Gamer Square

Ever since games became available in the late seventies and early eighties to the masses they have caught the attention of millions of people who became addicted to their innovative interface and rapidly changing technology. Parent’s bought these games because they represented a nice gift for kids and teens who have always been fascinated with entertainment and technology related items. Children and teens on the other hand thought of them as a good way to kill their free time.

The first few graphics Nintendo games featured were not very realistic so any killing or war game was pretty much innocent, but as technology evolved so did the graphics, consoles and variety. Today we have free games available through the internet as well as stand alone and portable consoles, which has completely changed the rules of the game sort to speak.

Nowadays, we have kids and teenagers of all ages playing games almost all the time, this is why parents have grown concerned of the types of games they play. The internet has made available thousands of flash games at no cost at all, so anyone can access them and spend hours browsing through them, some of the most visited categories are action and war games, these are violent in nature and portray several “killings” as they advance from level to level, the fact is that most players are not thinking about the killing they are doing in the game but instead they want to overcome all obstacles to using the resources given to them, just like when they play super Mario or Donkey Kong.

With today’s international problems several parents have formulated the idea that these games are intended to train kids for war, the fact of the matter is that if they are playing these games online they have several other choices such as board games, racing, cards, puzzle, memory, strategy, and so on, in other words they will not become fixated in just one type of game due to the variety. On the other hand parents who buy expensive games to play in stand alone consoles at home might indeed be feeding this mentality to their children because purchased games go to a different level, the violence and graphic nature makes them too intense so it is important to read the warnings and recommended age labels that each one has.

Online games will never reach the negative graphic nature console games have but the most important fact is to remember that as parents you have the power to guide your kids and organize their free time. Compared to consoles, online games are a healthy way for kids, teenagers and young adults to entertain themselves while keeping their sanity intact!

The aptitude is always there for the particular creative activity you are bestowed with, it’s just you have to tap your potential to find it out. To tap your potential ability is the purpose of these creativity games.
The main aim of these games is to show us how difficult and impossible they may seem or they are talked about, but can be solved if evaluated or analyzed properly by proper methods which are not done in a traditional pattern of problem solving.
These games are not there to grade the intelligence or the brightness of a person but these games are to cross your limiting boundaries of your thoughts as well as actions that are awarded by conventional thinking pattern. These creativity games will also aid you in recognizing your hidden skills and potentialities.
There is a game by Andersen Consulting which may be of some help to you in realizing and analyzing your thought process better. There are questions in this game that are in the form of a quiz. These questions are easy to answer but will still hold you to think for a moment before blurting out anything.
How will you place the giraffe in a fridge? Well, this is a simple question and answer is equally easy, you will open the fridge, and place the giraffe inside the fridge and then close it. This simple question only wants to evaluate the amount of complications you get yourself into.
The following question stringently abides with the first one, how will you place an elephant into the refrigerator? You may think this way, open the fridge, place the elephant in and then close it but this in not how it goes, you will have to take out the giraffe from the fridge and then replace it with elephant and close it. It’s only to spot and evaluate the implications.
Games of this nature force you to think logical and when you go to the deeper level in your thinking process you will try to come out with the best answer which takes you towards creativity.
King of jungle invited the whole jungle to his assembly; all the animals had turned up except one, which one? The answer is simple, it’s the same elephant you placed in the fridge .Questions of this kind are asked only to check your wit and memory.
Imagine you are to cross a river, this is another dilemma as river is filled with purely vegetarian crocodiles, what will you do now? You can swim across the river by keeping all the crocodiles busy with the moot.
Question here attempts to know whether you are a fast leaner and also do you learn from you past mistakes that you commit
These quizzes are aimed at checking whether some areas in your brain are productive or not, which may block you to be creative. The main aim here is to allow you to think about how weird and ridiculous some problems can become. Just continue solving these kinds of quizzes and you will become a hell lot of a creative person.

Computer games are very widespread and popular. There would hardly be anyone who has not played them. Who does not like them? Everyone likes to play it. There is no difference between a child and an adult in the interest in computer games.
If you are a regular player then you definitely know about the non player characters in used ones. The non player characters in used computer games make them more attractive and interesting. Let us discuss this interesting feature in more detail.
They are the characters over whom the real players, the human players, have no control. They are not controlled by the players. If you have played such computer games then you can easily understand what I mean.
In some of them, the human player has control over one of the characters. This represents the human player. He plays the game by controlling it and thereby scores. Other animated characters who are not controlled by human players hinder the player from scoring. In many games these characters are the hurdles that one has to cross to play the game.
Without them the game would not have been so interesting. It is them who prevent you from easy scoring and thus create interest in the game. If you can score easily and cross all the levels then you would not be left with the enthusiasm to play it over and over again. They actually attract the players’ attention towards them and thus they can be played over and over again.
They are so popular that such characters are also available in the market in the form of playthings and toys. Kids love to play around with them. The games that are endowed with them are attractive to both the kids and the adults. The instructions are so easily conveyed that even a kid can follow it. They are the perfect heroes for the children, the heroes who can fight, turn around and do a lot of hips and hops.
They are of several types of games. There are the ones that can enhance the IQ level of your child. Some of them like scrabbles, quiz, etc., enhance the knowledge. Again there are some of them that are truly meant for delight and pleasure. So, the non player characters in used computer games are the favorite companions with whom you play for hours. So, why not enjoy playing with them whenever you get time?

I am a huge Resident Evil fan. I remember paying extra, just to get the first Resident Evil instalment on my original Playstation a week before anyone else. There have been many episodes and reincarnations since then, and although I had become a little bored of the series in the years since the original, Resident Evil 4 totally refreshed the game for me and I absolutely loved it. I played Resident Evil 4 on my Playstation 2, and so as Resident Evil 5 was to be the first version of the game on the “next generation” consoles, I was awaiting this game with baited breath.

I remember drooling at the graphics in the teaser trailer, which was released shortly after I completed RE4. Although that was a few years ago now, and graphics have naturally improved over time, I still was looking forward to seeing what the geniuses at Capcom could come up with graphically, for my Resident Evil starved eyes to feast on.

I was not disappointed, as my first impressions when I stuck the game on were that the presentation was sleek and the game graphics were very impressive. Some of the best I’ve seen on the 360 in fact. That said, I was a bit unsure of the game itself to begin with. I initially thought it felt a bit sluggish and the chunky characters took up too much room on the screen. I also thought turning to aim was a bit slow and hence frustrating. So although initially graphically I was pleased, in terms of gameplay I was a little bit dissatisfied.

However, having persevered into the first hour or two, my opinion completely changed. I became used to the controls and menu system again and also became familiar with the new interaction system with your partner. This game can be played completely in co-op mode; a nice touch that means you can enjoy this great game with a good friend (or indeed a complete stranger if you like).

On the topic of your partner, Sheva, she can sometimes be an annoyance as she will pick things up before you get to them, use up your first aid supplies, get in your way and block your vision on occasion. With that said, she will save your bacon on more than one occasion so you do tend to forgive her. It makes for an interesting and colourful relationship, as one minute you’ll be cursing her and the next minute giving her praise.

You can choose for your partner to be more attack or defence minded, by selecting attack or cover respectively. I opted for her to be more defensive, so that I could do most of the shooting and she would heal me if I needed it. This worked well for me, but you could play the game differently if you preferred. To do this you would simply make Sheva attack and let her do the dirty work for you. There are times when you are over-run with enemies however, when you will need to team up and then you’ll be thankful that your partner is there to take out her share of the bad guys.

Changing the topic back to graphics, I’d liked to emphasise that they really are superb, and at times quite sublime. The lighting effects at different times of day are very realistic and one of my favourite and atmospheric moments takes place in an underground tunnel where all you have to see is the limited light provided by a torch. These effects all help add to the overall atmosphere of the game.

There are a large variety of enemies, some harder than others and in typical Resident Evil fashion there are certain enemies that can take you out with one attempt. You will find there is a larger Boss type enemy at the end of the levels as well to give you a slightly harder challenge. You tend to have to work out these enemy’s particular weaknesses, for example, you may have to target a specific part of their body or work out how you can use your environment to get the better of these larger foes. Nothing too unfamiliar or perplexing, but a decent challenge and an aesthetic treat awaits you when you reach these end of level bosses.

The game overall is a fluid experience with a good combination of normal gameplay and occasions when you will be prompted to press certain buttons to avoid danger in one form or another. These button prompts can happen at any time, so it does keep you on your toes.

The controls are great, and although I did find it a little sluggish and restrictive at first once I figured out the buttons to reload, control Sheva, change weapon and turn around quickly, I was laughing. You can set a weapon or item to each point on the d-pad, so that you simply press up, down, left or right to equip it instantly. Something I found very handy during gameplay.

You will be rewarded for your actions throughout the game, and the 360 achievements awarded to you are fair and satisfying. You can expect to get a decent gamerscore if you simply complete the game once, however those keen on getting all 1000 points will have to work that little bit harder and complete the game on multiple occasions to tick off every achievement on the list.

The game’s longevity is decent for a modern day game but don’t get me wrong, this is no Fallout 3. To simply get through the story will not take you too long, perhaps 15 to 20 hours or so. There are 6 chapters each with 3 stages. However, there is lots of replay value in this game, as you’ll find you can’t do everything you want to do in simply one play through. Also, the coop mode over Xbox Live opens up another dimension of the game and will add a few extra hours of game time to this game.

I purposely have not given any of the story away as I think that would just ruin the game for some people, I prefer just to know what is good and bad about a game, and an overall opinion before I decide to buy it. Another way to try out the game is to try the demo on Xbox Live, however be warned that I personally did not really enjoy the demo level but I did end up loving the game.

This for me is a no brainer. Resident Evil 5 is a cracker and therefore a must have! I’d consider it one of the best games available at the moment and probably, one of the best on the 360 to date. I give it 9/10.

For more gaming and gadget news and reviews please go to Gratis Gadgets.

There are three major player in the console wars this Christmas, the Nintendo Wii, the Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) and the Microsoft Xbox 360. Each console has it’s own niche advantages and minor disadvantages, but the one major difference between choosing a console in 2007 is that there is no bad choice. There may be no wrong choice, but there are choices which are more “right” than others, this is mainly dependent on the types of games you and your kids enjoy.

If you had told me a year ago that I would be standing in a room, playing video games with people old enough to be my parents (and in some cases they were my parents) I would have told you that you were crazy, but that’s what the Nintendo Wii brings to the table.

The Wii is different than the other consoles and that difference is due to the new motion sensitive controller which ships with the console. Imagine that you’re playing a golf game, typical controllers would have you push a thumb switch back, then forth to mimic a golf swing. The Wii on the other hand would have you stand up, draw back the controller (like a golf club) and swing. Ok, maybe you’re not a golfer, how about bowling? If you could have seen my 79 year old mother using the Wii controller to bowl and my 8 year old son laughing his head off then you would make your decision to buy a Wii right now. The Wii comes with a package called Wii Sports which features bowling, golf, baseball and boxing.

In some games, like bowling or baseball, the Wii controller makes playing the game easier than a standard controller. However in some more traditional games it can make games harder to play. For instance, Mario Strikers was one of my favorite games on the Gamecube, but on the Wii I find the new version difficult to play (my eight year old seems to have the hang of it though). In any case, the Wii makes an excellent party system, sure to be enjoyed by kids of all ages and is the least expensive of the three systems, although the other two are coming down in price rapidly to try to compete.

The Xbox 360 is the safe middle ground of the three systems. It will play DVD’s if you desire that functionality and can hook up to your HDTV via included component video cables (note that the low end $299 Xbox 360 Arcade does not come with the hookup cables for HDTV). Halo 3 and BioShock type games should be your yardstick for whether or not you want an Xbox 360. For us, my son could not live without his beloved Halo 3, so off to the store we went to get the Xbox 360.

I’ve been very happy with the system, the graphics on our 42″ plasma HDTV are outstanding and it came with a free month of Xbox Live Gold, which I just extended another 13 months for $59. Xbox Live and Halo 3 may be the Xbox 360′s distinguishing features, Xbox Live allows you to download demo’s of games, video clips and of course play multi player games online. There are many other great games for the Xbox like Gears of War and BioShock, in fact as of this Christmas the Xbox 360 probably has the best library of great games of all three systems, with the Wii in second and the Playstation 3 third.

The Sony Playstation 3 is the most expensive of the three systems, it was also the last one to hit store shelves. The Playstation 3 features include the best graphics subsystem of any of the consoles and of course the Blu-Ray DVD player which is built in. If you have a high def TV and want a Blu-Ray player, then the Sony Playstation 3 is the right choice for you.

The Playstation 3 was delayed many times and because of that it has the least number of games for it of all three systems, but if the new price reductions of the system are any indication (you can get a 40GB version for $399) then the Playstation 3 will make up lost ground quickly in 2008. I don’t personally have a Playstation 3, so can’t really comment on first hand knowledge of the system, but I know that Sony will not give up it’s position as market leading in the video game console wars without a fight.

So, will it be the funky remote, the most games, or the Blu-Ray player and the promise of future dominance? Your decision is not an easy one, but I believe that there are no loosers in this race. All three systems will have an excellent library of games, amazing graphics and sound and none of them are going anywhere for a few years. Choose the fun and cute Wii with it’s revolutionary controller, the sure footed and proven Xbox 360 with it’s library of exciting games (mostly aimed at teens and young men) or the ultra powerful Playstation 3 with it’s Blu-Ray player.

While I don’t think that you should buy a system based on backward compatibility it is worth mentioning that all three gaming systems mentioned have some degree of backward compatibility. This may be important to you if you don’t already own a system and are interested in picking up some inexpensive older games, beware however that not all older games will play on these systems. I believe the Wii is the most backward compatible of the three (with the Gamecube), but I do not have any hard/fast numbers.

Pick a system and have fun, after all isn’t that what gaming is all about?

With the rather high cost associated with today’s PlayStation consoles, it’s no surprise that many consumers are on the hunt for a cheap PlayStation 3 console. The PlayStation 3 console has done quite well since its release a few years ago, and the high demand for PlayStation 3 consoles have made the game quite pricey. However, there are still ways to get a cheap PlayStation 3 console, if a smart consumer knows how to shop. The Internet is opening up opportunities for consumers to purchase a cheap PlayStation 3 console with considerable ease. The first place that consumers can search for cheap PlayStation 3 consoles is classified advertisements. Someone may receive PlayStation as a gift, but would like to put it on sale at discounted prices. It is highly recommended to test the console before buying it to ensure the console is in full operational order. Another way to get a cheap PlayStation 3 console is buying one from the Internet. Thanks to the popularity of online surfing, new, refurbished or used consoles can be purchased at huge discount off original retail prices, and shipped right to your front door. When buying cheap PlayStation 3 consoles from online sellers however, the consumer should request some kind of product guarantee that that particular console carries, so that if the console doesn’t operate properly later on, he can return the console for a refund or repair. Online auction sites are probably the best place to get a cheap PlayStation 3 console. Finding a reputable seller with a good feedback rating is the first step one must take. Examining the product description, seeing if the product is guaranteed, and examining the console’s condition via photographs is the next step to ensuring a quality buy. Finally, careful bidding on the consoles is a definite must if the consumer wants to get the console inexpensively. One must take great care not to get overzealous when it comes time to bid on the products. Set a maximum bid limit before the bidding starts. Sometimes if someone is too eager to get a PlayStation 3 console during the bidding war, it is possible that he might bid more than necessary. To learn more about Cheap PlayStation 3 Console, I recommend you checking out Cheap PlayStation 3. It is a specialized Sony PlayStation for sale site that lists up to the minute deals on the PlayStation 3, Play Station 2, PSP and most popular PlayStation games and accessories. Be sure to try this website first.