Tag Archives: Gaming

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.

New To Gaming, All You Need To Know About Flash Gaming Sites

New To Gaming, All You Need To Know About Flash Gaming Sites

Whew! According to Computer Gaming World, there are 80 gazillion free Flash games sites in the cyber world.
Popular sites are:
• www.games.yahoo.com — this has card games, word games, arcade games, as well as puzzles. The number of violent games is limited so the site appeals to the “old-young” –those who are young at heart.
• www.shockwave.com — a popular site with original games as well as PopCap ones. One can do a jigsaw here everyday.
• www.addictinggames.com – has free games that are updated every week—Friday. The site has action, arcade, puzzle, as well as sports games.
• www.arcadetown.com — has Flash games, java games, downloads and more.
Since Flash offers many advantages to developers as well as players, many games are designed using Macromedia Flash. It is by far the best game platform and has incredible features.
In an industry that’s evincing exponential growth, Flash has become the universal and popular choice for multimedia intensive web sites. Flash, singly crosses most barriers—
• It supports complicated and wonderful graphics.
• Allows download of files via the Internet.
• And is compatible with playback devices.
In the world of Flash enabled games the hosting system is the web server itself. Flash enables web sites to host animated as well as interactive movies and games. There is no paraphernalia required. All that is needed is to download the game itself. The costs are minimal and not recurring.
To play on the web all that is required is: a web browser, a Flash player, and the Internet. Flash is the universal plug in needed to play games. It is installed on every PC with Windows XP and Mac.
Playing online can be fun and most games can now be played by many players from all round the world. Just keep in mind:
• That there are players who cheat at games. Look for PunkBuster software on the server, this detects cheats who try and gain unfair advantages.
• Play with others who have credibility and are accountable for their actions. Many online sites need verified log ins, they are actively managed gaming environments. This is a better choice for safe gaming.
• Create a select group of friends and use the broadband server to host a private gaming server.
• Do your research thoroughly. Seek safe and high quality gaming sites.
Gaming is in its golden phase and is set to reach new heights. Innovation, new business models, and unprecedented growth is expected to open new avenues in gaming.
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Xbox – The Future Of Online Console Gaming?

Xbox – The Future Of Online Console Gaming?

Japan based Microsoft has announced in media that in coming days Xbox is going to lead the online console gaming leaving behind the, PlayStation or GameCube. A company orator told journalists that Microsoft Company is “sketching up a plan to prove in public that Xbox is the unique”.

It looks odd that the company has however to declare dense strategy though, predominantly with just two months left for launch. Reasonably, in coming times all most all console gamers will be based on dial-up modems. The bazaar in the Japan can serve the broadband mechanism with better options that will improve the computers with cable modems, ADSL and ISDN, possibly using Firewire or USB. The reality of the subject is even if that broadband has not advanced rather as projected, and for coming year also it will not be in position to trade consoles.

It may possible that Microsoft assures about the readiness of its console ‘broadband’ and it may be possible to link many users with ADSL, cable and other systems. Let’s not overlook their competition. Sony isn’t flippant; their PS2 is quickly going to feature a modem, a hard disk and broadband adapter, possibly all as a set.

Users of this field would be capable of getting online, downloading files and playing games also via dial-up or through plugging their console into a Telewest set-top box. That indicates that gaming online, and in the similar timescale that plans of Microsoft seemingly want.

It’s a well-known fact that available generation consoles of Nintendo and Sony are unable to run online without alteration on external adapter it is the plus point for the Microsoft. The Xbox needs only plug exact in there to go, they tell. We require particulars.

Still in case you overlook the noticeable need of a base-level modem dial-up adapter, it feels too difficult. Though this network is not providing its services throughout the UK, but it has huge number of PS2 users and has the skill to compete to Sony-branded network. Microsoft hopes that owners will just link themselves up and leave. There are sufficient choice pitfalls here; working as the way you adopt.

Initially, cable modem certification is depending on the address of MAC card network and the system differs minutely from supplier to supplier that works when your cable modem receives the address of MAC card network then card linked to it that is only to that device and controller server keeps this address related with the addresses of all other cable modem owner.

If you replace network cards, it requires at least four hours for the database to clean the previous address then it can accept a new. Thus efficiently, when you remove plug of cable from your PC and connect it directly into the Xbox, you can only use it for delay period. The method of getting it working, you should plug the Xbox into a center or connect via console that is accessible called as gateway. Xbox do not behave as a PC. The gateway machine is unable to provide its own network address or way its own Internet link.

The other tech-savvy way is to link the Xbox through a cable modem not as per you but as Microsoft feel, think or propose. Microsoft is not gravely thinking or indicating to overcome these problems. That shows that task of cooperating owners who wish to well would fall with Microsoft. It looks rather doubtful that this is plan of Microsoft.

Online Gaming

Online Gaming

For Mom and Dad…

Have you ever wondered what your child was rambling on about at the dinner table when he or she started saying things like “VR” or “RPG”? If so, you’re not alone. “VR” and “RPG” aren’t new text messaging acronyms – they’re acronyms for gaming and this article is going to introduce you to some of the more common forms.

If you at least thought of the Internet when you heard “VR” or “RPG” however, you’re on the right track. Exclusive to the online environment, “VR” or “RPG” – which consequently stands for virtual reality gaming and role playing games – are just two aspects of a gaming world gone wild. The days of playing scrabble in front of the fireplace are over in today’s generation, but we don’t believe you’ll hear too many people complaining about it. Today’s generation is fascinated with online gaming – an opportunity to play games over the Internet with hundreds of people at a time.

Available to anyone with a computer and fast Internet connection, there are thousands of online games available to play by anyone… sometimes free and sometimes for a fee. They range from the familiar family board games to strange and more complicated games which require a hundred page manual to understand. One thing that they all have in common however is that they’re fun to play.

The most common type of online game you’ll probably run into is the Flash game – usually located on educational sites or Yahoo! for Kids for example. These games may or may not involve other players, but they’re always full of color, they’re fast to download, and they’re fun to play. Since they run inside the web browser, no special equipment is needed. These are the simple games – more intriguing than checkers, but no more difficult to play than chess.

Another type of online gaming is more violent than the ones we described above and it’s similar to the “shoot-em-up” type games found on the first Nintendo and Playstation systems. Designed from the first person’s point of view, the player typically maneuvers around the screen as a weapon-clad hand – periodically changing weapons as the game’s scenario permits. The violence in these games vary from mild to offensive, and as a parent, you’re cautioned to monitor your children’s access to them – especially since these games are played online with other people.

Next, in terms of complication or violence, comes the virtual reality gaming and role playing games that we introduced earlier. These types of games require an extensive amount of time spent online since players assume the role of a game character in play. Players work hard to build up an inventory of weapons or skills – none of which can be accomplished in a period of thirty minutes or less. They then go on to interact with other characters which extends game time even longer (if it even stops). Both virtual reality gaming and role playing games require and encourage strategic thinking, but as parents, you may not be comfortable with the violence that’s prominent in some of these games. Nor may you be comfortable with the amount of time that playing these kinds of games can consume. Depending on the complexity of the game, any one person could spend at least six months at a game and having access to thousands of other players simultaneously doesn’t exactly make them easy to walk away from.

Our best advice is to learn about these games right along with your child and make the decision to play them (or not play them) together. You can find some helpful advice about making computer decisions with children in our article entitled, “Protecting Children Online.”
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First Video Game Systems to the Latest in Gaming Consoles

First Video Game Systems to the Latest in Gaming Consoles

The history of video games has come a long way. Today, you will see video game consoles integrated with state-of-the-art graphics technology and amazing sound quality that can rival your home entertainment systems. There are even gaming consoles that has different features that can rival your home PC.

For example, you will find that some gaming consoles available today have realistic graphics and Hollywood-like acting. Computer generated 3D characters even contains facial expressions and body movements almost similar to the real thing.

If you play with these consoles, you will see that the characters in it move very much like real people. But, in fact, these characters are the product of the latest 3D technology available. Not only that, characters in these games even have human like features. Some even have beards, different eye colors, and some even have hairs that moves just like the real thing.

Other integrated features that you will see in some gaming consoles available in the market today are the memory cards, where you can save your game progress, joysticks and steering wheels to add a little more realism to driving and flight simulation games, simulated guns to add realism to shooting games, and even vibration feedback to controls.

There are even gaming consoles available in the market today that can be connected to the internet. With these feature, you can join multiplayer games in the internet and play with other people from all over the world. So, if you get bored fighting AI (artificial intelligence) from regular games, you can buy a game that is available for massively multiplayer online role playing games or MMORPG.

However, before you go out and buy the real thing, you should know where all these games started. Just like any other invention, gaming consoles or gaming systems started out as having rough graphics, simple sounds and very simple game play.

In the early years of video game systems, you will find that it all started out in a simple game that was called “Tennis for Two”. This particular video game was introduced back in 1958 and was consisted of two horizontal lines across the screen, and a short perpendicular line that represented the net.

This particular game was the root of all video games and from here, video game developers started competing and producing different games and came to the point of having great graphics and sound quality.

In the mid 70s, a company called Atari came out with a video game system that revolutionized the world of video games. It was called the Video Computer System or VCS. This system became one of the hottest selling gaming systems in its day. As you see today’s latest gaming system, you will find it hard to believe that people even bought these things.

However, you have to consider the fact that in the past, because of the early technology in graphics and sounds, and 3D graphics were virtually non existent, these video gaming systems were considered as state-of-the-art. And, many people enjoyed playing with it. If you were born in this era, and played with these video game systems, you know how much fun it is to play with.

Integrated with simple graphics, simple sound effects and simple game play, it was relatively easy to play with. The whole family can really spend hours on end to play with video game systems in the past. Everyone can play with these simple machines, even children.

Today, since game developers are taking games to another level, adding realistic graphics and realistic sounds, each game are now rated by the ESRB or the Entertainment Software Rating Board. You will see that each of the gaming title will contain letters, such as E, T, M, and AO. These letters represent on who can play the game. E represents Everyone, T represents Teens only, M for Mature gamers, and AO represents Adults Only.

More and more games today are integrated with realism of violence and gore where it can really affect your child’s psychology. This is why it is important for you to check the ESRB rating before buying a particular game.

There are even games available today that can recreate the battlefield in World War II. You can even see bodies around the simulated Normandy beach that are either decapitated or a realistic person spurting blood calling out for a medic.

You can easily see how long video game systems have come in terms of graphics and sound quality.
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