How to Get a Game Server Hosted

First of all what are game server providers, GSPs, and why do I need one? If, like me, you love playing games with your other online gaming buddies you generally play together online. You and your team need a playground that will provide the online space for you to. How and where does all that information get processed? There are two main methods.

The first is peer to peer. Peer to peer is a well established protocol of information sharing between willing computers. In the case of online computer games this is where one computer acts as the host (master computer if you like) and all other players' computers send their information to the master. This gives the player hosting the game a slight advantage in response time or lower ping and of course once that player leaves the game the server no longer exists as it was dependent on his connection, historically this has been referred to as a 'listen server'.

Dedicated Servers. Some games companies like Activision and EA provide their own online "official" or "ranked" dedicated servers where they have their own machines in their own data centre hosting official servers that they control and admin. Console games generally also have their own dedicated servers provided by the developers or peer to peer solutions in some cases as with Modern Warfare 2 and 3. But some servers are provided by individuals who like to have personal control over how their game server is setup. These come in two options. Either the individual has a rented or owned machine and hosts the game server themselves. The second option is to rent a dedicated game server from a large list of GSP's (game server providers) who for a small monthly charge can host your server for you 24 hours a day and have web based graphic user interfaces in order to start, stop, reinstall, edit configuration files, setup scheduled restarts, install mods and much more. This is in large part the most common choice as it is both cost effective and much easier to get started. Only basic knowledge is needed in order to host a server this way. That is why the GSP industry has grown to a 5 million dollar a year industry.

What are online servers?

A server is a machine running in a data centre (DC) with a high bandwidth connection to the internet and a redundant power supply to keep things online 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. This allows lots of players to connect to one place to all play together. GSP's host their game servers on machines in a data centre.

What is ping?

Ping is just an ICMP command that checks the time it takes for a packet of information to travel from one computer to another and back again. Ping is measured in ms or milliseconds which are thousandths of a second. A game server that is hosted within 300 miles of your physical location should provide you with a good latency to your game server.

Full Dedicated Server

I have heard of dedicated servers. What are these?

You can rent a full dedicated server, this gives you root access to a Windows Server machine via Remote Desktop Connection. This is for advanced users as setting up a game server using steamcmd and configuring the firewall can be a time consuming process but for large communities and clans this is the only option. Full control over your game servers, root access to all of the files, something you will never get with shared game server hosting. It comes with a cost though, around the $100 per month mark so get those donations flowing to pay for the hardware.

Shared Game Server Hosting

Renting through a GSP (game server provider) is the most common and the best bang for your buck way to run a game server. You choose a provider from the many 100's out there, choosing which provider to go with can be quite a daunting task. Here are the main points to consider.

· Price. Well price is king in most cases and a lot of gamers would have looked for the cheapest company in the top ten of Google and gone with them without even thinking about it. However choosing the lowest price is a haphazard way to choose any service, whether it be a plumber, an electrician or in this case a game server. You can choose the cheapest and take a punt, go for the most expensive and hope that translates into a quality service or if you're like me go for the middle ground, not too cheap and not too expensive. I use this practice when choosing everything, from toasters to hotel rooms. But price isn't the only factor to consider.

· Reputation. Reputation has an extremely strong influence in any decision on which service provider to use. There are game server companies that seem to of been around since the dawn of the internet age, and there are new unknown companies that have only formed in the past years. The older companies have seen it all before and maybe can get caught not putting the effort into the control panel functionality that a modern games and gamers demand. New vibrant young companies can be enthusiastic and energetic in their approach to both new game releases and support but they can also make mistakes and show a lack of experience in challenging support matters. The complicated nature of the newer indie games and steam early access games make it very difficult to get a smooth running game server so I would opt for the middle ground again, a company that's not too long in the tooth but also old enough to have experience where it matters.

What else does a GSP offer then?

There are also some other factors to consider when selecting a GSP:

· Control Panel Interface. This is a Graphic User Interface (GUI) where you control your game server from. Here you can launch the game, change the rules, add server passwords, add bans, allows, add administrators and add mods. This should be fast and easy to use. The industry standard is TCAdmin 2, but many providers have custom created control panels to reduce costs as TCAdmin can be rather pricy for enterprise companies.

· Support staff experience. The support staff has experience to set up the game to make is easier to play as lots of games nowadays have complicated set up procedures. A good GSP will have a configuration editor already configured in the GSP control panel so that you do not need to go and research all the information to edit the file yourself. The key is the better the staff the less problems will go wrong with your server once you have it.

· Mod installers. Some GSPs have mod installers where you can, in one or two clicks, completely install a mod to a game with all the required files without the need to upload via FTP. Again this is a setup that your GSP would/should have made themselves.

· 24 Hour support. I play games into the wee hours of the morning and business hours support is no good to me. I want 24 hour support and I want someone to get back to me pretty quick so I can get on with my gaming. I don't get a lot of free time and I don't want it wasted on staring at a broken server, even if I did broke it myself.

· Instant Setup. Most GSP's should have instant setup, in my experience this is not actually instant, instant start of the setup, not quite instant setup, the files need to download and some of these new games can be 20GB or more.

· Configuration editors. These are necessary for GSPs as many don't want to give access to the root folders and modify the configurations and.ini files as the player slots are generally directly related to CPU consumption so the more player slots you require the more the server will cost. A good configuration editor will make the setting up of your game server easier. The complicated nature of some of the recent indie games like DayZ and Ark Survival evolved require attention to detail in order to get running smoothly. Make sure to check that the GSP is up to date with all custom configurations as updates for these types of games come quite often and can break an out of date configuration. So making sure the GSP staff are keeping up with games is a good indicator of a good GSP. Any good GSP should be able to answer detailed questions about their games and if they don't what kind of support can you expect from them.

Thanks for reading my article and be sure to check us out at https://www.gtxgaming.co.uk

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Play Online Flash Games For An Entire Day Of Gaming Fun

The internet has improved our lives in more ways than we can imagine. It has brought the world closer with its wide variety of communication media. It has revolutionized the way business is conducted. Not only this, by providing movies, music and games on demand, you can ensure you will never get bored.

There's no shortage of PC games on the internet. But the problem with many is that you have to pay to play those games. If you are unwilling to do it, you can only play a limited version of maybe an hour.

Online flash games are quite popular today and are a great alternative to their paid counterparts. They are free to play as they earn through advertisements. They are rich in graphics, sound quality and game strategies. There are fun and captivating games for adults and children alike. There are real-time games as well. For instance, some farming or cooking games follow the 24 hour time cycle when it comes to raising a particular crop or preparing a dish.

Educative too!

Talking about playing online flash games, we only consider the entertain value. But did you know they could help develop cognitive skills too?

Online games are divided into different categories. There are action, adventure, arcade, shooting, puzzles, and strategy and multiplayer games, making it easier to pick the type of game that interests you. Thus, these online flash games demand that the player employs varied skills from alertness to decision making to co-ordination to developing strategies. Multiplayer and social games teach players how to socialize and work as a team. Multiplayer games are also a great way to stay in touch with friends living in distant locations.

Engaging and captivating online flash games can also help reduce stress levels after a hard and tiring day at work.

How to play online flash games?

There is more than one way to play online flash games. For most, you will need an Adobe Flash Player or a Java Scripts plug-in. If you don't have these software programs installed on your computer, you might have to download them for a glitch-free gameplay.

If you don't want to download any third-party software, there is no need to worry as you can play online flash games directly on your web browser. You simply have to look for an interesting game, wait for it to load and start playing. There are no installations needed here.

Taking it offline

You can also play online games by downloading them. Once downloaded, you can play the game without an internet connection and at your convenience.

It's not hard to come across sites where you can play online flash games free of cost. Gaming portals might only differ in how they operate; while on a few you can start playing almost immediately, others might require you to register free of cost to start playing. Besides, new games are added regularly so you won't get bored.

So, the next time you are looking to take a break and unwind, you can play online flash games at Alllgames.pw. There are more than 100 games in different categories that afford an entire day of gaming fun.

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Xbox One - A Great Choice This Holiday Season

Christmas, Christmas time is here. Time for toys and time for cheers! Yes, that's right! Christmas is just a month away. We are no in November and we are starting the count down until we all get the great (or not so great) gifts that we have been wanting all year long. Hot on this list is game consoles.

With Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all having next gen gaming consoles on the market, not to mention the slew of new twisty, bendy laptops and other gadgets, what is the best gaming platform?

I have always been a PlayStation man, however I did briefly own an Xbox 360 before the red ring of death got it. Then about 6 months ago, my PS3 blew up. What was a gamer to do? I did a lot of research. I found that the GPU, the unit that drives the graphics behind the 2 machines, PS4 and Xbox One, were both created by my favorite CPU/GPU creator, AMD. When AMD makes a chipset then you know it is built right. Therefore, that did not help me much in deciding.

The PlayStation 4 (PS4) does have a faster, higher grade of ram memory in it as it utilizes DDR5 and the Xbox One still uses the standard DDR4. Therefore, I was jumping at the bit to get my hands on the PS4. I am glad I did not, however.

I found a great bundle deal that had the Xbox One console, the Kinect camera, and a $60 game thrown in for the giggles. This bundle cost me $450 at Walmart and that was not during a sale such as Black Friday. That was the everyday bundle price at that time. Heck, without the game that system was running $499. By the way, Titanfall alone was worth buying the Xbox One when I did.

For starters, what may not be learned off the box the Xbox One comes with, is that the Xbox One is designed to use the cloud created by Microsoft called Azure. Being able to utilize this cloud (many, many different servers systems hooked up together) the Xbox One can harness the power of the servers it is connected to, giving the console the ability to be 4 times stronger than the hardware that is enclosed in this console. This was the icing on the cake for me.

Throw in that the Xbox One has both an HDMI out as well as HDMI in so that you can plug up your high def cable box to this console, so that you can control what you watch on TV through voice command and hand gestures, this console just gets more exciting! With a slew of Xbox One Apps now on the market for free, yes free, as of a couple months ago you no longer have to pay for a Gold Live account as you can now use the apps and play the games online for FREE!!

James Trivolette, Owner and Digital Marketer of http://www.lovemyxboxone.com has been in Search Engine Optimization for over 10+ years. His love of gaming made this site a hobby.

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Understanding The Differences Between PS4 And Xbox Gaming Consoles

PS4 and Xbox are two of the most popular game consoles in the world. Due to their popularity, many people don't know the console that they should go for. Here is a comparison of the main specifications that will help you in making the right decision.

GPU

Xbox One and PS4 GPUs are technologically very similar; however, the PS4 GPU is a little bit larger. According to the creators, the Xbox GPU is similar to the Bonaire GPU that can be found in Radeon HD 7790. The PS4 GPU on the other hand is similar to the one found in HD 7870.

Creators of PS4 GPU say that the GPU is almost 50% more powerful than Xbox one. This means that games will have plenty of available graphics power on tap. Although, this is the case, Xbox One has a slightly higher GPU unlock speed.

Other than these differences, the two GPUs are identical as they are both based on the Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture thus they have the ability of supporting OpenGL 4.3, Direct3D 11.2, and OpenCL 1.2.

RAM

Both consoles have an 8GB RAM. PS4 has 5500MHz RAM while Xbox uses 2133MHz DDR3 RAM. Use of this type of RAM by PS4 gives the console a bandwidth advantage. For example, the PS4's CPU and GPU will have 176GB/sec of bandwidth to system RAM, while Xbox will only have 68.3GB/sec.

CPU

Just like GPU, both consoles have similar CPUs. Although, the CPUs are virtually identical, they have a number of differences. For example, the PS4 CPU is clocked at 1.6GHz while Xbox is clocked at 1.75GHz. Since Xbox one has a larger space, it's expected to be much faster.

Setting up the consoles

It's very easy to setup PS4 as you don't have to go through the trouble of installing a power supply brick; all you need to do is to plug the power cord from the PS4 to the wall and hook up the HDMI to your TV. The good side is that PS4 is easily recognized by many TVs; therefore, you don't have to fiddle with settings.

It's also easy to setup Xbox one; however, you have to deal with the power brick that needs to be placed in a well-ventilated area in order to protect it from overheating. The power brick also gives the Xbox console an ugly look.

Conclusion

These are the main differences between PS4 and Xbox one. Which is the best console for you?

We have plenty of information about PS4 hardware specs [http://www.ps4onnews.com]. We also have comparisons of the major gaming consoles. For example, we have a well detailed comparison on PS4 and Xbox One [http://www.ps4onnews.com]. Visit the given links to know more.

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Sega Master System - How Not to Fulfil Potential

Well my friends, it all started in the Christmas of 1990...

A young me saw an advert for the MS Power Base and instantly fell in love. I'd love to be able to show you said video but the internet, despite containing 12,000,000 shades of adult material, doesn't have space for it. I'm starting to wonder whether I imagined it all. In any case, for the month of December I relentlessly badgered my father (B. Simpson would have been very impressed) to purchase the Power Base with Hang-On, Safari Hunt and Light Phaser. And credit to the man, ignoring late mortgage payments, final demands and much to the annoyance of my mother, he duly obliged. I was stunned.

I did however find this American advert for the package which at £100 seemed expensive but actually provided pretty good value for money. Plus, there was also a hidden maze game. Someone needs to bring back hidden games. I dug out my Master System a couple of months ago, which still works despite my cousin tipping coke into it (pretty sure if you breathe too heavily on an Xbox it will explode) and boy did it bring back some memories! What also struck me was how bad some of the titles were. These were games I'd played to death! The Ninja and World Soccer were personal favourites but both of them are graphically woeful. That sounds harsh given they were some of the early release titles but let me continue.

Golden Axe is the game that really stuck in my craw. The Ninja (1987) and World Soccer (also 1987) were released a mere two years before Golden Axe (1989) but if you put them side by side you wouldn't guess they're from the same console. Other popular 80s titles (e.g. Ghostbusters, California Games) and even early 90s titles (Indiana Jones, Tom & Jerry) pale in comparison to the graphics in Golden Axe. Admittedly the levels are two-tone and the rendering is baffling in places but the sprites look almost the same as in the 16-bit. The sprites are large and well detailed. The main protagonist may only have around 15 frames of animation but the swing of the sword feels smooth and true. All of this with a palette of only 64 colours compared to the Mega Drive's 512.

Most 16-bit to 8-bit conversions are terrible (the awful E-SWAT immediately springs to mind) and many positive things can be said of Sega's stance to make completely different games on the 8-bit under the same license (Sonics 1 & 2) but I invite you to take a look at Streets of Rage and Mortal Kombat. Both of these games are one-dimensional and thus creating different 8-bit versions would seem silly. The care taken with both is remarkable. There's not much that can be done with the Master System's Texas Instruments (remember them?) SN76489 sound chip but its graphics capabilities are surprising. Of the 64 available colours, the Master System can display 32 at once. This is in comparison to the Mega Drive's 64 and the NES' pithy 25. The Zilog processor in the MS runs at 4 MHz compared to the NES' 1.79 MHz. The Zilog chip was also used in the Mega Drive alongside the Motorola 68000.

The clues were there. Streets of Rage, after a night out with a few too many jars (blurry eyes an all) could be mistaken for the 16-bit version - bar the awful sound. Sacrifices had to be made, the Master System's reduced memory (albeit still double that of the NES) couldn't handle two players, but all the levels remain intact including the excellent lift stage. With Mortal Kombat more sacrifices had to be made. There are only two stages but most of the characters are there with the exception of the unpopular Kano. Each sprite is big, well drawn, and the animation works to create a fun beat em up, the likes of which European/Japanese Master System owners never saw again. Why so specific with the region? Well...

Did you know Street Fighter 2 existed on the Master System? I sure as hell didn't until earlier this year I found out that the MS is still supported in Brazil (and emulation products in China and Taiwan). SF2 is a capable beat em up and although it looks decidedly more basic (although better than the C64 version) it really makes you wonder what Sega could have done with their first landmark console. Some Master System games are also available through the Wii's online service - who on earth would have thought this of a Nintendo console back in the early nineties!

There are things that couldn't be helped. The NES' stronger game library and character recognition meant it outsold the Master System almost five to one. By the time Sega invented Sonic, the Master System was subjected to poor arcade conversations and puzzle games. The inventive Galaxy Force is the anomaly here, Sega didn't make use of the advanced capabilities of the MS until it was too late. Sonic 1 was the last MS release in the USA. Most would assume that the release of the Mega Drive is to blame for this and Sega had to do something to halt the dominance of the NES. The fact is that Sega made a superior 8-bit console to the NES but chose to go 16-bit first-off, thus inviting the inevitable Nintendo sucker punch (the SNES).

I will always love the Master System and although I'm unlikely to ever own its current incarnations I can still enjoy my Sonics, Streets of Rages (oh yes, the sequel is on there too) and Mortal Kombat. Just don't mention E-SWAT.

For this and more head to http://www.arcadeattack.co.uk

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How Good Is the TI-84 Calculator As a Mobile Console?

Humanity has a knack for getting bored. We'll get bored in the car, on a plane, or in our math classes. No one would really blame us for being bored in a math class though. Math can be tedious and dull. That's what probably led to some people picking up the Texas Instruments 84 calculator and saying "I could work with this".

And thus began a unique corner of the gaming world, one running on a device originally used for graphing functions or helping solve equations. The TI-84 Calculator harkens back to the original Game Boy, in both graphical and mechanical limitations.

The TI-84 Calculator harkens back to the original Game Boy, in both graphical and mechanical limitations.

The TI-84 has limited screen-space and not the smallest of pixels, forcing developers for the system to be particularly crafty with how they designed a game. Some tend to use either single screens at a time or single screens the player either couldn't leave. This way the player knew what they had to deal with without the risk of being introduced to something new with the inclusion of poor screen transition blur or sometimes lag.

Much like the GameBoy, the TI-84 Calculator still had different aesthetic styles despite it's lack of pixel detail. Games had to have a balance between detail and size. In order for a sprite to be detailed they would have to be big, and thus take up more room on the screen. Despite all of this, games still look appealing, unique with each game.

Controls are a weird story when it comes to the TI-84 Calculator, as it is a calculator. For starters, there are a lot of buttons to works with, but not all of them are in a good position, or at least not a comfortable one. This is due to the placement of the D-Pad. The D-Pad it has is on the right, which is different to normal systems. Not only that, but it is also placed high up on the device. With most of the buttons being much lower than the D-Pad, it would be awkward holding it if developers decided to make use of those buttons.

In order for a sprite to be detailed they would have to be big, and thus take up more room on the screen.

It's a good thing they don't. The buttons used the most are the 2ND and ALPHA buttons, with some games making use of MODE and other ones just left of the D-Pad. Most games are forced to be simple, and because of that utilize simple controls. Some games use these buttons for things like jumping, shooting, or selecting, while other games only use these buttons to open the game and then the D-Pad does the rest.

Now what really makes a gaming system great is the games available to play on it. While there are ports of games like Tetris and home-brews of franchises like Mario and even Portal, there are also a whole slew of original titles, some of which I love dearly. Platformer games like Swords 2, arcade games like Uncle Worm, puzzle games like Pegs and the classroom-famous Block Dude, and so on. The TI-84 has been around for a while, so it has a fair amount of fun games on it now.

With all of this being said I just want to say that, after playing it a whole bunch, the TI-84 Calculator is an underrated gaming system. Unorthodox? Yes. A pain to get games on? Yes. Allowed in math classes? Yes.

Dan is the owner of Mangotron which is an Indie Games news website. Mangotron covers indie game news views, interviews and much more.

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Tips On How To Choose The Right Gaming Console For You

Gaming today has become a way of life for many people. They start and end the day by playing their favorite video and online games. A lot of people actually consider gaming as addictive: they just won't feel right or complete without firing their virtual gun or building a digital home or fortress in a day.

But to feel completely satisfied and happy with your gaming experience, you need to have and use the right gaming console. To make sure that you will be choosing the one that's right for you, below are some helpful tips you can follow:

Have some sufficient knowledge about the different gaming consoles - Do some research about the various gaming consoles available in the market today. Every one of them is uniquely different from each other. Use the Internet and read up on their specs, features and capabilities. Also, before buying at a brick-and-mortar or an online store that sells gaming consoles, ask the sales staff for their recommendation. Many of these sales persons are gamers themselves and can give you some valuable insights and advice.

Consider the console's versatility - Most, but not all, gaming consoles today can also be used as a Blu-ray DVD player. As such, a device that has this capability can allow you to have a console that doubles as an all-purpose media hub. This option also enables you to cut down on the amount of media devises you'll need to buy and store.

Find out which kind of games a console offers - There are some games you will only find on certain consoles and not on others. Be sure that the games you really want to play are available for the console you are hoping to get. There are also various styles of games such as first person shooter, racing, and platform games. And if you are primarily interested in racing games, make sure that whatever console you decide to go with provides a good variety of the style of game that you enjoy.

Determine how many people will be frequently playing or using the device - Ask yourself: is it going to be for just one person? Or will your friends or family be playing with you on a regular basis? Keep in mind that each gaming console also caters to each of these requirements differently.

Consider its online capability - Finally, not all consoles have the capability of being accessed or played online. If you want to play online with other gamers, pick a gaming console that supports this feature.

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Recommended Pro Gaming Products

Being a pro gamer is not a cheap thing to achieve. There is plenty of equipment to purchase and it is not the cheapest, but also not too expensive. You are getting your moneys worth for what you pay for. In my detailed post I mentioned gaming equipment, I am going to go into more detail on the different equipment a pro gamer should have. First things first is a controller. Now you can use just a standard controller or you can use what most pros use and that is a Scuf controller. You can either buy a Scuf controller and add some customization to it our you can mail in your own controller and customize it and have it mailed back to you. By customization I mean adding a skin design to the controller, adding grip, changing the kind controller stick, and or adding paddles. Now the skin design is just what covers the base of the controller, so instead of having a plain black controller you could have a red and black controller. It just makes the controller look cooler. The grip is just so you have a better grip on your controller, so it does not slip out of your hands.

There a two kinds of controller sticks you can use; concave and domed. Concave is where the center of the stick is caved in and the domed is where the stick is in the shape a dome. They do not necessarily make you play better, it is just your preference for what you would want to use. The paddles are designed for button mapping. By this I mean having the paddle replace a button so you do not have to use that button.

These go on the back of the controller. For example let's say that the A button is used to jump, when customizing the controller paddles you can assign one the paddles the A button. So instead of always having to press A to jump you can just push the paddle instead. Now the paddles can be assigned to any button you want, just do what fits your style of play. You can have up to four paddles, which means you can have four buttons remapped for the paddles.

The next thing you will want to get is a gaming headset. The top two companies are Turtle Beach and Astro Gaming. These headsets allow you to hear game audio and chat audio in the headset. It is up to you to figure out what levels you want each audio at. Each person has their own preference but majority of the pro players use Astro gaming. Also, each person will say that one is better than the other based on what headset they have. I have had a Turtle Beach headset before but now have an Astro Gaming headset. I personally think Atros are better because they are designed better, and I think they have better quality.

You want to have one of these brands because they will help you in-game. It will help you hear things at a distance and it helps you hear people coming up behind you. Do some research, look at reviews, and talk to your friends about them and buy what you think is best. The last main thing you will need is a monitor. There are a lot of companies who make monitors, just like headsets each person has their own preference of what brand they use. Major League Gaming uses BenQ monitors. They even have a specific monitor that is used by the pros at events. You can find these by just Googling them. These have the best quality and the lowest lag response time. The picture is so clear, colorful, and is nice because there is no lag which means everything that happens, happens in real time with no delay. Another thing that I would recommend is a recording a device to record your gameplays. You can get an El Gato or and Hauppague HDPVR.

These are the only two that I know of, but I am sure there are more. Before purchasing one these make sure your computer or laptop reaches and or exceeds the specifications of the device. These are not necessary to be a pro gamer, but it is nice to record your gameplays and makes videos out of them and post them to YouTube. Basically every pro player makes YouTube videos from their games. You can get fans to watch and subscribe to your YouTube channel. This is not necessity but it is a nice thing to have to show to others. These are the products that players in general and pro players use. I highly recommend looking into all of these. Theses would be an investment, a one time purchase that would last a very long time. I hope that these help you guys out. Happy gaming.

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What Is the E3 Expo?

Every year at E3 huge games developers come to show off their biggest and best titles to the point at which they've been developed. Some games are still in the very early stages of development and only a small part of them can be shown as it has been specifically perfected for the E3 event. Everyone from the gaming media industry visits E3 and records every detail they can in writing until they return home where they can write a full report. All of these details are important for readers of gaming magazines and websites, and much of the industry's news is spread through this process of holding events and having journalists write about them.

E3 brings together the biggest names in games development and gives them a space from which to showcase the games they're most proud of. In 2012 games such as the well-known Far Cry 3 and the first instalment in the new Halo trilogy Halo 4 were shown, giving games journalists a wealth of information simply from a few minutes of video footage. The advantage of playing a demo or showing a video at E3 as opposed to having one to one interviews with games journalists, is that everyone gets the same source information, but they need to interpret it in their own way.

Companies such as Sony and Microsoft also feature themselves at E3, not due to a game they're developing, but more due to a new console which they are hoping to release soon. These two giants can set the stage for the rest of the exposition, with new consoles being announced alongside the games which will feature on them. The biggest and best E3 expositions are always the ones where new consoles are released, as the new games being made for them use better technology which creates games that are more advanced than anything seen in current generation consoles.

Ultimately the E3 Expo achieves a worldwide event for the gaming industry, an event which will set the tone for games to come in the current year and the first half of the year to follow. The job of developers at E3 is to amaze games journalists with their demos and cinematics of new games which are being developed for near future release. The job of games journalists is to then amaze the public by featuring videos and writing their views of them for everyone to read online and in their physical publications should they produce them.

Katie Woodson regularly follows the E3 expo, she uses it as an example for her writing about exhibition draping because there's always a lot used, and she loves watching the new games get revealed.

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Basics of 2D Game Development

Developing 2D games is a multidisciplinary act that brings aboard a lot of professionals, sound, tracks and even acting among others. The process of developing the games follows these processes.

The idea conceptualization

The game designer at this point has to come up with a clear concept on how the game will be. For the game to be a success, it is important that the designer understands the entire plot from the beginning to the end. However, he/she can also make important improvements as development progresses. Clear pictures must be designed for all members and history of different characters carefully designed.

Concept art

This is very central and determines the overall appearance of the game. An artist at this stage seeks to make viewing of characters, creatures, and structures to be lively. They try as mush as possible to make the entire artwork to appear as natural as possible. Creators using 2D technology have particularly gone high tech in designing features that have some depth in appearance.

Sound in the game

As you select the sounds to move with your game, you consider a lot of factors. For example, you consider the immediate equipments being used, the landscape and the general action at that moment. If the character is shooting, you must adopt a rhyming sound to indicate the same.

Programming and illustrations

Most two dimension games are programmed using special C++ computer language applied to a higher level. The designer must be able to create the necessary sensors to all structures and characters to control their movements and effects. The sounds and general appearance are also controlled using C++ to make their use more coherent.

Because two dimensional illustrations are highly limited by the number of colors and resolutions and even sizes that can be adopted, the artist must be very clear in his mind how to bring about different effects. It is by understanding these limitations that 2D games developers have remained highly creative in designing better games. However, because of these limitations, a large number of artists prefer to use 3D technology.

Testing your 2D games

When the 2D game development is completed, it has to be tested to identify possible errors and rectify them before release to the market. More artists prefer to use Alpha testing which includes the professionals actively involved in the game development. Others however consider beta testing which involves external players to identify areas needing improvement of recommending it for the market.

To know more about 2D Games, you should visit gamingpoint.org

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Think Custom Printed Flying Discs For Your Promotional Events

Flying discs are a fun pastime that can be enjoyed outdoors or indoors, anywhere with enough space, and can be played with both competitively and non-competitively. Sometimes referred to as Frisbees, these plastic discs are designed to soar long distances, cutting through the air with their aerodynamic construction. For years people have played with flying discs at parks, beaches, and gyms, even creating the sport "Ultimate Frisbee" for which there are many leagues around the world. For those not interested in competition though, the flying disc remains an amusing diversion that can be played with people of all sizes and ages. Promotional discs are a great thing to bring at different events or functions: for company parties, organization get-togethers, or even school events. They are a great way to help with team-building exercises and can also just be used to complement other recreational tools like a badminton set, croquet, or soccer/footballs/baseballs.

Throwing a business event or company party can be difficult, especially if it is family oriented, because you must have enough activities to keep your guests comfortably occupied. Food is a good first step; a catered party is sure to go over well because ample food and drinks makes conversation easy. Another consideration is large size bounce houses or other alternatives that can draw crowds and keep people occupied. But sometimes the best solution is also the most affordable, and easiest: using recreational tools like balls and games is a great solution for parties and events. Custom printed frisbees are one example. They are especially good because they can be personalized with a graphic, logo, or custom message. At a company party or corporate event, having products that feature your brand name can be invaluable at helping to demonstrate your commitment to employee relations.

Discount discs are also a great product for non-corporate events. Fundraisers that take place outdoors and are focused on non-profit endeavors that are more family oriented may have a hard time trying to accommodate their diverse crowd. Using customized flying discs is one way to keep everyone entertained. They can also be handed out as a party favor to your guests, custom printed with a message in line with the goal of your event. This is an affordable solution that doesn't take much planning, but can be employed in a way that it leaves a lasting impression on your guests without breaking the bank.

Custom printed Flying discs are a great addition to sports events or athletic association get-togethers. You may not want them flying around during a football game or basketball game, but they are a great way to keep the crowd entertained during breaks in play. At the same time, school athletic associations can print their slogan or mascot onto the plastic flying discs and give them out to fans. These promotional flying discs can be used at promotional giveaways to have people lining up to receive them. They can also be used as an affordable alternative to other sports memorabilia while still being functional as a competitive sport.

Engage your audience with these fun promotional items like these Personalized Flying Discs. Enjoy the great outdoors and save with our Promotional Items. Shop at DiscountMugs.com for all of your advertising needs today!

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Cards Against Humanity: A Different Kind of Card Game

Playing games has always been a good way to fight boredom. One of the most popular pastimes is playing card games. There are the popular casino card games like poker and blackjack; those that test one's patience like solitaire and memory; and the ones that are popular among hobbyists which are the trading card games.

As time went by, more and more kinds of card games came to be known. Soon, it began to be a favorite among groups of friends who started bringing it with them to parties for everyone to enjoy. An excellent example would be Cards against Humanity.

Cards Against Humanity: An Overview

The card game is a multiplayer party game which can either be downloaded and printed for free, or purchased and delivered as a hardcopy. Designed by a group of friends from the USA, this game is considered to be one of the most horrible yet also one of the most brilliant games out there.

Upon purchasing, the game includes a box filled with 90 black cards and 460 white cards, along with a copy of the game rules and a copy of the alternate rules as well.

How the Game Is Played

The concept for Cards against Humanity is pretty simple. At the beginning of the game, players have in their hands a selection of White Cards on which are written a myriad of crazy things ranging from Santa Claus to chainsaw hands and anything else that are meant to be fun and entertaining. One player is chosen to play as the Card Czar. The Card Czar's duty is to pick a black card that contains either a statement filled with blanks or a question that needs an answer.

The other players should each pick a response from the white cards they have in an attempt to come up with a funny (or absurdly horrifying) answer to that statement or question. The Card Czar chooses the one he or she likes best, and gives the black card to the one who came up with the best answer. The black card scores players awesome points.

To end a game, players pick out three of their card and attempt to construct a haiku. It doesn't really matter whether the syllables aren't enough.

Cards Against Humanity takes card games to a whole new level. Whether you want to have a good time with friends during a sleepover or just want to while time away with your family during vacation, this game is sure to keep you amused. Keep in mind, however, that some of the statements may contain an immense potential for being offensive. Even so, the game's purpose is to entertain and the statements should not be taken seriously.

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Why Nerds and Technology Go Hand-In-Hand

Throughout my years of movie watching and electronics sales, I have noticed one trend that I find kind of amusing, and might help explain how we *cough* "know" who the Nerds are... Technology. Say what you will about Nerds, nerds and technology are almost interchangeable terms. Regardless of whatever else they are fans of, nerds LOVE their technology, and are often the first to embrace the newest technological advances.

People, (and by people, I mean in general and not in specific), foster a love/hate/fear relationship with technology. When we first get a new technological device, we love it. We love our cars, computers, cell phones, tablets, cameras, and all our gadgets and chirpy little doodads that go along with modern life. Once our device doesn't work *exactly* as desired, we get angry. We fear life without them, and fear life with them. People often take out their frustrations on innocent pieces of electronic equipment. (I once threw my cell phone across a room when I was fighting with my then-boyfriend. The phone miraculously survived).

In the 1,000+ films I have watched in my life, a common theme arises. Even in some of the oldest films made, the "Fear of Technology" is a prevalent theme. In the first science fiction film, Metropolis (1927) a fem-bot destroys the city. In Modern Time s (1936) Charlie Chaplin, a factory worker, has a nervous breakdown because of his high-stress technological job. In a gamut of more recent films like the Terminator series, Transformers series, and I, Robot (2004) just to name a few, technology is a menace. Technology rises up against the fleshy creators (or mere humans) and destroys society.

Humanity in these films are also partially saved by technology. Terminator's John Conner is repeatedly rescued by technology as it seeks to destroy him. The Deceptacons, usually military and non-automobile robots, cause massive amounts of destruction on Earth while we are saved by Optimus Prime (an 18 wheeler) and his Autobots (A variety of cars, trucks, and forms of Civilian transportation). This also shows a slight fear of military invasion, a worry that war has ruined our society.

Perhaps one of the greatest reasons we fear technology is that technology removes our necessity in the workplace- people are replaced with machines, causing less people to be necessary to perform the same functions. What use do we have of real live babysitters when we can have a robot nanny? In I, Robot society has become adjusted and inured with the overabundance of robots: they do all the work we people don't want to do for ourselves. Robots are constrained by rules to protect us, until they turn on humanity because V.I.K.I, the central 'brain' of the robots has determined humanity cannot take care of itself.

But what does this have to do with Nerds, You ask? Let me explain.

In films, and in real life, Nerds embrace technology and make it their own. Nerds are the first ones to take-on new technology like computers, the internet, ereaders. Cellphones are an exception, but mostly because of the expense of the earliest cellular phones.

In the Revenge of the Nerds films, nerds perform computer-based music. In Weird Science, nerds build a perfect woman (although she wreaks havoc, the Nerds were the ones with the know-how to do so) because of their inability to approach girls. They are not truly trying to replace women, but to learn how to talk to them. In Growing Pains the nerdy Carol Anne Seaver once dreams of getting a modem. On the TV series Chuck, the "Nerd Herd" works in computer repair. Hackers are really just a bunch of nerds using their superior nerd knowledge to 'hack' into governmental databases. While heroic in the film, the threat of hackers and people stealing our information off the internet is very real. Even Tony Stark Iron Man is a Nerd with Money: the comic book fan's dream of being Rich with all the Tech and skill to build himself into a superhero role.

The men (and some of the women) in the Big Bang Theory are nerds They are also cutting-edge scientists, studying String Theory, space, theoretical physics, things that confuse many laypeople like Penny, the normal. But, the men created things like a zero-gravity toilet.

Nerds are often the ones to *embrace* technology because they create it. Real Life "nerds" Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have had a tremendous influence in everyday life. It is the nerd who has the skill, know-how, and intellect to create, to think forward, to come up with new ideas and answers to problems that present themselves to society.

It is the nerd that fixes the technology. We turn to nerds when our computer breaks, when we can't fix our cellphone, when we don't know how to set up our new Television system. Now, I'm not saying that nerds fix automobiles, but Nerds do design automobiles and test them.

This embrace of technology is perhaps why stereotypical Nerds love Science Fiction genre: Science Fiction shows a world where all the hard work of Nerds has paid off.

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Fantasy Football Rankings - The Top 30 Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints

The Saints still can't run the ball and their defense is not strong meaning that Brees will be forced to pass for big yards in every game.

2. Peyton Manning - Denver Broncos

Denver plays plenty of easy defenses and the Broncos have improved their passing corps by signing Wes Welker in the offseason.

3. Tom Brady - New England Patriots

Everyone is worried because of Welker leaving, Hernandez being arrested, and Gronkowski being hobbled but Brady pencils in scrubs year after year and makes them into stars.

4. Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers

The Packers are going to have offensive line issues this year, but Green Bay can't run the ball and Rodgers will be forced to pass a lot.

5. Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons

Last season was the first year that Atlanta switched to a vertical passing attack and Ryan should be even better in year 2.

6. Colin Kaepernick - San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are going to rely on Kaepernick's arm and his legs this year and he is one of the few running QBs in the NFL that can stay healthy.

7. Robert Griffin III - Washington Redskins

Griffin III will put up big numbers as long as he can stay on the field but you have to wonder how he'll bounce back from knee surgery.

8. Eli Manning - New York Giants

A healthy Hakeem Nicks should be all Eli needs to bounce back into the top 10 fantasy quarterback rankings.

9. Cam Newton - Carolina Panthers

Newton is a much better fantasy quarterback than NFL quarterback and he should again run for yards and touchdowns while costing the Panthers wins with his turnovers.

10. Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions

The Lions lost Titus Young which hurts them but Stafford still has Calvin Johnson for big plays.

11. Tony Romo - Dallas Cowboys

Dallas should be a better team on both sides of the ball this year and Romo will put up stats if you don't mind the high interceptions.

12. Sam Bradford - St. Louis Rams

St. Louis is planning on passing a ton this year and they have a number of young speedsters for Bradford to find open.

13. Andrew Luck - Indianapolis Colts

Luck should have another strong year and you have to like the fact that the Colts play numerous poor defenses.

14. Jay Cutler - Chicago Bears

Cutler and the Bears offense struggled last season but the playmakers are still around and they should rebound.

15. Philip Rivers - San Diego Chargers

Rivers is going to need to pass to keep his team in games since the defense doesn't look very good in San Diego this year.

16. Alex Smith - Kansas City Chiefs

I have Smith higher than most and it's because of Andy Reid's offense that has consistently produced big passing results in Philadelphia.

17. Ben Roethlisberger - Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh will look to establish the run more this year which will make Roethlisberger more of a fantasy backup than a starter.

18. Andy Dalton - Cincinnati Bengals

Dalton makes too many mistakes but the Bengals have excellent pass catchers and this guy is also capable of running.

19. Joe Flacco - Baltimore Ravens

Flacco lost Boldin and now Dennis Pitta at tight end and he'll struggle more without his most consistent weapons.

20. Carson Palmer - Arizona Cardinals

Getting out of Oakland and having Larry Fitzgerald to pass to should make Palmer a backup fantasy QB worth owning this season.

21. Matt Flynn - Oakland Raiders

Flynn will have plenty of speedy weapons to throw to if the offensive line can keep him off his back long enough to look downfield.

22. Josh Freeman - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Freeman is in danger of losing his starting job and Doug Martin is the focal point of the offense but this gunslinger could be top 15 if he doesn't get replaced.

23. Matt Schaub - Houston Texans

The Texans simply don't pass enough for Schaub to have more value, but he's a very consistent quarterback.

24. Jake Locker - Tennessee Titans

Locker will make mistakes, but he's capable of making plays with his legs which helps his fantasy football value.

25. Christian Ponder - Minnesota Vikings

Opposing defenses will be focused on stopping the running game which should open up the field for Ponder.

26. Michael Vick - Philadelphia Eagles

Vick has a chance to be higher but there is really no reason to believe he starts more than 8 games since he isn't a smart quarterback and gets himself injured regularly.

27. Brandon Weeden - Cleveland Browns

The Browns are an up and coming team and Weeden would be ranked higher if he didn't have to face the Steelers and Ravens 4 times a year.

28. Mark Sanchez - New York Jets

The Jets won't pass that well but Sanchez should win the starting job and be a capable fantasy backup in deep leagues.

29. Ryan Tannehill - Miami Dolphins

Miami is going to be terrible and Tannehill won't have time to throw even with some nice new weapons available to him at wide receiver.

30. Blaine Gabbert - Jacksonville Jaguars

Gabbert has the arm strength but he lacks the football smarts and many are giving up hope he'll acquire them anytime soon.

Timothy Brown is the owner and star handicapper of NFL Spread Picks [http://www.nflspreadpicks.com].

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Computer Game Tester Job Tips - Is There a Need for Game Testers?

Computer game tester jobs can be rewarding and lucrative but very rarely is a prospect informed of the 'dark side' or the unsexy side. It's always gift wrapped and sold as:

• Earn $100 dollars by playing video games a couple of hours per day 

• No qualifications needed 

• If you're great at playing video games, get paid for doing what you love 

• You set your own hours 

• You never have to worry about your bills again

The list goes on but I'll stop there. There is probably some truth to some of the above points but what marketers fail to tell you is the 'real,' 'the dark,' or the 'unsexy' side of the job. It's not all glamorous as they would have you believe. In fact, the mere fact it's called a job should be a big clue.

Game tester jobs are easy portals through which you can enter the gaming industry but they are also quite competitive. They are also the 'janitorial positions' of the gaming industry. They money no doubt is made further up the ladder. However we all have a calling in life and there's not wrong in starting from the bottom and working your way up; in fact that's very noble.

With that said, once you get a foothold through the gaming industry's portal as a game tester, you will need to earn your status and prove yourself to be not just a good game tester but also show the potential to move up the ladder. So here are a few tips in achieving just that:

1. Know what you are getting into. Ask someone who's already in or have been in the industry, do research the companies and the games they've produced. Also check out consumer reviews about previous games. With this knowledge you've already eliminated some of your competition. You can also plan your angle of attack to put you further ahead of the competition.

2. Let 'Bugs' and 'Glitches' become your friend. By this I mean, develop your skill to such a level that you can even pre-empt these 'critters' in the software. This will put you head and shoulders above your competition. This is also the quality that your quality assurance manager will be using to appraise (judge/evaluate) your performance.

3. Whilst you are developing your hands-on or practical skills, ensure you are keeping up with your certification records. These can be achieved online or physically attending courses. Remember you don't want to stay on the bottom rung too long you want to move to higher levels where you'll be able to call the shots and mentor fresh game tester coming in.

Hey there, I am Gail and I wrote this article to 'open' the eyes of those persons interested in getting a foothold in the gaming industry and wondered what it was all about. I strongly recommend if you are new to this field or looking to accelerate your progress then align your self with a coach. To visit my website, go to The Ropes of Game Tester Jobs [http://www.videogametesterjobstips.com]. You might also want to check out the real deal on game tester jobs at home including Game tester jobs at home [http://www.videogametesterjobstips.com/Game-tester-jobs.html].

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How to Get More Subscribers for Your YouTube Gaming Channel

A YouTube channel without subs is a show without an audience and it can quickly become disparaging uploading videos and getting no fans. In order to get more subscribers you've got to put yourself in their place. A subscriber is someone who enjoys your content so much they want to be informed every time your channel is updated with new content. That's a big compliment to give someone, so it's understandable that not everyone who views your videos is going to jump on the subscriber bandwagon. That being said, there are some things you can do to improve your turnover and start increasing your subscribers.

More Content

You guessed it; the easiest way to attract more subscribers is by consistently adding more content to your channel on a regular basis. The more you have out there in the sea of YouTube videos, the more likely someone is to run across one of them and find your channel.

You will also want to set a schedule for when you release your videos. If people see you are adding new content on a regularly scheduled basis, they are much more likely to subscribe then if they see you haven't added anything in a while and when you did it was sporadic.

Interact with Viewers

Nothing builds a sense of community better then a content creator who responds and speaks with their audience. If someone comments on your video be sure to thank him or her. If a conversation breaks out in the comment section relating to what was posted, chime in and give your two cents. Even if the comments are less than friendly, thanks them for giving it a watch and ask for some constructive criticism (except if they're trolling of course). Try ending your video with a call to the viewers asking their thoughts on something or even an idea for your next video. Getting your viewers involved will go a long way in building a relationship with them that will keep them around for a long time and spread the good word of mount about you.

Reach Out

Take a moment to research similar channels to yours that are already successful. Once you've found a few, compose a friendly message explaining a little about your channel and what you do. You may then want to suggest exchanging places on each other's featured lists. Doing this will show a link to their channel from your channel and vice versa. Now this is a big choice for another YouTuber to make, and you may want to wait until you have a decent video library built up before you go around asking people. If they see you are committed and pumping out content regularly, they will most likely accept your invitation and your channel will gain that much exposure.

Another huge benefit of exchanging featured spots with someone in your same field is that you will be displaying yourself right to your targeted audience. If you were to create a let's play channel for Dead Space and exchanged featured spots with a well known YouTube knitter, chances are not many of their viewers would want to check your channel out.

Asking for Subs

The line between asking genuinely for people to sub to your channel and coming off as begging for them to is a fine one. There are a couple different ways for asking viewers to sub, all of which should be placed at the end of your video. Starting off with a plea to subscribe to your channel is a terrible way to start off a video that is supposed to be entertaining/informative. Try to live by the golden rule of the Internet, never ask people for something unless you have given them something of value first (your video in this case).

After your main content has run it's course, take a moment to kindle ask the viewer to consider subscribing to your channel if they enjoyed your video.

If you enjoyed this article, head over to GameCannon.com for even more gamertainment tips and tricks.