Technology | Gaming Circuits

Play These Four Games for Talking Trash

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Talking trash is one of the best parts about playing multi-player video games. Whether you are playing with a few friends in the same room or online with people across the globe you have never met, trash talk lets you get out some frustration and have a few laughs while you play. Here are four of the best video games for you if you enjoy your trash talk.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2
This rival to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2 is one of the better multiplayer platforms available in today’s games. There are several opportunities for trash talk in this game, including the moment when you can unload your gun on an opponent at close range and when you pump shotgun ammo into your enemy.

Madden NFL 10
Football video games just don’t get any better than the Madden series. In the 10th edition of the series, you can talk trash to your opponents every time you score on them. You can even injure players and berate them as they lay on the ground trying to get up. It’s good natured trash talk opportunities that other games simply do not provide.

Guitar Hero
The Guitar Hero series of games has certainly proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Teens and adults alike can spend hours playing Guitar Hero because they enjoy playing along with their favorite songs. But if you are playing with someone and you are on “expert” while they are on “beginner,” you can ridicule and humiliate them by playing “Freebird”without even looking.

NBA 2K10
The only thing that compares to dunking on your friend in basketball is doing it on the screen when playing NBA 2K10. If you are way ahead in the score, it makes that feeling that much better. Make sure he knows you owned him by talking trash and humiliating him – both onscreen and off.

Filed Under: Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Games, Guitar Hero, Trash-talk, Video game

Can These Three Games Make You a Better Guy?

If you have been a gamer for any time at all, you have probably heard people tell you that video games are pointless and a waste of time. However, this is not necessarily true. There are many games out there besides the “shoot “em up” and gory games that many people have a problem with. Some games are designed in such a way to make you a better person. Check out these three games to help make you a better man.

Gourmet Chef
With the popularity of the Food Network and cooking shows on TV today, it’s only natural that the video game industry jump into the fray. Gourmet Chef, from Nintendo DS, is an innovative game that will teach you how to cook like the best of them with more than 70 French recipes. The game consists of an interactive cookbook and a series of tasks that teach you the basics of gourmet cooking. Imagine learning how to cook with a video game and then putting those skills to use to impress your family and friends.

Portal
If you enjoy solving problems and thinking when you are playing your video games, Portal is the game for you. It follows Chell, a protagonist who goes through a series of chambers. A disembodied voice guides you through the chambers and there are puzzles and problems to solve to move to the next room. The twist is that you have to decide if you should listen to the voice because it does not always have the character’s best interest in mind.

Wii Fit Plus
Few gaming systems have made an impact on the video game industry like the Wii Fit. With the Wii Fit Plus, you can get in shape while playing video games and having fun. With the many accessories and activities to play, you will never tire of finding ways to play your Wii so you can get in better shape.

Filed Under: Electronics, Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Games, Nintendo DS, Video game, Wii Fit

Three of the Best Video Game Plots

There was a time when the extent of a video game’s plot was a yellow pie-faced character running from ghosts and racking up points. But since then, video game stories have come a long way. These days, it is not uncommon to have an intricate plot which makes the game even more intriguing. Here are a few of the more interesting stories in some of the video games in the last couple decades.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Although this was one of the more controversial games on the market, the plot is quite interesting. It involves the story of Carl Johnson, a former gang member who comes home to find that his mom has been murdered. Soon after, a corrupt police office harasses him. Over the course of the game, the players are taken through three major cities helping Carl return his gang to supremacy. However, the story is not over. The corrupt cop is there at every turn to stop Johnson and his fellow gang members. Eventually, Carl becomes a wealthy man and one of the town’s most admired citizens.

Portal
This intense game opens with the main character waking up in a chamber that is only furnished with a radio and a toilet. A voice helps guide you though the various chambers in the game as you try to solve problems and puzzles in order to get to the next level. However, after a few successes, the player finds out that the voice may not always be guiding you along the right path. There is scribbling on several chamber walls and other things that keep the player confused to make for a truly intriguing game of fun and problem solving.

Fallout 2
This futuristic game begins in the ruins following the nuclear showdown between China and America. The main character is the offspring of a vault dweller that tried to save people following the war. The plot plays on the idea that a nuclear holocaust is totally plausible and the aftermath is a mystery.

Filed Under: Electronics, Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Game Studies, Games, History, Video game

Four People Who Changed the Video Game Industry

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There have been many changes in the video game industry over the years. In fact, there continues to be changes all the time with new and exciting graphics, stories and characters. Here are a few of the people behind some of the biggest innovations in the video game industry and the things they have done to revolutionize the way we think of video games.

Shinji Mikami
The creator of Resident Evil helped create a viable video game that introduced the survival horror genre in the industry. Mikami worked for Capcom, a video game giant, after leaving college and he cites George Romero and other horror names as his inspiration for Resident Evil. This game became one of the companies highest selling games and it became a recognized series both in video games and on the movie screen.

Hideki Sato
You may have heard this name floating around if you are a hardcore gamer. Sato is credited with creating Sonic the Hedgehog, which has become nearly become a household name in America. With the creation of this game, Sato helped catapult Sega Genesis into the spotlight at a time when it was competing with other giants like Nintendo and Atari. Sega continues to be a leader in arcade video games and the company has Sato to thank for much of its overall success.

Nolan Bushnell
Have you ever played Pong? Even if you haven’t played it, you have probably heard of it. It is the forerunner to the modern video game even though it was nothing more than a black and white screen with two paddles and a ball. Pong and Bushnell helped put Atari and video games on the map. Video game companies and developers have Bushnell to thank for the billion dollar industry which has come to be such an integral part of today’s culture.

Filed Under: Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Sonic the Hedgehog, Video game, Video game industry

Four Awesome Weapons in Video Games

One of the best things about playing video games is the creative and imaginative weapons that some of them have. There are many games that have these unique weapons and some are better than others. Here are four of the most awesome weapons you will find in some of the games over the last 10 years.

Soul Calibur II – Link’s Bug Catching Net
If you played Zelda as a kid, you will probably enjoy this particular weapon because one of the characters from the Zelda game is using it in Soul Calibur II. You can choose Link as your main character and watch him go around and beat on other popular characters with little more than a bug catching net. It’s fun to watch and fun to play and it may even bring back a sense of nostalgia.

Final Fantasy X – Lulu’s Dolls
Lulu is one of the magical characters in Final Fantasy X and she attacks her enemies by kneeling down and shooting dolls at them. While it may not sound like an effective method for holding back attackers, it is funny to watch these little dolls flying through the air as they bounce off the offending enemies.

Evil Dead: A Fistful of Broomstick- Chainsaw Arm
Weapons just don’t get much better than having a chainsaw for an arm. A chainsaw may not be the best weapon for hand to hand combat or for attacking enemies far away, but just thinking about having a chainsaw for an arm for one day brings many possibilities to mind.

Final Fantasy VIII – Gunblade
The gunblade might not sound like a glamorous or usable weapon, but watching it in action will change your mind. The actual weapon consists of a sword with a trigger and a gun handle. If you haven’t played Final Fantasy VIII or seen the gunblade in action, check it out as soon as you get a chance.

Filed Under: Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Final Fantasy, Games, Nobuo Uematsu, Video game

Does Pirating Video Games Actually Help the Industry?

The debate over pirating material has been a fierce one in the last decade and it continues to be a hot-button issue today. These days, much of the controversy is focused on pirating video games. One of the latest victims is Sony PlayStation, but it may not be as bad as it seems.

A new video game scheduled to hit the market – “Elemental: War of Magic”- has reignited video game piracy debate because it promises to allow users to copy the game without worrying about digital rights or any other protections that typically stop this from happening. In addition, many video game companies are not happy that used game sales are also hurting their bottom line because the companies do not get any royalties or any other financial kickbacks from the used games that independent stores sell. While this isn’t piracy per se, many people in the industry are drawing parallels between the two ideas.

This frustration isn’t new. During the 1980s, video game companies were trying to find ways to prevent gamers from exchanging discs with video games which cut down on the profits made by the companies. Video game piracy has come a long way into what it is today and the companies have yet to find a viable and effective way of curbing the activity from happening. Today, gamers have online bulletin boards and servers where others can download and share their favorite games. This makes it almost unnecessary to go to the store and buy your own copy.

As a real world example, the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ sold nearly 12 million copies in 2009. It was the year’s best-selling video game. However, more than 4 million copies of this game were downloaded illegally through one of the pirating methods available.

So far, the most effective method for curbing the activity is huge penalties and fines for gamers who get caught uploading games online. Some companies are making their products more affordable and readily available as a solution to the problem. It may be awhile to determine which method works best.

Filed Under: Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Games, Piracy, Toys and Games, Video game

Three Great Educational Video Games for Kids

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Are you looking for video games that your kids can play that will help them learn something as they play? If so, you’re in luck. There are many educational video games on the market that are ideal for kids of various ages. Here are a few of those games and some of the things they will help your kids learn when they play.

Lifeboat to Mars
This educational video game is for children who are at least eight years old. It is a fun and exciting way to learn about biology and it was developed by PBS Kids Go. It offers two types of simulations dealing with the biological world, including one where the player controls microbes and another in which the player controls a plant and animal ecosystem. The game gives children a set of goals and ways to achieve those goals during the game and it is mainly built upon a trial and error method so kids can spend hours having fun and learning at the same time.

Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom
This fun-filled game is ideal for young children at least four years and older. In addition to being fun, it adds some educational elements so kids are learning as they play. There are even opportunities for parents to join in the fun when the game reaches its more challenging stages. The plot involves Dora and her friend, Boots, trying to save the Crystal Kingdom from losing its glamour by saving the colored crystals that have been stolen by the king. The bright colors are ideal to keep children interested and the method for controlling the characters movements couldn’t be easier.

Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy
Created for ages nine and up, this mystery game is ideal for girls. Nancy Drew is in a new school and she has to make friends as she solves the mystery involving a series of accidents at the school. If you like this one, there are 20 more Nancy Drew video games available for young girls to play and learn various skills as well.

Filed Under: Electronics, Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Dora the Explorer, Educational game, Nancy Drew, Video game

Four Old-School Video Games You Can Play Online

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Do you miss the elementary graphics and nostalgia that are a part of old video games like Pac Man and Donkey Kong? Do you ever long for the simple idea of just trying to rescue the damsel in distress or just racking up the most points? If so, you would probably enjoy the fact that many vintage video games are available to play on the Internet. Here are four of those games in case you would like to relive your younger days. Super Mario Brothers Few games have made an impact on American society like Super Mario Brothers. It came to the arcades in 1983 and became available for NES just a couple years later. It didn’t give that lovable Mario his start, but it bolted him into fame and popularity as millions of American kids and adults played this game for hours on end. The Legend of Zelda One of the most recognized names in video game history is The Legend of Zelda. The game has sold around 60 million copies all over the world and it probably owes its popularity to its combination the aspects of puzzles, role playing, battles, action and exploration all in one game. Who can resist? Pong What might seem like the most elementary and boring game ever was actually very addicting when it first came out. Pong was the start of it all in the 1970s and you can play it online now. Even if you are an avid gamer who has played the latest and most sophisticated games, you might get hooked after just a few minutes of this simple concept. Centipede This was another game that started out at the arcades and made it into millions of American homes just a few years later. Centipede was an Atari creation and it was one of the first games to be played by a large number of female players. All you had to do was shoot the centipede apart before it killed you. The concept doesn’t get much simpler than that.

Filed Under: Internet, Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Legend of Zelda, Pac Man, Super Mario Bros, Video game

Four Unforgettable Video Game Characters

Video games are as much a part of pop culture as sitcoms, music and anything else you can think of. As such, many video game characters come to mind when you think of certain eras in pop culture history. Whether you are a gamer or not, you would probably be able to recognize these four video game characters in a split second. Donkey Kong Despite the many transformations this gaming gorilla has gone through over the decades, Donkey Kong is still one of the most recognized and memorable characters in a video game. Who can forget him rolling down the barrels while trying to keep his woman from being rescued? Here’s a little fun fact, too: He was named Donkey Kong because the guy who created him thought the word “donkey” was slang for “stubborn” and the word “kong” meant gorilla. Hence, he became a stubborn gorilla. Pac Man It doesn’t matter what decade you grew up in. Pac Man will always be known and recognized as one of the most popular video game characters of all time. Pac Man video games are still selling after decades of being on the market and they are going for big money these days, too. The yellow pie face has cemented his place in pop culture history alongside McDonald’s, Star Wars and Seinfeld. Q-Bert This addicting strategic game may not make it to any Top Ten lists, but the character’s snorkel head and two legs are certainly memorable. Changing the color of the squares as he jumped on them while outsmarting coiled snakes could make any gamer sit in front of the TV for hours trying to make it to the next level. Mario This Italian plumber hit started out as the hero trying to save Pauline from Donkey Kong, but he didn’t hit it big until he got his own game a few years later. The overall-wearing lovable fellow has been in millions of American homes in some game or another and with the popularity of Wii’s Super Mario Kart, he will probably be making appearances for many more years to come.

Filed Under: Electronics, Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Video game

Three Reasons Why You Should be Playing Video Games

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You have probably heard the adage that playing video games rots your brain. You’ve probably also heard that video games are a waste of time, they make you violent and so on. But video games can actually be good for you in many ways. If you don’t play video games, here are some of the things you may be missing out on.

Networking
Does it sound odd to say that video games can help you network? It probably does, but this is one benefit gamers of all ages can experience when playing video games. With today’s advancements and the many opportunities to play multi-player games online with people you have never met, it’s easier than ever to meet new people and work together on creating strategies and solving problems. Get your kids started young and by the time they reach their adolescent years, they will be team players with problem-solving experience and an intense social network that you may have never even dreamed of.

Life Lessons
If you have ever played a multi-player game with others, you know how it feels to make a mistake. Your teammates might yell at you or tell you that you’ve done something wrong. This is good preparation for the real world. Playing video games as part of a team helps you deal with stress and get over your mistakes to reach a goal.

Coordination
Who likes to practice typing for the sake of learning how to type faster? Probably nobody. But if you are learning to type by playing a fun and fast-paced video game, you will quickly learn how to get over the pecking method and type with all of your fingers. After awhile of this, typing will be second nature to you which can be a great asset when doing research papers and applying for jobs. Employers will look more favorable on applicants who can type over those who still use the “search and peck” method.

Filed Under: Technology, Video Game Tagged With: Brain, Game Studies, Games, Video game