NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, June 2012
The Name’s the Game
By Jackie Woods, Co-Webmaster,
Under the Computer Hood UG (UCHUG), CA
September 2011 issue, DriveLight
http://www.uchug.org
webmasters (at) uchug.org (click to email author)

There aren’t too many gadgets out there in everyday life that you can’t play games on. Recently I noticed that our Blu-ray DVD player has a new category in the network settings for downloading games to our TV. What fun!!

There’s time wasting games to play on your smart phone while waiting in line at the post office or DMV (e.g. Angry Birds, Solitaire, Mahjongg, etc.).

What I like to call community ‘shootem up’ games you play on your game console, computer, tablet, and some e-readers are WOW (World of Warcraft), Lord of the Rings, Star Craft, Diablo, Heroes of New Earth, Halo, Grand Theft Auto. These games have huge followings all over the world and make it possible for many game players to meet and play online with their friends and new friends from all over. They play these games as their created characters and not only converse in real time but set up mobs (or battle groups) with their friends on VOIP sites like Ventrilo -http://www.instantventrilo.com/get-ventrilo-server.php?OKEY=google_ivt_ventrilo-b.

My grandson uses an old computer as a Ventrilo server and for as little as $4.00/month runs groups of as many as 10 gamers on these online game sites. Many members of his ‘guild’ have their own Ventrilo servers and can support up to hundreds of players; of course, it all depends on how much you can afford!

What’s amazing about these gaming communities is how much socializing goes on outside of the game. Several times over the last decade WOW friends from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa have visited Southern California to meet my son, grandsons and others in the game guilds they’ve met online -- mini game conventions!

Then we come to games for the casual gamer and there are hundreds out there. One of our favorite sites to download games is Big Fish games www.bigfishgames.com Here games are available in every category: puzzle, adventure, hidden object, words, brain teasers, and card and board games. To play these all you need is a computer or a smart phone.

If a game console is where you play your games, more is available out there for active participation. The one currently getting raves from players is the X-Box 360 Kinect which uses a scanning recognition technology. There is no mouse or game controller needed just your movements in front of it. Once I got the hang of it, bowling was my favorite but there are many other games available. This game console also can be used as a pipeline to the web with its built-in Wi-Fi, not only for Xbox Live, but to Netflix, Pandora, Hulu, YouTube, etc. The most common price seems to be around $299 – at least at the reputable sites like WalMart and Best Buy. http://bit.ly/qIKgXt http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Kinect?xr=shellnav

Another gaming console pretty popular with the older generation is the Nintendo Wii2. We’ve all seen the commercials of the folks in the retirement home dancing, bowling, playing tennis, batting up with the sports and entertainment games available.

Like the Kinect this one has a lot of interactive features as well, but unlike the Kinect you have to have the game controller in your hand. Though the buzz around the gaming community is Nintendo isn’t far behind with the controller-less console. This machine has basically the same kind of games available as the other consoles. Each machine does have certain games that are just for a particular platform, but most are out there for all of them. The Wii does have extra bling available in the form of the U-Draw tablet ($70), the Wii Fit bundle with a balance board ($94.99) and for $40 the Wii Plus controller. So like most of these consoles you do pay quite a bit more to get those extras. The basic Wii runs $129.99 with the Mario Kart Bundle – and a lot more once you start adding goodies. Oh, and another little note, to stream from Netflix, etc. you need a special disc! More $$. http://bit.ly/kM8XZl http://www.nintendo.com/?country=US&lang=en

Sony is the other big game console maker with its PlayStation 3 320GB Edition. Once again pretty much the same as the other consoles: has Wi-Fi, streams from various sources such as Netflix, Blockbuster, etc., and has a built-in Blu-ray player (very handy if you don’t already have one) and is also set up for HDMI. Unlike Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network is free, and should be with the basic cost of this console at $359.99 on www.Amazon.com

Nintendo also has a mini game player with the Nintendo 3DS, which is a great little touch screen 3D device at $169.99. It has Wi-Fi and Internet available. My grandson uses it more like a tablet than a game machine. http://amzn.to/otx1Pp http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-3DS-Aqua-Blue/dp/B002I090AG/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1314928559&sr=8-7

So those are the big three (and pint size) of the gaming consoles. Gaming has gone through various changes over the last 40 years since the Atari 5200, which I used to think was the cat’s meow back in the 70’s.

Following is the link to Motion Gaming 101. This will give you a comprehensive video tour of each courtesy of Amazon. < A href="http://amzn.to/mPNWzS">http://amzn.to/mPNWzS http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=bt_atcg_mine_pl_0? ie=UTF8&node=2404623011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center3&pf_rd_r=07H5FJJB7NPNJ9TFWPS6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1298421802&pf_rd_i=14218901

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