Best Phone for Your Personality

January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Games are more than collections of pixels and multi-player chaos. Instead, they offer thrills to every user, with simulated battles, first-person shooters and RPGs providing hours of fun. Limiting that fun to traditional systems is therefore not recommended. Instead, embrace the possibilities of smartphone gaming.

Image via Wikipedia

Finding the right phone for a gamer is no simple task. The options are many, and often unsatisfying. Users must understand that not all phones are created equal; instead they must provide high resolutions, quick speeds and responsive controls. Consider these three options, which fit all gaming personalities perfectly.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

Serious gamers need serious hardware, and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play provides some of the most impressive technology available. This smartphone, which is intended for Playstation fans, offers a 3G network, LCD touchscreen, 237 kilobytes per second of data and even an Android operating system. It shines, however, with its touch-sensitive gaming controls and Playstation-style buttons. The slide-side design even provides dedicated gaming space, making this the ideal phone for avid competitors.

The Samsung Galaxy S

Gamers favoring the RPG format often find themselves disappointed with smartphones: with dull colors and tiny screens providing none of the wanted drama. The Samsung Galaxy S offers an alternative, however. A massive four-inch display provides high-definition shades; this coupled with more than 500 megabytes of RAM and even AMOLED technology, creates pristine images without sacrificing speed. The sound also proves perfect, with users creating their own playlists with the inclusion of Rhapsody Unlimited. The MetroPCS Rhapsody challenges Cricket Muve phones and provides musical clarity, and can make sweeping soundtracks with ease. This is the multi-player fan’s best choice.

The Apple iPhone

The casual gamer devotes himself to no specific platform, wanting instead to sample all options. Choosing a phone that offers endless variety is therefore essential; and the Apple iPhone proves an ideal option. This innovative piece offers a four-chip processor, retina display and video mirroring, which allows every image to impress. What makes it the obvious choice for gamers, however, is the collection of Apps available for download. Thousands of games — from old-school favorites to new designs — ensure that there is never a wasted moment.

Gamers too often confine themselves to their favorite systems. Smartphones, however, offer alternatives. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play provides excitement for the most dedicated players; the Samsung Galaxy S offers bold graphics for RPGs; and the Apple iPhone provides variety.

Are you ready to play?

 

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Secret & Cheats: Super Smash Bros.

June 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

 

Super Smash Bros. 

Image via Wikipedia

Playing games the ‘right way’ may be fun but it’s even cooler when you can beat the game using tricks and cheats. Here are some cool secrets that will make Super Smash Bros. all the more fun!

 

  1. Ever played with a partner and ended losing because the other player lost all his lives and left all the winning to you? Well, here is a cheat that will resurrect the dead! While playing Team Melee with two or more human players, when one of the players loses all his lives, simply press ‘Start’ and one life from the living player will be transferred to the dead one. Miracle! What makes the cheat even better is that you can keep transferring lives till both the players have only one life left!
  2. C-Stick smashes can be very boring as they have such a tiny impact. What if you could charge it up into a smash attack? You could do this with the usual Control Stick and A button option, but when using the GameCube, you could get the same effect using the C-Stick. Click the C-Stick in the direct where you want to make your smash attack and then hold the button Z. The smash attack will not start off immediately. Instead, you will see that it is charging up. You could either wait for the charge to complete and release the smash attack automatically. However, if you are in a rush and can’t wait for the smash attack to charge fully, simply release the Z button whenever you need to and the smash attack will be triggered. Voila!

 

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Conquering Age of Empires III

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Cover art of the PC version 

Image via Wikipedia

 

 

 

Age of Empires has had a cult like following for a very long time. It popularity has grown with each new version released and its features have left players breathless. However, the game can be very tough and frustrating if players do not have a little ‘help’. This is the reason why tricks that make things move in the Age of Empires are so sought after by gamers. Here are some great cheats that will help you conquer Age of Empires III much faster!

 

  1. Resources are what can make or break any empire. But what if you had unlimited resources? This cheat is a dream come true for those who have struggled with Age of Empire III. Go to the data directory in the game folder and edit the proto.xml file using a text editor. Make sure that the file is not set to ‘Read only’ by checking its properties in Windows Explorer. Look for text that contains the word ‘Createof’ and you will end up with a long list that covers everything from food, money and wood. Go to the ‘InitialResourceCount’ tag and change the count to as high a number as you want and that the amount that each unit will have!
  2. Going to a higher level can be a tough task in Age of Empires III but not if you follow this simple trick! Go to the My DocumentsMy GamesAge of Empires 3Savegame and open the sp_yourcityname_homecity.xml file.  Once there, search for ‘’ and you will find ‘xx’. Simple replace the xx here with 99. What does this trick do? It makes your level 99!
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Revealing the secrets of The Sims II

June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Current  

Image via Wikipedia

 

 

The Sims set off a new trend in strategic gaming and have remained tremendously popular since the very first Sim was launched. People spend several hours in a day building stuff, collecting resources and using their minds to create places of absolute harmony and success. However, a little bit of cheating doesn’t do any harm where ‘progress’ is concerned! So here are some neat tricks that you can use in The Sims II!

 

  1. Music plays a great role in setting up the environment of a game but many gamers don’t like the music that the Sims has. So here is a trick that will let you listen to your favorite songs within the game! First of all, build a list of the MP3s that you want as part of The Sims II. Then go to MyDocuments/EAGames/TheSims2/Music/ and select the music station that you will want your music to play on. Now, drag and drop your MP3s in this folder. Go back to the game now and open the options menu. Select music settings and then the music station where you have saved your songs. Once there, you can select the songs that you want the radio station to play during the game. Voila! You can now play to your own tunes!
  2. Want to have some pizza for free? Make your Sim order a pizza. However, when the delivery guy shows up, don’t take the pizza. The poor guy will wait for a while and eventually leave the pizza by your door step. Stack up lots of free pizza and your Sim can have it whenever it feels hungry as they never become stale!
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Four Tips for Improving Your Blackjack Skills

May 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you like to gamble, you may find that one of the best games to play is blackjack. There are many ways that you can play, and there are always great tips that you can find. Below are four tips to improve your blackjack skills

Split the Deck

If your initial hand is two of a kind, split your deck. This improves your chance of winning. It is highly suggested that if you have double aces, always split. This is even an option most of the time on an online casino.

Double Down

If you decide that you want to double your bet after seeing your initial draw of cards, you can do this. You will also get an additional card with this. Doubling down is a great way to go if you have an amazing hand, but keep in mind that it can also be a huge risk if you don’t have a great hand.

Remember Who You are Playing

You are playing against the house. Keep this in mind. You are simply trying to beat the dealer, without busting. Though this may seem easy, it is not always that simple. Understand that though you want to get as close to 21 as possible, you also do not want to go over.

Know Your Limits

One of the most important things to keep in mind if you want to improve your blackjack skills is to know when to stop. If you are getting stressed, angry, or running out of cash, it is time to cash in. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with ‘just one more’ syndrome.

 

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Using Computer Games to Learn

May 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Group of children in a primary school in Paris 

Image via Wikipedia

Most parents despair when their children start asking to download or purchase computer games, but the fact is that, chosen wisely, many of the games can actually be educational tools. Of course, you’re the only one who’ll know that, because the learning is disguised so well in the graphics and maneuvers, your child won’t even realize he is learning until he actually puts the knowledge to use.

There are computer games designed for even very young children. Some of these can be helpful, but you need to ask yourself do you really want to introduce your three-year-old to the computer when he is just mastering fine motor skills such as using pencils and crayons, and still wants to remain physically active.

For those children that you do consider old enough to play computer games, there are those that you will feel more comfortable with letting them play because they truly are helping them. For example, computer games that require a child to achieve a certain number of points before proceeding to the next level can help with math skills.

Games that require pointing and clicking the mouse can help with hand-eye coordination, something which many young children often have a problem with. Also, choose games that require conscious effort on your child’s part in order to make something happen. For example, you can choose a game that require your child to click on a specific color object a fixed number of times before achieving success. This can help with fine motor skills, math skills, and memory skills.

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The Old Platform Video Games: The Challenge That Never Ends

May 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It’s staggering how far we’ve come when it comes to video gaming. First it was Pong — now it’s Call of Duty: Black Ops. That essence of gaming has evolved so incredibly that it makes humanity look like a snail in the grand space-time continuum. Who knows — we might see in ten years a video game console that can be implanted into our brains. Look! It’s Super Mario Brothers played inside our minds. How’sthat for virtual reality?

There’s one question to pose, though: has the quality of gaming gotten better? Hmm. Good question.

For sure, your quality Final Fantasy games out there are like custom designed poker tables — and Pac-Man’s basically an old wooden nightstand. Right?

 

Image courtesy: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/2703293797_9d12fe9376_m.jpg

Wrong. When you’re looking for the answer about quality in gaming, know that the answer is this: no. It definitely hasn’t gotten worse, though.

Try any of those old platform games from the past — like Mega Man, Ninja Gaiden, Super Mario Brothers. What is the defining characteristic of a game? Think hard….

Yes! It’s the challenge. It’s the ability to spend hours trying to get to the next level. Go ahead and try it: play any one of these classic platform games, and you’ll want to throw the controller at the TV.

There’s your quality right there. There’s programming genius in a game — a game that provides a challenge. Know that the essence of gaming isn’t to be thrilled, necessary — it’s to be challenged. That’s what all kinds of games do.

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Protecting Your Teen on Facebook

May 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru... 

Image via CrunchBase

If you’re like the majority of parents today, your teen has a Facebook account. And, if you’re like the majority of parents, you’ve heard the countless horror stories about cyber-bullying, stalking, sending and receiving sexually explicit postings, and other issues that have put teens into physical danger or caused intense emotional stress.

You may be wondering if refusing to let your teen have a Facebook account is the only way you can prevent anything bad from happening. It is one way, but there are other ways you can protect your teen on Facebook or any other social network account (Facebook is the one you hear about the most, but there are others; these tips apply to any of them).

Become your child’s “friend.”

Not only will this give you access to your child’s page, but just knowing that you are literally seeing everything your child sees will keep him and his friends “on the straight and narrow” when it comes to content that is posted. If you start seeing a lot of “code words,” ask your child to translate, and then explain that this will not happen again. If it continues, suspend Facebook access for a period of time.

Keep up with your child’s contacts.

If you don’t know a person yourself, ask your child to give you information on who the contact is and how this person came to be on your child’s Facebook page, this is the only way to ensure Facebook privacy for your kids. If the person doesn’t know your child enough to your liking, have your teen remove them from their friends list.

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The Growing Popularity of Online Games

May 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Gaming has always been something that people find to be an entertaining and viable pass-time. Since the inception of computers, the world of video games has evolved drastically, reaching out to entire new demographics that it did not when it first began getting popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While in fact traditional types of video games such as first person shooters and the stunning embrace of graphics and interactivity that is the role-playing realm; the more simplistic types of online games are vastly growing in popularity over them.

Among some of the more popular games that are commonly played online are games that pertain to gambling. There are many online casino sites that dip into many different types of games that are associated with gambling in general. Among one of the more popular are digital Texas Hold ‘em matches that take place around a digitally enhanced table where each player has a clear seat. These types of games have been popular for the past decade, and continue to grow due to the ease they present to people who like the element of gambling but enjoy the anonymity of sitting at their computer with nobody around them in person.

Additionally, some of the more simplistic looking games that are nothing more than generic side-scrollers are equally popular. These games can usually be found on sites that small scale developers use to show-case their games. Text-based role-playing games also fall into this category, and have a like cult type of following among player groups.

In all, the computer and Internet present a wide array of gaming opportunities for both players and video game developers. With the wide array of preferences among audiences, there is seemingly no area in which a developer can make a mistake in terms of what the finished product will be and who it will appeal to.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: , ,

Best Computer Monitors for Online Gaming

May 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
LG L194WT-SF LCD monitor 

Image via Wikipedia

If your child simply insists he must have a specific computer monitor for his online gaming, don’t just assume he’s asking just because everyone else has it. Take a few minutes to find out some information on different types of monitors. You may be surprised to find that the differences are enough to make certain ones better selections for gaming.

One thing to look for is how much the monitor can be adjusted. This not only includes the ability to tilt it up and down or side to side for better viewing, but also in how much the brightness and contrast can be adjusted.

Computer monitors that can be easily maneuvered so that they are on the most comfortable level for full visualization of the images can actually help protect your child from injury. Monitors that require him to raise or lower his head or neck for optimal viewing can cause him to suffer back and neck pain.

Can the entire monitor, base and screen, be moved easily? This is important because you want to make sure the monitor is far enough back to reduce eyestrain as this can cause headaches and other problems.

Adjustments are important because too-bright colors can actually cause neurological problems. If your child is prone to seizures, bright colors rapidly flashing on a screen may trigger a seizure; being able to adjust the brightness can help with this.

Contrast is also important. Images should be clear and sharp, with no fuzzy edges. The background should not be too dark or too light. Out-of-focus images on a hard-to-view background can also cause eyestrain.

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