Video game trade in

In this difficult economy, finding the money to buy new video games is becoming more and more of a struggle for many gamers. Department store prices are high and sometimes a couple of games can cost almost as much as the console itself!

Fortunately, there is an alternative. The way to get more for your money is to take games that might be sitting around gathering dust and do video games trade in toward the purchase of different titles at your friendly local used video game store. When you do a video game trade in and receive store credit toward a new purchase, it can greatly reduce or even eliminate the need to come up with actual cash. When you're broke and you just have to have that hot new Halo or Call of Duty title, look no further than your own game collection for the solution.

But what if it's a whole new game console you're after? Say you're tired of the PlayStation 2 system that you've had for years, and you want to upgrade to a PlayStation 3 - normally that would set you back quite a bit of money, especially if you want to buy some games to play on your new console. When you have a whole collection of video game trade in as well as the PS2 console, you could cut your cost in half or even get the PS3 for free (depending on how many PS2 game titles you have available to trade). Not only does this save you a whole bunch of money, but you won't have all those old games cluttering up your home and gathering dust.

Even if the game store doesn't have the game or system console that you're looking for, you can still do a video game trade in and get cash for them. Cash is which you can take to a store that does sell what you want to buy. It's usually worth your while to buy at the same store where you sell your games though, since the store credit prices given are often higher than cash prices.

In some areas, you may find that there are no used video game stores operating within a convenient driving distance. That need not be an obstacle though, as you can create a video game trade in through numerous online web sites as well. When you visit such a site, you will generally type in the titles of the games, accessories, and system consoles you wish to sell and a price quote will be generated. Some sites will even provide a pre-paid postage label for you to print out so that your items ship for free! (However, if you are doing a video game trade in for many games or a system of very high value, you will probably want to ship them by an insured and traceable method, such as UPS or FedEx Ground.)

All About Video Games!

Video games came in to the existence in 1971 and the motive that time was to provide entertainment. In 1983 it took a jump in technology and till today it has been growing faster and faster. Till date the industry is of $ 10 billion. People now days are seen spending more time on video games and the other gaming consoles. Simple video games existed in 1970 and after that the first coin controlled video game came in to existence. This game was known during that period by the name "galaxy game". The game did not gain much of the popularity but it brought a technology revolution in the world of video games.

In 1996 Nintendo came up with 64 bit consoles. Super Mario 4 game created a history that time and it gave a boost to the world of 3D games. Another game called golden eye 007 became a trend setter to create a first person shooter console. It was a pioneer in the world of video games. The unsuccessful CD-Rom's were later on changed by the Nintendo games. Those CD-Rom were not supported by the console, so Nintendo decided to replace it with a better technology. Many games of Nintendo were turned into play stations that time. Sony ruled the market by 1990's.Different gaming console by Sony were getting popular at different places. Today the PC and hand held consoles are the most popular ones. Counter-strike is the most popular game till date. In the 2007 Nintendo introduced the first ever R-4 card. The R-4 karte existed before that, but due to many limitations it was a failure.

The R-4 revolution has fascinated the video game in a greater way. The Super Mario Bros on the r4 DS is very popular among the players. Recently R4 SDHs cards brand new version is released in the market. The R4 SDHC team have done a great work updating the software. The 5o latest games which were not been able to play on the consoles can now be played using this new version of the card. Also the sequence of the games, music and movies can be customized by the users. The compatibility of micro SD cards is also increased with its outer shell made up of imported ROCHS material. This ensures a good connection with the DS/DS Lite consoles. The R4 SDHC remains the most popular card in the history of DS/DS Lite cards.

Video game trade in

In this difficult economy, finding the money to buy new video games is becoming more and more of a struggle for many gamers. Department store prices are high and sometimes a couple of games can cost almost as much as the console itself!

Fortunately, there is an alternative. The way to get more for your money is to take games that might be sitting around gathering dust and do video games trade in toward the purchase of different titles at your friendly local used video game store. When you do a video game trade in and receive store credit toward a new purchase, it can greatly reduce or even eliminate the need to come up with actual cash. When you're broke and you just have to have that hot new Halo or Call of Duty title, look no further than your own game collection for the solution.

But what if it's a whole new game console you're after? Say you're tired of the PlayStation 2 system that you've had for years, and you want to upgrade to a PlayStation 3 - normally that would set you back quite a bit of money, especially if you want to buy some games to play on your new console. When you have a whole collection of video game trade in as well as the PS2 console, you could cut your cost in half or even get the PS3 for free (depending on how many PS2 game titles you have available to trade). Not only does this save you a whole bunch of money, but you won't have all those old games cluttering up your home and gathering dust.

Even if the game store doesn't have the game or system console that you're looking for, you can still do a video game trade in and get cash for them. Cash is which you can take to a store that does sell what you want to buy. It's usually worth your while to buy at the same store where you sell your games though, since the store credit prices given are often higher than cash prices.

In some areas, you may find that there are no used video game stores operating within a convenient driving distance. That need not be an obstacle though, as you can create a video game trade in through numerous online web sites as well. When you visit such a site, you will generally type in the titles of the games, accessories, and system consoles you wish to sell and a price quote will be generated. Some sites will even provide a pre-paid postage label for you to print out so that your items ship for free! (However, if you are doing a video game trade in for many games or a system of very high value, you will probably want to ship them by an insured and traceable method, such as UPS or FedEx Ground.)

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Common Issues on the Xbox 360

As with most electronic goods, the Xbox does have its fair share of problems. These can range from software to hardware problems. Sometimes even insufficient power can cause problems. It can be most frustrating when you have just completed the hardest level on a game, then all of a sudden your Xbox freezes.

This usually happens just before you save it. Microsoft is, as usual, close-lipped about it, and to get information on trying to identify or to fix the problem can lead you in sorts of directions.

The three most common Xbox problems include; the three red lights on Xbox 360, the one red light and your hard drive refusing to read the disk. Another small problem that can occur is the machine overheating, which can easily be rectified with the addition of the updated Nyko Intercooler, which runs on its own power source. It must be noted though; Microsoft considers this an 'unlicensed add-on' and will cause your warranty to become voided.

Realizing that you have a problem is easy on the Xbox; different lights for the different problems will light up. For hardware failures, the bottom right light on the light indicator will flash red. If the machine overheats, the top and bottom left on the light indicator will flash red. When a general hardware failure is imminent, the top and bottom left as well as the bottom right on the light indicator will flash red. If there is a problem with the AV cable, all lights will flash red.

Of all the errors one can get, the most dreaded is the general hardware problem, otherwise known as the 'red ring of death'. This problem does not immediately make itself known, and when it does happen it can be the worst feeling in the world. It is caused by a fault in one or more of the hardware components. Unfortunately, this Xbox problem can also be caused by a power surge. When one gets this problem, there is usually two things you can do, try to fix it yourself or send it in to Microsoft for repairs.

When your Xbox has a video problem, your scaler chip is most likely damaged. This is known to gamers as a 'green Screen of Death'. This will show itself on your console as one flashing red light on the lower right light indicator. A message of E74 System Error, plus a message, for example, 'Please Contact Xbox Customer Support' will also appear. Unfortunately, the only way of rectifying this problem is to send your machine in for repairs.

One of the most frustrating Xbox problems is when your Xbox will not play discs, even original Xbox games. One of the main reasons for this happening is when the connectors on the back of the box overheat and burn out the DVD drive. This can only be rectified by sending the console in for repairs. It can also be caused by a dirty laser, which is easy to fix- the Xbox needs to be opened and the laser cleaned.

Once the Xbox problem has been located, it is relatively easy to fix. Then you can go back to enjoying your gaming experience.

Video Games & Violence

Video games have become an integral part of most people's life particularly in advanced countries. Though games like SimCity, Tactical Iraqi have been credited with adding a lot of positive traits to a person's character, there have been also many like Aliens Vs Predator, Fallout 3, Mass Effect which have been highly criticized for inducing violence particularly in children. In fact the level of violence in some of the videogames has even prompted governments to enforce a ban effective in their jurisdiction. Such bans are not only restricted to conservative governments, but governments of developed nations such as Australia, Singapore and Japan have also ordered such bans.

Australia seems to have banned the largest number of games whereas the United States, France, and Canada do not seem to have banned even a single game citing greater freedom of speech and expression. The research work carried by the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health, The Journal of Adolescent Health, and The British Medical Journal have indicated that there is no rigorous scientific proof which would corroborate the hypothesis that these video games do induce violent activity among the youth.

However, there have been numerous books like Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents, Grand Theft Childhood which present arguments on how the violence from games can easily creep into a society. Also, there have been some real life incidents like The Columbine High School Massacre whose perpetrators have been alleged to have been addicted to the videogame Doom, the Spanish incident in which a teenager murdered his father, mother and sister and was addicted to the video game Final Fantasy VIII. A list of such real life incidents with appropriate references is maintained at Wikipedia with the video-game Grand Theft Auto figuring in many of these incidents.

Grand Theft Auto

Based on violent and criminal themes, this videogame has been banned in United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Malaysia and Japan. It has been alleged to have caused most number of real life video-game based violent acts. The 2008 and 2009 Gamers Edition have figured in the Guinness World Records for being the most controversial video game series in history with over 4000 articles published on it. Successive versions of the game have been criticized not only for general violence but also for sexual content, ethnic discrimination, drunk driving and even for full frontal nudity in The Lost and Damned pack.

God of War II

Banned in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, this game easily makes to the list of top ten violent video games. It is a gory, action-cum-adventure video game involving the ruthless God of War overcoming the betrayal of the Gods. Among others, the game has been criticized for its advocacy of ruthless weapon use and brutal cut scenes. The game also features one of the most horrible scenes in the history of video games which involves the repeated slamming of a door on another gods head.

Video Games Get The Final Votes

Have you ever thought to yourself what makes a good video game? Strong visuals and good controls are essential as well as well crafted concepts. Great video games have feeling, surprise, emotion, interaction, and even addiction and the final votes are for the year are in.

When video games offer all these elements gamers know the sure enjoyment of being able to turn on their video gaming system and instantly becoming involved in one of the best video games on the market. Great video games can cause gamers to want to stay up all night no matter if they have to go to school or work the next morning. Being able to play a great video game forces gamers to experience a new way to push your reflexes and brain harder and faster. Great video games allow gamers to become a galactic warrior, fight aliens, villains, undersea explorers, or even be the hero.

Video games from last year have been voted on and the results for best video game of the year are in. The video games that has been voted best video games of the year are BioShock, Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed, Super Mario Galaxy, and Orange Box. BioShock is an adventure video game that becomes a complete experience for gamers. Gamers become immersed in the action of this video game where the environments are remarkable and the game play begins to invade your mind.

BioShock has the ability to make gamers feel like that are actually wandering through the 1960s era of a undersea utopia that is populated by a crazed zombie and crazy girls that go around carrying chemicals that will help enhance your biological superpowers. This video game goes right down to the detail with props and costumes from the 1960s period, which make such a realistic experience for gamers. The story and concept are incredible and the within the video game there are many rooms to explore, not to mention all the creepy elements that make this video game part sci-fi novel and part horror film. This video game has been rated M for mature.

Another great video game is Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare, which is a combination of edge of your seat warfare along with a great story line and even better visual effects. This version of Call Of Duty has been reinvented into a more modern conflict and is a perfect blend of action and realism of visual affects that are unbelievable. This video game has a well-crafted story line that is full of unexpected surprises that is sure to keep gamers pleased for hours of fun. This video game has been rated M for mature.

Assassin's Creed is another stunning video game that has naturally fluid control capabilities and incredible missions that are set within the Middle Ages. The main character in this video game has free-run abilities that are the best of any video game this year. This video game has been rated M for mature. The Mario Brothers are back with Super Mario Galaxy. In this new video game Mario soars from planet to planet within a colorful masterpiece where controls are easily handled. This video game is a combination of puzzles and action. This video game has been rated E for everyone.

The Orange Box is a combination of five amazing video games in one and has become one of the best values in video games of the year. This video game consists of a brain busting game called Portal and a multi-player game called Team Fortress 2 that is fun and stylish. It also includes the intense story of Half Life 2 that is filled with action. This is an incredible video game that has some thing for every one and is rated teen to mature.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz: Exciting features with stunning look

Mobile phones competition has reached on the top most slots now, every company wants to win customers confident instantly. Top manufacturer giants are still ruling mobile arena. Sony Ericsson is one of the most popular brands in cell phone market. Sony has come up with latest sensation Sony Ericsson Vivaz; this phone is equipped with high resolution 8.1 mega pixel camera with facial expression detector. GPS allows users to connect with any website instantly and sleek look is more than enough to stop heart beats. This light weight gadget is available in multi colors like moon silver, Venus ruby, galaxy blue, and black.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz is an advance mobile phone with exciting features. It is compiled with all latest and unique technologies that give amazing new experience to users. Sony Ericsson Vivaz has Bluetooth and Wi-fi to provide you fast connectivity. Sony has done experiment with the screen and people like it very well. This latest mobile phone comes up with reliable and quick responsive touch screen. It gives you comfort in all department, whether you are surfing your favorite website or sending a text to your relatives. Vivaz contain the latest handwriting recognition function which works 100% accurately.

As per the current scenario, people love to connect with friends and relatives through social media. This cell phone gives you opportunity to stay connected with your friends and relatives 24 hours through social network. This product is compatible with youtube; even you can download number of songs and videos. It also has television output which allows you to watch your mobile pictures or videos on big screen. Big mobile screen is like the best gift, you can play any advanced video games on your phone without facing any difficulty. This mobile phone is appealing to every class and every age group.

Play Roulette Online for Variations of Casino Games

There are many choices of casino games from which to choose when you participate in online casino gambling. In fact, your first major decision will be to decide to play on a play-for-pay site for real money or to play on a free casino site and risk no money whatsoever. Based on your first decision, you can then proceed to an online casino of your choice.

While poker, blackjack, video poker and the slots are still among the most favoured casino games, the game of Roulette must now be mentioned among the world's most popular casino games. You can play roulette online at the best online casino websites and experience the same fun, excitement and exhilaration that would find if you were playing roulette in a lavish land-based casino in Monte Carlo.

Why? The answer is simple. When you play roulette online, you can enjoy the finest in online gambling or you may choose to engage in free roulette play on a free casino site. Additionally, when you enter the world of online casino gambling, you will find variations of the game of roulette that you will not find when you are playing at a land-based casino. There are some online sites that feature the American variant of roulette, and there are others that offer the European version. The difference in the two variants of the game of roulette is perceptible, and it affects your success percentage in the long-run. In the European variant, there are 36 numbered compartments plus an additional compartment with a number zero. In the American variant, there are 36 compartments plus two additional compartments, numbered zero and double zero. Thus, in the long run, your chances of winning on the American variant are less than that on the European variant.

Thus, when you play roulette online for real money or engage in free roulette play, the European variant of roulette, featured on top sites such as Onlinegambling.co.uk, is the preferred mode of play.

PlayStation 3: What's the Latest

The PlayStation 3 is one of the most eagerly awaited gaming consoles this year. Besides, with the best graphics and sound technology integrated in this console, who wouldn’t want to know more about this gaming console or better yet, purchase one at the soonest possible time?Gaming consoles are extremely very popular and are one of the best forms of entertainment today. With a gaming console, you will be able to entertain yourself when you're bored or spend some quality time with your family and friends. Just imagine, you can play your children's favorite games after a long day at work. Because of gaming consoles, you will be able to relax and play with your children at the same time.So, if you are interested in the upcoming PlayStation 3, you should know about the latest news about it. PlayStation 3 news is complete with information that you can use in order to improve your gaming experience. The latest news about PlayStation 3 will enable you to know about the different new accessories available and also about the different latest games being offered.The latest news in PlayStation 3 today is about the format it supports. The Blu-ray drive is an advanced disc drive that is integrated in the new PlayStation 3. This Blu-ray disc drive is one of the latest technologies in the disc media and is able to store data 5 times higher than that of your regular DVD. This means game developers will be able to develop far more realistic games with greater details.The Blu-ray drive is one of the latest additions to gaming consoles and no other gaming console is using the Blu-ray drive except for PlayStation 3. Another benefit of Blu-ray drive is that it can read almost any disc media. This means that your investment in your old PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games can still be played through the PlayStation 3. What's more is that the Blu-ray drive will be able to play your DVD movies and even audio CDs. This makes that PlayStation 3 an all-in-one hub for home entertainment.Another latest in the PlayStation 3 news is that Sony will reassert PlayStation 3 shipments. By the end of the fiscal year on March 21, 2007, Sony expects to ship a total of six million systems worldwide. Sony believes that the six million units to be sold worldwide is not a difficult target. This is because of the growing anticipation and growing popularity of the PlayStation 3 worldwide even before the hardware is actually released.News of the expected retail price is also out. There are two configurations for PlayStation 3 that Sony will be releasing in the market. One is the basic configuration that will cost US$499 and the other is the premium configuration that will cost US$599 in the United States. The main difference between these two configurations is that obviously, the premium configuration will contain more integrated features, such as a 60GB upgradeable hard drive, built-in Wi-Fi capability, and flash card readers.All these and more can be read when you log in to the PlayStation 3 website. More upcoming news about the release will be posted soon. If there are any changes with the release date, you will be the first to know by logging on to the PlayStation website. So, if you want to know more about the latest news on PlayStation 3, all you have to do is visit the PlayStation website at www.playstation dot com.The PlayStation 3 is one of the most eagerly awaited gaming consoles this year. Besides, with the best graphics and sound technology integrated in this console, who wouldn’t want to know more about this gaming console or better yet, purchase one at the soonest possible time?Gaming consoles are extremely very popular and are one of the best forms of entertainment today. With a gaming console, you will be able to entertain yourself when you're bored or spend some quality time with your family and friends. Just imagine, you can play your children's favorite games after a long day at work. Because of gaming consoles, you will be able to relax and play with your children at the same time.So, if you are interested in the upcoming PlayStation 3, you should know about the latest news about it. PlayStation 3 news is complete with information that you can use in order to improve your gaming experience. The latest news about PlayStation 3 will enable you to know about the different new accessories available and also about the different latest games being offered.The latest news in PlayStation 3 today is about the format it supports. The Blu-ray drive is an advanced disc drive that is integrated in the new PlayStation 3. This Blu-ray disc drive is one of the latest technologies in the disc media and is able to store data 5 times higher than that of your regular DVD. This means game developers will be able to develop far more realistic games with greater details.The Blu-ray drive is one of the latest additions to gaming consoles and no other gaming console is using the Blu-ray drive except for PlayStation 3. Another benefit of Blu-ray drive is that it can read almost any disc media. This means that your investment in your old PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games can still be played through the PlayStation 3. What's more is that the Blu-ray drive will be able to play your DVD movies and even audio CDs. This makes that PlayStation 3 an all-in-one hub for home entertainment.Another latest in the PlayStation 3 news is that Sony will reassert PlayStation 3 shipments. By the end of the fiscal year on March 21, 2007, Sony expects to ship a total of six million systems worldwide. Sony believes that the six million units to be sold worldwide is not a difficult target. This is because of the growing anticipation and growing popularity of the PlayStation 3 worldwide even before the hardware is actually released.News of the expected retail price is also out. There are two configurations for PlayStation 3 that Sony will be releasing in the market. One is the basic configuration that will cost US$499 and the other is the premium configuration that will cost US$599 in the United States. The main difference between these two configurations is that obviously, the premium configuration will contain more integrated features, such as a 60GB upgradeable hard drive, built-in Wi-Fi capability, and flash card readers.Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/video-games-articles/playstation-3-whats-the-latest-851096.html#ixzz0pKxhofEr Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

How to Become a Video Game Tester

You can not get a video game testing job by searching for one at your local classified site. The fact is that video game testing firms do not advertise vacant positions for a video game tester on newspapers. This is because they believe if they do so they are going to get a lot of application from ordinary people looking to test games for fun, rather than taking them seriously. You need to actually make contacts with developers. I believe that getting in touch with developers is not easy but it is possible, so I urge you to give it a try. Ask around and meet a developer, tell him about your interest of wanting to become a video game tester. Convince him with the reasons on why you are going to make a good testing job. Let him know of the games you have played, the consoles you own and the amount of years you have been playing video games and the types of games you play. If you have ever discovered any bug while plying video games, let him know about it.
I guess you know the role of a video game tester. The role of a game tester is to detect bugs in pre-released games before they are sent into the market. It is not an easy job but you can become one if you put more effort into it. It could be fun too due to it has many benefits of its own. You will be paid compensation for any bug you detect in the games you test in addition to the initial salary you are paid.
Once you land a testing job, do not waste your time on the assignment given to you. It is likely that you will test them at home or their studio. Re-test the games twice, if possible thrice to see that you are not leaving any bug behind. After you are through with it, write what you discovered in a report and send it to the developer that assigned you the testing job. Remember to crosscheck the report before sending them back to the developer. Time is money, so don't waste time on any game you are given to test. Video game testing is a professional job, so you should treat it as one. Luckily, your testing will impress them and you would get more testing. The payment is okay but the more experience you gather; the more you will be paid. Payment is made through check and it s done bi-weekly.

Backup Your Files With Video Game Copy Software

There has never been an easier way to create backups for all of your media files than now. All you need to do is download video game copy software and you will be on your way to protecting all of the discs in your collection. It is very important to create duplicates of your games, especially the rarest to find. It is because you do not want the originals to run the risk of becoming damaged. It would be much better if you could create a backup copy and play that instead of the actual game. Then you do not have to worry about any problems that could potentially bust the original.

The technology of video game copy software have really taken off in the past few years. You will now be able to burn backups in record time. But do not think it will cost you an arm and a leg. These new programs are less than $50 and they run perfectly. You will not even have to pay anything after the initial purchase. Once you buy the video game copy software, you will be able to start copying all of your discs and really give the originals the protection they deserve.

The price of new video games is extremely high at the moment and it does not look like they will be getting cheaper anytime soon. That is why you need to make sure to create backups for your most important inventory. Say for example that one of your favorite games becomes scratched beyond any recognition by some unknown event. If you have no backup, you need to go to the store and drop another large sum of money to replace it. Now, let's say you made a copy of that same game. Then the same situation happened and you came home to see your burned copy was really scratched and it did not work anymore. Well, you are still going to have to replace it, but this time you will only spend the cost of one blank disc to recopy the original.

Video game copy software will not only save you huge amounts of money in the long run, but it will also save you from unwanted stress. You will not have to worry about where you leave your games when you are not home or who is allowed to play them. The burned copies can be open for use by anyone and their only punishment for ruining a game will be the cost of one blank disc. Much better than having to buy a brand new game!

How to Fix Ps3 Yellow Light of Death

If you don't know how to fix your ps3 yellow light of death error, than it's quite hard to fix it. But, if you know how to fix the problem, it's getting easier. For those who don't know how you can fix the error, take a look below. I've put up tips and options for you and all work to fix the problem you got on your playstation 3.
How to fix ps3 yellow light of death 3. tips first
1)Turn off your playstation 3. If you think your ps3 has been caught by the heat, then wait at least 20 minutes and put it back on again
2) Check if there's any loose cable.
3) Try to put out your playstation's hard-drive, and put it back in. You might want to repeat this 2-3 times for better results.
If this did not work, then there are 2 options left for you on how to fix your ps3 safe and fast!
Send your playstation 3 back to Sony
You might think that this is an great option, but take a look at some statistics. Most users had to wait at least 4-6 weeks before they had their Console back. And also, if your warranty is expired, you have to pay a big fat $150,- to get the job done! Does this still sound as a good option?
The last option is to repair your console by yourself.
When you fix the yellow light error by yourself, you will take control in your own hands. Meaning that you decide how much it costs and that you decide how long it will take to fix it. This is the best and most recommended way to fix your ps3 savefully and fast! Users who didn't know a thing about Hardware, have fixed it within 1 hour with the use of a repair guide. You should really use a guide because if you don't, it will be guess work.
If you use a How to fix ps3 Yellow Light Of Death Guide, it will help you by giving step by step information with pictures and videos. This is a really effecient and effective way of fixing your console!
Why would you pay Sony $150,- if you can repair it by yourself? There's no better way on how to fix ps3 yellow light of death than fixing it by yourself. Need more information? Feel free to visit How to fix Ps3 Yellow Light Of Death

Video Games Can Be Educational For Children

There seems to be a constant battle on how video games are affecting the children that are playing them, but the fact is that video games can teach children too. In fact, video games can help to enhance the reading skills of a child, not to mention help build their coordination and visual skills.In several video games, your child get to become the main character who travels throughout the game purchasing different items needed to complete the video game successfully, while reading special instructions given throughout the video game. Since the child is simply interested in playing the video game they become unaware that they are actually reading and often times the reading is above their regular grade level. You may often hear your child say they do not like to read, but if you will take the time to watch them play particular video games and tell them you can not see the writing that well, then hopefully they will read it to you and you will become fairly surprised.Video games can even inspire children to new interests as well. In fact, when a child plays a video game that they do not know much about, then you may see your child bringing books home from the school library that are similar to their new video game. When a child is participating in a video game, then children can see history come alive. Each video game that your child plays must be viewed as having a positive side instead of listening to all the hubba of others, because video games can teach your child different skills.Some video games are designed to teach the skills necessary for making a living as they give the gamer a variety of different choices. Video games also confront gamers with issues such as moral dilemmas, solving challenging problems, and developing social relationships as well. Children who play video games often have the pick up from a cluttered area than those that do not. In fact, studies are now showing that when learning is added into video game playing children begin being faster at the other activities they participate in.Some where in the future of time teachers may begin incorporating the playing of video games into the assignments of their students. Several government agencies will use computerized video games to assist in stimulating certain types of situations for their employees. In fact, even the military and NASA train with computerized video games, which is due to the changes in computer technology. By looking more at the positive side of video games parents and teacher could really bring themselves closer to children.Often times children are playing their video games on-line, which makes playing video games much more of a social activity. Children and adults can learn more from each other if they take the time to learn how to play these video games with each other, which will also open up the lines of communication and understanding. Hopefully, more individuals will see video games in a more positive light instead of in a negative way most of the time.

Video Games Get The Final Votes

Have you ever thought to yourself what makes a good video game? Strong visuals and good controls are essential as well as well crafted concepts. Great video games have feeling, surprise, emotion, interaction, and even addiction and the final votes are for the year are in.

When video games offer all these elements gamers know the sure enjoyment of being able to turn on their video gaming system and instantly becoming involved in one of the best video games on the market. Great video games can cause gamers to want to stay up all night no matter if they have to go to school or work the next morning. Being able to play a great video game forces gamers to experience a new way to push your reflexes and brain harder and faster. Great video games allow gamers to become a galactic warrior, fight aliens, villains, undersea explorers, or even be the hero.

Video games from last year have been voted on and the results for best video game of the year are in. The video games that has been voted best video games of the year are BioShock, Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed, Super Mario Galaxy, and Orange Box. BioShock is an adventure video game that becomes a complete experience for gamers. Gamers become immersed in the action of this video game where the environments are remarkable and the game play begins to invade your mind.

BioShock has the ability to make gamers feel like that are actually wandering through the 1960s era of a undersea utopia that is populated by a crazed zombie and crazy girls that go around carrying chemicals that will help enhance your biological superpowers. This video game goes right down to the detail with props and costumes from the 1960s period, which make such a realistic experience for gamers. The story and concept are incredible and the within the video game there are many rooms to explore, not to mention all the creepy elements that make this video game part sci-fi novel and part horror film. This video game has been rated M for mature.

Another great video game is Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare, which is a combination of edge of your seat warfare along with a great story line and even better visual effects. This version of Call Of Duty has been reinvented into a more modern conflict and is a perfect blend of action and realism of visual affects that are unbelievable. This video game has a well-crafted story line that is full of unexpected surprises that is sure to keep gamers pleased for hours of fun. This video game has been rated M for mature.

Assassin's Creed is another stunning video game that has naturally fluid control capabilities and incredible missions that are set within the Middle Ages. The main character in this video game has free-run abilities that are the best of any video game this year. This video game has been rated M for mature. The Mario Brothers are back with Super Mario Galaxy. In this new video game Mario soars from planet to planet within a colorful masterpiece where controls are easily handled. This video game is a combination of puzzles and action. This video game has been rated E for everyone.

The Orange Box is a combination of five amazing video games in one and has become one of the best values in video games of the year. This video game consists of a brain busting game called Portal and a multi-player game called Team Fortress 2 that is fun and stylish. It also includes the intense story of Half Life 2 that is filled with action. This is an incredible video game that has some thing for every one and is rated teen to mature.

Best Xbox 360 Video Games

Video gaming has changed into one of the all-time biggest forms of recreation for folk of every age. Kids play Nintendo games, and adults do, too. The XBox 360 is one of the favourite games systems for folks who like to have a big range of games available to them, and who like to play live with others all around the world. For christmas 2009, there are a grouping of XBox 360 video games that people are waiting anxiously for. For youngsters, a favorite XBox 360 video game is Cars, which is aptly named and modeled after the hit film of the same name. This story-based journey lets youngsters play through key movie moments, and have some fun in over thirty different races and games. There are over ten characters that kids can play and multi-player mode makes automobiles even more fun! Kids and adults will adore playing DJ Hero for XBox 360. Have a battle of the DJs in your own home or online with turntables and a Guitar Hero controller. You get a turntable and mixer controller with your DJ Hero game - these let you scratch and mix to a variety of music content - you can choose the genre that suits you most perfectly. Multi-player modes include DJ vs. DJ, DJ and guitar, or DJ and DJ. Call of Duty : Modern Warfare is high on the inventories of XBox 360 gamers everywhere. This game for mature players brings warfare to the present day with updated automobiles and weaponry, and new locations. Several multi-player modes add to the excitement where method and talent are utterly vital for survival. DragonAge : Origins is a new and high in demand single-player role playing fantasy game letting players travel the lands of Ferelden to decide the fate of countries and ultimately the player him or herself. Players have plenty of character customization options including appearance, abilities, race, class, and appliances. For XBox players that like dealing with the challenge of zombies, Left4Dead two is the most recent XBox 360 video game that may be a must-have. The player's performance decides the level of customization for enemies, effects and even music. Levels, weather and lighting can even be customised to add to the excitement. Require some cool zombie fighting weapons? Try the new melee weapons - chainsaw, baseball bat, frying pan and axe. These let you get close and private with the undead that are on your trail. If you have an XBox 360 gamer on your xmas gift list, try any of these great games - each offering thrills, fun and maybe even the occasional chill! Check out Amazon for the best prices and reviews. .

PlayStation 3 (PS3) - Everything You Should Know

It doesn't get better than this... The PlayStation 3, a successor to the PlayStation 2, hit the store shelves with astounding features. This seventh generation video game console has several distinguishing features which set it apart from other gaming consoles. The PS3's unmatched multimedia capabilities coupled with online gaming service, PlayStation portable connectivity & the use of high-definition optical disc format as its primary storage medium & secondary storage upgradable to 250 GB, these are some of the characteristics that have earned the well-deserved public attention for PS3.

It is of no surprise that during its first release in Japan on November 2006, a total of 81,639 systems were sold within 24 hours along with 9 million plus units sold in United States as of August 18, 2009 and a total of 33.5 million units sold as of December 31, 2009. PlayStation 3 bestows its users with a unique real-to-life gaming experience. The PlayStation 3 uses Toshiba, Sony & IBM-designed cell microprocessor as its CPU made up of 3.2 GHz Power PC based PPE (power processing units) & eight synergistic processing elements. Graphics in the PS3 are handled by the NVIDIA RSX 'Reality Synthesizer' capable of outputting resolutions from 480i, 576i SD up to 1080p HD. As its main memory the PS3 has 256 MB of XDR DRAM along with 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory. PS3 is rigged with Bluetooth 2.0 gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 and HDMI 1.3a with Wi-Fi networking built-in on the 40, 60 & 80 GB models. The 60 GB and CECHExx 80 GB models come with a flash card reader compatible with SD/MMC, memory stick and Micro-drive/Compact-Flash media. The console supports up to 7 controllers connected via Bluetooth 2.0 technology. PlayStation 3 comes in five original hardware models referred to by the size of the included hard disk drive offered in 20, 40, 60, 80, 160 & 250 GB.

Enough of the tech talk already and time to talk about the glorified titles. PS3 titles include a diverse array of game genres destined to entice new players and confer them with an out of the life gaming experience. Since its release different high ranking games have been developed most of which purportedly became best selling games. PS3 games like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and others have been acclaimed by critics and awarded the title of best game of the year by various gaming websites. Some of the top selling games PS3 games are Grand Theft Auto IV (2.659 million approx.), Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (3.5 million copies), MotorStorm (3.31 million copies), Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (4.65 million copies), Metal Gear Solid 4:Guns of Patriots (3 million), Final Fantasy XIII, Infamous, Killzone 2, Heavenly Sword, Resident Evil 5, Resistance: Fall of Man and various others.

Benefits of Video Games

The gaming industry is already multimillion dollar industry and is still growing. It's level of growth is quite unimaginable. Our children will definitely be handed the credit for the industry that is booming. Computer games have become very popular for children and teenagers with the ages between seven to sixteen.

This younger generation find these games irresistible, especially the strategies used to build the games, the graphics, and the quality of the sound and of course, the interactivity. The medical benefits of playing games have now become the new strategy to advertise or market these products by the gaming industries.

Studies have shown that players that play a lot of video games have better scores on vision tests compared to those children who do not play. Improvement of the child's logical thinking ability and problem solving skills are also a cause from all the playing. SimCity, Age of Mythology, etc where the gamers have to build houses, cities and make war strategies aid them to develop their logical skills and also help them make better decisions. Children also improve their communication and problem solving abilities with educational games and they are able to locate things easily without stressing to much and so on.

Studies have also shown that teachers have found improvement in their students' mathematics, spelling and reading for those children who are fond of playing these games. Nowadays, the government is thinking over and researching on the many ways on how to integrate such games to the academic curriculum.

Parents just need to monitor how much time their children spend in front of the screen playing games and also the type that the child is playing and they will see a lot of benefits.

Bayonetta Video Game Review

Bayonetta is a game that will intrigue players just by its sheer sense of curiosity. It is a completely wacky game that tugs on every cord of imagination. The game revolves around a girl who must fight her way through the game in order to complete her mission. It is a game that will have you laughing and wondering at the same time, but in the end will have you love it to its core.
Bayonetta is not just a game that involves crazy scenes and unbelievable stunts and enemies; it also has a strong plot. Bayonetta herself is a witch that has been asleep for over five hundred years. She has waked from the bottom of the sea and has a memory that is a bit foggy. She can remember however, that she needs to find 'The eyes of the world` and through the help of an onlooker, discovers that she must head to a city called Vigrid to find them.
The journey begins as Bayonetta stands in front of a clock face with an army of enemies behind her. The clock face falls and crumbles off of a mountain top and slams on the ground, and that is the prelude to the rest of the game. The game drifts in and out of insanity, with crazy things happening all around her. And as insane as the game is, she fits into the role as in one scene; she stores a monster up in her hair.
The combating in the game is what sets it apart from the rest. The fighting fives you the ability to perform feats and be part of the magic of the game. You can use a powerful item concoction mode, a comprehensive scoring system with leader boards and a screen disguised as a practise mode.
Bayonetta is the ultimate fighter; she has four guns that she keeps tucked into her high heeled shoes! She uses her body to punch, kick and shoot her way through the enemies that lunge at her from every corner. She can also do special attacks and torture her enemies in the most gruesome ways. She can humiliate them and conjure up creative ways to inflict pain on them. Weapons and other items become unlocked as the game unfolds and progresses. There are also hidden items and secrets to uncover as you battle through the game.
The ability for Bayonetta to dodge attacks helps her score more points. The game takes into consideration how she avoids being targeting from enemies and credits her for those moves. As she dodges moves she can also unleash, mid combo attacks, combo attacks and she can enjoy the flexibility in her fighting and what she is able to do.
There is a nifty on screen move list to help guide you through the moves she can do while playing the game. The game is on normal difficulty and is challenging, however harder levels can be exposed as progress is made.
This game is truly a gem. Playing the role of a witch on a vengeance and on a mission to solve puzzles and learn the truth is a game that evokes curiosity and interest. It is a game where the sky is the limit and no act can look surprising, if this game doesn`t have you stoked it will at least give you shock value.

Making Money From Testing Video Games

Video game testing is an 18 billion dollar a year profession that is in high demand. So it's needless to say that there is a lot of money to be made from video game testing. I know what you are asking yourself, who is going to pay me to play games. In any industry including the video game industry there are is a thing called field research. Field research is the research that is done before something is released to ensure quality. What this means is that large video game companies need people like you that will play their games and report back any problems you had with the game. The best part about this is that you get to play these games before they are released and get paid for it!

You probably play games every day on your Xbox 360, Playstation 3, or on your Wii. Imagine if you knew about this profession 6 months ago. Lets you only played 10 hours a week (we all know that 10 hours a week is nothing) for that 6 months, the minimum a tester gets paid is $30/hour. That's a total of over $7000 you would gain if you become a game tester.

Why is this job in high demand? Well that question is very easy. Video game companies cannot afford to not have testers. The reason behind that is that if they didn't pay tester to play their games and report any bugs that they might find the company will lose a lot of money. They will lose money when the word gets out that the game is buggy, they will lose when people want their money back, and they will lose credit. Meaning that if a company releases a game that's not perfect their name will be negatively affected and making another successful video game will be incredibly hard for them.

Your parents might have told you that you are wasting your life away playing games, little do they know that you where preparing yourself for your new career. There is a lot of money to be made from becoming a game tester, the best thing about this is that this job is incredibly easy to get if you know what companies to approach and how to approach them.

If you would like some more information on how to become a video game tester.

The Evolution of Video Games

A video game is a computer game involving interaction with a user interface to make visual feedback with a video device. Platforms are the electronic systems used to play video games. Examples of these are personal computers and gaming consoles.

Early then, simple games started with low-quality graphics and sounds. These games were played on devices such as Amiga, Commodore 64, Atari, ring a bell? Later on, a lot of consoles such as Sega Megadrive, Sega Genesis, SNES bring games with better graphics 2D, in many music, colors and nice sounds. Nowadays is even better. We have very powerful consoles like Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and many more with very dramatic graphic 3D which look very real in millions of colors. You will definitely also enjoy the high quality of the music and sounds that make you feel that you are actually in the game.

The game controller, the input device used to manipulate video games varies between platforms. For example another feature may be a dozen or more buttons and joysticks or a dedicated console controller might consist of just one button and a joystick. The first personal computer games often need a joystick with at least one button or a gaming keyboard. There are a lot of modern computer games that allow or even require the player to use a keyboard and a mouse all at the same time.

You have to think how lucky these youngsters are nowadays, with the way modern technology has evolved.

Five of the Most Popular Musical Video Games

All kids love video games and here you will find which five musical games are the most popular on the market today.
At number one we have "Rock Band" by Harmonix. This game will allow your children to pick an instrument and rock out with friends and other family members.
There are three versions of this fun game; the original game, Rock Band 2 and The Beatles version. The instrument controllers are compatible with all three games so there is no need to get new controllers when you get the new games. This game isn't all about the stage performances. It also has features like a studio where you can record albums and go on world tours. This game can also teach you how to play the guitar and drums.
At number two is "Guitar Hero". This video game started the musical instrument craze that is sweeping the world at the moment. There are so many versions of this game including the band versions for Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen. Unlike the Rock games new instruments are needed to play the different games. You can buy track packs to add songs to the music lists. If you are adding to your child's "Guitar Hero" collection make a note of which one your child has.
At number three we have "DJ Hero". This game is more for the Hip-Hop crowd and was the most recent edition to the hero gaming world until "Band Hero". There are two versions of this game. "DJ Hero" comes with the game software and the turntable controller whereas "DJ Hero: Renegade" come with both software and turntable but it also comes with a controller stand and even has Jay-z and Eminem CD's. "DJ Hero" will most likely have to place on a table to play but because of the stand with "DJ Hero: Renegade" this problem is solved.
At number four is "Band Hero" This game is brought to you by the makers of "Guitar Hero" and the instrument controllers for "Guitar Hero" will work with this game. This game includes music from Taylor Swift which makes it appeal to the young girls in the world. You can buy the software only or a bundle where you get the software and the instruments. The track list is perfect for all teenage girls out there.
At number five we have the Lego Band game. This game would be great fun for all the family and is a family friendly version of "Rock Band" The controllers used to play "Rock Band" will work with this game. If you have an older child with this game and a younger child wanting to play "Lego Rock Band" is perfect. Your child can create a Lego Den to relax and perform in which will be fun for your little one.

Best Xbox 360 Video Games

Video gaming has changed into one of the all-time biggest forms of recreation for folk of every age. Kids play Nintendo games, and adults do, too. The XBox 360 is one of the favourite games systems for folks who like to have a big range of games available to them, and who like to play live with others all around the world. For christmas 2009, there are a grouping of XBox 360 video games that people are waiting anxiously for.

For youngsters, a favorite XBox 360 video game is Cars, which is aptly named and modeled after the hit film of the same name. This story-based journey lets youngsters play through key movie moments, and have some fun in over thirty different races and games. There are over ten characters that kids can play and multi-player mode makes automobiles even more fun!

Kids and adults will adore playing DJ Hero for XBox 360. Have a battle of the DJs in your own home or online with turntables and a Guitar Hero controller. You get a turntable and mixer controller with your DJ Hero game - these let you scratch and mix to a variety of music content - you can choose the genre that suits you most perfectly. Multi-player modes include DJ vs. DJ, DJ and guitar, or DJ and DJ.

Call of Duty : Modern Warfare is high on the inventories of XBox 360 gamers everywhere. This game for mature players brings warfare to the present day with updated automobiles and weaponry, and new locations. Several multi-player modes add to the excitement where method and talent are utterly vital for survival.

DragonAge : Origins is a new and high in demand single-player role playing fantasy game letting players travel the lands of Ferelden to decide the fate of countries and ultimately the player him or herself. Players have plenty of character customization options including appearance, abilities, race, class, and appliances.

For XBox players that like dealing with the challenge of zombies, Left4Dead two is the most recent XBox 360 video game that may be a must-have. The player's performance decides the level of customization for enemies, effects and even music. Levels, weather and lighting can even be customised to add to the excitement. Require some cool zombie fighting weapons? Try the new melee weapons - chainsaw, baseball bat, frying pan and axe. These let you get close and private with the undead that are on your trail.

If you have an XBox 360 gamer on your xmas gift list, try any of these great games - each offering thrills, fun and maybe even the occasional chill! Check out Amazon for the best prices and reviews.

Classic Atari 2600 Video Games

During that time, Atari set the standard for video games. In fact, before Nintendo came along in the late 1980s, the word Atari was synonymous with video gaming.
Even more popular than the system itself were the games that were created to go along with Atari 2600. Many of the following games still remain as staples in arcades all over the world:
• Adventure - Often considered the first action-adventure video game, Adventure allowed gamers to move a character through color-coded castles in search of swords and keys. • Asteroids - A favorite of Star Wars fans everywhere, Asteroids gave players the chance to control a space ship through hyperspace and shoot at different types of space debris. • Frogger - Fans of this game will remember moving a frog through a busy street, dodging cars, trucks, and buses in hopes of reaching a river on the opposite side. • Gravitar - In this classic sci-fi game, players would orbit the surface of different planets and shoot at bunkers on the surface. • Haunted House - Gamers would have to navigate their way through a haunted mansion that dubbed as a maze, avoiding bats, ghosts, and ghouls along the way. • Joust - Flying around on an ostrich, players would have to maneuver their way around a playfield in an attempt to kill buzzards. • Pac Man - Maybe the most popular video game of all time, Pac Man would give players the ability to move a hungry yellow circle through a maze of small dots.
Many of these retro Atari classics are plastered in the minds of people who spent their childhood playing Atari. These games passed the test of time and will continue to be played in arcades across the globe for many years to come.