How Metal Gear Became My Favorite Series

Hideo Kojima is known for a multitude of things: his wit, humor, depth of storytelling, and state-of-the-art imagery. All of which exemplify his most critically acclaimed franchise, Metal Gear. His blend of authentic historical events and "what if" scenarios are interwoven so intricately that they made me even question the stories told in the history books.

The Metal Gear series is undoubtedly one of my favorites and for good reason. It tells a cross-generational story that movies couldn't hope to replicate. The characters range from supernatural to surreal, all interconnected through the genius of Kojima and Konami. A Gatling gun toting giant, a cyborg ninja, and a photosynthetic sniper are only a few of the creative characters to emerge in the Metal Gear universe.

Their personal stories make them relate-able, and their reasons for fighting grant them an unconventional essence that draws us in. But the aspect that every fan will emphasize are the boss battles. Have you ever had a computer read your mind? How about having to unplug your controller and switch it into a different gameport in order to counteract this process? If you haven't played Metal Gear you have no idea what I'm talking about and how could you since Kojima is the only one to have incorporated this type creativity into the gaming realm.

In the same fashion the protagonist was born. He isn't your typical nameless veteran from a Call of Duty game or your overly testosterone charged Gears of War soldier. Solid Snake is a character who has changed game-to-game, adapting to his experiences, becoming more cynical with age. He undergoes the transformation from super soldier to man, war-torn veteran to human being. His words in MGS4 reflect it all:

"War has changed. It's no longer about nations, ideologies or ethnicity. It's an endless series of proxy battles, fought by mercenaries and machines. War, and its consumption of life, has become a well-oiled machine. War has changed. ID tagged soldiers carry ID tagged weapons, use ID tagged gear. Nanomachines inside their bodies enhance and regulate their abilities. Genetic control. Information control. Emotion control. Battlefield control. Everything is monitored, and kept under control. War has changed. The age of deterrence has become the age of control. All in the name of averting catastrophe from weapons of mass destruction. And he who controls the battlefield, controls history. War has changed. When the battlefield is under total control, war... becomes routine."

Kojima developed not only a set of games, but a unique genre. Never before had stealth been so successfully combined with action, cut scenes, and even comedy. Playboy magazines to distract "rowdy" guards is just the tip of the iceberg in Kojima's repertoire of seemingly useless items turned battlefield necessities. Metal Gear's iconic cardboard box never becomes completely outdated and can often succeed in helping Snake out of a close bind, and giving myself a chuckle in the progress.

And one of the most gratifying aspects of this entire franchise is the development of a story that becomes so profound and at times confusing that it invites and necessitates discussion amongst fans for a feel of true understanding. You may think you know Metal Gear, but I promise you there are subtle nuances and hidden connections you never picked up upon or suspected. Not to mention this is the only franchise I've played with actual information packs you can buy filled with backstory backstory and a bounty of hidden backstory. Plus game versions filled with extra content ranging from VR missions to battling giant Godzilla soldiers. (The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 Database)

Metal Gear is movie meets video game, action meets stealth, and all around amazing experience. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that playing Kojima's masterpiece has not only entertained me indefinitely but opened my eyes to the possibilities of gaming. If I had never played Metal Gear, I would not be the same gamer, nerd, or person I am today.

My name is Taylor Stein. I'm a college student and avid gamer who loves to reach people of similar interest through writing. After founding http://www.gamingprecision.com/ I decided to pursue a solo venture that would encapsulate my personal gaming journey called Gamer Girl Tay.

Gamer Girl Tay adds a personal edge to gaming featuring reviews, the latest in the video game industry, and gaming culture. This site is not only a place to gather information, but also a hub to meet other gamers, discuss hot trends, and experience all that video games have to offer. I hope you enjoy my personal journey through gaming, filled with humor, rants, and personal opinions.

Visit Gamer Girl Tay Here:
http://www.gamergirltay.com/

And feel free to email me with any questions and comments:
taylor@gamergirltay.com

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SSX - An Overview of the Game

The snow-boarding franchise that was a massive hit on the PS2, Wii and the original Xbox console is coming to PS3 and Xbox 360. In contrast to prior SSX releases that used imaginary courses, within this game gamers can now board down twenty-seven actual mountains in 9 mountain ranges around the globe, for example the Alps and Antarctica. This game now has enhanced free-roaming gameplay that has less barriers plus virtually no fixed paths, which means players can pick their very own route down the mountain. Within this game gamers may use a chopper drop to actually begin a descent plus may utilise a wing-suit to soar further in the air when jumping.

There are numerous gaming modes within this game. In 'Race It' race other players in order to win the race to the bottom of the mountain. In 'Trick It', complete the most extraordinary tricks seen in order to acquire enough points to move to the top of the leaderboard. In survival game mode gamers have to race ahead of plus live through a natural disaster for instance a rockslide or a snow avalanche. Within exploration mode players will be able to check out any descent within SSX, set a time/score for others to conquer, or compete alongside a run saved by another player.

FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

Actual Locations - NASA geotagging information was used in order to accurately reproduce numerous famous mountains in the world. This game includes twenty-seven various mountain slopes from nine mountain ranges throughout the world, for example the Himalayas, the Andes and Antarctica.

Racing Gaming Option - Race against many other players to be the first down the mountain. Snow board through landscapes with hardly any predefined race-paths and zero invisible obstacles - you have to pick the fastest path to the bottom of the mountain.

Trick Mode - Carry out tricks within a downhill descent in order to accumulate sufficient points to triumph. The more trick moves players perform the greater number of points gamers amass. The more outrageous a trick is, the greater number of points players earn.

Survival Gaming Option - Race before a catastrophe for instance a rock-slide or a snow avalanche. Compete against your opponents and race to stay alive. There are 9 perilous descents in this game.

Explore Gaming Option - Snowboard down more than 150 slopes within this game. Set a time for others to beat in a Race Drop, an impressive total to beat in a trick descent, and also find out the length of time one is able to survive a survival descent. Record your best runs online for other players can attempt to beat or attempt to beat descents recorded by other players. Whenever racing up against a recorded descent gamers compete within real time and your adversary can be seen as being a ghost which can be seen in your world.

Global Competitions - Compete in online competition against others in real time. Events may only be as long as one run, hours or perhaps days, and can consist of as much as 100,000 players. Players can drop-in as well as drop-out of a competition anytime.

SSX is scheduled for release from 2nd Mar, 2012, and is going to be released for the following systems: Playstation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360. The video game is published by EA Sports, and EA Canada were the developers of the game. Multi-player options will be catered for in this game. The video game has a PEGI 7 rating, which means it is appropriate for ages 7 and upwards.

GamingEdge is the number one site to compare SSX reviews from the largest video game sites. Browse our shopping chart to obtain the lowest prices within South Africa, look at an image gallery as well as look at video clips. Go look at the informative GamingEdge web page link included here - SSX

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How the PS3 Is Changing and the Use of the Bundle

The PS3 was the best selling console of last year in the EU. The competitive price tag and high spec hardware that you couldn't find in other gaming consoles was a major selling point. Sony dropped the price by over £200 from the original RRP and this led to a huge boost in sales figures. A 160GB Playstation 3 Bundle is as low as £164.99!

Released over 5 years ago in 2006 and priced at a whopping £425, it was the second fastest selling console ever in the UK after the PSP. The PS3 was a powerful machine and contained a specially developed cell processor. Built-in Wi-Fi and a 60GB hard drive were included. The extra large PS3 had its own backward PS2-compatible hardware, memory stick, SD and compact card slots.

The latest model is the PlayStation 3 slim; although it has changed a lot from the release model it still has the main hardware such as the Blu-ray player, in-built Wi-Fi and 1080p graphics. What it doesn't have though is the backwards compatibility for PS2 games and has lost 2 of its USB ports amongst some other things. These sacrifices were made to reduce the cost of the console and the size of the first edition PS3 was a monstrosity of a machine.

The PS3 has evolved into more than just a gaming console though, with internet browsing and access to streaming channels such as the BBC iPlayer and LoveFilm it is more of an entertainment hub. With its Blu-ray playback capability in addition, it is difficult to justify buying a stand-alone Blu-ray player for the narrow price gap.

The top selling PS3 Bundles this year so far include the brilliant Uncharted 3 deal. An official PlayStation 3 bundle that includes well known developers, Naughty Dog's absolutely brilliant Uncharted 3 and also a copy of the "Faster" Blu-ray.

Bundles have always been a great way to attract customers and maximise sales. By combining a few different popular products, console retailers are able to boost console sales by offering customers a game to play on and a Blu-ray to watch. Every gamer purchasing a new console needs a game to get them started and it also helps to increase sales for that particular game. By offering a Blu-ray, gamers are also able to see the HD-power of their brand new PS3.

Less profit is taken by bundling items together but the overall sale makes up for this. This is why bundles are popular now and will continue to be with the consoles of the future.

For more information on games consoles including gameplay, the best XBOX 360 deals or PS3 bundles, visit Which Console who have extensive experience of the games industry.

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Battlefield 3 Strategies - Tips And Tricks To Improve Your Game

Battlefield 3 is one of the most complex first person shooter games to ever hit the market. You can no longer just run around head long into battle and expect to do well, you will have to play your character properly as well as learn to work as part of a team.

One of the most important features of the game is that you must play your class properly. You cannot expect to be a medic and run around racking up kills by yourself, you will have to help heal your teammates and learn to work together in order to accomplish the goals of the map. Battlefield 3 has set the standard in first person shooter games, and with it comes the requirement to actually play your class properly, or you and your teammates will die quickly. So for example. if you are an engineer, be sure you are repairing tanks and shooting enemy planes and helicopters out of the sky.

Another important aspect is the controls of the game. Some people prefer an inverted airplane style play so that when you pull down on the control stick, the view looks up, or if you push up on the control stick, the player view looks down. Be sure you try out both methods to see what best suits your style of game play. You may be surprised at your findings.

An excellent way for you to get some extra kills is to change up your game play style. For example, I found that when you come face to face with another player, instead of moving back and forth from side to side trying to avoid their gun fire, immediately drop into the prone position and aim for the head. This type of tactic works very well because most people are not used to facing an enemy who does this and gives you that extra bit of time to get your head shot in while they are confused. Ultimately this second of time will be a huge advantage for you. Try it and see for yourself.

What I would consider the most important Battlefield 3 strategy would be to get yourself a good strategy and tips guide. This will greatly improve your game as well as your experience. There are many types of guides out there, I personally prefer a guide that offers HD videos so that you can see exactly what tip or techniques is being described. There is no better way to learn than to watch someone else do exactly what they are describing on video for you to watch and imitate.

For a quick list of some of the best Battlefield 3 strategy guides and reviews as well as more tips and tricks check out:

BF3StrategyGuide.org

Steve Somerton writes informative articles on various subjects including Battlefield 3 Strategies - Tips And Tricks To Improve Your Game. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

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Pub Trivia - The Rules

Having a pub quiz is one of the best ways to bring people together. A Trivia Night will pack people into pubs. It is a great incentive for friends to take the time to meet up and enjoy each other's company. However, in order to keep people happy with the pub quiz, the rules need to be clearly stated at the beginning of the night and fairly enforced for the duration of the night. Check out this easy guide to simple rules to run a fair Pub Trivia Night.

Team Members

The teams should be composed of six members or less. Any more than that and things just don't seem to work smoothly. Only team members should be allowed to sit at the table to avoid outside help from people that aren't part of the team. There doesn't need to be a minimum number of team members. There are plenty of people that have enough trivia crammed in their heads to give a fair fight in a one-on-six battle.

The Scourge of Technology

One of the biggest problems with modern trivia nights is the ease of cheating with smartphones, iPods and the like. This is one of hardest things to control and enforce. There are two ways to approach this. The easiest way is to simply make everyone playing turn in their cell phones to the quiz director at the start of play. The other way is the honor system, but this can lead to problems as many people aren't honest.

Cheating with an electronic aid needs to be punished very severely. Trivia nights being played for money need to disqualify anyone that is caught with a cell phone on their table or in their hands, whether or not it is apparent that the phone has been used to cheat. This harsh punishment is necessary to maintain fairness in the game.

Number of Rounds

This is largely a matter of personal preference. Some trial and error will be needed over the weeks to determine the most popular number of rounds at a particular pub. Some places may like a short game with only five rounds. Other may like a long game with a dozen rounds. Most pubs run trivia games with somewhere in the neighborhood of eight to ten rounds. This seems to allow for the right balance of difficulty and excitement.

Format

Each round should have a theme for the most enjoyment. Make sure to have many different themes like sports, movies, music, history, etc. Be sure to keep teams apprised of the score after each round. Have a tiebreaker round ready if the game is tied at the end of regulation. Above all be fair, yet firm. This will lead to happy players that will be sure to come back for the next trivia night.

 

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Best BF3 Guide - What To Look For?

Finding out what the best BF3 guides are is not as easy as one might think. There are quite a few factors that you should consider before deciding on one. Never before has there been a first person shooter game with such attention to detail that it seriously requires a strategy guide in order to play it properly. This game requires you to use teamwork and strategy like no other game on the market today. If you are looking to drastically improve your game play and kill/death ratio then you need to consider that not all guides are created equal. In this article I will discuss some of the most important factors to think about, as well as some specific things to look for.

First, you should be looking for a guide that discusses the importance of teamwork as well as delivers teamwork strategies that are proven and effective. Unlike most other first person shooter games out there, you can't just run around by yourself and expect to get many kills. You need the help of your teammates as well as your teammates need your help in order to survive and dominate in this game. A good guide will show you the best team player strategies as well as how to become a good leader. You can't just go barking orders at people if you don't know what you are talking about. However, if you show your teammates strategies that work it won't take you long to earn their respect and they will listen to your plans.

Second, you need a guide that offers you high definition videos of the tactics and techniques that they are describing in the guide so that you can see first hand exactly how to perform the strategies. There is no better way to learn than by watching someone else do exactly what they are telling you to do.

The third thing to look for is a guide that shows you how to build your specific class properly. This is probably the most important factor to consider when looking for a BF3 guide. Why? Because if you do not have your character build set properly you are going to get owned big time by all of the other players who do. Nothing is worse then trying to dominate a game and you end up getting nowhere because you are not playing your character properly. The key thing in BF3 is that you have to play your specific class as you would if you were in an actual battle in real life. This means if you are a medic, you are required to heal your team and keep them alive. You can't expect to be a medic and run around by yourself racking up kills, you need your team, and your team needs you.

For more strategies and tactics as well as BF3 strategy guide reviews check out:

BF3 Guides Blog

Steve Somerton writes informative articles on various subjects including Best BF3 Guide - What To Look For In A Battlefield 3 Strategy Guide?. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

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Tips to Help You Level Up Fast in World of Warcraft

When somebody begins to level a fresh character in WoW, they will usually find that can be quickly frustrated simply because of the extensive job in ahead of them. Sure, leveling is often an intense undertaking; however it does not need to be.

There are actually improper practices that one could eliminate from your leveling strategy which will assure your game will not be hindered. These small issues really do not appear to deserve your particular attention, but they'll accumulate to a significant time strain. By doing away with them, you'll find that you will reduce the difficult procedure.

It truly comes down to effective time management, right? I had to spend years of grinding, studying forums, and trial and error to eventually determine precisely what was holding me back from leveling proficiently.

1- Allow Leveling to Turn into a Marathon

Just how many instances have you ever set your hearthstone at an Inn, and neglected to utilize it? When questing, you may conserve yourself between 5-30 minutes of running to turn a quest in, should you simply use your hearthstone. Failing to remember to make use of your hearthstone one time is certainly not that awful, nevertheless, you can easily see how this contributes to a lot of wasted time.

2- Don't Overestimate City Attractions

In the process of leveling a toon, you will need to regularly stop by a major city to pay a visit to class and profession trainers. Getting your toon to a city to learn is legitimate, but exactly how frequently do you need to you train? The most effective manner to deal with the training scenario is to check out the major cities when you find yourself in the area and save heading out of your way for when your level ends in 0 because these are the times in which you will possess the most skills to train in.

3- Estimate the time to travel correctly

Be mindful of resting in the AH and looking for gear to level in. Being preoccupied by shopping at the AH is just one of the factors that cities have got to provide in the "time drain" category. To overcome this, you may make a bank alt, and park it near the AH. This way, in the event you just have to browse the AH, at the very least you just didn't squander time by running your other characters 20 minutes or maybe more all around the map. Failing to take advantage of a bank alt might appear like something minute, but it really is a brief walk to the mail box from the AH.

4- Freely giving Control Over Your Own Leveling Speed

We have all had the idea that when you see the dungeons full of elite player that they give a lot of xp, that you should simply queue for other random dungeons. However, there are actually way too many factors which could can interfere and mess up the concept of dungeon leveling. Of course you are going to be getting xp when you are in the dungeon, but think about the downtime? Not to mention the uncertainty that you may get an unsuccessful group? Some dungeon runs can easily give you an entire level worth of XP or more at the lower levels, but it really is not worthwhile if the groups continue on for hours and hours.

There are some great guide available to help you level up faster. If you really want to compete you need to get one here.

For more leveling tips and World of Warcraft strategy go to http://www.mmo-strategy-guides.com/

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Call of Duty and Their Greatness

If you are a game fanatic, chances are, you are one of the millions of people who play Call of Duty. The COD Games involve you as the central character. Your mouse or keyboard commands the guns and other weapons to action. Initially, such games don't look any different from the first-person games out there. It just looks so ordinary- same story of mercenaries fighting for a certain mission, unfolded before your very eyes.

So what makes it stand out from the rest? Call of Duty's success is the ideal example of quality over quantity. Its action-packed scenes can be compared to a Hollywood top-grosser film- full of action, very memorable and electrifying, minus the slower stuff. It doesn't take too long to play it, which is exactly the reason why people don't find it boring.

The scenes are so credible- the explosions, the script and even the finest details like the music heard from a radio, the game of checkers, even the chat you have with your imagined squad mates. Oh, yes, it is totally unlike the other games where you play ala Desperado or the Lone Ranger. In COD Black OPS, you are part of a team, a squad as they call it, that help each other, so you don't get too lonely. Even though you couldn't command the other members of your squad to make certain actions, it makes you feel connected to something you can hold on to.

Another thing with this type of game is that, it doesn't rely on a single plot. Other games of similar genre only featured one lone fighter for the game's entirety. In this game, the player gets to play five different roles, namely: Private First Class Joseph Allen aka Alexei Borodin when he's an undercover agent in Russia, Private James Ramirez, stationed in the United States, John "Soap" MacTavish who now acts as a superior officer, an unidentified International space Station astronaut, and of course, Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, who is the focus of the game.

Due to the success of the game, Activision made several sequels. This actually met criticism from the media and users but these just died down because the players just can't seem to get enough of it. Each of the games are spectacular. New story plots and characters are added to each sequel, so the player doesn't feel bored even after he has already completed several games.

You can also find more information about call of duty black ops by visiting http://www.codblackops7zombies.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-storyline/, which shares a lot of information about the story line of the game.

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Call of Duty MW3 Guide

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 was released last year and has again pushed the franchise up into new heights. The game brought with it a plethora of new emblems, maps, guns, situations and tactics to learn.

Millions of players around the world enjoy and dedicate many hours to being the best at MW3. However, not everyone can sit there playing for hours on end. This MW3 tips guide will teach you how to play like the pros and save you all that wasted time learning these MW3 tips the hard way.

First, why would you want to be competing with the best players in the world at a video game? The answer to that question is simple. Activision, the publisher of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 have released a new online service known as Call of Duty Elite, where players just like yourself will be able to compete for fantastic prizes worth large sums of money.

MW3 Tips:

• Keep Moving - This one is rather basic but you'll be surprised by how many new players will spend the entire match camped in a corner. Yes, there is a time for camping, like during defensive objective games. However, for the general part, staying still is a bad idea. For a start, whenever you kill an enemy he will witness a killcam showing your exact location. Now, with some very simple communication the enemy team can deliver a non lethal grenade through one entrance to distract you and a lethal attack through another, forming a bait and switch two pronged attack that even the best campers will struggle to out maneuver.

• Aim Down the Sights - Knowing when to fire from the hip and when to fire through the sights is a major part of MW3 and is something you should focus your time on learning and mastering. As a basic guide, anyone camping that you accidentally run into or anyone at a very close range, just outside of knife range, should be fired at from the hip. On the other hand, anyone who is not causing you to turn significantly should definitely be fired at through the sights. A general rule is that if you need to turn a lot in a battle, avoid turning while looking through the sights.

• Grenade Checking - When you throw a lethal or non-lethal grenade and you damage an enemy, a small hit marker will appear in the middle of your screen. Use this to your advantage and check rooms for enemies with non-lethal grenade checks before entering. If you see a marker appear, always attack from a different angle as your will now be the focus of your enemies attention.

I hope you liked my MW3 Tips and if you really want to master Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 you should pick up a professional MW3 Guide.

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Designer's Block and Troubleshooting

Let's say you've gone through game design school and you have several successful games under your belt, yet, at some point or another, you get stumped for ideas.

Developing a game isn't an easy task, as it takes time to come up with ideas for a game and its many plots. It's easy to get stumped when you're trying to develop something, but everyone gets stumped now and then. Designers have a lot on their plate, as they have to compete with all the other designers and companies out there for that one game that will blow the competition away.

The game designer is the overall heart and soul of the project. In many cases designers are brought on board to bring life to a game that's been given the go ahead by an executive. Yet getting stumped can be a major headache, especially if you're on a deadline and you have to come up with something.

If you're currently in game design school or are thinking of going, it's important that you're able to come up with ideas that aren't emulating something that's already been done. It's very easy to fall into that trap and create something that upon first viewing will look like something you've seen a million times before.

After I had finished game design school, I was brought on to create a variety of games for a new studio. The basic elements of the game were there, yet after a while the team I was working with got stumped and drew a complete blank on how the particular game we were working on should progress. Let's say there were many hours of heated discussions and numerous avenues as to how to let the game flow, but it was impossible to come to common ground on many parts of the game.

Much of it was how derivative the game was in relation to other games on the market. I felt that even if a game borrows from another, then it should have its own spin and at least attempt to be original, while others on the team just wanted to rush things through and get the game out. That was a red flag for me, as I had learned in game design school to keep all your ideas as original as possible.

It's important to try not to appear too eager to just rush something out. A game should have integrity and most designers would likely agree. If you should happen to get stumped, stick to your guns and do your best to work it out. What also helps is to hold onto other ideas you may have developed over the years in case you should find yourself getting stumped. A lot of the time, these backburner concepts can give you inspiration to overcome any block you may encounter; so hold on to your notes!

Don't fall into the trap of just rushing something out because you feel you have to, even if you're under pressure. Game design schools offer the ability to explore different avenues in terms of troubleshooting and maintaining originality. This will benefit you in the end as you'll have the ability to concoct something unique and not just a carbon copy of something else that's already been done.

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Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure Characters Come to Life

The world of Skyland has been taken over by KAOS and his cohorts. Skylander's original, native inhabitants have been frozen and vanquished to Earth. They can only be saved by placing them on the Portal of Power to thaw them and transport them back to their homeland of Skyland. Once there they will need to battle the evil, powerful KAOS and his forces to take back their native land. Using their magical powers and weapons, the Skylanders face many obstacles, adventures and battles before their mission can be completed.

In this adventure video game, toys come to life, characters remember and learn, battles rage and treasures are collected. Children can collect the toy character figures of Skyland and place the ones they wish to play into the game. The Portal of Power transports the thirty different Skylander figurines to life on the screen and allows interaction between toys, child and video game.

The thirty figurine characters each have their own personalities, abilities and magical powers to use to fight the dreaded Portal Master KAOS and his army of bad guys. Each Skylander character has their own personal history and originates from one of eight element categories: air, fire, water, earth, life, undead, magic and tech. The element origination helps determine their individual magical powers and abilities.

By placing these various characters on the Portal of Power, the toy comes to life in the game and can work alone or can join in cooperation with others to fight evil together. They can also fight one another in a battle arena if so chosen. Players choose which they wish to do.

Characters such as Spyros, Whirlwind, Ghost Roasters, Slam Bam and Dino Rang come in various packs. The Starter Pack, Single Character Pack, 3 Character Pack and Adventure Pack are all available and each contains characters, universe codes and sticker sheets, as well as trading cards. The Portal of Power comes with the Starter Pack which contains the adventure software for the game.

With many different adventures, locations, challenges and puzzles, the game is always a new and exciting experience rather than repetitive. Children become the good Portal Masters directing their magical warriors in a battle with the evil cohorts of KAOS, the evil portal master. There is cartoon violence in the game and it is suggested for play by children aged 10 and above. While made for children, many adults will enjoy these adventure figures and play action when their Spyro's Adventure characters come to life.

The special action figures for Skylanders have brought a new element to video games for children through the transportation of the figures with the Portal of Power to their gaming system screens. Video games will never be quite the same with this new avenue of interactive play now available for all to experience. Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure can be played on most all major gaming systems and online. Game manuals are available online for download. The National Parenting Center issued their Seal Of Approval in 2011.

Jason Forthofer is the owner of an online guide to Skylanders characters where you gave view pictures, descriptions and videos of your favorite Skylanders.

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Top Free iPod/iPhone Games

Fun games can be hard to find on the App Store because there are so many that are simply not worth the time it takes to download them. But for the sake of game lovers everywhere I will share with you a few of my favorite games on my iPod so that you can enjoy them as I do.

Fall Down - Fall Down is a fun game where there is a several lines and a ball. You tilt your device back and forth to move the ball through the lines quickly so you don't get squished by the top. It's challenging. It's one of those games where it's easy to learn how to play, but very hard to master.

Angry Birds Lite - OK, you have probably heard of this one if you haven't already played it! It is largely popular. In Angry Birds Lite you aim birds in slingshots to kill pigs, the pigs are surrounded by wood, ice, and rock. You have to break the wood, ice, and rock to get to the pigs, wood is easy to break, ice might take a few hits to break down, and you can't break rock. This game is really quite fun! It comes with 12 levels.

Fruit Ninja Lite - In Fruit Ninja Lite, you slash fruit in half with your finger, 1 point for every slashed fruit. You can get bonus points by slashing multiple fruit at one time. If you let 3 unslashed fruit fall off the screen, game over. If you hit a bomb, game over. You can unlock 3 different blades and 3 different backgrounds. I like this game but you can only get up to 125 points! You can buy the full version to be able to get more points, though.

Wedding Dash Lite - In Wedding Dash, you play as Quinn, a wedding planner. You are in charge of picking out the wedding cake, the food, and the honeymoon spot based on the couple's preferences. Then you seat the guests and serve them their food. They will have seating preferences. It may be hard to get everyone seated where they want to be and serve them their food before their patience runs out. This game is like Diner Dash or Hotel Dash or any of the other "Dashes" but this one is my favorite! You have to think fast for this game. It's very challenging.

Temple Run - A game must have! In Temple Run you play a character running away from several evil monkeys, you are running along a path but there are many turns, gaps, and obstacles that you have to get past. Your goal is to get as many coins, and go as far as you can before you make a mistake and the evil monkeys get you. This game is highly addicting and it gets challenging.

Draw Something - Draw Something is a pictionary type game. They give you a choice of three different words of different difficulties. The harder ones are worth more points, of course. After you have chosen your word, you draw it on your device. Then your opponent guesses what it is and then vice versa. If you like pictionary, then this app is a must have for you.

 

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Playstation Move - A Brief History

Originally known by several names, the Playstation Move was originally unveiled in June of 2009. There was a huge debate within Sony Entertainment as to what to call the motionless controller. The press had continued to incorrectly refer to it as the Magic Wand or the Wand. Sony eventually called it "The Motion Controller" and on September 2009 the name, "Move" was coined and used as the proper term for the controller.

The controller was in the works by Sony Entertainment as early as 2001. Early prototype versions of the Move were in circulation such as the Eye Toy but these motionless controllers failed to capture people's attentions. By 2008 Sony had finished work on the Move and was ready to launch it to the public.

With the public and media giving the PS3 Move rave reviews, the Move was being applied to all Sony Playstation wireless games. The first game to utilize this was Dual Shock 3, which enabled a player to use the analog stick of the Move for the use of the sword in game. Rumors also at the time speculated that Sony had developed the Move in retaliation against Nintendo Wii's wireless Nunchuck remote, but Sony denied any of those allegations.

The Move was finally released in January of 2010, being just a bit too late for the Christmas rush but right in time for all those viable game players to spend their Christmas money on this new remote. The logo probably has to be the most innovative thing with the Playstation Move, a blue squiggly shape which is supposed to be a representation of the light trail left by the Move as you move it about with the lighted sensor sphere within.

The Move was an automatic success which also incorporated a large selection of third party video game support, something very rare for new out-of-the-box designs such as the Move. Even today the Move sells almost a hundred thousand units.

One in three PS3 games is designed specifically to be used with the Playstation Move in mind. There are a good variety of PS3 Move Games available that are not too shabby as most of the games are quite entertaining and fun. Unlike controller specific games of the past for older game consoles, PS3 Move games don't leave you wanting more. It is no wonder the Playstation Move is so popular, and has made the PS3 into much more than it was on release. Whether or not the PS3 Move was designed in retaliation to the Wii, it certainly was a brilliant move (no pun intended).

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MW3 Strategy Guides - Tips And Tricks For MW3

MW3 is the latest Call of Duty game to hit the shelves for PS3 and Xbox 360. Shortly after it was released we started to see quite a few MW3 strategy guides being released as well. Most of these guides make the claim that you will become a pro MW3 player literally overnight, however only a select few of them actually deliver on that promise. In this article I will discuss some of the major things to look for when obtaining a strategy guide for MW3, as well, you will learn some of my favorite tips and tricks.

One of the major things you should look for in a strategy guide is whether or not the guide is constantly updated with the latest secrets available. Who wants to get a guide that is out of date or that reveals tips and tricks that everyone already knows about? Not me that's for sure. When I went looking for a MW3 guide the first guide I obtained was pretty good, it revealed to me some of the things that I had been missing in my game play and allowed me to be a better player as it stated. However, there was one major thing I noticed, everyone else already knew most of the strategies shown in the guide. This rendered the guide all but useless in my eyes as I was battling other players, even my own teammates at times for the best positions and spots on the map.

So I kept searching for other guides that were out there, then I stumbled upon what I considered the holy grail of MW3 guides. It not only showed me awesome tips, but it also was being updated daily showing the latest secret finds in the game and things most players didn't even know existed in the game. The strategies were top notch and the support was second to none, I had finally found what I had been looking for and it didn't take long for my friends to notice my awesome kill/death ratio. They were begging me to show them what I knew and how I was staying alive so long to rack up all of the kills I was getting.

I told them that anyone can do it, and I pointed them in the direction of the guide I was using. Now a month later, when we play a map, we win 90% of the time because we have access to some of the best tips available. So I decided to help others that may be in the same situation I was in. I realized that almost everyone playing the game wished that they had a source of information that would allow them to dominate MW3, because we all know winning is a lot more fun then losing.

If you want a list of the top 3 MW3 strategy guides out there, check out my:

MW3 Strategy Guide Blog

Steve Somerton writes informative articles on various subjects including MW3 Strategy Guides - Tips And Tricks For MW3. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

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How To Enjoy Golf Games At Home

You might automatically assume that golf is a game that is largely played by old men, and people with far too much time on their hands. However this is a very old fashioned view, and it is simply not true any more. Nowadays golf is very much a young man's game as well, and this is demonstrated by the fact that there are computer games that cater to this younger generation.

In the last ten years or so there have been numerous golf games being released on both the PC and a variety of different games consoles. These games are played by children and young adults alike, and since Tiger Woods burst on the scene there are many young people who are interested in this particular sport.

The games themselves have come on in leaps and bounds as well. I can remember a time when they were pretty poor to be honest, just like many other games. If you are a certain age and used to own computers such as Ataris and Spectrums, you will know exactly what the graphics were like, and how limited the actual gameplay was due to the low spec nature of these machines.

Thankfully those days are well behind us now, and with advances in technology we all have access to some much improved games, and golf games are no exception. I can remember getting bored with all of the golf games that I used to play very quickly because there was no real depth to the games. The graphics were woeful and it became quite tedious after a while, even if you played them with a friend.

In this modern era, though, we have things like the Kinect on the Xbox 360 which enables you to play golf like the pros. You can use this system to swing the golf club, doing away with traditional controllers altogether.

The old games used to involve pressing buttons to play shots, but now you are actually playing the shot yourself in your bedroom. So the result of this swing can be seen on screen in some of the games that you can buy, such as the new Tiger Woods game.

There is also the fact that these games have true to life graphics so that the courses look extremely authentic on your screen. In other words all the bunkers and features of every hole will be seen when you play each course yourself.

Furthermore in addition to this lifelike gameplay, you can really get the most out your golf games by playing against another human player. It is the case with all games that they are often better when played with friends, and this is certainly true with golf games because they can get a bit monotonous when you play them by yourself.

So the point I want to get across is that golf games nowadays are both realistic and fun to play thanks to improvements in technology. They can also be enjoyed by people of all ages, and are particularly popular with the younger generation. It will certainly be interesting to see how very continue to evolve in years to come because they are already some of the best games you can buy.

For details of some new Kinect games to hit the market, click here to discover the Tiger Woods release date, and to find out when the release date of the Kinect Star Wars game is if you think you may be interested in this game.

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SteelSeries 6GV2: Is There Enough Game in This Gaming Keyboard?

The SteelSeries 6GV2 is referred to by many as the heavyweight of gaming keyboards. But how well does it really stand up to the competition? In the world of PC gaming keyboards, you'll be able to find a lot of choices but sadly not a whole lot of variety. It used to be that the main difference between a gaming keyboard and a non-gaming keyboard was the presence of backlit keys. That is, keys on gaming keyboards usually had backlights in them, allowing them to glow in the dark according to the user's preferences. But instead of doing what every other gaming keyboard manufacturer in the world seems to be perfectly OK in doing to their products, SteelSeries has decided to take the road less traveled with the SteelSeries 6GV2. This review aims to find out just how much of a heavyweight the SteelSeries 6GV2 really is. If you wish to find out, then continue reading.

Some people might wince upon hearing that this keyboard is a properly designated one, but a quick look at it or a cursory glance at its spec sheet will tell you that it certainly isn't something that's designed mainly for children. The keyboard is decked out in an all-black color with white lettering, and is built upon 18 karat gold-plated Cherry Black MX switches underneath. The SteelSeries 6GV2 is a mechanical keyboard that's made purely for gaming, and yet it retains a look that means serious business.

When playing games, PC gamers usually want to have the full freedom to do two things. One is to be able to press as many keys as possible at the same time; this enables them to keep moving, firing, jumping, fragging and even checking on the official scores all at once. And the second thing is the ability to avoid any problems that might stem from accidentally pressing the Windows key that's located on the left side of the keyboard. I was genuinely surprised and glad to find out that the SteelSeries 6GV2 was able to take care of both of these things.

The SteelSeries 6GV2 gaming keyboard has an extreme anti-ghosting feature that allows for multiple keypresses at once, as well as rapid response time that enables quick movements during critical gaming moments. And because of the fact that it uses Cherry Black MX switches for keys, it has a much longer lifecycle than other types of keyboards. Other features of the this keyboard include integrated media keys, USB and PS/2 compatibility, and top-notch build quality.

The SteelSeries 6GV2 is not without its flaws. It lacks a Windows key on the left side and doesn't have the built-in mic/audio and USB ports found on the SteelSeries 7G gaming keyboard. Still, these minor imperfections can't really take anything away from the SteelSeries 6GV2 keyboard's main highlights. After heavy use, I've found that the SteelSeries 6GV2 is indeed a heavyweight after all.

Don't think this gaming keyboard fits your style?

Take a look at this SteelSeries Merc Stealth if you are unsure.

That gaming keyboard is comparable to this SteelSeries 6GV2 keyboard and it might be the one you like.

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Forza 4 Review and Thoughts

Forza 3 was a brilliant racing game, with great graphics and brilliant gameplay. Two years later Forza 4 has a tough act to follow, but perform it has and more! From the enhanced visuals to the improved car paint design features this game should not be missed for any car fan.

Forza 4 is like top gear, except you are Clarkson crashing into other cars sending them into the gravel, you are Hammond drifting round the top gear track in a cloud of smoke and you are May when you turn all assists off and spin around in circles going nowhere but having a whale of a time. The characteristics of Forza 3 are here in bulk but have been given a major overhaul with new modes added into the mix including auto vista and kinect features.

Forza''s graphics are nothing short of beautiful. There new engine allows the car to be placed in the environment and show the reflections from the environment. Taking this from a car placed in a track to a car driven in a track. Its not only the cars graphics that have been improved the tracks have all undergone overhauls to make vistas look even more stunning. Married with the new auto vista mode which allows you to get up close and personal with some of the best looking cars whilst Jeremy talks or in some cases rants about them. There's even Halos warthog.

Turn Tens decision to include top gear in this was brilliant. Jeremy lends his voice to auto vista whether it be slaging of cars or worshiping them and then there's the top gear test track. This programme is watched by millions here in Britain and to allow them to drive around it as much as they like in the Kia C'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed or whatever car you want, which is frankly awesome.

Though it does have its "problems" and when I say problems I don't mean ones that affect your experience, and won't affect you at all if this is your first Forza game. My "problem" is that there are very few new tracks in this game compared to Forza 3 which is a problem considering that's were all the game takes place. However this is the only problem I have with this amazing game.

If you like cars there's no shortage here, with well over one hundred. All made with the same exquisite detail and care. This game is undoubtedly the best racing simulator to date and I can't wait for Forza horizon which lands this fall on Xbox 360.

Thanks for reading, if you liked it please visit my blog here

http://www.gamesweep.blogspot.co.uk/

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Getting a Glimpse of Black Ops 2

The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has been confirmed to be on November 13, 2012. Treyarch developed the first-person shooter video game, which is published by Activision. The game is compatible with Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Although it is already the ninth Call of Duty game, it is the first one to feature futuristic warfare setting. It also allows the player to form a storyline of his own. The upcoming game is already talked about on Black Ops 2 forum sites.

The futuristic setting depicts 2025, during which time China and United States hold a cold war. But this war is run by robots and unmanned vessels, all depicting modern, advanced technology-based warfare. In the game, there is an element that depicts cynicism towards the advanced technology. The origin of the China-US cold war dates back to the 1980s, wherein the roots of the story were taken. The main antagonist in the game is Raul Menendez, who instigates war between the two countries. Back in the 1980s setting of the Black Ops game, Alex Mason is the protagonist. His son, David Mason, becomes the leading character in the 2025 version of the game.

As mentioned, Black Ops 2 will have branching storylines, as players can influence the game, as well as its story. The game will involve Strike Force missions, which will give players control over different war assets. These assets include robots, jets, and unmanned aircraft. The campaign continues even if the player dies in the mission, but the loss is recorded. The antagonist, Raul Menendez, will change his plans according to the progress of players in the Strike Force missions. Players can change the course of the Cold War.

Every Strike Force mission will remind you of the small sandbox battlefield, and you are free to choose the order you want to meet your aims. For instance, you can choose the units you play, or have a good look of the battlefield by zooming out the picture, while the flesh and blood soldiers deploy UAVs and walking robots. You can select a new unit and adopt its perspective, and you can quickly acquire any unit that you prefer at the moment. The "overwatch" mode allows you to give orders and go through the whole Strike Force missions.

The game developer, Treyarch, said that the Zombies mode will reappear in the new version of Black Ops, and it is its third time to appear in Call of Duty games. Zombies will have its own campaign and will execute the multiplayer engine, which allows a more intense experience together with novel game modes. The Zombies mode sets Black Ops 2 from older Call of Duty games, as it supports an 8 player co-op. Treyarch has not yet revealed much information about the Zombies mode, though.

The visuals of Black Ops 2 are improved with the use of more advanced graphics engine. Players will marvel the facial animation, which has been given more thorough attention. That means the characters will have more precise facial expressions.

For more information about a Black Ops 2 forum, visit our website http://www.codtalk.net/.

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The Best Way to Capture Video Games Console Footage on Your PC

There are many reasons you might want to capture game footage from your Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. Maybe you want to review a video game, create a video log, or you might just want to brag to your mates about achieving a perfect score.

But capturing console footage isn't as easy as it sounds. There are a couple of options, which vary quite a lot in price. It all depends on how much you want to spend and the quality of capture you need.

The cheapest option is to simply film the TV or monitor. You can use any digital camera which has a video record option, for this. But you might see screen flicker on TV's, and reflections might be visible in the screen, so it's really not an option if you need a professional look.

Another cheap option is using the EasyCap USB device (or sometimes called EZ-Cap). This is a budget piece of hardware which captures any component-cable input and plugs directly into your PC via USB. It's extremely cheap because it's slightly out-dated hardware, but you can still achieve good results. It captures up to 640x480 resolution.

If you want to play your console on your TV at the same time as recording footage, you'll need to get some RCA splitters for your cables. Otherwise you can just watch your PC screen and play, although there might be some slight lag.

However, as the EasyCap takes an Analogue input, it records in interlaced mode. This isn't ideal, and requires de-interlacing after you've saved the file. Otherwise you might see small horizontal lines appear across your recording.

If you want to spend a bit more money, you should consider investing in a Roxio Game Capture card. This costs more but as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. It is capable of capturing higher resolutions than the Easycap, and can also record in progressive scan mode rather than interlaced, which will result in a crisper, sharper picture.

It takes a digital input in the form of composite cables. You also get less lag if you want to play and record from the same display.

Finally, the best solution is to use a a DVR (or sometimes called a PVR) which stands for Digital Video Recorder. These are the most costly option, but also give best results. They can generally record up to 1080i resolutions, and can quickly record and burn DVDs.

So it all depends on what quality recording you need, together with the price you want to pay. EasyCap is recommended for beginners, but Roxio or a PVR should be used if you are more serious.

Written by Sam Applegate. Blogger for canihaveago. A gift review site.

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Go: A 4,000 Year Old Chinese Strategy Game

Go is an ancient board game invented in China almost 4,000 years ago, and is played by millions of players all across the world. Go goes by many names. It is called "Baduk" in Korea and "Weiqi" in China. It is a national sport in many Asian countries, where professional players face off against one another in highly competitive tournaments where the winner takes home large cash prizes.

Go is one of the world's most popular board games, with millions of players in Asia of all ages. While Go has been known in the West since the late 1800's, when a German chemist named Oscar Korschelt wrote about the game in the German magazine "The German Society of East Asian Art and Culture" after visiting Japan, the game has stayed under the radar until recently.

Most people have seen glimpses of Go in popular media. The Chinese President, Hu Jintao, presented President Obama with a Go board specially crafted by American woodworker, Frank Salantrie. Go also appears in movies like A Beautiful Mind and in a Domino's Pizza commercial.

Go is a highly complex game. While computer programmers have devised artificial intelligence that can beat top chess players, professional Go players still can best even the most advanced computer program. Go is great to keep the mind sharp and is fun for players of any ability or experience level, and is also a great way to meet new people and be part of a new fad taking hold in the states.

Go is a two player game. All you need to play is a board, and a set of white and black stones. Each player alternates placing a single stone on the board. You are free to play wherever you feel like, so long as you follow the three simple rules of the game. That's right, Go only has three rules! Game play is simple, but the strategy can get quite complex. The interesting part, is how much your own creativity and style can sing on the board.

The object of the game is to build walls and surround the intersections on the board. Each intersection counts as one point, and is called "territory." Whoever has more territory by the end of the game is the winner.

In future installments, we'll get into the actual rules of the game, and a little bit about the American Go scene, and perhaps you'll be inspired to try the game out for yourself!

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Birds of Steel Celebrates All Of Those Aviators Who Fought So Heroically In Those Dark Days Of WWII

Since the new game was announced I have been watching their news feed with eager anticipation. My Father served in the Royal Air Force, with Coastal Command, during the War, rising to the rank of Squadron Leader, and this game appeared to offer a real insight into what he might have experienced flying as a young man in War time.

Early indications were that they might achieve a November 2011 release date for "Birds of Steel" which would have been incredibly significant had they managed to release on the 11th Day of November 2011! However time passed by and they missed that deadline.

I kept a close eye though on the "Birds of Steel" news feed and gradually more details, screenshots, videos and technical data started to be published. The graphics look superb, with panoramic aerial perspectives and "tight to camera" views from inside the cockpit. As flight simulation goes, this looks as good as it gets.

Game players have many choices and have total control over their environment. Sorties can be made at any given time of day or night and players choose the prevailing weather conditions. Each of these variables will dramatically affect the outcome of any skirmish.

What is also very interesting is that the decisions made by the pilot materially affect the way the games protocol reacts, so both ground and opposition forces are never predictable or static but are totally variable dependent upon the actions of the pilot.

The planes of all participating Nations are available to players and the type, role and specification of each is clearly explained. I haven't counted all of the available options, but they are many fold and include all of the famous names we all remember from childhood. The Spitfire, which went through so many upgrades that it started the War as a Mark 1 and ended the War as a Mark 15 variant, the Mustang, the Messerschmidt, the Junkers Stuka bomber and the Japanese Zero, to name but a few.

Each "Birds of Steel" player can decide which plane he or she wants to fly and in which mission. Many of the missions are based on actual historical campaigns and there is vast catalog of fictional options.

The Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor will undoubtedly be a favorite for many "Birds of Steel" gamers but the available historical missions also include the Battle of Britain, the Allied Campaign to secure Malta, the intense aerial battles over the Ruhr valley in Germany and onwards into Russia and the defense of Stalingrad.

Games can be played by solo pilots in dogfight scenarios or as cooperative missions with multi-player options. There is massive flexibility and the delayed release time has clearly allowed the developer to really make this game something special.

It has recently been announced that "Birds of Steel" will now be released on March 12th 2012. I for one look forward to receiving my copy.

The new release date is March 12th 2012. Gamers can Pre-order Birds of Steel for delivery on that date by placing themselves on the "Early Bird" notification list.

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Hating MW3 - Troll: The Hipster Nerd

While the majority of gaming's most read publications gave Modern Warfare 3 around 9 out of 10 on average, the metacritic gaming community somehow came up with a shameful 3.2 on the Richter scale. How does a game that shatters a revenue record previously set by Harry Potter and lauded by its peers find itself under such scrutiny?

Trolls.

What is a troll? In pondering the phenomenon of hate surrounding the new Call of Duty game I came to the realization that the troll is a Hipster in disguise. Instead of tight pants and scouring Is Anyone Up he wears a World of Warcraft Tee and hits up forums.eveonline.com.

It's easy to see the parallels. Watch Hipster Jim's favorite obscure band break out of the "scene" and onto a larger stage and Jim can no longer stand the band he loved "before anyone else even knew they existed". Like Jim's once upon a time Hipster band, MW3 seems to have "sold out". The sheer amount of causal gamers that Modern Warfare has drawn into the gaming folds staggers the trolly mind. He will be damned if he lets his beloved past time fall into the hands of the jock who bullied him because of his geekery.

From his mother's basement, the troll reviled Modern Warfare 3 and its popularity drove him mad. He took to the forums and YouTube comment boards. Reading his posts, your average soccer mom would wonder how the game was so successful. But being on top makes you an easy target and this Hipster nerd isn't your average consumer. He prides himself on his active online "contribution" and in anonymity he finds his courage. The Internet is his "Second Life". While 6.5 million "bros" took to playing MW3 on the first day he was busy trolling. He hates the game for the same reason its so popular; because it easily accessible and quick fun.

The Hipster troll wants gaming for himself. It's his identity. He thinks "If it's popular there must be something wrong with it because the masses are stupid and I'm unique.". But I've been a discerning gamer for well over 2 decades and I love MW3. So what if it's the King of Pop. Sure most pop culture FAILS because it has to appeal to the middle. But if a game can retain what makes it special to it's hardcore audience while appealing to a broader audience, then it will naturally achieve a massive following. Modern Warfare 3 strikes the balance of being accessible and at the same time it rewards the most seasoned gamer.

So let me be the first to say "Hipsters you trolls shall never be.". You aren't cool enough. Let your twisted envy inform your skewed view of the best selling game of all time. You're the only one missing out and no one at Activision is losing sleep because you think their game "sucks". I know it's socially acceptable to play and no one is going to look at you the same way they would if you told them you were a level 60 battlemage. The grand irony. Real Hipsters will probably be playing Modern Warfare 3.

Don't feed the Trolls!

If you're into gaming, Modern Warfare 3, or have a generally good sense of humor you'll love Jay Weinberg's "Modern Warfare 3 Some" music video.

Check it out at http://jaygotgame.com/ and get a free mp3 download of the track.

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Is Kairosoft the New Koei?

Chances are you've never heard of either one. If you've heard of one of them, congrats, if you've heard of both, consider yourself elite.

Koei made great strategy games for the original 8-bit NES. It's most prominent games were Nobunaga's Ambition, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Genghis Khan. If you're a strategy fan you might be frothing at the mouth just at the titles. Each of these games was based on a period in history in a particular civilization. Nobunaga's Ambition was 15thcentury Japan. ROTTK was during the Dynasties in China. I know that's a long period. Genghis Khan, well, you can figure that one out.

What made these games great was not necessarily the time period or the characters, although it helped, because they were factual, and you could in fact learn about history playing these games, but rather it was the amazing balance between war strategy and managing an empire.

In a time where games like Contra, Ninja Gaiden, and Tecmo Bowl were all the rave, Koei was quietly making the best quality games ever. Unfortunately you had to know what to look for or just accidentally stumble upon them. That's what I did. And I still have the fondest memories of those games. When I wasn't playing Nobunaga's Ambition, I was thinking about it. I was making notes. Developing strategies for the next time I got to play it.

So what happened?

PlayStation, (with Koei's introduction of Kessen) and every modern console since then, that's what happened. And to be fair, Koei sold out. Today, you might know them by their Dynasty Warrior series. Pure crap. Please someone challenge me on that.

Kairosoft makes mobile games. They are incredibly addicting, with a mix of simulation, strategy, and just pure fun. The best way to kill time is to buy anyone of their games (Grand Prix Story is the best to start out). Heck, you could find just as much entertainment by playing their lite versions. The replay-ability is incredible. Just like Koei, they stick to the basic formula but change it enough so that every game is a different experience. Just like Koei, they are in Japan. Just like Koei, you probably haven't heard of them. And finally, just like Koei, they make games for the fastest growing platform.

So is Kairosoft the new Koei? I think nothing will ever replace the Koei of old. But, if Kairosoft grew large enough, stuck to their core competencies and formula, and jumped into the console market with Xbox 360 and PS3, it would be a golden era for me and those that see the world as I do.

So how do I see the world? That's another article entirely.

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World of Warcraft Gold Farming Strategies

I do not know about everyone else, but gold farming in World of Warcraft is not quite an "enjoyable" activity. It really is time intensive, a lot more than a tiny bit tedious and typically is not very worthwhile. Yet, with the appropriate modifications, it is possible to put a tad of enjoyment into your gold farming and make sure you assemble an enormous heap of the goods for each and every second you invest logged in.
Transform Farming into a Sociable Affair
A lot of players think of farming in World of Warcraft and recall extensive time expended patiently waiting for a specific item to drop or clicking on the exact same dull nodes repeatedly. It does not need to be this way. Create a game of it and request some friends to join in.
It is possible to go farming in situations as well in which you can take couple of pals and eliminate major bosses on your route to uncover some of the finest loot the WOW offers. I never suggest one does this if you are striving for 1,000+ gold every hour, however for those who simply want to kill time and create gold, this is the best option.
Get Help from Other Farmers
Develop a farming empire by entrusting your gold producing to others. In the event you could possibly get five to ten other individuals to help farming for things which you can turn for a profit at the auction house, you are going to immediately create a great deal extra gold than you would usually. How exactly does it work?
Initially, promote your mat buying services in a big city. A lot of players just finishing off a farming trip would like to dispose of things quickly. You will need to give reasonable rates, but they may be 20% under the typical auction house sale prices and you are going to still make a profit. Keep in mind as well there is a normal auction house fee so you are going to have to deal with that.
Last but not least, you could possibly simply bypass farming completely. Never think that you will need to head out and earn each and every gold piece yourself. The wealthiest gamers in World of Warcraft made it happen by developing their auction house expertise, not by farming countless mobs and profession nodes.
Farming in World of Warcraft will not be as enjoyable as killing a legendary 25 man boss with 100 million HP. Yet, it could be a great deal more exciting than mulling about and waiting around for a fish to bite on your shiny bauble in Durotar. So, go forth and develop a tactic that is effective and first and foremost, enjoy yourself. This really is a game of course.
For more World of Warcraft tips and other MMO advice visit http://www.mmo-strategy-guides.com/

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Getting Into the World of Game Design

With everyone playing video games these days, have you ever wondered how they're designed, who designs them, and what's really involved in creating a video game? One way to get a sense of how this all comes together is at game design school.
So much goes into gaming these days. You have to consider many elements such as graphics, plot, narrative, content and characters. It's very similar to the structure of a film or TV show, as some games feature different levels and plot twists. You also have to have a knack for working with computers, probably the most important tool to be found at game design schools.
Video games have changed since they were first developed. One of the very first video games was called the Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device, which was developed by two scientists in 1947. It was a very crude invention that some could say was a prototype for Space Invaders. It was typical that most of the very first video games were primarily designed by scientists and technicians, and weren't for public consumption. However, technology improved, and video games were first made publicly available in the early 1970s, where they were considered revolutionary and state of the art. We're talking about games along the lines of Pong here, which is basically a variation of Tennis; not entirely thrilling when looked at today, but back then it was the rage.
You'll probably face some issues along the way, such as there being a great attention to detail, including writing code to get a game to look just the way you want it. It's important not to be discouraged at first; it never comes easy and you may find yourself going through a variety of different versions before you get the game design that you think will work.
If you're planning on attending a game design school, you want to make sure that it has a good reputation. While it's easy to the basic gist of programming, you may want to attend a game design school to learn how to work the kinks and glitches that you may come across with any programming issues. That's where the professors come in. It's important that the professors have a keen knowledge of the industry and are well versed in programming and design. It's not an easy skill to learn, so you want the best if you decide to attend game design school.
Video games take a great deal of time to produce. They involve storyboarding, similar to film production and a great deal of design capabilities. One of the first things I learned in game design school is that you have to be innovative. Many video games offer a lot of the same ideas, so originality is a plus if you choose to design something, but you won't be alone. While coming up with an idea for a game may be easy enough, you'll more than likely have to work with a team who handles different functions. That's one of the benefits of game design schools, for they allow individuals to work together, develop ideas and explore their potential.

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Get Your Money's Worth at Game Stores

If you are one for playing video games on the latest Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo platforms or even keen on buying one on PC format now and then but notice that buying the brand new releases can be more expensive, sometimes around £40 to £50 for the most popular! This quick three-step guide should help save you some money on your next and future purchases.
This easy technique should work every time for the frequent gamer.
What you will need.
1. A Game Reward Card - These are only £3 and can be bought at any Game store or online.
2. A Game Exchange Bag - Most Game stores will have these at the tills, they are free.
3. Some Money.
And that is it!
Step one.
To begin, it will be helpful if you have any unwanted games ready to trade-in as this will decrease the cost of the pricey new release. If you have some to trade-in make sure you pop them into your Game exchange bag, you will receive an extra £1 for each game traded this way. The trade-in value when spent in Game is also more than you would get if you were trading in for cash. If you do not have any to trade-in do not worry, you can still start saving money if you are a frequent purchaser.
Step Two.
Once you have a new release in your sights (let's say, worth £40), go to the till and hand them your trade-ins (if you had any). They will tell you the value of your games. Usually new releases can fetch you a trade-in value of £20 to £25!
You can now hand them your Game reward card to collect your points and complete the transaction.
Step Three.
Now if you did not have any games to trade-in and you have just purchased the new release for full price, that is a good start. Funny as it may sound but you would have still got 400 game points for your purchase (you collect ten points for every £1 you spend in store or online, 1000 points is worth £2.50 off in store). Also look out for special offers which can earn you extra points. This may not sound like much but when you go back to trade-in your newly purchased game you should get around £20 to £25 for it, plus £1 if you have a Game exchange bag. So in total you will only pay around £15 to £20 for future new releases and still earn 400 points given that the price of the game was £40.
Each 2-3 new releases you purchase you will get an extra £2.50 off as you should hit the 1000 point mark. From a personal point of view, this has proven to be a great way to save some money.
Happy gaming to you all.

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Dance Video Games: Learn, Work Out, Have Fun

If you've never had the pleasure of experiencing a dance video game, you might wonder how dancing and gaming fit together.
Surprisingly well, it turns out. Even if you have very little sense of "natural rhythm," and would be embarrassed to be caught out on the dance floor or even in a dance class, you can learn to play and enjoy the various versions of dance games that are available on the market today.
So how exactly did the dance video game come about? Surprisingly, it happened before Dance Dance Revolution was released by Konami in 1998. It turns out that Dance Aerobics, which utilized a pad connected to the Nintendo gaming system as a user input device, was the true start of the genre when it hit the markets in 1989 (per GameFaqs, via Wikipedia). A certain segment of the Nintendo-owning population enjoyed this game, but the necessity of buying the floor-pad limited the appeal to a generation of gamers who simply couldn't put as much money into their habit as people do today.
There's no question, though, that DDR can be credited with starting the transformation that turned the dance gaming genre into the powerhouse it is today. And after the brand re-introduced dance pads, this time for all of the major gaming consoles, dance gaming seemed poised to enter homes across the country.
The only problem was that people who owned consoles at the time tended to be hardcore gamers, and dancing wasn't something a majority of hardcore gamers were into. Therefore, it wasn't until the release of the Nintendo Wii in 2006 that dance games in the home really became a marketable trend. The handheld motion controller created a more intuitive movement environment than standard handheld controllers, helping to get casual gamers and kids in on the dance game action more than ever before. Not to be outdone, PlayStation followed with its own Move controller in 2009.
Everyone has their favorites in the dance game genre, but there's no question that Microsoft's release of the Kinect hands-free motion controller in 2010 is what made the dance video game into something truly wonderful. The Kinect doesn't limit motion detection to the hands or feet; instead, it tracks everything, from head-bopping to hip-swiveling to knee-bending and more. The motion capture technology of the Kinect is so sensitive that it can detect slight variations in dance moves and correct players in real time. And, unlike the dance-pad controllers, the Kinect is compatible with a variety of games outside the dance genre.
There will probably always be a place for traditional dance-pad games, and the Wii provides a great gaming experience. But when it comes to working out, having fun, and learning new whole-body moves, the Kinect is the hands-down winner.
Credit: GameFaqs
Emma L. researches products such as Kinect games, then gathers opinions from the public and combines them with her own personal experiences to find out which are the best. Check out 6 Best Kinect Dance Games for more information.www.ddrgame.com/

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Review of Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 Video Game

For many gamers, exercise games may appear to be the perfect solution to meet their fitness goals. However, there are some aspects of exercise games that consumers should consider prior to making a selection. After all, the best fitness game must contend with gym memberships and personal training sessions. Exercise video games should include effective workout routines, plenty of exercise regimens and enough excitement to keep motivated. The best game also shouldn't inhibit gamers with a controller. Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 isn't one that meets these requirements for workout video games; rather, it exceeds expectations set by other games.
One setback that fitness video games must avoid is redundancy. This is the reason most fitness goals fail and is one that the best exercise game should avoid. With Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012, redundancy doesn't exist. In addition to the many routines, over a dozen fitness styles are included. If players wish to train for self-defense, cardio boxing offers the perfect combination of strength and technique development. If players prefer to just have fun and cut loose, the variety of dancing routines may be the right fit. Environments, music and other aspects also change periodically. You'll even find plenty of mini exercise video games within this title to enhance your success.
The best workout video game should also free players from burdensome controllers and allow them to enjoy their full range of motion. Your Shape Fitness Evolved: 2012 achieves this by utilizing the Xbox 360's Kinect technology. This option, which is only available to a limited number of exercise video games, uses state-of-the-art sensors to detect and track the player's body movements. Unlike most games, this frees player from using a controller, wearing sensors or even relying on an electronic floor mat and allows them to focus on exercising. This is a rare feature among exercise games but one that is sure to prove successful every time.
Want to bring your friends in on the fun? Not only is the excitement enhanced, it's essential for the success of fitness video games and available in Your Shape Fitness Evolved: 2012. You may want to exercise with friends in a session or compete with them across an entire regimen. You may also want to explore the many mini exercise games together. The game should leave the choice to you and, unlike many exercise games, it's what you'll find in this title.
Of course, it can be difficult to fit an exercise regimen into a busy schedule. This, however, is another advantage with fitness video games; you pop it in during your free time and end the session when necessary. However, Your Shape Fitness Evolved: 2012 goes further than most other exercise video games by not only providing you with a customizable schedule, but also routines designed to fit that schedule, regardless of how much free time you have.
This fitness game should also allow you to focus on specific areas to tone and strengthen. It may be a rare find in most workout video games, but it's a given in Your Shape Fitness Evolved: 2012. Unlike most other workout games, this title allows you to focus on certain areas of your body, including arms and legs. If you need to grow accustomed to heavy lifting, you'll also find exercises to help strengthen your back and other areas. This sets it apart from other games and may even help it qualify as the best exercise game.
For reviews of more exercise video games, go here: http://exercisevideogames.net/

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Renting Blockbuster Games - Beating All Its Rivals

Lately, one of the most dominant online game rentals includes the Blockbuster games. If you are a member of the Blockbuster, you will enjoy the benefits aside from registering with low membership fees. They provide free trials or even download the games to enjoy them anywhere you go. If you want to determine the other advantages now, you need to check the details below.
There are several benefits that the Blockbuster is offering now, which include discounts, minimal membership fees and online coupons. If you are an active member, you may enjoy their coupons and use them to save more cash. Other branches likewise offer free trials and low charge subscription plans for potential clients. You will also notice that they revamped their site to provide more options to their valued clients worldwide. In fact, you can check their ratings and feedback through their site. Another beneficial thing about becoming a member is that cancelling the subscription does not require extra charges.
You can also benefit from downloading Blockbuster games and movies direct to the computer or laptop. This is very advantageous because you get the chance to download your favorite items ready online. This kind of strategy is what most companies are looking at now because they believe it is a favorable idea to implement to stay on the competition. Like when downloading the Blockbuster games, it is possible for the members to enjoy them within one month. They can play online anytime of the day once they start the games using their computers or laptops.
Definitely, if you want a reliable online company that offers video game rentals, Blockbuster is the best option. You may enjoy renting PlayStation, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo and other compatible digital devices. This is a very impressive strategy by the company as opposed to its similar counterparts, which they never offer game rentals.
For the past several years, Blockbuster continues to increase its members and improve their services to offer them quality options. Today, the company has millions of subscribers and counting each day. They even offer trial and error for interesting folks who want to become a member. They can avail free membership to determine the benefits and if unsatisfied, they can immediately cancel it without paying anything.
The inventory of the company already benefited since the inclusion of video games. This is in addition to the continuing support of its members to the online movie rentals it offers them. If you think you really love playing online games, it is important to consider renting these games from this reputable company.
Game rentals online are beneficial especially to people who do not have a lot of money to purchase video games for their gaming consoles. You can consider visiting Blockbuster games and online game rentals online for more information.

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Niche Game

Games
You know games are top of the line in terms of graphics and sound. However, you get frustrated when one tiny scratch can cause your entire game to stop working. You are tired of games being overused or mishandled by friends or relatives to the point where they break. You don't really want to have to go out and repurchase your broken games again so you have looked into ways to get around this.
How to Backup
Obviously, a standard DVD burning software such as Nero is not going to do the trick. Games are digitally signed and contain copyright protection. You cannot successfully get around this protection to copy with a DVD burner software. Successfully burning will require you to find a software that can break the digital code included. This can be a hard thing to find. Fortunately, many software programmers have noticed this difficulty and have created software that allows you to bypass the copyright protection. The process is simple. First you will want to take your original game and insert it into the DVD drive on your PC. Next you will want to go into your computer and copy the image to your hardware. This step will require somewhere from thirty minutes to a full hour depending on your processor. Once this is done you want to eject the game and replace it with a blank disc.
Know the legality
It's important to be aware of legal issues related to copying. Make sure that you're not using software to break any encryption. If you own the original version and contains no encryption, then it's perfectly legal for you to make backup copies.However, the games must strictly be used as backup copies that you alone use.
Be Wary of Some Hacks
A big point I'd like to mention about is that people think they can get the best method off the Internet through some forum. The truth is that the very best way is by using software that was specifically created to do that. The issue with forums and private reviews is such you don't really know if they're telling the truth.
• People often leave fake methods simply to destroy the consoles and disks of other people
• The information is usually long out-dated, completely useless or nonsensical garbage
• If you touch your console, it voids your warranty, which means no more tech support for you
If you follow their tips and you mess up your system - you're done. Microsoft will not repair your console because it's 'self-inflicted' damage; you damaged it yourself. And you'll lose 500$ for trying to save some money on the 50$ game. Silly situation, really.
I searched the internet and found that the best way to backup games was to get some bespoke game copying software designed to make backup copies of video games. So if you own a number of different consoles you can backup all your video games with the one piece of software, and you can even play your copied PC games too. You should visit this site: http://www.backupniche.com/

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Gears Of War 3 Review

Five years have passed between the release of the original game and Gears Of War 3 and the wait was definitely worth it, if you've been looking for an action packed alternative to first person shooters then you're likely to appreciate what Epic have managed to deliver.
Although you're likely to spend most of your time with multiplayer the single player campaign is superb, you'll take on the role of Marcus Phoenix in an effort to end the war between humanity and the locust horde.
You'll come across Dom at the start of the game who's taking care of tomato plants which seems a little uncharacteristic, you'll quickly meet the other members of your squad and shortly after that the action begins.
Gears Of War veterans will be on familiar ground although newcomers can quickly get the hang of the game play mechanics, the latest game in the series includes that same features such as shooting and running for cover that made the previous games such a success.
It's taken a while but Epic have finally included female troopers in the game who'll back you up during fire fights, Gears Of War has always been about working in a team and your squad mates do a good job of backing you up without robbing you of too many kills.
While you'll mostly play the part of Marcus Phoenix you'll also step into the role of Augustus Cole AKA Cole Train, while the action in the game is good the story is also top notch and delivered by characters with likeable personalities.
Boss fights are superb and you'll come across a vast array of them that are both impressive to look at and totally lethal, for the most part you'll be taking on enemies while you're on foot but you'll also get to stomp around with the armoured fighting machine known as the Silverback.
If you play the single player campaign on any skill setting higher than casual then it will likely take you 12 hours to complete, you can also play the campaign on Xbox live and friends can take on the roles of the various members of your squad.
Deathmatch is probably the most popular of the online modes but I found beast mode to be of particular appeal, in beast mode you can take on the role of one of the many aliens in the game and you'll be tasked with eliminating the humans in their base.
Getting to the humans can be tough as their bases are protected by defences such as barbed wire and gun installations, by selecting characters such as the ticker you can approach the mentioned defences and either scratch away at them or you can explode to take them down.
Later on you'll get to control much larger aliens such as the Berserker that's capable of inflicting some serious damage, the berserker is huge compared to humans and although it's half blind it has the raw power necessary to breach a bases defences in an instant.
Adrian Williams has reviewed Gears Of War 3 in addition to a variety of the latest video games, for videos and further details be sure to check out his Gear Of War 3 Review

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How To Get a Job As A Video Game Tester

In all of my years of professional experience, probably the one job I get asked most about is my time as a Video Game Tester for SEGA of America. I spent several years with SEGA, and people, especially children, are always fascinated by the opportunity to make good money by doing what they love, namely playing games! Here is some advice for those looking to obtain one of these highly-desired positions.
For those looking to get a foot in the door of the Video Game Industry in any capacity, there is no more tried and truer method than the Video Game Tester position. This job brings you into the fold of the development world where you can see how the games are made, make vital contacts, and get critical game company experience on your resume. I cannot tell you how many people I have worked with who used this entry-level opening to springboard into positions in programming, game production, design, marketing, etc. Plus, there are worse ways to make anywhere from $10-15 dollars an hour (starting pay) than playing games for a living!
First of all, you need to be in a geographically feasible location to get one of these positions. Quite simply, there are not a lot of major cities in the United States that have a hotbed of gaming development. Fortunately, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where we have numerous development firms and testing opportunities with major players such as SEGA, Electronic Arts, Sony of America, Namco, and more. Seattle, Washington is another prime location as companies such as Microsoft call it home. So if you truly want to get a shot, you'll have to consider relocation.
One of the most compelling arguments against making such a move is that the great majority of companies hire Tester candidates as temporary employees. If you live in a city with a game company that employs testers, you will want to contact the HR Manager to see what firm they use for their temporary staffing needs. They can generally direct you to the people who screen the initial crop of candidates, then present them directly to the company. Due to the seasonal aspect of the industry, there can be times of great need where firms will hire boatloads of people, and slower times, when they have to let a number of people go, when there is not enough work to keep folks busy. As any experienced game contractor knows, your position is never guaranteed. Perm spots are hard to attain, but it can happen. The key is being able to demonstrate your value to the company, and sadly enough, playing the social game can also be a critical factor. As a temporary employee, the uncertain stability of your job is probably the most frustrating aspect of the position. Still in most cases, companies seem to be astute at identifying the must-have talent and keeping them in the fold.
Once you have connected with a recruiting firm and been submitted directly to the gaming company, its time to prepare for the interview. One of the most important things that Test Managers look for in a new hire are effective written communication skills. As the job revolves around finding and documenting bugs, or errors, in the game, the ability to concisely relay that information to the programmers so that can fix them is vital. So expect going in that you will be taking some kind of writing test. An eye for detail is also important. If you are the type of person that notices little things, or things that seem out of place, it definitely helps. Also, remember that while most game companies are very casual in nature, it is important to dress professionally and convey your sincere desire to have an opportunity. As you can imagine, there is a multitude of people who would like to have this type of position, so anything you can do to stand out from the pack helps. One of the nice things about interviewing for game companies is that you generally receive very quick turnaround on feedback, and in some instances can be hired almost immediately.
Working in the Video Game Industry is definitely a unique and enjoyable experience. There are many perks you will not find in normal companies. Do keep in mind though, that while the job is all games, it is not always fun. Like any position, there are monotonous aspects to it. For example, be prepared to test the same game over and over, for up to a few months at a time. That can be challenging. Also, expect going in that you may be assigned mind-numbing tasks from day-to-day such as checking that all weapons or items work as they are supposed, all walls in each level are solid, or even just proofreading game text. Finally, be prepared to work long hours as needed. When crunch time hits, and a game needs to ship, overtime can be required to get the game out the door. Still, overall, there are few positions where you can have as much fun on a day-to-day basis.
For more information about AAU basketball and sport-specific training visit Star Potential Sports Training.
Anthony Lynch is the founder and creator of Star Potential Sports Training ( http://www.starpotentialsports.com/ ). He is also the head coach of the Tri-City Thunder Basketball Program, based in Fremont, CA.

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