Monthly Archives: November 2022

Online Games – Ins and Outs

Online Games – Ins and Outs

“Online Games” is just another name for games played over a network, usually the internet. The expansion of the internet has fuelled the expansion of online gaming, and vice versa, without the demand for fast internet connections from online games and gamers the internet would not be in the form it is now.
The internet plays host too many different types of games, ranging from simple text base games, to games involving a high level of graphics and video. These online games usually come with an online community, which is making gaming online more than just fun, it is now becoming a massive social activity.
“Massively Multiplayer Online Games” are an excellent example of these communities. These games paired with the growth of the internet i.e. Broadband, has made it possible for hundreds of thousands of players to play and interact together. There are different types of Massively Multiplayer Online Games, varying to suit the needs of the player(s):
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
Massively Multiplayer Online Real-Time Strategy
Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter
Only fairly recently, Online First Person Shooter Games have moved from the standard LAN and onto the internet. Meaning even more players can get together and popularize game communities and the games. Moving to the internet also meant new types of games could be produced such as head-to-head gaming.
Another type of online gaming is your Browser Games. With the development of Flash and Java, Flash and Java games are becoming increasing popular. Although these games are only fairly simple compared to that of First Person Shooters, and only having a very limited multiplayer option, best served as single player with high score lists, they are 80 gazillion free Flash games sites in the cyber world, According to Computer Gaming World.
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Start A Career In Video Game Design

Start A Career In Video Game Design

If you are thinking of what to do for a career and you have an interest in animation, then you should consider video game design. This is an industry that is booming at an incredible rate and shows no signs of slowing down. In the past twenty years, there have been incredible advances in the video game design industry and you could be a part of it.

In only a few decades, there have been barriers broken that could never have been dreamed of in the past. Video games are so realistic now that you feel as though you are actually in the game. You can play a racing game and feel as though you are in the Indy 500 or play a war game and get a good glimpse into what World War Two was really like. The possibilities are endless but people are needed to come up with these ideas and innovations.

There are a few things that are needed in order to have a successful career in video game design. First of all, you need to have an interest in video games. You will be able to use all of the knowledge you have gained from years of gaming to your advantage. It is quite difficult to find a video game that is one hundred percent original. Most games borrow tricks and tips from other games and incorporate them into their own.

Therefore, if you have an extensive knowledge of video games, you will be able to use these tricks in your favor. Another important factor is an interest in computers, specifically animation. Video games are all produced on computers, so you will need to have a firm understanding of programming and animation. So if you have an interest in video games and a basic knowledge of animation, then you are set to begin the path of becoming a video game designer.

The next step would be to capitalize on your pre-existent skills. This can be accomplished by enrolling in a course that deals with video game design. These courses will be able to take the skills that you currently have and turn them into talents. Talents that prospective employers will be pleased to see.

You will be able to learn about every aspect of video game design. This includes all of the animation, development and concept of video games. You will not only be given the skills to create a video game but also how to plan it out and make it interesting to the gamer. Since this market is so gigantic, you need to have a good idea if you want your game to sell. With a course in video game design, you will have the ability to create a game that will fly off the shelves.

A lot of people think that making a video game is strictly done on computers. However, this is only part true. A large portion of the development of the game is done in the mind. You need to have the ability to visualize the finished product in your head before even beginning to program it. These types of courses will be able to train your mind to work ahead of your body to achieve the best results.

Another advantage of video game design is that it is a market that is guaranteed to stay strong. People of all ages are interested in video games today and the numbers continue to grow. So if you have an interest in video games and some computer knowledge, take the steps towards making video game design your rewarding career.

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How Dance Dance Revolution is getting kids off the couch

How Dance Dance Revolution is getting kids off the couch

Dance Dance revolution is the latest dance craze that is a fun and addictive way to lose weight and get into shape.

Are you concerned about the lack of exercise your child is getting?
Would you like to see them up and moving instead of sitting around so much?

Dance Dance revolution is the latest dance craze that is a fun and addictive way to help your child get get up and move without realizes they are even exercising.

Our kids health and fitness is more important today than ever before since video games, TV and computers are turning our kids into couch potatoes.
This new dance craze called Dance Dance revolution is a video game played on a gaming system but it is not your typical video game. This fun and exciting Dance pad is hooked up to any play station or Xbox then the player chooses one of their favorite songs from the DDR video game.

This fast paced game will surely get your child’s heart pumping and their feet moving! The player chooses their song and they move their feet to the pattern of the arrows on the dance pad while keeping the beat to the flashing arrows that are moving side to side and up and down. As your child gets more practice on this engaging game, you will move to higher and higher levels which will progressively turn the game into a fun and challenging workout.

There are many kids today that do not like the typical physical activities that sports provide but once they try Dance Dance Revolution they are usually hooked.

There are many levels from beginner to advanced even the youngest of children can play Dance Dance Revolution.

What better way to get your children involved in exercise than by doing something they love.

If you have a gaming system such as a Play station or Xbox you can own Dance revolution, just connect the DDR Pad to any of these systems. If you want your kids up off the couch doing something that is good for them while they are having fun I highly recommend DDR. What better gift can you give them? Next time your child asks for a play station or Xbox game buy them the DDR pad and game.

Make sure your child keeps his water bottle close by, he’s going to need it after this workout.

Weight Loss and Dance revolution

Dance Dance Revolution games offer a specific “Workout Mode” in which players can choose a song, and play accordingly using either the normal step routine, or a modified step routine designed to provided a workout. The workout mode also allows players to track their progress, not in the standard step scores, but by calories burned, minutes played, and distance traveled. The game also calculates the equivalent of DDR dancing to common exercise activities, and can keep track of a player’s weight as well.

The built-in workout features have inspired many DDR fans to make playing DDR their primary source of exercise, and some have built entire weight-loss regimens around the game. However, as with all new diet or exercise plans, it is recommended that one discusses the changes with their doctor

There are many different types of DDR pad you can purchase. You will need a gaming system such as a Play station or an Xbox and of course the DDR pads and DDR games

So if you are interested in an extremely fun way to get in shape go ahead and give Dance Dance Revolution a try!

Hear what others are saying about DDR:

Natalie, 14, was drawn to the pulsing techno songs, and didn’t realize she had slimmed down until she went clothes shopping.

“I went to go buy pants and the 14s were too big. The more I played, I gradually had to get smaller size pants,” said Natalie, who now buys size 8 baggy.

Zachary 13, I did not even realize that I was exercising until my mom said something to me one day about losing weight. I realized that Dance revolution was not only fun but I was getting a great workout!

Staying Safe While Gaming

Staying Safe While Gaming

There was a time when computer gaming was time spent ‘just for me’, but with the advent of the Internet, gaming shifted from a solitary pursuit to one with almost endless social possibilities. The increasingly availability of free online games democratized the gaming experience, removing any financial obstacle from the path of those searching the Internet for cheap ways to have some fun. The Internet has opened up an entire virtual world to anyone with a connection, and while online gaming can offer a wonderful opportunity to meet people all across the globe, the accessibility of free online games also makes them vulnerable to danger.

Free online games are easy to locate and play, usually only requiring the input of a gaming identity and other basic details. While most people participating in these games are undoubtedly doing so to while away those lazy free time hours, a quick glance at any news report tells us that there will always be people willing to exploit an innocent forum for their own gains.

This is why online games must always be played with the same caution you would display elsewhere. While most Internet users are vigilant in monitoring closely the information with which they are willing to part online, the experience of gaming can undermine inhibitions and result in the making of poor choices. Free online games are designed to create excitement or relaxation, and this is the very reason that we play them. But this relaxed state of mind can compromise our vigilance, and result in our revealing information that we would, at other times, keep to ourselves.

Despite the camaraderie discovered playing free online games, it is important to remember that you do not really know the people with whom you are playing. While sharing some information is fine, it is always wise to avoid revealing any identifying information, such as your real name, your age, or your address. This is particularly true for small children, whose natural inhibitions are few. Monitor young children’s Internet usage at all times, and be sure they understand that online friends are not the same as real life ones.

Free online gaming is a great way to spend some free time, so keep it fun by staying safe at all times. Enjoy spending time with your new virtual friends, but remember that things are not always what they seem and keep your personal information to yourself.

The Glory and Fall of Old Game Systems

The Glory and Fall of Old Game Systems

The seventh generation of video game systems is currently pushing its way to the gaming industry. In fact, Microsoft-produced Xbox 360 is the only video game system that has been released so far as far as the seventh generation of game consoles is concerned. Sony’s PlayStation 3, Nintendo’s Wii, and Evizions Computer Entertainment’s EVO: Phase One are all scheduled to be released at the last quarter of 2006. These video game systems have a long way to go and different game developers are on their way on creating the next generation of video game systems that will be released as soon as possible.

Beyond the new generation of video game systems, probably you already forgot its predecessors, particularly the first and second generations. Such generations became the “cream of the crop” of the gaming industry during its early years, and facilitated the development of subsequent video game systems until the seventh generation. What we do not realize is that new video game system becomes old video game system soon, and is soon forgotten in a dusty corner.

That is what exactly happened to the old game systems. Once, they have been glorified because of the extraordinary entertainment that it provides to the gaming public. But now, they are just within the sidesteps of our memory, being demolished by new game systems which, as previously mentioned, will soon become old technologies once newer systems will be introduced to the market.

At this point, we need to refresh our memories and take ourselves back to the time when old game systems were at the pedestal of excellent recognition during the first stretch of video game systems and rediscover why we loved these game systems in the first place.

Atari 2600

The Atari 2600, which was released in October 1977, became the first successful video game system to use plug-in cartridges instead of the traditional built-in games. It was originally known as Atari VCS (Video Computer System), which was changed in Atari 2600 in 1982 after the release of the more advanced 5200. It is equipped with two conventional joystick controllers, a game cartridge, and an adjoined pair of paddle controllers.

The fundamental layout of Atari 2600 is similar to other game systems and home computer during the 80s. Its central processing unit (CPU) was the MOS Technology 6507, an 8-bit microprocessor capable of addressing 8 KB of game memory, which is considered to be a lot during the 70s era. It was running at 1.19 megahertz on the 2600 model. The game system contains 128 bytes RAM for runtime data, which included state of the game world and call stack. In the absence of a frame buffer (a video output device which drives a video display from a memory buffer that has an extensive data frame), the 2600 made use of 2 bitmapped sprites, single-pixel ball, 2 single-line missile sprites, and a playfield. On the other hand, its video hardware gave 2600 the reputation of being among the game machines in the world that is difficult to program.

Atari 7800 Prosystem

The 7800 Prosystem was released by Atari in June 1986, which is designed to reestablish the company’s market supremacy against two of the prominent video game system producer during that time (Colecovision and Intellivision) as well as to replace the unpopular Atari 5200. The 7800 Prosystem addressed the shortcomings of 5200, particularly the joysticks and the compatibility with 2600-enabled games.

The 7800 Prosystem was Atari’s first video game system designed by other company, particularly the General Computer Corporation (GCC). Since it was designed to be upgraded into a complete home computer, the game system made use of a keyboard which had an expansion port in addition to other peripherals such as printers and disk drives. Furthermore, GCC came up with a high-score cartridge, which is a battery-backed RAM game cartridge that is developed for saving high game scores.

However, the 7800 Prosystem faced a severe software drought that marked the crash of all Atari game systems. There were few title releases made by Atari and most of them were lacking in feature and was generally unpolished. There were also some 7800 games that were made which are already available in the previous Atari video game systems. It was also noted that there were no effort in recruiting third party game developers, aside from several game titles. Later on, Atari finally announced that they were formally abandoning the 7800 Prosystem.

These are just two of hundreds of old game systems which had been glorified on the early years of video gaming. Although most of them have sad endings, their contribution to the video gaming industry will be remembered and will serve as an inspiration for present video game system development.