2007 Trends in Video Computer Games

The demand for video computer games is steadily increasing at a very rapid pace. Computer game designers are working around the clock in order to produce these games to meet the demand. Videogame hardware makers have sold hundreds of millions of units driving the demand even harder. Likewise, the world of computer video games and virtual reality simulators for industry are merging. Videogame design strategies for the future are also evolving. Perhaps you are asking where all this will lead in the future?

For those who write video games and those entrepreneurs who decide which games to write; it is widely known that the more real than videogame is the better it will sell. The more action and features involved the faster the products will roll off the shelves. Video game design strategies for the future will need to encompass the total experience, as the living room becomes a virtual-reality cave and the videogamer is immersed in the experience.

In the future we may see video games all becoming one single game. In other words a football game video may become a road warrior video, as the player leaves the football field and jumps into their car. All video games might merge for the video gamer and allow them a more robust virtual-reality experience.

Eventually video games with enabled artificial intelligence systems will write their own code as the game goes on, thus creating a personal video game of unlimited capacity as the gamer continues creating the world as they go. I hope you will enjoy this thought-provoking discussion on the future of video game design and the virtual-reality experience as technologies collide. Perhaps this article is of interest to propel thought in 2007?
By Lance Winslow

PlayStation 4 Release Date: Sooner Than You Think?

People have been raving about the PlayStation 3, the stunning graphics, the cell chip processor, the blue ray and its amazing capabilities.
Flashback 15 years ago. Capcom released Street Fighter II for arcades. Tecmo released Tecmo Super Bowl for NES, and Sega released Sonic the Hedgehog. Nintendo releases the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
The release of the 16 bit Sega Genesis in '89 created competition with Nintendo who was previously dominating the home console internet gaming market. However, in '91 SNES brought Nintendo ahead once again.
At this time Sony was nowhere to be found in the gaming industry. However, at this time Sony had seen the power of the video game consoles, and began quietly working on a console that would rival Nintendo and Sega as the best game console on the market at the time. The Sony PlayStation became the first ever game console to sell over 100 million game units in March of 2005. The Sony also had the capability to play audio CDs, as Sony refused to say it was strictly a game console. This trend continued as it released the PlayStation 2, and it became the fastest selling console, selling over 105 million copies between October 26th, 2000 and March 31, 2006. The PS2 had the capability to not only be backward compatible in playing PlayStation 1 games, but it also played music, as well as DVD movies.
Flash back to the present time and Microsoft has now entered as a major player introducing their 2nd game console the Xbox360, which followed the Xbox. And even though Nintendo didn't have outside revenue from things such as stereos, computer software, home appliance and entertainment systems, they refused to be held back from being a major player in the game console market. They released the Nintendo Wii that will compete not only with the Xbox360, but was released in time for the Holidays to compete with the new PlayStation 3.
The PlayStation 3 is nothing short of amazing. The blu-ray drive makes it possible tor play ultra high density optical discs capable of storing digital media, including high definition video, allowing for some of the most stunning graphics you have ever seen. It also, comes with bluetooth wireless controller and most importantly the cell processing chip, the same chip used in some supercomputers.
According to wikipedia, during the Japan release on November 11th, 2006, the PlayStation3 sold 81,639 copies within the first 24 hours. It remains sold out and was found selling for as high as $15,000 on Ebay. If the 20 GB built in hard drive isn't enough, the PS3 also comes in a premium version containing not only a 60 GB hard drive, but multiple flash card readers.
Will we see a PlayStation 4? Not only is the answer sooner then many people think, but according to Sony's Ken Kutaragi, they plan on releasing it within the next decade.
"My dream, and the dream of all my team, hasn't finished," Kutaragi told the BBC recently. "In fact we haven't achieved even half of what we're going to do."
"We want to lead with the PlayStation 3, and beyond that to the PlayStation 4 within the next decade."
One can only speculate on what the future of PlayStation is going to bring. It's hard to imagine it getting much better, but yet, every single release manages to innovate and exceed expectations. But one thing is for certain, they will always look to provide more for their hungry consumers, and they will continue to look for ways to improve technology beyond current capabilities. By Mike Summers

Video Game Tester Jobs: Which One Is Right For You?

Seems a lot of people these days are interested in becoming paid video game testers. With all the excitement surrounding the release of the latest gaming consoles like the PS3 and Nintendo Wii, this is no surprise. So let's take a look at the different types of jobs that are available for gamers.

Job 1: Self-Employed Video Game Tester
Everyday people are searching online for information and reviews about the latest game releases. Some very smart gamers are filling that demand by putting up their own websites and blogs and writing reviews of games as they play them. They also include tips, screenshots and more that their visitors will find useful. By adding Google Adsense ads or other advertiser's ads to their websites, they've created their own video game testing business that makes money everyday - just for playing games and telling others about it!

Job 2: Freelance Video Game Tester
Some gamers with a bit more experience and motivation take things up a notch. These gamers actively seek out companies who produce games and offer to test their upcoming release for bugs, playability and other features. This type of work pays very well, but requires the video game tester to be able to communicate and write very clearly - and also to be very punctual. As a freelance video game tester, you'll be expected to play unreleased games from the comfort of your own home, provide written feedback as instructed by the developer and return this information within a specified time frame. Your reward for this? A big fat paycheck by mail!

Job 3: Full-time Corporate Game Tester
It is also possible to get hired by large game developers for a full time game testing position. These are the ultimate dream jobs for many gamers, but are very difficult to get. They require a high level of communication and writing skills plus plenty of experience. On the other hand, the reward is that much greater too - a high paying, secure, full-time job doing what you enjoy most - gaming! Many gamers build up the experience needed to get these types of positions by working as freelance video game testers until they've built up a solid resume of completed assignments.
As you can see, there are many ways to make money playing video games. A bit of time spent sharpening up your writing skills combined with your interest in gaming and a desire to share your knowledge with others can easily add up to a great job! By James Allen

POWER

Computer Power

The Importance of Your Computer Power SupplyReport this article if you suspect it is not original content, is in violation of our Editorial Guidelines or our Author's Terms of Service.Inside your computer is a component that is the lifeblood of your hardware system. It is responsible for your motherboard, your hard drives, your CD and DVD drives, and a half-dozen other possible components. For many people, the only part they see of this important component - the power supply - is the rear where they plug in the power cord from the wall. The power supplies job seems simple: to convert alternating current (A/C) to direct current (D/C) which, like most electronic devices, is what your computer uses. Inside the computer case, various wires and plugs are attached coming out of the power supply. These are attached to the different components inside the computer. Some higher-end power supplies from OCZ, CoolMax, and Ultra allow you to only attach the wires and plugs you need. This can create less clutter inside the case and help to improve air flow which keeps your computer running cooler.Sadly, many computer manufacturers include power supplies that are cheaply made and have very minimal power capabilities. A power supply is measured primarily in terms of watts. Finding out how many watts a power supply can generate is the first way to determine if your computer system is risking being underpowered.Even today, some systems are still shipping with 150 watt power supplies. This is hardly acceptable. A basic system should have, at the least, 350 watts of power capability. Many systems have 500 watts or more of power available, and some high-end gaming systems are being fitted with 1000 watt power supplies.The number of components that might be running at once determines how much power you need. Your motherboard consumes more power when you are running processor-intensive tasks such as games, 3-D modeling or graphics, and multimedia applications. You might have your hard drive and your DVD player going at the same time. But, of course, the most pressing need for a new power supply is after an upgrade. Adding a second hard-drive, more memory, or a newer motherboard are all excellent reasons to upgrade your power supply.When buying a new power supply, take the time to determine your long-range plans for your computer system. Don't buy just enough power for the moment. Buy enough for future upgrades as well. You can't really go wrong with too much power. But don't buy a power supply that far exceeds your realistic expectations; you'll just be wasting electricity.For a fancier look, some power supplies now have clear cases, colored lighting, or interesting metals. If you have a computer case that is clear, these units can add a little flair to an otherwise dull looking part of your machine. Look for these designs from power supply companies like Apevia, Ultra, Xion, and Diablo.Although you can buy generic power supplies, many of them may not be reputable. It is not unheard of to have a power supply fail - and take a motherboard or hard drive with it. Buy a quality unit. Power supply companies now brand their products, offer warranties, and are creating units that run cooler and quieter than their predecessors. Bargain units are not always a bargain.

PC GAMES - some good information

Reviews of the Latest PC Games

Finding some good information on the latest PC games can be quite a difficult task. I've tried to do a Google search with the key words 'latest PC games' or 'current PC games'. I got thousands of replies but most of them were not what I was looking for. I've been keen on playing PC games for a long time and I've always found it hard to come across any decent sites giving updated information about the latest PC games. Nowadays all the attention goes to gaming consoles and thus, finding news on computer games is getting harder and harder. Probably the most popular gaming platform are computers. So you can look for the latest PC games on websites devoted to them. It is not really difficult to find lists of new games and their prices but it is a couple of times harder to find any good sites which offer reviews about the newest PC games. If I have to recommend you some sites I'd suggest you had a look on my personal favourite ones - Gamespot, Gamespy, IGN, and Gamezone. You can always find recent reviews of the lastest PC games on them, as well as some information on the most popular and newest console videogames. Even though I sometimes fully disagree with the reviews published, I still believe they are useful, at least you can get some basic info about the game, for example what it's genre is. In my case, if it's not one of the types I like, I don't purchase it and save some money. If I have genuine interest in a particular game I usually read at least a couple of reviews on different sites about it. That way I get all the information I need before going to the store and buying it. One of the reasons why you should try to get as many reviews as possible about a PC game before purchasing it is because the price of the latest games varies about $50 per title. I cannot imagine anything worse than spending your hard-earned money on a new PC game which might turn out to be a beta program filled with bugs, a game with a poorly conceived plot. However, it is true that most of the latest PC games are no good, as the standard is getting lower and lower. Being completely honest, I have to admit that from time to time even nowadays a real treasure comes out of the blue. This gem gets much more appreciation and popularity now because the rest of the new PC games are not worth it. I try to regularly check for news on the latest PC games on varies sites with the only hope to find and buy one of these gems.