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The way of Competition

It is truly a beautiful thing when a pair of companies square off against one another, with the prize being the hard earned dollars of the buying public. It is truly the height and the greatness of capitalism when, even though a group of people is under absolutely no pressure to buy because of law or need, they still do so in throngs because they are so enamored with the products or services offered up. There are so many cases of this, with the American “duopoly” system being what it is. But of course, the examples which we provide herein are only a small sampling of what it really out there, waiting for the people who love a little bit of competition in their lives.

Guitar Hero and Rock Band both have fake, easily played musical instruments which are meant to be used as game controllers. In both of these games, you play as the band, and you get a chance to suspend your disbelief just long enough to feel as if you really are a band up on stage, playing for a throng of screaming fans who came out just to see you. While you are obviously just playing a video game, the feeling of being a star is very powerful. And the fact that these companies compete to have the best experience makes both of them just that much better.

Kinetic gaming has become a way of life for a whole lot of people. Instead of just sitting there flapping your thumbs, you have the capacity to make your body do the things that make a game work properly in the game (which is what a lot of people have always done anyway). With the Wiimote and the Kinect as the guiding forces, locked in fierce competition against one another, you can do more and more with your body. If they did not compete against one another, the games wouldn’t be this great.

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Thoughts About Digital Scrapbooking

Example of a digital scrapbook page created us...
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I tried scrapbooking a few years ago; got all excited to start a book for my then only child, but after completing only 3 pages in 2 years, I took the hint that scrapbooking probably isn’t the best hobby for me. Every once in a while I see a beautiful page a friend made, or a magnificent layout at the craft store, and I think about pulling my scrapbooking supplies out and giving it another try. But, by the time I get home that thought in my mind was replaced by something else.

Just that one attempt to scrapbook set me back a pretty penny. Scrapbook supplies are not cheap, and you need a good amount of various materials, adhesives, and fancy cutters in order to make anything worth keeping. For the serious scrapbookers, these tools are worth the investment, but for people that just want to try it out, or just makes a few pages or a book or so a year, may find it not worth it to buy so many scrapbook supplies.

Enter the world of digital scrapbooking. Page design is done online and the final decorated product is printed out page by page on a home printer. Some online photo specialty sites and retail stores can professionally print the finished scrapbook into a more traditional book-like binding.

This is my kind of hobby, it’s just like creating flyers. There is no big mess because there is no cutting, hole punching, gluing, or anything of the sort. I already have a digital camera, a computer, and a printer so I don’t need to spend a small fortune to buy special supplies. I’m not wasting paper by printing photos to only cut them up and throw half away. And, I do not need to be a good drawer to make fantastic digital scrapbooks.

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Remembering Widget Workshop

Widget Workshop Logo
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If you had a computer during the early 1990s, then you may have had the pleasure of playing Widget Workshop. While it was something of an “educational” game (which usually connotes a lot of boredom and that the game would only be interesting to really nerdy people), it was still a lot of fun, especially when you got into making your own custom displays and puzzles. But of course, you could keep yourself occupied for a good long time trying to figure out and finally solve the “vanilla” puzzles that the game came with. But let’s back track a little bit, and describe Widget Workshop in some more detail. Basically, you played a mad scientist whose goal was to solve puzzles using visually interesting little props.

You could connect switches (from a light switch to a an “If-then” logic gate) to various types of displays (from a light bulb or a picture to a color screen), and put together solutions to problems that the game would pose for you. And if you ever got bored with that, you could make your own musical instruments (by connecting the push of a certain key on your keyboard to a particular sound), or make a color show (by hooking up the hearts of gerbils to random number generators, and then hooking those up to color screens- it isn’t as weird as it sounds).

All in all, you had a whole lot of different things you could do. For instance, how much would you weight on the Moon? How much would you weigh on Jupiter? You could set up a little “widget” which would let you input your weight on Earth, and find out the other two numbers (as well as those for the other planets in the solar system) with just a click of your mouse. Overall, Widget Workshop is the kind of game they ought to make more of. With today’s hardware, they could do even better.

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There’s More to old Circuits Than Gold

If you have ever given any thought to the fate of old computer components (and really, who hasn’t?), then you have no doubt wondered whether all of the old hardware in the world just ends up very slowly rotting in a landfill, whether or not the technology is really of no use. Believe it or not, there was a time when all of the hardware components which could not be resold to somebody else were simply thrown away, as if they had absolutely no value to anyone anymore. It may be hard to believe, but for the longest time there was not a single program in place which would take these old, potentially useful (if only for salvage) components and do what could be done with them.

However, at one point someone finally realized that in nearly every circuit board which has ever been made, there was actually some gold which could be harvested and recycled for a bit of profit. Of course, this was slow, tedious work which tended to only yield a fairly small amount of gold. And by “a fairly small amount,” remember that gold is rarely less than $300 per ounce- and often, all of the gold which could be harvested out of a single circuit board would amount to a few quarters on the resale market.

However, another wise person whose name has been lost to history finally figured out (in a brilliantly blinding flash of the obvious) that amongst all of these circuit boards, there was actually still a lot of useful hardware. Since the logic gates which govern circuit technology are reasonably universal, often times they can be reused for more than just what their mineral components may be worth, and placed into new or refurbished pieces of technology. Once that has occurred, this technology may be resold and the ultimate profit for the technology’s salvage becomes reasonably high. So while gold is great, technology is even better.

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Simon: a Blast From the Past

If you ever go to garage sales, you have certainly seen a Simon game or two laying around, just waiting to be picked up. If by some crazy miracle you have never heard of Simon, it is a game that came out in the 80s, which requires its players to remember a series of random colors, and then to press them in the right sequence in order to advance through its levels. It starts off easily enough (with just one press of a single color), but within a pretty short time this is a game which can get seriously intense and extremely difficult. After all, it is not just the number of lights which increases, but often the speed goes up as well.

For the first few rounds, all you will be doing is pressing a few colors. And each color presents itself in a slow, gentle way for your easy remembrance. However, in time the colors begin to get faster and faster, which is basically guaranteed to tax not only your memory but also your observational skills. It can be all too easy for you to think it was red-green-green-blue-yellow-red-blue, when it reality it was red-green-green-blue-blue-yellow-red-blue instead. And if you did not notice the difference within this sentence, your chances of doing well without a lot of practice are slim and none… and slim left town awhile ago.

The neat thing about Simon is not just in the fact that it trains your mind without turning into an “educational” game. And aside from the mental gains it can help you make, both in memory and observational skills, it is also pretty good for the coordination between your eyes and your hands. While just about anybody can see the order of the lights, actually putting them back down properly can be a seriously challenging endeavor, even for a pretty nimble individual. Over all, considering Simon is a pretty good deal at only a few bucks.

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Unwinding With Games

2006 WSOP Main Event Table
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There are a lot of ways that different people like to unwind after each day earning their paychecks. Some head straight to a room, preferably with a bit of dim lighting, to play a few hours of Acheron’s Call online with pals dotted across the country. This game can be played for hours and hours, and, unlike a traditional competitive game, seems to ultimately never have a ‘winner.’ So, it’s easy to engage in, and enjoy, whilst becoming ever more competitive but never quite the top dog, or most skilled player.

Interactive video games are sometimes like that – they are entertaining but seem to disregard common notions of victory. Points may be earned and extra lives gained, but towards what end? Generally, these things go towards extending one’s time play! So a lot of interactive, online video games are great time drains.

More traditional games, for example, ones in which players sit around poker tables, betting, folding, raising, and bluffing, seem to build a better social scene than the instant message style of communication that accompanies the (fake) blood splattered scenes that accompany many video games. In a room in which a hand of poker is being played, one can feel the tension level rise with each round of wage increases. The dialogue may not be thick with witty repartee while everything is on the line, but much is said with each ‘tell’ or nervous tic by different players.

When it’s not down to the next card dealt making or breaking the game, the environment around poker tables is usually cordial and friendly. While this may mask the ultimate in learning the opponent’s behaviors, it is generally a pleasant social interaction. This is true especially when one’s paycheck isn’t on the line, but rather, a few dollars has been declared as the maximum bet. This helps to keep the game social rather than wildly competitive.

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Take a Few Minutes From Games to Gain

All it takes is a few minutes for you to get the best insurance quotes out there. Take the time off from your gaming and without having to leave your desk, find the insurance that best fits you. With so many insurance companies offering online services and quotes, you do not have the go through the hassle of calling a company to get the information you need. Most of the gaming consoles now provide you with the ability to connect to your ISP, so why not make more use of it and get some of the important work done while you are at it?

The best part of this is the low amount of time you will spend and with a one stop insurance provider, you can request the information you need with just a few clicks. You no longer have to browse through several companies to get the various insurance you require because companies such as 21st Century Insurance will provide you with a single quote that can include your home, auto, and your belongings. You spend a lot putting together the best technology and machinery that are available for your convenience, so why not protect them with insurance that will come in handy during those hard times?

Look at it in the form of savings since you will not only save your time, but you will also save a great deal of money with bundle insurance from one company. With the additional money you have the ability to upgrade your gaming console or even purchase something new that you have wanted. So take the few minutes out of your busy schedule and look up some of these insurance companies. You will have a quote in minutes and before you know it, you can get back to your game with a feeling of security.

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Updating Video Game Software

Sony PSP
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In the world of video games, it used to be that when it was time for an addition to a particular video game, the game was released as a new version and gamers—or their parents—had to buy a new game to get new adventures and improved functions. With the evolving and growing technology in video games these days, that is no longer the case. While new games are always being released and the purchases will not slow down anytime soon, there are new ways for updating existing games and adding more fun or fixing glitches without buying a whole new game.

Many video games have software patches that fix problems or add additional adventures to the games. Gamers can go to specific websites and download these software updates, if the game is PC based. For those video games that are on game consoles such as Nintendo and Playstation, there are new ways to download software updates via online connections that are available options. This is a newer feature that is being further developed. This software enables users to enjoy furthering the game and prolonging interest as well as the life of the game. This is fun and saves money as well. Even if the updates require a small fee—which many do not—it is rarely even close to the price of a new game.

With video games and the resulting software becoming increasingly popular and the game consoles becoming more intricate and able to go online wirelessly and so forth, updating via software online will likely continue to increase. Software has changed so much in recent years, it is next to impossible to keep up with all the updates and changes, with video games and all other programs as well. Technology is amazing and is growing by leaps and bounds every minute, it seems.

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Three of the Best Video Games Based on Marvel Comics

Wolverine made his debut in the Hulk. The Incr...
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When you combine the fun and intensity of video games with the popularity and creativity of Marvel comic book characters, there is a something divine that happens. If you grew up reading comic books, the video games based on those characters help the story and the heroes and villains come to life. Following is a list of three of the best video games that have been based on a character from Marvel Comics.

The Incredible Hulk
This game for the Sega Genesis was great for two reasons: It had great villains and it gave the player the opportunity to switch back and forth between the Hulk and Bruce Banner. While this may not seem like a useful tool, it was because you could switch to the human counterpart and slip by some scenes unnoticed and then get back to the green rage that made everything fun and exciting.

Captain America and the Avengers
Superheroes just don’t get much more popular than Captain America and the Avengers. Whether you are a little kid or a grown adult, you will get pumped up every time you play this game and here Captain America shout, “Avengers Assemble!” You might even get goosebumps a time or two. This was an arcade game at first, but you may be able to find it on a video game disc for your gaming system if you look hard enough. If not, you might find a vintage video game website that allows you to play online.

Marvel: The Ultimate Alliance
This Marvel video game is unique because it allows the storylines of the various characters to crossover during the game. You can choose to be one of your favorite characters, including Captain America, Spider Man, Wolverine or even Iron Man. As you play, you can add characters to your team and move through various storylines while fighting the villains. As the title implies, this is one of the ultimate games for you to play if you are a fan of Marvel Comics and you enjoy the intensity of gaming.

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Three Myths about Video Games and the People Who Play Them

There are many myths surrounding  online gaming and gamers who like to spend their time playing them. Unfortunately, many of those myths negatively portray these games and gamers. These myths have come to be recognized as fact which has caused a negative public opinion of video games. Here are a few of the myths and the actual truth surrounding gamers and games.

Video Games Lead to Increased Teen Violence
We’ve all heard the “fact” that violent video games lead to violent teens. However, if you look at the statistics surrounding juvenile crime in the country, you will see that the rates are at the lowest they have been in three decades. In fact, studies show that the people who are in prison for perpetrating violent crimes viewed less media than the people who are free and walking the streets. The main contributions to teen violence are the individual teen’s home life and their mental stability, not video games.

Video Game Makers Target Children in Their Marketing
While many video games are made for children, this is not the main market that video game companies think of when marketing their products. Most of the video game players are adults who grew up playing games and continue to do so into their adult years. More than 60 percent of the market for game consoles is over the age of 18. That is also why so many of today’s video games have an “M” rating, meaning they are for mature audiences. Unfortunately, many parents do not consider this and they let their kids play the games anyways.

Video Games Isolate People Socially
Many of today’s games are very sociable. In fact, it’s one of the favorite pastimes for friends to do when they get together. About one-third of the people who play games,  like online casino games,  playwith a brother or sister and a large number also play with parents and spouses. Most games are also designed for multiple players and you can even play hundreds of games online and talk with people from around the world who are playing the same game.

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