Are Motion Controls the Future of Gaming?

In our current console generation, I can see a trend towards adding motion controls to everything. With the rise of the Kinect, Wii, and Move, it seems that every new game must have either motion control support, or a token element of motion control. In Halo Anniversary, they added Kinect support in the form of voice-activated reload, grenade throwing, and an "analyze mode" where by shouting analyze, the game scans objects and adds them into an in-game codex. Now while you don't need a Kinect in order to play this game, it is suggested. Is this a marketing ploy, another bullet point for the back of the box, or is it actually beneficial to the gameplay. With Halo, a game that has been hailed as one of the most innovative and trend setting of the past decade. Does this mean that every game that has taken even a little bit of influence from Halo is somehow incomplete, less of a game than they would be if they took their inspiration form the newly Kinectified version of the game.

Currently motion controls feel more like a hindrance than they do a liberator in games. Very few of the popular motion controlled games are actually better for having these controls. Players are limited by what they can do with a Wii-mote as compared to what they can do with a mouse and keyboard or controller. The limits that they impose are greater than those that they remove.

But even with these complaints, I can see the possibilities. When they originally announced the Kinect, the first things that I imagined were the computers from Minority Report. I hoped for those kind of intuitive controls and possibilities on the Xbox, but alas, they are not quite to that point yet. But the day that they do reach that point of control, and that kind of interface, is the day that I can see almost total adoption and integration of motion controls, in almost every game, and to almost every gamer, hardcore or casual.

I love video games, but I don't want to stand in front of my TV, waving a plastic wand in the air and hoping that the character on screen does what I say. Added to that is the fact that it is impossible to not look ridiculous while playing any of these games, I'm serious. If you doubt me, look it up on YouTube, you'll know what I mean then. But the point is that these games aren't fun for me, and for many other people, so why should we have to change the way that we play just to please those of us that do like this play style.

In the end, we have to remember that we've seen this kind of thing before. Does anybody remember the Virtual Boy. How about virtual reality arcade games. If not, there is a reason for that. These things failed for several reasons, not the least of which is the limitation that the controls instill in the games. I caution the three big console companies to be wary in their design decisions, for they are not always wise. Don't put all of your eggs into the motion control basket, lest it go the way of the past several iterations of so-called "innovative" technology.

Tom Blaich is the current staff writer at http://www.games-cave.com/. He produces all of the sites content, from great reviews, to fantastic articles, news stories, and top 10 lists. If you love video games, then feel free to check him out, he would really appreciate it.

View the original article here

Read More

Flash Kissing Games

A person really can virtually do anything online. Talk, buy things, express your feelings, find a mate and of course, play games of all sorts, including the ever popular kissing games. With the advent of kissing games online, it can only be said that kissing has come a long way!

The art of the romantic kiss requires not only being in the same place, but privacy as well. At school it is very common for there to be a rule about public displays of affection. At dances teens skulk off to a remote darkened area to kiss without getting caught. In some countries there are actual laws about kissing in public, so it is no wonder that kissing games online offer the challenge of seeking to have a romantic kiss away from societies prying eyes. This is the idea that has sparked all kinds of kissing games that are popping up all over the Internet.

What is found on these websites is entertaining, and they are all pretty much the same concept; two lovers are trying to sneak in a kiss, but the challenge is that they have to do it without being caught. Be it at the mall, at school, in the office, at the beach or at the end of a date, the goal is always the same; to kiss for as long as possible without getting caught and then do it again until you fill the kiss o'meter and "Love-level up".

These games are created for younger girl audiences, 10 to 14, give or take a year either way. This is the age typically where this kind of exploration and discovery comes into focus, and it is exciting. That is why these websites are all pink and purple and filled with hearts which are innocent enough. From a psychological point of view the need to kiss in private seems very basic, but these games add in a second challenge, which is the "we could get caught" element that adds to the excitement of the kissing.

Is there a challenge to kissing games? It depends on which of the multitudinous games you choose. There is the try to kiss in class game, where the teacher asks math questions and you must answer the question while fighting of male and female flirters, all while trying to kiss your boyfriend. There is the mall, where you are trying to kiss your boyfriend and you have to time it so that people walking past and security guards don't catch you. But what happens if you are caught?

If you are caught you lose some of your acquired kissing time and your eyes bulge-out and your checks turn pink. The consequences of getting caught aren't all that detrimental. It isn't that hard to rack up kissing points without being caught after you play it a time or two, so the real attraction to these games is just the excitement and possibility of kissing. And they are fun no matter what your age. So what are you waiting for? Head over to KissingGames.org and try some of these fun games!

Playing online games is a great way to quickly sit down and get some good entertainment. With no investment required, anyone can play any time! The author recommends you check out KissingGames.org for all your kissing game pleasures!

View the original article here

Read More

Exclusive Halo Reach Multiplayer Tips That Work!

Many of you have probably read tons of guides that are supposed to teach you how to get better at the multiplayer in Halo Reach. However, there are a few things that those guides don't tell you that are actually extremely important to your multiplayer performance. If you want to find out how you can get an edge over other players easily, please continue reading.

First of all, the flag that you can pick up when playing capture the flag mode is an extremely deadly close range weapon. In fact, the flag is a one hit melee kill! That means, if timed correctly, that as the flag carrier you have an advantage over almost any other weapon in close quarters.

If you're the kind of player that has always avoided the flag because you think it makes you defenseless, you should definitely take a crack at using the flag in combat.

Another thing that I see players ignoring all the time is the active camo armor ability. The reason why most people ignore this extremely powerful ability is because they aren't aware of its true power.

Since it doesn't allow you to stay fully invisible while moving, it's important to make sure that no enemies can see you while you move into position.

A great tactic to practice is to take a stealthy route to the enemy base and then activate your camo once you've infiltrated it. The most important thing in making this technique work is to move after each kill so that the enemy team can't discover your location.

If you're new to Halo Reach, you should definitely practice placing your shots. This may seem completely elementary but its way more important than most people think. Being accurate with your shots is way more effective than just shooting an enemy wherever you can. The best areas to aim for are the upper chest and head, especially when using a sniper rifle or DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle).

If you're engaged in vehicle combat, it's extremely important to keep your chaingun spinning even if you aren't shooting. The reason why this is so important is because the chaingun on warthogs and other vehicles need to charge up for about a second before they can start shooting.

If you stop firing for a few seconds, you will have to charge your chaingun back up again. However, if you pulse the trigger between bursts of fire, you won't ever have to recharge.

This article was written by Forest Byrd who is the top author for a new and unique video game blog that features constant updates, gameplay videos with commentary, a complete list of the Halo Reach ranks and the largest chronological look at the Mario Games!

View the original article here

Read More

Do Video Game Review Scores Really Matter?

Many people read a lot of the gaming journalism that is out there on the Internet. These types of people always freak out every time a game receives a lower score than they hoped for in a review. Why do some Baltimore gamers care so much what other people think of a particular video game?

Different people like different things. Almost no one freaks out about why certain people like or dislike certain foods or artwork, so why should games be any different? People can buy any game they want to regardless of what reviewers say about a certain title. Most of the reviews come out before the games hit store shelves, so how can a person say that a game deserves a higher score when he or she has not played the game? The perception of what constitutes as a low score can also be taken to extreme. If a particular game scores a nine out of ten, there are always people complaining that the game should have gotten a perfect score. People should be happy if a game scores a seven out of ten or above. The reason people want a game to have great scores is because everybody wants to know whether he or she will like a game before a purchase is made. Reviews are not going to guarantee anyone a good time. Only the person playing the game can decide whether he or she is having fun or not.

Another problem readers of game journalism have is that they always take one reviewers person opinion as the whole company's view on a game. Just because someone from IGN gives Kirby's Return to Dreamland a 7.5 does not mean that other reviewers at IGN feel the same way. Some might have scored the game higher while others might have scored it lower. One person's opinion on a title is not the final verdict for the whole company. This problem readers have also leads them to believe that just because one reviewer gave game X a "bad" score means that game Y will also receive a negative score as well. When Kirby's Return to Dreamland got a 7.5, the comments went on fire and everyone was wondering what score the new Zelda game would receive based on the Kirby review. The score of one game has no relation to another. Just because a reviewer scores a game not to the public's liking does not mean they hate all of the games a particular company releases.

The Kirby Return to Dreamland review did not say anything different than what most other reviewers from other sites said. Everybody agreed that the game was a very traditional Kirby game with the only standout feature being the four player cooperative mode. Each score might have been different than one another, but they all said the same thing. In the end, scores of games do not really matter.

People should not care about the score so much and start reading why a reviewer liked or disliked a certain game before running off at the mouth about how much he or she is wrong. Another thing people would be better off doing is actually playing a game to its completion before commenting on another person's opinion about a game. In short, if one has not played a game, then one cannot have an opinion of any kind.

View the original article here

Read More

4 Tips On How to Get Better at Call of Duty

Ever since Activision and Infinity Ward released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare back in 2007, the Call of Duty franchise has literally hijacked both PS3 and Xbox 360 gaming consoles. It has caused players to fail tests, miss classes, and keep girlfriends angry. If you don't play Call of Duty, chances are you've been living under a rock, have just been born yesterday or your girlfriend has already destroyed your Xbox. The game can be very addicting and enticing but if you're not good at it or keep dying, you're not having the most fun you could be having with it.

I'm not the best Cod player out there nor do I claim to be. Last time I checked my K/D Ratio, for Modern Warfare 3, was 2.29. I started playing Cod when Modern Warfare 2 came out and had a measly 1.24 k/d ratio by the time I kicked the game for Black Ops. I have played with people who were in the 3's and 4's when it came to kill/deaths. On the contrary, I have played against kids that were running all over the place causing their teams to lose. I have noticed that the good players usually incorporate these tips into their game while the noobs don't. Without further ado, here are the 4 tips:

Tip 1. Play With A Clan

It wasn't until I started playing with a clan that I improved at Call of Duty. There are a couple of reasons why you want to start playing with a clan. First of all, when you're in a clan you get comfortable at playing Cod. You make jokes, laugh, talk about randoms things with your clan members which relaxes you. So instead of running around and getting angry with yourself after losing and/or dying, you're more likely to brush it off or laugh about it with your clan-mates. Playing with a clan builds confidence. When you play with your clan against randoms, you're in a good position to win a lot of games. Before i joined a clan, I rarely won. If you play by yourself, you rarely do. There are too much newbies running around who play for their own agenda. Nothing puts a damper on your confidence level like losing. You might not see it in the beginning but it affects your overall skill at the game. When I first joined a clan, we rarely lost. Every match become funner and I got better. I felt as though every game I play, I am going to kick ass. The reason being was because we knew each other. We knew where on the map were our favorite places and where the enemy was through communication. However, the key is to get into a good clan which brings me to my second reason for joining a clan

When getting into a clan, you want to get into a clan that has a number of players that are better than you. As with anything in life, if you want to get good at something surround yourself with people who are already good at it. This has helped me more than anything else. Playing with a clan that is better than you creates opportunities to ask the good players how to get better and it also forces you to get better through playing with better players. You can learn what they do, where on the map they go and what guns, perks and attachments they use.

Tip 2. Play Search and Destroy

For those of you, who've watched Dragonball Z, search and destroy is like the hyperbolic time chamber of call of duty. This game mode teaches you how to survive, kill and have a better feel for the map. Search and destroy focuses on surviving and getting kills to win the round and ultimately, the match. I remember playing search and destroy for a couple of months and being amazed at how good I'd become at all the other game modes. Every other game type is fairly easy once you become moderately good at search and destroy. In addition, wherever kids "camp" in normal game types get magnified in search and destroy. What you have is a bunch of noobs that are afraid of dying so they hide out. This is a gift and curse. A curse in that it gets frustrating when you're on a roll and a noob kills because he is camping so hard that the marshmallows are just bursting out of his rifle. It's also a gift because after a few days playing search you'll find out all the hiding places and have a one up on them.

Tip 3. Keep Your Gun at Mid-Level

There are a lot of players that aim their gun down while running through the map. What happens is when you find yourself face to face with another opponent, you have to swing your gun up and to whichever side the enemy is facing. It takes takes too much time and is inefficient. If you have the gun up already, all you have to do is swing it left or right. It's common sense and pretty simple but I've played with a lot of people who always have their gun facing down. Ideally, you want to aim with the crosshairs then aim in.

Tip 4. WALK Around The Map

Last but not least, my fourth tip. Walk as much as you can and do it around the map. Countless times, I've killed a newbie running across the very middle of the map. There are two reasons why you DON'T want to do this. Firstly, when you venture into the middle or center of maps you can get picked off in any direction. The second reason is not only does this get you killed but it gets you paranoid. You want to be as calm as possible when playing the game and I can't think of two things that gets me on edge like running and going in the middle of the map. When I play, I walk around the map as much as I can. I feel as though when I am walking I have more time to react to situations and see more enemies whether they are at a distance or hiding in a camping spot. Also, it is quicker to aim in when you're walking rather than running. Try running only to turn. It should be a quick movement. Other than that, walk only. There are times when you're in the zone and know where enemies are and walking will only slow you down, but if you're not "in the zone", just walk. You want to walk AROUND the map. If you're walking around the map, you get to pick off enemies that are running in the middle of the map very easily and you only have to look to your right and in front of you if you are walking around the map clockwise and visa versa.

There you have it. Those are my 4 tips on how to get better at call of duty. Most of them are fairly simple but nevertheless can help you improve your game if you incorporate them. I hoped you've got something out of this article and apply these tips to better your game. Now, get out of here. Duty's calling!

View the original article here

Read More

Diego And Dora Games Can Be Educational While Entertaining

Diego and Dora games, are based on some of the characters in a television series for children.

Diego Márquez is an 8 year old boy, who rescues animals, and Dora is his younger cousin. Baby Jaguar is Diego's companion who helps him when rescuing the animals.

Diego's older sister, Alicia, is a whiz on the computer, who is bilingual. She handles all the calls for the rescue of the animals, and also loves the animals as much as Diego does. Alicia is accountable, with a kind heart and although she not more than 11 years old, she performs tasks that are usually done by adults.

Diego's parents who study animals scientists, appear in several episodes of the shows, but they are unnamed. Diego and Dora also have an older sister named Daisy, who is fifteen years old and appears in three episodes of the show Dora the Explorer which has been dubbed in Spanish and appears on the Spanish speaking network Univision.

The show normally centers around Diego in the rainforest Animal Rescue Center, where he hears the animals' cries for help, and with the help from friends, viewers and available gadgets, he begins the animal rescue.

The original TV show,Go Diego go which spawned may of the characters, has also spawned scores of games. In a popular version called Safari Rescue,children, aged 4 to 6 years old can join Diego in an adventure across the African continent. Diego and his friends embark on a rescue mission, using a magic drum, and magical skills, when the mean magician changes the animals. Diego is able put to the stripes back onto the zebras, he brings stone elephants back to life, and stretches the necks of the giraffes after they have been shortened.

There are versions of Diego and Dora games for Wii and Xbox.

And there may be some benefit noted with the Wii games, because they may be more interactive.

Nickelodeon has conducted some studies that look at the ways that preschoolers could make better use of the Wii controllers. The players are able to mimic the real life motions, such as swimming or digging that are incorporated in some of the games. In addition to developing motor skills needed for coordination, the Diego and Dora games can help to increase communication, as there is very little competition involved. Multiple players can be involved, with an additional remote and even more fun.

The games also present ample opportunities for learning more about animals, and the animations included in many of the games, help to keep the interest of the young players who may have shortened attention spans.

Many games can be used to educate as well as entertain.You can find out how these games can make learning to be fun when you visit http://www.diegogames.com/

View the original article here

Read More

Final Fantasy XIII-2 - Useful Facts and Information

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is the latest release within the successful Final Fantasy series, which has sold in excess of 100 million units world-wide. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a RPG title and will be the follow up to the previous hit, Final Fantasy XIII (which scored 83 within Metacritic), and offers numerous gameplay improvements with the aim to be better than its predecessor in every way.

The critically-acclaimed Final Fantasy combat model is totally overhauled, so gamers have got more options within battles through the use of dynamic cinematic quick-time actions. In this game players can also tame any monster in the game, and use these 'tamed monsters' as party members to help them fight in combat.

This game offers a multi-path, player-driven experience, and any choices made by the player within the adventure affects the way the story unfolds - Final Fantasy XIII-2 offers a number of story conclusions, and this offers extensive replayability. With larger, more user-interactive environments to discover, an abundance of side quests and secrets to discover, as well as fantastic visuals and sound effects, this game promises to be the most memorable Final Fantasy experience thus far!

GAME FEATURES:

A Wonderful New Story - Embark on an out of this world journey together with well-known as well as completely new heroes within the Final Fantasy story - the storyline for this game was written to ensure that anyone can play the game, even with no prior knowledge of the storyline through previous titles in the franchise.

Travel Through Time - A completely new gameplay feature known as the Historia Crux enables players to travel to places centuries into the future or centuries in the past. This gives players to experience possibilities like no previous title in the franchise, and many items in addition to information can only be collected in a certain location plus time within history. Additionally the scenery, plants, animal-life plus the weather within an environment will change according to 'when' one visits.

Monsters That Can Be Tamed - Any of the 150 various monsters you come across in the game can be tamed. Any creature that is tamed is enrolled within the player's party, and may then be used within combat. Each and every monster possesses unique abilities that may be further developed, and tactics are needed in order to choose the best tamed creatures for each battle situation.

Upgraded Battle System - Aided by the advantages of dynamic cinematic quick-time actions, gamers are provided with much more choices during combat. The new combat clock may punish or even compensate players based on the behavior and decisions made during battle, plus movie action scenes blur the line between battles and cut-scenes.

The actual release date for Final Fantasy XIII-2 is slated for 3rd Feb, 2012, with the video game to be available for the following gaming systems: Xbox 360 Consoles and PS3. The publishing house for the video game is Square Enix, and Square Enix were the developers for this game. The PEGI rating specified for this game is PEGI 16, so that it is suitable for ages 16 and upwards. The game will be single-player only.

GamingEdge is your one-stop site to look at Final Fantasy XIII-2 reviews from the foremost gaming sites. Take a look at our useful price list to get the best price tags in South Africa, display a screenshot gallery and also watch videos. Visit this helpful GamingEdge URL link shown here - Final Fantasy XIII-2

View the original article here

Read More