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Swapping Video Games As a Route to Cheap Gaming


Video gaming is an expensive hobby, but, as this article will demonstrate, it need not be! Most of the expense is due to the price tag of new video games and the fact that many video games have a short life span - be it a great but quick to complete Xbox 360 title or a PlayStation 3 game that simply loses its appeal quickly. This article will consider video game swapping as an alternative to purchasing new video games out right.

When you think of swapping video games, you might think of temporarily swapping your video games with friends. But, there are online communities which consist of like minded gamers who want to swap their games with other members, for keeps. A community forum enables gamers to talk with one another other to decide which games will be swapped. Once an agreement is made, the postal service is used to send the video games.

Video game swapping has several advantages over simply selling your current completed game to a local game store or via a sale such as on eBay. A brand new game will cost you up to around £40, but after a week (you could complete a game in that time!), a game store might only offer you £20 for that game and sell it on for £35! Or if sold on eBay, they will take an 8.5% cut (an additional 4% cut for taking payments via PayPal) on the final sale price. You're not even guaranteed a price on eBay and your game may actually go for significantly less than you would like. By swapping your video game, you avoid the loss in value of that game and you don't have to contribute any more money to get a new game. You get a game, for a game (or several depending on what was agreed!) After all, your game is in mint condition and some other gamer will be happy to make the swap with you. It's a great way to get new games without costing a fortune!

John Dunne has been an avid gamer for over 20 years and has setup the video game swapping website TheGameCollective.co.uk to help gamers swap and sell their video games free of charge to help us get the most out of gaming.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Dunne

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Online Backgammon For Everyone


Backgammon is one of the most exciting ancient games in the history of mankind that is still actively being played today. With the dawn of the internet, the popular board game has reached almost epidemic proportions around the world. This phenomenon is understandable to anyone who has played backgammon online. Online gaming providers offer to the public a safe, reliable and an up-to-date platform. Playing online backgammon with family and friends can be great fun with endless hours of entertainment. If you want to broaden your horizons and play with countless people then playing Backgammon online is the way to go. You can be of any standard to play and you get the opportunity to play backgammon with thousands of people all over the world at any given time for fun or money.

Online backgammon is played worldwide by all sorts of people. You can play from the comforts of your own home or even at work and discover the joys of this exciting game. This game dates back to the time of the Romans and is played pretty much the same way today with just a few minor variations. In the course of the thousands of years that the game has been played, a number of variations have developed, for the most part associated with specific regions, for example, Turkish backgammon.

Backgammon games are fun and easy to learn. The goal of this game is to move your checkers round the board into your home, keeping them safe all the while from your opponent. The game is played with two dice, and a third dice which is the doubling or gambling cube, can be added to make things more interesting. Although a player who is used to playing the backgammon known in the western world may need a little time to familiarize themselves on how to play backgammon in a particular locality, there are still some similarities between the backgammon variations. It should not take long for a player who has learned how to play one version of the game to learn how to play another version.

Although there varied ways in which backgammon is played in different corners of the world, the standard rules of backgammon that is followed in international competitions are still what most people consider as providing the instructions they wish to follow in their games. These international rules govern the conduct of the majority of today's backgammon software as online backgammon has become very popular over recent years.

Unless you are specifically searching for a regional variety of backgammon, your backgammon game will give you a tournament conducted according to these internationally accepted backgammon rules. In addition to the dice throw, the devising of a sound backgammon strategy also forms an essential element in a winning performance and this develops as you gain experience. The best way to develop your playing strategy is through practice by using a free backgammon software online.

Freddie King is a freelance content writer specialising in gambling-related matters. He focuses his writings on playing backgammon and backgammon online games. Read his other articles at http://www.gammon-fortune.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Freddie_King

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Habbo Hotel and Online Virtual Worlds


Habbo Hotel

No longer is the internet the enclave of the academic and business user, now leisure users probably outnumber both, the popularity of online worlds like Habbo reflect this trend.

What are 3D Virtual Worlds?

3D virtual worlds are online websites created to visually represent a real environment where users can interact with each other and chat, one such online virtual world is Habbo Hotel.

More About Habbo

Habbo Hotel is a world where anything goes, users have access to a virtual world that they can personalize and invite others to join them in. As Habbo is a 3d virtual world and is visual in its make up users can even look anyway they please. Habbo users each get a room which is there starting point in the world, they can invite other users to their room to chat and socialize with everyone in their room. Many habbo users embellish their basic rooms to encourage visitors to hang out with them, Habbo furniture and other Habbo products can be purchased using credits and coins that can be bought with money or won in competitions, there are even opportunities to buy these credits and products on sites such as Amazon.com and eBay.com.

Habbo Activities

The main activities in online virtual worlds id chatting and trading with other users, with endless chat categories represented by rooms there is never a shortage of places to go and chat or trade. Endless competitions are available, some that involve furnishing a room to the best and most wildly impressive effect, offering Habbo based prizes to allow users to improve their virtual world at no cost.

Habbo Credits

Habbo coins and credits can also be used to purchase collectibles, special offer virtual items that are offered as limited editions, and can be sold on - as can all Habbo items to other users, to make money using virtual products. Buying and selling collectibles on Habbo is as addictive as collecting in the real world, and can also be lucrative. A range of accessories is also available, odd items that can be used to decorate rooms or traded among users, with some free and others paid for by Habbo coins. Habbo club is a premium paid for service that allows club members access to virtual items only available to members and also access to exclusive rooms without queuing..

Fun and Games

There are many games and activities available to the Habbo community, ranging from multiplayer to single player games, competing against friends or strangers and possibly winning cool prizes. Interest in Habbo is wide from people looking for a social network to those just looking to relax in an online virtual environment; the individuality of Habbo compared to other social networks is represented by the ability to create your own individual room and avatar. The prime users of Habbo are teenagers, there are in excess of 100 million users registered across the world, with worldwide appeal new users are joining every day from countries all over the world expanding the Habbo community continually.

Habboscene is at the forefront of what is happening at Habbo, we provide information for users and parents of users and a one stop resource for all things Habbo, including the purchase of credits, coins and furniture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_J_Miller

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Should We Still Be Gaming Past Our 30th Birthdays?


I am 34 years old. Still a young man you would say. So why is it that when I speak to my nephew about video games he always looks at me in a funny way and suggests I should have better things to do at my age?

Video games have, over the years, always been aimed at a younger audience. However as product sophistication has grown, and revenue potentials been realized, so has the target audience at which games are targeted. A good example of this would be the Grand Theft Auto series. Given an 18 rating certificate by the board of classification surely this game is targeted towards a more mature audience?

In some respects this is true. However, much like the 'alcopop' drinks are clearly targeted at an under age audience, so are many video games. Now, I like Grand Theft Auto - a bit. Its a good game and I can see how it has done so well. But I believe the reason is has done so well isn't so much in spite of its 18 certificate but because of it. As a teenager is is seen a highly cool to be seen with anything which has an 18 certificate attached to it. Lots of violence, swearing, nudity and prostitution - these are all super cool things to a teenager!

However, for a man in his early thirties, running around shooting people and having sex with virtual prostitutes isn't really my cup of tea. I prefer to indulge my gaming urges with something which requires rather more thought and strategy.

Some of my favorite all time titles include the Football Manager and Total War series of games. Both require serious time and thought to really gain their full potential. That's not to say they are a hard slog, if that were so then obviously they wouldn't get played - but rather they are enormous fun, just not in the urgent 'shoot em up kind of way.

You can read more about this topic and see more of my favorite titles at Over 30's Gaming.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Graham_Marshall

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Productivity Purgatory - Broken Picture Telephone


Need a convenient scapegoat for the current economic crisis? Blame this highly addictive game that will manage to cripple the world's workforce for at least the rest of time.

Everyone remembers the ostensible classic game of "Telephone," or as we called it in our youth, "When Camp Counselors Give Up: The Game." Get a dozen or so youth in a circle, have them whisper things in one another's ears, and (in theory), humor spills forth like punches at a Metro City wedding. This model sounds good and fun, but the stark reality of the situation comes clear when the horde of children realize that there is immediate gratification in just saying stupid crap out loud instead of waiting for a turn. The potential for amusement is there, but it's ruined by execution. Besides, who really wants to sit around in a big circle when we can all spout out Burroughsian nuggets of madness from the comfort of a computer? Enter Broken Picture Telephone, which solves all these problems through the power of sub-MS Paint art. Or to have the creator Alishah Novan describe it:

Just what is Broken Picture Telephone, you ask? Why is it the game of miscommunication?

Broken Picture Telephone is a game similar to the childhood game of Broken Telephone - the game in which children sit in a circle, and whisper a sentence or phrase in a circle.

If you've ever played the game, you know that very quickly hilarity ensues. Broken Picture Telephone is the web-incarnation of that old children's game, with a slight variation in how it's played. Rather than whispering words to strangers around the internet, the game alternates between words and drawings.

That's it really. Games begin and end with a short blurb written on a virtual Post-It note, and someone draws what they see on another Post-It. Given how limited the player is artistically (Just six sizes of brushes and eleven colors to work with,) even the best artists can only render so much of the original idea. A third person is picked randomly to write what they see, which (hopefully) diverges slightly from the first note, and a fourth person draws what they read, and so on until the preset amount of posts have been achieved. Then the game is archived and available for the general populace to read, comment on, and rank. This has lead to some hilarious games (a word of warning: Most games get at least slightly inappropriate, so it's best not to browse with a parent, boss, rabbi, or community leader over your shoulder.) where an unassuming original post slowly unfolds into an epic tale of misanthropy and stick figures.

The only problem is it's hardly unique, as the same issue plagues any online game: people set up dummy accounts and draw wildly inappropriate things that completely ruin the flow of the game. Thankfully, the community is generally good spirited enough to just ignore the troll in question and have fun with their response, setting up another surreal misadventure before long. The game has a wonderful community, and the best games have tons of supportive comments pointing out the hilarity that lies within. All of these factors come together in an absolutely astounding browser game that can (and will) consume your time, free or otherwise. The game even features a "boss mode" so you can pretend to be productive if an authority figure happens to blunder by.

Have you found any hilarious games that need to be shared with the world? Set up an account and want to run an OLC-centric game? Let us know in the comments section.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christian_Lowery


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Role-Playing Werewolves


The werewolf is a powerful symbol of the primitive animal that still lurks within the polished façade of the modern human. It is an idea of the fierce and wild monster within finally escaping the boundaries of the mind, and in so doing, transforming the body, the soul, and the spirit of the person into something more fierce and terrifying than any man or beast alone.

The art of role-playing is one of the oldest games in human history, and is built into the very essence of our being. While modern role-playing with dice and boards and such as relatively new, children have been pretending to be someone else since humans first started to imagine. It is this creative endeavor that has allowed us as a people to think creatively, and to stretch the boundaries of our empathic compassion.

When role-playing a werewolf it is important to note the dual nature of the character. Most werewolves are human beings that have been somehow infected with whatever it is that makes them a werewolf. While this infection can be voluntary, it is often something that happens against their will.

This sets up an internal conflict which allows you to add depth to the character as you play it. The human nature of the creature will represent weakness on the one hand, but reason on the other. While the animal side is a stronger opponent in battle, this strength comes at the cost of logic, and self control.

It is important that you do not forget this psychological conflict when interacting with the world. If you just wanted to be a shape shifter that could turn into a monster, then that is the character that you should be. A werewolf is inherently strengthened and weakened by his condition, and it is that which makes them so fascinating.

When you get into more complex concepts of the werewolf or the were-being, you start to have a lot more freedom in how you structure your character and their back story. For instance, a tribal shaman can take on the characteristics of his village's totem animal when he goes into a trance. This may allow him to be a completely different kind of were-beast.

Basically any character that can talk to animals or commune with nature has the ability to become a were-beast of some sort. This is because that connection with animals can be strengthened over time, allowing them to take on the powers and abilities of those they interact with, over time. This was done especially well in the fantasy series "the Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan, where the character Perrin started out by talking to wolves, but slowly started to see his physical characteristic, such as his eyes, change to match that of the wolves he was communing with.

The werewolf is a complex character to try and control in a role-playing session. There is an inherent conflict between the civilized and the primitive world, which can give this character a depth and complexity which other creatures do not share. There is also an aspect of connection to nature, and communion with animals, that allows you to get really creative with your were-beasts back story, if you so choose.

This article was written by Joseph Gambit on behalf of http://TrueLore.com - a social network for vampire and werewolf role playing. On TrueLore you don't sign up as your self, but instead take on a role as a supernatural creature, which then interacts with other fantastic beings through a forum, chat room, groups, and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Gambit

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You and other like minded gamers can join a group, or a clan, and team up to play against other clans. Different clans and Online Tournaments will hav


First please note that this article is not saying that all women are one way, and that all men are another way. This is just an attempt to understand some of the statistical differences in the trends between the type of imagination games that women prefer as opposed to those that men prefer.

In order to understand the difference between men and women in role playing, all you have to do is watch a group of children play make-believe. If you watch closely you will notice that the boys are usually engaged in some activity in which something has to be accomplished. This can be a fight they have to win, a princess they have to save, or something similar. By contrast, the girls are usually engaged in a very social experience, in which the interactions between themselves and others, as well as the feelings of everyone involved, are more important than the goals being accomplished.

This carries through to the types of games that men like as opposed to those that women prefer. For instance, statistics show that there are 5 males for every 1 female that are signed up as members of the popular online role playing game World of Warcraft. That is probably because this game is a very mission oriented experience, in which players go around killing monsters for points to make themselves stronger, and gold, which they can use to buy better weapons, which allows them to kill stronger monsters and get more points and gold. There are social aspects, in that you can talk to other players from around the world, but these conversations tend to be mostly about how to accomplish the goal at hand.

By contrast, games which are marketed at women tend to be more social in their dynamics. One example would be the huge hit "The Sims", a game in which you control the everyday lives of a normal group of people. You can have them make friends, form relationships, break up, have fights, get jobs or any normal activity you would expect from an average person. In the game, there is no clearly stated goal. Instead the appeal is that you get to create and control social interactions between virtual characters.

The general consensus is that girls don't like role playing games. However this is more due to the fact that the term "role playing" was co-opted by Dungeons and Dragons, and turned into a largely goal based activity, i.e. kill the dragon, save the castle, etc. However this ignores the social aspect of the game, which is actually much more to the liking of most females.

In recent years the internet has made it possible for so many different types of role playing communities to flourish, that social based games are starting to become more prominent. Aside from character based forum role playing, you now also have fictional social networks, where members sign up as made-up characters, and interact with one another in a MySpace style website.

This article was written by Joseph Gambit on behalf of http://www.FiCTR.com - the world's first role playing social network, where you actually sign up as a made up character, and then interact with other members to create storylines through forums, blogs, chat rooms, and a variety of group options.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Gambit

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