There's a Reason We Love Computer Games

Video computer games have become as much a pillar of our entertainment universe as books and movies. Why is it that so many of us are drawn to the computer monitor or TV screen like flies? A bit of history might help explain the phenomenon.Originally computers were all work and no play, being outrageously expensive to build and operate. But computer engineers and designers, being overgrown kids after all, soon began, Computer, to get comfortable with their big room-filling machines. In their idle hours it occurred to them that it might be kind of cool to have the computer show some spaceships and planets cruising around the galaxy. , Computer, An in the 1960s a group of fun-loving computer, Computer, geniuses created SpaceWar, the father of the famous arcade game Astroids.These games were well, Computer, received by geniuses and regular folks alike, which motivated the geniuses to design some more fun stuff. They could have used the computers for a lot of diversions, but somehow the visual element of the games activated the imagination. Over time we got Pong, PacMan and a continually evolving string of games, including software that eventually could beat chess masters at their own game.By the late 1980s computer games software was getting quite sophisticated, with the invention, Computer, of Sim City. This product expanded on what was going on through all the previous games; the players were being drawn into an imaginary world. Not, Computer, unlike books and movies, these video games were very satisfying mentally. Sim City actually allowed the user to create, Computer, amazing cities and, Computer, even worlds.Also, Computer, in the 1980s, a group of computer programmers began creating software that would show moving images all generated by computer. The images started out very simple, almost like stick figures but they could dance in time to a music track. No skin, no facial features but it was very exciting to think what might come with more powerful computers. The computing power grew exponentially and, over 20 years, we now have not only some fabulout computer generated movie effects and whole characters, but the realism of video games has taken a quantum leap forward.A good video game will draw you in to another world and, unlike a book or movie, a computer game will offer an interactive experience. In fact, at least one computer, Computer, game has become sufficiently popular to become an action movie; think Mario, Computer, Brothers. But it’s funny that sometimes a simple game can be as entertaining as a much more sophisticated game. Some of the most beloved games of all are Tetris (stack those blocks), Pac Man and, Computer, Pong.A modern computer will still do a great job of playing state-of-the-art video games. There are hundreds of options, including many that pit you online against other players. Then there are the specialty consoles like PlayStation, Nintendo and XBox360. With tricked-out controllers, guitars and wands, you can really, Computer, develop some hand-eye coordination by playing many of the current titles.One of the most fun educational games is Roller Coaster Tycoon, where you build your own amusement park and then operate it with “real” guests making decisions about which rides to take. If a guest loses their lunch on a roller coaster you’d better have a custodian, Computer, clean it up or the guests will stay away. You must watch income and expenses and save money to build more attractions, Computer, . This is a great game.But the bottom line as to why we’re so enamored with computer games software is that it captures our imagination in a variety of interactive ways. Our games are prized possessions and it is wise, Computer, to treat them carefully to make them last.

Penguin Diner

Diner Game adalah jenis game yang sangat populer, dimulai dengan seri Diner Dash, kemudian diikuti banyak varian yang ‘mengekor” kepopulerannya seperti Spongebob Dash dan lain lain.
Kali ini saya posting sebuah varian Dash Game dalam format flash, namanya Penguin Dash. Karena dikemas dalam format flash game, maka ukuran filenya kecil saja, hanya 1,6Mb, sehingga tak perlu menunggu lama-2 untuk men downloadnya.
Thanks to Wendysforum for the exciting and enjoyable game.

Download

Cake Mania: Back to the Bakery: Help Jill renovate her grandparents bakery!

Cake Mania: Back to the Bakery (13 MB download)
In this all new adventure, Jill has decided to renovate her grandparents’ bakery in the hopes of winning them a deluxe grand prize – an all-expense-paid Hawaiian luxury cruise. With an all-new bakery to renovate, hilarious new characters, an all-new storyline and 36 levels of fast-paced baking, fans of Cake Mania can enjoy another great baking adventure!

Atenção ao Sábado

Acho que sábado é a rosa da semana; sábado de tarde a casa é feita de cortinas ao vento, e alguém despeja um balde de água no terraço; sábado ao vento é a rosa da semana; sábado de manhã, a abelha no quintal, e o vento: uma picada, o rosto inchado, sangue e mel, aguilhão em mim perdido: outras abelhas farejarão e no outro sábado de manhã vou ver se o quintal vai estar cheio de abelhas.

No sábado é que as formigas subiam pela pedra.

Foi num sábado que vi um homem sentado na sombra da calçada comendo de uma cuia de carne-seca e pirão; nós já tínhamos tomado banho.

De tarde a campainha inaugurava ao vento a matinê de cinema: ao vento sábado era a rosa de nossa semana.

Se chovia só eu sabia que era sábado; uma rosa molhada, não é?

No Rio de Janeiro, quando se pensa que a semana vai morrer, com grande esforço metálico a semana se abre em rosa: o carro freia de súbito e, antes do vento espantado poder recomeçar, vejo que é sábado de tarde.

Tem sido sábado, mas já não me perguntam mais.

Mas já peguei as minhas coisas e fui para domingo de manhã.

Domingo de manhã também é a rosa da semana.

Não é propriamente rosa que eu quero dizer.

. Clarice Lispector (do livro “Para não Esquecer”)

Samsung LN46B750 46-Inch 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV with Charcoal Grey Touch of Color Review

As others have said, this TV is excellent. Forget the marketing talk of 150,000:1 contrast ratio etc. All you need to know is that as of August, 2009, there are very few TVs that beat this set in terms of black level. (local dimming LED LCD TVs, and a few high-end plasmas to be precise, and even then – only just!).

I’m going to focus more on what the issues are with this TV, bearing in mind that I think this is an excellent set.

1.) Gaming lag. For those that say there isn’t any – your standards may not be high enough. With Game Mode set to OFF, Call of Duty, Rock Band, Hot Shots Golf etc are simply unplayable. With Game Mode set to ON, these games are quite playable. How acceptable is very dependent on the person. I have no trouble, personally, with Game Mode ON, but Game Mode off was a nightmare. You lose the benefits of 240hz AMP with Game Mode ON, but this is a VERY acceptable trade-off, and I have no trouble playing games in an essential 60hz mode.

2.) Viewing angles. They’re NOT very good. At a little less than 10 feet away from my 46″ B750, the left side of my TV washes out if I scoot a little to the right, and the right side washes out if I scoot a little to the left of the TV. This is a definite issue, and is worse than my last year’s Samsung LN46A650. At Best Buy etc you will NOT see these defects as the ambient light overpowers any viewing angle discrepancies. At home, in a dimly-lit movie room, or showing darker material, these problems will become more apparent – glaring in fact.

3.) Clouding/flashlighting: This has been an issue for several generations of Samsung LCDs, and 2009 is no exception. Again, this is not something you’ll notice in a storefront because the lighting overpowers the problem, but at home, back in that very same dimly-lit room, especially showing darker material, you’ll notice the splotches of lighter colored areas on the screen. Some are worse than others. If you never watch TV in a darker environment with dark material, chances are you’ll never notice the problem. If your TV was delivered, like most people’s sets are, during the day, you will NOT see this issue until night closes in.

4.) While the see-through TV stand stalk is very pretty and gives the impression of a “floating” TV, it makes hiding the power cable and video/audio cables impossible, as they are normally hidden by a solid stalk. So yes, very pretty, but non-functional, as you can see the cables trailing down behind the see-through stem. A little annoying!

I know this sounds like doom and gloom, but it really isn’t. This is an excellent set. I love mine. Definitely the best CCFL LCD Samsung has put out to date, but still in need of a bit of work on their quality control. I simply won’t defend something just because I bought it – this is a great TV, but it does have some problems that Samsung should work hard to overcome.

Chris Brown's Making Headlines ... and Not in the Papers

Chris Brown hasn’t done much performing since the February “incident” in which he assaulted his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. Besides filling in for up-and-comer Drake (BET’s Rookie of the Year?) at a tour stop in Virginia, Brown has kept a low profile.

That could change very soon as he may headline a concert. Given that Doublemint gum distanced itself from the R&B crooner, is it surprising that a radio station, specifically New York’s Power 105, would give him top billing in a high-profile show?

The Power 105 Powerhouse concert is set for October 27, and Brown shares stage duties with the likes of Mario, Ginuwine and Trey Songz. There’s no doubting that Brown is one of today’s most engaging performers, who may have an added appeal given his ability to channel Michael Jackson, but will the show go on — with him as a part of the act? 70% of voting Predicto Mobile members predict that Breezy will pack the arena from wall to wall and will perform at Powerhouse.

“I hope this brings him back. It just shows that we are all human!” says member “qpln6511.”

“He is very talented and learning a lesson,” says “ftnv2476.”

“They need to leave Chris Brown alone!” says “npiw8493.”

Have Chris’ apologies appealed to the public to give him another change? (If they haven’t, perhaps this bow-tie did the trick.) If so, he just might feel comfortable enough to take the stage.

Want to find out what happens? Visit Predicto.com to sign up for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with voting (and you can vote on this survey, too), you’ll also receive text updates when the answer is revealed. What better way to stay up to date and have fun?

Battlefield: Bad Company - Review (PS3)

Battlefield: Bad Company is one of those games that got lost upon release – one I started and then never got round to playing again (mainly due to the fact that my brother and Dad had it off me for so long – yes Jonny I’m looking at you ).

Basically your character, Preston Marlowe, gets sent to Bad Company – a rag tag army squad of misfits that are sent in as cannon fodder in military operations.

This game was a near perfect playthrough after the desolate, lonely (yet amazing) story of Fallout 3. Here you’re accompanied by your three squad mates at all times – except for the obligatory ‘you’re on your own for a bit mission’ late in the game.

Chock full of explosions and with some really impressive destruction of buildings etc, Battlefield is like a huge big budget Hollywood blockbuster.

The missions themselves were quite lengthy, around 45 minutes to an hour each, so you really felt immersed in the world.

Graphically the game was good, with some great textures and a believable world. One of the few issues I had though was that all the bad guy goons only had about three character skins between them.

Gameplay wise it was business as usual for FPS action. Take out everyone and get to various markers/blow stuff up. There were a few vehicle sections that were quite cool.

I did dip into the online but I think it’s pretty much only the hardcore left playing it and so I died plenty of times as enemies waited at the spawn point to shoot you on sight

Overall Battlefield: Bad Company is a great, mindless blast of a game. Add some memorable characters into the mix and you’ve got yourself a very enjoyable, and playable, package.

Rating: 7/10