Got Dial Up? Forget Online Gaming

Computer games have come a long way since electronic checkers and the like. Today, we’ve got computer games that would put some 21st century movies to shame and interest in online gaming is catching on like some kind of crazy fever. Once dominated by males aged 25 and older, today’s gaming generation includes mom, sis, aunt, even grandma and grandpa! If you think you’ve caught the online gaming bug, and you’re thinking about becoming a participant, don’t even think you can join in on this online fun using a dial up Internet connection!

Part of the fascination with online gaming lies in its speed. During play, online gaming becomes a virtual world and in order to project a sense of reality into the mix, its games are fast, its movements are smooth, and its sounds are as realistic as we hear them in the natural world. Sitting in front of an online game, and actively participating in one puts the player in another world – a world that’s so different, so cool, and so real.

No, we’re not talking about a super-fancy version of checkers or backgammon. We’re not talking about a visually rich game of tic-tac-toe. We’re talking about full-fledged networked or multiplayer gaming that allows anyone to entertain themselves and hoards of others across the world at the same time. Multiplayer games play over online but trust us when we say any old Internet connection won’t do.

If you want to get in on this craze, you’re going to have to ditch the old dial up connection that you might have and get into broad band. A broadband Internet connection will give you the ability to send and receive highly detailed and realistic imagery at an appropriate speed. It will give you the means to watch videos in real time, and it will allow you to experience speech as if each and every other player were speaking to you directly.

A dial up Internet connection just can’t handle this kind of fun, but you can get a broad band connection just as easily. For the techies out there, broadband is a type of data transmission in which a single medium (wire) can carry several channels at once. 1 For the rest of us, broadband is an Internet connection that allows several people to send and receive data at the same time. A dial up connection doesn’t do that. A dial up connection can either send or receive – but it certainly can’t do both. Let’s talk about Broadband ISDN for a minute.

ISDN stands for integrated services digital network and it can transmit transmitting voice, video and data over fiber optic telephone lines at about 64 Kbps (64,000 bits per second).
Most ISDN lines offered by telephone companies give you two lines at once, called B channels. You can use one line for voice and the other for data, or you can use both lines for data to give you data rates of 128 Kbps, three times the data rate provided by today’s fastest modems.2

Broadband ISDN – a combination of regular broadband and ISDN can transmit voice, video and data over fiber optic telephone lines at about 1.5 million bits per second (bps). It’s a much faster connection than either broadband or ISDN alone! If your ISP offers Broadband ISDN, ask for it – your online gaming adventure will be the better for it.

1 Source: Mecklermedia Corp.
2 Source: Mecklermedia Corp.

February 26, 2009 · Filed Under Computer Games and Systems

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What’s Up With Xbox 360? A Guide of What’s Available for Microsoft’s XBox 360 System

The XBox 360 System. The new Xbox 360 console ($399.99) brings Microsoft technology to the gaming industry like never before. This new toy sports new Internet connections to social communities and puts the gamer in ultimate control with goo-gobs of fun accessories.

This article describes some of those accessories and the games available that (almost) everyone can enjoy.

XBox 360 Accessories. For such a powerful system, it should be no surprise that this system takes full advantage of accessorizing. We can start by saving games on the $19.99 512MB memory unit or with the $29.99 64MB memory unit. To keep the power going, we can look at the $29.99 Quick Charge Kit or the smaller $19.99 Play & Charge Kit. On the go, you can carry and use the $11.99 Rechargeable Batter Pack while re-powering you controller with the $29.99 charge Station.

Increase connectivity with the $99.99 Wireless Network Adapter and keep your system “kewl” with the $19.99 Intercooler. But that’s enough about maintenance. Let’s look at the fun.

Get a $39.99 Wired controller or $49.99 Wireless Controller to play your games. Unless you want feel like getting behind the wheel. In that case, you can try on the $149.99 Wireless Racing Wheel for size.

Want a little multimedia action? Get a $199.99 HD-DVD player (don’t forget the $19.99 remote) – a $39.99 Live Vision Camera or a $59.99 Wireless Headset (wired headset available for $19.99). Then jam your way onto the $89.99 Guitar Hero II.

Of course if you want to get down with your PC, check out Xbox’s $19.99 Wireless Gaming Receiver and user your Xbox 360 controller on the computer!

XBox 360 Games. Looking for games? We’ve separated this part of our guide into two sections: one for children and one for adults. Use caution when purchasing XBox 360 games for players under 18 years of age.

FOR CHILDREN:

Xbox’s UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 $59.99
Xbox’s Viva Pinata $29.99
Xbox’s Fuzion Frenzy 2 $29.99
Meet the Robinsons $49.99 (by Disney Interactive Studios)
Xbox’s Star Trek Legacy $39.99
Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution Universe $49.99

COMING SOON:
Forza MotorSport 2

FOR ADULTS:
Xbox’s Halo 2 $29.99 (rated 10 by GameInformer)
Xbox’s Gears of War $59.99 (rated 9.5 by GameInformer)
Xbox’s Crackdown $59.99 (rated 8.5 by GameInformer)
Capcom’s Lost Planet: Extreme Condition $59.99
Bethesda Softworks’ Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion $59.99
Xbox’s Rainbow Six: Vegas $59.99 (rated 9.5 by GameInformer)
D3 Publishers’ Earth Defense Force 2017 $39.99
Activision’s Cabela’s African Safari $29.99
Activision’s Marvel: Ultimate Alliance $59.99 (rated 9.25 by GameInformer)
Activision’s History Channel: Civil War $39.99
Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 $59.99 (rated 8.75 by GameInformer)
Sega’s Armored Core 4 $59.99

NOTE: A lot of Xbox 360 games exhibit the RP warning. Please remember to follow the guidelines set by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) when buying games for children under the age of 18. Here’s a handy reference to what the ratings mean:

C = Appropriate for Early childhood
E = Appropriate for Everyone
E 10+ = Appropriate for Everyone aged 10 and older
T = Appropriate for Teens
M = Appropriate for Mature Adults
RP = Rating Pending (NOT appropriate for children)

The following games sport ESRB’s RP rating:

Mass Effect
Shadowrun
Blue Dragon
Tenchu Z
The Drakness
Bioshock
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Hour of Victory

February 26, 2009 · Filed Under Computer Games and Systems

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Shopping for Mountain Bike for the First Time

When buying a mountain bike, decide first the riding style that you really want to do most. Buying a mountain bike after only looking at the first few ones you inspected is very tempting. This often happens because mountain bikes, at a glance look basically the same. It is usually loaded with features and stuff, ruggedly built that can stand punishment than most bikes. Too many times, a mountain bike is bought designed to climb steep inclines and loaded with impressive upgrades that never gets off the pavement. This is like buying an impressive four by four SUV that was never used off road. There goes the fun.

But if you really enjoy riding off road, zip through the woods, sand or rocky trails, you deserve a good mountain bike.

Before buying a mountain bike determine your riding style and the terrain that you will be using it for.

Wheels – mountain bikes are mounted on knobby tires. The wider threads are designed to give the rider better grip on the road when traveling over rocks, dirt, sand or gravel. The tire pressure is also less so that more rubber is in contact with the road thereby getting more traction. The spokes and rims are designed to be sturdy to handle the riding that mountain biking requires.

Whatever the tire you use, mountain bikes do not go as fast as road bikes. They are designed to be sturdy with a higher riding position, wider threads, stouter frames, higher ground clearance (so the rider can better negotiate a rugged terrain); features straight handlebars and can generally take the punishment. Speed with a mountain bike takes a back seat.

Frame – if you have money to spend on a mountain bike, spend it well on frames. Beware of mountain bike set ups with very appealing add-ons like front and rear shocks, multiple gears etc. If the mountain bike is built from heavy frames, it probably will not last long in rugged off road conditions. You will also be encumbered with the added weight that should be the last thing a mountain biker needs.

Choose your frames well. If you have to buy a good mountain bike, choose a good dealer. Your mountain bike is often just as good as the dealer that sold it to you. Mass retailed mountain bikes that are sold in department stores serves a purpose but if you want something really good, find a good seller.

Handlebars – choose handlebars that offer the best position for vision and control. All mountain bike handle bars are flat and straight but this should also allow the rider to sit comfortably straight.

Riding position – Mountain bikes are designed so that the rider is in an upright position. This position may not be as comfortable as the riders’ position in a street bike but this position allows the biker to get a better grip and very effective control on the mountain bike.

Suspension – the choice is between full suspension and a hard tail. Whenever you can, go for full suspension. It does not only allow you to control your down slopes well it is also easy on the back.

If the budget allows it, resist the temptation of buying cheap. The old adage that tells us that we only get what we pay for will always be true. Mountain bikes are meant to be fun and safe. Much of these are lost when buying cheap. If more expensive choices are not an option for the moment, choose bikes that you can continually upgrade later.

If you must skimp, skimp last on the frame.

February 26, 2009 · Filed Under Mountain Biking