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Top 5 Most Important Aspects of Your Game

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:27:35 +0000

Jim Rothfork asked:

So you’ve decided to plunge yourself into the world of game development, have assembled a team of mighty warriors to tackle all the big issues and are ready to create the next best game in the industry… trumping WoW, Guild Wars… (you get the point). You’ve chopped up all your brainstorming and assembled some really keen concepts for a storyline and you’re ready to go. But amongst all the programming, the character concepts, the dungeons, and the quests – what are truly the most important aspects of your game that will determine whether someone enjoys themself? Read on, and allow me to share with you what I think.

When we do decide to take that plunge into the development of a new game, there are five things you should consider very carefully, and pay a great deal of attention to. There are probably more of these that will hinder or help you along your way, and your ordering may be different than mine, but these are what I always hold to be the most important. Over the next week we will reveal each aspects, and at the end of the week culminate with the complete article. For today we’ll begin at the top, with number 5.

Number 5: Storyline

When crafting your game, there is no better inspiration for features and activities, quests and dungeons, than your very own highly developed and custom tailored storyline. Some may balk at this statement, claiming that storyline is easily overshadowed and un-necessary when you have intense graphics that make your fingers tingle, or when you have combat so intense that you’re literally ducking out of the way from behind your monitor. While these things definitely contribute to an awesome game, and can lead to a lot of excitement (in fact, they’re on the list too!), they cannot make up for a lack of storyline. One thing many players crave whether consciously or not, is a strong storyline that leads them into caring about the game – it entices you – and makes you feel as though your wildest dreams may in fact be possible in this environment. Storyline can be simple and to the point while being so flawlessly done that it serves as the crux of the entire game (EVE Online: We’re flying through space, blowing people out of the sky…) and at the same time being so rich and deep with lore (the complexities in lore and story surrounding EVE is so great that it entangles even the most basic ships and inventory items) that it compels players to write their own histories.

Not only does storyline help players become engaged with all that you’ve slaved over and worked for, but it helps you the developer along the way. If you’ve been smart, and from the beginning dreamed up an intoxicatingly deep history of your game setting, it will constantly serve you throughout development. It will provide clues into what features want to be a part of the game, what doesn’t need to be included, and what does or doesn’t fit. An architecture professor of mine once said, when referring to the site analysis portion of architecture that we could find out a great deal about what we should be building on the building site by simply visiting the location, and “envisioning the invisible building that wants to be built”. This is true in architecture, and it is especially true in game development and dreaming up your storyline/game setting.

Storyline may be important, but is it more important than a snazzy game setting so rich and vibrant that your tempted to stay indefinitely? Well, maybe – just as long as your 3d representation isn’t bogged down by hundreds of thousands of nasty polygons or quads. Why in the world is Artwork important, anyway?

Number 4: Artwork

I’ve heard many, many times that the artwork/3d models/characters found in your game won’t make or break things. I agree with this in that it won’t make or break the entire game, but artwork and professional looking/feeling models definitely help you out along the way. Think of any movie you’ve seen recently where the sets were absolutely incredible and stunning – one such example (although not necessarily as “recent”) are the Lord of the Rings movies. Throughout the entire set of movies, rich and diverse settings are abound, and help the immersion factor like you wouldn’t believe. Would the movie have been “broken” by less awe-inspiring scenes? Probably not, because in the case of The Lord of the Rings, there were a lot of other incredible aspects. Did the awe-inspiring scenes make the movie just that much better, and give it just that much *more* to drool over? Yes, Definitely. The same kind of effect can be seen in the game industry. I play games that have incredible graphics (EVE Online) and other that don’t (Dark Ages). I am however, addicted to both of these games for different reasons, but you can bet that the stunning environment in EVE certainly helps to inspire its large player base.

Additionally, your artwork can seriously effect the mechanics of your game. Many developers over look an incredibly important aspect of their 3d models – poly count… That’s to say, the number of triangles (or *shiver* quads) your game has. Many of the free 3d models you may find on the internet are gorgeous, but are so incredibly detailed that using them in a computer, real time environment would not be wise because you are typically trying to appeal to as many systems as possible. Console systems have the luxury of (for the most part) assuming that everyone’s running on an even playing field. Those of us developing games strictly for the computer don’t have this luxury. Suffice it to say, it’s important to find quality, low poly game content, and there’s certainly enough of it out there that there’s no excuse for you to be shoving your game full of characters that are in the 10,000 poly range (many online companies limit their avatars, or characters, to around 2500-5000 polys).

The lower your poly count on your 3d models, the smoother your environment is going to run on the widest range of computers… usually. One thing to keep in mind throughout this entire process is how your engine handles polygons, and to find out what the ideal poly range is that you want to aim for for characters and scenery. In most cases higher character polys are more acceptable, with scenery (buildings, trees, etc) being lower in poly. Another engine specific feature to keep in mind is whether or not the engine supports Level of Detail (LOD). LOD for those who may not know is a system where the engine will use very low poly versions of a model if the player is far away, swapping the model in and out for high quality versions the closer you get to it. As far as I know, almost every engine out there supports LOD, but some like Active Worlds do not.

Down the road we go with Number 3: Music! Some may say (and argue) that music for an online game should be included into the category of “Artwork” – while this may be true depending on how you look at it, music in a game is incredibly important *aside* from your 3d models and 3d characters and so it receives its own spot.

Number 3: Music

In many ways music is the heart and soul of any environment you may create in 3D – it is literally the sound trick to which events occur, players win battles to, return home to, etc etc. Music is a vital tool used to set the mood in any setting, and without it your game will feel dead and like something is missing. In many ways, music helps to express for the player the mood of a specific area, it enhances and emphasizes what you are relating to your player. Do you want them to feel sad, anxious, excited, fearful? Because hearing is one of our primary sense (seeing, smelling, etc), one could argue that it is just as powerful in linking and creating memories. It should be one of your *top goals* to make people remember your game – making your game memorable is one of the tricks in making it both enjoyable and something that people will tell their friends about. Hearing, and the music in your game is one of the more subtle qualities that plays a huge part in how an environment *feels*. Think about what your favorite movie would sound like without sound and music?

This highlights another important aspect that is a sub category of music: sound effects. While music is the key that gives your environment some feeling and life, sound effects are what make the environment tangible and feel realistic. When a player is able to knock over a trashcan and as a result they hear the clanging of aluminum and tin rolling down the concrete they’re standing on, the player has an increased feeling of interaction with the environment. Think of the effect and life the environment takes on when a player goes from walking on stone, where their shoes may be clacking, to walking on dirt or mud, where the sound would naturally change quite dramatically. making good games is about mastering small (but powerful) details that immerse your player.

Many independent developers may shy away from placing such an importance on the music played in the game because in some ways it can be hard to come by for people with limited budgets. While music can be expensive (alright, no foolin’ it IS expensive) to have custom made, you can find some great deals on royalty free music for purchase online. In many cases these tracks are professionally made, and available for flexible licenses – either for independent folks, or commercial studios. It’s not uncommon for instance, to find 5-6 tracks on an indie license for around $100.

GarageGames.com has some great deals on music and sound effects – the sound effects found there are definitely a deal. You can find the page directly by visiting their content packages.

Gamedev.net also has some great resources relating to music in games, and provides a nice directory of sites containing stock and royalty free music. Check it out here.

At a later time it would be nice to include a directory of our own of some great music resources. Look for that later. In the mean time, let us know what you think about Music and Sound Effects inside of games that you’ve played, whether you thought they were effective and important to your gaming experience… And if you don’t agree, you can let us know that, too!

Now that we’ve covered much of the meat of your game (Storyline, Artwork, Music), we’re going to delve a little bit farther into game design and really define the skeleton of your game – the backbone, the thing that ultimately keeps people coming back to your game day after day. Storyline, artwork and music are important things that will really make your game feel complete, and make it less likely that people will stand in your local village, and look around wondering “What’s missing?” But ultimately when it comes to the development of your game, we’re now getting into what really matters. That brings us to today’s post…

Number 2: Game Flow

When it comes to game design in todays world there are really three primary types of flow that you game can follow. What exactly is game flow? The game flow, or structure of your game, is how players interact with it and storyline events, quests, missions, etc. It determines whether players can branch out and make the game what they want it to be, or if they’re locked onto a track that guides them into their pitfalls and excitement. Appropriately the three types of flow are as follows: Sand box, Roller-coaster, and a hybrid mix of the two. In many cases the way in which your game engages people, and how it forces them to interact with the environment and progress in the game will determine the types of players you attract to your game.

The most “traditional” game play style, or rather the most frequently used in the past has been that of the “Roller-coaster”. This type of game play is just as the name implies – users begin the game (get on the ride) and are carefully lead through the build up, the climax of storyline, pitfalls, exciting twists and turns, and ultimately the game ends with a rush of excitement. This could also be equated with the experience reading a book gives where there is a definite beginning and a definite ending of things. Many RPGs out there fall into this category, where your goals in the game are explicitly defined (conquer the evil demons of the sea and save the pretty girl) and while these games are a lot of fun, in some ways this system doesn’t always work as well in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG’s) where you have dozens, hundreds, even thousands of people interacting with one another. This isn’t to say that there aren’t MMOs that pull it off (Guild Wars specifically comes to mind), and this isn’t to say that MMORPG’s that go the route of the Roller-Coaster aren’t wildly fun (as Guild Wars is). This IS to say that in more recent years people have begun to favor a newer breed of game where the options appear limitless, and if instead of rescuing that pretty girl from the evil demons of the sea, you want to go and be an innocent farmer… more power to you!

Enter the “Sandbox” games. In more recent years there has been a big push to these sandbox’s where people can do what they’d like. Similar to roller-coaster games, the name is synonymous with it’s real life counter part, the sandbox. The idea is that upon entering the game, if you decide to ignore the over arching and present storyline (remember our pretty girl), that you can do just that without any significant consequences. This type of game play is sometimes said to appeal primarily to ******** style gamers, although I’m not sure I fully buy into that philosophy. Often times I’ve found many casual players in sandbox type games who simply enjoy socializing with one another, mining together, exploring, etc, without all the insane time commitment of pursuing the major storyline events. In many of these games political and religious systems can be found, as well as a variety of job occupations. From what I’ve seen however, these games tend to be far more time intensive than roller-coaster games, simply because of the amount of time you need to pour into your character to forge your own path (and be successful at it). While some many not agree with me here, I would say EVE Online is definitely classifiable as a sandbox, as a majority of EVEs content, gameplay, and activities are created and inspired by the players themselves. GTA3 is also considered by many to be a sandbox game. That in itself is an important note: in sandboxes you will normally find a wealth of systems run by the players themselves, like guilds and factions – usually there is also an economy in game that is facilitated totally by players selling their personally made goods.

Finally, very recently we’ve hit a time when some people are discussing ways to make what you could call a mix between sandbox and roller-coaster games. I have yet to come across a good example of how this has been done (or how someone is working on one), I’ve only heard slight mention of it here and there. From what I gather though, there would be a few central over arching storylines taking place at one time, giving users their choice of how to proceed, and along the way providing ample opportunity for players to branch off onto their own paths, while still allowing them to come back to the big storyline. Some may again classify this primarily as sandbox, but I would argue that if at any time there is a great deal of direction coming from quests, storylines and developer driven content, that you begin to get more into roller-coaster elements. If anyone has run into what you’d consider to be a good example of a sandbox roller-coaster hybrid, please let me know! If you’ve ever read one of those “Choose your own ending” style books that plagued elementary and middle schools, you’ll understand what a sandbox roller-coaster hybrid might be like. While the player has choices (perhaps many, many choices!), things are still ultimately “guided” by an over all storyline, while leaving room for player created content. At the end of the day though, all of that is easier said than done.

Ultimately, deciding on what game system you use, or “Game Flow” method you use is going to be vital in developing your game. Like storyline, it will give you direction and more easily help you to make decisions about whether or not a specific feature would fit into your game. Not only will it help you to make decisions, but as a result it will help to shape your game. Direction and determination are absolutely mandatory in game development, and deciding on a Game Flow will at least help you in the direction department

We’ve covered some incredibly important aspects of your gaming environment – from visual stimulus, and the sounds that pull your travelers deeper into your game, to the stories that inspire and the game mechanics that help shape your players’ characters. However, at the end of the day there is one aspect that will bring everything home and determine whether or not your game is bursting with eager players, or an emptied ghost town.

Number 1: Activities, baby!

While friends within games come and go, quests are released and beaten, items are unveiled and later trumped – at the end of the day the gaming community is not unlike society at large; we are a disposable group of people. We love to love the hottest items, spells, houses, quests, but eventually they become something of yesterday and cease to draw as much excitement from the people who have been hanging around your game for a while. Many games falter because they fail to recognize that new content is a must, even if the content you already have is incredible. The typical gamer can crunch through your average game in less than a month and if you’re planning to release a game that has a monthly subscription, or the need to retain players for an extended amount of time, that’s bad news for you. Ultimately the solution to “What next?” and “Why are people leaving?” is to imbue your game and all of its nooks and crannies with valuable content and *things to do*. It is from this area that it seems most of the discontent for games comes from which means that it is not only imperative to have plenty of activities in the game when it first releases, but to follow up on those activities with new things to explore, find, and participate in in the following months and years of the games life span.

Not only does providing and planning activities in the beginning stages of your game design help create a game that will be fun to play, but it may also help to inspire other areas of your development as well. Events can inspire your storyline, and your storyline can help to give you ideas of activities and new plot lines, for example. In many ways this aspect of your game is what will help to build and foster the social community within your game, which is ultimately what ties people to specific games: the friends and community that would be left behind if they were to leave.

Ideally, there are a whole host of event and activity types you can create within your game. Some of them are global style events that involve almost everyone active in the environment at the time. Examples of such events would be those relating to real world holidays like Christmas, Halloween, etc. More often than not those are time periods in games where if there is nothing new going on, your game will lose out against real life in the excitement category. People will choose to spend time doing things other than playing your game, if this is the case. Now, while we at TGS appreciate family time and all, this is bad news for you. Create global events that match up to real life events that will make being inside your environment during this time fun, exciting, and provide the extra bit of holiday spirit for your players. There are also events that are recurring, such as player run elections and hunting parties that give your players something to do year round. Optimize these activities and make them readily available to players so that these are things they can easily take part in and enjoy.

There are countless numbers of events that you can include in your game to make things feel more lively – we’ve just covered a very small number of them here. Perhaps in a later post we can create another article in order to inspire you a bit more in this category. We’ll see! An important thing to remember when judging whether or not “activities” are your number one priority: an online game is at its best when there are ample things to participate in with others. When your game is one which does not foster socializing, it will more than likely become quiet and empty, and let’s face it – do we expect people to play (and pay for) an empty online game? Food for thought.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this, please visit our site at http://thegamestudio.com for more articles like it.

James Rothfork thegamestudio.com

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What is a Game Server?

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:02:23 +0000

eSports Game Servers asked:

So, just what is a game server? Before answering that question, it’s important to understand how online gaming works. Many popular games today, first person shooters in particular, support online play. Such Internet-based play expands the game to whole new levels, and provides an experience not possible in single player environments. Players ranging in numbers from half a dozen to as many as sixty-four can all join what’s called a game server and play on the same map (game level) at the same time. Gaming servers work much like web servers, but instead of hosting websites, host game matches that others can join. Though the game itself is not loaded from the server, important game information such as player scores and rules are. Think of them in terms of a soccer stadium. The stadium provides a scoreboard and a field to play on, and the players come to the stadium to play.

While it is possible for a gamer to host a server on his computer, such servers are only suitable for a small number of players due to the slow speed of their connections. Game servers of any decent size are hosted by what are known as server providers in large data centers. With high-speed connection speeds and high-end server hardware, these providers can host servers of any size. The most popular games hosted these days include the Battlefield series, Counter Strike: Source, the Call of Duty games, the Medal of Honor series, and Unreal Tournament. Most providers offer free support, the ability to change the hosted game on the fly, free voice servers for oral communication, and web hosting. Prices for gaming servers vary greatly from provider to the provider and game to game, but the average is around $2 per player. People who run game servers sometimes pay for them out of their own pockets, but often times a group of gamers will form what is called a clan and share the cost of the server. Once a server is setup, anyone can play on a server for free, though some servers are private and require a password to join.

They make it possible for game lovers worldwide to get together and play their favorite games in an online environment, and have created a whole new market in the gaming world and have changed the way people view gaming. As technology increases, it will be interesting to see how the game server market changes.

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Online Games: Get Great Excitement

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:13:47 +0000

Adam Jaylin asked:

If you are doing a job which involves eight hours of work, you require some relaxation at the end of the day. You may be delighted to know that there are free online games which can actually work as a stress buster. Games offer lot of fun, specially the multi-player ones. With these games, you can compete with other people. So just connect to the internet and start playing against other players.

The online world is known for providing news and entertainment. But now a days, internet is known for offering games that are easy to access and offer entertainment and excitement. We might get several ways to make use of our leisure time but our favourite time pass will always be playing online games. Browse the internet carefully to find the best electronic games. The popularity of online gaming is increasing day by day. You can get various popular games free of cost on the internet. There are basically two kind of games: some are based on Java platforms and some are based on flash platforms.

Games have become an addictive form of activity as they provide endless entertainment. Online gaming gives you an exciting gaming experience with easy to operate games. Before playing these games, you need to download the correct plug-in for your browser for supporting the graphics. You should have a fast internet connection as games take much time to load in a slow net connection. You can find both single player games and multi-player games.

There are ‘Text Based Games’ which are simpler than Java Games and these can be played in chat rooms as well. Online Multi-player Games are also popular as they allow you to play against multiple players.Game developers are coming up with new games with new technologies in a bid to make them more exciting than ever. Internet has introduced to a variety of new generation games. These games are convenient to download and are easy to play.

They have become a medium of entertainment and they help us kill boredom. These thrilling and exciting games keep the players engrossed and make them demand for more excitement. Online Games come in diverse categories like puzzle, racing, action, adventure and sports. Most of these games are played with Flash or Shockwave. These games cater to everyone no matter he is a male, female, kid or adult.

Find numerous games based on TV shows or movies. These games are stress busters and help you to relax and relieve stress. Get fun, entertainment and amusement free of cost. The types of games available these days include:

Arcade Games: These games require some coins to be put into a gaming machine.

Action and adventure Games: These include fighting games, space adventure games and situational games. These games may come with a storyline.

Card Games: These are ever popular games which are played with cards.

Casino Games: The online casino games involve real money transactions.

Sports Games: Play sports games on the internet where you can compete against a second player or the computer itself.

Shooting Games: These games let you shoot objects in virtual scenarios.

Puzzle Games: These popular games are for people who don’t like too much violence. They are played by people of all ages and help you sharpen your mind. Puzzle games are loved by all age group people.

If you love racing, you can play games where you compete against other cars. Select one of the games and refresh your mind.

These internet games have made the gamers dreams come true. These games help them to relax after the hectic daily routine. You’ll find so many games to play that you will never get bored by playing them. The online games stores offer a fabulous range of games. One can choose his choicest game from these stores and enjoy unlimited excitement.

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Why are Flash Games so popular?

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:19:12 +0000

BamBum asked:

The development of web-based graphics technologies such as Flash allowed browser games to become more and more complex. These games, also known by their related technology as “flash games”, became increasingly popular. Almost everyone who makes use of the World Wide Web must have come across the term “flash games”. Some of us play flash games occasionally, but there are people who really did made a passion in playing flash games. And who can blaim them?

Is true that flash games don’t typically have great graphics or as long as traditional games, but there are many very fun and challenging ones if you look in the right places.

Doing a small research on the popular search engines will reveal the fact that flash games is a common term for which people are looking to find. There are many creative flash games on the Internet and almost everyone has played a flash game at least once. Even if most of them have limited multiplayer play, often being single player games with a high score list shared among all players, the variety of games genre such as: adventure, shooting, action, puzzles, racing and many others, the fact they are free to play, easy to find do makes the flash games very popular and everyday they do attract a lot of players.

The first and probably the most important aspect of their popularity is the easy-access and cross-platform capabilities. In other words they can be played both online and offline and they do not require any client side software to be installed, apart from the web browser and common plugins such as Java or Flash Player.

Another aspect that makes online flash games so attractive to gamers of all ages, is the fact that you don’t need to dig through tons of search results on the search engines to find what you are looking for, we can compare this experience to the one offered by video game consoles where you would actually have to spend time looking for the game which appeals to your interests and then buy the console plus the game, not to even mention additional add-ons and accessories. The relative ease that one has at finding a flash game of their choice is a big plus for this gaming industry. A common fact for flash games is that in generally they are very easy to understand and children hardly take any time to learn and comprehend them. Many people enjoy playing these games at work or during their lunch hours. The games have a mesmerizing effect on their players and they add a touch of realism to the environment or the situation in which the games are set up. Some of the online flash games give the player an impression that he/she is in a Hollywood show or in the streets of Las Vegas.

Flash games are a big source of fun for the people and there are cases in which these games are recommended by the medical professionals mainly for the mentally challenged children in order to develop their reflexes. Flash games have clearly given a big leap to the gaming industry as they are getting popularity day by day. Even if as we said flash games are free to play they are generating lots of revenue to those who are in the gaming industry. New categories and games are added to websites holding flash games from time to time, which give an amazing variety of choices for players. There are several online game competitions also available these days which are open for all gamers. One can participate in these competitions and win attractive prizes. So, if you love fun, play online flash games, these games are easily available from so many websites free of cost.

Everything from Space invaders to Tetris, Pacman, simulation, arcade, trivia and many others can be found through this gaming option online and they can be played without the need to spend a single dime. If you stop for a moment and remember the good old days when graphics and advanced controls didn’t matter towards having fun, you will soon realize just how much value is involved with being able to access these games. Online flash games are a great way to experience the past in gaming, they offer these games for free and are easy to find. So if this is the gaming option you are looking for, flash based games are for sure an option you would want to look into.

Besides the old classics, almost any other genre, as mentioned before, can be found online under flash games. How about shooting some pool? Flash games allow you to access not only the classic eight ball version of pool but also the rarely seen nine balls. Racing games are another favorite that can be found almost anywhere flash games are offered. For those who love action and fighting games such as Street Fighters and even Mortal Kombat you will be please to know that there are several games provided in this genre so if you want to fight with swords or fists or another weapon of your choice these games are offered in full force as well! There are also various funny and cute games available for children. Even board games like chess and checkers can be found all around the web, the key is just searching for the game of your choice. Flash games are indeed a source of excitement and you can find them abundantly on various websites to kill your boredom forever.

A big plus is the fact that there are no long downloads so it doesn’t matter if you have a slow 28K – 56K dial up connection or a broadband service, you can enjoy these games aswell. Time is precious for us and most of flash games do not require a lot of play time, this is the reason for which they are being marketed to those who don’t have too much time for games but are still looking for fun. But even so there is a large number of website having large communities of players which stick to their computer for long hours without feeling the need to take a break, probably because game developing companies do they best to come up with various exciting flash games which have great storylines and are rather addictive.

Most of the people that have started to search for some flash games on the internet, know that they can be not only a good way of spending their spare time, but also a refuge for those who are upset or stressed. You can utilize your free time by playing these amazing flash games which not only refresh you, but some puzzle games really improve your concentration and help you perform better in life ahead, as it overall develops your brain and you also get the habit of deep thinking as it is required to play these online flash games. Once you have entered into this world of flash games players, you can not stay away. When you have found a great game, one you most enjoy, you feel like playing and playng it, over and over till you learn to do it as best as you can.

Considering all the benefits offered by flash games they sure come as a clear winner!

Kansieo.com

Why your Game Server Needs Good Admins

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:20:32 +0000

eSports Game Servers asked:

Many clans or gaming enthusiasts working to get a game server popular run into a problem: they don’t have enough admins. Though admins may not be necessary all the time, any game server of decent size will need one around. The admins you have on your game server will be crucial to its continuing success.

Though your friends who play on your game server may not cause trouble, other players who come along might. Trouble makers need to be dealt with smoothly and quickly if you plan on keeping your server’s popularity. It can take months to build up a game server’s status in the gaming world, but a trouble maker or cheater can clear out a server by simply annoying everyone else. No one likes playing with cheaters or annoying whiners, and players won’t hesitate to find another server to frag on for the evening if someone else is ruining their game.

You should have enough admins in your gaming clan so that at least one is at all times, or at least during the server’s busiest hours. If you can’t get enough admins, you can give players a way of contacting you if a player is causing havoc. Posting your email or AIM in a scrolling message in a scrolling message on the server is one good way. Another is getting a few trusted gamers on your server to keep watch for and inform you if any problems crop up.

Though you may have plenty of admins in your gaming clan, are they good? Most admins out there do a great job, but there are always a few bad apples who abuse their power. Worse than an abusive player is an abusive admin. Admins who kick players better than them, insult new players, or ban for minor offenses will make your game server’s players leave in a flash. Do your fellow players a favor and keep a watch on your admins. Have an email or website set up where people can ask questions about your server’s rules or report admin abuse. Occasionally pop in your server using an anonymous name and see how your admins act. The point is, don’t trust your game server admins blindly. Power can bring out the worst in people sometimes.

Without a strong admin base, your gaming server will not last. Every server on decent size needs a group of trustworthy admins who are always on call to deal with cheaters or otherwise irksome players. What is also important, however, is that these server admins be trustworthy and fair. No game server can last long without proper adminning.

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All You Need To Know About The Cheats Of Video And Pc Games Part 2.

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:56:41 +0000

Odett France asked:

Continued from Part 1

Walkthrough/solve:

These are usually text files (.rts, txt or .doc) that give a detailed description of how to play a game from the beginning to the end. If you read through these too early in the game, you will lose some of the fun of playing with the game.

Puzzle solutions:

These are keys to puzzles that are necessary for you if you want to get ahead in the game. They can be keys to doors, quiz questions, safe combinations, the use of certain objects that the player has to find out relying on the information gathered during the game. These are not considered cheats, either. But if you read them in advance, you will lose some fun of the game.

Strategy guides/game guides:

We can make a distinction between official and non-official game guides. Official guides are printed, illustrated books that are published by game developing companies and you can buy them online or in bookshops. Non-official game guides or FAQ’s are detailed descriptions made by game fans about particular games, which are usually free and available electronically in txt. or doc. format on the Internet. You can also find game guides in magazines dealing with video games. These detailed descriptions do not only contain the goals of the game, the game control commands, characters, the objects, the rule system, but you can also find extensive information about the strategies concerning end plays and the different situations in a particular game. They used to be made for more complex games such as simulators or strategic games but nowadays they come with almost every video game.

Trainers:

These software are not developed by game developers, they are designed for the manipulation of certain memory values. They usually consist of an ‘exe. file’ that can be downloaded from the Internet in zipped or compressed format. Trainers allow you to alter certain values and features that are originally not built in the game. For instance, money trainers will give unlimited money, or with the touch of a bottom you can switch on the invulnerability mode. Enthusiastic players and coding people make them for PC games.

In order to use these trainers you have to start the game and with the combination of the ALT+TAB keys you have to switch back to your operating system. Some games do not permit the switch with the combination of the ALT+TAB keys if there is not a parallel program running in the background so it is worth the trouble to open an operating screen before the start of the game. Another simple way of switching back is to use the WIN button on your keyboard.

Before you run the trainer it is important to check it for viruses to make sure that your trainer is free from viruses. In this way you can avoid many unpleasant surprises. Run the program and select the desired option in the trainer. In some cases, if you press certain keys or the combination of certain keys during the game it will result in the desired modifications. You can get information about these modifications and their consequences when you start the trainer as this kind of info is written on the screen right after you start running the program.

Return to your PC game while you are running the trainer, in other words, it is important to run the trainer in the background while your are playing with your game.

Why does the trainer not work with your game?

The most common problem is that the trainer is not compatible with the particular game you play as a result it does not function because it was made for a game with a version number, which is different from the game you use. Most trainers are released with info (.nfo) and readme txt files. In these files you will find all the necessary information about their proper use and the version numbers of the games they are compatible with. In some cases you have to start the trainer before running the game. It is recommended to try out both methods.

Saved game files:

These files have all the different game positions of other players saved for a particular game. They are created when the player has successfully completed a level or has defeated a main enemy or when the hero of the game has been upgraded with super qualities. If you would like to use these files all you have to do is to copy them into the saved game directory of the game and to load them when you start the game. It is highly recommended to make a backup copy of your game positions just in case the new ones would not work.

Editors:

The editors are small programs that enable the player to modify some files of the video game. These can be saved game files or ‘ini’ files that contain game specific information or files concerning the different characters of the game. Similarly to trainers these are also created by game enthusiasts or programmers. The most common type is the character editor that can alter the characters’ features, such as hitpoint, dexterity, or stamina in the different RPG games. They can also alter the objects’ characteristics in the different games. They are very much likely to operate with only those games that have exactly the same version number. The editors should be run in the installation directory that corresponds with the location of those files that we would like to modify, in other cases these files have to be loaded into the editor.

Uhs:

This abbreviation stands for Universal Hint System. These files have so-called ‘uhs’ extensions and in order to take a look at them you need a UHS viewer software. It provides you either with hints on how to accomplish certain tasks or with direct keys to certain tasks in a given game. You can freely download from their website.

Hex cheats:

They belong to the most difficult types of cheats and you are required to possess at least intermediate or advanced computer skills to implement them. This type of cheat usually contains a “hex address” and a certain value that should be replaced.

E.g. endless energy: with the help of the Hex Editor you are to replace:

08 3E F0 03 00 74 03 with 08 3E F0 03 00 90 90.

In order to implement this modification you need a Hex Editor. The most well-known ones are the following: WinHex, Hex Workshop, Hex Edit, Advanced Hex Editor, Cygnus Hex Editor. In all cases it is highly recommended to make a backup copy of the file you intend to modify.

Gameshark/Action replay/ Other patch codes:

To apply these cheats you need to buy certain hardware accessories. These are hardware, special devices that you can connect to your game systems and enable you to modify certain features in your games that are originally not permitted. They provide you with advantages such as eternal life, infinite ammunition, objects or money. They function similarly to trainers and they are based on the manipulation of memory values. These cheats are available in shops that sell video games. The most common ones are Game Genie, Pro Action Replay, GameShark, and Codebreaker. The cheats that are used with the games are purchased together with these devices or available in codebooks or via the Internet on certain web pages.

It seems clear now that there is a great deal of different cheats whose applications vary from games to games, ranging from typing in a keyword to complex programming. Only one question remains: Where can you find cheats or help for your favourite game on the Internet?

I can highly recommend the Abby-cheat.com for a start.

gaming

The Ultimate Online Abstract Strategy Game – Try It Free

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:05:29 +0000

Sky Games asked:

Total Blockout is an abstract strategy board game for one or more players (currently limited to two players in the computer version). As with many polymino-styled games, this game requires exceptional spatial skills. What makes it unique from other such games is it\’s need for its players to develop single-move strategies in line with an overall game plan. Furthermore, constraints have been placed in the selection of pieces available during your turn, requiring extraordinary memorization of pieces used in previous moves. There are many solutions to the puzzle. However, you will soon see just how difficult it is to find just one solution given these pattern constraints.

Total Blockout is new to the gaming industry, with a launch date of December 18, 2008. The developer, SKY Games, is actively pursuing quality endorsements and awards from distinctive associations and societies. Examples include, but are not limited to, Mensa Select, Teachers Choice, National Association of Parenting Publications, Parent\’s Choice, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Creative Child magazine and many more.

In time, we hope that Total Blockout will not be just another game, but a true classic, recognized as a household name. You can help SKY Games bring more quality gaming experiences and their related benefits by sharing your positive experience with others. Thank you for visiting our site and hopefully testing your skill with at http://www.totalblockout.com

How to play:

There are 7 groups of 7 pieces each, with each group representing a value of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. Thus, 49 pieces total to complete the board.

The player starts with placing a piece with value 1, then 2, then 3,4,5,6 and finally the largest piece with a value = 7. The cycle repeats itself until the player has nowhere to place a piece.

Piece selection does not change, rather the group is reduced each time by the individual selection made, so memory of pieces left to play the successing rounds is key.

Though this game was designed with entertainment in mind, we came to recognize the multiple benefits this game offers to all who play. Firsts and foremost, the game is adaptable to people of all ages. Children can benefit from the development of spatial attributes, configuring sizes and shapes within borders. Teens can develop early logic and strategic abilities, exercising the mind while common video games offer little, if any, mental growth. Adults can take challenge themselves or compete with others across the globe to learn new approaches to strategy. The elderly can also benefit by regular play, prolonging, if not preventing, the deterioration of memory and other cerebral functions.

Unless you\’re a genius and cannot only complete the algorithms for multiple solutions, but have the memory to make your moves within the controlled sequence, you will be both entertained and smarter from the experience. www.totalblockout.com

The higher the total number of squares filled on the gameboard, the higher your score.

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Can I Play Playstation 2 Games on Playstation 3

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:04:32 +0000

Jada Slover asked:

When you hear people say PlayStation, you primarily think of great games on a great game console. You think of Sony as the developer of a one-of-a-kind high quality game console and you also think of a gaming console that changed the way people think about home entertainment systems.

Today, one of the most enthusiastically awaited game consoles in the market is the PlayStation 3. This gaming console promises to yet again, revolutionize the way people play games on game consoles all over the world. With features that are considered as state-of-the-art and integrated technology that are highly advanced, people will really want one for their own home.

Aside from the sleek and attractive looking outer shell, PlayStation 3 packs one of the best technologies in the gaming console world. This particular gaming console is expected to be one of the greatest gaming consoles ever developed and released in the market.

PlayStation 3 has a powerful graphics chip together with a powerful 3.2 GHz CPU and 512 MB of RAM that will make you experience a one-of-a-kind game play. Another contribution for maximum enjoyment is the Blu-ray drive. The Blu-ray disc can handle data 5 times higher than your conventional DVD. This means that game developers will have more leverage in designing PlayStation 3 games and this will result in more realistic characters with detailed and also realistic environment.

Because of this, games will far more be realistic and detailed than ever before. In fact, Playing PlayStation 3 games on blu-ray discs will make you feel as if you are a part of the game itself and not just a person on the outside world playing with some game.

PlayStation 3 can definitely give you that extra spice you want in a game.

Another great contributor in PlayStation 3 is the game controllers. The game controllers for PlayStation 3 games are Bluetooth capable. This means that you can play PlayStation 3 games wirelessly. This will give you more freedom when playing with your PlayStation 3 games. For example, if you like football or soccer, you can literally run around your room like a football or soccer player who just scored a goal while holding your PlayStation 3 controller.

PlayStation 3 controllers are also integrated with the multi-axis motion sensing system technology that will allow you to control the game in real time and with maximum precision. With this system, the game controller will virtually become a natural extension of your body.

PlayStation 3 also has a backward compatibility feature. This feature will enable you to play with your old PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games in this console. This means that your investment in your old games will not be wasted. With PlayStation 3, you can play all your PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 games. In fact, because of the HDMI features of the PlayStation 3, it will even further enhance your old games.

Not only that, PlayStation 3 will enable you to play your DVD movies, and Audio CDs. PlayStation games aren’t the only discs that this game console can play. It is a game console that is also a DVD player and CD player.

So, investing in this game console is definitely not a wasted investment at all. So, watch out for it when it is released on November 2006 in Japan, United States, and Canada and on March 2007 in Europe and Australasia.

PlayStation 3 can definitely give you that extra spice you want in a game.

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The Favorite of Youth – Bike Games

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:15:02 +0000

preyank jain asked:

Online games of all kinds are popular among the youngsters but one particular category that has always been the top choice are the bike games. These games bring the excitement and thrill of a real bike to a computer based gaming system. Youngsters really like these bike games because of the number of customizations that are available in the terms of looks of the bike and its working. Bike games can be defined as something of a rage among the young people and this is the reason that most of the online gaming sites have separate section of bike games.

In the range of bike games, there are a number of options available. The most commonly available and the most played type of bike games are the racing games. In these games, there are further different kinds of games available. The most common type of bike racing games are those where a number of players ride against each other to win the race. The second common type of racing type bike games are those where the player competes against the clock. He is required to complete the track before the time allotted to him runs out. The third type of bike games are those where the player has to compete against the track. In this kind of bike racing games, there is no set time limit but the racing track is extremely hard. The player has to take his bike to complete the track in the shortest possible time.

Apart from this there are a number of non racing type bike games available as well. In this category, the most popular type are the bike quiz games. The player is presented with different questions pertaining to different motorbikes. The player has to answer the questions correctly in a given time period to win the quiz. These games are also popular among biking enthusiasts because they allow them them to know more about bikes. Then there are bike dress-up and bike assembly games which require the player to put different graphics on his bike to make it looks more beautiful as compared to bikes of other players. In the case of bike assembly games, the player has to assemble and/or modify his bike so that it delivers better performance without making any compromise in the performance, handling or the stability of the bike.

Bike games of one more category are gaining popularity now a days. Because of the increasing concerns of road safety., there are number of companies who have developed games which focus on bike driving safety rules. These bike games are being used as educational tool to teach the youngsters about road safety. These games are generally modified according to the rules of the country where they are being played.

Bike games also have their own dedicated web sites which may or may not feature other games like car games and arcade games. Generally all the bike games on these sites are free games.

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