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

Among the notable games that are coming out would be the off-shoot of popular sports and athletics such as the NBA, NFL and the NHL. These sporting events usually lead the headlines of the newspaper sports headlines and people are given the opportunity to be able to experience them through developed games in the various game consoles of the Playstation and Xbox series.

Each game comes with the usual updated player rosters, teams, statistics and signature moves that players are known for. Games like NBA Live and Madden Football also have the feature of a dynasty or story mode which allows controllers to be able to dictate and follow the development and evolution of their created or existing players throughout their career. Teams are also another good thing to build on since building dynasties is synonymous to planning and strategic management in a different approach and aspect from such developed games today.

Tags: nba-live, nfl, PlayStation, PS2, PS3, Xbox

For game consoles, the need for a gamer to be familiar with the controller buttons which corresponds to a particular command in the chosen games such as Tekken and Mortal Kombat is a need to enjoy the game and interface much easier. Such controller buttons once combined properly will produce special moves and secret effects that make the gaming experience for games a whole lot worth it.

Truth of the matter is that most games, either fighting or role playing games offer more than just graphical presentation to impress the gamers. For older people the essence of game play and hidden secrets in games is something that they would initially want to crack. A good source to find out such hidden codes and combinations would be the Internet. A lot of sites like Gamespy offers such codes and walkthroughs for gamers to practice them once they get the chance to try it out for themselves in their PlayStation, Xbox and Wii game consoles.

Tags: PlayStation, ps, PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox

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

There are a lot of things an addicted gamer would prefer for his game console. Regardless if this is a PlayStation, Nintendo, Gamebox or personal computer games, add-ons in the form of steering wheel controllers, dance pads and higher capacity memory cards will always be available for expansion.

Some people would be content by merely having the basic gaming unit and satisfying themselves with the available options a game would have. But sooner or later, depending on the game genre that they are looking at, upgrades and improvements to their current setup will surely ensue.

There is no question that a gaming experience would increase the ante of requirements to play the game at a higher level. Such an occurrence will only be normal because this is what game developers aim to achieve. Higher requirements in the form of required controllers and hardware requirements will only be normal. The advanced a game becomes, the higher the need for advanced requirements as well.

Tags: Nintendo, PC-games, PlayStation, Xbox

And it’s pouring like cats and dogs out there! Ever since they announced the development of this video game, I have been looking forward to actually trying it out. Heavy Rain has created a lot of noise. At first glance, the plot does not seem to be much different from any other movie or show that you can see today. The central character is a serial killer that is caught up in the drama of his life. The brilliance of Heavy Rain is in how the creators blurred the lines between movies and video games. And with the power backing up gaming consoles today, I can just imagine how awesome the gaming experience will be!

SFGate describes the game in words that I just cannot shake off:

The PlayStation 3 title, which goes on sale Tuesday, invites players to step inside a beautifully crafted interactive movie, playing four characters as they grapple with moral and emotional choices that spill out from the story.

There are no points, gunbattles or traditional challenges found in video games. Instead there is a propulsive story with clear consequences to every action, including death for any of the main characters.

For some reason, I think of a modern and hi-tech version of Choose Your Own Adventure. The game is obviously very much focused on the story, making it quite intelligent, in my mind. I like to think of it as you creating your own movie but using the video game format. Now that I can get my hands on it, I just might be holing myself in for the weekend.

Tags: Heavy Rain, New Games, playstation3

Anyone who has had at two or three gaming consoles at the same time will know how irritating it can be to have to deal with all the wires associated with these toys. You also have to consider the game controllers. While the new gaming consoles have wireless controllers, the mere idea of having to buy different controllers for different consoles is not that attractive. We have no choice at the moment, however.

If Sony’s patent application is going to become a reality, though, we just might be able to use one gadget to play games using various consoles. Think PlayStation, Xbox, and the Wii. I think that they’ve also mentioned compatibility with Atari and Sega!

How is this going to work? According to the patent application, the controller will make use of an LCD screen – touch sensitive of course. This screen will display the various buttons and controls that we currently find in game controllers. Obviously, this means that the experience will not be tactile at all. It’s much like the touch screen phones and tablets in the market today. The controller will be able to store 3 different controller configurations but will display only one configuration at a time.

I can easily see how advantageous one controller for all consoles can be. However, I am not so sure about the disappearance of buttons that you can actually feel. I think the tactile experience is part of gaming, and the touch screen idea might not be well-received. Then again, that’s what many said about the iPhone.

Tags: game-controllers, gaming consoles, sony, universal remote

What do you get if you combine Rock Band and Guitar Hero? It’s simple: Band Hero. This is one of the latest titles in the plethora of video games about music, and guess who is behind it? No other than the makers of the hit video game franchise, Guitar Hero.

The first thought that came to mind when I heard of Band Hero is that why would they feel the need to create another game when Guitar Hero is still making it big? I think one of the things that gives the new game an edge is the line up of artists and songs featured. How does Adam Levine, No Doubt, Lilly Allen, and The All-American Rejects sound? I am pretty sure that the younger crowd will have more fun playing to these songs than a lot of the music featured in the Guitar Hero series.

Just like the other games, Band Hero allows multiple players to contribute their talents as different members of the band. There are a lot modes which players can choose from. I think one very interesting mode is Let’s Get this Party Started! In this mode, any player can join in at any point of the song. Players can tweak their settings in mid-song as well, making it easy for everyone to do their own things without having to worry about messing the whole production up. This is excellent for groups of people who do not have the same level of skill – and I am just thinking of my family right now!

The game is available for the XBox360 and PlayStation3, among other platforms.

Tags: Band Hero, guitar-hero, New Games, Rock Band

Not long after Sony released its much awaited PlayStation 3 Slim, video game console makers seem to have woken up from their slumber. If you thought that the video game console wars are over, think again! It’s back and in full force.

Try looking online for a video game console and you will be met with various promises and offers. This console has better hardware to give the best graphic experience. This one is the fastest. This one has awesome sounds. And so on.

More than the actual console itself, manufacturers are coming up with a plethora of hardware add-ons that promise to give gamers the best experience yet. At the most recent E3 convention in May, Sony revealed a new control system that is compatible with the PlayStation Eye. Not to be outdone, Microsoft revealed Natal, a hands-free control system. Of course, Wii had its MotionPlus.

Now we are witnessing the slashing of game console prices. The PlayStation 3 Slim already costs less than the first models. I was really taken by surprise at how low the price was! The Wii is also getting cheaper, with a 20% discount in the works.

What does this mean for us, consumers? Simple! We will have more and better choices in the near future. Looking at things from another angle, owners of the Xbox 360 and PS3 Slim are quite assured of the longevity of their consoles – it doesn’t seem like the units will be phased out for newer ones anytime soon.

Tags: Microsoft, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, PS3 Slim, sony, video game console wars, video game consoles, video games, xbox360

By now, you’ve probably gotten yourself your own PlayStation 3 Slim – the newest console to roll out of Sony’s manufacturing plants. Then again, you might be holding off on making that purchase, especially if you still have the original PS3. If you do not know it yet, my own 60G PS3 died on me early this year. Apparently, the motherboard just melted. From what I have been reading in the forums, this particular model of the PS3 is really prone to this meltdown. Lucky me.

So you would have thought that I would have gone out and immediately bought a replacement. I thought it wiser to wait for a while, and I am glad that I did! Over the weekend, when the new PS3 Slim was released, I decided to wait no longer and get myself a new toy. So how is it?

Well, it has only been several days but so far, I am more than satisfied. To be honest, though, I have not seen much improvement regarding performance and functionality. I am still doing the exact same things that I did with the original PS3. I play my games, I watch videos and TV shows, I play online, and I download content. The Blu-Ray player is just as handy as ever.

So why buy the Slim? Well, it IS slim! I still am getting used to seeing this sleek black box where a chunky shiny black box used to sit. I don’t hear any noise – seriously, nothing at all – while it is on. It doesn’t heat up (please, motherboard, don’t melt on me again), and they say it uses less power (let’s see the electric bill when it arrives).

I say get yourself one if your PS3 is due for replacement. If not, then you can wait.

Photo courtesy of Letsbuyit

Tags: gaming consoles, Playstation 3, PS3 Slim, sony