Game controllers for most game consoles of PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo have become another aspect of needing to satisfy the demand for possible damages or worn out game pads today. The wearing out process is only normal considering that with the rising addiction that most gamers employ on their time in playing, they tend to wear out the buttons and the joysticks from excessive use.

It is a good thing that such game controller pads are available anywhere today. Depending on the wear and tear of such controllers, people end up trying to purchase a new one once their old ones start to loose their purpose, like delayed reactions of commands once pushed and also no response coming from moving the stick pad controllers.

While some may not be inclined to buy new ones and have their old controllers fixed, it will still come to a point where the controller would evidently have to be replaced, meaning beyond repair states. For some people, it would be best to replace now rather than wait until the time comes when controllers would become a rarity.

Tags: game-controllers, Nintendo, PS2, PS3, Xbox

Word games such as online scrabble, bookworm and Bejeweled give more than simple attractive graphics and animations. They help sharpen the minds and vocabulary of people who play them, and this alone helps them discover rare words and refreshes their current roster of terminologies that have been stored in their heads.

The usual method is to provide a number of letters to which a person must come up with the longest word they know to which scores are based. The longer it is, the better the score that they would get. All of these are done in a specified time limit, needing to compose a certain number of words to advance to the next round.

Most gamers would prefer the action packed or mystery solving games, but simple educational and appealing games for the mind have their share of followers as well. Besides, games are not only meant to provide entertainment but also another side of which to help people in improving skills and lateral thinking. Such has been the off shoot of word games that people are becoming addicted to as today.

Tags: bookworm, scrabble, word-games

The trend for most Internet savvy individuals today is that of becoming members of certain gaming sites that offer online games as a means of recreation and experience. There have been a number of games known such as Runescape, World of Warcraft and Tantra. These online games are slowly becoming the next boom as far as Internet related activities are concerned, and to date many are becoming hooked towards them.

A person may be asking, why pay for an online game membership, when he can buy himself a personal game where he can independently play the game on is personal computer? The difference is that an online game is similar to a virtual world, and you can also engage in multi-player adventures and activities. A player is not limited to only fighting but can specialize in certain professions that are key parts in making the game entirely successful.

But the question remains, would people pay good money to be affiliated with such game hosting sites? While some would charge minimum, there is also the matter of considering other game servers that are free over the web. The answer lies on how interested a person would be in being an online player for such game sites.

Tags: mmporg, online-games, roleplaying, RPG, runescape, tantra, Warcraft, wow-gold

Most online games have game emulators and scripts of varied nature that allow people who have been addicted to such online games to try their hands at playing god. While some are purely after studying the mechanics of the game, and making it a whole lot easier by being the one who knows the ins and outs of the fabricated personal world.

Games such as Ultima Online and Ragnarok have respective game emulators available for download. For some people, playing alone rather than with other hardcore gamers will satisfy their usual feeling of triumph. However, the excitement and the challenge will apparently be gone.

Additionally, bugs and scripting problems will occur. The need to study the programming methodology from them will surely be something that allows players to appreciate why such online games are rarely offered by ambitious administrators who will manage a group of demanding individuals wanting a crack at administering and programming the course of the game.

[tags]ultima online, ragnarok, gaming, online games, emulators[/tags]

Tags: emulators, gaming, online-games, ragnarok, ultima-online

Online games have been numerous and originating from all parts of the world, particularly in the Asian countries of Korea, Taiwan and Europe. Practically anyone can log on to such gaming servers, either through downloading the game client or through purchased compact discs that contain the relevant files to be able to play the game. Among the known games include Ultima Online, Runescape, World of Warcraft Gold, and Freestyle Basketball.

There are also the usual games developed by the Yahoo group, like Bookworm, Lemonade Tycoon, Family Feud or Chess. These games are more of an individual type, although features to have a two player game are available for selected games such as Chess.

Overall, it will be all whittled down to which is important, game play or graphics. For actual role playing games, it is a toss up. For hardcore gamers, the game methodology is the more important thing over the graphics since they have been exposed to various games already. Graphics such as 3D capability is also preferred although some may have pathetic game objectives. It is truly hard to satisfy both genres but overall, their presence over the web adds another new dimension on going online, gaming at a level where they can enjoy and converse with other people from any walk of life today.

Tags: 3d-graphics, online-games, roleplaying

Ever heard of Legends of Zork? If not, then it’s about time that you did. GameStop recently launched its new online game – which, by the way, is FREE TO PLAY – and it is called Legends of Zork. The well known name in the gaming world has teamed up with Jolt Online (another upcoming name in gaming) to provide access to Legends of Zork.

In line with the launch of the online game, GameStop is also running a promo contest. Basically, what you have to do is go to any GameStop location in the United States and ask for a promotional card. Yes, believe it or not, it is also FREE.

You then have to register online at www.LegendsOfZork.com using the code found in the card. Upon doing this, you are qualified to join their sweepstakes. Here’s the great thing: the prize is one year’s worth of FREE video games. Now who wouldn’t want to win that???

I have to tell you, though, that you need to head on over to the nearest GameStop location NOW. The cards are free but they are being given away on a first come first served basis. With this kind of prize at stake, I will not be a bit surprised if the promotional cards run out.

Going back to the new game, I haven’t tried it; but, I think that I will at least give it a try. I like the name Zork and there are no download requirements for the game. Let me know if you get around to playing.

Tags: free games, GameStop, Jolt, Legends of Zork, online-games

The year 2009 was rocked – hard – by various controversies. From politics to the entertainment industry to sports – we all heard and saw one scandal after the other all throughout the year. Not the least of these scandals is what happened to star golfer Tiger Woods. Who would have thought that he had all those skeletons in his closet?

After the news about his infidelity, it came as no surprise when sponsor after sponsor jumped ship, not wanting to touch the former squeaky clean sportsman. Here’s a bit of news though: Electronic Arts (EA) is standing by their guy! Well, I don’t know much about the relationship between Tiger Woods and EA but the fact remains that the video game icon is not cancelling its plans because of the scandal.

Prior to all the hullaballoo, EA already had plans to launch Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. This is obviously the web-based version of the known video game. Developers were working on it last year when Tiger Wood’s personal life became headline news all over the world.

The people at EA say that what they have – the company and Tiger Woods – is all about golf and sportsmanship. They are taking the stand that whatever problems Tiger has in his personal life, it doesn’t change the fact that he is the best golfer out there.

Me, I don’t like golf – in real life or in video games. I also don’t think that EA will simply drop an investment like that. What are they going to do with the game anyway? Might as well launch it, right?

Tags: EA, new releases, online-games, Tiger Woods, video game news

I have to admit it – I have been spending a LOT of time on Facebook lately. It is not really productive but I can’t help it. The reason behind this is the fact that Facebook has so many games incorporated into the platform that you just keep coming back for more. I guess you can say that it is a stroke of genius on their part.

Now, another popular social media platform is following suit. MySpace used to be THE social media platform to be part of. I still remember the days when everyone was bugging me to join MySpace and I didn’t really cave in to the pressure. (I am not even sure why I created a Facebook account, but anyway, that is a different story.)

So anyhow, MySpace is trying to regain the position that it strongly held before the glory days of Facebook. And how is it going to do that? Well, the answer is pretty clear – they are going to go the way of online gaming as well.

News reports state that the people behind MySpace are aiming to regain a foothold in the world of social media by branding itself as THE destination for the ultimate entertainment experience online. While the basic premise is as clear as day, the details are not exactly public knowledge. The closest that we’ve gotten to the details is that “acquisitions” might be in the future of MySpace. As to what, when, and how, we are left in the dark.

I guess we will just see if we can find some interesting (and addicting) games in MySpace in the near future.

I have heard many PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 fanboys say this over and over. These relatively new video game consoles just keep getting better and better, and for some, you have not experienced gaming unless you have used these consoles. Indeed, I know some people who would not play on anything than their favorite gaming console.

But what about the good old personal computer? Back in the day, the PC was all I played on. From Minesweeper to Hearts to The Sims to Counterstrike – the PC also has continued to evolve as a mean gaming machine. If we were to believe some people though, it would seem as if the PC as a gaming machine is all but dead. But is it, really?

Apparently NOT. A recent study by Interpret shows that 23% of gamers use their PCs as the main means of gaming. Their reason? The computer provides a far better experience than the PS3, the Xbox 360, or even the Nintendo Wii.

This is because with the PC, you can use the keyboard and the mouse for more complex controls. These peripherals also provide better means of communication, which is quite vital for online MMOs and strategy games.

You may be wondering about the sales of PC games. It is true that PC games are selling less and less – that is why video game stores are devoting less shelf space to them. However, the sales of downloadable games continue to rise.

The bottom line? PC gaming is not dead, and I don’t think it will ever be

You are no stranger to the Fold@Home set up, I presume. If you are a proud owner of a PlayStation 3, then you are probably participating in this awesome project right now. Even if you do not have a PS3, you might have heard of this project, which makes use of spare computing power of individuals who have PS3s. The project’s aim is to utilize all the computing power that researchers can lay their hands on. When PS3s are running online, they can be hooked up to the network and be used to continuously do research on cures for diseases such as cancer.

Now how about taking this concept one step further, and actually throwing in human brain power into the equation? This is the idea that the people behind the video game Foldit have in mind. On the surface, Foldit is just like any other 3D puzzle game. Video game players have to work out these puzzles to score points. The more complex the puzzles and the faster you solve them, the more points you get.

But it doesn’t stop there! Underneath the surface, you can get so much more; say, a cure to cancer? Or maybe AIDS? That explanation is simplified to the bare essentials, but that is the main idea. By working out these puzzles, scientists may be able to gain more insight on protein folding, which is essential to understanding how diseases such as cancer and AIDS work. And if they actually glean these insights, a cure may be on the horizon. Exciting, to say the least, eh?