Final Steps Of Making A Video Game!

After making the game elements work together by a code that is the set of computer language instructions that controls every aspect of the game it is tested.
How is a game tested:

Testers play the game repeatedly to find all the mistakes, or "bugs." Problems are prioritized in many ways, from "fatal" bugs which must be resolved immediately, to minor issues which may or may not affect the game's release. If a problem is discovered, a detailed report is sent back to the developers and the error is corrected.
The first version sent to testers is called the "alpha" version, and it is tested to detect any major flaws in the game while they are still easy to fix. Once all of the major flaws are addressed, a "beta" version is released, often to a larger group of testers that sometimes includes the public.
Usually during this testing phase, a copy of the game is sent to the Entertainment Software Rating Board to be given a rating. These ratings are intended to give consumers an idea of the content of the game and its appropriateness for different age groups.

Marketing a video game:

Big amounts of money are paid for the game promotion and marketing. With this much money at stake, the publishers go to great lengths to hype their games. this step starts often while the game is still being designed. Companies send their designers and public relations staff to trade shows and conventions all over the world to promote their latest games. Demonstration versions, are sometimes made available for download from the Internet to offer a sneak peak, and theatrical trailers like those created for Hollywood movies are released.

Doris

How Is a Video Game Made?

Some may think that a video game is made in a basement, with a nerd working on it. But actually a video game creation can be as complex as making a Hollywood blockbuster. It takes time for planning and preparation, script writing, casting, character development, cutting-edge technology and massive computing power go into making games.
In the Beginning: Preproduction:
Usually games begin with stories, or they may be a movies. when the concept of the game is decided, writers and artists work together on a storyboard. A storyboard consists of rough sketches and technical instructions sequentially organized to depict each scene of the game. It is a visual representation of the story and a reference for the writers, artists and designers as if its a film. But the difference is that a film has a single storyline, while a video game can have thousands of outcomes.
Creating the Characters:
Designers start to create the characters. Sketches of major characters are drawn and redrawn until they are perfect. It's important for the artists to refine the characters as much as possible at this stage because it will be costly to make changes later.
Then the sketches are transformed into controllable 3D characters:

• First scanned into the computer.
• Second a digital exoskeleton is created to define the character's shape and to give the computer the control points necessary to animate the figure.
• Third layers of "skin" are added, followed by layers of color and texture.

How to put characters in motion:

At this stage characters are basically a digital marionette. The game programmers bring this figure to life by instructing the computer to move the character. Several techniques can be used to do this, depending on the type of game and motion desired. Movements can be mapped onto the character's skeleton to produce ultra-realistic motion.

Doris

Do You Want To Buy One Of The following PSP, DS, DS Lite, XGP, XGP mini, GP2X And YOU Can't Choose?

The competition between video games producers and companies are growing stronger. And people seem to be "lost" they can not make a choice, because all the consoles seem to look alike. So here is a guide to help video game lovers make the right choice, and choose the console they feel is the best for them:


PSP (Play Station Portable)

• It is a highly commercial product.
• You can download average quality emulators for consoles before the psx and two very low quality N64 emulators have been developed.
• It has no TV out socket.
• It has no touch screen.
• It has no microphone.
• It uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
• You can play maximum of 6 hours.

Click here for more information about PSP.

XGP (Xtreme Game Player)

• It is an underdog console but aims to hit the commercial market.
• It has no microphone.
• It has no touch screen.
• It allows video and mp3 playback.
• It has wi-fi which means you can surf the Internet and play games online.
• It uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
• Is offer some high quality emulators and a PSX emulator is in the making and there is a possibility of an N64 emulator being created.
• Games that are created by others can be downloaded.

XGP mini (Xtreme Game Player)

• It is another version of the XGP.
• It has 32 mega-bytes of RAM.
• It has no no TV out socket.
• It has no wireless.
• It has a 320x240 screen (76800 pixels).

Nintendo DS (Dual Screen)

• This console is a highly commercial product.
• It has wi-fi so play games online.
• It holds up to a maximum of 10 hours game play.
• It has a built in microphone.
• It has no TV out socket.
• It has touch screen capabilities.
• It has 4 Mega-Bytes of ram.

Click here for more information about Nintendo DS.

Nintendo DS (Dual Screen) Lite

• It is another version of the DS.
• It is 21% lighter, 42% smaller .
• It holds up to maximum of 19 hours game play.
• It has a more scratch resistant screen.

Click here for more information about Nintendo DS lite.

GP2X

• Is an underdog console - intended for mostly home brew content.
• It has 64 mega-bytes of ram.
• It has no touch screen.
• It has no microphone.
• It has no TV out socket.

Click here for more information about GP2X.

So now it is more easier to choose between these games!

DORIS

Difference between the TAO XM2go and Delphi Myfi XM2go

Other then the Tao XM2go, Delphi Myfi XM2go was also out and was quite popular. But the XM2go is trendier but could have some performance enhancements as well. The Tao is exactly the same as the Myfi, but the Tao is housed in a black plastic aluminum faceplate. It looks better and feels much better then the other XM2go products but the size (4.5 by 2.8 by 1.2 inches) and also heaviness (7.2 ounces) are the same.
One difference that the Myfi and the Tao have is that Tao’s mute/pause buttons is in the middle of the four-way rocker rather than beneath it, providing easier access. Unfortunately just like all other devices the Tao suffers from a set of minor inconveniences, it has a hard time receiving signal indoors using the built-in antenna. Frustratingly, the device must be powered off during scheduled recording sessions or it will leave out the session as not to interrupt your listening. Also when you press the 2go button to start recording, the device misses out on the first few seconds of the programming so if anything important was being said in the first few seconds then it has been cut out. It has been mentioned a few times that these handheld satellite radios should get smaller, be a bit cheaper and offer some more functions for the purchaser. Such as for example MP3 support and a color screen.
Regardless of the price ($299 for the radio) these devices are gaining a lot of popularity and are being sold a lot.
SABAH

New Video Games: XGP and Surprise XGP Mini!

The GP2X handheld gaming console has released photos of two upcoming models that may have the same PMP and emulation goodness. These may be geared towards the commercial market in different packages. First XGP which looks like a slightly bent PSP is redesigned(Extreme Game Player) that is handheld, and it ditches the swivel screen design that once opined "looks a bit like the bastard child of a PSP and a Sidekick," to become a more traditional Game Gear / Lynx / Nomad-type form factor, while one-upping the GP2X in screen size (4-inches vs. 3.5), the addition of a DMB TV receiver, and a little standard known as WiFi. and the surprise, was the XGP Mini, an obvious rip-off of homage to the Game Boy Micro, which like the GP2X and XGP, sports an SD slot and 64MB NAND memory.

The competition between the companies that are creating these games are increasing, to make their products more successful. And what makes GP2X a good product is that it focused on being a niche product, catered towards the hardcore who were after open systems. And what makes it more special is the analog stick on a portable gaming device which no company put before.

DORIS

Video Games Based On Movies!

Many video games are based on movies, some people welcome this idea and others refuse it:

1. The idea of making a video game based on a movie is creative and profitable, because if the movie is successful and had a good rank among other movies at that time, then people would rush to buy that video game for being able to relive and control the characters that they loved in the movie


2. There are several reasons why games based on movies are not that good:

• When the movie is not successful, producers use video games as an advertisement for the movie.
• Sometimes video games are different from the outline of the movie.
• Some video games lack the quality expected after seeing the movie, but the majority of buyers would buy it anyway if they are crazy about the movie.

Here is some examples of the video games based on movies:
March 2, 2007:

Best-Selling Video Game Scarface starring Legendary Gangster Tony Montana based on the very popular movie Scarface with star Al Pacino.

March 24, 2006: The Godfather, set in New York from 1945-1955, Players will join the Corleone family as "soldiers" and work their way up the ranks through loyalty, fear, and any number of illegal activities. The goal is to become Don of your own mafia family. based on the hit 3 parts movie with star Marlon Brando, The Godfather.

October 24, 2006: Based on the Quentin Tarantino movie Reservoir dogs, the game with the same title is surprisingly bad while everyone expected it would be as good as the mafia/action movie.

DORIS

The Pioneer Inno Xm2go

The TAO xm2go is just one out of quite a few satellite devices; the newest one that is out now and selling very fast is the Pioneer Inno XM2go.It’s being said that it looks like an immense improvement over the first XM2go devices. It’s a lot smaller and lighter at 3.7” x 2.2” x 0.6” and just 4.5 ounces. It gives you Live XM satellite radio substance and ability to store up to 50 hours of XM content. And also you can put your own MP3’s on it. It has a built- in FM source that will give you the chance to get satellite signal to any radio, full color screen (180x 180).
The one bad thing about the Pioneer Inno is the battery life, it’s not that good compared to the TAO XM2go. The Pioneer Inno XM2go has a memory buffer which makes it so much easier to store an entire track, the beauty of it is that even if you want to store it in the middle of the song, that’s not a problem, you can. It comes with the same accessories as the TAO Xm2go but off course a bit different in shape and style because the devices are different shaped.
Larry Rougas, vice president of marketing and product planning for mobile entertainment at Pioneer Electronics says it perfectly with: "In the past, the consumer has been able to do one of two things: listen to satellite radio or listen to music downloaded from their own collection. Now, the consumer can have their personal favorites and also be exposed to great new artists through XM programming. Adding the XM functionality to an MP3 player means you're no longer a prisoner to your own playlist."

SABAH

How Far Can Companies Go To Make Xbox Video MORE INTERESTING?

Heelys Xbox 360 Controller Inspired Shoe

Heelys new shoes inspired by the Xbox 360's controller. I guess that this is a thoughtful idea, that will drive children crazy aboutto buy this shoe especially if they are interested in Xbox 360.

“Blood-Spattered” Xbox 360:
If you like blood: Someone at the Llamma’s Game Console Forum has uploaded some photos of “Blood-Spattered” Xbox 360 case mod. This mod features lots of blood spatter. Most people who like to play violent game will rush to buy this console.

Halo 3 Xbox 360:
Microsoft just announced that it will be releasing a Halo 3 Xbox 360.This series is one of the most popular video games around right know. Microsoft is hoping that the Halo 3 Xbox 360 will draw attention and fans.

Chrome Case for Xbox 360

Adds some shine to your Xbox 360 the XCM-branded chrome Xbox 360 case replacement for HDMI-enabled models. I believe if I have this console I will not allow any of my friends to touch it, because it looks amazing.

Companies like Microsoft are going really wild making new series and adding more interesting programs into their consoles to attract more buyers and audience.





DORIS

Some things you should know about XM2go

The Tao should work without giving any problems but like with any other device problems may sometimes occur and you should follow the these steps :

1: check if all your connections are firmly and securely attached correctly.
2: battery should be fully charged .
3: click on the "reset" button in the back where the battery is, this will let it reset and work just fine.
If in case you see "no signal" appearing on the screen, this is because it's being blocked, move the device away from obstructed area like for example an underground parking lot.
If "Antenna" appears on the screen, this is a problem with the built in or external antenna, you should then connect it and make sure they are not damaged.
If "Off Air" appears on the screen that means that the channel is not broadcasting, for the time being tune to another channel.

SABAH

Xbox Video Game compete against Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii!

The Xbox 360 is a new successful video games console to Microsoft's Xbox, developed in co-operation with IBM, ATI, Samsung and SiS. At the beginning the idea of the console came from viral marketing campaigns and the first appearance for the game was on MTV on May 12, 2005, and the details and game information were unveiled later that month at the prominent Electronic Entertainment Expo.

1. What is special about Xbox 360:

• The Xbox console has a simultaneous launch across the three major regions.
• It provides wireless controller support at launch.
• It is the first console to be released in the seventh generation of game consoles and it will compete against Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.

2. What will make it more successful:

• Its push towards high-definition gaming.
• Year-early head start.
• Its Xbox Live online gaming service.
  

DORIS

Making you Tao Xm2go your own

What do we mean when we say making you Tao xm2go your own?
This basically means that you can adapt it to the way you like to listen to music and use the radio. Choose the display you want and change it whenever you feel like it if you ever get lost; just press the "menu" button to return to the normal operation of before.

Adjusting Audio:

The audio is so important because this is what makes the music sound good or bad, hearing your favorite song but having the wrong bass adjusted just makes it sound different.
So just adjust the bass or treble, which by doing this will affect the headphones of the home stand and also the vehicle cradle.


Always be careful before putting on your headphones not to have the volume on full blast, put it on the lowest level just to avoid possible hearing damage.

SABAH

Connecting to a stereo

By now It should be clear that the XM2go is very easy to use, when u want to connect it to a stereo, you do the following:
-you plug up the AC adaptor in an outlet
-connect residence antenna and the line to your residence stereo or speakers.

Receiving the XM signal: when turning it on you should be able to hear channel 1 immediately which is called the XM preview channel. but sometimes this fails to work or displays no signal on the screen, so what you can is try to move you Tao's antenna to a different location. The antenna should always point south and be outdoors or sticking out a window is also an option.

SABAH

In What Way Is WII Balance Board Helpful?

Wii Fit is very healthy for the body, it combines the benefits of exercise with the fun of gaming. It is not for a specific age but it is aimed for the entire family, Wii Fit comes with a range of games and exercises that are spread in four different categories:

• Balance games.
• Yoga.
• Muscle workouts.
• Aerobic exercises.

Wii Balance Board is able to work out exactly where your balance and body mass are placed and allows the game to determine if you are doing an exercise correctly or not. As a start you should enter your height together with your weight and the WII fit calculates your BMI (Body Mass Index). After that you do quick balance test to determine your current Wii Fit Age. The information you put is then stored on your profile (that holds up to 8 users maximum) and as you use Wii Fit, you can begin to track your progress. And with time you will see improvements in your body balance, and to be more motivated the better you get the more exercises and activities that are unlocked.

DORIS

The Latest Video Games "WII Balance Board"!

The WII board contains four strain-gauge force sensors, like the ones used in airplanes to detect stress on the fuselage and wings. In the Wii Balance Board, the sensors contract and expand as the person (player) shift their balance when standing on the it. The board can accurately determine a person's weight, as where and how that weight is shifting. The creator of the WII board is Shigeru Miyamoto who was the father of iconic Nintendo mascot Mario. Shigeru doesn't just bring characters to life in his video games, he also injects his life into his creations.

The Wii Balance Board looks like a set of futuristic bathroom scales, but it's actually a pressure-sensitive controller. When you stand on it the Balance Board measures acute changes in your weight distribution, allowing you to control a game by leaning and moving your body in different directions. The WII board is for all ages, you can stand put your hands on it. The WII board knows your body mass index, it would be neat if it would base your Mii's size/shape on that number and your Mii could change size/shape as you do. Watching someone do exercises on TV, then you follow along, that does not seem like it would work out so well, but it would be very motivating.

DORIS

Saving Favorite Channels Into Presets

Your Tao can store up to 30 channels as presets. Which are organized into A, B, C which is called banks? Each contains 10 presets.
To save a channel into a preset:
1: Go to the channel by using the dial or by just entering the channel number which facilitates it.
2: Press the pre/dir button until this appears on your display:
“Preset A”, “Preset B”, “Preset C”.
3: press and hold a number so that you can save that selected channel into the preset, for example: if you press the number 5 key, you can save channel 50 in A-5 preset.

To recall a preset:
1: Press pre/dir button, wait until “PRESET A”, “PRESET B”, or “PRESET C” appears on your screen
2: if you want to go to channel 50, (like the example given above) just click on the number key: 5, it will take you there automatically.
The presets can be divided as you wish, for example you can chose “PRESET A” for your favorite songs, “PRESET B” for your favorite news channels and “PRESET C” for your favorite sports channels. This is extremely good and handy because it will not get you lost or keep you searching, it’s very organized.

Sabah

Storing Song Information in Memory

The Tao Xm2go is perfect to store songs if you have forgotten the name of the song or the artist, to store a song’s information in memory you should push and release the “mem” button as the song or program is playing. The XM2go will let u know with a beep when this is done. Off course, you can store more then one song, so to recall the song’s information from the memory it’s as simple as just holding the “mem” button until it makes a beeping noise and then “memory recall will appear on the screen .This part of the Xm2go is the best and most appealing part of this device, if your favorite song or artist is playing, it can tell you when it’s being played on any XM channel. In just 5 easy steps this can be done:
1: By pressing on the menu button and then pressing on “Tune Select”
2: If you want it to let you know about a song or program: you press on “select by song” and if you want by artist then press on Select by artist”
3: While listening to your favorite song or artist, you can easily just hold and press in the side dial, what this will do is it will beep and automatically save it for you in the Tune Select list. But keep in notice that if the list is full, then any new entry replaces the oldest song title or artist you have saved on the list.

Sabah