Gaming General: 2009

Learning Chess - Chess Game Piece Roles

Whether you are brand new to playing chess or if you have been a chess player for awhile now, knowledge is power when it comes to improving your game. Therefore, having a true understanding of both the names and the proper usage of each chess game piece is very important. To win a game of chess, you need to carefully come up with a great strategy in order to beat your opponent. Therefore, playing chess is not only a great way to keep your mind sharp but it is also a lot of fun!

As you are probably already aware, the game of chess is played between two people. As with most any board game, you both alternate taking turns. One player will use all the white pieces, and the other player will then use all of the black pieces. The way the game of chess then works is that you each take turns moving one game piece at a time, and the person that manages to capture the enemy king is declared the winner of the game.

Next, let us take a look at each individual piece. First, there is the bishop. The bishop game piece can only be moved in a straight line diagonally. However, there is no limit to how many numbers of squares it can be moved. The rook game piece most often looks a lot like a small tower. You can move the rook either vertically or horizontally. As with the bishop, there is no limit to how many number of squares the rook can be moved.

The queen is considered by many to be the most powerful piece in chess because the options with the queen game piece are practically limitless. You can move in any direction you choose with the queen game piece whether that be diagonally, vertically or horizontally, and you may also move the queen any number of squares that you would like. As with the queen, the king game piece can also be moved in any direction. However, the king piece is somewhat limited as it can only be moved one square at a time.

The knight is usually easily recognized because it often looks like a horse. The knight piece moves in a rather strange pattern. This pattern is somewhat difficult to explain, but some say that it can best be described as making an L-shape. The knight is also the only game piece that is allowed to jump over other game pieces.

Last but certainly not least, there is the pawn. In the game of chess, pawns are commonly referred to as the weakest game pieces. One reason for this is they are somewhat limited in their movement, as one is only allowed to move a pawn piece forward and not backwards.

Best of luck, and I hope that you enjoy learning how to play chess!

Chess Game Pieces is a chess resource that provides information on various types of chess pieces. If you are looking for a new chess set or pieces , wooden chess pieces or staunton chess pieces are a good place to start for beginners.

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A List of Board Games Throughout the Ages

If you thought that board games were something that began in the seventies, then you couldn't be more wrong.

Playing was and still is the way through which humans learn, and this is why games are a very important part of our culture. Currently there are a lot of board games that are widely available, either to purchase in your local supermarket, games store, or online. The choices are almost countless and you can be sure that even if you are not a big fan of board games, you can still find one that suits you and will give you countless hours of fun.

The oldest board game ever confirmed is "Senet" or "Senat" , an Egyptian game that dates circa 3500 BC. Initially, it had a religious significance, it's translation meaning "game of passing", but that was gradually lost. When it comes to the actually gameplay and the rules of the game, these are still a topic of some debate. However,right now, the rules of the game were proposed by historians Timothy Kendall and R.C Bell, and these rules have been adopted by the companies that sell Senet sets today.

Other well known board games are Chess, Backgammon and Solitaire. These are well known games that can be found also find in electronic format so that you can play them on your PC, laptop computer and handheld device.

Chess is the classic example of board game. The current version of chess began gaining popularity in the 15th century, but the game is older than that, having it's origins in a very old Indian game. Right now it's considered a sport in some countries - a sport of mind since it implies lots of thinking and strategy to be played right and won.

Backgammon is closely related to Chess, not because of the strategy, but usually because most chess boards also include this game in the interior of the casing. This game also has a rich history, being part of the "tables" family which is one of the oldest classes of game boards in the world. However, this game doesn't require much strategy being a dice game. Even so, it's still fun to play hence it's popularity.

Here is a quick list of board games, from all different times: Achi, Ad Elta Stelpur, Bashne, Bizingo, Brax, Bul, Checkers, Conspirators, Fidchell, Fighting Serpents, Frisian Go, and Go-Moku to name just a few.

Just pick your board game of choice and start enjoying yourself, or play the game with your friends and family. You choose, since there are single player board games and multi-player, it's all up to you.

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Kid's Board Games - The Way to Connect With Your Children

Today, more than ever it seems that the lack of communication between children and parents, but also between children themselves isn't what it used to be.

Because of the widespread of internet and computers, more and more children tend to spend most of their time in front of their computers, playing games or socializing online. There are thousands of games to be played and social networks specially designed for kids. While the internet allows you children to connect to the entire world and also have access to more information than you ever had, it can also have a side effect: making your kids introverted and socially inapt because of this.

Sometimes, a good clean old fashioned way of family entertainment is needed to get you closer to your children and make your kids connect and socialize with other kids through face to face contact.

One of the most popular form of entertainment and fun back in the day, were board games. Of course, today you are bound to find almost all of the world's board games as computer programs, but this shouldn't stop you when you want to connect with your children. What you can do is get your laptop and play in the same room with your children in front of the computer if you didn't buy the real version of a board game. This would be a great way to show your children that mommy and daddy aren't that behind when it comes to technology and could be the first step in connecting with them.

There are a lot of options when it comes to board games, and some of them are designed just for fun, but others make "the little engine that could" start working thus helping your children to develop a logical way of thinking, which they can't really get from playing FPS's ( first person shooter) or racing games all day long.

Kid's board games, as already said are countless, Checkers, Chess, Backgammon, Conspirators, Go-Moku, Go, Solitaire, Tablut, Surakarta, Tigers and Goats, Twelve Man Morris, Wari, to name just a few. Don't worry if you don't know how to play all of them, since you can easily find information about the rules and strategies of the games online. All you need to do is take some time to find a game that you and your children can play together, and then start enjoying your time together!

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Cheap Board Games - The Simple Family Fun

Who ever said that you need to pay a lot of money to have fun? Fun can come at small prices and in huge quantities, no matter your age, statute, education or income. Fun is something that everybody can have, no matter what.

One of the best sources of fun, are games. Of course, today you have countless of options when it comes to playing games, especially since it's the era of computers. Just a few clicks and you're there. However, staying in front of a computer means that you, most often, stay alone. No matter if you chat online or play games in which you can chat with other players, there is still the need of face to face human contact. This can be dangerous especially for children, since they became alienated from their families and can become unable to make real relations with other children. This is where board games come into action.

Board games have been around for thousands of years, and since playing games is the way humans learn, it could be said that they have had an important role in the development of your society. Disregarding the last sentence, board games are still a valuable way through which the whole family can come together and have fun, and also learn.

Of course, you can go out and buy some cheap board games from your hypermarket or your games store. This is one way of doing it. However, you could also build the games yourself or with your children. This is a good way of connecting and at the same time having fun while learning a craft. You really don't need lots of money nor lots of equipment to make a board game. Usually, some cardboard, scissors, glue and crayons can do the trick. As you can see, you can use simple materials and methods. However, more elaborate sewing or woodworking skills can be also used. So this is not something that fathers and sons can do, but also mother and daughters.

You can always have a little project and build your own chess board or you can make your own personalized Solitaire card. It's only a matter of imagination and some minimum time invested in this and there are plenty of choices to be considered. However, the most important thing is that you can do it with your family, thus developing your own fun and cheap board games!

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How to Set Up Your Gaming System

There are many gaming systems available, each with its own following and style. Also, with each system there are setup concerns which should be addressed. The following breakdown will help you adjust for each type of gaming system.

Wii

In 2006, Nintendo released the Wii, a game system that users stood up to operate, with motion sensors and remotes allowing users to communicate their movements to the console directly

If you plan to incorporate this system into your home entertainment system, you'll need a clear area in front of your media cabinet, about 8' by 8', depending on the number of people who will be using the Wii at any given moment. If you intend to watch movies or use other gaming systems in your entertainment system, you'll want to have chairs that can be moved out of the way for Wii, and moved back for everything else.

Console Games

Including the Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, and Sega, Game consoles use a controller to, well, control the game. Most controllers use a cable, but there are wireless ones available. For the cable controllers, position seats no further than about five feet away from the console. Wireless controllers, by their very nature, allow for great flexibility in positioning your seating, although you have to be careful not to block the signal from the controller to the console or exceed the range of the remote.

Guitar Hero/Rock Band

Originating in 2005, Guitar Hero and its later counterpart Rock Band incorporate gaming versions of real instruments such as guitars and drums. A certain amount of floor space is required depending on how many instruments you will be supporting. As with the Wii, about eight feet square floor space is sufficient, although if you plan on having anything else in your entertainment system, make sure your seats can be easily moved back when your gaming session is over.

Card, Cartridges, and Disks

When storing your collection of games, there isn't really much to take into consideration except that you will want to keep magnetic items and direct heat sources away from them. Sorting options include alphabetically, by gaming system, by age, or a combination of the methods. They can also be sorted by format, i.e. cartridge, disk, floppy, etc., although most games today are on disk format.

Your ultimate layout should depend on your individual gaming configuration and usage, both the type and number of systems you use. With the proper setup and the right equipment, you can easily and safely support several different gaming systems along with whatever else you put into your entertainment system. Have fun!

Chuck is an interior decorator who has worlds of experience in interior design. Believe it or not, his expertise is in entertainment centers. If you're interested in learning all about the entertainment center world, turn to EntertainmentCenters123.com.

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Are You an RPG Gamer?

Role Playing Games (RPG), have been one of my favorite type of video games since I was little. I always enjoy playing role playing games because I love the plots that were involved in the game itself; also you had the principal character that always had to fight against others to save the world or somebody else.

One thing about RPG is that you have put dedication to the game, because you have make your character really strong by fighting multiple enemies various times so you could level up; so your abilities would improve and you would gain new skills to help your character become a stronger and accomplish his mission.

I know that if you are an RPG gamer you have played a lot of games in your life, spending time leveling up your character so you can accomplish your goal and beat the game. But let me tell you, something that going to blow your mind away. What if I tell you that you can get paid for playing role playing games?

How?

By being a game tester you can try games from different types of gaming companies, try them, check if they have any errors or glitches and then report what you found and that's all. The more games you try, the more money you are going to earn as a game tester. So you are going to be playing new and unreleased games from any type of consoles available.

This is a great chance to have an opportunity to be part of the gaming community and get paid for doing what you enjoy doing; playing video games. If you are an RPG gamer then you have the chance of playing all those new and unreleased role playing games.

If you want to try more games other than Role Playing Games you can. Is time to be a game tester

Anthony Alers

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Beta Gaming Testers - Video Game Tester Job

Video game tester jobs are highly sought after by many during today's modern times. Fortunately, you can get hired as a video game tester in a few simple steps.

First: Assess yourself about what it is exactly you are looking for in this job and set your goals properly.

Second: You have to have a passion for gaming. Being a beta tester may seem like an easy job; but the truth is, it is a job that requires passion. Without a passion for gaming, you will find that beta game testing is tedious, stressful, and non-enjoyable, and you won't last that long in the job. Because this job can sometimes drain you of your patience, it is important that beta game testers should sincerely love playing games.

Third: Learn how to test the game as software by learning the fundamentals of software testing. This way, you will be able to find a lot more bugs and consequently impress your employers.

Fourth: Expand your options to various gaming platforms or companies.

Fifth: Acquire some game testing experiencing to build up your resume or portfolio. Your portfolio should be able to tell companies what you're capable of and what experience you have and prove to them that you know your stuff well. Sixth: Try to learn how the gaming industry works. Have a basic understanding of what it takes to design, market, and ship a game. Seventh: Determine which company or companies you would like to work for. Establishing connections could also be a big help.

Again, video game testing is a career that is in demand today. In order to stand out from the crowd of aspiring game testers, it is critical that you create a strong portfolio that will truly showcase not only your passion for video games, but will also highlight why your prospective employer should hire you for the job.

This author writes about Video Game Beta Tester at Get Paid To Play Games.

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Beta Gaming Testers - Get Paid to Test Video Games

For avid fans of gaming out there, it is probably their ultimate dream to get paid to test video games. Fortunately for them, in the last decade, the video game industry has exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry without any sign of slowing down. Because video game companies are continually making new games, they are also in need of people who will test these games before they are released in the market. However, to become a video game tester, you have to meet some basic requirements.

Basically, you have to possess general video gaming knowledge. Experience in playing different kinds of games is also necessary because as a video game tester, you will have to play test almost all kinds of difficulty levels. You have to possess basic computer skills and basic internet skills as well. You should be good at identifying and isolating technical issues, and also at documenting and reporting these issues that are found within the game.

Because this job can sometimes drain you of your patience, it is important that you have a passion for video games. As a video game tester, sometimes you may need to play the same games over and over again in order for you to identify all the different bugs and errors within the game. Without a passion for gaming, you won't last long.

Video game testing requires team work and communication. That is why having good communication skills and problem-solving skills is also necessary. As a game tester, you will be asked to give feed-backs to game designers and programmers from time to time. A game tester should then be able to work well within a team environment.

Being a beta game tester is, of course, not just about sitting there drinking cola and playing cool video games. It may be a fun job, yes, but it is still a job nonetheless.

This author writes about Play Games For Money at Get Paid To Play Games.

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Tony Sanders Beta Gaming Testers Review

Do you want to know how to land a job as a beta game tester? Here's the good news - Tony "T Dub" Sanders will teach you exactly how in his Beta Gaming Testers guide.

This ultimate guide is for anyone who is interested in jumping into the game testing field. It will serve as a blueprint for getting hired as a beta game tester quickly. It will show you everything you need to know to enter the industry like a pro, gain experience fast, strike the right connections, and glide through the selection process no matter how tough it may be.

Now you may ask what benefits you can get as a professional beta game tester. Well, as a beta game tester, you will not only be able to play video games that have just been introduced or have not yet been introduced to the market, but you will also get free copies of those video games. Also, you get to gain access to cheat codes, level secrets, and other bugs that only beta game testers know about. If you are lucky, you will also get an endless supply of the newest and biggest PS3, Xbox 360, or PC games for free.

Beta Gaming Testers will teach you all about the proper attitude that will enable you to play your heart out and do very little work, the the unknown truth about getting your creative input heard from the beginning and using it as a stepping stone to something bigger in your career, the rules of game testing, how to get paid to crash the game, how to pick up opportunities to learn as fast as you can on the job, the secrets to breeze through the selection process, how to get more permanent and higher positions in the game industry, and how to land a great deal of overtime pay.

Landing a job as a beta game tester is easy. Tony Sanders will teach you exactly how.

This author writes about Only 4 Gamers Review at Get Paid To Play Games.

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Need a Job? - Become a Game Tester

You have probably lost your job and you are looking for another job because your bills are coming every month and the little money you have left is quickly disappearing. One thing that people like you hate, is when you go to search for a job, then only tell you that they are currently full and that there are no jobs available.

If you love playing video games then I have terrific news for you. They are multiple gaming companies that are looking for people that enjoy playing video games, to offer them a job as a game tester.

What would I gain as a gamer tester?

First of all, you are going to have the opportunity to be working with different gaming companies to try different types of games, from any type of gaming console you can think of. You could concentrate on either trying games for the Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, etc... Or you could try games from multiple gaming consoles - the choice is between the company and you.

I don't think a game tester job is very important.

Well you are mistaken, because a game tester has one of the most important responsibilities, his job is to try games and give their opinions about the game and report if they were any errors or glitches found. This is very important because every time a company put a new game to the market their reputation is one line, to have a great game that most gamers are going to enjoy.

This is something that you can do together with the rest of family. That way you are going to spend time with them while you do your job as a game tester.

They are looking for you to try video games and offer you agame tester job

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All About Tetris

The Tetris game is truly one of the world's most popular games. Right now, perhaps billions of kids are playing free Tetris online. Why is this game so popular you might ask?

The game is simple yet challenging. The mechanics of it can really make the best genius players game fall on their knees in humility. Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration but the game is truly addictive. This is because Tetris players feel that they can beat the game at one point of the game but then there will be a bad mix of Tetris pieces ruining the perfect structure. This will make you to play on.

The game's popularity also created several spin of version differing from the traditional kind. This adds more options as well as pit falls and challenges, making the game diverse and exciting.

One of the earliest versions is called Hatris. The game was born in the mind of Alexy Pazhitnov, the original designer. In the first version of the game, the aim is to create a row of five hats of the same kind. Different kinds of hats, instead of Tetris pieces, fall from above down to different heads below. One needed to make sure that no two of the heads below wear the same kind of hat so that there will always be a spot to land the other types of hats. It is really a lot like solitaire, only there is a time limit since the hats are falling without the player's control.

Another kind of variant is the Super Tetris Game. This kind lets you play the traditional brick game (as it is sometimes called). But there are new features to the traditional game. Instead of just pure bricks, there are other kinds of pieces that fall from above. There are bombs, weird and difficult brick shapes, metal bricks that can't be destroyed by the usual means, etc. To make the game even more interesting (and difficult) an extra layer keeps on pilling from the bottom up so that the play area where you can move and maneuver the bricks become smaller and smaller. Usually, clearing the bottom layers will reveal a picture (usually an adult pornographic picture in some versions.

These are just some of the types of game versions available out there. Playing a free Tetris game online is truly rewarding and fun, not to mention it also sharpens a person's intellect.

There are people out there who claim that perhaps the only thing that playing the Tetris game will do is to increase one's Tetris intelligence. If you want to know more please visit this site http://www.tetrislive.com

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Game Tester Jobs Are Plentiful - Here's How to Get One

Subscribe to Industry Magazines

Getting involved in industry happenings is not only helpful in finding a game tester job, it's also a whole lot of fun. Do a simple google search for game industry or game developer magazines and you'll see lots of information from organizations like Gamasutra and Kotaku. Reading these journals and participating in this field will get you on the right track towards becoming a game tester.

Put Yourself Out There

You want to be invited to the party? You've got to be known. What's so great about you? Why would I want to hire you for my available jobs? Well, if you're involved in gaming conventions and even launch parties, you're already in the "in" crowd. This is an important step towards connecting with the the decision makers of the video gaming industry and will put your name and resume first in line for a game tester job.

Enroll in a game design school

Who better to test games than someone who knows at least a little something about game design and/or development? It's more than worth it to enroll in a gaming course at your local school. Don't have a school close to you with a gaming program? You're not out of luck. In fact, many schools have put their programs online, especially the technical programs. This is your best shot at learning the basics of game design, programming, artificial intelligence, 3d programming and all the other aspects game development has to offer. Putting this on your resume will really make it shine.

This is the best time to be a game tester. The jobs are everywhere if you know where to look. This useful game tester job guide will help you find the companies hiring so that you can quickly get that first interview with a big game development company and start working as a game tester sooner than you think.

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3D Chess and a New Type of Science to the Rules

Most folks who are avid chess players have never played 3D Chess before. It is my contention that they should because three-dimensional chess is fun and there are many variations of the game. It is a difficult game to master and it requires a lot more thinking than mere regular chess in my humble opinion. So, how does one play 3D Chess you ask? Well, let me explain the way we play, in case you are interested?

Okay, so you have multiple levels (boards) and the pieces can move vertically and horizontally, but every 4 minutes one board of the multiple boards can be swiveled one or two sides, there are several types of boards, some are descending in number of squares as you ascend to the surface, or altitude. Think of it like a net centric warfare game, underwater, underground, ground, air, and space. That's the way I play it.

The rules include that you must make a move every 8-minutes, the moving of the boards do not count as moves, or they can depending upon the players agreement. Or they can change that rule after one player loses 50% of their pieces. Same as war, once a country starts to lose, they throw Geneva out the window, seeing as they have nothing to lose anyway.

Indeed, this game will teach you strategy, spatial skills, and the art of net centric warfare at a whole new level. Perhaps, you had seen the chess board multi-level game featured in Star Trek? If so, then surely, you'll want to have a go of it? Please consider this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes that if you have diabetes there are things you need to know; diabetic neuropathy

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.

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Become a Video Game Tester - Make Money by Testing Games at Home!

Can you imagine doing what you love most and getting paid for it? By becoming a game tester, you can do just that. It sounds like a dream job, right? Well, not exactly! Sure working from home and setting up your own schedule can be great, but this kind of job might get really tedious because you may be asked to go through an entire video game in a matter of weeks or days.

This means testing every single character, map or weapon and sending feedback to the company to report all the glitches and bugs you have found. Sometimes, the programmer may have added a broken code to the game by accident and it will be your responsibility to find this problem and report on it. You may have to put in some very long hours, because there usually is a deadline. For these reasons, you simply must love gaming, for this to work.

Here are a few things you need to know before applying for this job:

* They won't hire you, if you are less than 18 years old.
* A college degree in computer science may help, but is not a requirement.
* At first your salary won't be very high. Inexperienced testers can make $10-$20 per hour. For professional testers things are quite different. They can earn up to $80 an hour.
* If you are a novice tester, it's almost impossible to find a job at a big company like Blizzard, so you may need to start working for smaller companies at first.
* Don't expect to be provided with the necessary devices. You must already own the console that is required to play the games.

If you are interested in BECOMING A GAME TESTER and want to find the highest paying companies, just Click Here: http://be-a-game-tester.weebly.com/

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Video Game Tester Jobs - This is How to Get Paid to Play Video Games!

Video game tester jobs are very sought after. Who wouldn't like to get paid for playing video games?

Thousands of people are being employed every year to check new games before their release. Software engineers can't possibly notice every single glitch, so someone must test every character, map or weapon to make sure they work properly.

If you are interested in a video games tester job, here are a few things you need to know:

* Because of child labor laws, you must be at least 18 years old to apply for this position.
* When starting out, you can't expect more than $10-$20 an hour. After you gain experience and become really good at what you do, you may be able to earn up to $80 an hour. The big names in the business don't hire inexperienced testers, so you need to prove your abilities in order to be able to get a better salary.
* If you find a problem, then you have to report every single detail about it.
* The companies won't provide you with the consoles, so you need to make sure that you already own the required devices.
* Remember that you don't play just for fun. Your job is to test the game thoroughly and locate its weakness and malfunctions. Many times you will be working on a tight schedule and there will be a deadline, because the programmers must have enough time to fix all the glitches. This can get very boring, so it's very important to really love gaming. These kinds of jobs are not as easy as they sound, because you may have to play the same game for weeks or even months at a time.

If you are interested in BECOMING A GAME TESTER and want to find the highest paying companies, just Click Here: http://become-a-game-tester.weebly.com/

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Will Video Gamers Be the Warriors and Warfighters of the Future?

Many believe, as do I that in the future we are going to be very happy that all our kids grew up playing video games, because they may well someday be controlling military robots protecting us from invading enemy armies. Today, that sounds like Science Fiction, but it's kind of already happening really.

Many years ago, I read a really interesting Sci Fi book once where a group of kids where summoned to save the Earth, as they went into a no-win scenario, like the one Capt. Kirk Jr. did in the recent Star Trek movie, where he rigged the simulator, and beat the game.

Anyway, in this other story it was a no win situation and the kids were all the best video-gamers, they were running manned ships in the battle tele-robotically on an enemy space base, and if they failed Earth would be destroyed, although they didn't know that. So, they used one of the manned ships as a sacrifice decoy, and they won the game, only later to find out it was real, the men on that ship all died, but the kids playing the game saved the Earth.

Well over a decade ago, I had a friend who started a company who designed a video game for the Stealth Fighter, for kids, and it was totally popular, and there was lots of interest from the DOD, so, it is a reality that we use video games to adjust the mindset of the next generation of war-fighters, also for recruitment. And his video game became the basis for a military simulator project; pretty cool.

There has been much written on this and I even saw mention of it in a Rand Think Tank report on the next generation of military recruits. It's part of the plan of course, albeit a small one, but I bet now with all the massive training of the UAV squadron tele-robotic pilots, and DHS, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Navy, etc. that they are much more serious about it today than ever before. Please consider this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes you should watch more Patrol Movies

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.

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The Origin of Staunton Chess Pieces

The story of Staunton chess pieces includes what may be the first ever endorsement of a commercial product by a famous person. Staunton-design chess pieces are the most widely used chess pieces in the world and are the standard for chess tournament play. They were developed by a man named Nathaniel Cook for John Jacques of London, sellers of game and sport equipment, and were named after perhaps the greatest chess player of the 19th century.

Howard Staunton, who was born in 1810 and died in 1874, was a chess master in England - the world's best during most of the 1840s. Staunton organized the first international tournament of chess in 1851, an event that made England the world leader in chess playing. But by the 1850s, Staunton dropped out of competitive chess because of poor health and the fact that he had a parallel career as a Shakespearean scholar. But before he left the world of competitive chess, he wrote Chess-Player's Handbook in 1847, a book that was a standard reference for decades.

Staunton chess pieces were almost sure to be popular, due to the popularity of their namesakes at the time they were first sold (1849), and the first 500 sets were numbered and signed by Staunton himself. Staunton chess pieces rapidly became the standard and have been used around the world since then.

Before the development of Staunton chess pieces, the vastly different origins of the world's chess players meant that the chess pieces in one country or region might look very different from the pieces in another region or country.

The look of the pieces may have been influenced by the popularity of neo-classical Greek and Roman architecture in London at the time such as the knight made like a stallion's head from the Parthenon. The new chess pieces were also made to be symbols of the Victorian era. The shape of the pawns are believed to be either from Freemason's Square and Compasses, or Victorian architectural balconies. There has also been speculation that John Jacques, who was a skilled lathe turner, wanted a design that would be widely accepted and easy to produce. In reality, it was probably a bit of both.

Staunton heartily endorsed Jacques of London's new chess set, even to the point of deriding other designs. It might have been the first "celebrity endorsement" of a commercial product. In 1924, the Federation International des Rechecks or World Chess Federation selected Staunton chess sets as the standard for use in future international chess tournaments.

For a long time, chess pieces were made of wood turned on a lathe. Any non-symmetrical details were later added by hand. The knights, of course, had to be made in two stages.

Though today's chess game pieces may be made in plastic, wood, or some other material, the "standard" chess set has pieces based on John Jacques' Staunton design of 1849, with variations that are big enough to provide some distinction among manufacturers yet slight enough that the pieces are recognized as variations on the Staunton design.

You can learn more about Staunton chess pieces as well as other chess piece styles at ChessGamePieces.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Curry

Great Games For Girls

Games are not just for men anymore. Girls benefit from the great fun of gaming just like the men, and for them, there are specifically formulated games tailored to their wants. On the world wide web, the selection is great and massive. Below are just a few of the number of games women typically love.

Dress up games. Games where you take on the universe of fashion are a standard. Choices include fashioning up your ideal celebrity, yourself, or taking on the earth of a fashion expert. Living vicariously through the eyes of these celebrities is a common and normal enjoyment for the fairer sex.

Cooking games. Transporting yourself the experience of a great chef is enjoyable for childish girls, who have fun in the kitchen. Enjoy exquisite food, indulge in some great food. If it does not work, you will get some lackluster feedback and your eater will hate it.

Princess games. Take on the life of a beautiful princess, one who loves their king, and the life of monarchs. These fantasy games are excellent for little girls.

Doll games. Play with dolls, but on the internet. Pretty self explanatory but without the need to get a barbie.

Painting games. Take on the lifestyle of an artist and paint on the world wide web.

Adventure, Puzzle, Simulation Games. while still appealing to men a lot of the time, these games offer distinctive escape and entertainment when aimed at young girls. To find URLs that distinctively have younger women targeted parts of these games, all it takes is a little search of games for young children.

Make Up Games. Make yourself stunning with makeup before trying it in reality. Again, just like the gorgeousness of a lot of these games, such as painting, dolls, cooking, and dress up, make up games stop you from having to buy any of the resources.

Games are not just for brutes any longer.. girls like to have a good time as well!

Ross is an expert on dress up games for girls and cooking games for girls.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Michaels

Gaming Testing

For many people, becoming a games tester is the ultimate job, and is their dream from the time they play their first video game. Working in the video games industry is a lot of fun, but most of the required jobs these days are either for artists (the number of artists required for every new game keeps increasing as the standard of graphics improves) or for coders (to become a coder you must have extensive knowledge of programming languages, and must have a lot of experience). The only other option is gaming testing, which is actually not as hard to get a job in as many people think.

So what does being a games tester actually mean? What must you do? Well, when a new program is made (in this case, a video game) it is rarely made without any bugs, or without needing any tweaks to be made. The programmers hand over the gaming testing responsibilities to the testers, and either ask them to test the game and suggest improvements in key areas or to look for bugs (in other words, you must try and crash the game). If and when you find any bugs or suggestible improvements to the game, you must report them back to the programmers, who will filter through all of the information and take action on it.

Because the amount of games in production is at an all time high, and the fact that there are four major competing game platforms (PC, XBOX 360, PS3 and Wii), the need for video game testers is higher than ever.

If you're looking to get into gaming testing and want some help, visit http://www.GameGemini.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_J_P_Smith

Xbox 360 Or Nintendo Wii - Which is Better?

I've owned game consoles for nearly my entire life. I can remember the day my dad brought home our first Nintendo, or the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) as it was known by back then. The system came with Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt, and we sat there glued to the TV set playing Duck Hunt all day. It was amazing to think about the aim of the gun and its accuracy, and it's even more impressive thinking about it looking back.

Consoles have obviously come a really long way since then. Currently, the PS3, Xbox 360, and the Nintendo Wii lead the pack. Personally, I'm a fan of the 360 and the Wii, as I own both consoles. While I do like the PS3 and I think it's a great product, I don't think it's as enjoyable as the Xbox 360 is for me.

With that said, let's take a look at the Wii and the 360 and put them head to head. Which console is better?

Well, let's see.

The Xbox 360 is more of a gamer's console. With titles like Halo and so many others not available on other systems, the gameplay on the Xbox 360 wins out.

The Wii, on the other hand, is loads of fun. The interactive element is truly great, and the games really aren't so bad themselves.

At the end of the day, which is better really depends on the buyer. For serious games, I'd go with the 360. For more of a fun experience, I'd go with the Wii.

Check out some of the best deals on the DeLonghi toaster and the DeLonghi 4 slice toaster.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Grummans

Zynga's Scramble is the Best iPhone Game

I've long been a fan of the thousands of different iPhone apps available for free and for purchase. Naturally, I have a soft spot for the free games, as they're easy to download and can simply be erased if I don't like one. I've been playing iPhone games for over a year, ever since I bought the phone. I've gone through my phases and love affairs with so many of them, but when all is said and done, there's one that I like more than any other.

Scramble, made by Zynga, is the most addicting iPhone app game that I've ever played. Sure, I'm a sucker for puzzle style games to begin with, so this plays into my personal tastes. Still, I'm not the only person saying that Scramble is the best iPhone game out there. There are a few reasons I feel this way, and here they are.

First of all, I love the ease with which you can drag the letters to form words. This is great.

Secondly, I love the thrill of going against a timer. I'm also able to enjoy the versus mode with my girlfriend, as we can compete against each other to see who scores higher (I usually win, but don't tell her I told you that!).

Third, the online play is spectacular. Instantly upon loading the game, you can go up against at least 90 other people, all of whom have the same exact board as you. This is great to see how you stack up with others.

When I'm not playing Scramble, I'm scouring the web for great deals on the DeLonghi toaster and DeLonghi toaster ovens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Framball

Being Broke Doesn't Have to Mean Cutting Back on Your Game Time

With console video games getting more expensive by the day, being a gamer can be a very expensive business indeed. So what is the cash strapped gamer to do? Keep playing the same games over and over again? Beat the same bosses that you have faced a hundred times before? Where is the fun in that? Actually there are a number of ways you can save money and still satisfy your gaming needs.

Renting video games online can be a great way to get your hands on the hottest new titles for console platforms like the Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 without having to spend the $50+ it costs to buy them at the store. There are a growing number of video game rental sites out there, and some of them have monthly plans that start at around $10, with free trials and special offers for new members.

Another great way to game for less is to join a video game swap site. For most gamers once they have beaten a game they are pretty much done with it, and that may only take a couple of days. Then what happens to it? In a lot of cases it simply sits on the entertainment center, gathering dust.

Swap sites let you do something with those games. There are hundreds of titles available for various console platforms, so chances are that someone else out there has the game you are really looking for next, and is done with it already. These sites let users exchange games in a controlled environment, and it usually only costs the members the cost of media mail shipping (which is less than $4).

What if you have no money to spend on gaming at all? If you have a broadband internet connection that's no problem. There are actually hundreds of free games available on line, many of them just as graphically stunning and action packed as any console game.

If you like your gaming to have a social element to it you can sign up for one of the many free MMORPG (massively multiplayer online roleplaying game) that are now out in cyberspace. These games allow you be anything from a bloodsucking vampire to a swashbuckling pirate, and they don't cost a penny.

For more info on game rentals, free gaming and swap sites please visit http://beemedia.org/ and click on the free games link

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_J_Rivera

Downloadable Video Games - Just Pick the Right Source

Video games have grown up, and many of us today have grown up with them. Some of us will remember the days when the absolute height of quality and innovation in video games was a small spaceship shooting at lines of bigger ones, advancing down the screen towards it. This was accepted as the zenith of development, and was in many cases only available to people who went to arcades. Now, the video game has come on in leaps and bounds to the point where those games are considered kitsch.

Keen gamers, though, do appreciate the incredible innovation that went into those games when they were first developed, and know that the true heirs of such games are turning up on our home consoles and are using game engines that allow us to do crazy things. A fairly commonplace game now will allow a gamer to control an intuitive character who walks around an interactive cityscape and can spend money on a range of items, strike up relationships and go "off mission". The price we pay for this is typically somewhere north of a shift's worth of wages from the average diner.

Downloading is your friend if you are a gamer with limited funds. While free downloads pose problems, these problems are not necessarily either serious nor even compulsory. That is to say that numerous gamers can play their favorite game without having to worry that their download has given them anything to worry about. Playing downloadable video games is pretty commonplace in this day and age, but it depends where you download them from as to whether you get what you really want.

Try not to download from torrenting sites, and not only because this is illegal. That is a pretty good reason, but there is also the very important consideration that the quality of downloadable video games as found on torrent sites is comparable with the streams of TV shows and sports matchups that can be found elsewhere on the Internet. Yes, it's the game or the show you wanted, but it may well be full of glitches to the extent where you cannot play it, it could damage your computer - and, increasingly, law and order is cracking down on it.

John Alder is an online entrepreneur and video game enthusiast.

You can contact him via email: John.Alder@top3picks.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Alder

Enjoy Cricket Games at Your Home With Your Family

Do you play cricket? This certainly is a game that has a number of fans and followers. If you have that desire for cricket then you may have to learn playing this game and internet is one place that may teach you all the fun and excitement of this game. There are a number of places over the internet where you can spend hours playing cricket games such that you can learn all the skills and thrills of this game. When playing online you certainly don't have to worry about who is going to play with you as you can always make your own team and get started. You can play cricket games with your family and friends and that from the convenience of your home.

You just need your computer to get connected online on these websites and build up your best team and play the game. When ready to play cricket games online you just have to try and pull one comfortable couch get some snacks and lemonades and enjoy the fun of cricket. This may not be compared as playing in real world since you don't make use of your physical strength but you may have to make use of your mental ability to make your win. When playing cricket games online you certainly can do a lot of other work in between as you wont get tired playing online.

So, in case you find any friend or even your relative who likes playing cricket then just invite them over at your home for a friendly match and decide your winning prize. You can always play cricket games with multiple players so having additional players may always add lots of fun and excitement to your game. The best thing that you can get while playing cricket games online is that you don't have to worry about spending your day in an outdoor stadium so you just don't have to worry about the heat of the sun or even rain. You can always play these games online any day or season so there practically may never be any off season with these games.

Free Online Cricket Games.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Maclean_Lloyd

How to Backup and Play Your PC Games

PC games are one of the most popular formats in the World, but unfortunately, they still come as a CD or DVD, which can easily get scratched and damaged. This is a big problem, which can be solved by making a backup or copy of the original disc, and then playing the game with that, instead of your valuable original. However, many people want to do this... but cannot due to copyright protection and other problems.

Unfortunately, a small group of people decided to copy PC games illegally. This was very bad for us, because it now means that PC game developers have put all sorts of copyright protection on their games, making them very difficult to copy. And if you want to legitimately backup your games onto a blank disc, you will need to be able to break this copy protection.

The way that PC games are protected is actually quite simple. The computer game developers struck a deal with Microsoft to create an 'encryption' module which only Windows can read. This means that when the game is originally burnt onto the disc, it is done so in encrypted form, making it impossible for anything but Windows to read it. This means that if you try and copy these protected discs, your computer will just be reading a collection of jumbled words and letters, making no sense at all and ruining the copy.

So to make a backup of your game, you need to use a tool or technique which allows your DVD copying device to recognize all the encryption that these discs have... and to copy them perfectly from one disc to another. And unfortunately, there are precious few programs & methods which allow you to do this, and we only know of one that works well.

You can actually copy computer games very easily with a tool called "GameBackupSystem". This tool has been created by an anonymous team, but we were able to backup and play 20+ of the latest computer games with it. It copies your game discs perfectly, including the copyright protection encryptions. This means that you can copy as many games as you want with the system, and then play them on your PC without having to worry about your discs getting damaged

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Hoffmann

Your Living Room is About to Open to a Whole New World If You Dare to Take It

It won't be long now until your living room can easily be turned into an artificial intelligent run virtual reality environment where you can immerse yourself into any situation you could have ever imagined. Welcome to the future of video games, a future where computer games will become so real, you will forget who you are, where you are, and the fact that you actually have a real life somewhere else. A dreamlike world so real, so powerful, that it will actually cause us to change the way we think.

Futurists that consider this topic and hope that we change our thinking for the better.

Consider if you will the new 3-D TV, and consider the world of video gaming and how robust some of those software programs are, and then consider the forthcoming technologies of spectral imaging and holographic projection; you are beginning to understand how your living room will be made to come to life.

Did you know that Sony now has a device that sends out vibrational energy that modifies your brain patterns, therefore your thought process while you are playing the game?

Such a system can cause your brain to feel tired, stressed, depressed, amorous, dedicated, angry, revengeful, or in a state of sheer fear. Such a system when coupled with surround-a-sound, holographic projection, and 3D action will become so real you will believe you are there. It will be so real you may not want to leave.

It might be so real you don't want to stop to eat or sleep. It might be so real that it takes the place of all other methods that you have ever used to change or alter your state of mind.

Such a system may prevent people from ever wishing to do drugs again, or go out with their friends and drink alcohol. It might literally change our entire society, after all, you could be anybody you want, go anywhere you want, be anything that you want, anytime you want in your own living room were home.

If you could do all that why would you ever leave the game? Will the matrix capture you; will you even want to escape? Please think on this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes if you like futurist online content and need more, you should contact http://www.bloggingcontent.net

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Video Games and Violent Behavior

A topic that has recently become subject to much debate is if video games contribute to violent behavior in both children and adults. There are many opposing viewpoints on this subject, with each side presenting 'research' and special studies to support their case. With all of this conflicting information, it's difficult to actually form your own concise opinion as to if video games could possibly contribute to violent behavior. However, with a quick look at some key facts, it's clear that the association between playing video games and acting out on violent tendencies is not directly connected.

Many parents discourage their children from playing violent video games. This is the main reason why most video games include a rating, which has a general guideline for how old a child has to be before they should be allowed to play this game. However, it may occur that a child gains access to a game that is only designed to be played by individuals that are over eighteen years of age. This can present a problem for a parent, since they see that their children have been exposed to game content that is only intended for mature players. This is usually what leads to parents complaining about the content of some games designed for mature audiences, such as the Grand Theft Auto series.

However, there has been no proven connection that directly associates children displaying violent behavior solely because they are exposed to violent video game content. This is a myth, and is not currently proven by any reputable study. Most children that exhibit violent behavior are also exposed to many other environmental factors that can cause them to act inappropriately. Blaming video games for problems in children is baseless, false and poorly informed. When in doubt , it is best to pay attention to the ratings on a game, using it as a guideline for what type of games you should allow your children to play.

Patrick is the co-founder and owner of Dyyo Studios, an Internet Marketing firm based out of Raleigh, NC. His other interests include programming, consulting, website design, and competitive gaming at a professional level. You can check out his blog here: http://crims0n.us/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_McDowell

3 Game Master Secrets For Running Great Games

Game mastering a pen and paper RPG is tough. For new GMs it's also daunting. Following are three tips that have served me well for three decades, first as a beginner and today as an experienced GM.

Game Masters: Just Say Yes

A pillar of improvisation, we can borrow this technique for running RPG as well. Avoid contradicting players, cancelling their ideas, and saying no to attempted actions.

Instead, just say yes. This has an additive and cumulative effect on gameplay. When you say no, you force the game to stop and take a new direction, or even cause a step backward.

Saying yes accepts an idea or action and allows you or another player to build on it.

For example, if players try three things and you say no three times you are still at square zero. However, if player one tries something and you say yes, then player 2 carries on and tries something and you give it approval, and player three builds on top of that and you say yes, the game has progressed three steps.

Over a session, this constant building helps a great story unfold and makes everyone feel comfortable contributing.

Be enthusiastic

A simple tip, yet even experienced game masters forget to pour excitement and energy into the game. Create a reminder for yourself to pick up the enthusiasm, especially as games wear on and everybody gets a bit tired. A great way to do this is put a Post-It Note on the inside of your GM screen.

Enthusiasm is contagious. If you are excited, other players with catch the positive energy and be more enthusiastic themselves.

I've played in games where everything was serious and often quiet. This was mostly because the GM wasn't energetic, so the group different feel comfortable being energetic either.

If you have enthusiasm you're sending a signal to everyone that it's ok to have fun!

Be determined to play

Most game sessions get cancelled because players can't make it. Manage your games and plots so 100% attendance is never required.

Also, be organized with player contact information and fastest methods of contact (twitter, texting, voice, email, etc.). If you can get a new day scheduled the same week you can save a lot of games.

A missed session increases the chances of more missed sessions. Momentum falters, life's priorities push gaming out of the way, players forget to set their schedules.

However, if you game regularly, then it becomes habit to block out Thursday nights every other week, or whatever you schedule is, for gaming. Spouses and significant others learn this schedule too, which increases the chances of high attendance by a lot as well.

Regular gameplay is the best way to become a better game master.

Johnn Four writes RPG advice books and is publisher of roleplayingtips.com which gives you over 6000 game master tips. Get a free Roleplaying Tips subscription to receive RPG tips and ideas in your inbox every week.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnn_Four

Don't Have an Uno Deck? Play Crazy Eights

Uno is a fun game to play but sometimes you just don't have the Uno deck to play with. What can you do instead? How about playing crazy eights?

Crazy eights is nearly identical to The Uno card game. The only difference is that this game uses a standard 52 card deck, which is easier to find. Here is how you play it.

Each player gets 5 cards and the deck is put in the middle with the first card flipped over. That suit is the color you must play on your turn, but you can also play a card of the same rank.

So if the first card is a 6 of diamonds you can play a 6 of hearts on top of it. Then hearts become the new suit, and so on.

The eights take the place of wild cards because you can place them on anything and just call out a suit. That suit is the suit that everyone must play with now.

All the other rules are the same as Uno, when you can't place a card down you draw until you can; you want to get rid of your cards, and so on.

The only bad thing is the fact that this game doesn't have all of the cards like draw two and skip. That kind of is a little bit of a bummer. But you can use your creatively and change that.

For instance you might want to say, all 2s are draw two cards, all 5s are skips and so on. That could make the game more entertaining. Also if you wanted to be really creative you could always make up your own rules such as 4s mean you skip two players, and things like that.

Basically the moral of the story is, if you want to play Uno and don't have a deck you shouldn't let it stop you. You could play almost the same game with just a regular pack of cards.

For more on crazy eights visit http://www.best-family-games.com/crazy_eights.html

For more game night ideas visit http://www.best-family-games.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Rosenberg

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