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Bass fishing games are nothing new to the arcade game market. Sega Bass Fishing has long been regarded as one of the best. Originating in the 1990s, millions of people have played the game. The makers of the Nintendo Wii have come up with a new version that is now considered one of the best bass tournament games that money can buy. Many players find that it is so realistic it conjures up fishing memories from their childhood.

The bass fishing game for the Nintendo Wii is rated E for everyone, and has several different modes, including arcade, practice, tournament and nature modes. Practice mode helps improve the player's skill at the game, which will better prepare the player for tournament mode. Bass tournament mode allows the player to fish in ten different bodies of water, and allows the player to compete in such a competition.

Arcade mode is basically an original version of the game. Nature mode allows the player to casually fish in a body of water, without a time limit or any other restrictions. Whatever mode of play you choose, this game can be quite fun and offers several hours of fishing "play." The different modes of play add to the charm of the game and will keep you from becoming bored.

Sega Bass Fishing is an easy game to learn and it is fun. The controls are quite simple. You just fling the Wiimote to cast the line. After your lure is in the water you can work it by wiggling the Wiimote. Reeling the line in is simple with some easy motions with the nunchuk.

You can accumulate different types of fishing tackle by catching fish. Once a fish is hooked on your line, you can successfully reel it in by watching the tension of the line with a gauge that is on your television screen. A fish stands a good chance of getting away if you are not careful and your line breaks.

If you have a Nintendo Wii, then you must think about purchasing the Sega Bass Fishing game. It is a much more advanced version of the older games. The graphics are much better than the older versions as well, and the ambiance is great.

While there is no plot to it, the game is still very fun. Playing the Wii version of this game will surely help you to remember the fishing games that used to be in the arcades.

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our portal for more great information on sega bass fishing, and leave a comment at our fishing guides blog.

If you're looking to become an xbox game tester and test the newest & coolest xbox 360 games for cash, then you had better get out of dream world. No one is going to knock on your door and say "Hi, Do you play video games? Do you want to test video games for us and make lots of money?" Sorry, it just isn't going to happen that way. No, instead you have to take action and work to become a xbox game tester all on your own. How can you do that? Simple, by following the 3 simple steps below.

Step 1: Don't Focus on the Money....at First

Your ultimate goal is to make a living playing & testing video games. But, keep in mind you are not going to reach that goal on your first day, so try not to get your hopes up too high.

No game developer is going to pay you huge sums of cash for your first testing job; it's as simple as that. Game companies and developers need experienced xbox game testers, not "weekend players" who are merely trying to give game testing a "shot".

What does this all mean for you? It means you may actually have to test xbox 360 games for free! It may be a hard notion to stomach, but it is a necessary adjustment to get your foot into the door of professional xbox game testing. By offering your services for free, game companies will see what you're made of; not to mention, you'll be able to build up some very useful references.

Step 2: Make More Than Friends, Make Contacts

The more people you know in the game industry, the better your chances of becoming a highly paid, and well known xbox game tester. Having said that, make it a mission of yours to be as friendly and as courteous to everyone you come in contact with. That secretary you talked to on the phone or via email might just be the right person who can push your application to the front of the line.

Quick Note: You won't start out knowing every one in the industry, so don't get bummed out about your lack of reliable game contacts. Building a network of reliable contacts is a gradual thing that takes time and patience.

Step 3: Get Active and Stay Active

Never stop applying for xbox game testing jobs and testing positions. Even when you land that first video game tester job, don't stop sending in applications. The more companies you are in contact with, the greater your chances are for finding high paying testing jobs.

Remember, there are guarantees in the game testing industry. Merely because you have a testing job with one developer during week one, that doesn't mean you'll be working with them during week 2. In light of that fact, try to follow these 3 basic guidelines: don't limit yourself, keep your options open, and always (ALWAYS) be looking for more xbox game tester positions!

Do you think you've got what it takes to be a video game tester? Are you ready to test games and not just play them? If you honestly think you're ready, then visit http://Gamer-Testing-Ground.com and find out how you can get started testing video games today!

AP - It's been eight years since the re-count of the 2000 Florida election, but Jim Dobyns is still living with chads. One waited for him when he went to clean the top of the microwave. He found another by the coffee table. And when he was petting his cat recently he plucked one of the manila-colored flakes from its fur.

Is your seven year old son mad after puzzle computer games? If yes, then why don't you get it from used computer games stores? This is a chain of web stores that have also some off line showrooms as well. Let's know what all used games are there for your kids.

All kids have very strong tastes for various things, whether we talk about eating habits or playing games. In the present context, a big part of the free time of children is spent before the television and computers. Thus, most of them develop natural love for video games.

Some of the favorite games of kids are puzzles like Alice in the wonderland, Mines, Nature park and others. One of the other habits of many kids is that they get bored too soon. They have a natural attraction for the newest things and as soon as they get old, children will take no more interest in them. For all of you, it is nearly impossible to get new computer games for your child every month. In such a situation, used game web store is ideal for you in every way.

This store provides all kinds of used games. Generally, there is no possibility for having defective products here because all products are carefully scrutinized by computer professionals before they are purchased as used ones.

This kid store is also different a different kind of a web store because it provides an opportunity to your child to get familiar with the game first. If your child finds it interesting and easy, then you can think of purchasing it. You will not find such service in any of the other stores. If you are fully satisfied with all the features of the used computer games, you can forward an application form mentioning the game you are going to purchase.

Off line stores are not less helpful than the online stores in any case. They have a well-trained staff who look after the personal choices of your child, try to understand them and provide them with the most appropriate game. These stores are available in all the leading business markets throughout the world. They also give the facility to you to buy used computer games as well. So, both purchasers as well as sellers can contact them.

Every one can find very good used games there. The store also gives discount offers to their customers where they can get free products at the cost of one. These are some factors that contribute to the popularity and reliability of the used computer games stores. So, do not waste your time. Go and buy lots of games at very low prices and make your child happy.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for computers, laptops and software. When shopping for used computers, used laptops and used software, we recommend you shop at only the best online stores for used computer games, used laptop games.

AP - Gov. Sarah Palin's signature accomplishment - a contract to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 - emerged from a flawed bidding process that narrowed the field to a company with ties to her administration, an Associated Press investigation shows.

So, is it possible to download Nintendo Wii games? Many people have been asking the question, and as a avid Nintendo Wii gamer and after lots of research, the answer is yes, you can Download Wii games- safely and affordable.
The Nintendo Wii is a very popular and revolutionary new console and buying new games from the shops all the time can be a costly task and people are wanting to know if there's a cheaper way to Download there games. To do a simple search will churn up a huge mass of results and knowing which site to use can be a hard task.

There are different types of download site, some which offer a pay per download fee which is OK if your only looking for one game in particular and others which offer Unlimited downloads for a one time only membership fee and then there are just sites which are simply illegal. I recommend a site that offers unlimited downloads for a one time membership fee, the membership fee is usually very low, not much more than one wii game it self, because like many of us one game is never enough and we have a need for new games all the time.

Remember to look for a good trusted site that has a good write up, and states that its Legal and virus and spyware free. Also a good site will offer all types of media such as movies, Music and TV shows as well as all the latest Wii games. The best sites will also offer all the tools and software needed to transfer and burn your games ready to play on your Nintendo wii.

So its now time to stop spending so much money on games from the shops, and find a good site to start downloading all your Wii media!!

Click Here To read my full review of the site i recommend and use to download Nintendo Wii games and media.

E! Online - Catherine Zeta-Jones is ready to walk like an Egyptian. And sing like one, too.

Technology is a boom to many companies. From GPS tracking devices to pages to cell phones, management can communicate with both external customers and internal customers to help achieve the goal to increase sales. Yet, this same advantage has the potential to become a disadvantage.

For example, you as the manager or owner want to check with your on site sales person. As you are talking to him or her, a customer comes up to conduct a transaction. The sales person continues to talk to you while you are conducting business with this external customer (paying patron).

This interaction touches on several Points of Connection from the customer experience perspective. First, is visual. Do you want your customers seeing one of your employees on the phone? Next is hearing. What is the customer hearing? The third point of connection is feeling. How does your client feel about this customer experience?

Technology is also involved in many of your operating systems or what I call Points of Potential. Each of these systems when operating at full efficiency can generate incredible profits. And conversely, if not operating at peak efficiency can drain the bottom line.

The question you need to ask yourself is technology helping to create the exceptional customer experience or an interaction that leaves a sour point of connection with your prospect to loyal customers? One of the best examples is automatic telephone answering systems. This operating system probably creates more negative feelings than any other operating system. Just think back to your own most recent experience with any automated phone system. How did you feel? Great or did a negative attitude immediately set in because you knew from past experiences that this was going to be less than a positive customer experience?

Remember, business is still about people connecting with people. Technology should never become a barrier to that customer interaction especially if your goal is to increase sales and build loyal customers.

What other actions are costing you loyal customers? Take this free audit to help build loyal customers

Do you have a plan to build loyal customers? Check out these business action plans including one that builds loyal customers

Leanne Hoagland-Smith helps individuals organizations through business coaching training services (locations near Chicago & Indianapolis) to increase profits & productivity. My clients quickly double results in 30 to 90 days. Call me at 219.759.5601 to schedule a free business coaching consultation.

There has been a growing trend of games in the past few decades that aren't simply played on a board emulating a situation that people need to react around. A number of games are slowly moving toward constructing a new world for the game to take place in. Players are given an entirely new set of circumstances about the world in which the game is set and through these circumstances, they come to learn about just what is an isn't possible in this alternate reality. Sometimes, participants even play the game under a number of different species. It is not uncommon for mythical creatures, such as elves, fairies, dwarfs, trolls, and other species to be prominently features in the game, both as playable characters and opponents.

Alternative reality games are popular because it gives players the chance to escape the real world and enter one where they might be someone else for a period of time. With this exciting format in games such as Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures, the players will adopt the personality and characteristics of another personal, usually provided in a basic format by the game itself. Generally, these character formats have a basic set of skills listed, such as their magic potential, weapon skills, communication ability, and maybe some distinguishing physical characteristics. Usually, the player can then fill in the blanks a little more, fleshing out their character, giving them a name, personality, and even a personal history.

The longer that the game continues, the more abilities and history that the character can develop, and the more well-rounded they become. Many Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures players have a character that they've been developing for years and as a result, some of these characters have more depth and range than a popular character from a film or a novel. Some players become rather attached to their characters and know them intimately, giving the game a sense of familiarity and comfort.

The world that the game is set in also, however, can become well developed and intricate. Usually, one of these alternative reality games will provide a deluxe rule book where the setting of the game is explained. It will explain the differences between the real world and the invented one, and in the case that the invented reality is entirely different from the real world, it will usually provide examples to help explain precisely how. Players need to adeptly move through the alternate universe in order to function well within the game and the first step in doing so is to understand the world they are inhabiting within the game. Often, the game will provide the players with missions and quests, giving them an easy starting place to begin enjoying.

The most commonly used element of these alternative reality games are dice. Most of the outcomes within the game are determined by dice, players will often roll dice to determine the outcomes of a battle or about random elements which may happen during the game. Dice are the friends of any games, especially one enjoying an alternative reality game. These games can often provide a fun escape for people, giving them a place to experience an immersible experience in another world, much like a video game, but even more freeing.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for board games, chess boards, and dungeons and dragons miniatures. You will find all these things and more if you visit used board games, chess boards.

AP - Scrambling to win the West, Democrat Barack Obama mocked John McCain on Saturday for aggressively trying to distance himself from President Bush. McCain touted his Western ties and warned that Obama is a tax-and-spend threat to the nation.

Game cheats. We've all used them. With computer and console games becoming faster and more advanced, the need for game cheats are becoming more and more important to complete these games. Often we don't have enough time between work and social functions to dedicate enough time to finish an entire game, so game cheats are the way to go.

Whether it be Sony Playstation, Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft XBox, XBox 360, or computer games, game programmers often allow the player to either enter codes to unlock special weapons, secret levels, grant invulnerability or other ways to boost a characters' growth, or game cheats can be a way of interacting with the game environment to help overcome what seem to be insurmountable situations.

Some gamers consider it bad form to use game cheats. In fact, there are purist gamers who feel that the total experience of gaming is lost once you use cheat codes or game cheats.

"You can't be a Zulu Game Wizard using game cheats. Game cheats are for people who are too weak and give up too easily in the difficult parts of the games," says longtime gamer Jasper Hom.

Others disagree and argue that they can't appropriate enough time to gaming to make it past the hard parts of the games. Another problem gamers who use game cheats face is that by the time they are able to dedicate enough time to the game, a new game that they would rather play is already out on store shelves.

Whether you use game cheats or not, they are undoubtably a great way for amateur gamers to more enjoy and possibly finish some of today's difficult and challenging games. The game cheats dilemma will always be an ongoing battle between those in the gaming community.

Russel Polaski is a shock-jock deejay out of San Diego, California. His interests include hip-hop music, break dancing, computer games and amateur music videos. He often writes articles for Prosumer News.

AP - Members of the Nation of Islam, the New Black Panthers and the NAACP on Saturday promised protests to bring more attention to the killing of an east Texas man whose death recalls, for some, a notorious decade-old hate crime.

Today, Juanita Watson of Reader Views talks with author C.S. Marks about her book "Elfhunter: A Tale of Alterra, The World That Is," AuthorHouse (2007), ISBN 9781420894608. This is the first in a trilogy of fantasy fiction geared for both adult and young adult readers.

C.S. Marks, Ph.D. has often been described as a 'Renaissance woman'. The daughter of academic parents, she holds a Ph.D. in Biology and has spent the past two decades teaching Biology and Equine Science. She is currently a Full Professor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in west central Indiana.

She began writing shortly after the untimely death of her father, who was a Professor of American Literature at Butler University. A gifted artist, she has produced illustrations and cover art for all three books. C.S. plays and sings Celtic music, writing songs both silly and serious, and she is an archery aficionado and makes hand-crafted longbows using primitive tools. Horses are her passion, and C.S. is an accomplished horsewoman, having competed in the sport of endurance racing for several years.

C.S. has been happily married for nearly three decades, sharing her forest home with husband Jeff, ten dogs (predominantly Welsh Corgis) and five horses.

Juanita: Thanks for joining us today C.S. "Elfhunter" has been getting great reviews from a wide age range of readers. Did you expect such a great response from your first book?

C.S.: Thank you, Juanita. Sending any creative effort out into the world is nearly always uncertain, but 'Elfhunter' had been tested by a variety of volunteers before I ever put it into print. Therefore, I had a fair idea that the story would appeal to a wide range of readers. Currently, to my knowledge our youngest reader is eight and the oldest is ninety. What has surprised and delighted me is the response from young readers. Some of my most positive responses have come from them; in fact, I have met a number of them who consider 'Elfhunter' to be one of their all-time favorites.

Juanita: Well that is actually a great complement C.S.; children are very forthright with their opinion when it comes to books. Would you tell us what happens in "Elfhunter"?

C.S.: Sure. First let's be reminded that this is only the first book in the series. As such, we meet the characters and set the stage. Gaelen and Nelwyn are two cousins, Wood-elven hunter-scouts (think of them as being sort of like a terrestrial Coast Guard). They come upon the remains of two of their friends, who have been recently mauled by an unknown enemy. Gaelen and Nelwyn decide to track the enemy (an enormous, fearsome creature named Gorgon Elfhunter), and begin a long and involved adventure in a quest to rid Alterra of him. Along the way they encounter other characters, such as Orogond, a mortal man, High-elven Galador, and one of my personal favorites, a dwarvish lore-master named Fima. The story centers on the interactions and entanglements between those characters, Gaelen and Gorgon in particular. To tell you much more would give away the story, but it takes you through thousands of miles of Alterra by the time you reach the end of the third book. It turns out to be far more than just a simple 'monster hunt'.

Juanita: The fantasy world you have created, Alterra, is incredibly rich and complex. Would you give readers an idea of this incredible world?

C.S.: It is a primitive, non-industrialized, earthlike world. There is not much magic in Alterra per se-the challenges to the characters are often of the same sort faced by people in our own world. There are deserts, mountains, swift rivers, and night-hunting beasts. There is hunger, thirst, heat and cold. Alterra is an active world in the geologic sense; there are active 'fire-mountains' in both the north and south of the western region (which is where the story takes place). In addition to familiar, earthly denizens such as horses and ravens, it is inhabited by cool but believable creatures that are uniquely Alterran, such as Ulfar and Currgas. I will say no more!

Juanita: How did you come up with Alterra, and how did it change and evolve in the writing process?

C.S.: Hmmm...well, I must confess that my taste in fantasy runs straight into Middle-earth and her 'affiliates'. Perhaps the reason is that I require realism in my fantasy. As a field biologist I have considerable experience 'knocking about' in the wild places of our own world. Alterra is a fantasy world, but it is consistent with the laws of chemistry, physics, and natural selection. Creatures in Alterra could exist, and natural phenomena in Alterra could occur on earth (although a geologist might disagree with some of the bits involving fire-mountains). This is a book about characters, and could be set in any world, so I chose an earthlike setting where I would not get into too much trouble with fanciful but unbelievable backdrops that could distract the reader from the characters. I played it safe, I suppose, and 'wrote what I knew about.' Perhaps that's why Middle-earth is so appealing to me...it is very similar to lands Professor Tolkien knew a lot about.

Juanita: You chose to cast your two Elven main characters - Gaelen and Nelwyn - as heroines. Would you describe this captivating, and somewhat unlikely duo?

C.S.: Love to! I am fond of all the characters, but the story began with Gaelen and Nelwyn. Both are based on persons of my acquaintance, and they are very different. Gaelen is the main protagonist character, a sort of 'Everyelf.' She is practical and very competent in her hunter-scout's role, an adept fighter and survivor with a wry sense of humor. But her main strengths are her ability to see directly into the heart of a situation, and know it for what it is. She judges all things on their own merit despite outward appearances. She is passionate, resourceful, stubborn, self-willed and independent. She leaps quickly to a decision and is driven to carry it out. She is a fire-spirit with a tender heart beneath.

Nelwyn, by contrast, is a water-spirit. Her personality is less volatile; her passions run deep beneath a calm exterior. Nelwyn is both younger and more innocent than Gaelen. She tries always to see the best in people and situations, whereas her cousin is far more suspicious. She is taller and more beautiful than Gaelen, who is small in stature and tends to be boyish for practical reasons. She is a wonderful confidante and friend, steadfast in her loyalty, and sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. She serves as a wonderful moderator to her fire-hearted cousin.

Juanita: And why heroines, and not heroes?

C.S.: Why not heroines? There are precious few of them in fantasy, and many of those are not believable. No 'crewman Sue' who saves the Universe here. These are heroines who are strong yet believably flawed, and who need their heroes to aid them. This is not a feminist statement (though some parts of book II might stray into those lands a bit). There are wonderful heroes in 'Elfhunter' who can serve as role models just as surely as Gaelen and Nelwyn can. But in the end, the heroines remain the central characters. Again...my gender is female, and I have some experience with a female's world view. I wrote what I knew.

Juanita: You make a great point about the lack of believable heroines in fantasy. Did you have any underlying thoughts/ideas/messages that you wanted to convey through Gaelen and Nelwyn, and their friendship? And, how are young girls responding to these characters?

C.S.: The response has been very positive. The young female readers like to compare themselves to Gaelen, and seem to want to emulate her. I've also noticed that young male readers are attracted to Gaelen, whereas older males favor Nelwyn. I have a theory as to why that is so, but it would take too long to explain here. As far as underlying messages are concerned, the whole series is full of expressions of my personal philosophy. Although I realize that males and females are different, and that some roles may be better suited to one than the other, the fundamental characteristics that define every living soul are gender-independent. Gaelen, for example, is true-hearted, valiant, perceptive, persistent, and fiercely loyal. Those qualities are much more central to her nature than the fact that she is female. Gender should not be a barrier to achievement. As with many females in fantasy (and elsewhere), Gaelen is often underestimated. Those who do so quickly learn of their folly.

Juanita: Who are the other predominant characters in "Elfhunter"?

C.S.: In addition to Orogond (the adorable and steadfast mortal whom every young male reader seems to want to emulate) and Galador, the complicated and occasionally annoying High-elf, there is:

Fima, the dwarvish lore-master (one of my favorites),
Magra, an ancient and powerful Elf-lord,
Gorgon Elfhunter, of course (another of my absolute favorites),
Gelmyr, one of Gorgon's victims who reappears in interesting ways,
Eros, Orogond's horse, a worthy and entertaining mount you would be pleased to own (but only if you're Orogond),
Realta, Galador's horse, a 'pretty boy' who is impressed with himself (not without reason),
A host of intriguing Elves, dwarves and evil minions called 'Olcas' (the word Olca is Gaelic for 'evil') including one named 'Kharsh',
The Asari, who are divine teachers sent to enlighten the world. We encounter a few of them in 'Elfhunter',
More interesting characters too numerous to list here.
Juanita: Of course, the evil characters in fantasy fiction are always a strong lure for young readers. Your main adversary is Gorgon Elfhunter, and you say he is one of your favorites. Would you tell us about him?

C.S.: Hmmm...what can I tell you without giving away the story? Because the core of the plotline centers on Gorgon and Gaelen, the interaction between them, and the changes they undergo as a result of those interactions, I must refrain from revealing too much. I can tell you this: several readers have mentioned needing to leave their lights on at night for a while after being introduced to Gorgon, and that he has invaded their nightmares. Yet he provides some of the most thought-provoking moments in the series.

Juanita: The theme of good vs. evil is central to the fantasy genre. How do you bring the evil element into "Elfhunter," still keeping it original without being too generic?

C.S.: I think the evil element makes the story. It is the heart of the conflict-the contrast for the Light. Who doesn't enjoy a good villain, after all?

I love my villain in this series. I wonder whether I have another evil character in me with the depth and complexity of Gorgon Elfhunter, who has been described as the 'best villain since Darth Vader.' Two-dimensional, evil Dark Lords are both dull and unrealistic. Even the worst villains of our world have complex natures. Lust for power, self-absorption, desire to dominate, and hatred of others are common themes, but their origins are different for every soul overtaken by evil. Gorgon's situation is unique, as is his development through the series. The story, really, is centered on him.

Juanita: You have also created some very interesting equines in this story that are really capturing reader's hearts. The horse is written into many fantasy novels - What do horses represent in this context, and how relevant are your horses to Gaelen and Nelwyn's journey?

C.S.: They are very relevant. In Alterra, the only ways to get around on land are either by horseback or on foot. Because the survival of the characters depends on their horses, the horses are central to the story. I have spent much of my life in their company, and have ridden literally thousands of miles over the years. I have recently taken up the challenge of racing a hundred miles over difficult terrain in a day, and I understand the sort of human-equine bond required to accomplish that. My horses are some of the most realistic and engaging equine characters around (so say the readers). Again...this is because I know them inside and out. Many of the horses in the series are based on horses I own or have owned. Those of us who understand horses realize that they are not mere modes of transport, nor are they infallible shining steeds with hooves of fire. They are animals who have been selected to have a very close bond with us, and they have definite and undeniable personalities, just as we do. The horses provide some of the most enjoyable scenes in the series.

Juanita: It is very evident that you have a strong bond with horses. Most people who haven't experienced a relationship with these creatures have no idea of the incredible depth of these precious animals. Now I understand that you are also an archery aficionado, and a quick look at "Elfhunter's" front cover reveals that archery is prevalent in this story. Would you comment?

C.S.: The bow is, in my opinion, the most elegant weapon ever designed. I love to make longbows and practice with them. In a world devoid of firearms and flying machines, the bow is a vital element in every battle; it is the 'air support'. The invention of the longbow changed human history. I also find it impressive that one can, with knowledge and a few primitive tools, take wood, flint and flax and produce a weapon effective enough to hunt and kill a moose with. The sheer ingenuity of archery fascinates me.

Juanita: What drew you to writing in this genre?

C.S.: I must confess that my mom is responsible, as she passed on her copy of 'The Lord of the Rings' to me when I was twelve. I have been a fan of high fantasy ever since. Yet I am particular in my taste, therefore I wanted always to create my own high fantasy works where things unfolded the way I wanted them to. I have been writing this sort of Elf-based fiction for a long time (twenty years or so), but only recently have progressed all the way to a novel and thence to a series. Blame Tolkien and my mom!

Juanita: I would imagine that with writing fantasy, where you have the opportunity to create an entire new world, you would have to stay quite organized, yet at the same time, keeping your imagination wide open. How did you go about navigating the complexities of this type novel?

C.S.: That is an excellent question, and I have wondered about it myself over the past few years. The story that unfolds in this series is complex...one reader compared it to a tapestry, and I like the metaphor very much. There are threads of many colors all interwoven to give a complete picture. Some threads are brighter than others, and some colors may predominate, but all are important. Authors, I am told, vary in their strategies for having the tapestry emerge as intended. Some make outlines, and some have the entire work planned to the last detail 'ere they set it down. I have never been that organized.

I made notes, yes. I had a rough idea of where the story was going...some of the time! Sometimes I sat back and let the characters drive...they always got me where I wanted to go in the end! I don't know how it happened, but the tapestry emerged as I intended. I suppose we should thank the characters. There were definite moments of inspiration, I can tell you that. There were epiphanies in the middle of the night (when I actually did much of the writing) and there was a multi-day writing frenzy at the end of Book III. But as far as organization, I must admit it is not in my nature. I will confide that I knew exactly how the series would end the day I started it...I just didn't know how I would get there.

Juanita: So C.S., the entire trilogy is finished at this point. How did it feel to have all three books finished, after what I can only imagine was a very fun and rewarding writing process?

C.S.: It felt wonderful and depressing all at the same time. Most people do not realize the outpouring of creative energy that writing such a series represents. For most of the time it was like traveling on a journey with these characters that I had created, sometimes uncertain but never really lost. At the end, it was more like conducting a symphony-building to a final crescendo-and then...
...over?

I'm sure you can imagine the joy of completing the symphony, sitting before the word processor with the last sweet, compelling tones still ringing in your ears. There is a feeling of accomplishment, but there is an undeniable feeling of sadness, too.

There is a wonderful thing about a good story, as with a fine piece of music. If it has been recorded it can be enjoyed at leisure, over and over again. I confess that I still read my own books, and each time I do I visit with friends and revel in their adventures. The worn, tattered books that loyal readers bring to signings show that I am not the only one who revisits Alterra. And, although this trilogy is finished, I cannot know whether the series will continue. I may write more books in Alterra.

Juanita: Were you inspired in your writing by J.R.R Tolkien's work?

C.S.: Of course! Any writer of high fantasy who says otherwise is living in denial. As I indicated earlier, Tolkien's work is at the root of my love of the genre. 'The Silmarillion' is my favorite of his works, and I have stated that if I ever got thrown into prison and could only take one book, it would be my choice.

Juanita: Well let's hope that doesn't happen! C.S., many people are enthralled with underlying "spiritual" nature of Tolkien's works. You've briefly mentioned good/evil and light/dark as it relates to the fantasy genre, how much emphasis to underlying spiritual themes did you include in this series?

C.S.: 'Elfhunter' can be appreciated on many levels. For those who want a mere adventure/fantasy, it is a fine choice. Yet there are many elements that lie beneath the storyline that will challenge any reader who wants to find and appreciate them. If they make their way through all three books in the series, they will discover such underlying themes as the exercise of free will, and the power and nature of love. There are many such themes woven throughout the series, yet they are not heavy-handed. 'Elfhunter' can be enjoyed on a very superficial level alone, if desired.

Juanita: C.S., we see the elf theme coming back strong in recent years, in both books and movies. Why do you think elves are so timeless, and continue to capture our hearts?

C.S.: Elves are timeless. They represent the best qualities of humanity, and they are not beset by some of the same flaws. They are immortal, and suffer neither the effects of age nor of disease. We would like to escape the trappings of our own mortality at times, and would like to have the time to acquire the sort of wisdom that the Elves acquire. In addition, who would not envy them their beauty, power, and grace? For many readers, fantasy is an escape from reality. Elves are the embodiment of their desires, I expect.

Juanita: How can readers find out more about you and "Elfhunter"?

C.S.: They can go to our website, www.Elfhunter.net. There they will find a link to e-mail, as well as links to some of our affiliates (we have miniature figures for gamers, for example). They will also find direct links to our Amazon pages for all three books in the series. As I finally drag myself into the 21st century, I expect a bigger and better website to emerge. If readers have suggestions, please share them with us!

Juanita: C.S., thank so much for the opportunity to chat with you today. "Elfhunter" is a fantastic first book, in what will undoubtedly be a highly sought after series for fantasy readers. We wish you all the best, and hope you come back and talk with us when you release book two.

C.S.: Thank you for the opportunity to share with your readers, Juanita. I would invite them to join our family of 'Alterran Adventurers,' and look forward to sharing more with them in the future. Watch the website for exciting new developments, such as the audiobook and the RPG based in Alterra, both slated for 2008.

http://www.readerviews.com/

Reuters - Just like the "Seinfeld" episode where George wanted everyone to call him "T-Bone," Beyonce Knowles would like to be known by a bold new name.

3 companies

3 new consoles - each one has the potential to be 'The Next BIG thing'

The good news is...

Microsoft released the Xbox 360 to a suspecting world almost a year ago - it had major problems when it first rolled off the production line, however Microsoft has resolved those with software patches, newer releases and cleaned up assembly. Teething problems as it were, and the 360 is a solid machine for mature gamers wanting a solid console for hard-core games

Sony is still lagging behind with the Playstation 3 - it has been dogged with delays and fallbacks, and will not take too much to fall behind it's November 17th release deadline for North America. If it is released on time, the Playstation 3 promises to take gaming to the next level with it's integrated supercomputer core and blue-ray DVD disc that allows for upwards of 50 gb of gaming capacity per disc.

Nintendo is being quiet but deadly in it's marketing - they kept in the shadows behind both Sony and Microsoft and just developed - but what a product they developed. The Wii(revolution) is not so much a powerhouse console as it is a totally new direction in console gaming. With the cordless nunchuck controller, full backwards compatibility with the Gamecube, and the added online game download library - the Wii looks to be in good standing when it is unleashed on November 19th.

The bad news ...

Pricing as always is a factor in any console war - and this time round there is more competition for your dollar than ever before. If you want a literal supercomputer, buy the Playstation 3 at a list price of $599. For a 3 processor monster console that crunches games and lets you play powerfully, the 360 is your game for $399. For the more energetic and unique experience, the Wii at $250 is a very good choice.

Now for the ugly...

The Xbox has had it's rife battle with problems upon release, with the Screen of Death, DVD scratching, early release games having major graphic errors, and so on. Although much has been made of this in the media, people need to remember ... this is normal for a brand new console that is in effect a full computer on steroids.

The Playstation when it came out, also had it's share of problems with disc read errors, overheating and other such errors. In both cases, the companies stand behind their products and will repair or replace as necessary.

For the 360 - there is an issue if you have a lot of Xbox games ... the new console won't necessarily play them all. Check with xbox.com for the latest list before you buy, if you have a large number of titles - to ensure you can enjoy them on the new toy.

Playstation 3 owners will only have to worry if they are playing games that do not follow the official TRC or Technical Requirements Checklist. The Playstation 3 has onboard chipsets for the PS2 and original Playstation. So, as Ken Kutagari explains "Either it's accidental or on purpose; there's actually a lot of games that don't follow the TRC." If the game isn't written right, don't expect it to be playable.

For the Nintendo Wii - all Gamecube games will be playable on the newest console and you can also use the Gamecube controllers and the Gamecube memory cards.

All in all the newest consoles look to produce excellent fodder for the Console wars. Which one will prevail - well now - that, my friends, is up to you. Buy what you want, and play it hard - that's the only way to be sure your choice becomes the leading console.

Tim Morrison - courtesy of morristreet

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AP - Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni has given up efforts to form a coalition government and will recommend early elections, Israeli radio stations reported Saturday night.

Golf equipment can get expensive as you start buying more and more branded golf equipment. In this era of recessionary trends the option that you have is to buy used golf equipment and that will help you save enormous sums of money over a period of time.

Golf clubs is an expensive item within the golf equipment set that can be bought used and there are several on-line and offline shops that sell used glob club sets or even used golf clubs. These shops sell branded and high end golf sets at a discount to the original prices as these are pre-owned. But there are certain things that you should be careful about before you go ahead and start looking for used equipment.

Golfers know that grooves on a golf club are what is really needed for a golf ball to be driven further and with a spin. That means that when you start your hunt for golf club or club sets then you need to buy clubs that have good club face which means that they have good grooves on the club face.

The next important area for golf club is the shaft and the shaft needs to be closely inspected when buying the used golf clubs. Close inspection is a must for the shafts as the cracks in the shaft may not be easily detected with the naked eye. There are two types of shaft available which are graphite shaft and the metal shaft. Each has its own characteristics and you need to be aware of the way they work so as to eliminate any chances that you will get a faulty shaft when buying the used golf clubs.

The golf club is held with a grip on the top of the golf club and that grip can be an important factor for you as a golfer. If the grip is worn and damaged then my suggestion would be to try buying the new one or try some other used golf club.

If you are buying on-line then get the pictures of the club face , shaft and the grip individually so that you are reasonably sure about the quality of the golf club you are buying. Also make sure that you have the right to return if you do not find the club satisfactory. It will save you a lot of agony and hassle later.

Buying used golf clubs is definitely a money saver but there are some risks attached to it.

The author is an advocate of buying used equipment for golfing and he also goes for buying used corporate logo golf balls to cut costs. Used corporate logo golf balls are usually available online at great prices if you buy in bulk.

AP - Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni has given up efforts to form a coalition government and will recommend early elections, Israeli radio stations reported Saturday night.

The gaming world has enjoyed an unprecedented surge in popularity over the past ten years. Typically, the buzz over the latest consoles begin long before those consoles are released to the public. The Playstation system was no different. Due to high demand and record sales after its launch, Sony released the Portable Sony Playstation (known widely as the PSP) and began offering a huge variety of games for the handheld gaming system. Because these PSP games can be costly (especially if several games are purchased at once), Sony began offering demos of the games so people could get a taste for the game before buying.

What Do PSP Game Demos Offer?

Usually, the demo offers a small sample of the full-version game. Many PSP games will take you through several stages or levels of play. A demo of the PSP game often allows you to play one or two levels so you can get a feel for the game. You can watch the graphics and experienced the playability of the PSP game through the demo without having to invest blindly by buying the game upfront. Sometimes, the demo will omit a few of the options that are available in the full-version of the game.

Reasons Why You Should Use PSP Game Demos

Downloading and playing PSP game demos can save you time and money. If you play a game demo and decide that you don't like the game, you can save your money and not purchase the full version. Similarly, playing demos will allow you to focus on the games that you like, ignoring all others quickly. Otherwise, you may waste time by buying a game, deciding you don't like it and having to return to the store for a refund or exchange.

Where To Find PSP Demos To Download

There are several large websites that cater to PSP gaming fans. These websites allow you to download demos of most of the games that are available. Two of the most popular sites to download PSP game demos are monster-psp.com and the official Sony Playstation site at Playstation.com. You can also find PSP demos that you can download at websites such as PSPgn, PSPDemoCenter and GameSpot. Keep in mind that although downloading demos of PSP games is usually allowed by Sony, full-versions of the games should be purchased.

How To Download PSP Game Demos

Downloading PSP demos is simple. There are a few methods you can use. Many PSP gamers recommend downloading the games onto your desktop computer. That way, you can easily find the demos when you need them. Then, establish a connection between your PSP and your desktop computer using a USB cable. You will likely see something titled "removable drive." When you do, simply drag and place the folder on your desktop that contains the demo into the "games" folder on your PSP. Disconnect your PSP from your desktop. On your PSP, you should be able to easily find the game in the folder that you placed it.

Playing PSP game demos is a great way to get a taste of a game that you are interested in without having to invest the money upfront. That way, you can save both time and money by avoiding the games that you find boring or too easy. Fortunately, you can download demos of most of the available PSP games from several high-profile websites. Once you have decided which games you enjoy most, you can purchase the full versions of the game confident that it is a good investment.

I love my PSP and the great thing is I get all my games without paying for them. If you love your PSP head on over to Monster-PSP.com For all the latest news on your PSP.

Get Free Stuff at Monster-PSP.com

E! Online - The FBI has joined the search for Jennifer Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, who has been missing since yesterday's shooting deaths of her brother, Jason Hudson, 29, and mother, Darnell Donerson, 57.

A DVD VCR recorder may, at first sight, seem like an ugly combo of old technology
with new. However, there are many advantages to be had from a DVD VCR recorder,
also known as DVD VHS recorder or DVD VCR combo recorder.

The first and most obvious advantage is that it provides an easy way to copy your
old VHS tapes to DVD and thus preserve them for much longer than they would last
on a VHS tape. Just stick the tap and blank DVD into the machine, press a button
and, bingo, you're ropey old VHS tapes can be consigned to the trash, to be
replaced by a shiny, new DVD disc.

Saving space is another advantage of having a DVD VCR recorder. Many people like
to keep hold of old VHS tapes for all sorts of reasons, but having a DVD recorder
and a VCR takes up space, plug sockets, and adds to the jungle of wires behind the
TV.

However, it's not all good news. A DVD VCR recorder has one distinct disadvantage
over having two separate units and its one that affects every area where technology
combines multiple functions into one device. Put simply, if your VCR breaks, you've
lost your DVD recorder to. And vice versa. Whereas, if you had separate VHS and
DVD machines, when one breaks and you need to send it off to be repaired, you still
have the other.

If this potential problem doesn't put you off, and you decide a DVD VHS recorder is
right for you, there are a number of things you should look out for. If possible go
for a device which records to DVD-RAM as well as DVD-R or DVD+R. This allows
you to timeshift your DVD recording, meaning you can watch the start of a program
while still recording the end of it, or pause and rewind live TV. Timeshifting is
incredibly useful and will change the way you watch TV.

You should also look for a device which plays back DVDs using progressive scan.
This means that rather than splitting each frame into two fields and displaying each
one alternately, the entire frame is shown on screen at the same time. This improves
the quality of the picture when watching DVD players.

If you have lots of VHS tapes that you want to carry on watching or want to record to
DVD, it's possible that a DVD VCR recorder could be right for you.

Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher of The HDTV Tuner, a site which aims to cut through the confusion surrounding HDTV and provide surfers with up to date, accurate and easy to read information on HDTV.

Free games are now the new "phenomenon" everyone is hooked on, especially bored teenagers who find television shows boring with reality television not much of a draw either. In fact, this new found past-time is set to gain more ground as fast internet access becomes more and more cheap and easy to
acquire. Quickly becoming the new social hubs, it is addictive, cheap and most importantly FREE.

The sheer draw of free online games has got no age or gender barriers. A recent game lovers' age survey showed that although roughly three-quarters of their visitors ranged from 8 - 25 years, over 17% were over 35 years of age. This proves that playing games is popular with any age group and people from all backgrounds.

As a result of this explosion of popularity, there are many platforms offering many kinds of free online games with no need to for downloading. As a result, gaming lovers have many possibilities available to them. Some focus on a specific genre such as adventure, action, strategy, board, or card games while
others diversify and offer a broad range of free games encompassing all the categories above.

Furthermore, there are some gaming websites that are geared to offering a wide range of games in almost every genre. One such website is Arcadekitty.com which offers free games in
categories such as strategy, adventure, rpg, strategy, puzzles just to name a few. It is more like a one stop shop for games only they are free. The advantages of free online games is that you can do it whenever you can spare a few minutes or during your coffee break for instance. Some of these games are educational or brainteasers, others are for pure fun. Free online strategy games, such as Sudoku, for instance test your brain intellect without needing a pen nor paper.

Free online adventure games are the easiest to come by. Role Playing Games allows the gamer to impersonate a desired character while visitors can also pick an online partner to play multi-player games enhancing the very social nature of gaming. Some platforms offer a system of rating which further enhances the experience of new visitors who visit later. Additionally, specific comments can be left on games on some websites. Favourite games can be bookmarked or sent to friends or placed on
social network profiles such as Myspace.

Taking advantage of this social environment, some websites offer free chat so game players can hang out and chat, making new friends and meeting people from all over the world. Once again
Gamerevolt.com is one such platform. The free chatroom offered by them allows visitors to create their own private rooms where they can invite their friends or new people they have met for a casual
chat. Others add more social enhancing content such as forums, downloads and games cheat to their visitors. This includes X box game cheats, PS 2 game cheats, Game boy cheats, and cheats for other platforms.

On the whole, online gaming is an explosive and social environment and set to expand further in the
future.

By Jake Jenkins

Play free games, find games cheat and free chat at Gamerevolt.com

Propp was one of the most brilliant folklorists of all time, very knowledgeable of fairy tales, their meanings, and most especially their story structures. As people during his time attempted to classify stories by key features, and elements, something which led to hundreds of story types, Propp felt it would make more sense to examine story structure based on functions.

In his studies Propp found 31 fairy tale functions, it was his claim that while not all these functions where in any fairy tale, fairy tales where all driven by these functions which all occurred in the numerical order he outlined for them from least to greatest.

While it can be argued that there are perhaps folktales especially those in other cultures that do not follow exactly the outline created by Propp, he certainly discovered something that is true the majority of the time, and when talking about humans that is normally the best one can get, for humans have few if any rules regarding their imagination which are true all the time. It is wise then to utilize Propp's functions set as a tool to understanding fairy tales, rather then simply working to dispute it, because if you try to you will find fairy tales that don't match it, but you will find many more which do.

What Propp means for fantasy stories and RPG's

So what do Propp's functions have to do with fantasy role playing games and fantasy worlds? Everything, for it is Propp's functions which have shown the outline for most all of the early fantasy stories, and certainly for the most famous of such stories. By defining this storyline Propp has not only created a tool for understanding fairy tales, he has created one for writing them, and fantasy stories structured like them, and considering the power and timeless nature of fairy tales this is indeed a valuable story tool. When creating a quest for your characters this tool is invaluable for helping to generate ideas, often times quests are merely a string of challenges rather then a story. Propp offers a more concrete structure for ideas. This way a game master creating an rpg quest could rather then simply stringing together challenges, string together events from meetings with hero's, receiving of magical objects, and villain's natures being revealed.

Of special interest to those creating role playing quests includes the interdiction violated (the players, or someone close to them does something they where told not to). Common in fairy tales, someone is told not to do something, and so they must inevitably do it. In the case of a hero this could be a good opportunity to use external characters to pressure them. Someone close to them bothers them until such time as they do the thing they where told not to. Or the pc's could be forced to choose between a known negative event and an unknown, as they are chased by a dragon, poisoned, or driven to do something they normally would not do to survive. For in fleeing the dragon they enter a fairies private realm angering it. To cure themselves of the poison they make a deal with a stranger. There are many other ways to direct the PC's towards the breaking of the interdiction, allowing you to set them up for the fantasy quest.

Once the interdiction is broken the PC's could find themselves in trouble, and so would need the help of the villain who at this point is disguised as a helper. One of the things that make fairy tales so interesting is the way in which villains often start out as those seeming to help the hero characters. Yet they do so only to cause some sort of harm to or to get something out of the hero. In your role playing game this duality of the villain character could add interest and of course a more story like feel.

On the flip side of the hidden villain is the actual helper character, someone who provides magical aid to the hero. Fairies play in this role well for they do not have their own unknown reasons for helping and so could simply choose to be helpful if the player's characters are friendly to them. What's important to understand in this is that these are not simply random events; it is ok if the pc's receive miraculous help from an outside source in this story structure because this structure is so well known to most peoples. Propp's structure after all is the structure on which most of our fantasy stories are originally based.

Propp's function started with an initial set up situation of who, what, when and where, after this the stories according to him would follow along in order some of the following 31 functions.

1. A member of a family leaves home (the hero is introduced);

2. An interdiction is addressed to the hero ('don't go there');

3. The interdiction is violated (villain enters the tale);

4. The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance (either villain tries to find the children/jewels etc; or intended victim questions the villain);

5. The villain gains information about the victim;

6. The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of victim or victim's belongings (trickery; villain disguised, tries to win confidence of victim);

7. Victim taken in by deception, unwittingly helping the enemy;

8. Villain causes harm/injury to family member (by abduction, theft of magical agent, spoiling crops, plunders in other forms, causes a disappearance, expels someone, casts spell on someone, substitutes child etc, comits murder, imprisons/detains someone, threatens forced marriage, provides nightly torments); Alternatively, a member of family lacks something or desires something (magical potion etc);

9. Misfortune or lack is made known, (hero is dispatched, hears call for help etc/ alternative is that victimized hero is sent away, freed from imprisonment);

10. Seeker agrees to, or decides upon counter-action;

11. Hero leaves home;

12. Hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc, preparing the way for his/her receiving magical agent or helper (donor);

13. Hero reacts to actions of future donor (withstands/fails the test, frees captive, reconciles disputants, performs service, uses adversary's powers against him);

14. Hero acquires use of a magical agent (directly transferred, located, purchased, prepared, spontaneously appears, eaten/drunk, help offered by other characters);

15. Hero is transferred, delivered or led to whereabouts of an object of the search;

16. Hero and villain join in direct combat;

17. Hero is branded (wounded/marked, receives ring or scarf);

18. Villain is defeated (killed in combat, defeated in contest, killed while asleep, banished);

19. Initial misfortune or lack is resolved (object of search distributed, spell broken, slain person revived, captive freed);

20. Hero returns;

21. Hero is pursued (pursuer tries to kill, eat, undermine the hero);

22. Hero is rescued from pursuit (obstacles delay pursuer, hero hides or is hidden, hero transforms unrecognisably, hero saved from attempt on his/her life);

23. Hero unrecognized, arrives home or in another country;

24. False hero presents unfounded claims;

25. Difficult task proposed to the hero (trial by ordeal, riddles, test of strength/endurance, other tasks);

26. Task is resolved;

27. Hero is recognized (by mark, brand, or thing given to him/her);

28. False hero or villain is exposed;

29. Hero is given a new appearance (is made whole, handsome, new garments etc);

30. Villain is punished;

31. Hero marries and ascends the throne (is rewarded/promoted).

Ty Hulse is helping to develop dragonsmeet.net as center for role playing games, where you can learn about the impact of fairy tales on RPG's, and about creating fantasy worlds for your role playing games.

AP - A security guard working for the international shipping company DHL opened fire Saturday, killing the company's country director and his deputy before turning the gun on himself, officials said.

Even though the PS3 is quickly becoming popular, many of us have decided to stick to the PS2. There are more games, cheaper products, and more options for purchase. Heck, you can even download ps2 games on the internet. Of course, these games are going to get a lot of use (because they're awesome!) and eventually you are going to want to know how to fix scratched ps2 games. This article will help.

Is it scratched or just dirty?

Sometimes the problem with our game is not a scratch. Really, the ps2 will read a lot of games with shallow scratches but it really has a problem with caked-on gook. Try cleaning the disc before you attempt to fix the scratch (or you might do work harm than is necessary).

It's scratched! How do you fix it?

It's actually really easy to fix scratched PS2 games. This is what you need.

• Baking Soda Toothpaste
• a Lint-free cloth (an eyeglasses cloth is perfect)

Before you start you should know that it is not a good idea to wipe your disc in circles. Unlike old LPs (where you had to follow the groove), PS2 Games should be rubbed from the center straight to the outside edge. Wiping in circles does more damage and you want to avoid that.

5 Simple steps to fix scratched ps2 games

• Put a little warm water on the disc.
• apply a little toothpaste to your cloth
• rub (as directed) over the scratched area and around it. If you have a lot of scratches then you should do the whole disc. 10-15 swipes from inside to out should do the trick.
• rinse the toothpaste off
• allow the disc to air dry

See? It's not hard to fix scratched PS2 Games at all. There is one problem to this method though; You can do it too often. Realize that you are grinding down the plastic surface around the crack to make the ps2 think it's shallow. If you do it too often then you will have no plastic buffer left and the foil data layer will get destroyed. For serious problems (or repeated damage) your best bet is to resurface the disc.

Fixing scratched games (for any system) can be time-consuming and sometimes causes more damage in the long run. Visit the Electronic Toy Room for advice on quick and easy ways to fix scratched ps2 games properly! http://electronictoyroom.wordpress.com/

AP - Now is not the time for countries to abandon open market policies or make changes that would threaten free enterprise, President Bush said Saturday.

Starting with its unconventional name to its innovative controller, the Nintendo Wii comes loaded with every unique feature to make it a stand apart gaming console. The device has been a huge success amongst the gaming fraternity, and such is the furore the makers of the celebrated Xboxs and PSPs fear a run for their money.

Measuring 8.5 inches long by 6 inches wide, and being less than 2 inches thick, the Nintendo Wii comes with sharp, clean contours, with an Apple like glossy white finish. Which means, it not only makes a stylish appearance but also is quite compact. Another appreciated feature of Nintendo Wii is its angled plastic stand. With this, the gaming console can be oriented horizontally or vertically (something that the big player Play station 3 and Xbox 360 fails to deliver).

The Nintendo Wii comes with a set of impressive controls. They are designed to suit both left handed and right handed players. The controls include a Wii Remote and a Nunchuk--a joystick-style controller that connects to the remote for additional game control. The Wii Remote works for games within a radius of about 30 feet and functions as a cursor-type pointing device within about 15 feet. Also, the remote offers a great tactile feedback. The Wii Remote also contains a control for adjusting force feedback, a built-in speaker, a wrist strap, and four blue LED lights that indicate which player/controller number you've been assigned.

Downloading games from the online world is like a breeze, and the user friendly interface makes the experience of Nintendo Wii more pleasurable. A noteworthy feature of this gaming console is its "sleepless" WiiConnect24 service. Through this, the console automatically downloads information, even when it's on standby. Another feature worth a notice is its Virtual console. Here, gamers are allowed to download and play games from past consoles such as the Nintendo 64, NES, Super NES, Sega Genesis, and TurboGrafx16. Nintendo will offer 12 classic console games at launch, including Donkey Kong (NES), SimCity (SNES), Super Mario 64, Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis), and Bomberman '93 (TurboGrafx16).

Nintendo Wii is a gaming console for the masses. It is easy to understand, easy to use and quite affordable. So, for first time gamers, this console would sure prove an addiction.

Raina Kelsey is a gadget expert and writes about the latest gadgets in the market.

Nintendo Wii Consoles
Video Game Consoles

AP - It's been eight years since the re-count of the 2000 Florida election, but Jim Dobyns is still living with chads. One waited for him when he went to clean the top of the microwave. He found another by the coffee table. And when he was petting his cat recently he plucked one of the manila-colored flakes from its fur.

Often people assume that playing computer games or video games is a very anti social activity, and is a solo activity which isolates an individual from the real world, cuts them off from other people and then allows them to sit on their own in a small dark room hitting keys over and over again in order to mindlessly destroy anything that moves on their screen. In fact, nothing could be very much further from the truth, and in fact those people who play computer games on their own, completely cut off from interaction with other people in any way are such a minority group it may prove hard to find anyone to actually put in to it.

Quite apart from not being a solo activity, recent research has found that over 66% of people who play computer or video games do so with their friends, either sat with them advising, or actually with a second handset competing in the same game. 30% of gamers play with their brothers or sisters and a quarter of all gamers play with either their parents or their partners. This completely goes against the argument that most people lay on their own, and shows that the majority of people play as a social game, in various combinations and ways.

Even taking in to account that there may be 20% to 30% of people who do play games without someone else being physically with them, it is still not possible to generalise isolation by suggesting that these people are cut off from any kind of social interaction. Many games these days are what is referred to as multi player, meaning that more than one person can play the game at the same time, and with a very wide number of the most popular video games being online too, this means that all players will be competing against and taking part with other real people, rather than the computer. In fact, many of these online multiplayer games have relatively little input from the computer, and far more input from the people playing the game against each other.

One of the main requirements of many of these multiplayer online games is that people group together and try to work out strategies and tactics to overcome certain obstacles, opponents and challenges. This will require great teamwork, very in depth discussions involving roles and group work, and will require people to work together as individuals and as a team. As a result, many players become part of a more stable and permanent group which means that there are people known to each other ready to take on challenges without having to start all over each time analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. These groups can become social groups, meeting outside of the game, and there are many examples where people who have met through these groups have gone on to develop meaningful friendships and relationships beyond the game.

Video games are most certainly not isolating - for many, they open doors to friendships that the real world may never have offered.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, dolls, and video games. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, dolls, and used video games at these sites for toys, video games, dolls.

AP - The Sunday afternoon calm was broken by shouts from the small, mission-style house, watched over by a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Have you ever noticed if your computer runs slow at times? There could be a number of things to help diagnose the problem. There are things that you can try to increase your computer's performance and reliability. This article will further discuss what tends to work most of the time, and also take a look at what does not seem to work as well as expected. Some of these steps may also increase your gaming experience. What you are looking for is a computer free from viruses, Trojan, spyware, adware, to start with. You should start by downloading updates to your current antivirus software. Try Spy Bot Search and Destroy to start.

Once you have verified that you do not have any of the listed offenses in the previous section, you can move on to optimizing your pc for maximum performance and reliability. One place you can start is by disabling the restore and backup feature. This is one feature that takes lots of space on your computer, and it is also seen as a safe haven for Trojans.

Another thing to try is uninstall programs that you do not use. This will free up some space. After going through the programs to uninstall what is not needed, try optimizing your disc. The next step would be to defragment your computer. You could also check which programs are loading at startup; you may be able to disable these that you don't use every time at startup. Therefore, you could free up more space here too.

If these options listed do not help in boosting your computer's performance and reliability, then you may want to consider taking your computer back to factory settings and just start over or as some way, from scratch. With these tips in mind, continue to install programs, keeping a mental note of what programs are running at startup.

The more programs that you try to run at startup simultaneously, the less performance and reliability you will have in a computer. If you concentrate on just what you need to run at startup, the performance will be there when you are in need of more performance. So in an essence when you overload your computers with programs that are not needed, the computer is bogged down with too much running at the same time. This is where the slowness comes in, the next step is purchase more ram to add more memory for larger storage. If you want your computer to last a while, think about the components brand you are installing. If you purchase low end, then you can expect low end results.

By scanning your computer on a regular scheduled basis, you can eliminate the system crashes by backing up your data to disc. Also, by cleaning up your disc of temporary files, and such that you can remove and save that space also. There are several things to try, and by being conscious of the fact will also gain more space. One thing at a time.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for computer memory, PC supplies, and computer games. When shopping, we recommend the best online stores for PC supplies, computer accessories and computer memory.

AP - Democratic candidate Barack Obama began his closing argument for the presidency Saturday by asking voters to look to the future while Republican rival John McCain continued to attack Obama on taxes.

Initially released on the MSX2 console in 1987, the first Metal Gear title slowly but gradually gained a following but it was only the start of something big for the game franchise. Probably one of those games which innovated the movie-like experience, it made its first appearance on the original Playstation in 1998. And although the game has been home to Sony for the longest time, it has recently been introduced to other platforms like Microsoft's Xbox 360. And after selling a total of 6 million copies all over the world, it is back to offer fans an exciting new game in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

Before even its set release date, Metal Gear Solid 4 is already creating buzz all over the gaming community. Credit that to this year's E3 game show trailers and many are starting to believe that this game is so impressive, it could be the first title to be a PS3 'must-have'. Although still working along the tagline "No Place to Hide", the game maybe taking a turn towards a more gung-ho feel of action.

To keep up with the demands of the overall enhancements for MGS 4, the developers have also improved the gameplay to make defeating the enemies (specifically, Liquid Snake/Revolver Ocelot) much more attainable, if not easier. But no need to worry, Kojima have learned from previous Metal Gear Solid games and included some useful upgrades and enhancements for what seems to be Metal Gear's final installment. One of them is that complicated button set-ups just would not work for an action-packed game like MGS and action sequences that take only split seconds for you to adapt. You can be assured that you'll have none of these problems in MGS4 since all you need to press is the triangle button when doing simple tasks. There is just simply no use having to figure out complicated button combinations to carry out such a simple task.

Also getting enhancements is the combat mode, which is quite useful in the entire gaming adventure. You will find that in MGS4, using the auto-targeting option can help sharpen up your shooting skills. Now, you will no longer have to fire aimlessly at your enemies and you are sure to increase your hit percentage.

The alert system in previous MGS games can be quite distracting as you have to take your eyes off the action and check on a little radar screen located at the corner. First of all, the previous alert system was too distracting to your line of sight since you have to constantly check that little radar screen at the corner. Instead of that tiny screen, there is now an "invisible" ring that follows Solid Snake around, so you won't have to take your eyes off of him. When danger is coming, a cinematic soundtrack will erupt and you will find this to be a pulsating addition to the game.

As if that wasn't enough, there are two new features introduced in the MGS4: the psych and stress meters. These new features work around the premise that the more stressful you are, the less effective you become. Apparently, the more stressed you are, the less effective you become. The same also goes when your stress level is increased; you tend to lose your aim and you fail miserably. Also, you'd be more precise in your aiming capabilities if you have managed to calm yourself down. It gives a more tactical approach to the game, which makes fans look forward to playing the game when it is released for the PS3.

In terms of graphics, Metal Gear Solid is such a high-profile franchise that it's not even a question. It also got a soundtrack that's will fully immerse you into the game, with such explosive and blasting sounds. Although an online mode remains to be seen for the MGS4, it will be something that most fans would love to get their hands on. As of now, it still remains unconfirmed as to whether the MGS4 will be having an online mode but fans are not really sweating themselves out with that as they are raring to get their hands on MGS 4 as soon as it hits the market.

Looking for more information about MGS4 on the PS3, check out our Metal Gear Solid 4 Cheat Codes and Free Strategy Guide.

AP - Asian and European leaders said Saturday they have reached a broad consensus on ways to deal with the global financial meltdown and will present their views at a crisis summit next month in Washington.

Nothing is more irritating then getting the urge to kick some serious butt on GTA or Soul Calibur (or other PS game) and discovering that the game isn't working for some ridiculous reason. I've heard a lot of suggestions for fixing this problem and I'll tell you right now that most of them do not work. Banging the Playstation is one of those "won't work" options.

So what should you do? Follow these steps and you should be up and running in no time (unless the problem is a little more serious, but even then there are solutions).

Fixing scratched playstation cds - Is the problem a scratch?

1. Start with the basic and most simple problems. Sometimes we try fixing scratched playstation cds and don't realize that the problem might not be a scratch. Something as simple as Dust, Oil, or accumulated "stuff" is the only thing stopping you from playing your game. Run warm water over the disc to remove the dust (this will get most of it).
2. Sometimes the dust and "stuff" is caked on there pretty good and warm water won't get rid of it on its own. Gently rub the cd with your finger while you run water over it. It is important to remember here that you should not rub your playstation cd in a circular motion! Start from the edge and rub straight inward to the center and then repeat. If your finger isn't doing the trick, use a mild liquid soap or rubbing alcohol.
3. Do NOT dry the playstation cd when you are done! Let it air dry.

Fixing scratched playstation cds - Yes, the problem is a scratch

1. Before we talk about polishing it is important that you look at your playstation cd and see which side the scratch is on. Sometimes the cover side (top) is scratched and so the optic just sees right through the disc without reading it; if this is the case just color in the scratch (on top) with a black marker and that usually works.
2. Some scratches are easier to fix than others. Shallow scratches can be fixed very easily by polishing down the surrounding plastic coating to make the scratch even more shallow (or non-existent). Of course the problem here is that if you do that enough times you will have nothing left of your playstation cd. Deeper scratches are harder to fix but still do-able.
3. If you have decided to polish your playstation cd a little in order to get it going then all you need is a little toothpaste (preferably with Baking Soda) or Brasso. Get yourself a soft lint-free cloth (some t-shirts are good) or one of those eyeglass cleaning cloths (wearing glasses pays off sometimes). Apply some warm water to the surface of your playstation cd and a small amount of toothpaste or Brasso. Again, do NOT rub in a circular motion! Rub from the inside to outside edge (or vice versa) and try to stick to the area that is scratched. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Do this at least 10 - 15 times as gently as possible. It doesn't take much pressure to scratch playstation cds and you should feel the cloth scratching right away. You might have to reapply a little toothpaste on your cloth from time to time (but not much!).
4. If you used Brasso then you should use a clean soft cloth to wipe off the excess and let it air dry. Once dried you should wipe it down once more. If you used toothpaste then you should run the disc under warm water and let the disc air dry completely before playing it.

Fixing scratched games (for any system) can be time-consuming and sometimes causes more damage in the long run. Visit the Electronic Toy Room for advice on quick and easy ways to fix your scratched games properly! http://electronictoyroom.wordpress.com/

AP - Tom Cruise took some shots at Matt Lauer on Friday - this time for fun. But Lauer got in the last word.

Do you have a video game console in your home? If you do, no doubt your child has brought home a game from a friend, rented a game from the local video store or they are pressing you for a few bucks to buy one at the store. How do you know if the game is suitable for your family? A quick glance at the video game ratings on the boxes can be a big help.

The ESRB or Entertainment Software Ratings Board was founded in the mid 90's to help guide users by assigning content ratings to computer and video games.

Video game ratings have two different aspects to them, an age rating which is listed on the front and a content description that is listed on the back.

There are six age ratings symbols that could be listed on the front. The following is a listing of the different age ratings.

EC (Early Childhood) - Games with this rating are intended for ages 3 and older and do not contain inappropriate material.

E (Everyone) - Games with this rating are intended for ages 6 and older and may contain minimal cartoon or mild violence or may contain very small amounts of mild language.

E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) - Games with this rating have content suitable for those 10 and older and may contain mild violence, mild language or some suggestive themes.

T (Teen) - Games with this rating are intended for ages 13 and older due to violence, suggestive themes, minimal amounts of blood or some strong language.

M (Mature) - Games with this rating have content suitable for those 17 years of age or older due to intense violence, blood, sexual content and/or strong language.

AO (Adults Only) - Games with this rating are only intended for those 18 years of age and older due to prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.

If you see a game with an RP it stands for Rating Pending and the game is waiting for a final rating prior to the games release.

In addition to the age appropriate ratings on the front of the box, there is a content description on the back of the box. There are over 30 content descriptions to help you determine what your child is being exposed to. Some example descriptions are Blood, Comic Mischief, Edutainment, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Real Gambling, and Use of Drugs.

It is important to note that even though a game receives a rating, that rating is for single player gaming. One of the more attractive aspects of today's video games is the ability to play them online with others from all over the world. Many games allow use of a headset or even a video camera. Whenever you play a video game online (just like when you play a group game at school or a board game at a party) your child may be subjected to things out of your control such as inappropriate language.

As a parent, video game ratings can be a great help to you, however it is important to not just rely on ratings on the side of the box. Also make sure to spend time watching or better yet playing the game with your child or participating in an online game to better determine what is appropriate for your child.

For more http://familyhometheaterguide.com/Video_gaming_guide_for_parents.html

The Family Home Theater Guide is an informative guide to home theater, with a particular emphasis on family entertainment. Jared has a wife and three children that love to experience the magic of the big screen in the comfort of their own home.

E! Online - Authorities have arrested a suspect in the shooting deaths of Jennifer Hudson's brother, Jason Hudson, 29, and mother, Darnell Donerson, 57.