Tag Archives: Video
Formula D Racing Video Podcasts on iTunes
Formula D Racing Video Podcasts on iTunes
Are you a fan of Formula D Racing? If you are, there is a good chance that you will enjoy watching the sport, just about any chance that you get. Unfortunately, like many other sports, Formula D Racing, also commonly referred to as Formula Drifting, only takes place at certain times and on certain courses. For that reason, you may find it difficult to get your drifting fix. If this is the case, you do not have to worry; you will find that you have a number of different ways to watch Formula D Racing or other drifting programs.
When you think of drifting programs or Formula D events, that are not live, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? If you are like many other Americans, you would respond with television. Recently, the Formula D Series partnered with G4TechTv, also commonly referred to as G4TV. This popular television channel is most commonly known as a gaming channel. One of the reasons why Formula D is shown on this television station is due to the fact that Formula D or Formula Drifting is sponsored by the game Need for Speed. This is the connecting link between drifting and this popular television gaming network.
As nice as it would be to watch programs on Formula D, not everyone is able to. This is because the G4 channel is often perceived as a specialty channel. It is not available with all cable or satellite programming packages. In fact, to gain access to this channel, many cable and satellite providers need to purchase one of the highest costing programming packages. Unfortunately, this is something that not everyone can afford. However, if you do have access to a computer and the internet, you can still enjoy Formula D Racing programs. You can do this by using iTunes.
If you have the internet, watch television, or listen to the radio, there is a good chance that you have heard of iTunes before. iTunes is a program that is created by Apple. It allows you to legally download short movies, podcasts, music videos, as well as music. One of the podcasts that you can find on iTunes is centered on Formula Drifting. These podcasts are presented by G4. What is nice about these podcasts, unlike many of the other items that can be found on iTunes, is that they are free. Essentially, this means that you can easily view these podcasts, without having to pay a thing.
Once you have iTunes installed on your computer, you should be able to use the search feature to find Formula Drifting podcasts. You may want to search with the words Formula D, Formula Drifting, or Drifting. Once the results are displayed, you should be able to find a number of results. G4 is planning on adding additional podcasts, but currently you can find twelve podcasts that are available for viewing. These podcasts not only include clips from recent drifting events, but they also have other focuses. You can find information on the cars cooling systems, as well as information on the drivers. The length of each podcast varies, but most are around two minutes long.
If you don’t already have iTunes installed on your computer, you will need to install the program. You can easily obtain the download file for this program by visiting www.itunes.com. Like the Formula Drifting podcasts, you will also find that it is free to download and install iTunes on your computer. The only time that you will be charged is if you make the decision to purchase other entertainment items, such as a music album. Other than purchasing other items, which are clearly labeled for sale, it is completely free to view Formula D podcasts, which, as previously mentioned, are presented by G4TV.
Although these Formula Drifting podcasts are fairly short in size, you will still find them useful, fun, and exciting. Whether you are looking to learn more about the sport or you just want to pass the time, you are advised to examine iTunes and the Formula D podcasts that are available.
History of Video Game Systems: Knowing About What Started it All
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.
The Wonders Of Video Games And The Internet
The Wonders Of Video Games And The Internet
Of children in the US, 79% play computer or video games on a regular basis. While most people think of video games as the pastime of the pre-adolescent, and not without reason, since children between the ages of seven and 17 play for an average of eight hours per week. However, industry research suggests that the commitment to video gaming may not end when students leave high school.
Industry research suggests that college student’s game even more than pre-adolescents. It seems the typical college student spends a bit less than two hours a day gaming, and the US military uses war gaming—for everything from modeling high-level international command coordination, to introducing raw recruits to weapons. Taking their lead from the Department of Defense, some university instructors have introduced game-based learning into their curricula. These educational video games introduce a fantasy element in order to engage players in the storyline, while making sure that their mastery of the course material is essential to students’ scoring and winning.
Some competitive exercises pit students against one another; others give them the opportunity to challenge themselves. Inter-university consortia—while they can’t compete with the DOD for research and development budgets—are able to develop higher level of resources from member universities, in order to improve educational outcomes. One example is MUVEES, a cooperative venture of Harvard University, George Mason University, the Smithsonian, Boston public schools, Gunston middle school, along with an industry partner, Thoughtful Technologies. With additional funding from the NSF, the project is finding engaging ways to teach science that draw on curiosity and play.
Of course, there are dramatic differences between the teaching styles scientists frequently use, and video games. For example, science classes usually present materials verbally, taking concepts step-by-step. Video games, however, are about pictures, and the player decides the order of play. For another example, a science teacher or science professor usually develops their class or lecture on their own. Video games, however, draw on the talents and skills of graphic artists, animators, and programmers working as a group. Leading universities’ research and development boards—and the DOD–aren’t the only institutions that have noticed complementarily between gaming and learning.
Public policy activists are also concerned that players learn from video games, and question whether what players are learning is useful. For example, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association together have concluded that research evidence demonstrates a cause and effect relationship between television violence, and the acts of those who watch it. Based on this link, activists suggest that players are often required to take the point of view of the perpetrator of violence; that video games require active participation; that repetition increases learning, and that video games are based on a rewards system that increases learning even more.
Breaking Into The Video Game Design Field
Breaking Into The Video Game Design Field
If you’re a dedicated gamer, you’ve probably said more than once, “I should go into video game design, I could make stuff even cooler than this!” In fact, there is currently a great demand for individuals in the video game industry, but not everyone who loves to play games can successfully design them. There is a big gap between knowing what makes a great game and being able to actually design a game that fits those criteria.
The current demand for video game design experts is why more colleges than ever are offering courses in computer game design and computer animation studies under various titles. The best courses offer a degree that thoroughly covers everything from the basics of computer animation to game script development.
Education Plus Personality Equals Success in Video Game Design
Today’s game design companies are looking for a combination of talents and knowledge that can only come from experience and education with a good dash of the right kind of personality as well. Some people are avid gamers but simply don’t have the dedication and attention to detail that is necessary to become a designer, while others have the creative personality, attention to detail and striking concepts but have never bothered to get the educational background required to hit the ground running. There are several things that are key to success in video game design, including:
A background in computer animation and game design
This is where a solid college education comes in. Because the industry is constantly changing, you need a degree from an accredited university that keeps up with changes in the industry and has experienced professionals teaching the courses. You need to understand and be able to execute the steps of animation and design from the inside out to be successful.
Discipline and attention to detail
There is so much more to video game design than just having a great concept. You need to be able to develop detailed, precise flow charts for different levels and possible outcomes and be able to precisely structure the theme and mission of a game concept. Continuity, clean execution and flawless design are all the result of discipline and attention to detail.
Understanding of character and story development
In other words, you can’t just be all action oriented. A good college course will have courses that help you develop story structure and individualize characters so that they aren’t simply “cardboard stereotypes.” The uniqueness of each character and story can make or break a video game design, so be sure you’ve learned these skills.
Script writing
You can design the action, but you must also tell the story. If you are going to get a degree that relates to video game design and/or computer animation (both excellent choices), check out the curriculum to be sure you will learn script writing. Additionally, it may be a good idea to take a course or two in creative writing to further hone your skills. It also helps if you’re an avid reader who enjoys fantasy and adventure.
If you have the personal characteristics you can attend a good college that teaches you the right skills. Look for one that offers a good range of animation and gaming courses and includes the development of a complete portfolio. The portfolio is an indication that you will leave being able to complete a gaming project and that you will have a concrete example of your work for prospective employers to review. From there, your career in video game design will take flight.