Online Games Adds Fun In The Education Of Children

Children constantly need to be enlightened and entertained so that they do not get bore and lose interest in their studies, which is very important in building their career. Enlightenment and entertainment both can be accomplished via online games. Though there are issues that relate that the computer games take up all of the children's time, which should be otherwise spent doing homework. There are several other problematic issues but still computer games are thought to be worthy in the sense that it prevents worthless distractions and can in fact provide certain benefits for instance that leads to improvement in thinking in children who play them.

Though there are several conflicting opinions regarding the generative role of computer but the reality is that there are many computer games that played not just for fun but it also enable children to develop their thought processes. For instance games like word games that comes in a variety of types including crossword puzzles or Scrabble-type games really get kids to think, produce no harmful effects for the children and help them to improve their vocabulary while having fun. Not only this there are many skills that children can expertise playing computer games. Apart from improving the thinking process online games help them to improve to spell the different types of words correctly, which would surely make a great difference in the future. Online game Scrabble is one such entertaining game that helps the children to spell the words correctly and also use their minds to come up with new words as well as improve their spelling on the words which they already know. There are varying levels of Scrabble which the children may increase each time after they have finished the level that they were playing.

Online games besides improving the thinking skills and spelling skills in children it also aids in problem solving skills. Problem solving skills can be practiced in a number of ways for instance you can play logic games and other thought provoking computer games that will be beneficial to you in several ways. Playing these types of games online will help the child who plays these games online to gain self confident, become self sufficient and perform the given work alone with no-ones help as the computer will provide automated competitors.

Therefore it can be concluded that there are downsides of online games that could not be denied but there are also upsides of online games that also has to be paid attention to introduce fun in the time-table of regular activities of your child so that beside education they can also learn the various skill that are useful in their future

Computer Games For Kids

Finding computer games for kids these days seems to be impossible, the market is saturated with computer games full of blood and violence. Another common problem is that the games are too complex for children aged between six and fourteen. Here are some tips which you may find useful when looking for computer games for kids:

Do some research before you head to the shops: Many people forget this step, they fall into the trap of heading to the game shop under-prepared and get talked into buying the latest/greatest new game on the market. It most cases this game will be inappropriate for your children. One of the better sites to do game research on is GameSpot.com. This site has detailed listings of all games current out along with ratings and reviews. This should definitely be your first step when trying to find computer games for kids.

Don't limit yourself to the new games: There is no need to spend $100 on a new computer game when you could buy a game that is 1-2 years of for half that price! The classic games are classic because they were and probably still are really fun. Another important point to make here is that new computer games usually require relatively new computer hardware to run. Many people forget this, only to find out on Christmas day that their computer doesn't meet the hardware requirements of the game. You will usually not have this problem with the older games.

Try some online game services: There are many sites on the internet which have over 500 games that are perfect for children. Action games, puzzle games and even education games. These sites usually require a membership fee, but are well worth it. All you have to do is sign up and down the games you want for your kids.


Well that's it! Hopefully these tips will help you get the best computer games for your kids!

Resource: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Paul

Prince of Persia - A Comprehensive Review of the Multiplatform Hit

The Prince of Persia games have been around since the days of the Apple II and have graced previous generations of consoles like the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The last reincarnation of the Persian Prince on these platforms were fantastic. The first Prince of Persia - The Sands of Time was a platforming gem, whilst The Warrior Within took the fighting mantel. Lastly the Two Thrones melded these two important elements into one great game, finishing off the story brilliantly.

Now the Prince is reborn on the new generation of consoles with the Prince of Peria on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and the trusty PC. The Ubisoft team have gone with a completely new art and graphical direction, with the game looking like a beautiful painted canvas. The new cell shaded design is an instant win, for me, and the new Prince and his sexy side-kick Elika both look stunning.

The basic story premise is Elika's father and ruler of the kingdom destroys the Tree of Life, which contains the God Ahriman. With the Tree of Life destroyed, Ahriman begins to infect the kingdom and its lands with Corruptions. It's the Prince's and Elika's job to heal lands known as fertile grounds to restore power back to the Tree of Life and stop the evil god Ahriman escaping. Nice and simple!

You as the Prince has to jump, swing and do your usual platforming tricks to get to where Elika has to use her magic powers to heal the fertile grounds. When I first started I expected to be doing the many button platform moves that engrossed me in The Sands of Time, however, I was met with the same style of "platforming" as in Assassin's Creed, which makes platforming more like the gimmicky quick-time events that plague most video games these days and takes away the skill needed. This did not impress me! To do a wall run and then jump to an opposite ledge, all I had to do was press X (yes I'm playing on the PS3....), then wait till he got near to the platform I am suppose to jump to and press X again. Also, the places where you are suppose to wall jump are nicely marked out for you with what looks like cat scratches along the wall. To be brief, I am not happy with the platforming element one bit! But I will say the animations are superb.

Moving on, once you reach the healing place in the fertile ground it is time to do battle! Each fertile grounds has a sort of boss which you have to fight and kill to allow Elika to heal the grounds and restore power to the Tree. And here is where my other moan is. After the great fighting you could do in The Warrior Within, we get this drivel!! Block....keep blocking, right my turn, gauntlet attack, sword attack the Elika's magical attack then repeat. Fun I say in a sarcastic tone. Yes you can mix it up a bit more and unlock new moves and attacks, and there is the odd God of War style button mashing element, but really it is a pathetic attempt by Ubisoft, again in the mould of the repetitiveness of Assassin's Creed. The enemies are different and do have distinct attacks, but when they do attack all you have to do is press block, then do which ever combo you have memorized.

Once disposed of the enemies its time for Elika to heal the fertile grounds. Once she has performed this piece of magic, you watch as the plagued lands and corruption that resides there is destroyed and the groun transformed magically back to its fertile state. Honestly, when I first saw this, I thought it was majestic. Once the lands have been transformed back to their fertile state, you notice orbs floating around the fertile grounds. These are light seeds, they are what Elika (you really) need to open up new grounds for you to heal and also you can improve Elika's magical powers and your own skills.

With your task complete it is now time to move on to the next fertile ground to heal. Fortunately the ever so helpful Elika has another useful trick up her sleeve. She provides you with a Fable II style compass, but unlike Fable II's disappears after a few seconds. Don't know why they didn't leave it on permanently. Oh well, a little more on Elika! Elika is important to the Prince, as whenever the Prince is in trouble, for example you thought you were playing the Sands of Times and thought you had to do proper platforming but finding yourself tumbling to your death, Elika pours out a magical hand that grabs you and pulls you back to your original starting point of the jump you messed up. Nothing like the rewind ability in Sands of time one bit.... Also she is there to help you jump further with a quick tap of the triangle button or Y button i presume for 360 gamers. She also elaborates on the plot of the story more as you have the ability to talk to and understand more about Ahriman, the Tree of Life etc.

Overall, the new Prince of Persia is a good game. It has luscious graphics and animations, especially when you heal the fertile grounds. However, it is let down the same way Assassin's Creed was let down, it is overly repetitive and it doesn't allow for skill to complete the game, but opts for a a quick-time event styled press a button and let the animations do the rest. Elika is a nice addition but could be used more, and being able to play her in a co-op mode would be fantastic, more so when you are fighting the Corrupted. The story is simplistic and won't win any awards, with the voice typically American. I'm sorry but when did a Persian Prince have a Yank accent.

I was looking forward to this game greatly as I loved the previous incarnation of the Prince, but with new incarnation I am unfortunately disappointed. Its too simplistic and repetitive and no replayability in it. The other problem is it has the potential to be a much better game. I would recommend people to play it if they have never played previous Prince of Persia Games, but to true fans of the series be warned.

Resource: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Winwood

Top Five Video Games For Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS is the current handheld video console available from Nintendo. The Nintendo DS has two LCD screens one to display the game and the other screen is a touchscreen. The touchscreen accepts input from the stylus. which is used to draw or write messages. The controls are located on both sides of the touchscreen. This handheld gaming system has a vast variety of video games available. How to you know which ones to try. Take a look at my top five games.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - is the fourteenth game in The Legend of Zelda series. It is also the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for the GameCube. The Phantom Hourglass takes place in a parallel world of The Wind Waker. In Phantom Hourglass Link has to save Tetra from Bellum. Link begins his quest to find the Phantom Hourglass which he can use to find the Spirits of Courage, Wisdom, and Power. Link learns he needs the Phantom Sword to defeat Bellum so he travels through several islands to find three pure metals. Link can then have the metals forged into the sword to defeat Bellum.
2. Pokemon Diamond/Pearl- are the fourth installments of the Pokémon series games. The games begin in Sinnoh, where different species of Pokémon live. The games add new features like the ability to use the Wi-Fi connection for Internet play. You can play both games separately, however, you will need to trade between the two games to complete both.
3. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow - is another game in the Castlevania series. It takes place in a castle that is divided into different areas. Each area has different monsters and terrain. The areas also differ in their theme music playing while in that area. The character has the ability to move in any of the available areas, however, some areas are restricted until the player has the necessary items in his inventory to be able to gain access to the area.
4. New Super Mario Bros - This game is similar to other Mario games. In New Super Mario Bros Mario has to fight his way past Bowser's men to rescue Princess Peach. Mario has access to the Super Mushroom, the Fire FLower and the Starman to help him to obtain his goal. New Super Mario Bros has Mario traveling to eight worlds each having ten levels to get to the Princess Peach.
5. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates - is the prequal to Crystal Chronicales available on the GameCube. This DS game has not yet released, but should be a winner when it does. Not only can it be played as a one-player game, but also has a multi-player version that allows for four players at a time. Magicite performs spells such as Fire, Thunder, Blizzard, Cure, Clear and Raise. In story mode, all characters have a shared inventory for magicites.
   

With so many Nintendo DS games available your top five may look different then mine, but they are all enjoyable.


Resource: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_D._Shank

Westward III - Gold Rush Game Review

By : Ruff Bismonte

After guiding settlers and thwarting bandit gangs from the previous Westward games, it's now time for your pioneers to stake their claim from Northern California's vast riches in Westward III: Gold Rush. A bright future awaits three new heroes as they find adventure in this third installment of the hit life simulator franchise. There are new stories to tell and new challenges to face with the same old gameplay mechanics that ensures this game to be a hit for fans and non-fans alike.

Just like Westward II: Heroes of the Frontier, in this game, you are to choose between three pioneers each with his or her own story to tell. However, even though each will follow a different path towards their destiny, there's one common denominator between them too, and that's to start a new life in search of greater fortune in the west. Furthermore, choosing your alter ego will also unlock one free building for you to use, depending on your hero's personality and expertise.

Westward III: Gold Rush plays the same as the earlier games of the series where your objective is to fulfill tasks and quests in order to build self sustaining settlements and continue on your mission. As the hero of the story, your main mission is to tend to the people living in your current town and keep them happy and well-supplied. Building different structures, searching for supply sources and providing jobs is only part of the story. Defending the town against bandits by hiring lawmen is equally as important.

All controls of the game make use of the mouse, with some alternatives using the keyboard buttons. You are provided with an action panel, a map and several other tools at the bottom of your screen. Above, you will find your missions, the store interface, and well, more buttons that you'll go visit from time to time. All in all, the icons can be a bit confusing at first, but just as traditional Westward fashion, you'll get use to all the tools in the interface as time goes by playing the game.

The First Drive By Shootings From The Classic Gangster Movies

Gregg Hall

Sometimes a person just wants to see a good crime solved. Take mobster films for example, these black and white classics still have the potential to entertain audience of all ages. So if you're getting tired of the same old story, try watching one of these old school crime dramas. Actors like James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson will have you on the edge of your seat.

Cagney made his re-entry into the mobster film genre with the film White Heat. Cagney had grown tired of producers stereo typing him, placing him in the same roles over and over again. But after significant pressure, he gave in to the producers' whims and gave viewers one of his best performances ever. Cagney's character, Cody Jarrett, finds himself with two problems: he can't stay out of prison, and he's obsessed with his mama. Once he finally makes his way out of jail, he tackles his next job. Cagney made movie history with the final scene of White Heat. Those who watch this movie will have its images permanently burned in their minds.

With two versions, Scarface made it impact during two separate decades. The 1932 version still shocks viewers in the twenty-first century. And the Brian De Palma edition put out decades later is most famous for just one thing: Al Pacino. In the original film, the main character, Tony Camonte, is played by Paul Muni. Police arrest Tony for suspected murder when his boss Big Louis Costillo goes missing. But the body never turns up, and the police let Tony go. Like any good mobster, Tony then goes through town with the purpose of controlling the mafia territory by using stereotypical muscle. The film reaches a climax when Tony has to deal with his enemies, friends, family, police, and ultimately, his own destructive personality.

Because of its gratuitous violence, the 1932 version of Scarface directed by Howard Hawks, faced censorship for decades. Because of its independent production, producer Howard Hughes flexed his creative muscles and allowed much more violence than any other producer would. Scarface offers a shocking and powerful film experience.

Warner Brothers released the film Public Enemy in 1931. Cagney stars in this film as well, playing the part of real-life Chicago mobster, Earl "Hymie" Weiss. The social overtones alone make this film stand out above the rest. Instead of the wanting the audience to just accept Cagney's violent character, producers aimed to explain why the character has fallen into a life of crime.

Even classic literature makes its way into mobster film. The Killlers is based on an Ernest Hemingway film. Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, and Edmond O'Brien create a film that viewers won't forget soon.

Finally, Cagney also made his mark through the film Angels With Dirty Faces. The genuine warmth in this film makes it unique, with a cast full of children. Unlike other mobster films, this one makes the viewer think about the social aspect of the mob.

Want To Watch Quality Live Football Matches Live On the Internet? Read On...

Now we can see live streams of football matches over the internet. Although watchable there were a few drawbacks, mainly you had to get on to a server early and secondly even if you did manage to get on sometimes the picture quality (although smooth) was a bit low resolution.

Then came the revolution thanks to Peer to Peer technology. By "sharing" the live football stream amongst p2p clients everybody could get on (the more users the better the quality) and the resolution could increase. The first of these I came across was something called CoolStreaming, it worked great! Unfortunately as with all the best things in life, it had to come to an end, in this instance a great big copyright end!

Fortunately for us, from the far east a new bunch of young pretenders have come to light, ready and willing to spread the word of live football over the internet. It might not be there only use but who honestly is interested in watching the latest Chinese drama?

Here's a quick breakdown of the P2P software that'll allow you to watch the live football you're looking for:-

• PPLive - My own personal favourite at the moment, most big Premiership games can be found on one or the other of the many channels available through PPLive. It also has the option of an English interface which is a huge help. This software utilises windows media player for viewing so it is possible for streams to be broadcast all around your network (even your Pocket PC ) from one copy of the program. Very clever!
• PPS tream- If anything the quality of streams available through PPStream is even better than PPLive, however the interface is only available in Chinese and streams are played in an embedded version of media player. Even so this is a very useful application in your mission to watch live football on the web.
• SOP Cast- Seems to still be very much in test at the moment with channels appearing and then being removed fairly often. However, when a football match is available on one of the featured channels the quality is always very high. I've just checked now and there seems to be a lot of sports channels available so maybe things are beginning to settle down. This could easily become my software of choice.
• TV Ants and QQ Live - Probably the least popular of the P2P options available for live football but you should install these anyway as you just never can be sure what channel a football game will be showing on.