Thursday, July 15, 2010

Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo - The Boy vs The Robot



By Tom Ayling

Remember back to the Ballon D'or? That picture of the 4 top contenders, Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi and Iniesta standing, waiting, and anticipating a decision. Whilst Ronaldo stood there and smugly smiled and posed for the camera, the Barca trio stood and contemplated their fate. Then there was the 2006 World Cup Quarter Final. Rooney stamps on Ricardo Carvalho. Cue Ronaldo to aggressively confront the ref (like a 'typical German', Sir Alex?) and get Rooney sent off. To pompously place the icing on the proverbial cake of hatred incitation he winked at the Portugal bench after these antics. Back in the start of the 06/07 season he was met with mass booing condemning his actions, and an array of abuse from the English press.

Then we have the boy Lionel. The little lad, the cheeky chappy is almost the opposite in his self-presentation. Quiet, withdrawn, an introvert of sorts, yet with this unimaginable talent on it. After the Arsenal game he didn't gloat, he just wanted the ball he earned with his magisterial 4-goal performance. The opposition love losing to Messi, and respect his talent, whilst they always seem to be bitter when they lose to Ronaldo.

In terms of talent, there one word for Ronaldo. Tekkers. Whilst he has re-written the textbook in many ways, he is still supremely technical, but his way of playing isn't always appreciating. Just imagine to yourself his running style, rigid, upright, streamlining his jaw for the extra half-yard of pace. How about another word - Robotic. It just isn't natural, not like Messi. Leo has a natural free-flowing mantra that he stamps with very touch of a football. He will bring it so close to defenders they could touch it, but before they can think about it, he whips it away and leaves them for dust. A footballing style born out of South America, and loved by the world.

There was some criticism of Ronaldo at United that he didn't shine in the big games, the Cup Finals. He was a stranger in Rome last year, whereas Messi was pivotal in the win. Cris has scored 3 times in Cup Finals (but missed a penalty against Chelsea in Moscow) whilst Messi has netted 5.

For their national teams, both are cornerstones, always willing to run at defenders in both cases, yet Messi often chooses to provide Tevez with the ball and let him do the scoring. Both are flair players, but are so in different way. It cannot be denied that they are breaths of fresh air; do we have to choose one? Well in the Ballon D'Or last year Messi achieved 240 more points than Ronaldo. Whilst a team sport, it has become clear now Lionel Andrés Messi is the undisputed footballing champion of the world right now. And at a mere 22 years old, with the current world at his feet now, he could have the world transcended through generations at his feet soon enough - and become the greatest ever.

I take sport on from an irreverent perspective - hoping to induce laughter and inspire nostalgia. We all have an opinion on the sole activity of a nation, the unification vacation that get us Brits talking, so this is mine, written from the terrace and behind the ropes. http://fromtheterraceandbehindtheropes.blogspot.com/

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Monday, June 28, 2010

How to Get a Free Laptop Online



By John Demalos


Have you ever heard of a story of someone winning a free laptop online? Are you wondering on how to get a free laptop for yourself? Do you want to know how free laptop programs work?
This article will provide you a general idea on how to get a laptop for free just by simply being online. Everybody loves free stuff, so read on.


With the rapid advancement in technology, laptops are becoming a big importance in our everyday lives. A free laptop is indeed one of the things that could make a person jump for joy. It is not easy to own a laptop because they are very expensive especially the ones with sophisticated functions, hardwares and sofwares. Having a laptop would make your life easier; with it you can organize your daily plans, make your reports and even sort out any problems with no difficulty. It can provide you with an easy access to the internet where almost all things are just a click away.


Most people these days own a laptop that even grade school students own one. Every now and then a new type of laptop with advanced specs is being manufactured and made available in the market. The laptop business is becoming an arena of many competitors. With the tight competition, many companies would want to give free laptops to encourage more and more people to buy their own products.


Now how do 'get free laptops' programs work?
The first thing to do is to find a site on the internet that offers free laptops. Read the terms and conditions of the company. If everything seems fair for you, you can sign in for the program. In such a way they will be given the right to sell your personal information to many advertisers throughout the internet. You will be then prompted with products and subscription fees by the advertisers that you should at least try to give a feedback on. Don't worry these products will only cost you a very small amount of money. Read and understand the instructions given by the site administrator before you make any steps.
When everything goes well and you've completed your simple tasks, you will have your laptop delivered to you right away.


The important thing that you have to bear in mind when looking for a site that offers a laptop for free is to check its credibility. There are many scammers online saying that they offer free laptops when actually they are just after your money. In order to avoid this problem, make sure that the site provides authenticated contact information. Also try to check its affiliated companies just to be sure.


John DeMalos, dedicated to providing information on how to [http://apple.freebiejeebies.co.uk/284614]get a free laptop, writes and blogs for [http://freelaptopworld.com/]freelaptopworld.com, a website that provides various consumer-based information on laptops of all kinds.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Gaming Communities - Pogo Offers Free Game Play For All Ages

By Joseph Stutzman

There are dozens of online gaming communities that you can join. Some are totally adult oriented, while others are targeted at children. You can play for money, as in gambling games, or you can play for fun. One such gaming community is Pogo, which you can locate just by searching or going to Pogo.com. There are two platforms under which you can join. You can always join for free, and many people play on Pogo in this manner, but that also involves having scheduled intermissions during your game play for advertisements from their sponsors. This is not a non-profit organization, so advertising is how they make their money. But, you can also pay just about $35 a year and play uninterrupted. Game play is unlimited for that cost and down-time is very rare. Pogo is not a super advanced site. There is no role playing, as in World of Warcraft or others. The games are under categories such as: Card, Board, Puzzle, Word, Casino and Arcade & Sports. In almost all cases you can play against the computer or against other gamers in rooms. The rooms are divided into topics and into ages and sometimes into levels of skill or the number of people in a game. Each game also allows you to set certain options for play. Each game also has a tutorial on how to play and most games allow you to practice with "robots". The site is very user friendly and designed in such a way as to allow almost anyone to play the games. Many of these games are the same games you grew up with or are growing up with.

Click Here!

Yes, kids regularly play under their parents' accounts here. Tabs in many games allow you to choose age groups from teens to 50s and up. Each game also has chat rooms, which allow you to go to a private chat room if you wish to play with a special group of people and talk privately. The public chat rooms that are more on an 'adult only' level will be annotated under the room options and it is a simple matter of not going to those rooms to find clean, curse-free, fun. As with all gaming sites, it is recommended that younger children be monitored on what rooms they are in and it can still be 'family game night' in front of the computer with Pogo. The paid version is called Club Pogo and there are some games that are only for paid membership, but there are more than enough games for play that are not under the fee-based club. Under Card games you have a number of different types of solitaire, hearts, gin, bridge and canasta. Board games include Monopoly, Dominoes, Cribbage, Chess, Trivial Pursuit, Risk, Backgammon and Battleship. Word games include Word Whomp, Crossword Cove, Scrabble, Word Search and the like.

Puzzle games include Mahjong and a number of fun games for different levels of play. The Casino games are what you might think, but you are always playing for tokens, not money. Under Arcade & Sport you can play Pool, Golf and Shuffle Board. Most games have a jackpot amount of money associated with them which is annotated in the menu. The dollar amount goes up to $4999 with the jackpots doubled up to $4999 for Club Pogo members. You can also win badges for playing, which is where the real fun comes in. Winning the jackpot is like winning the lottery-winners are few and far between, but each week new challenges for new games are announced and the goal is to win that badge. You can even look over your badges that you've won so far and you can go back to get badges you weren't able to get on the first go-round. The ultimate gamers will fill the annual badge album.

Tokens also add up and you can use them to enter money or gift contests, kind of like a raffle. On the whole, Pogo is a family-friendly site that offers a wide variety of games. They have even expanded to include downloadable games and they have a 'mini-mall' where you can design an avatar, called a 'mini' and can change wardrobe, hairstyles, accessories and backgrounds as the seasons or your whim change, all for the price of a few tokens. Your 'mini' has no other function but to be present in game rooms and is not animated, though some of the backgrounds are. If you are looking for a place for good, clean, fun and a place where you can make friends or chat with strangers, then Pogo is worth looking into. It won't cost you a thing to check it out.

Along with writing, Joseph enjoys working in his flower gardens. Garden Harvest Supply is one of his favorite gardening web sites where you can [http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/category/buy-potted-perennial-flowering-plants]buy perennial plants and [http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/category/buy-potted-bushes-and-shrubs]potted bushes.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Saturday, June 19, 2010

What is the Xbox Red Ring of Death


By Emilie Chen


Microsoft Xbox 360 is one of the most popular video game consoles. Xbox 360 is produced as the second video game console and as the successor to Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with other seventh generation of game consoles such as Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.
An issue the Xbox 360 brought upon itself, and is usually reported by the Xbox 360 players is the three red lights problem. This problem of Xbox 360 is very common and the gamers in the community gave it the name of Xbox 360 red ring of death (RROD). This name of error was given due to the three red lights, which change from regular green lights. These three lights are located on the front side of the Xbox. The error of ring of death appears in most cases. This error is usually caused due to the heat building up inside the game console.


Normally the console gives heat while working, but its heat sink has a problem. The heat sink should dissipate the heat that build up inside the game console but it is not able to do its job effectively. A lead free solder is used in this console. So, the heat can affect it and can cause it to get hairline cracks. This usually makes the console unusable due to breaking of the circuits.
A flashing red light might show that hardware failure has occurred, which can be caused due to the overheating of the processing unit. Try to put the console in a place having enough free space around it. So, the cool air can easily get to it. This will help to avoid overheating and the chances of failure of the hardware are considerably reduced. Try not to put your console in a cupboard or a TV cabinet. This will reduce the flow of cool air to the console, and can cause hardware failure.
There is another similar problem in which four red lights flashes. This error is caused when the AV cable is not plugged into the game console. This problem gets fixed as soon as you plug the AV cable back into the console. Sometimes, people also confuse this problem with the red ring of death.


If you are facing the problem of red ring of death then you might be lucky. These days Microsoft has extended the warranty for consoles having this problem, as long as you bought it and have not opened it. However, the time taken for repairing the console is quite big. You can also repair the console by yourself with help of repair guide. These guides provide step by step instructions. In this case you can repair your console in few hours, instead of waiting for weeks to come back.
Emilie is an article writer and freelance product reviewer. To see more articles written by Emilie please visit [http://truehepafilter.org/]http://truehepafilter.org including the newest reviews of [http://truehepafilter.org/]True Hepa Filters
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

War Games Online - Choose Your Own Type



By Luciano Figallo

Have you ever played Mud and Blood, Dinowars, Chrome Wars, or Space Combat? You are probably oblivious of what these are but they are called war games. These games revolve around various kinds of military actions - whether it is fiction or non-fiction.

Probably, the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear of war games is Warcraft or maybe DoTA. But there are hundreds of these games online. And basically, they are classified into the following types: historical or recordings of the past, theoretical, fantasy, or sci-fi.

Historical games generally make up most of the war games online. They try to symbolize a rational estimate of the real strengths, topography, and other tangible factors imposed on the game players. Some historical games are Mud and Blood, Palisade Guardian, and Pearl Harbor. In Mud and Blood, you engage in the WWII battlefield as a squad leader in a randomly generated scenario. In Palisade Guardian, you defend your base from the invading WWII soldiers. And in Pearl Harbor, you become a Japanese fighter jet pilot assigned to take it down - the event that brought about WWII.

Theoretical or otherwise known as hypothetical war games, on one hand, are founded on the actual recordings in the past but are associated with wars that have not actually taken place. A very good example of this type is Empire Wars. In this war game you build your own empire and have to manage it from the growth of the population, the availability of their raw materials or natural resources, the possible explorations, food availability, and a lot more, of course including war.

Fantasy war games are basically games which are made out of the creator imagination without really considering scientific concepts. It does not follow a specific baseline and therefore this classification is quite broad. Few examples of fantasy are Blood Arena and Divine Generals. A game of combat and battle between humans, fantasy, and mythological creatures is Blood Arena. You will build up your own guild with warriors and creatures and fight against others in your quest for supremacy. In Divine Generals, you construct buildings, increase population, produce resources, and take over enemy cities.

Science Fiction war games, however, are games which are based on scientific facts or theories which involves the evolution of human race and technology. Sci-fi does not have to be entirely dependent on scientific concepts because some might be altered, but doing too much alteration will make it fall under fantasy. Some examples of Sci-fi war are Space Combat and Chrome Wars. This is a robot-based war game where you will power up your robot and get ready for war. You choose to attack or defend in order to ultimately take down all of your opponents.

So, now that you are informed of the different types of war games online, it is now your turn to choose and play the war games of your choice!

Luciano Figallo - Developer, webmaster and owner of several entertainment sites including music, video and gaming.

Do you want to play Dragonball Z? then visit [http://www.dragonball-z-games.com]Dragonball Z Games and find the coolest Dragon Ball Z games online on the net.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Wii Games Accessories Advice and What to Buy




By Mick Day



Wii games accessories are essential if you want to get the most enjoyment out of your games, when you buy your console you will find that it comes with one controller and one nunchuck.
If you intend on playing games as a family or with a group of friends then you will need to buy extra controllers, there are many online stores that supply the extra controllers and many other extras for the games console. If you are looking to buy a Wii console and games for all the family to play, then do some research online there are some great deals to be found where you can get packages that include the extra controllers and extra games. One accessory you should consider is the sports pack this includes attachments such as a golf club, tennis racket, and baseball bat, these attachments fit easily on to your controller and make playing the games much more realistic and enjoyable.



The steering wheel is also another accessory to consider, these can be found online at a very reasonable cost and give you more realistic control over the games you are playing. The controller fits inside the steering wheel allowing you to control the game with just the steering wheel in your hands, this gives you the feeling of reality when playing the game. One great way to use your console to keep you fit is to buy the Wii fit plus accessory pack, this contains accessories that will give you and your family great entertainment and help to keep you fit in process.



When you first purchase the console it comes with a 512mb SD memory card, this is adequate for a single player but if you play the games with your family or friends and like to save the stats from the game then you should look at buying an extra 2gb SD memory card. These can be found online at very minimal cost and will give you plenty of storage space to keep all your stats from the games, you should consider this when multiple players are going to be playing the games.




A docking station is also a great accessory to purchase for your games console, when used regularly the Wii can use up a lot of batteries, with a docking station you simply buy rechargeable batteries and fit them to your controller and place the controller in the docking station when not in use. This recharges the batteries ready for your next game play experience and means you will not have to buy batteries all the time to keep playing on your Wii, if you intend on using your Wii regularly then buying a docking station will saves you money in the long run.



To achieve the maximum enjoyment out of your games console then finding the right Wii games accessories is a must, online is a great place to start to look for information on accessories available so you can make an informed decision on which to buy.



To make your Wii gaming experience much more enjoyable you should check out the Wii games accessories available at [http://wiigamerental.com]http://wiigamerental.com.



Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Top 10 Games of 2010


By Xaris D


In 2010 a lot of worth mentioning games have been released but only 10 of them made it to my list. Let's go check them out.


Click Here!

10. Star Ocean-because it has an amazing and seemingly endless storyline which kept me interested for a very long time.


9. Dante's Inferno-because although many consider it a God of War copy, I think it has incredible gameplay and great graphics.


8. Dragon Age Origins:Awakening -because its an expansion of my favorite game of 2009, thus earning a place in this list.


7. Mass Effect 2-because of the very emerging plot it has and its rpg features.


6. Battlefield Bad Company 2-because in a world where CoD is considered to be the peak of videogames, its nice to see games like this that really ARE good.


5. God of War 3 -because of the very intense overall experience it leaves the player with.


4. Splinter Cell: Conviction-because of the storyline, graphics, sound, animation...


3. Red Dead Redemption - because of the vast open world and the out-of-this-world graphics.


2. Heavy Rain -because after all these years I am really happy to see that the game industry is taking it to a whole new level.


1. Alan Wake -because after six years of production and testing, Remedy managed to create a masterpiece. The graphics, the physics, the sound, the storyline...All of them add up to create this tittle which is really a genre defining game definitely a must have for everyone.
This list regards only the games that were released before May 24.
Article form http://consolegamingblog.blogspot.com/


Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Monday, May 31, 2010

South America - Women & Sports

South America - Women & Sports!By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alejandro_Guevara_Onofre]Alejandro Guevara Onofre
Road to London 2012! Argentina Did you know- Argentina sent six sportswomen to the XVII Olympic Winter Games in the Norwegian city of Lillehammer, between February 12 and February 27, 1994. However, none of them were able to qualify for the second round. Julia Iriarte (Bolivia) Did you know- Julia Iriarte is the greatest Bolivian athlete -male or female-of all time.She provided one of the more memorable moments of the Bolivarian Games in 1947: she won eight medals. She also became the first woman to win 8 track and field medals in a single Bolivarian Games. Thirty years later, at the 1977 Bolivarian Games in La Paz, Bolivia, Iriarte was given the honour of carrying the Olympic torch into the Stadium. For the first time in history this honour had been bestowed on a woman. In the 1940s, she established several new national records in eight track and field events.

Brazil Did you know- By 1957, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) hosted the Women's Basketball World Championship. The United States won the global event. Colombia Did you know- Colombia sent three sportswomen to the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles (California,USA) in 1984. Paraguay Did you know- For the second time, Asunción, the capital city of Paraguay, hosted the Women's Basketball South American Tournament ( 1962). Edith Noeding (Peru) Did you know- By July 1976,Peru's idol Edith Noeding -who won a gold medal in the women's 100m hurdles at the VII Pan American Games in Mexico City in 1975 - led a 13-member delegation to the Summer Olympics in Montreal (Canada).

At the 1976 Games she failed to win a medal when she had suffered a serious injury. Noeding, who has German roots, has been one of the most respected athletes in Peruvian history. Letitia Vriesde (Suriname) Did you know- In the 1990s, Suriname's champ Letitia Vriesde became the most successful South American runner. By 1990, she had won a gold medal in the women's 1,500m at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico City. In addition, she came in second place in the 800m. In the next year, Vriesde earned a silver medal in the women's 1,500m in the Pan American Games in Havana (Cuba). By the mid-1990s, she won the silver medal in the women's 800m at the IAAF World Championships in Sweden. During that time, she also earned a bronze medal in the Continental Games in Argentina. By 1999, she came in first place in the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. In the final, she -- only one South American runner- defeated Zulia Calatayud (Cuba) and Meredith Valmon (USA). Together with Anthony Conrad Nesty (Olympic champ in Seoul in 1988), she is one of the nation's idols in the 21st century. She was born on October 5, 1964. Estrella Puente (Uruguay) Did you know- Estrella Puente won the silver medal in the women's javelin throw at the 1955 Pan American Games in the United Mexican States.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women's rights, among them "History of the Women in America" and "Famous Americans."
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

South America - Women & Sports

South America - Women & Sports!By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alejandro_Guevara_Onofre]Alejandro Guevara Onofre
Road to London 2012! Argentina Did you know- Argentina sent six sportswomen to the XVII Olympic Winter Games in the Norwegian city of Lillehammer, between February 12 and February 27, 1994. However, none of them were able to qualify for the second round. Julia Iriarte (Bolivia) Did you know- Julia Iriarte is the greatest Bolivian athlete -male or female-of all time.She provided one of the more memorable moments of the Bolivarian Games in 1947: she won eight medals. She also became the first woman to win 8 track and field medals in a single Bolivarian Games. Thirty years later, at the 1977 Bolivarian Games in La Paz, Bolivia, Iriarte was given the honour of carrying the Olympic torch into the Stadium. For the first time in history this honour had been bestowed on a woman. In the 1940s, she established several new national records in eight track and field events.

Brazil Did you know- By 1957, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) hosted the Women's Basketball World Championship. The United States won the global event. Colombia Did you know- Colombia sent three sportswomen to the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles (California,USA) in 1984. Paraguay Did you know- For the second time, Asunción, the capital city of Paraguay, hosted the Women's Basketball South American Tournament ( 1962). Edith Noeding (Peru) Did you know- By July 1976,Peru's idol Edith Noeding -who won a gold medal in the women's 100m hurdles at the VII Pan American Games in Mexico City in 1975 - led a 13-member delegation to the Summer Olympics in Montreal (Canada).

At the 1976 Games she failed to win a medal when she had suffered a serious injury. Noeding, who has German roots, has been one of the most respected athletes in Peruvian history. Letitia Vriesde (Suriname) Did you know- In the 1990s, Suriname's champ Letitia Vriesde became the most successful South American runner. By 1990, she had won a gold medal in the women's 1,500m at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico City. In addition, she came in second place in the 800m. In the next year, Vriesde earned a silver medal in the women's 1,500m in the Pan American Games in Havana (Cuba). By the mid-1990s, she won the silver medal in the women's 800m at the IAAF World Championships in Sweden. During that time, she also earned a bronze medal in the Continental Games in Argentina. By 1999, she came in first place in the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. In the final, she -- only one South American runner- defeated Zulia Calatayud (Cuba) and Meredith Valmon (USA). Together with Anthony Conrad Nesty (Olympic champ in Seoul in 1988), she is one of the nation's idols in the 21st century. She was born on October 5, 1964. Estrella Puente (Uruguay) Did you know- Estrella Puente won the silver medal in the women's javelin throw at the 1955 Pan American Games in the United Mexican States.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women's rights, among them "History of the Women in America" and "Famous Americans."
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Tales of the Arabian Nights Board Game Review


By Steven H. Ng


Enter the mystical world of sultans, viziers, efreets and princesses as you become a legendary hero in Tales of the Arabian Nights. Take on the role of characters such as Aladdin, Ali Baba, Sindbad and Scheherazade. Adventure through Arabia and the rest of the world, and recreate your own legends and myths. Relive the One Thousand and One Nights as you journey over, sideways and under on a magic carpet ride!


Tales of the Arabian Nights is an interesting board game in that it doesn't really have a strong strategy or "thinking" component to it. It can instead be considered a tool to experience entertaining stories as your characters grow from their humble beginnings to become heroes, sultans or powerful magicians. As such, a requirement for playing the game is the ability to use your imagination to create wondrous encounters, and the ability to laugh at the misfortunes that are bound to come your way (a few drinks and a comfy playing area can help too)!


The game begins with every player's character starting as a poor nobody in the bustling capital of Baghdad. You can choose some of the most popular Arabian heroes as your character: from Aladdin and Ali Baba to Sindbad and Scheherazade. You also get to choose what skills your character possesses. These can range from standard RPG skills such as luck, weapon use and magic; to more exotic skills like seduction, piety and storytelling (So you can make Aladdin a seductive, lucky and pious man if you really wanted to). These skills will help you overcome obstacles and alter the course of events during your adventures.


You will also need to choose how you want to win the game. Each player has to secretly choose any combination of Story and Destiny points totaling 20 to be his goal. Your choice will depend on what kind of adventures you prefer to have. Non-violent tales usually provide Story points, while swashbuckling and magic-slinging adventures usually give you Destiny points. Each player also gets a random Quest that gives you a specific task to complete. These quests are usually epic in scale and might require you to visit exotic locations in the Far East or bring a prized artifact back to Baghdad. Completing the quests will provide you with benefits and victory points, and perhaps a treasure or two as well!




During their turn, each player moves their character to a new location, either on their way towards a particular destination, or just in search of adventure. The distance they can travel (both land and sea) will depend on how rich they are. After all, a wealthy prince will be able to afford a bigger, faster boat than a pauper. Once they have moved, they will need to draw an encounter card. This is where unexpected adventures will unfold, altering the characters' journeys, and sometimes altering the characters themselves as well.


You might encounter an interesting character, for example a vizier. What happens during the encounter will depend on the time of day (ie. how far into the game you are). Things get more dangerous (and perhaps more romantic) during the night. The encounter card will direct you to a specific paragraph in the great Book of Tales. This Book of Tales contains every story and adventure in the game. Each paragraph in the book contains a different story and result depending on what choices you make and what skills you have (think the old Choose Your Own Adventure books, but on a much grander scale). So your encounter with the vizier might lead you to a romantic encounter with him, or get you locked up in jail for trying to pick his pockets!


You can also encounter more random things, such as freak storms, whirlpools and even magical oases. The encounter card will direct you to an encounter matrix. A roll of the dice (modified by things such as your Story and Destiny points) will determine exactly what you will encounter. You will also be given a set of 8 responses you can make which will determine which paragraph in the Book of Tales that will affect you. For example, encountering the freak storm might give you the option to pray, hide, cry, wait or drink. As you can probably guess, picking certain responses will produce more entertaining and fun stories than others! Players take turns to move and experience these encounters, and the first player to achieve their pre-determined victory point combination will win the game.


There is practically no strategy involved in the game, other than the basic decision of deciding where to go to complete your quests. You also do not have much control over what happens in the encounters. For example, drinking during the freak storm might not sound like a smart decision, but it might make you pass out and wake up in a magical kingdom under the sea! Likewise, having the "weapon use" skill might make you think that helping a merchant fend off bandits is a good idea, but it might end up with the merchant robbing you while you are busy fighting.


The game is first and foremost a storytelling and adventure game, and you will enjoy it immensely if you throw caution to the winds and immerse yourself in the world of the Thousand and One Nights. The game might take a while to finish though, especially if you are playing with 5 or 6 players. But if you bring your funny accents and over-the-top acting, and are prepared to laugh at your own misadventures, you will really enjoy the Tales of the Arabian Nights!
Complexity: 2.0/5.0
Playing Time: ~ 2.5 hours
Number of Players: 1 to 6 players
You can read more about Tales of the Arabian Nights at rel=nofollow http://www.ageofboards.com/tales-of-the-arabian-nights.html
Steven maintains Age of Boards at http://www.ageofboards.com/ - a website devoted to the best and latest board and card games. You can read game reviews and customer comments via this website.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Shin Mega Tensei - Strange Journey - A Nintendo DS Games Blog Review



By Roll Miffler



Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, released by Atlus, is a niche Nintendo DS game that was released in America on March 3, 2010. The release is a first-person dungeon crawler, like Dark Spire, but with a Shin Megami Tensei taste. In SMT: Strange Journey, the player will direct a silent protagonist as he explores the dangers of a gigantic place known as the Schwarzwelt: a mysterious expanding space found at the South Pole that threatens to consume the whole planet. During a mission to investigate the likely threat posed by the Schwarzwelt, the main character will find himself crashing somewhere within it, and the story begins as the main character is introduced to the idea of fighting monsters.



For the most part, Strange Journey is composed of a navigation system and a battle system, with a central hub place to which the player will report between and during stages. You make your way through the maze-like Schwarzwelt while occasionally being interrupted by a random fight. These battles are standard, step-by-step RPG fare in which the player controls a group of monsters to combat different monsters. What differentiates these fights from those found in different Nintendo DS role-playing games is that they start off challenging in every space, so you will have to plan about resource management while exploring, so that you always have enough supplies to survive the trip back to the central rest area.

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To the eyes, the game is nice. The character and enemy artwork looks detailed, and even though the enemy artwork is ripped out of previous SMT games, they are much more than would be hoped for considering the gigantic amount of demons you may enlist in the fighting group. The 3D visual effects aren't anything special when compared to those shown in different rel=nofollow [http://nintendodsgamess.blogspot.com/]Nintendo DS games, though they are not distracting, either. The visual effects perform the job they're made to and provide little distraction from the real content of the game, but they do not wow either.



The sound effects exist along a continuum from grating to pleasant. Encounters will exhibit obligatory sounds of projectiles firing and fangs slashing and demons yelping. Doors will make clicking sounds as needed, and nothing stands out if it shouldn't. The score sounds creative, anyway. During encounters and plot scenes, the music will mostly be upbeat, and never invoke the wrong mood. While navigating, however, it is usually nothing more than repeated drum sounds interspersed with the attention-catching vocal grunts, which are poorly done.



Overall, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey is a strong title. It is in no way likely to let you down, but there is not much to make it one of the best. Taken with the entire library the Nintendo DS games, it is close to the highest rank due solely to the stupendous amount of decent and downright boring RPGs. Placed upon a list of different titles, it would be seen close to the median-quality games.





Don't get me wrong, if you have completed a lot of the awesome Nintendo DS games, or you only thirst for a solid dungeon-crawler, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey should be moved to the highest eschelon of your to-buy queue, but if you are yet confused about all the awesome Nintendo DS games to be found, take it slow and learn more about what else is out there before making your next purchase. [http://nintendodsgamess.blogspot.com/]Nintendo DS Games Blog is a site where you can find my thoughts on Nintendo DS games that I've played recently, as well as other news and rumors I hear.



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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Xbox 360 Emulator-What Is It


By Jason Hobbs


Microsoft's Xbox 360 is the latest among the power gaming consoles out in the market today. And because the new game console provides a more than normal playing experience, a number of individuals, groups and even companies have started the buzz or talks regarding the possible development of different types of emulators to allow them to play Xbox 360 in various platforms.


Basically, an emulator can either be a software emulator which enables the computer system to work on a totally different software program from the one which was originally installed. On the other hand, the hardware emulator comes in the form of a hardware device and is designed for multi platform operations.
Earlier in March this year, reports came out that Nintendo Entertainment System or NES has released an emulator system dedicated for the Xbox 360. By making their own emulators, NES is able to allow the user to take the ROMs of most NES games and put them in the newer Xbox 360.


The use of console emulators began in the mid-90s. Console emulators were used to then to repackage and reissue their older games on newer versions of their game consoles. An example of which is the repackaging of their games for the Nintendo Wii which will allow for emulation of NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and TurboGrafx-16 games.


However, there's still a huge issue regarding the development of emulator programs and hardware. Since other game platforms are created by companies that are more or less competing in the same business, no single company will give the rights to its competitor to create emulators that will allow their games to run on the competitor's game console.


Xbox 360 was originally created by Microsoft with the collaboration of companies like IBM, ATI, Samsung and SiS. The Xbox 360 was meant to replace the older Xbox game console which was also a product of Microsoft. Microsoft and its partners aimed to further improve the potential and capabilities of the Xbox by releasing the Xbox 360.


The new game console promised to give the best level of gaming experience unavailable from the older Xbox as well as from other brands and/or game console competition. It was proven to be such a popular game console. Since its release, millions of units have been sold not only across the country but all over the globe.




The Xbox 360 was created in such a way that the game consul is compatible with most of the Xbox's previously published games, especially the top selling ones. The 360 is backwards compatible so it doesn't actually need an emulator for older Xbox games.


Some consider emulators, either software or hardware, as illegal since they programs and hardware are used to change the games on a computer and can be modified to allow one to play pirated games. The Xbox 360 has a software emulator which allows them to play only original Xbox games since the creators of the game only licensed the hardware in the original Xbox.


Theoretically, however, one can emulate anything in an Xbox except for PS2 and Gamecube. Several emulators are already available for consoles I've never heard of. Other popular consoles already have their own working emulators. Basically, you'll need an emulator and ROMs to be able to emulate in your Xbox. ROM is basically a game in a format that can be read and used by an emulator.
If you would like more information on Xbox 360 Jason Hobbs runs 2 related websites [http://xbox360news.bestonlineinfo.co.uk]Xbox 360 News and [http://xbox360search.bestonlineinfo.co.uk]Xbox 360 Search Engine


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Monday, May 24, 2010

How Easy is it to Make Money at Home With iPhone Apps?

By Demetrius Wilder

There are a millions ways to make money with a home based business. Although there are countless ways to make streams of incomes, how many of the businesses actually work, A FEW! Buy this Buy that, Sell this Sell That, in the end the only one being sold is you.

With all the bad apples there are a few organizations that can change your income bracket, but it all require a lot of work. How would you like to get paid just to have the perfect idea? Welcome to the world of iPhone apps. As we speak thousands of lives have been changed financially and that number is building daily. It is a very simple concept.

We all have heard of the iPhone. It is more than just a phone, it is basically a computer in the palm of your hand. Unlike a computer though there are applications or software you can use on the iPhone to enhance your experience.
Example you can drive a car with a iPhone app, convert English into other languages, make music, also some simple apps such as news, weather, educational tools, games, and plenty of apps for child entertainment and educations. OVER 200,000 apps are available on the iPhone.

The majority of those apps were invented by regular people with no software or computer programming knowledge. They just had the perfect idea, and someone else made the app. The beauty of it is when the app is designed and approved by apple they handle all the selling and backend work. With more than 50 millions users if your app catches on you are a rich human being. Plenty of people make money at home, hundreds a month but plenty are making thousands a month even $100,000's a month. For more info

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This is the perfect time in history if you are looking to make money at home on your own terms. How many good ideas have you tossed down the drain because you didn't know which avenue to take. If you can come up with the perfect idea to make a iPhone users life more easy, fun, or just plain cool you can easily change the fortune of you and your family.

Once you have your app designed apple charges a one time $99 activation and product certification fee, once that is done you are listed in the stores for people to shop for apps and the rest is history(With the right app of course!). You can design your app yourself if you have the know how. Or there are companies that will take your idea and design the app for you. You to can make money at home!
Demetrius Wilder is a All-American dad who resides in South Florida. DESIGN YOUR IPHONE APP [http://www.melodeas.blogspot.com/]Click Here!

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Top Free iPhone Games



By Chris Pine


The Apple iPhone was a revolutionary device when it was released in June of 2007, and it is still arguably the best phone on the market today. One aspect of the iPhone which is surprising to many people is the robustness of its portable gaming capabilities. With its full multi-touch display, its "accelerometer" which can detect which way the device is being held and moved, and 3D graphics, the iPhone has proven itself to be a major competitor to both Sony and Nintendo in the portable gaming market.


There are tens of thousands of free games in Apple's App Store, but most of them are either really bad, or they are merely "demo" games of a higher priced paid version. However, there are definitely some real gems if you are willing to mine for them. Here are some of the top free iPhone games to help get you started.

1. Tap Tap Revenge II
If you've ever watched someone play Guitar Hero, then you know the basic concept of this game. Instead of a guitar, you "tap" on the screen to the beat of your favorite music. You can rack up a high score by tapping many notes in a row without missing any.

2. Sol Free Solitaire
This is a simple solitaire game like you might find on your Windows PC. Actually, there are many solitaire games like this one on the iPhone, but Sol Free Solitaire stands head and shoulders above the rest. The graphics are clear and crisp, and the cards are extremely responsive to the touch of your finger as you drag them from pile to pile.

3. Real Racing GTi
Real Racing GTi is a full-fledged arcade racing game which several years ago could only be found in a mall arcade or on a home console. The graphics are top-notch and realistic, and the smooth controls lets you feel like you are really in a race car. There are three game modes: quick race, time trial, and cup championship. This is undoubtedly the best arcade racer on the iPhone.

4. Chess with Friends / Words with Friends
These are two games from a company called NewToy. What makes these games unique is that they can be played over any length of time. Chess with Friends is (obviously) a chess game, and Words with Friends is a variant of Scrabble. After you make your move, you can turn the game off and go about your daily business. When your friend has made their move - hours or days later - you can open the game and make your next move. Simple gameplay, elegant graphics, and their inherent social nature have made these games extremely popular.

5. TapDefense
This is a popular game in the "tower defense" game genre. Tower defense games have become popular as simple online games. A swarm of enemies come out of an entrance and head in a line toward an exit which you must defend by constructing a series of towers to defend the exit. Although there are a multitude of games like this in the App Store, TapDefense is unique because it is not only top-notch, but also free.

6. iBowl

This is another social game. If you've ever played bowling on the Nintendo Wii with your friends, then you might be able to imagine what this game is all about. You throw your bowling ball by literally swinging your arm, and the iPhone tracks your arm's movement. Your friend across town (or across the world) can watch your ball roll down the lane, and then they can take their turn. It's a fun and competitive game for people who like to play games without pushing a lot of buttons.


There are even more great games for the iPhone if you are willing to pay a few dollars. Most of the best games on the iPhone aren't free, but the above few are. The iPhone has given users not only the ability to play games which have previously been impossible to develop, but it has also given them the ability to download quite a few of those games for free. It will be interesting to see what new games are developed for the iPhone in the next few years. These games are all also available if you buy the iPad or the iPod Touch. Head over to http://www.buyipadonline.com/ for more tips and deals on Apple products.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Download Wii Games - Where To Download Games For Nintendo Wii

By Steve Somerton

The popularity of the new Wii console has led a lot of us to wonder if we can download Wii games. A quick search online turns up lots of sites offering Wii game downloads and talking about the possibility of getting these games. However, it can be hard to tell which sites are reliable, safe from viruses, and provide quality games.

A good Wii download site will offer both older games and new releases. The Wii's support for classic Nintendo games means that you have the ability to download your old favorites, as well as the flashiest new games. If you want to download Wii games, look for a site that offers a good variety. Don't give your information or money to any site you don't trust, or that feels shady. Stick to well designed sites that won't sell your information or fill your computer with malware.

Generally, you'll find that there are two different kinds of sites on the web offering Wii game downloads. Some charge a price per file download. Others allow you access to an unlimited number of games for a flat fee. Which you choose will depend on how many games you need. If you want to download Wii games extensively, an unlimited site will be your best choice. If you are just looking for that one special game you can't find anywhere else, however, paying by the download will be cheaper.

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To download Wii games, some sites may require you to download special software. This software will either connect to the site's main server, or to other users of the site, allowing you to download the Wii games you want. Remember, to play downloaded games on your computer, you'll also have to be able to find an emulator that operates the way the Nintendo console would.

If you want to download Wii games, it's easy to find a place that offers them. However, choosing where you want to download from can be a little bit harder. Look carefully at all the available sites offering games for download before you pick one. You could be downloading the latest Wii games, or your old favorites, within a few minutes of registering.

For a list of the top 3 Nintendo Wii download sites check out [http://www.download-wii-games.com]Download-Wii-Games.com
Steve Somerton writes informative articles on various subjects including Download Wii Games - Where To Download Games For Nintendo Wii? 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.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com

List of the Top Wii Games For Girls




By Smith]Tony B. Smith



There are a lot of great Wii games for girls. Although, most of them are great, there are some that have been rated as the best. So, what I'm going to do is share with you a list of the top Wii games for girls. That way, you can get the best games for your game system.
The top Wii games for girls are:



1. Mario Kart. This is a great game for any girl of any age. Actually, this game is great for anyone.



2. Cooking Mama. This is one of the best Wii games for girls.



3. Dance Dance Revolution. This is a fun game. I highly recommend this game.


4. Super Mario Galaxy. This is one of the best Super Mario games that's out right now. If you love the other Super Mario games, you will love this game. This is another game that's for anyone.



5. Guitar Hero. This game is so much fun. This is a great game for girls, however guys can play this, too.



6. Wii Fit. This is a fun game. This game will allow you to workout and have fun at the same time.



7. Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This is another great game. It's actually more fun if you play this with other people.
8. Littlest Pet Shop. This is a good game for girls. If you like animals and pets, you should get this game.



This is a small list of the top Wii games for girls. If you want to have to have a lot of fun, I would suggest you get the games mentioned above. You can actually download those games and thousands of other games. Check out the link below to find out where you can download those games from.
To download all the top Wii games for girls and start playing them now, click on the link below: [http://Download--Wii--Games.blogspot.com]Top Wii Games For Girls
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