Get the Best Game Systems Available: Compare Game Systems with a Review

It is a fact that with the stiff competition in the game system industry today, many game system manufacturers are developing the latest game systems integrated with the latest hardware technology available. Because of this, almost all game system manufacturers are telling people to buy them because they are better than the other game system.

It is also a fact that more and more game system manufacturers are popping out in the video game industry and introducing a new kind of game system. This makes it even more confusing to consumers. Because of this, people tend to buy whatever game system they see available in the market. Sometimes, these people end up getting frustrated with what they bought because they tend to think that they weren’t really informed on what game system is the right game system for them.

Game systems or consoles are meant to entertain people who own them. It is a great way to relieve stress and is also a great way to spend time with family and friends. The fact that more and more people are considering buying a game system for themselves or for them home, game system manufacturers are getting more and more competitive with each other.

In order for you to know which game system to buy, you have to know about the different aspects that you should look for in a game system. You can simply compare different game systems in the internet by visiting game system review site. In fact, there are hundreds of different game system review websites available in the internet today. All you need is type in the keywords in your favorite search engine, wait for a second for the search results and start visiting different game system review websites.

By visiting these websites, you will have a better idea on what game system you should buy for you and your family. In these websites, you will see the different comments of users about the game system. Aside from this, it is also recommended that you should also visit the website of the game system manufacturers. In this site, you will learn more about the game system and you can easily compare which game system is better.

However, one of the most important things that you should look for in a game system review is the opinions of people who owned the game system. They will be the one that you can rely on to judge the game system and determine which game system you should buy.

Here are some of the things that you should look for in a game system review:

• First of all, you need to determine how wide a particular game system game library is. If there are a lot of games for the game system, then this game system is the game system for you. Besides, you don’t want to get stuck in a limited amount of games. If you get tired of a particular game, you can always purchase another game designed for that particular game system.

• The next thing you should look for in a game system is the usability feature. The game system should be easy to hook up, has easy to read labels, and one that could be simply operated.

• Of course, you don’t want to get stuck with simple and crude graphics technology. You should look for a game system that offers state-of-the-art graphics and sound technology. With these features, you can be sure that you will have more fun playing with different games available.

This is how you should choose which game system you should purchase. It will only take you just a small amount of time to read the reviews for the different game systems available in the market today. Armed with the knowledge about a particular game system, you will know what you should buy the next time you visit the mall.

Always remember that it is recommended that it is always necessary to read the reviews first before you buy a game system, which can be very expensive. You should never compare game systems by price alone, but you should also compare them to the different things mentioned above. With this, you will be sure that you will be buying the perfect game systems for you to enjoy for years to come.

Online Role Playing Games

Introduction
A wide range of games comprises the Computer Role Playing Games (RPG). These are types of games where you are tasked to build a hero or character. As the game advances, the character then acquires experience which he or she will use to become more powerful and obtain new abilities.

A broad genre under the video games category is electronic role playing games. These games originally came from the traditional role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. These utilize both the game mechanics and the settings found in such games.

Online Role Playing Games are RPGs that allows players to interact with each other in a virtual world. These interactions may be played either as a single or multiplayer game. Other features of online role playing games are similar to computer RPGs.

Characters
These types of games revolve on making or choosing around one or more avatars and building its
characteristics and experience as the game progresses. These characteristics then represents the skills of the gamer himself and how he or she determine game outcomes. Traditionally, a status screen is displayed to represent the player’s attributes. It makes use of numeric values rather than meters, bars and other simpler abstract graphical representation video games
in general utilizes.

Settings
Another special feature of role playing games is its fictional high-fantasy setting. Usually, these are derived from science fiction themes or space opera.
There are only a few that take place in modern or historical settings. However, games such as Bloodlines (”gothic punk”), Arcanum (steampunk), Darklands (a combination of medieval German legend and history), Fallout (post-apocalyptic), and Mount and Blade (Medieval Europe with no magic or fantasy) are exceptions to these trends.

Missions
A group of characters or a party, usually different players, join forces to accomplish a “quest” or a mission. Challenges and enemies, usually inspired by science fiction, classical mythology, and more commonly, fantasy fictions, are faced by the adventurers along the way.

Examples of challenges are defeating the evil boss, rescuing a princess, or clearing a dungeon of
monsters. To know and receive his quest, the player might find it necessary to talk to an NPC. Missions may also include item fetch quests, locational puzzles (such as opening locked doors by means of a hidden lever or a key), or engaging in dialogues.

A number of games are made up of smaller quests in a predetermined sequence and are played as a linear narrative. However, games such as Fallout, contain nonlinear gameplay and multiple quest solutions through multiple endings and branching plots. How the quests are approach varies on different character builds. Methods such as violence, bribery, subterfuge, or diplomacy may be used depending on the character divergent of its skill.

Developments
It is difficult to affirm definitely where this genre will be headed because of it rapid development and the different numerous titles within the genre. However, developments have been made. One of these improvements is the “raid”, or the raid group quest. Large groups of players (twenty or more) are able to participate in the “raid”.

Another online role playing game improvement is the use of instance dungeons which keep the group isolated from the rest of the game world. This reduces the amount of data that is sent to and from the servers, thus decrease lag. It also lessens competition.
Instance dungeons can be found on World of Warcraft “raids” as well as all of the Guild Wars combat area.

Nintendo DS Game Systems: Handheld Gaming at Its Finest

When people hear the word Nintendo, they will usually think of a company that manufactures quality gaming console and they will also think of great games and great entertainment.

For more than two decades now, Nintendo is still manufacturing and developing great gaming systems that everyone enjoys. The people working in Nintendo always works hard everyday to keep their customers interested and entertained and develop new forms of gaming console for people to buy.

If you remembered the NES or Nintendo Entertainment System, you know how Nintendo literally revolutionized the way the world see video game systems and are continuing to do so. Today, you will see different popular gaming console popping out of the market. You will see that the technology in the gaming world have since vastly improved in terms of graphics and sound technology. The game play has even changed. More realism in games has made it more fun to play for everyone.

Nintendo is also famous for their GameBoy, one of the most famous handheld gaming systems in the world. In the market of handheld gaming systems, Nintendo is still competitive besides the fact that many game system manufacturers are also developing and releasing famous brands of their versions of handheld gaming system.

If you are familiar with Nintendo, you will be familiar with their products, such as GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, and their latest, the GameBoy DS, which the company claims will again revolutionize the world see handheld gaming.

With today’s technology, it will seem that every bit of features that you want to find in a handheld gaming system is now possible. Now, with Nintendo DS, a successor to their previous Nintendo GameBoy Advance, many gamers will certainly want to have this new generation of handheld gaming system.

So, you may now ask what is so special about this new handheld game system called the Nintendo DS.

First of all, Nintendo DS stands for Dual Screen. It has 3D rendered graphics with ultra bright screens. Nintendo claims that it will deliver the latest technologies in handheld gaming existing today.

Another great thing about Nintendo DS is that you, as a player, can now be able to play with or against anyone wherever they are in the world as long as they have a Nintendo DS and an internet connection. This is now possible because Nintendo DS can connect wirelessly through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and you can play with or challenge players around the world.

The two bright screens of Nintendo DS can produce 3D views with great quality that can really surpass images displayed in Nintendo 64. Nintendo DS is also integrated with touch screen technology. The lower screen in the Nintendo DS is capable of touch screen technology that is never before seen in any handheld gaming system in the world.

With the touch screen technology, you will be able to navigate through menus or access different items on the game or you can even move your character with the use of a stylus or your fingertips. This means that you will no longer be dependent on the buttons to do all the actions in the game.

Not only that, another way to interact with the game is through a built in microphone port. This means that with Nintendo DS, you can tell your games what to do. This provides a greater way for you to interact with your games.

If you like your old GameBoy Advance games and you still want to play with it with Nintendo DS. Nintendo DS game system offers a separate media port for GameBoy Advance cartridges in single player mode.

So, if you need a one of a kind handheld game system that offers great features, then Nintendo DS is just right for you. With all the technologies mentioned, you can be sure that you will really get quality graphics and as well as flexibility for your games.

Just imagine what you can do with Nintendo DS. No longer will you be bound on playing single player or two player modes with your friends, but you can also play with others from all over the world through Nintendo’s latest offer.

Playing with Nintendo DS will definitely change the way you look at handheld game systems. If you try playing with Nintendo DS, you will surely want one for your own.

System Specifications needed for the Da Vinci Code Computer Game

System requirements are not just applicable to some games; these are part of every game. There is no game that exists today that does not have any system requirement for the computer to properly run the game. Aside from that, almost all game requirements are considerably on the part of the hardware device that a gamer must posses.

Video games have lesser system requirements or hardware device requirements because these games are preset to a certain device that is constantly made. Or it can be better said that game programmers adopts with the present hardware device or known as console that their game can play with.

Other video game makers make their own video game consoles which lessens the requirements of the system that is to needed to play the game. However, games cannot be regulated in the sense that only those game console makers are allowed to make game programs. There is no law that rules over the regulation of game production in that matter. There are plenty of independent game makers that are not connected, whether in part or in whole, with big game console producers. These game makers just depend on the mainstream hardware device that can be use for their game.

The most common hardware that is being used to play with certain games is the personal computer. However, there are plenty of versions and specifications that is present nowadays that a personal computer may have. You may find different makes and capacity of processors, video cards, sound cards, RAM, etc. in the market. These specifications are very helpful in thinking what your computer may do for you.

All games have their own system requirements. These specifications are required to attain a good sound, good video output and good playing output for the player. When one or several requirements are not met, chances are that the player will never enjoy the game to its fullest capacity. Just imagine playing a game with a choppy computer, or with a very poor sound, or even unrealistic display, surely one will never be happy with the game.

One of the games that may require special specification to the user is the Da Vinci Code. This game was inspired by the book and the movie that was shown early this year. This game is about Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu’s quest for answers on the secrets of the Priory of Sion and other sects. Their quest was later situated in the game of death when they discover a very critical secret which can possibly ruin the Catholic faith.

The system requirement of the Da Vinci Code game is primarily applicable to personal computers. The basic system requirements are the ones being given ceiling.

Here are the system requirements for the game Da Vinci Code:

• Processor – the speed of the processor that is required to play this game is 1.8 GHz. The make is no longer important but the one made by Pentium is more advisable. The speed of the processor is the one that will determine how fast your computer will be able to execute any command from the game. This will be responsible in sending and accepting data coming from the user. The Da Vinci Code game requires speeds like this because visual display and other feature of this game are really high.
• Environment – this game can run in Windows 2000, Windows Xp or any higher environment available. 
• RAM – the requirement of this game for RAM is as high as 512MB. This memory is used to temporarily store data that will be sent for the processor. The faster the RAM the faster the processor will execute. 
• Disc Space – for a better gaming experience, the Da Vinci Cod Game requires 3GB hard disc space. Too large for a normal computer disc space but just perfect to play Da Vinci Code game.
• Video Card – for a good resolution of graphics, the game needs a 64MB DirectX 9c compatible graphic card. 
• CD-ROM – the game require the average speed of the CD-ROM that equals to 6X. However, the game prefers the user to use a DVD-ROM instead. 

In the game, there are places included that are not stated in the book nor in the movie. The player is going to solve meta puzzles and decipher codes from a cryptex. There are 90 levels that a player must finish. If your computer meets or exceeds the requirements, then you will have a better operation of the game allowing you to fully enjoy every aspect of it.

History of Video Game Systems: Knowing About What Started it All

Video games have come a long way in terms of graphics and sound technology. Although video games didn’t exist a hundred years ago, the enhancement in graphics and sound technology revolutionized on what people think of video games today.

Unlike what you see in video games today that has amazing 3D and realistic graphics and sounds, it all started out with a video game called the Computer Space. This video game was released by Nutting Associates in 1970 and was the first coin-operated arcade video game.

In 1972, the Odyssey 100 video game system was introduced. This particular video game can be attached to a standard television to display the graphics and play the game. In the same year, Atari launched Pong. This is a coin operated machine and is played with two short vertical lines that you move up and down to avoid letting the “ball” pass.

The real video game revolution began in the late 70’s. Atari introduced the Video Computer System or the VCS (renamed Atari 2600 later). This system uses cartridges and delivered colored graphics and sounds through the television. The game was played using a joystick or paddles.

The Atari 2600 were the most popular gaming systems ever invented in its time. The system was always in demand that retail stores constantly ran out of stock, especially on the holidays.

However, in early 80’s, more and more video game manufacturers began coming out. An example would be Nintendo. Nintendo’s Family Computer was a worldwide success and sold over 500,000 units all over the world for a short period of two months. In 1985, Nintendo released a similar system in the United States called the Nintendo Entertainment System.

With the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US, it also released the Super Mario Bros. video game that was a total hit. The Super Mario Bros. game reportedly had a worldwide sale amounting up to 40.24 million dollars and was declared as the best-selling game of all time.

In the late 80’s more and more video game manufacturers began releasing their latest video game systems. Sega Enterprises released the Genesis home video game system in the US and was a total hit. It generated sales amounting up to 14 million dollars.

In 1995, Sony Electronics released the 32-bit CD-ROM game system called the PlayStation in the US. It was a phenomenal hit and this was the beginning of the Sony PlayStation legacy.

The popularity of Sony PlayStation paved the way to more advanced graphics system and other video gaming systems manufacturers began to follow suit. The CD-ROM technology to be integrated in a video game system is now the most popular way to play a video game.

Sega Enterprises and Nintendo followed with a similar concept of using a CD-ROM to play its games instead of using cartridges.

Sega released the Dreamcast video game system in Japan in 1998 with features like a 200 MHz processor, 12X speed 1 Gigabyte CD-ROM drive and a 56 kbps modem. However, it arrived too late to threaten the Nintendo 64 and the much anticipated PlayStation 2.

In the year 2000, PlayStation released the PlayStation 2 with great success. About 1 million units were shipped from Japan on the first weekend and have been one of the most popular video game systems ever released since Atari.

Other companies also followed. Nintendo released the GameCube video game system and Microsoft released the Xbox game system in the United States. The Xbox had features that no other gaming system had. It had an 8 Gigabyte hard drive, 733 MHz Pentium III Processor and a 250MHz nVidia graphics coprocessor. Also, it was capable of being connected into a broadband internet connection.

In 2005 Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 video game system in the United States. It has a wireless controller, headset and a 20 Gigabyte hard drive.

As you can see, video game systems are rapidly advancing in graphics and sound technology. You can only wait and see what Sony, PlayStation, Nintendo and other video game system manufacturers can think of next in the near future. Sony even announced the release of the much anticipated PlayStation 3 on mid November 2006 in North America.

Magnavox Odyssey 2: The Game System That Started It All

Today, you will see different gaming systems that are integrated with the latest graphics and sound technology. The games that are available in these game systems are even amazingly realistic and can really make you feel that you are part of the game and not just as a person playing it. The realistic and customizable character features in some of these games enables you to feel as if you are part of the game itself.

There are a lot of companies that manufactures gaming console competing in the market today. Some boasts that their gaming console can connect to the internet while other gaming consoles brags that it can have up to four different players playing locally at the same time.

With a wide library of games available today and the different gaming consoles available in the market, it is very hard to imagine that these games have evolved from a very simple and primitive beginning.

Before the Magnavox Odyssey 2 gaming system, the Magnavox Odyssey gaming system was the first to come out. This gaming system was developed by Ralph Baer who worked on the Odyssey gaming system for two years. The Odyssey was first called the Brown Box because it was encased on a wooden box. Baer’s associates showed little interest with idea so he looked for a company that is willing to produce his invention and market it.

The company called Magnavox became interested in Baer’s idea and was willing to reproduce it and market it. The Brown Box is an analog system that runs on transistors and capacitors. Baer’s Brown Box underwent a number of refinements and changes before it was released by Magnavox as Odyssey in the year 1972.

Upon release, the Odyssey was the talk of the town. But because of the high price and inefficient and confusing marketing, people thought it needed a Magnavox TV to run. This confusion hurt sales badly but nevertheless, Magnavox sold almost 100,000 units on its first year.

In the year 1978, Magnavox released the new version of Odyssey called the Odyssey 2. This unit was created to compete with the growing gaming console industry. One of the features that made Magnavox Odyssey 2 stand out is the 48-key keyboard to assist in educational games. Odyssey 2 has features that are considered state-of-the-art during its time.

The Odyssey 2 technical specifications were an 8 bit Intel 8048 (1.79MHz) CPU, a 64B RAM integrated in the CPU, 16 colors and 4 on screen, resolution of 280x192, 4 sprites, 1 channel mono sound system, and a 2K programmable game card. These features were considered the latest technology in its time and Odyssey 2 was considered a success with sales that went up to over a million units.

Odyssey 2 gaming console is also integrated with one button digital joysticks, and a QWERTY layout keyboard for educational games.

Odyssey 2 also has expansion modules for different games. It can be integrated with The Voice where it provides speech synthesis and enhanced sound effects. It also had a Chess Module to run the chess program effectively.

So, when you play with the latest gaming consoles that have great graphics and great sound quality, think of where it all began and imagine what may come in the near future. Because of the fast technological development in the gaming console industry, you may assume that more gaming consoles with the best technology available will eventually pop out in the market in the near future.

Just think about it, in less than 30 years, game console developers and manufacturers have developed simple gaming consoles to highly advanced gaming console with the latest technology in graphics and sound in just a little time.

Today, because of the latest development in computer technology and the internet, Odyssey 2 games are readily available for online play. It is defiantly hard to imagine that all the gaming consoles you see in the market today evolved from a simple gaming console developed by a man called Ralph Baer and a company called Magnavox.

Come to think of it, if you played Odyssey 2 before, you would really want to play the old and simple games again. You can play these old games in a number of websites available. Most of Odyssey 2 games are available for online gaming for free.

Rise of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games

A new phenomenon in the online arcade gaming industry is the rise of MMORPG (Rise of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games).

Several thousands of players share a common environment and fight each other for glory. Multiplayer online gaming is the newest rage with programmers.

Almost every game is designed to include a multi-player option. Arcade games have shown an ability to overcome numerous obstacles in its 40yrs of existence.

It was pretty obvious it would win the war with the Internet. The arcade industry responded to the growing threat of multiplayer games on internet by coming up with games of their own.

Like they say “if you can’t beat them join them!”

Common Arcade Games

Lunia is an action packed arcade MMORPG that combines the classic RPG elements like character growth and community system with intense paced action. The game has breathtaking environments and takes you through eerie dungeons and abandoned castles.

Anarchy Online is a science fiction MMORPG arcade game that’s hugely popular and won 20 international awards.

The game allows for unmatched character customization, hundreds of devastating special attacks and thousands of items. The game sets up a hyper fast game play with more action and less camping.

The Anarchy online has a well scripted deep story line. The game lets you play as a soldier, healer, tech expert, trader or adventurer.

The game features stunning environments with clubs, bars and apartments.

Anarchy online gives you the option of fighting thousands of monsters or challenge human opponents in Player vs. Player areas.

Role Playing Games - And The Fan Base Grows

Role Playing Games

Players or participants of Role Laying Games assume the role of different fictional characters, more
popularly known as avatars, and try to make these characters victorious with each challenge it faces.

These avatars can be customized and built according to the preferences of the player. They may determine where their character may excel. However, as the game progresses, the character may built up more strength and powers or otherwise.

Online role playing games also have guidelines and a formal system of rules and mechanics that needs to be met. Working around these rules, participants can shape the outcome and direction of their games.

Background

It was in the mid 1970s when it all started. Online role playing games was developed from its traditional counterparts (computer role playing games and video games). In this year, the earliest multi user games started to appear. In 1980, Rogue, a very famous dungeon crawler was released. It was quite different back then because monsters, items, and settings were represented by letters. Form then, development of a new genre of similar clones.

One of the most influential games among all online role playing games is Dungeons and Dragons. It has a big effect in the development of online RPGs. The success of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest console games divided the genre of role playing games into two: the console role playing games and the computer role playing games. Cultural differences are the reason behind this classification. Game consoles are produced primarily for personal computers in Japan and role playing games in the Western World.

When it was introduced, Online Role Playing Games began as single player games. However the arrival of the internet and the virtual world made developments in online role playing games. After that, players from all over the world began to enjoy the games in this genre. They were able to participate in multiplayer games with players from all parts of the globe.

These games have grown to be an online gamer sensation that RPG companies discover ways to make it better. These improvements led multiplayer gaming into massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) that continued to make online gaming more popular each year.

Challenges

These games are centered on stories which are moreoften than not, adventure and fictional in type. There are also centered on fantasy and mythological genres.Players have to reach a certain goal or complete a mission in order to advance further into the game. These missions and challenges are often called“quests”.

Some of these involve chasing off dragons, fighting evil wizards and masters, and saving damsels in
distress. The outcomes of these games are dependent on the characters strengths, characteristic, and skills.

Little More About the Avatars

As stated, players have the power to customize their characters according to their preferences. However, the improvement of there characters are highly dependent on the course of the game. Enhancing their character’s skills, attributes, equipment, and special abilities are important so as to achieve the goal of the game.

Improvements and achievements are often given as rewards for accomplishing their quests and overcoming obstacles. In short, these rewards have to be earned.

Multiplayer Modes

Among the online role playing games, Diablo was the first to come up with multiplayer options. Multiplayer modes became popularity during the mid1990s. Then after, they became massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) because of its popularity.

Finding the Best Video Game System

Technology never ceases to amaze everyone with the great developments being done every single day. The expansion of technology is far beyond the ability pf the mind to imagine. Comparing the past decade to now, there are a lot of developments and improvements in terms of technology, that would have seemed impossible then. Before, cellular phones existed only for the sake of communication, but today these tools can even be used for other things like photo capturing, music playing, voice recording, etc.

The most anticipated invention that was ever invented by kids and kids at heart is the video game. There are also so many versions of games that can be found in the market. The desire of the people to have something to do during leisure time prompted other people to conceptualize and finally invent indoor electronic games. Video game keeps on innovating and its peripherals and other devices used in these games are also being developed and improved as time goes by.

Video game systems are the hardware devices that are being used to play the games. Video games systems are also known as video game consoles. Consoles, basically, are compatible with any other game that manufacturers come up to widen their market. However, because of the heavy demand of consumers in the market, console makers and software or game programmers tie up to come up with a perfect combination for their products to sell. There are consoles though that is universal in the sense that it can play at least all programmed games available in the market.

In the past years, plenty of game system developers introduced their own video game systems. These systems have different specifications and have unique abilities in the aspect of computer gaming. Plus, every maker has their own distinct abilities and design that they apply to their product.

Because of this enormity of factors to consider, gamers and consumers are left with only one question in their mind: What will I buy? And what is the best for me? For many, these questions are so hard to answer especially if they do not have enough idea of the video game systems available. So, answering these kinds of questions does not just require asking or talking to other people but as well as having your own personal research.

There are considerations to take in choosing the best video game console for you. A game console can never be regarded as the best by any other person except by yourself. Products like video game systems are not directly related to what you want and what you are satisfied with and not by what they can give you, although the specification of a certain device is a big factor for your satisfaction. To help you in choosing the best video game, here are some things to do in finding and choosing the best video game system:

• Know what you want first. As stated above, what satisfies you is something that only you can answer. The video game system that you must choose must be something you like and according to how you know your self and your desires, and not just because it is something that your friend has. Your friend might have different expectations in a video game system but it helps if you see theirs first to know if you like it.

• Take the endeavor seriously. Choosing a video game system is just like choosing what car you would want to drive. Check everything, whether your prospect video game system can really give you the best output, like in the audio, the resolution of the video, the game pad, etc.

• Search for video game consoles in the Internet. There are plenty of product makers that post their products on the Internet.

• Consider those video game systems that are made by known console makers around the world. This will not just give you the best quality there is, but it can also help you adjust whenever these companies make improvements with their products. In gaming, compatibility is an important factor to consider.

• Think about what other things would you like your video game system to do for you. Does it offer add-on peripherals? Game pads must also be comfortable to handle.

Best video game systems can be made best only if your expectations are fully met. Choosing such a device is primarily dependent on characteristics that your video game system must possess.

Why Online Role Playing Games Are In Demand

History

Online role playing games can trace its history back to the 1970s, where the earliest multi user games
started to appear. Rogue, a very famous dungeon crawler, was released in1980. Monsters, items, and
setting were represented by letters. This in turn, inspired a whole genre of similar clones.

Dungeons and Dragons have long influenced the development of role playing games. Console playing games’, such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, success divided the genre into two: the console role playing games and the computer role playing games.
This is because of the cultural differences where game consoles are produced primarily for personal computers in Japan and role playing games in the Western World.

Online Role Playing Games started as single player games when it was first introduced. However, with the advent of the internet, more and more improvements were made on role playing games. What started as a game for one now has all people coming from different countries playing together in one game. Multiplayer options have grown remarkably big that game companies find ways to improve it over and over again. With these improvements came massively multiplayer online
role playing games (MMORPGs) that continued to make online gaming more popular each year.

RPGs

Role playing games are games where the participants or players assume roles of certain fictional characters and follow stories as the game process continues.

These characters are usually called avatars and can be customized according to the player’s preferences. Participants determine their character’s actions whether it succeed or it fails. Like any other game, online role playing games also have guidelines and formal system of rules and mechanics that has to be met. Within this rules, the participant can improvise and shape the outcome and direction of the games.

Stories

The games are based around stories which are mostly adventure and fictional in type. Online role playing games centers around fantasy and mythological genre were the participant has to achieve a certain goal to advance further into the game. These goals are sometimes called “quests” or mission. They involve chasing of dragons from the city, saving a damsel in distress, or fighting evil masters and wizards. How one wins these fights depends on their character’s strength, characteristics, and skill.

More About the Characters

Players are given options on how they want to improvetheir character’s performance. They can modify this through enhancing their character’s skills, attributes, equipment, and special abilities. In most RPGs, these improvements are offered as rewards for accomplishing missions and overcoming certain challenges. These rewards have to be earned.

Status Bars

Unlike traditional video games where health or a character’s attributes are displayed on colored status
bars and meters, online role playing games have a more complicated way in displaying status levels. Instead of the simpler abstract graphical representation, they make use of numeric values which are constantly updated each time the character scores or takes a hit.
These numerical values are displayed on the status screen of each player.

Multiplayer Options

Originally, role playing games were offered only a single player experience. However, with the advent of the internet, multiplayer modes gained popularity and rose sharply during the middle of the 1990s. Diablo was among the first to come up with multiplayer games.
And with that, these multiplayer games became into massively multiplayer online role playing games
(MMORPGs). Everquest is an example of these.

Got Dial Up? Forget Online Gaming

Computer games have come a long way since electronic checkers and the like. Today, we've got computer games that would put some 21st century movies to shame and interest in online gaming is catching on like some kind of crazy fever. Once dominated by males aged 25 and older, today's gaming generation includes mom, sis, aunt, even grandma and grandpa! If you think you've caught the online gaming bug, and you're thinking about becoming a participant, don't even think you can join in on this online fun using a dial up Internet connection!

Part of the fascination with online gaming lies in its speed. During play, online gaming becomes a virtual world and in order to project a sense of reality into the mix, its games are fast, its movements are smooth, and its sounds are as realistic as we hear them in the natural world. Sitting in front of an online game, and actively participating in one puts the player in another world - a world that's so different, so cool, and so real.

No, we're not talking about a super-fancy version of checkers or backgammon. We're not talking about a visually rich game of tic-tac-toe. We're talking about full-fledged networked or multiplayer gaming that allows anyone to entertain themselves and hoards of others across the world at the same time. Multiplayer games play over online but trust us when we say any old Internet connection won't do.

If you want to get in on this craze, you're going to have to ditch the old dial up connection that you might have and get into broad band. A broadband Internet connection will give you the ability to send and receive highly detailed and realistic imagery at an appropriate speed. It will give you the means to watch videos in real time, and it will allow you to experience speech as if each and every other player were speaking to you directly.

A dial up Internet connection just can't handle this kind of fun, but you can get a broad band connection just as easily. For the techies out there, broadband is a type of data transmission in which a single medium (wire) can carry several channels at once. 1 For the rest of us, broadband is an Internet connection that allows several people to send and receive data at the same time. A dial up connection doesn't do that. A dial up connection can either send or receive - but it certainly can't do both. Let's talk about Broadband ISDN for a minute.

ISDN stands for integrated services digital network and it can transmit transmitting voice, video and data over fiber optic telephone lines at about 64 Kbps (64,000 bits per second).
Most ISDN lines offered by telephone companies give you two lines at once, called B channels. You can use one line for voice and the other for data, or you can use both lines for data to give you data rates of 128 Kbps, three times the data rate provided by today's fastest modems.2

Broadband ISDN - a combination of regular broadband and ISDN can transmit voice, video and data over fiber optic telephone lines at about 1.5 million bits per second (bps). It's a much faster connection than either broadband or ISDN alone! If your ISP offers Broadband ISDN, ask for it - your online gaming adventure will be the better for it.

A Video Game Environment of Your Own

Have you ever fantasized about building a video game environment of your own? A place where you and your friends could spend hours and hours playing your favorite games without interruption? Or how about a place that really shows off your game fetish? It's really pretty simple to create such a place and you don't need to rent out a video game hall to do it. This article will introduce a few ideas you can use to build the ultimate gaming center.

The first thing that you want to do is maintain a happy household if you're family member. Trying to play a mean game of Super Mario Tetris or Halo 2 can be impossible with kids running around the house and screaming bloody murder. You won't be able to enjoy the latest role-playing game when the wife's nagging you about bills or undone chores too. Keep a happy home, keep a happy marriage, and your time spent playing video games is heaven away from heaven.

It's no secret that some games require as much concentration and focus as when studying for a calculus exam - and there's nothing more frustrating than when you can't figure out how to get through to "the next level" of a game. This is no time to be distracted and if home life isn't what it could be, you'll never be able to concentrate on your game. Strive to make home a place to unwind first - then work on enjoying your games.

You can next dedicate a place in your home as your exclusive game room. This will not only emphasis the importance that gaming is to you (and to your family members), it will also become conducive to the mentality that you need to play a fun and relaxing (albeit, serious game). Budget permitting, decorate the room with all the amenities that you want. You could add a recliner (or two for your friends), a small stand to hold snacks, a bookcase for your games, and you could even add a small refrigerator and microwave (just in case). Your intent here is to declare the space as yours and that it serves only one purpose: pure gaming pleasure.

What you're after is a place that's completely and totally pleasing to you, both aesthetically and functionally so that you'll enjoy your time there.

With your own space dedicated to gaming, you'll want to do what's necessary to maintain it and keep it in a condition that's inviting not only for yourself, but for others as well. Keep your equipment and games clean. Take care to keep wires from tangling and organize your magazine subscriptions, books, or Internet cheatsheet printouts. Maintenance is a task that doesn't have to burden you as long as you make a daily routine of it. The advantages of keeping a regular maintenance schedule shows that this space is important to you and that you have a right to keep it that way.

But take special care not to alienate yourself from the rest of your family. We all can have a favorite hobby and we can even dedicate a special area of the home to that hobby. However it's extremely important to regard this place as a haven - not a hide out. It's not an area to hide from the kids, it's not a place to shun home responsibilities, and it's not a place to live. If this special space is approached in the latter manner, you'll soon discover it as a place of resentment, uncontrollable habit, or even depression. Be careful, schedule time with the family, and enter your playroom at appropriate times. Cooperation from others will then come naturally.

PPPPP

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Evolution of Arcade Games

Arcade games started from a humble title, Pong, and then went on to become a rage. The games primarily evolved around a simplistic design and raw game play.

The newer arcade games made the use of immense leaps in the graphic technology. The arcade games were designed to be played with a group of friends in pubs, malls and restaurants.

These days arcade games are more than isolated gaming sessions. Arcade games have numerous communities and clans committed to keeping the tradition.

The arcade games later appeared on home consoles. They started out as redemption games, pinball machines and video games.

The popularity suffered as the arcades were labeled as seedy, unsafe places. They saw resurgence with the advent of the “two players fighting each other” games such as Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter and Killer Instinct.

But, then, again the game consoles and PC’s with 3d accelerator cards successfully dwarfed the advantage arcade games enjoyed. The success of arcade games over the previous generation of home computer was the ability to customize and use the newest graphics and sound cards.

The steep decline ensured that they could no longer fund their technologies.

By late 90’s the internet made matters worse for the arcades. The human to human competition was taken to a newer level.

Since then, the arcade games have been ported to other consoles and emulated on PC’s. Today the online arcade games have a huge fan following with thousands of tournaments being held online every year.

The online arcade games are evolving at a fast pace and the arcade world visualizes an altogether different future for the industry.

A.I. System in Arcade Games

The first arcade games were built on discrete logic and were strictly based on competition between the players. Therefore, there wasn’t any A.I. system.

Heuristic algorithms have been used in the arcade games. The common method of controlling an NPC in the game was by scripting.

‘Path finding’ is another common A.I. system that has been used in the real time strategy games. ‘Path finding’ works by calculating how to get an NPC from one place to another after considering the terrain and obstacles.

Games like Quake and Pursuit based all the enemy actions on particular stored patterns. The space invaders further refined this movement, by adding in-game events which were dependent on the hash functions.

This resulted in more varied and complex enemy movements.

Pac-Man incorporated this technology, at the same time jazzing it up by providing different personalities for each ghosts.

Although the ghost movements in Pac-Man felt random, it was a cleverly scripted and well disguised action.

The 1990’s saw the emergence of finite state machines. The arcade racing games were powered by a ‘rubber banding’ A.I. system.

If the computer controlled the opponents “fall behind”,
they received a superb boost allowing them to catch up.

The system too, works the other way around, enabling the human players to catch up if they fall behind. The arcade shooting games should ideally have a large rule base which is basically the list of NPC options like attack long range, call for help, flee etc.

The trick lies in using a random factor to choose from this base factor. This has displayed an enhanced feeling of intellect and developed the fun factor.

How to Design a Game System: Making RPG Players More Involved in the Game

When you play in the arcade or in your own gaming console or even in your home PC, you look for a game that feels and looks realistic. Lots of people prefer to play these kinds of games because it makes them feel as part of the game.

People would even try anything to make the game look more real. They even set up their home entertainment system to their game console or their home PC to really get the feel that they are actually in the game and not just playing it. They hook up their wide screen TV to their PC and sometimes they even hook up their surround sound system to make it more realistic.

Game system design technologies have vastly improved these past few years. Today, with the latest 3D and sound technology being integrated in the game, you will really feel as though you are actually the character that you are playing. Games today, particularly RPG games, are now integrated with realistic features. You can hear ambient sounds, different languages, and you can even choose to set it up in a realistic way, such as blood and gore options and surround sound options. Computers today and gaming consoles are also equipped with the latest technology in graphics and sound.

In order to create a game system that people will surely buy, you need to know what people are looking for in a game. One of the most popular game genres available in the market today is called RPG or Role Playing Games. These games let you choose a character or have a character that you can control. Some RPG games are first person shooter and some are on third person shooter games. A first person shooter lets you view the game as if you are the character themselves and in third person shooter, you will also control the character but you will see its whole body.

Today, there are a lot of Role Playing Games available in the market and are still competing to make their game the best in the industry. The next thing you have to consider is the setting of the Role Playing Game. For example, you have to think of a location and time. You have to consider that some people like futuristic games and some people like historical game settings, such as a Role Playing Game in the settings of World War II or Desert Storm.

Knowing how to design a game system will require you to have advanced knowledge 3D graphics technology. You want to make your character and the game environment as real as possible and basic knowledge simply doesn’t cut it. In order for you to have this knowledge, you can consider attending 3D software and graphics courses. In these schools, you will learn how to create 3D characters and 3D environment and how to manipulate them.

If you already have this kind of skills and knowledge, the next thing you need are equipments to design your characters and environments. It is recommended that you should have a PC equipped with the latest processor technology, the highest possible RAM, DVD Writer and also the latest graphics card.

You also need a 3D software program. This is where you will design each of your characters and add different details to make your characters look very real.

There are also different 3D equipments that you need to have in order for you to successfully design a game system.

Whatever Role Playing Game is on your mind, you have to consider that people look for realism. Try playing different Role Playing Games available in the market and try to get an idea on how you can create a successful game that will surely sell.

Always remember that designing a game system can take lots of time. You have to consider putting in a lot of hours designing the game. You also have to know who you will be designing your game system for. If you are designing it for kids, then you don’t want to put in a lot of violence and gore in the game, you want to make it friendly for kids where everyone can enjoy.

A game system design is not a simple task to do. You have to expect to fail for the first few tries. If you encounter errors, go back to your programming and fix the bugs. In time, you will see that you will be able to perfect the game design.

Play With the Best Video Game System and Spend Hours of Great Fun

Video games are one of the best forms of entertainment today. With it, you can really make your imagination come alive and become an entirely different character that fights monsters from different planets or be a Formula 1 race car driver.

To play these games, you usually go to the mall and play it on the arcade. In the arcade, you will see different games available. Some are even placed on realistic cars or fighter planes that are designed to follow every move you make. For example, if you play in a fighter plane, you will see that the machine will follow the plane’s movements, when you bank your plane right, you will feel the machine that you’re in move right too, if you pull up, you will feel that the machine will also point up.

Some of the arcade games even have a vibration feedback to alert you that you’re being hit by the enemy. There are even two player modes where you can go head to head with your friends in a dog fight or you can do cooperative missions where your friend can be your wingman. There are a lot more arcade games available.

However, you can’t go to the arcade everyday because doing so can be too expensive. Therefore, you should buy your own video gaming console where you can play right in your own home. Although it won’t contain all the realistic machines that you can find in the arcade, you can still have that great graphics and sound quality in the games.

Another great thing about buying your own gaming console is that you can have flexibility in selecting your games. There are a wide variety of games available that is not yet available or impossible to put in arcades.

In order to maximize enjoyment when you buy a video gaming system, you want to get the best. However, you may wonder what makes a good gaming console. With the number of gaming consoles available in the market today, people get confused on which gaming console they should purchase. The competition makes gaming console manufacturers develop the latest graphics and sound technology and integrate them in their systems making all the different kinds of gaming consoles in the market really stand out.

In the past, crude graphics and simple sounds were the ones available in the market. And, it was really popular. Today, quite a few gaming console manufacturers are now manufacturing the latest gaming consoles with integrated features that can even rival the power of your home personal computer.

Sega, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony are four of the big names in the gaming console industry. They create the best gaming consoles in the market and really took the world by storm with each new version released. When you play in these consoles, you will know that it can really give quality entertainment for you and your family. When you have the time, you will spend hours on playing an action packed game with amazing realism and sound quality.

To answer the question on what makes a gaming system the best is not just about the sound quality and the graphics technology integrated on the system. Before you buy a gaming console, make sure that the gaming console has a lot of game titles supported. Besides, people would rather choose a gaming console where thousands of different games are available rather than purchasing a gaming console that only supports a few hundred games. You would eventually grow tired or bored of the only few hundred games available in a particular gaming console.

With thousands of gaming titles you can choose from, you can simply buy another game title if you get bored with your other games.

Another thing you should look for in a gaming console today is if it has additional add-on gadgets that you can connect. Some gaming consoles have memory cards that you can buy for you to save your progress in case you want to continue playing later on. Some have different joysticks that you can plug in for a more realistic feel for the game. For example, if you want your racing game feel more realistic, you can purchase a steering wheel with gas and brake pedals and if you want your fighter plane simulator, you can purchase a joystick that looks similar to fighter plane controls.

There are even gaming consoles that are integrated with a modem. This gaming console can give you the capability to connect to the internet and play with other players across the world.

If you choose a video gaming system that has all these features, you purchased the best video game system available. With the continuing development of different gaming consoles, who knows what other features it may bring.

New Game Systems: Which Game Systems You Should Buy

People in this modern society demands better entertainment for them to relax after a long day at work or at school. There are different kinds of entertainment available today. Some people go to movie theaters, some play sports, some prefer watching TV or listening to music, while other prefer playing video games.

Today, video game systems are becoming more and more sophisticated and are now integrated with the latest technology in graphics and sounds. If you played with the latest video game systems before, you know how much fun it is to play with these machines.

Game systems are basically a great form of entertainment where you can interact with the TV. Since the beginning of the development of video games, people have been purchasing and demanding newer game system with the latest technology. Because of this demand, many game system developers are striving to provide the best game systems in the industry.

Games for the game systems or consoles are also becoming more and more realistic everyday. These powerful machines combined with the latest games available can really make you feel as if you are a part of the game itself and not just someone playing the game. The realistic environment that is integrated in these games is so good that it created the ESRB. The ESRB rates the games on what particular age it is recommended for.

However, because of the competition that is going on between game system developers and game developers, many people find it confusing on which game systems and games they should buy. First of all, game systems today are so close in terms of graphics and sound technology that it adds to the confusion among consumers.

So, as a consumer, you have to know which game system you should purchase. Since there are a lot of new game systems popping out in the market, you have to choose which game system you should buy.

Here are examples of the latest game systems available in the market today:

• Sony PlayStation 2
• Microsoft Xbox 360
• Nintendo GameCube

There are more game system developer companies that are competing in the market today. And, more and more new game systems are being released. This adds more to the confusion of consumers. In order for you to know which game systems you should purchase, it is recommended that you should compare the different game systems that it is on your list and determine which game system is the best.

You should look for a game system with higher processor speed, has the highest transfer rate, the latest in graphics technology, the highest RAM, the best sound technology, and also other features, such as the ability to let you play online multiplayer games, and also a wide variety of games available.

You should also choose a video game system that has been tested and brought by a lot of customers worldwide. You can also ask your friends who owns a video game system and ask about the performance and also ask if he or she is satisfied with it. You can also gain access to different comments of game system owners through the reviews in the internet.

If you want a more in depth look at the newest game systems available in the market or one that is going to be released in the market soon, you should visit the website of the manufacturers. By doing this, you will know more about the video game system and know which new game system you should purchase.

Always remember that you shouldn’t only base on the price of the game system when you are shopping for one, you should also determine the different technology integrated in the game system and you should also know if the game system has a wide library of games available. Besides, you don’t want a video game system with limited game library; this will create boredom because after you get tired of the same old games, you will likely want to buy newer games for your game console.

So, in case you are shopping for a new video game system, you have to remember all of the things mentioned above. Always remember that these machines don’t come in cheap and this is why it is recommended that you should first research about the machine before you buy.

What The Virtual World Has To Offer - ORPGs

The Online Role Playing Game

The venue is the virtual world. Numerous individuals participate, meet, and play with each other. These are the occurrences in massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). These are computer role playing games which developed from continuous improvement of online multi user games. It was Richard Garriott who coined the term MMORPG. He is the creator of the game which popularized MMORPG, Ultima Online.

A fictional fantasy world is the usual setting in most role playing games. The gamers build their own character (avatar) and take control of the avatar’s skill and abilities. They can customize their avatars to match their personality. Every game in the online RPGs comprises of different characters with different trait and responsibilities. They can be categorized into melee, ranged, and magic users.

What Makes MMORPGs Different

Massively multiplayer online role playing games can be recognized from the usual computer role playing games by the number of players and the virtual world where the game is situated. Computer role playing games can only cater to single player modes whilst massively multiplayer online role-playing games can cater to thousands of gamers at one time.

The world that the game is themed from is another factor that differentiates the two genres. A
repetitive and constant setting is found on computer role playing games. Because of the way it is
programmed, each time the gamers in computer RPGs plays a game, the same episodes are repeated.

On the contrary, MMORPGs’ provide an environment that lives on its own. That means that even if the player is away or online, the game continues to evolve and “live”.

Increasing Revenues

Because of the popularity MMORPG has gained, it is not surprising to know that revenues rose dramatically over the years just so it could keep up with the world wide demand of online gamers.

In 2005 alone, about half a billion US dollars have been given to MMORPGs. Western revenues have been allotted with about one million dollars.

Economics

Most online role-playing games feature living economies. Virtual items and currency have to be
gained while playing the game and have definite value for the players. Such a virtual economy can be
analyzed and has value in economic research and can even have a dramatic impact on the economies of the real world.

One of the early researchers of MMORPGs, particularly Edward Castronova, stated that the supply-and-demand market for virtual items is existing. It even crossed over the real world as much as the virtual one.
Crossover requirements are some of the following: The player’s ability to sell in-game items for virtual currency, trading of items which have the similar value, the purchase of game items with real money, and the exchange of real money with in-game money.

The idea of exchanging real currency virtual currency or in-game items has had a significant effect on both the players and game industries. People who make a living out of the virtual economies are termed as “gold farmers” and can be employed through the game shops or private forums.

Real currencies in exchange for virtual money and in-game items are usually prohibited by game
publishers. However, because of necessity this exchange cannot be avoided. An example of this is
“Entropia Universe”, an online game that allows real money in exchange for game money and vice versa.

Play With Original Nintendo Games through Your Home PC or With the Latest Nintendo Game System

When you ask people about Nintendo, they will usually give you the same answer. They will usually tell you that Nintendo is the manufacturer of some the most popular gaming console ever made.

It is a fact that Nintendo is one of the most popular names in the gaming systems industry. The company is known to produce quality gaming consoles and is one of the biggest companies in the video gaming market. They have created different gaming consoles and almost each one of the consoles was very successful.

For example, in 1985, Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System or NES. This particular video game system is the most successful game system ever made by Nintendo. Over 60 million NES units were sold worldwide and it is also considered that this particular unit revitalized the crashing video game system industry in the early 80s.

Nintendo is also popular for creating the most popular game in the world. To this day, nothing compares to the popularity that the Super Mario Bros. game has reached.

The NES game system also led the way to modern video game technology. It led different companies to develop new game systems and the competition in the video gaming industry became even more intense. With different video game developers popping out of nowhere, Nintendo realized that it also needed to evolve to compete with the other big companies.

Today, Nintendo remains one of the three dominant companies in the video game industry. They still produce and are still developing new game systems that can ultimately allow them to compete with the other companies. The company still produces quality game systems and quality games that entertain many households all over the world.

Because of the great advancement in video game technology and also in computer technology, old games have been rendered obsolete and Nintendo discontinued production of their original game systems and games to make way for newer games and newer game systems to compete in the intense video game industry.

However, because of the rapid development in the gaming industry, people have been suggesting that the video game manufacturers should integrate a backward compatibility feature in their new game systems. Nintendo considered this and are developing their new gaming consoles to be compatible with their old game titles.

Nintendo also has a website that you can easily access and play their old games online. You can also purchase different original Nintendo games through the internet, download it, install it in your home PC and play with it. You can choose from the different popular titles that Nintendo developed, such as Athena, Super Mario Bros. series, Castlevania and a lot more.

The upcoming Nintendo Wii also promises backward compatibility of Nintendo’s games. The release date for Nintendo Wii will be on November 2006 and a lot of people are awaiting its release. Aside from the promising features that Nintendo Wii offers, such as wireless internet access, great games, and others, Nintendo Wii will also be capable of letting the user play with Nintendo’s old original games.

Nintendo Wii is a promising gaming console and is expected to be a worldwide success. It claims to be able to change the way people will look at gaming consoles with features never before seen in a video game system.

So, if you want to play original Nintendo games, you can take your old game system out from your attic or basement, wipe off the dust that accumulated, set it up, and play your favorite original Nintendo games. Or, you can also play original Nintendo games by purchasing it and downloading it on the internet. You can easily install the original Nintendo games in your computer and play with it.

You can also wait for the upcoming release of Nintendo Wii with the capability of playing old original Nintendo game titles.

With all the different original Nintendo games available, you will surely have fun playing with your favorite games over and over again. So, if you feel like playing retro Nintendo games, you can consider the mentioned options. Nintendo really produces quality games that you can never get tired off even if you finished the games over and over again.

This just proves that Nintendo creates quality game systems and also develops quality games that you and your family can enjoy.

What Makes A Great Game: A Gentle Reminder for Programmers

It's easy to get lost in all the details of building a great video or computer game - so easy in fact, that we can forget the parts of a game that make them fun to play. The following serves as a gentle reminder of what prompts players to play games in the first place. Refer to this reminder in the event that you get bogged down or distracted with confusing C++ syntax, or lines and lines of Visual Basic statements and DLL structures.

1. Remember the player is the main character. Here's a secret between you and me: People play games to gain a sense of control. If you can manage to program your game in a way that puts the player in control, then you've already won half the battle. This doesn't mean to suggest that the game should be easy. It simply means that when a gamer runs home from school or drives home from work to play a video game, she wants to feel the control that she didn't have during the hours between nine and five. The outcome of a game - whether it's a win or a loss - should never be random, but the result of a good, controlled game play instead.

2. KISS. Remember that acronym? It stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. We all know that programming a game is hard business, but believe us when we say we don't want to be reminded of it. The difficulty of programming a game should never be part of the game play so when possible, make the game easy to start, easy to navigate, and of course, easy to play. We're not asking for pre-school strategy here, but on the other hand, we don't want to feel as dumb as a pre-schooler either. Forget the hundred page manual. Nobody except the truly obsessed is going to read it anyway. Build your game for the average Joe and everyone will be your fan.

3. Add plenty of action. And add lots of it too. The more action you add to your game, the more attention players will pay attention to it. And the more that players pay attention to your game, the more addictive your game gets. For every action that a player's character makes, have the game react and then prompt the player for more.

4. Make the story a good one. Nothing is worse than playing a game only to wonder what you're doing and why. Purpose is and always has been a human obsession. But without it, we're left wandering... in the darkness... wondering bizarre things like how the house would look in a coat of bright pink paint. Don't give your players the opportunity to waste time like that. Give them a mission and make sure your game reminds them what the mission is at opportune times and why they must complete it.

5. Give us eye candy. But make it relevant. The graphics in a game shouldn't be distracting, they should make our eyeballs glaze over with satisfaction upon seeing them, and then salivate for more. Graphics should contain clues and entice us further and further into the game until we've beaten the thing.

6. Make it real. Fantasy games are okay, but what makes them cool is the fact that they're realistic. It's hard to get into something that isn't familiar or that there's no way we could ever experience. But if you can implement some reality into your games, players will appreciate it and relate to it on a whole new respectable level.

Helping Your Kids Learn Through Leapster L-Max Learning Game System Pink Edition

Your kid’s education should be one of your primary priorities as a parent. You should get them the best education that you can afford, and you should also let them have time for games and toys. There is a lot of gaming consoles available in the market today but you would also want your kids to learn from the games they play.

However, not all kinds of games available for the different gaming consoles are educational. Some games are even integrated with violence, blood and gore that can negatively affect your child’s psychology. It is recommended that you should purchase games that your children can learn from.

In the past, kids learn through shaped blocks and other toys that they can physically hold. Some of these toys can prove to be dangerous. So, you want to buy them something that is safe and something that they can learn from.

It is a fact that playing is one of the best ways a child can learn. It may be logical thinking, language or it can even be math. With the right games, you can really develop your child’s intelligence. Handheld games for children have existed for a long time. However, with today’s advancement in graphics and sound technology, a lot of handheld games for children now have better graphics and better sound quality.

An example of an educational gaming system for children is called the Leapster L-Max Learning Game System Pink Edition. Developed by Leapfrog, you can be sure that they offer quality education and quality toys for your children.

It is a fact that learning can be boring, this is why the Leapster L-Max Learning Game system Pink Edition have took it to the next level and made the learning experience fun for children. This particular gaming system is handheld. However, you also have the option on plugging it to your TV for a much better learning experience.

Leapster L-MAX Learning Game System Pink Edition is recommended for children aged 4 to 10 years old. It also has different gaming titles that you can integrate in the gaming system as your child develops.

It has animations included where your child can easily learn how to identify and write letters and it also has games where your child can play with their favorite cartoon character. This gaming system also teaches math, and language skills for different age levels.

Here are the things that you can expect this game system to teach your kids:

• Letters
• Rhyming
• Spelling
• Phonics
• Numbers
• Addition
• Subtraction
• Counting
• Art

Depending on your child’s capability, you can effortlessly make learning easier for them with this gaming console. Besides, what more can be fun for a child that having the ability to interact with their favorite cartoon character?

No other gaming console for children offers this kind of learning experience than the Leapster L-Max Learning Game System Pink Edition.

So, if you want your child to learn and at the same time have fun, you should purchase this game system for them. With the features that this game system offers, you can be sure that your child will use it for hours to have fun and at the same time learn about things that they will usually get bored off in school.

Language, math and art skills can be developed by using this game system. This game system also has a vast game library where your children can choose which game they want to play. They can choose to play with Dora the Explorer, Scooby Doo, SpongeBob SquarePants and they can even choose to play other different games.

There are different games for different age levels. All you need to do is choose which of the games can accommodate your child.

So, if you want your child to have fun and at the same time learn something while they play, the Leapster L-Max Learning Game System Pink Edition is your choice. With this game system, you can expect your child to learn faster and play at the same time. Think of investing in this game system as investing in your child’s education.

Getting New Ideas for Video Games (Part 4)

A Springboard for Video Game Developers

Creating video games is an art, no doubt. The problem is that it isn't easy to come up with ideas for video games. And even when we do get an idea, it doesn't seem as fresh or exciting as we want it to be. The following offers a few ways you can generate some creative ideas to keep your video game as fun to play from beginning to end.

18. Don't finish developing the game. Wouldn't that be a hoot! Instead of developing a video game that has a beginning and an end, design a game that continuously loops with challenges (levels) that increase with difficulty on every round. Winning a game like this would be a matter of racking up points and to satisfy game play, you could have the game post the name of the player with the highest points to a community website. (Hey, it's a thought!)

19. Exaggerate, Exaggerate, Exaggerate. One way to generate ideas for a video game is to exaggerate the characters, scenes, plots, and strategies that you already have down. This is how 'nice" turns into 'cool' and how 'cool' turns into 'awesome.' The trick is to know when you're crossing the line and going from "possible" to "impossible." You always want to keep a sense of possible reality in a game, however on the same token, you don't want to make the game so possible that it's predictable. There's a delicate balance and as a game developer who wants to stand out from the crowd, you've got to know how far you can stretch this balance without being offensive, silly, or stupid.

The basic point that we want to stress throughout this guide is that your game development doesn't have to follow the status quo. If you stick to what's been done before or what's been played before, you'll find that your games will collect dust on the shelves and that all your time and efforts will have been for naught.

Break established customs or doctrines and you'll get noticed. Get noticed and you'll gain a reputation for developing the most outstanding games around. Being able to get good ideas for your video games ideas is a gift - especially since good ideas can be hard to come by. But stop and think about what you have so far. Is it the best? Could it be better? Would a different approach help you obtain the fame that you crave?

Take a look at each strategy we've introduced in this article and see if you can't implement just one or two of them. Implementing ALL of them would certainly be a challenge, but so would the end result: your game.

Today's gamer craves the unknown, he craves something new, different, and original. If you're suffering from the "blank page syndrome," just pull up our article and consider each strategy as the answer. Expand your current ideas to the point where they excite even you - the developer.

And always remember that your video game is an extension of you. It deals with self-expression, creativity and communication. Don't underestimate yourself or your capabilities to do the unthinkable. And whatever you do - don't underestimate your players. The advantages of following our suggestions far outweigh any doubts you may have because once you step out of the realm of expectations, you make a wonderful contribution to the world.

Video Game System Rack Mount Shopping Tips

Rack mounts are essential accessories used to organize video game systems in a very convenient and stylish way. It allows more accessibility to users and prevents mess around every corner. It is also very helpful in protecting your electronics by holding them firmly to avoid accidental falls. In this way, you can prolong the lifespan of your equipments, enjoying the entertainment that it provides for a much longer time.

With the entire video game systems rack mounts that are widely available, the users have the option to choose from among the best according to its compatibility and design. However, some of these video game systems rack mounts can be purchased in packages along with the game consoles.

These rack mounts are created with different specifications and features to serve specific purposes. As a potential user of a video game system, you must be aware of some important factors to look for in a video system game rack in case you want to purchase it for your own video game system.

The very basic characteristic of a video system rack to be considered is the airflow. Video game systems can produce lots of heat during prolonged periods of playing. So, dissipation of heat can become critical. Other features include: easy access on the equipment being mounted, good mounting brackets where there is a standard spacing of mounting holes and distance so that the equipment can be installed in different configurations, good grounding of mounting brackets, and accessibility to equipment cables. In some racks, there is also a built-in noise reducer.

The Internet provides a wider selection of video game system rack mounts to browse and shop. Different online stores are selling various kinds of video game system rack mounts that will suit your preference and your taste. There is an easy way to look around so that you can find the type of video game system rack mount for your video game system in case you find looking for it in your local area difficult.

Choose a search engine that you prefer and type the name of the video game system that you have. You can select either the hardware or accessories options then from there, you could select the appropriate video game system rack mount.

Take for example; you can type “Playstation” in one of the search engine. Then you will be given a series of choices. From the choices, select one then click the hardware or accessories options.

Take note, only some of the video game systems have an available rack mount. It is easier if you purchase the video game system from your local stores since you can directly ask the storeowner if there is an available rack mount for it. But if you purchased your video game system online, there might be a slight difference. However, you can always browse and make a thorough research about the video game systems rack mount that you need. Compare the prices as much as possible to find the best product deal.

Some of the video game system that has the appropriate rack mount is the PlayStation 2 System. It includes the Horizontal Stand and the Vertical Stand. Both have different unique features to offer and functions as well. The Horizontal Stand slightly raises the PlayStation 2 systems where it can perform important functions while looking cool. The Vertical Stand provides extra space because the PlayStation 2 system can be installed vertically supporting it on the sides.

Since you are placing your order online, it is very important to read its terms and conditions. Warranty of the products must be understood properly as well as the shipment costs. Also recheck the stores return policies. This could be used in case you found out that the product being delivered to you is not functioning well. Remember, shipment problems happen making the product defective and some problems might be already acquired upon its manufacture.

After you received the order, make sure to check the products specifications. Check for loose mounting brackets, screws, and other small paraphernalia. However, to prevent this problem from happening, make sure that you shop on reputable video game system online stores that are selling high quality rack mounts. They should have a customer service department that will cater to your comments and complaints. It is also advisable to read customer forums and reviews to double check the product’s quality since video game systems rack mount is truly a big help to both its users and the game systems.

Getting New Ideas for Video Games (Part 3)

A Springboard for Video Game Developers

Creating video games is an art, no doubt. The problem is that it isn't easy to come up with ideas for video games. And even when we do get an idea, it doesn't seem as fresh or exciting as we want it to be. The following offers a few ways you can generate some creative ideas to keep your video game as fun to play from beginning to end.

13. Do the unexpected. This is probably one of the hardest things for linear programmers to do because as software developers, programmers are trained to keep everything working in some sort of straight, logical order. To make this work, game programmers are going to have to give themselves permission to go nuts - to do the unexpected and not obsess over the consequences. As good training for all of us, doing the unexpected is a freeing experience that opens our minds to workable possibilities we probably wouldn't consider otherwise. These are possibilities that could make your video stand out from the crowd of copy-cats.

14. Design the video game for a specific audience. Choose a unique audience to design your game for and make sure that every character, scene, subplot, and strategy caters to the interest of this audience. But don't pick a typical audience - go crazy. Design your game as if a dog were the player, a computer mouse, or even a stack of pancakes. Let your imagination go wild and you'll see a new world unfold before you.

15. Imagine that you're the video game. If you were the video game that you're designing, how would you want to be played? Attempting to answer this question should set you off on quite a creative spree of new and original ideas (if not one hell of a giggling session). Don't just throw the goofy ideas that you get from this exercise into the trash bin. Seriously think of how to implement them into your video game. This strategy is sure to put you on the gaming map.

16. Substitute. Using one object in the place of another is another sure way of coming up with cool ideas for video game, and in certain situations, it's the only way to dream up something fresh and new. When it seems that you just can't come up with a new slant, you're best bet is to replace a typical, predictable character with a lively, cute and helpful soda can. Or replace a typical, predictable plot with some bizarre scene out of a dream. Remember: nothing is irreplaceable.

17. Introduce a little randomness into the mix. There's a lot to be said about random events. They always bring us the element of surprise and you can use it to keep your video game exciting. The key to making randomness work in a video game is to introduce a set number of possibilities into several sections of the game and then have each of those possibilities lead to a different outcome. Sure, this could drive a player crazy, but you've got to admit, it will send them scrambling for a solution and talking about your game for days.

In the last section of this four-part article, we bring you two more ideas before coming to a close.

An Introductory to the Famous Game Systems in the US and Around the World

According to one survey of a major console manufacturer, 1 of every 4 household owns a product made by the former. That number does not include the households that own other makes of video gaming systems.

Video game systems are also called as consoles. These gadgets are hardware where the video games are read and actually played. Consoles can be best described as the terminal where video games are converted into software and are actually transmitted to a monitor. Consoles are extraordinary boxes powered by alternating or direct current. These consoles come out in different sizes, forms and color depending on the manufacturer. There are consoles that are exclusively made for a certain game or game make. The controls, maybe a joystick or a gun, of a console is different from the other. This is why not all games can be played in a certain console.

Every console makes and manufacturer can easily become famous especially if the said console make can read many games. Gamers would actually look for the gadget that can cater not just to one or three games but as many as possible. For a manufacturer, to be famous means to be innovative. People would normally grab things which are new to them. So to make the product sell, makers must put new features and other innovations in the product.

There are so many consoles available nowadays. And its manufacturers keep on developing new consoles every now and then to stay ahead in the market. The US is one of the world’s largest video game enthusiast countries and they are the fastest innovators. Here are three most famous video game systems in the US:

• MICROSOFT XBOX – this console is made by Microsoft Company. The first console Microsoft released is the Xbox. The Xbox is a desktop style console that has lower memory and specs as compared to its successor.  Four years after, Microsoft then introduced Xbox 360 in the market. This is a tower console that can read even PC games. This contains a 3.2 GHz processor with a memory of 512MB. It has the highest hard drive memory for a video game console which is 20 GB. XBOX 360 can be used for online gaming. With the high technology and specifications Microsoft infused with their console, better graphics can be used by game developers to make the game more realistic.

• SONY PLAYSTATION – this console or videogame system was made by Sony Company. There are already many versions of consoles that Sony has made. It all Started with the PS 1. Originally, PS 1 is a console that reads computer games stored in a disc. PS also uses a memory card which stores level, scores etc. The most anticipated version of Play Station is the PS 2 in 2001. It is basically a remake of the PS 1 but with several improvements. The latest released console by Sony is the PSP, or the Play Station Portable. It is a hand held DC powered console. Sony has this new console ready to be released this year. This console is considered to be the seventh generation video game system that Sony has made. This will be released on November 11 in Japan and on 17 in North America. Basically, PS3 is the successor of PS2 that was hugely successful.

• NINTENDO GAMECUBE and WII– this is the latest release of Nintendo. Like its first video game systems, GameCube also uses its original game pad. After Family Computer, Nintendo never stopped improving their home consoles even when they arrived at an amazing console tagged as GameCube. Nintendo, like any other console maker, never stops discovering new things and making new consoles. This November, Nintendo is going to release their newest console; Nintendo Wii. It can comparably be leveled to Microsoft’s Xbox360 and Sony’s PS3. Nintendo Wii is only 8.5 inches long and 6 inches wide and the thickness of this console is only about 2 inches. One of its newedt innovations is a nunchuk looking wireless game pads.

There are still so many video game systems that are sprouting out and making their own name in the industry. As the demands of the gamers keep on leveling up, makers also strive hard to produce video game systems that does not just sell well but become famous with most gamers.

What does a Computer Game System Require?

Every system that exists on this planet needs a requirement. No matter how many or how big the requirement is, it is essential to comply with the requirements to full realize its potential or to just simply make it work. In science, a system may require any factor affecting it. For example, for a plant to complete its photosynthesis, it must collect carbon dioxide from its surrounding.

This idea is also true in computer gaming. In video games, the peripherals or the devices that you are going to use must meet the requirements set by the game. These requirements are primarily on the capacity of your device; say a console, to perform tasks and to read the game set for by the programmer.

Compatibility also has something to do with computer requirements. The idea behind this is the simple fact that a game can be played with compatible device which can play perfectly the said software. For instance, the video resolution of a program may differ according to the monitor that a gamer may use. With requirements, the user may know which monitor can possibly display good video.

Why set a minimum requirement for a certain console in line with the game? All game programs are innovated in the highest technology environments. When they are incompatible with the hardware devices, chances are that the operation of such game may be greatly affected. These minimum requirements are neither for the game producer nor for the console maker. These are actually for the consumer, in the case of computer video game, for the gamer to have the best possible output from a combination of right game the right system requirement.

Requirements are actually computer specifications that each device must possess. Basically, each game may require certain specifications to the device they must be played with. The game may require the following from the computer:

• Processor’s Speed – the speed for the processor is one of the crucial system requirements a certain game may ask your computer to possess. This said speed will determine how fast your computer will act or execute a decision. Since, games are all executable programs, speed of the processor is very important. Processor speed has a unit of megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz). The unit megahertz are smaller unit than gigahertz. More precisely, a gigahertz is equal to a thousand megahertz. High-speed processors can run any game equal to its speed and lower but slower processors may not run games with higher speed requirements.

• Random Access Memory – this is commonly known as the internal memory or plainly memory of the computer. This memory helps store some data immediately needed by the processor. Most of the computer machines available in the market has preset RAM equivalent to 64MB. Most games may require RAM equal to this. However, there are game programs that require higher RAM like 126MB. This is not something to worry about because RAM can be upgraded with higher memory capacity.

• VRAM – this stands for Video Read Access Memory. The ability of your computer to display good resolution games depends on the VRAM. This memory works with the video card. Video cards are like processors however it is only focused on feeding the monitor with visual commands. The VRAM is a temporary memory that saves all graphical information that will be later on fed to the video card and the processor.

• Disc Capacity – refers to the capacity of the hard drive to store files and information. Disc space is also measured and uses the unit megabytes (MB) just like the VRAM and the RAM. The higher the disc space, the more games that you can store and play in your computer. Like the RAM, disc memory capacity may also be upgraded. One can even have higher memory that can be measured in gigabyte (GB).

• CD-ROM drive speed – not all the games that are installed in your pc may no longer require a disc. Most game companies upgrade computer game programs using discs. This are later added in the game specs by means of reinstalling it in the computer. The faster the CD-ROM is the faster the installation will be. Every now and then, you will use the CD-ROM not just in playing games but also in ensuring copyright protection and the like. Just like other requirements, the CD-ROM speed can perform its duty well to game programs that has equal speed requirement or slower.