sâmbătă, 2 iulie 2011

Which Video Game Console Should You Buy?

The answer to this question is not as obvious at it may seem. There are a few things you need to consider before purchasing a game console. Below you will find advice, that will help you choose the best console for your needs.
1. Exclusive games, meaning these games will not appear on any other consoles.
2. Who is it for, yourself, kids or maybe even your parents?
1.) Lets start with the exclusives:
Xbox 360 exclusives:
Halo, Fable, Forza, and Gears of War. Some games have exclusive DLC (downloadable content.)
Playstation 3 exclusives: Uncharted, inFamous, Killzone, LittleBigPlanet, Gran Turismo, Heavy Rain, God of War, Resistance and Metal Gear solid.
Wii exclusives:
Super Mario, Metroid, Donkey Kong and Zelda
The Playstation 3 wins hands down in this category in quality games that you will not get to play anywhere else.
All of the Xbox 360 exclusives will come to the PC, after about six months to a year.
If you are a die-hard fan of the Wii exclusives, then it might be the best choice for you.
So to summarize, best exclusive games:
Playstation 3
2.) The Playstation 3 is good for casual and hardcore gamers. It has the second best online experience of the three consoles. It has motion controller called Move, which is similar to what the Wii offers. It has a built-in Blu-ray player, so you can use it for movies as well.
The Xbox 360 is more for hardcore gamers. Though with Kinect, Microsoft is heavily focusing on the casual market. You have to pay a premium for the online services, but the online offering is the best of the three.
Kinect, hands free motion controlling. This is something that is focused for people who are new to gaming. Kinect games are gesture or voice based and do not require knowledge on how a controller works.
The Wii, pioneer of motion controlling. It is the cheapest of the three. It has poor online features. The exclusives are only worth it if you are a die-hard fan of Nintendo's games. Third party game support is not very good.
With the announcement of the Wii U at E3 2011, i don't think you should even consider buying a Wii at this time, unless you find one very cheap.
And to summarize:
Buy a Playstation 3, If you are a gamer who likes using a traditional controller, you enjoy quality games, free online gaming and you need a Blu-ray player.
Buy a Xbox 360, if you are a hardcore gamer, you don't mind paying for a premium online experience and you don't own a PC that can run the latest games.
Buy a Xbox 360 + Kinect, if you enjoy simple games and not using a controller.
Buy a Wii, if you can find one cheap and you just must have the newest Super Mario, Metroid or Zelda. I would suggest waiting for the new Wii U console coming in 2012.
Now which console to buy according to the audience.
Casual gamers, kids and seniors: Xbox 360 + Kinect
Hardcore gamers: Playstation 3 or Xbox 360, it comes down to the exclusives.

PS4 Coming Out Soon? How Will It Change Your Life?

Gamers everywhere rejoice! The Sony Corporation has recently hinted at the fact they are developing a new gaming platform that might replace the aging Playstation 3. So, is the PS4 coming out soon? There is no confirmed release date as of yet. In fact, there are few confirmed facts at all, but we know the folks at Sony never rest. They are in hot pursuit of developing a next generation gaming console that will rival the Nintendo Wii 2 and the next upgrade of the Microsoft Xbox. So, the release of the PS4 can't be too far away. Can it?
How could the PS4 change your life?
If you are an avid video gamer, chances are good you understand the quantum leap of improvements the PS3 had over the PS2. Not only did the third generation have smoother graphics, but it offered better control and a wider array of gaining options. Just imagine what the PS4 will offer gaming fans. With the internet connectivity of the Microsoft Xbox, the intuition of the Nintendo Wii, and the portability of other promised gaming consoles, for just about anything is possible.
What can we expect?
Looking back at history, we can expect the PlayStation 4 will likely be released before the year 2016. How do we know that? Because the PlayStation 3 - which was released in 2006 - was given a shelf life of 10 years. After 2016, the PS3 will be outdated by Sony's own admission. Since the company has been struggling to make profits within the last few years, it is doubtful they would let their best-selling product run its entire course without releasing a new generation to take its place.
Besides an estimated release date, we can also expect smoother graphics, more intuitive play, more internet connectivity and best of all, a lower price. How do we come to the conclusion that it will be cheaper? Sony executives had admitted the overhead cost of the PlayStation 3 was monstrous. It is one of the reasons the company has been struggling. Sony's CFO Masaru Kato has mentioned the company cannot withstand another project with such a huge initial investment. This leads us to guess they will work to lower their older head cost while developing the PS4 - which will lead to a lower initial retail price. Good news for us all!
So, even though we all wish it was already here, we can foresee the PS4 coming out will change our collective gaming lives. We can expect better graphics and game play along with a lower price - two characteristics that will likely turn the PlayStation 4 into a mammoth best seller! If you want to stay up to date on all of the latest about the PS4, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open because new rumors are surfacing every day. But, until that glorious day when the new Sony PS4 is at last revealed, all we can do is use our judgment to separate fact from speculation.

PlayStation 3 General Knowledge

HOW IT STARTED:
PlayStation 3 is the new console released on November 11, 2006 in Japan. It is the newest member of the PlayStation series produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, a Japanese video game company. This new console introduced a few unique points to the series. PS3 brought the shiny PlayStation Network and a new feature which allows users to use Blue-ray Discs as a storage device. After the release of the "fat" PS3, Sony released a Slim version by September, 2009. The Slim version is lighter, smaller and uses less power than his big brother.
ACCESSORIES:
The PlayStation 3 has many accessories that can be used in a big variety of games. The first controller was the "SIXAXIS". It was used from the release of the console until 2008, when DualShock 3 took his place. The main difference of the two controllers is that DualShock 3's vibration function doesn't interfere with the motion sense. As we all know a controller is just not enough for the gamers of the 21st Century. That's why the PS3 also has a "racing wheel" for racing simulation games. This wheel was developed by Logitech. PS3 users can also interact with certain games through motions using the PlayStation Eye. This is a webcam with a built in microphone, and it can be used for games like "EyePet", "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08" and "The Eye of Judgment".
RELIABILITY:
Sony made a very reliable console with only 10% failure in a time period of two years. Even if the console is one of the most reliable out there on the market is has it's problems. A few of these problems are the "yellow light of death", which is a non-specific hardware problem. This problem occurred mostly in the UK, so sometimes a console repair is needed. PS3 repairs can be annoying if you do not know a store which can fix the problem near you. Also recently there was a big error with the PlayStation Network. Someone hacked the servers and accessed the user database. This leaked the personal information of around 77 million users including passwords, addresses, and payment history. Apparently no credit card data was stolen. After this Sony gave a free month membership to all PSN users with a new identity theft program.
GAMES ON PLAYSTATION 3:
There are a few PlayStation 3 exclusives like "LittleBigPlanet", the "Infamous" series and maybe the most popular PS3 game, "Uncharted". Of course there are tons of multi-console games like the "Devil May Cry" series, "Mortal Kombat" and the "Call of Duty" series. Today game developers are more likely to publish a game on consoles like the PS3 and the Xbox 360 than on a PC.

Red Lights On The Xbox 360 - A Gaming Console's Weakness

Those of us that own an Xbox 360 console all love and admire the gaming experience it gives us. We especially love the online option that enables us to chat and interact with others who enjoy the same kind of games that we do. However, there are a few issues that come with owning an Xbox console system. These irritants are the blinking red lights on the Xbox console that every gamer dreads.
These red lights can be found on the quadrant around the power button and are associated with several hardware failures or just basic technical difficulties. They can range from one to four lights blinking, each representing a different technical difficulty.
These lights are usually quite easy to fix, but a scenario that terrifies a gamer the most is having to deal with 3 red lights on their Xbox. This is the most severe and the most frustrating of the red lights to fix. Many gamers attribute horror stories or poor gaming experiences to those 3 blinking red lights, also known as the red ring of death.
We must first make a distinction between the different red lights on Xbox and what they signify:
If you detect one red light blinking on your console's power button, this is the result of one of the connecting cords being unplugged or not properly working. It is one of the easiest to fix and only requires that you turn off your console's power button before unplugging all your consoles connection cords. The problem is usually fixed once you wait a moment before plugging your cords back in.
If your Xbox 360's power button emits two blinking lights, then it is most likely the cause of overheating. Many of us play video games so often that we forget to turn off our Xbox consoles, sometimes leaving it on overnight or for a few days. Overheating can result from this. It is important that you turn off your Xbox console whenever it is not being used. Another common mistake is placing the Xbox on its side. By placing your console on its side you risk covering its air vents which in turn causes it to get hot. A way to fix this is to simply unplug all your console's cords and place it in a well ventilated area for it to cool down for an hour or two.
If you see three blinking red lights on your Xbox, then you are unfortunately experiencing the infamous red ring of death. This means that your Xbox is suffering "General Hardware Failure". On rare occasions you can try turning your Xbox console off and everything would be back to normal, but most people aren't that lucky. Several ways to fix this is to send your Xbox into Microsoft for them to fix it, buy a new Xbox altogether, or get yourself a screwdriver and try to fix the problem yourself. Fixing the problem yourself requires that you have some knowledge of how the Xbox system works. For that, there are many Xbox repair guides that are available on the internet to walk you through that process.
If the red lights blinking on your Xbox happens to be the entire quadrant then you are only experiencing a problem with the AV connection. The way to fix this is to unplug that AV connection and plug it back it again. If this doesn't work you might have to invest in a new AV connection cord
These red lights on Xbox are the game console's main weakness. But don't panic, it is fixable if you implement the right methods. The Xbox 360 has come a long way after being released in 2005. It is constantly being updated by Microsoft and although the number of red light incidents have decreased, they still pop up now and then.
Many people struggle to find ways to effectively fix the 3 red lights on their Xbox. I used to be one of those people.
My journey started when I was tired of sending in my Xbox and having to wait a entire month to get it back. I set out looking for tips that would help me fix my Xbox by myself, without having to deal with any hassles. After a few weeks of searching I stumbled upon a great resource of tips and videos that showed me exactly what to do and walked me through the process of fixing my Xbox step by step.

What Are the Best Wii Accessories?

A few bands will need the non-standard Wii controller (like Guitar Hero and also Rock Band)... they usually are not generally purchased bundled up with the video game! However, you just simply won't be able to rock out using a Wii remote within your hand these are an essential accessory for many specialist video games.
If you are intending to acquire your money's worth out of a new Nintendo Wii, you are going to undoubtedly require a new battery charging station. Exchanging battery packs constantly isn't fun and can work out extremely expensive.
One more thing you want to be sure you will have is usually a travel bag for the training system, In case you are likely to take it to your friend's household in order to workout or maybe should you be a person that is hectic and needs to exercise on the go you should be sure you have got ways to properly transport the item from place to place. It will be possible to uncover a fantastic looking travel carrier to carry the balance board within, and make it much easier and safer to transport the items
The actual MotionPlus accessory will allow a better level of exactness in numerous game titles that will demand it, just about every thing on the particular Nintendo Wii Sports resort can certainly benefit through the MotionPlus accessory, and also in the event you desire to experience golfing or maybe tennis you will need it also to get the maximum experience from such games.
Who didn't run all over their own home as a child, utilizing such things as broom handles to become Luke Skywalker?! Until finally some thing got knocked over and busted. As being a 'big person', the particular Nintendo Wii lightsaber accessory will be the most enjoyment you are able to possess swordfighting devoid of the potential to actually get injured or damage an item in your house. A necessity with regard to Zelda as well as Star Wars Nintendo Wii game titles, the light saber can be a great addition to your Wii accessories.
When you are in to snow boarding, skateboarding or maybe fight games titles, the particular Nintendo Wii balance board can be a brilliant add-on towards your experience. It was in the beginning, intended with regard to Wii Fit, although has since discovered a new marketplace outside of this to benefit stressed out at home yoga exercise practising Mums.
Another thing that you really need to ensure that you acquire is definitely rechargeable battery packs for the Wii Fit balance board, the balance board will probably employ lots of battery packs in a short time. Consequently you would want to make certain you get yourself an electric battery pack that is actually rechargeable so that you may have a good amount of battery power to obtain a great exercise routine when ever you need to.
Indeed, your Nintendo Wii helps make people seem ridiculous to anyone looking in the window. However when you have the gun to hand rather then the strange-shaped white thing, at the least you will appear serious... not merely certifiable! Gun-shaped attachments such as Wii Zapper as well as other third-party equipment are not ordinarily necessary in order to have fun with shooting games titles, nonetheless just like the wheel they undoubtedly complement your encounter with Wii games.
There are many additional Wii Fit add-ons that you should ensure that you have got to acheive the most beneficial expertise using this well-known online video media game training procedure, In order to be capable to keep your New Year's decision this season, then it is possible to reduce excess fat to get oneself right into shape when using the Wii Fit.

Nintendo 3DS Handheld Console

Back away, 2D consoles. Here comes the newest wonder in the portable gaming lineage. The Nintendo 3DS Handheld Console is set to take the gamers market by storm by the end of March 2011. Yet before this highly-anticipated launch, people are already raving about this first-ever 3D handheld console.
The Nintendo 3DS Handheld Console has made a breakthrough in the portable gaming world with its auto-3D display that doesn't require the user any special glasses. This 3D feature allows a more realistic gaming experience. With enhanced depth, the game can display its characters and obstacles in a way that the users can increase their skill levels in no time.
Although the dual-screen console generally opens in 3D, it is a good thing that it also includes a depth controller that can transform games into 2D. This comes in a form of a slider, which can be used for adjusting the 3D display settings. Users may also choose to turn off the 3D effect completely whenever they like it.
The Nintendo 3DS Handheld Console also boasts of its wireless connection features that seem to level with that of the existing smartphones. It can exchange data from one console to another even when the users who carry them are merely passing by the streets. This feature is aptly dubbed as StreetPass. 
Even in Sleep Mode, the device can share its data. Miis or personalized avatars are among the data that are being exchanged in the process. SpotPass is another wireless feature that can detect Wi-Fi hotspots even when Sleep Mode is activated. It can download free software and other similar data into the system.
2D Nintendo games that were released in the past years can still be played in Nintendo 3DS. For those who prefer gaming without the additional dimensional feature, the Backwards Compatibility can be an advantage. After all, the 3D effect of this device can only be viewed at some angle and which may even cause eyestrain when used frequently.
Nintendo 3DS still retains the physical controls of its predecessors. The gamers can interact with the device using the stylus, the analog stick and the traditional push-buttons. The stylus is great for using the touch screen when controlling the games. It can be adjusted at any length depending on the user's preference. 

With all its impressive features, the Nintendo 3DS Handheld Console still managed to fail at one point: the battery life. Expect playing in 3D effect to cause a battery drain after three to five hours of continuous playing. It can be observed that the other Nintendo DS that came before 3DS can offer a more decent battery life. Overall, it is a gaming console that is well worth the wait.

With the release of the console gone, you can see that the really good deals and bundles are now starting to come out.

PS3 HDMI Problems - How You Can Fix and Repair PlayStation 3 HDMI Troubles

Are you having PS3 and HDMI problems? Most errors can be fixed by yourself at home when you know how. Get your PS3 fixed and working again today.
Connecting your PS3 to an HDMI interface can result in a blank or black screen, distorted or fuzzy images, distorted video output or it cuts out. No sound or other audio problems.
Have you noticed that sometimes when technology advances there seems to be more things to go wrong with it?
PS3 HDMI Video Problems.
You connect your HDMI cable, and switch on the PS3, you get a signal, but it's a black screen. You cannot get video output no matter what you do.
Video output is distorted, producing weird effects on the screen, or the colors are not right or messed up in some odd way.
You have tried various different HDMI cables and each time when you try to switch the video over you get a blank screen, with occasional flashes of static. The flashes go on even after about 30 seconds, when the output switches back to component.
Sometimes when gaming the picture goes blank then comes back again, it goes on and off.
No Sound from PS3 HDMI
Sound problems - the visuals are good and most sound is there but you can't hear people's voices properly, or no sound at all.
If you want to attempt some HDMI troubleshooting you could.
1. Change the HDMI cables.
2. Reset the power cycle by switching off the TV and PS3, unplugging them from the power source and plugging them it in again.
3. In cases where you are using HDMI-DVI or an HDMI hub or some other piece of equipment in the connection series, try to rule out that piece of equipment first by temporarily removing it.
4. Try other HDMI ports on the TV.
5. Adjust the display settings.
If you get no result then send your PS3 away for repair and you will probably have to.
1. Wait up to 6 weeks to get it back.
2. Pay $150 for what is the manufacturers' problem.
3. Lose your hard drive data.
4. Worry about whether the repair is permanent or Not. If it happens again in 3 months time then it could be another $150.
Whatever model of PS3 you have, all problems and all models can be repaired using the PS3 repair guide. The methods used are entirely safe and are the exact methods used by the producer of the PS3. No need for fancy or costly equipment. Your machine can be fixed today using common household items.
There really is a better way to end your PS3 HDMI problems and get back to playing your favourite games again today.