamers had higher expectations fewer developers would take advantage of them. The conclusion must be that the reason many games of today are substandard is because there are fewer principled gamers today.

Top Free games iPod/iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:51:00 -0700

Fun games can be hard to find on the App Store because there are so many that are simply not worth the time it takes to download them. But for the sake of game lovers everywhere I will share with you a few of my favorite games on my iPod so that you can enjoy them as I do.
Fall Down - Fall Down is a fun game where there is a several lines and a ball. You tilt your device back and forth to move the ball through the lines quickly so you don't get squished by the top. It's challenging. It's one of those games where it's easy to learn how to play, but very hard to master.
Angry Birds Lite - OK, you have probably heard of this one if you haven't already played it! It is largely popular. In Angry Birds Lite you aim birds in slingshots to kill pigs, the pigs are surrounded by wood, ice, and rock. You have to break the wood, ice, and rock to get to the pigs, wood is easy to break, ice might take a few hits to break down, and you can't break rock. This game is really quite fun! It comes with 12 levels.
Fruit Ninja Lite - In Fruit Ninja Lite, you slash fruit in half with your finger, 1 point for every slashed fruit. You can get bonus points by slashing multiple fruit at one time. If you let 3 unslashed fruit fall off the screen, game over. If you hit a bomb, game over. You can unlock 3 different blades and 3 different backgrounds. I like this game but you can only get up to 125 points! You can buy the full version to be able to get more points, though.
Wedding Dash Lite - In Wedding Dash, you play as Quinn, a wedding planner. You are in charge of picking out the wedding cake, the food, and the honeymoon spot based on the couple's preferences. Then you seat the guests and serve them their food. They will have seating preferences. It may be hard to get everyone seated where they want to be and serve them their food before their patience runs out. This game is like Diner Dash or Hotel Dash or any of the other "Dashes" but this one is my favorite! You have to think fast for this game. It's very challenging.
Temple Run - A game must have! In Temple Run you play a character running away from several evil monkeys, you are running along a path but there are many turns, gaps, and obstacles that you have to get past. Your goal is to get as many coins, and go as far as you can before you make a mistake and the evil monkeys get you. This game is highly addicting and it gets challenging.
Draw Something - Draw Something is a pictionary type game. They give you a choice of three different words of different difficulties. The harder ones are worth more points, of course. After you have chosen your word, you draw it on your device. Then your opponent guesses what it is and then vice versa. If you like pictionary, then this app is a must have for you.

Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:03:00 -0700

The Logitech G15 gaming keyboard is one of the most popular selling gaming keyboards on Amazon.com but is this keyboard's popularity due to its form and function or merely its looks that are appealing to gamers?
The Logitech G15 gaming keyboard is supposed to be the ultimate keyboard for both amateur and seasoned gamers alike. It claims to have all the right features to make play faster and more comfortable for those hours of playing time. The LCD screen and back lit keys are supposed to help make your playing experience incredible even in the dark of night. But can this gaming keyboard live up to all of it's promises? Let's find out.
User reviews for the Logitech G15 feel that this keyboard has many benefits even over newer keyboards. Here are some of the benefits of the Logitech G15 that gamers say they enjoy:
• The LCD panel shows you all you need to know while in a game
• easy to use this keyboard when playing in a poorly lit room
• allows for fast game play especially when you add the G9 mouse
• comfortable even after hours of play
• The cables for the mouse and headphone don't get in your way and interrupt your concentration
• Priced fairly compared to some other gaming key boards
The Logitech G15 has many features that provide the benefits that users of this gaming keyboard have mentioned. The LCD panel keeps you informed of what is happening during your game and even makes it easy for you to find out what server your friends are using to play battlefield 2142.
The keys on the Logitech G15 keyboard are all back lit which makes it possible for accurate play even in darkened rooms with no lights on and the cable management system keeps your mouse and headphone cables neatly tucked away under the keyboard.
There are 6 programmable G keys which allow for both single stroke and extremely complex macros. The accompanying palm rest makes it more comfortable for you to play for longer periods of time without your hands tiring or cramping during play. And the off switch for the windows button on the Logitech G15 comes in really handy to help you avoid mistakes when it is accidentally bumped or hit.
However, the Logitech G15 keyboard is not perfect and several users find the keys themselves quite clunky and find that they take a lot of getting used to. However, considering all the benefits this keyboard offers gamers the clunky keys of Logitech G 15 are soon forgotten in the excitement of improving your speed and your scores.
Overall, while the Logitech G15 may not be the right keyboard for all gamers it certainly seems to have all the features necessary to keep most gamers happy. Since the Logitech G15 keyboard is considered to be one of the most reliable, functional, and well priced keyboard's on the market it certainly is a good choice for those who are looking for both form and function in their gaming keyboard.

SteelSeries 6GV2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:48:00 -0700

The SteelSeries 6GV2 is referred to by many as the heavyweight of gaming keyboards. But how well does it really stand up to the competition? In the world of PC gaming keyboards, you'll be able to find a lot of choices but sadly not a whole lot of variety. It used to be that the main difference between a gaming keyboard and a non-gaming keyboard was the presence of backlit keys. That is, keys on gaming keyboards usually had backlights in them, allowing them to glow in the dark according to the user's preferences. But instead of doing what every other gaming keyboard manufacturer in the world seems to be perfectly OK in doing to their products, SteelSeries has decided to take the road less traveled with the SteelSeries 6GV2. This review aims to find out just how much of a heavyweight the SteelSeries 6GV2 really is. If you wish to find out, then continue reading.
Some people might wince upon hearing that this keyboard is a properly designated one, but a quick look at it or a cursory glance at its spec sheet will tell you that it certainly isn't something that's designed mainly for children. The keyboard is decked out in an all-black color with white lettering, and is built upon 18 karat gold-plated Cherry Black MX switches underneath. The SteelSeries 6GV2 is a mechanical keyboard that's made purely for gaming, and yet it retains a look that means serious business.
When playing games, PC gamers usually want to have the full freedom to do two things. One is to be able to press as many keys as possible at the same time; this enables them to keep moving, firing, jumping, fragging and even checking on the official scores all at once. And the second thing is the ability to avoid any problems that might stem from accidentally pressing the Windows key that's located on the left side of the keyboard. I was genuinely surprised and glad to find out that the SteelSeries 6GV2 was able to take care of both of these things.
The SteelSeries 6GV2 gaming keyboard has an extreme anti-ghosting feature that allows for multiple keypresses at once, as well as rapid response time that enables quick movements during critical gaming moments. And because of the fact that it uses Cherry Black MX switches for keys, it has a much longer lifecycle than other types of keyboards. Other features of the this keyboard include integrated media keys, USB and PS/2 compatibility, and top-notch build quality.
The SteelSeries 6GV2 is not without its flaws. It lacks a Windows key on the left side and doesn't have the built-in mic/audio and USB ports found on the SteelSeries 7G gaming keyboard. Still, these minor imperfections can't really take anything away from the SteelSeries 6GV2 keyboard's main highlights. After heavy use, I've found that the SteelSeries 6GV2 is indeed a heavyweight after all.

League of Legends

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:45:00 -0700

In the last few months of playing League of Legends in both unranked draft mode and in ranked games there have been universal character bans. These champion bans are also confirmed in competitive tournament play due to their overpowered nature. Observations were all made in solo queue so bans named might not be the same for competitive/team 5v5 competition when there is actually teamwork and coordination involved. Here is the top 5 bans that I personally choose when playing in solo queue in the 1700's ELO.
In solo queue, the most universal ban is Shaco. Along with Shaco, there is also Rammus, Morgana, Kassadin, Cassiopeia, and Shen. I listed these based on level of danger each character brings. All of these champions could turn the game around during a team fight or alter the other team's style of playing when chosen. Also generally people ban characters generally because they don't want to go against them either in lane or jungle. Below are the reasons why the bans listed above are considered universal for 1700 ELO below solo queue (my currently ELO).
Shaco is one of the most annoying characters to play against in solo queue. The high mobility of Shaco, early gank ability, stealth, backdoor pushing late game, escape ability, and ambush boxes are key reasons Shaco is constantly getting banned in both high and low ELO. Shaco could have effective ganks as early as level 2 and scale effectively from early kills. The reasons above as well as other nuisances of Shaco make him the most annoying character to play against. Thus, its unanimous decision of either team to get rid of the possibility of playing against Shaco by picking him first picks insta-ban.
Other champions consistent ban reasons:
Rammus - Taunt duration from Puncturng Taunt, high damage from Defensive Ball, effective early level ganks due to the high mobility from Powerball, tanking ability, and late-game scaling round out the reasons why Rammus is a pain playing against.
Morgana - Magic shield ability, how tanky she is, two types of crowd control abilities, sustainability from her passive, and high effectiveness in team fights using her ultimate.
Kassadin - Mobility after level 6 due to Riftwalk, silence from Null Sphere, slow from Force Pulse, domination against other ability power champions in mid-lane, and high burst capabilities.
Cassiopeia - Hard to lane against due to the range on her Q (Noxius Blast), high damage output from her combination of Q and E (Twin Fang), crowd control from R (Petrifying Gaze), and slowing effect from W (Miasma). She stacks and scales effectively into late game and is a great threat in solo fights and team fights. A well-placed Petrifying Gaze could turn an entire group fight around.

Diablo III Wizard Leveling Build

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:14:00 -0700

In this leveling guide, the build I will outline is based on a couple assumptions regarding your goals for wizard leveling in Diablo III. We will assume that you are looking to power level your wizard as fast as possible and that you will be playing in single player mode.
With these criteria in mind, this build will focus on outputting massive amounts of AOE damage while offering a fair amount of survivability and the ability to keep your distance from enemies when needed. When using these abilities, remember that Signature wizard skills cost no arcane power whereas Offensive and Utility skills do.
Below are the 3 active skills and 1 passive skill that will be the most beneficial for easy leveling in the early stages of Diablo:
The first active wizard skill you should use is Magic Missile, a Signature skill. This ability is available at level 1 and will help you get started leveling your wizard. Magic Missile is a ranged arcane attack that does 110% weapon damage to your target.
The second active wizard skill you should grab is called Wave of Force, an Offensive skill. This ability is a multi-function spell that serves as both offense and defense. When cast, it causes 350% weapon damage to enemies in front of you. As if that weren't enough, its defensive benefits are equally as useful while leveling. Wave of Force repels incoming projectiles, knocks back your enemies and slows their movement by 50%. This will allow you to maintain a safe distances from your foes and as they slowly make their way back to attack you again you can finish them off with your multi-shot version of Magic Missile.
The 3rd active wizard skill to grab is definitely Frost Nova, a Utility skill.This ability creates an icy blast that will freeze your enemies for 3 seconds and cause 50% weapon damage at the same time. While Frost Nova is primarily a survival skill, allowing you to retreat back to a safe distance and lob in some ranged attacks, its 50% weapon damage and runestone bonus are nothing to sneeze at.
Your first passive wizard skill is called Power Hungry. This ability gives you 30 Arcane Power any time you receive healing from a health orb. The main function of Power Hungry is to help you maintain good levels of AP (Arcane Power) throughout your leveling.
I hope this brief guide to the best Wizard leveling build has given you a good idea of the most useful skills to use during the early levels of Diablo III. As you progress throughout the game, you'll undoubtedly come across certain wizard builds that you might find more enjoyable to play than others, even if they might not be the most efficient for fast power leveling.
That is ok, as one thing you should keep in mind is that no leveling is being accomplished when you are not playing the game. Therefore, the more fun you can make the leveling process, the more you will play and the faster you will level!

Diablo 3 Demon Hunter

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:10:00 -0700

Resources: Hatred/Discipline
In the wake of the destruction, many lost hope as their loved ones faded into the bloody landscape, however some took up arms, banded together and swore vengeance for the blood that has been spilled - they are the Demon Hunters.
Their hatred for all demons empowers them to withstand the corruption of demons and gives them the ability to unleash their rage unto any creature that dares stand before them. However, they are also masters of the hunt and as such are disciplined in the art of setting traps and predicting the enemy's movements. Demon Hunters have to maintain a balance between these two opposing forces within themselves, hatred and discipline, to effectively exterminate their enemy and most importantly... survive.
Armor
Apprentice Demon Hunters starts out with a set of leather armor and hood to help them become one with the shadows, as they progress they can obtain a full suit armor which can conceal an array of lethal arrows, traps, bombs and gadgets; and protect their vitals as they withstand the force of the oncoming onslaught.
Equipment
A Demon Hunter's weapon of choice is the hand-crossbow, a quick reload and rapid-fire crossbow which allows them to slaughter demons with deadly accuracy. They unsheathe each arrow from magical quivers that encapsulates each shot with an assortment of mystical properties. Years of training fueled by pure hatred has made them masters of the bow and gave them the necessary skills to dual-wield crossbows, allowing them to bombard their enemies with an overwhelming amount of arrows in a blink of an eye. In the rare situation where the hunter gets surrounded in close-combat they use their trusty cloaks and shadow magic to slip back into the shadows where they recuperate and prepare to stalk their prey once again.
Features
Ranged Weaponry: Demon Hunters tend to avoid close encounters; instead they eliminate their enemies from a distance and take them down with thrown knives before they get too close for comfort. As huntsman their favorite tools for assassinations are their crossbows however they also have various other weapons at their disposal including grenades, longbows and hand-thrown weapons.
Shadow Magic: Shadow magic allows hunters to become masters of stealth, fading into darkness and consuming their prey from the shadows.
Traps: When a hunter is outnumbered or facing powerful opponents they can set various traps - mines, steel-jawed traps, or caltrops to debilitate and weaken their foes. They always remain one step ahead through preparing various traps in the shadows and striking when the time is right.

Diablo 3 Monk

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:06:00 -0700

Spirit:
Monks have perfected the ability to tap into the wellspring of Spirit within, and can unleash this limitless force in an undivided chain of attacks. True masters of Spirit have learned that the secret to replenish this overwhelming energy is the very same reason that they learned to harness it; to unleash and string together Spirit in a series of explosive attacks.
Through years of training they have built up their physical and martial prowess to harness and embody the invisible, which in turn gives them the stamina to endure countless battles and deliver as much fast-paced strikes as their gods will allow. Just as monks can harness Spirit to surge through hordes of enemies, they can also concentrate and gather Spirit for effective defensive maneuvers or potent finishing strikes.
Armor:
All apprentice monks wear the standard Sahptev garb, however as monks progress on their journey to become holy warriors they start to wear full armor sets specifically to design to uphold their fighting style; armor that can withstand powerful blows and at the same time remain light and flexible to ensure swift movement in battle.
Equipment:
The Monks incorporate spirit stones, daibos and fist weapons to enhance their fighting style. A spirit stone allows monks to channel and focus Spirit to harden their skin and armor. A monk's iron fist is their main weapon, however they can equip fist weapons, hand wraps, knuckle spikes and knife blades to enforce their iron will in hand-to-hand combat. Through years of training monks have learned to use diabos as extensions of themselves, allowing them to keep their enemies and range and deliver whirlwind strikes.
Features:
Spiritual Power: Devoted monks have learned to master the forces of Spirit; through years of training they have learned to replenish and unleash Spirit simultaneously. As they allow this energy to flow through them and take form they can direct Spirit into explosive attacks or utilize it to move swiftly in combat.
Mantras: Although monks can embody spirit they can also materialize spirit into waves of concentrated energy through mantras; mantras allows monks to surround themselves or their comrades in a layer of healing and empowering energy.
Combos: When monks focus their Spirit energy - concentrate it, align it and reinforce it, it multiplies in force. With each consecutive strike they deal increasingly powerful attacks, build up additional Spirit energy and produce results that are extraordinary and seemingly supernatural.

Mass Effect 3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:10:00 -0700

New to the Mass Effect series starting with Mass Effect 3 is multiplayer. The multiplayer for Mass Effect 3 consists of Horde Mode Ala Gears of War. If you never heard or read about Horde Mode its a simple Wave Mode where where you and your team cooperatively must destroy waves of attacking enemies. Mass Effect 3's multiplayer is a mash-up of wave mode, snatch and grab, hacking terminals and hold the extraction point all within a ten wave match. Its not that bad really. But its also not going to be the reason why you purchase Mass Effect 3. You bought Mass Effect 3 for its single campaign (I shouldn't have to remind you all of that). The multiplayer is simply a sideshow to the main attraction. Its fun, challenging and diverse enough to definitely warrant some of your time when you decide to take a break from the story campaign.
Classes: When you first log into Mass Effect 3's multiplayer you are immediately enlisted as a N7 Special Ops Team member. Regarding classes much like the single-player campaign you have 6 classes to choose from including: Adept, Soldier, Engineer, Sentinal, Infiltrator and Vanguard. For my class I chose the Vanguard since i already beaten Mass Effect 2 on its most challenging difficulty as a Vanguard. I like the up close and personal approach even if I get killed a few times. Not only that but I anticipated everybody else would either be Adept, Soldier and or a Engineer which ended up being the case. Every match I played nobody choose Vanguard which made my decision more important since classes on teams should have variety since this is strictly a cooperative multiplayer.
Characters in Mass Effect 3's multiplayer are spread out between classes. Each class has a Human (Male) and (Female) who have the exact same default biotics and weapons for each class. There are also two Aliens per class assigned who come equip with different biotics and weapons for default. Unlocking Aliens take XP or can be bought with in-game credits via special Packs in the Store (if you're lucky). Alien characters like i said differ per class and include: Krogan, Quarian, Drell, Tourian, Salarian and Asari. For my character I stuck with my custom Human Male (Vanguard). I had unlocked some of the Alien characters already. It shouldn't take the average gamer that long to do so.
Customizing your character for matches comes next after you choose your class and character. You can change your Primary Color, Highlight Color, Secondary Color, Pattern, Pattern Color and Lights. Some of those options above are locked when you first start playing and become unlocked as you level up. The customization is deep enough so that you can make sure your character doesn't look exactly like everybody elses. My Vanguard turned into some gold colored greenish guy. It looked pretty good actually. I was basically mixing and matching my suit's colors.
Character: This menu breaks down into Powers, Weapons, Appearance, Equipment and Store. You already know what the Appearance section is all about. The Weapon section lets you add mods and set your preferred guns to slots. The guns you have depends on the class and whether or not you unlocked them. The Equipment section of the Character section keeps tracks of all of your perks and equipment. They are called Supplies and my Vanguard had after two matches: Cobra Missile Launcher, Thermal Clip Pack, Ops Survival Pack and Medi-Gel. There are also Bonus slots for the following: Ammo Bonus, Weapon Bonus and Armor Bonus. Consider the latter perks you can activate once in a match.
Maps: Ontaram: Firebase Dagger, Benning: Firebase Chost Tuchanko, Firebase Grant, Cyone: Firebase Reactor, Sanctum: Firebase Glacier, Novevia: Firebase White. And just like with any multiplayer some maps are good and some are not. I'm sure DLC was made before Mass Effect 3 released so we will get new DLC maps over the next few months most likely. The maps are of a base configuration and don't differ that much in design but more in settings.
Make sure you visit the store first so you can get your Starter Pack (free). They also sell Recruit Pack (5000 credits), Veteran Pack (20,000 credits) and Spectre Pack (60,000 credits). You can make at least 10,000 credits each match (I did). The packs are completely random regarding items, perks and weapon mods you receive. The more expensive the pack the better swag you will get no matter what. The Free Pack gave me Thermal Clip Pack (pistol), Medi-Gel, Ops Survival Pack, Sniper Rifle Spare Thermal Clip and a (unlocked) Asari Vanguard. Keep in mind all of the packs are random and you never know what you'll receive but 9 times out of 10 its something you and your team will benefit from while playing. The items and perks you receive can be mapped to your D-pad (Dual Shock 3).
To sum up my matches they have been fun, challenging and diverse. The diversity in Mass Effect 3's multiplayer comes in the form of different objectives WHILE facing waves of enemies. At this point I will say the objectives are randomized to my knowledge for the most part. Objectives that the 4 man/woman team must complete range from hacking terminals (4) and they are scattered around the base. Holding extraction points (usually wave 10). Your team must fend off either Geth, Reaper or Cerburus attack till extraction comes. Regular waves are the bread and butter though and where you rank your XP up. Make sure you stay with your team the entire match and revive them as needed. Stay near ammo crates that are scattered around each base. Know where they are at the beginning of each match.
Mass Effect 3's multiplayer suppose to effect the ending of the single player story campaign. I'm expecting it to be a small impact if anything but I have no real idea since I'm still playing the campaign. The presentation is good for this game's multiplayer. However there are some connection and stuttering problems but no disconnects or freezes to report. Mass Effect 3's multiplayer is a third person over the shoulder shooter. Using your biotics and guns while roll strafing is fun. I am still surprised bioware added multiplayer to a RPG like Mass Effect 3. With that said the multiplayer is decent. It's not the reason you buy Mass Effect 3. It's a sideshow to the main attraction and that's all it is

Resistance 3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:08:00 -0700

Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Sony
MPAA Rating: Mature

Having very few friends, I hadn't really been impressed with the recent rash of video games boasting cooperative play or multiplayer features. If I were more popular, I thought, maybe I'd like them. But for all the multiplayer action I usually get I might as well have just one PS3 controller. Twenty-five years ago I might have been able to get by with grabbing two Atari joysticks and playing by myself, but games like Pong don't quite match today's offerings in terms of challenge or complexity. Also, I was in diapers and didn't exactly know what my feet were.
My opinion changed, however, when I picked up a copy of Resistance 3, which was released late last year. Being a fan of the first one, I finally made my way around to buying this newest entry into the alternate-history series. The co-op aspect didn't even enter my mind at first, as I was completely taken in by the stunning graphics and the engaging gameplay. One of the strongest aspects of the Resistance series has been the melding of historical elements (namely World War II) with science-fiction (aliens that will rip your head off if you get too close, for example), and this one was no different. From fighting aliens under a barely-standing St. Louis Arch to an intense battle in the middle of a war-torn Times Square, Resistance 3 uses real life locales to push the feeling of high stakes, like you could look out your window and see the buildings around you bursting with explosions.
After finishing the campaign, I immediately started on a second play-through, but on the main menu the co-op option somehow caught my eye, and I wondered just how much different it would be to play with a partner. The prospect of saving the world again seemed much more inviting with someone to cover me. So, I dusted off my second controller and invited a friend over to play.
The co-op mode is, story wise, exactly the same as the single player. But what a world of difference. Together, my friend and I were shouting at one another to take down alien snipers, whimpering our way through abandoned railway stations infested with creatures that looked like they'd just dressed themselves for display in a butcher shop, and then awed into silence (for me a second time) when the game's stellar graphics would show us just how intense the PlayStation 3 can get. One particular scene involving floating up the Mississippi river and getting trapped under a falling bridge was particularly impressive, and by the time the thing collapsed, both of us looked like we'd just sat through a summer blockbuster.
Resistance 3 is from Insomniac Games, the same studio that produces the Ratchet & Clank series, and their influence can be seen especially in the weapons the game makes available. Several guns (like the Bullseye and Auger) from the previous two games make return appearances, but they're complemented by new guns like the Mutator, which grows explosive green pustules on enemies and turns them into walking time bombs. Also, the Cryogun gives a nice little inverse to the often played-out flamethrower by shooting a jet of ice at enemies and allowing you to smash them to pieces with either a melee hit or the weapon's alternate firing mode, a concussive blast that shatters frozen enemies to pieces.
Overall, the game itself is very impressive. It's a great title to add to your PS3 collection, especially if you're a first-person shooter or sci-fi/horror fan. But even action gamers in general will probably find something here to enjoy. And, although I was skeptical of co-op games beforehand, the multiplayer aspect of Resistance 3 turned out to be pretty fun. I'm looking forward to trying out more games with a cooperative element. Now all I need is for Slackers to sell people to come play video games with me.

Hard Reset

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:07:00 -0700

Hard Reset is a throw back to over the top twitch shooters that features tons of enemies and wild explosions. You won't find any of the new stuff in Hard Reset like cover and regenerating health. This cyber-punk themed shooter paints a captivating world with its stellar visuals but falls flat regarding story and game length. Hard Reset is a single player only first-person shooter but don't expect any kind of multiplayer, its not happening. When I analyze Hard Reset's presentation it doesn't have many faults actually. It has more to do with the fact that this is an old school type shooter. This game plays like old school Unreal, Serious Sam and Painkiller games.
Hard Reset's story is a afterthought, it makes no sense and at times gets in the way of Hard Reset's gameplay. I'll give you a brief synopsis as to what this story is about. The protagonist of Hard Reset is Fletcher, proud soldier of the corporation as he calls himself. Fletcher (CLN -16) is a hard drinking and hard cussing cheesy protagonist that gets hurdled into a battle against rogue AI man killing robots. Early in Hard Reset Flecther learns about a robot invasion in his sector of the Sanctuary that he protects. After killing a few robots and investigating he learns about Dr. Percival Novak. Novak released the man killing robots into the city for whatever reason.
Music was fast paced rock and techno that cranked up when action did. Some of the weapon's sounds were interesting. The voice acting was pretty cheesy. For the most part the best aspect about the sound design was the city. The rain, the sounds of the holograph dispensors, sirens etc. The city itself presented a great atmophere due to its sound design.
The most unique aspect of Hard Reset is its reticle system. You have two primary weapons throughout the entire game, NRG Weapon and CLN Firearm. The retical changes as you change the gun's modes. Gameplay is pure quick twitch. You do not have cover or health regen so your skills will be put to the test no matter the difficulty. Enemies are robots, big, small and medium. Some charge at you while some shoot mortors. Bi-pod bots and small rolling bots can swarm you very fast in Hard Reset. Gameplay takes a hit due to level design and the charging bots. The game at times places way too many small quick bots and huge charging bots in cramped areas making it easy for them to kill you.
To take out rogue AI bots in Hard Reset you need guns. This game has you covered with a few imaginative weapons that you can perform combos with. NRG Weapons = Plasma Weapon: Plasma Rifle, Shock Blaster, Railgun, Smart Gun and Electric Mortor. Each gun has secondary and third firing elements that altars each gun. CLN Firearm: Assault Rifle, Combat Shotgun, Grenade Launcher, RPG and Proximity Mines. You can upgrade all weapons and Gear with N.A.N.O.. N.A.N.O. is Hard Reset's currency and is acquired when you kill bots and discover secret rooms. Green, Yellow, Blue and Red orbs fill Fletcher's health, shields. NRG ammo and CLN ammo. Using the environment not only looks cool but is a very effective way with dealing with bots.
After you beat the 5 hour campaign (its a short game) you can play EX Mode. EX Mode lets you play the game on NG+ with all of your upgraded weapons. Personally I don't think this game has adequate replay value since its so short to begin with. One incentive is to unlock all of the guns upgrades which cannot be doen in one playthrough. So if you want to see all of the gun's abilities you have to play the game on EX Mode.
Hard Reset has a great cyber punk new age setting with old school gameplay. The story is non existent and the campaign is way too short. However I do see some really promising aspects with Flying Wild Hog's first-person shooter.

Dead to Rights Retribution

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:06:00 -0700

Presentation: I played the original Dead To Rights when it launched on the original Xbox back in 2002. Fast forward to 2012 and I just finished playing through Dead To Rights: Retribution via the Playstation 3. Much like its predecessor Dead To Rights: Retribution is a gritty action brawler that features gun play while taking out hordes of mindless thugs. And I do mean mindless thugs since the AI is practically non-existent in this action game. The enemies will do either three things. Sit back and let you kill them or they will mindlessly rush you then you kill them and lastly they will occasionally shoot and kill each other. The latter is obviously a glitch but did happen throughout my playthrough.
of the game. Nothing about Dead To Right: Retribution's story will impress you or keep you engaged.
Visuals: There is nothing that stand's out texture or special effects wise in this 2010 game. However, the game does have a nice setting. Grant City looks pretty cool with its rain soaked neon lit city scape featuring a plethora of skyscrapers. There are different settings throughout the game that breaks up the murky dark metropolitan setting. Jack looks like Chris Redfield's clone from Resident Evil 5. Lay off the steroids Jack geez! A nice graphical sequence takes place near the end of the game when you put on a Heavy GAC Armor suit and wreak havoc down on GAC headquarters. You can see the Japanese influence of this game while in the suit. It was really neat and fun to use. The best way to describe the visuals in Dead To Rights: Retribution is static and washed out with a good atmosphere.
Sound: If I made a nickel each time I laughed after Jack said one of his one liners after killing somebody I would be rich. The writing and especially the voice dialog is cheesy. Its borderline comical is so bad and cliche. One voice actor who had an odd southern accent stood out (the news report lady). Her accent didn't even fit the game at all. The music was decent. It's mostly dramatic action music which goes fine with this type of game. Sound design overall not something to write home about here.
Gameplay: Dead To Rights: Retribution is a brawler beat 'em up with gunplay. The gunplay comes in the form of cover based shooting. During combat you can use Shadow to attack thugs and GAC soldiers. After they are dead you can have Shadow retrieve you fresh weapons using the d-pad. Weapons range from shotguns, pistols, SMGS, LMGS, assault rifles, sniper rifles, a weird gun that shoots electricity. Each gun runs out of ammo quickly unless you happen to be near a weapon bin. The second Jack runs out of ammo he discards the weapon. You can take hostages and use them as a meatshield to avoid taking gunfire. The enemies range from Triad thugs and GAC thugs. There are more advanced bad guys later in the game like the GAC combat fighters who have big robotic fists like fisto. Heavy enemies have a tank on their backs that you must destroy aka Killzone. There is a VTOL boss fight scene late in the game which was pretty nice.
Replayability: The single player campaign will last you 8 to 10 hours. You can and will unlock Radio Reports, Cutscenes and other Gallery items. Other than that this game has no true replay value. The achievements and trophies are easy to attain so maybe that could help with replaying the game.
Final Verdict: Jack Slate and Shadow did end up getting retribution in Dead To Rights Retribution. However they didn't get it with my review.

The Tower of Druaga - Nintendo

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:04:00 -0700

Many video games today features a number of secrets hidden within them, but they are usually just a source of short amusement from the developer to the player rather than essential bits of information important to the plot of the story. Even if such games did feature secrets essential to the plot of the game, the advent of the Internet has basically ruined the original intention as anybody can easily look up the answers on the first day of release. However, such was not the case back when The Tower of Druaga was released on the Famicom in 1985.
Concept
The Tower of Druaga is an action role playing video game based on maze gameplay. The thing that is most interesting about it is that it was one of the first games that required players figure out and find a number of secrets in order to complete the game; without finding these essential hidden secrets, it was impossible to finish the game. Because there was no Internet back when this game was released, it was important for friends to work together to figure out the game.
Some of the secrets that were hidden in the game included a number of different things, such as random starting positions for each maze. In other words, if you restarted a maze, you might end up in a completely different part of the map, meaning you could not just blindly use muscle memory to get through the maze. On top of that, the maze could also change entirely, though it would not randomize, just to add another challenge.
Gameplay
In The Tower of Druaga, the player takes on the role of Gilgamesh, and the primary purpose of the game is to pass through sixty floors of mazes in an effort to defeat Druaga in his demonic tower. The only equipment Gilgamesh receives is a shield and a sword, and these items allow him to defend himself from magical attacks and defeat enemies, respectively. With this equipment in hand, Gilgamesh is required to go through a maze to find a randomly placed key, which will then open the door to the next floor.
The Tower of Druaga is the game that became the precursor to roguelikes such as Nethack and the recently released and popular The Binding of Isaac. Fans of either of these two games should absolutely invest in obtaining the original Famicom cartridge, if not just for the experience of seeing from where their favorites derived.

Please visit retrogamerjapan.com for Super Famicom games, Famicom games and more. We also have cleaned, tested and ready to play classic retro Famicom and Super Famicom consoles, controllers and guides. All 100% original, straight from Japan.

Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari for Famicom

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:03:00 -0700

All video games released today have their own roots that have greatly attributed to its production over the years. This also includes every beat 'em up video game that is released in modern times, such as Castle Crashers and especially Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Video Game. In the case of these two, Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari is the main influential game that defined the genre.
Concept
Released in North America under the name River City Ransom, Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari is a beat 'em up style video game released for the Famicom in April 1989. There are a number of properties that greatly set this game apart from other beat 'em ups, but the primary one is its non-linear nature, allowing players to fully explore an open world instead of following a set path like Double Dragon. Players take on the role of Alex and Ryan, two high school students traversing River City in an effort to rescue Cyndi, the girlfriend of the latter as she is captured by gang member Slick.
Gameplay
As players travel across River City to rescue Cyndi, they come across a host of different enemies looking to stop them, each of which are a part of their own named gang, such as The Squids, The Jocks and The Frat Guys. While this was hardly the first beat 'em up to feature unique characters, the way Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari differs is that each group of gangs actually have some varying personality to them. Perhaps the most notable way of proving this is in the way certain gang members would shout Barf! once the player had defeated them. As enemies are defeated, money is collected.
Every so often, the player can enter the town and use their collected funds to purchase power ups and other items that can assist them along their journey. This is something also used heavily with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Video Game as Scott goes to prove his love for Ramona. Similarly, Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari brings you face to face with the leaders of the gangs you are fighting, and these leaders act as sub-bosses or regular bosses, adding an extra challenge to the game.
Though it is not inherently necessary to purchase the Famicom version of Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, it is still a nice piece to add to a collection for those interested in expanding their Famicom collection. Those on a budget can instead choose to purchase the Virtual Console version, available in America since April 2008.

5 Educational Video Games

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:18:00 -0700

1. Tropical Fish Shop - This game lets players be the owner of a tropical aquarium shop. You're tasked with rescuing fish from polluted waters and providing them a good home until someone comes along to adopt them. This game teaches children some of the responsibilities of pet ownership as well as a little bit about taking care of the environment and even some financial sense with the business game aspect.
2. Roads of Rome 3 - This is a real time strategy type game that plays a lot like the Civilization series of games which puts you in the role of a Roman emperor trying to defend your culture from being invaded. Even though it's not historically accurate in all details, this game gives kids insights into how cities used to be constructed and defended and, sometimes, even destroyed.
3. The Three Musketeers - This is a fun game which gets kids into the world of classical literature. This game is packed with fun, combining sword fighting, puzzles, card games, exploration and mystery gaming elements into one expansive package that has you racing up and down the countryside to complete your quest.
4. Secrets of the Vatican - While firmly rooted in the same sort of fantasy as The Da Vinci Code, Secrets of the Vatican also plays off the same actual historical facts as that book and movie, sending players all over the world to pick up pieces of the Holy Lance. You'll be going all over the world to pick up clues and pieces of what's called the Holy Lance and teaches players about geography, world history and actually about the arts as well. Definitely a fun way to kick-start a child's interest in fine culture.
5. Macabre Mysteries- Although it may seem like this game is mere shallow entertainment, it actually pushes those playing to use some critical thinking skills. By challenging you to solve a series of murder mysteries, this game pushes you into a corner that you can only get out of by using your brain. While not educational in the traditional sense of teaching kids facts you will want them to know like other video games for learning, Macabre Mysteries teaches vital learning habits that will come in handy later i

on the Gaming Mouse

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:17:00 -0700

The gaming mouse is an innovation to the world of computer gaming. Rather than be burdened with a standard computer mouse with 2 buttons, the gaming mouse brings more to the table then the standard mouse can handle. Gaming mice are being constantly innovated with new or improved features. Manufactures are tempering their products to be more advantageous for the user. This hardware allows users to become more precise, utilize more buttons, and become a dominating force in the world of online gaming.
Gaming mice implement the use of optical technology to track the mouse's movement on the ground. With that feature comes the ability for the mouse to track DPI (dots per inch). A mouse that tracks 2000 DPI has a smoother tracking then one with 800. This leads to improved cursor placement. This is great addition to gaming. Another great specification to the gaming mouse is the use of additional buttons in contrast to the standard computer mouse. Gaming mice are known for their additional buttons. These buttons grant the user to deduct some of the keyboard's work load, and place it on the mouse. With the use of mouse key binding the additional mouse keys maybe used for other actions in game. These functions can be set to a whole range of actions, maybe the reloading a weapon or the casting a spell. Gaming mice can contain from 3 to over 10 additional buttons. Certain gaming mice have the option of changing the weight of the mouse by use of additional weights. This is an excellent feature that allows the user to customize his mouse to his preference. Storage for the additional weight is reserved for the user. The User can add weights of measurements and amounts into the mouse. The feature creates a specified resistance for the mouse to create. Certain gaming mice have the ability to change shape. The user is given the option of altering the length or the width of the mouse. Mouse users who prefer to have the mouse act as a supporter for the palm of their hand may choose to increase the length of the mouse in order to do so, and the same applies to the width.
Mice have been issued the ability to go wireless. This is usually seen as more of a comfort option rather than response efficiency. Wired mice have better response time then a wireless mouse. Since data must be sent from the mouse to the receiver this process delays response time rather than a direct link. Wired mice are not prone to external interference from other devices. Signal interference can be created by other wireless mice in the area of the receiver jamming or sending mixed signals to the computer. This can be frustrating in situations that need immediate response and action. Wired mice are also great since they do not have the opportunity to lose battery power while in use. Wireless mice are equipped with chargeable or non-chargeable batteries both which have a limited lifespan. Nothing is worse than losing control in a game, while having to replace dead batteries.

Tower Defense

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:15:00 -0700

The aim of the player is to protect himself from enemies and prevent them from reaching him/her by building towers. These towers may be used as barricades and some of them may even shoot at the enemies trying to cross them.
Each game becomes more exciting as a player advances because the enemies get fiercer. The player is endowed additional powers each time he crosses a level. The player can collect points and buy more complex tools to help build sturdier towers.
These games can easily be learnt and it involves the simple strategy-positioning of towers in important locations that will stop the enemies and not let them reach you.
In each round the player can withstand a number of blows from the enemies before he/she finally succumbs and loses a 'life'. If the player can keep the enemies away for the required amount of time and not suffer too many blows, he crosses the level successfully. However, if the number of blows that the player takes crosses a certain limit, then the game is lost.
One of the best techniques of playing tower defense games and winning each time is to create a maze like path that the enemies must cross in order to reach your base. Another helpful trick is to bar an exit on one side, and when the enemies take turn the opposite side, bar that side too. This causes the enemies to keep moving back and forth in search of a break in the path.
Playing these games does not require experience, and all you need to do is device a strategy to block your enemies long enough for you to win your game. Enemies who bypass the barricades can be killed before they reach your 'base'. An amateur player must familiarize himself with the terrain in which he will have to place the towers. Some games have a fixed map, whereas other games allow users to create their own custom maps, and this makes the game all the more exciting.
In order to play this game, you don't need to download any content from the internet. A flash player is all that is required and the game loads in a few seconds. Get it loaded and, you can start playing and have unlimited fun killing your enemies and blocking them from reaching your base!

Are You A Gamer?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:14:00 -0700

Do you play sports video games? For a lot of us sports fans the answer is yes, and we don't even have to hide the fact that we do. We all have our own little man cave area where we play, or should I say waste, untold hours with that game pad in our hands. Whether it be PS3, XBOX,Wii, or Nintendo we all have our favorite games, some of which we have played since childhood. Some would say we never left stage to begin with.
My top 5 favorite sports video games franchises of all time are:
1) Madden NFL Football. Wow what a shock, right? It's not that I have liked each release but as a whole Madden pretty much set the standard for sports gaming. I am not a guy who can just stick a game in the machine and play it. I have to fiddle with sliders and gameplay to make it as close to the real thing as I can. No cheese!! Anyway, Madden comes as close tot he real thing as possible.
2) EA's NCCA Football. Ok, it's really Maddens little bother because they are made by the same company and all the controls are about the same but that's where it ends because the NCAA series captures College Football right down to the mascots and fight songs. I love being able to run the option in a game and you can even recruit players and build your own dynasty! I have played this game and piled up 15 and 20 seasons as a coach. Love it!
3) MLB The Show. Must have some baseball in my video diet and while I think it's the most difficult sport to have accuracy in from a video game there is still nothing like crushing a ball 450 feet off the bat of Josh Hamilton or another slugger. Of course, baseball is a purist sport and the stats are what the game is all about. Baseball video games have a hard time with reality especially with things likes walks, errors and other numbers.
4) The Baseball Mogul. You may not have heard of this one but it's so addictive to play. Baseball Mogul is a complete statistically based game where you are basically the GM of a baseball team (the real teams) and you are in charge of everything from a financial standpoint like player and TV contracts all the way down to the price of a hot dog. It's very deep micro managing and you have to kind of be a numbers nut to appreciate it and you must have an understanding of how to run a baseball team. If you have a star player on the rise do you sign him long term or trade him at just the right time? Pretty cool stuff!
5) Tecmo Bowl. This game came out in 1988 and is still being played! I must have spent weeks in hibernation playing this quirky little football game on my Nintendo with the corny music. In some respects it was better than madden because the game itself was pretty smart and you had to to be really good to have any fun with it. But the downside is this game only had 3 or 4 plays per team and not all the NFL teams were in the game. Still, my fingers are still sore from playing it.

Poker Tips: Sports Psychology For Poker

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:41:00 -0700

I recently interviewed a professional poker player, named Jonathan Little. He has competed in million dollar events. Many months, he earns more than twenty thousand dollars from playing poker.
This young competitor explained how he does not get too high or too low when he wins money or when he loses money. He is unfazed by setbacks.
People who want to perform their best in mental and physical events can learn a lot form Jonathan's thoughts on managing competition.
Besides counseling many elite athletes, I have worked with chess players and poker players. While people don't think of participants in activities like chess, poker, bridge and backgammon as being like athletes, they, in fact, are very similar to world class sports men and sports women.
Like athletes, they, too, need to be relaxed, focused and confident when they compete. They also need mental and physical stamina because some of the tournaments that they compete in tend to go on for long periods of time. And they sometimes need mental coaching to learn how to handle the stress related to the challenging game they compete in. I frequently teach them how to discover the right mental gear to compete from and how to remain in a cocoon of concentration during the course of tournament. And many poker players, chess players, bridge players and backgammon players use the same kinds of mediations that I teach other athletes.
I also show them how to conserve energy and recharge themselves in between hands.
Jonathan Little, who has written two books on poker, strikes me as a math wiz who knows probability, math and the statistics associated with poker quite well.
Like many professional gamblers, he loved board games from the time he was a youngster.
Jonathan left college after discovering his love of poker. He knew that poker was for him and that college was not a prerequisite for succeeding at the poker tables.
Like many skilled poker players, he also understands the role that money management plays in being successful at high stakes poker games.
Jonathan is also acutely aware of poker psychology and he looks for what poker players call tells in his fellow competitors. A "tell" is a tip off as to what kind of hand a player may be holding.
Boxers and martial artists also look for tells which indicate what kind of offense, blow or attack my follow a gesture or body language. For example, a fighter may widen his eyes before the throws a right hand.
Similarly, chess players also sometimes signal their strategy and their mental state of mind through their body language. Fidgeting or tapping might signify nervousness or excitement during the course of a chess game.
Like an athlete, Jonathan prepares for long tournaments by staying fit and by getting used to competing in different time zones by arriving at the competition site a few days in advance so he can get acclimated to the environment.
Interestingly, when he competes, Jonathan often rooms with his colleagues/competitors where they share stories, knowledge and tips with one another. These groups serve as a support network for the professional poker players.

3 Reasons Why It Tops All the Rest

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:35:00 -0700

Hey Nathan here, today I am going to talk to you about an awesome game that I have played called "Star Wars the Old Republic". I am also going to explain to you how to increase your SWTOR skills as fast as possible in the game.
Let's start by talking about what makes this game so much different than other Star Wars video games.
This game is not like your average Star Wars game that we normally see that revolve around first person shooters. This game follows suit with the more common Star Wars themed games that have really made an impact on the computer gaming world such as Knights of the Old Republic and The Force Unleashed. The aspect that really makes this game different though is that it now has a MMO flare to it that puts it in the ranks of various game series like World of Warcraft.
The Old Republic has such rich game play that you will literally spend hours upon hours exploring and experiencing more in this game. You are given multiple quests and planets to explore in the galaxy and each route you decide to take will lead you into another path and storyline. You are given multiple quests that must be completed to move forward and in turn these completed quests will open up more paths to take with your character.
Another great factor that I love about Star Wars the Old Republic is that you can pick from 8 different Star Wars classes of characters which you get to upgrade and develop over the process of the game. This so interactive and is cutting edge for the Star Wars universe since there has never been a game released that has allowed you so much choice and options before. You get the option of choosing between: Sith marauder, Jedi, Bounty Hunter and trooper. I said 8 classes because out of the 4 I just mentioned you can develop 2 different kinds of characters for each one with different abilities. On top of that, once you have leveled out your 8 classes, you are able to unlock 8 more SWTOR advanced classes of characters that are even more fun.
Now with a game this detailed, you have to have some sort of direction when trying to get through all the quests and character development in this game. The cool thing about this guide is that it shows you "loopholes" in the game that allow you to get your characters SWTOR skills leveled up as fast as possible. Using these "loopholes", you could get your new character leveled up in under half the time that it would take another player. This is a great tool because the faster you can level up your character; the better the game play will be from the very start. This guide will also show you how to increase your SWTOR crafting skills and in turn develop better weapons and armor for your characters.
This guide also gives you really nice walkthroughs of all the levels and quests and shows you where they will take you depending on the paths you decide to take with your character. This is a great feature because now you can plot a path that suites what you want out of the game since you can see where it will take you before you make that decision.
To sum it up, you gotta play this game! If you are planning to play it and you are serious about increasing your characters SWTOR skills, then you should also check out the guide as well.

The Top Games for Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:58:00 -0700

All kids, whether girls or boys, love playing games. It's one of their basic needs to play various games for the purpose of enjoyment or fun. There are many types of games available on the market for kids, including action, adventure, Barbie, princess, puzzles, cooking, makeup, monsters, and many others. So your child has a lot of different options to choose from when it comes to computer games. Don't allow your kids to play horror or any other severe kind of action games. It's your responsibility to provide your child with a healthy gaming experience.
When it comes to girls games, this is quite easy for parents to manage. Girls usually don't like playing action, or fighting games; rather, they love playing doll, dress up, makeup, and other games. So you don't have to worry much about the games while choosing one for your girl.
Girls Games
Here are some of the major games that your girl can play, and she will surely love them all.
Makeup
All girls love playing makeup games. Naturally, girls tend to love makeup and all related stuff. Interestingly, you don't have to tell your girl how she should play the game; rather, she will start playing it herself.
Dress up
These games are extremely popular and, just as importantly, are very easy. Your girl can easily play this particular game. In a dress up game, players need to change clothes, makeup, jewelry, shoes, hair style, and everything of the character. Barbie, monsters, fairies, princesses, celebrities, and vampires are some of the major characters that are used in these games.
In a vampire dress up game, players have to dress up a vampire or a monster. It is strongly recommended that you shouldn't allow your girls younger than nine to play these vampire dress up games because these can create a sense of fear in your child.
Cooking
It's another famous category that girls love. There are many types of cooking games available online. Girls can easily learn cooking via these interesting, as well as enjoyable, games. Most of the cooking games allow girls to cook various dishes virtually within a specific time period. All the ingredients, quantities, and procedures are told to the players, so it's a good learning game for girls of all ages.