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Fantasy RPGs You Can’t Live Without

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Nothing beats the feeling of waking up in the local inn with extra experience bonus points to the sound of warlocks dueling and the quiet footsteps of the sly rogue. Welcome to Azeroth, the fictional land of World of Warcraft.
This game has content for every player type. If I am feeling like a bit of a lone wolf, I can go embark on some quests from one of the 50 cities in the game. Sometimes I’ll grab a headset and find a 25-man group and tackle an out-of-this-world dragon. Even if I am not in the mood to play, I can just log in and sit in a major city and chat with players all around the world about anything we can think of.
Many players (including myself) find themselves easily sucked in; it’s as if there’s an entire new life waiting for them when they log in. WoW also allows me the ability to decide for myself whether I play as hero or villain. In this game, I can be the childhood hero I always wanted to be, whether I am ultimately paid in gold or in reputation. Azeroth is my gaming home away from home, a world of fantastic mysteries.

Is Gaming Becoming a Spectator Sport?

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Video games have come along way over the past couple decades. What once meant scrounging up quarters and heading to the arcade moved into homes via systems that attach to televisions as well as personal computers and handheld devices. Not only are many people enjoying playing these games, but they are becoming more and more fun to watch, with millions tuning in to video footage of gaming competitions, such as Major League Gaming’s Columbus Pro Circuit event. A fraction of that number actually showed up in Columbus, OH for the June event.

Aside from the debate of whether “sport” is the right word to describe gaming, with over 22 million hits over Pro Circuit weekend, there’s definitely a spectator interest. Many of these people are gamers themselves, looking for strategy tips. Others may be art fans that simply enjoy the impressive graphics that are present in many of today’s modern games. Others may be friends and family of gamers who are looking to gain understanding, or see watching the highly skilled gamers as an extension of sitting in their own living rooms watching others play within their own circle.

When one thinks of a gamer, they may not see an athlete, but the two are not entirely different. Quick thinking and good reflexes are often required for both gaming and physical sports. And whether you’re watching football or Final Fantasy, it’s never the same game twice.

How to Host a LAN Party

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Hosting a LAN party is a great way for gamers to join together and do something they love in a social setting. Standing for local area network, guests at a LAN party connect to the same network for the purpose of MMORPG or other multiplayer computer games. As with any other type of entertaining, the planning, arranging and cost of the LAN party falls on the host.

Before your LAN party begins, you must decide how many people to invite as well as the date and time for your party to take place. The number of people you invite will depend on how much space you have to host the party. Remember, you will need an area for your guests to set up their computers as well as chairs for them to sit in. When figuring out the space, keep in mind you do not want to have your guests crammed into the area elbow to elbow. Give your guests some breathing room. Try to keep your total number of players invited to the LAN party at an even number. This makes composing teams easier.

If possible, keep a backup computer available in case you need to replace a system quickly. Furthermore, have extra equipment on hand (such as mouse and keyboard) in the event one of your guests forgets to bring their own. Have the latest patches for the game you are playing on a USB drive in the event one of your guests game is not up-to-date.

You cannot expect your guests to raid for hours without refreshments so keep drinks and snacks available for the players at all times. When choosing the food, remember that your guests will probably only have one hand available while playing. Choose finger foods such as small chicken salad sandwiches, pizza rolls, cookies, crackers and chips. Furthermore, stock up on toilet paper before the party for the obvious reason.

Kids and Gaming – Responsbile Limits

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Video gaming can be part of a great social life for your child but you don’t want it to become their whole identity. If your house is becoming Satellite HQ and you’ve got more controllers than chairs, here are a few ways to encourage responsible gaming in your child.
Get them involved in other things: It’s great to have an active gamer – gaming is good for hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills, but make sure your kids are involved in other things. Whether it’s a club at school or a team sport, gaming shouldn’t be their entire hobby repertoire.
Get others involved in gaming: It’s a good thing to allow your child to have friends over to game at your house – at least then you know where everyone is. Make sure they come out of the basement every once and a while to eat and “hang out” without their eyes glued to the screen.
Set a limit: If all else fails, set a limit on the number of hours your child is allowed to game each day. They’ll thank you later.

Which Console is Right For Me?

admin — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When considering which console to purchase, first consider which purpose you want it for. Consider if you’re going to want it for strictly gaming, or if you’d like to do other things like stream movies off the internet, view pictures and video, or watch DVDs. Another factor to consider is the age group of the person that’s going to be using it mostly. One console caters to a younger audience, while the others cater to the more mature gamer, who wants nothing more than to play a well-crafted game. A more mature gamer might want top-of-the-line graphics, which is also something to consider, as some consoles deliver better graphics than others.

The benefit to having one console over another isn’t always immediately apparent. Someone may only like a particular console because a favorite game of theirs is only available on that certain platform. Other times, the benefit of having a console might just be because it offers great visualizations when playing music and can be used during a party setting. Regardless, no matter which console you choose, remember to use it towards the primary goal for which it was originally intended: to have fun. All of the consoles offer this.

The Best Survival Horror Games of All Time

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Horror games truly are innovative and downright frightening. There are different genres in the horror game realm and among the most frightening would be those of a survival nature. Among all of those released games, which would be the best survival games of all-time?

Here is a very brief list of the top ones:

Alone in the Dark: This was not the first survival horror video game produced but it was one of the games that crafted the basic elements of the genre.Get more information here. http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/interview-amys-guiding-hand-paul-cuisset/

Resident Evil: Not only did this game capture the uniqueness of Alone in the Dark, it helped launch the return of the zombie horror genre.

Silent Hill: Another one of the all-time best selling horror video games and a great release in the survival horror genre.

Sweet Home: Long forgotten, this 1989 game for the old Nintendo system is commonly considered the first survival horror game ever released.but it wasn’t.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the Atari 2600: Possibly the first survival horror video game ever and it was extremely controversial when first released in 1983. Actually, it was barely released as many stores would not carry it.

The survival horror genre certainly is long running. Odds are it will still be going strong decades from now.

What Parents Should Know About ESRB Ratings

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is responsible for rating all games published in North America. This organization determines which age group each game is suitable for based on its content. Most retailers voluntarily enforce these ratings by requiring ID to purchase games with adult content. Parents can also take advantage of these ratings to help decide which games are appropriate for their children.

The ESRB rating symbol can be found on the packaging of almost every game. It is a black and white box with a letter in the center. The letter indicates which age group the game is most suited for. For example, a game with a rating of E is appropriate for all children age six and up. More detailed information about each game can be found on the ESRB website. Parents can see why the game received its rating based on language, violence, sexual themes and use of alcohol or drugs.

Video games are a fun diversion for children, but they must be age appropriate. Parents need to be aware of the content their children are being exposed to. The ESRB ratings are a simple and trustworthy guide to help parents choose the right game for their kids.

The Great Console Debate: Which is Better?

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Gaming consoles have come a long way to reach out to each any every gamer person out there. There are gaming systems that are more family orientated and some for individuals that like online competition. The gaming consoles that are family orientated are by far the best consoles. I feel they bring a family closer together. The gaming console teaches a family about teamwork, creativity and fun. Other consoles that are also great to have are potable gaming systems. They are small, compact and can be taken everywhere. Portable gaming systems are great for kids and long car rides. If I had to choose between a home gaming console and a potable gaming console I would have to choose a portable gaming. I mostly travel so portable gaming systems better accommodate me and my lifestyle. The portable gaming console is convenient and more comfortable to carry and handle. The portable console can fit in almost any size bag. I also have a gaming console at home for family games and fun for myself and my family. Either gaming console is great for anyone and everyone. It just depends on what is more convenient for you, your family and your lifestyle.