Rise of Nations - Great Gameplay For a Great Price

By Scott J Meyer

Looking for a great bargain Real-Time Strategy game that still plays like new? Then I suggest you check out Big Huge Games' Rise of Nations. In fact, you can get Rise of Nations (RoN) and its expansion pack (Thrones and Patriots) together for a great price now, so I'll be talking about both in this review. RoN combines elements from Turn-Based Strategy games into an excellent RTS engine. Though it is beginning to age, RoN still looks and plays great.

RoN gives great RTS gameplay. Your empire-building is centered around cities. Cities expand your national borders, allow you to build resource-collecting and research buildings, and even Wonders of the World, historical structures that boost your performance. Resources are spread throughout the map, and are not depleted. Rare resources can also be found, which give increased production and added bonuses. Technology is also key, unlocking new units and buildings, and allowing you to progress through eight "ages," from Ancient to Information. Most technology is researched at the library, but nearly every building has some of its own. Combat follows the rock-paper-scissors concept, in that one unit easily defeats another, but is easily destroyed by a third, making well-balanced armies and navies the best choice.

Replayability is unlimited, with different map types that can be randomly generated time and again. There are 24 different "races" available, from British to Nubian to Mongol, each with its own unique units and national bonuses. Quick Battles offer custom fights between you and up to seven computer opponents, on a variety of different map types, with many customizable options. When (or if) you tire of unlimited Quick Battle play, there are five "Conquer the World Campaigns" to choose from. These range from Alexander the Great, Napoleon, the New World (following the colonization of the Americas), the Cold War between the USA and USSR, and "The Entire World," a Risk type map where each nation starts small and must expand its empire. Multiplayer is still highly active, and many player-made scenarios are available. RoN does not bore easily.

Even though it has been out for several years, RoN is still worth getting. It offers unlimited play with a very innovative design. Even graphics wise, RoN still holds up to more modern strategy games. Choose your nation, choose your gametype, and play in your own style. Rise of Nations is a great game that is easily found for a bargain price.

Scott is a student and avid strategy gamer. Please support him by visiting his blog http://greatstrategygames.blogspot.com/ for more reviews, info, and screenshots.

Wii Rock Band - The Greatest Video Game Ever

By Johnny Moon

Worth The Money

I recently bought Rock Band for my Nintendo Wii gaming system. I'm not actually a huge video game player so I thought it may be a mistake considering the very high cost of the system (over $180 including tax.) But I am a huge music lover and it looked like fun, so I splurged on it. I'm glad I did. It is easily the best video game ever.

Forget Guitar Hero

I already had Guitar Hero for my Wii. I had played it quite a bit at first but quickly grew bored of it as while it can be fun at first - after awhile it seems pointless as it doesn't have anything to do with playing a real guitar.

Drumming & Singing

For me what makes Wii Rock Band so awesome is the drumming and singing portions. Sure the guitar part can be amusing. But it's the drumming and singing that make it awesome. Why? Because when you become a good drummer on Wii Rock Band you actually improve your real life drumming abilities! That's because it's such a lifelike representation of what it's like to play real drums. Sure it's not exactly the same, but it's close enough for Government work (as the old saying goes.)

Similarly with the singing part of the game. If you can learn to sing a song on Rock Band at a very high level on the expert setting then you are not merely beating a video game, you are becoming a much better singer who has greatly improved their ability to sing in key. How cool is that?

CLICK HERE for more information on Wii Rock Band. Consumer Reviews.

An Introduction to the Nintendo Wii Fit

By John Milligan

The Wii Fit is a video game developed by Nintendo for the Wii console and was released in Japan on December 1, 2007, and then later in other regions in April and May 2008. Here we take a brief look at this new product which has, and still is taking the world by storm.

Health and fitness: getting a Wii bit fitter. Sorry about the pun but this really is the case. Wii Fit is the popular fitness phenomenon for the Nintendo Wii and you are sure to want to buy one if you haven't got one already that is.

It is believed that fitness video games that have the user perform lower-body balance and weight-shifting activities could help patients with weight-bearing rehabilitation after an injury or surgery. In addition, games that focus on upper body movement patterns could be helpful in a rehabilitation centre as well.

The game tracks a user's "Wii Fitness Age" through a body test basing the result on the user's current age, weight, and balance. Furthermore, Wii Fit allows its players to compare their fitness by using it's own channel on the Wii Menu. The focus of these activities is towards providing a "core" workout, a popular exercise method that emphasizes slower, controlled motions, but it's the fun approach to fitness of Wii Fit that will keep players hooked on fitness for years to come.

You will be guided through the stages with the help of your own virtual personal trainer, while the balance games will offer you variety and fun to help keep you engaged and excited about your fitness goals. This console certainly turns your living room into a fitness centre for the whole family.

The Wii Fit has opened a large door that allows many more medically challenged people a way to exercise safely and of course is also designed to be enjoyed by the whole family.

John Milligan. http://www.computer-games-store.co.uk For your Nintendo Wii Fit please visit the above site on it's homepage and also feel free to scroll to the bottom and visit the superb Amazon Store for the Wii Fit and lots of other goodies. An excellent resource for all those consoles and games you've ever wanted, including the Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit, ps3, xbox 360 and Ipod Nano 8GB and lots more. No searching all over the web for different bargains. There's loads of choice here with all the top sellers and best prices. You certainly will not be disappointed. So, if you're hungry for that bargain console, game or accessory, then go to the website, have a good browse and enjoy your shopping experience.

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 Torrent - The Most Popular Video Game on the Planet

By John Escribar

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 torrent is the most popular sport video game available in the market. This game is very popular in Japan, Korea and Europe. This video game was created by Konami which is one of the most acclaimed and sold millions of copies in different countries. This video game simulates the real professional tournaments in World Soccer. Real teams and leagues are used all through out the game.

The Pro Evolution Soccer 6 was officially released on October 27, 2006 in the United Kingdom. The released versions are for PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Xbox 360 and for PC platforms. The Nintendo DS version was released on February 2007.

This video game series is renowned because of close to reality graphics. The PES 6 introduces new game play add on compared to its previous series. The Artificial Intelligence has greatly improved. In addition, the game play has been developed with more realistic moves of the players. Players immediately react upon dangerous situations and protect the ball at all cost. They know how to counter attack difficult situations and look on the opposing team's weakness and use it as an advantage. Players are more responsive allowing a more realistic game play experience.

With this development, video gamers will have a lot of challenges and will enjoy the outstanding experience this game has to offer. Gamers can also edit their players which they can customize according to their liking. With a more improved graphics and interface, there are good reasons that gamers will love to play the most favorite video game on earth.

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Spoilers For Neverwinter Nights

By Christopher Paul West

I play games. lots of games. Neverwinter Nights is probably one of my favourite even though I have never finished the first one nor its expansions.

I managed to get hold of Neverwinter Nights 2 and upgraded it all the to just before mask of the betrayor expansion I believe.

I would just like to introduce some tips and even some hints and cheats, if you dont mind.

Firstly, the MOST POWERFUL CHARACTER IN THE GAME IS A FIGHTER.

Why? Simple. You get loads of feats. you take power attack and a double handed weapon and then deal somewhere upwards of 100 points of damage on a critical. No other class can do this, not even that super intelligent mage with his fireball spell that peaks out at 10d6 (big thrill there)

No. Fighter definitely most powerful. Don't even need to prestige class, but some worth considering is the Weapon Master and the Frenzied Bezerker. That's what I'm playing, with a scythe as my favourite weapon.

Ok. Enough class talk, what about race?
Me, Human. Always. Elves can make surprisingly good rogues (don't need to walk slowly to spot traps) or a halfling - tall fellow (free feat)
And i almost always play a female - just better to look at.

Now the Dos and Dont's:

DON'T TRY AND MAKE ANY MAGIC ITEMS, pointless sin my opinion. Too hard to find the ingredients and too hard to build, but that's just me. I have a 15 ranks in weapon smith and cant make adimantiam weapons. go figure.

DONT PLAY EVIL: you actually gain xp for playing good guys and doing good things. Nice hey, give the good guys a cookie and scr*w the bad guys

Tips(spoiler here)

If you an archer, when you buy arrows etc always by 1 less (I but 98 arrows for 1 gp where 99 costs me 5gp??? sort of works with magic ones too, lot cheaper)

Oh, the less party members you have the faster you will level (more xp) party should contain a rogue, druid or ranger (for talking to beasties). That's actually all you need, but a fighter is good too (esp if only druid and rogue).

k cheers for now. more to come westcp@gmail.com

The Best RPG of All Time

By Brendan Durkin

When Baldur's Gate came out in 1998, I a middle school kid introduced to it by watching my dad play it. Baldur's Gate, for me, is the epitome of what a medieval fantasy role-playing game should be. I personally enjoy when a game, such as Baldur's Gate, starts the player out with little more than a stick and a few gold coins. Nothing is more fun than running around an area and picking up everything imaginable just so when I sell all the junk I found I can afford a decent piece of chain mail.

One of the best parts about the game is the sheer freedom allowed for the player to explore the areas of the game and detour from the main story. It also gave you choices in what kind of character you wanted to be, whether good, evil, or somewhere in between. Seldom games prior to Baldur's Gate that had this level of freedom; most were very linear, which limited the player in terms of choice and exploration.

Baldur's Gate also introduced new players to the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing system by taking those same core rules and putting them in a game. Players could experience what a pen and paper D&D game was like but in a much more user friendly way. I personally never got into the old D&D game because 1) I wasn't born in 1975 and 2) I don't have the attention span to play pen and paper games. So BG allowed younger gamers to experience the old system with a lot less work.

But it wasn't just revolutionizing role-playing games that put Baldur's Gate on the top of my list, it's because BG excels in every category: beautifully pre-rendered settings makes exploration a treat, an engaging storyline that creates the need to find out what happens next, and again, the sheer number of things you can do and how what choices you make can effect the outcome of every situation.

When I say Baldur's Gate I mean the entire series: BG1, BG2, and Throne of Bhaal. If you are going to play one, you need to play them all to experience the story in its entirety. Places like Amazon and Ebay are good places to find copies in good condition, mainstream stores won't carry them.

As I write this I wonder if there will ever be another game that so beautifully captures the essence of the medieval fantasy genre like Baldur's Gate, with complex characters, exciting battles, engaging quests, all amid gorgeous scenery. Of course I know realize that the answer is yes, and that game will be Baldur's Gate 3.

My name is Brendan and I grew up playing video games, so whether I like it or not, they are a part of my life and many other people's as well. It is very fun for me to discuss the topic of video games so check out my blog to see more articles that talk about the gaming industry http://brendanigan.blogspot.com/