Supreme Commander - RTS of Unprecedented Scale

By Scott J Meyer

So you've been playing through your Real-Time Strategy games and are starting to get bored with the same thing over and over. You want something bigger, better, more complex. Well, Gas Powered Games has given us Supreme Commander, an RTS of unprecedented scale. And I mean enormous; you don't make a base of a few buildings, you use dozens, and hundreds more in resources farms. You don't build a couple tanks and send them to wipe out the enemy. You build strategic missiles and long-range artillery to soften up the enemy, then move your army of 200 units into their base. Supreme Commander (popularly called SupCom) is unbelievably large, and sets a new standard for RTS.

The story takes place in 3844 A.D., after humans have colonized much of the galaxy. After several events, three factions emerge: the United Earth Federation, trying to restore order to the galaxy; the Cybran nation, a group of human-AI cyborgs trying to liberate their brethren; and the Aeon Illuminate, humans taught "The Way" by an alien race and trying to spread their beliefs throughout the rest of mankind. You start in any battle with an Armored Command Unit or ACU. This is the base unit, and allows you to begin construction of all other units and buildings.

The ACU is supported by engineers, who can build more buildings but at a slower pace. Air, land, and naval factories produce units, while mass extractors and power generators produce resources. Mass is used in the building process, and energy is used to run buildings and units. Resources are stockpiled in storage, but if you run out, you don't stop building. The more resources you use that you don't actually have, the slower you produce units and buildings. Factories can be upgraded from Tech 1 to Techs 2 and 3, allowing production of better units and better engineers, who can build higher level buildings.

Overall, each faction can produce around 30-40 different unit types and around the same number of different buildings. At a low level, each faction's units perform about the same, but at the higher levels they diversify. Each faction also gets three unique experimental units which can easily turn the tide of battle, but are very expensive to produce.

SupCom's single-player campaign gives each of the three factions six missions. While it doesn't seem like much, each mission expands several times, and can last several hours. In the first few, the player is confined to low level units, which can prove quite boring. The only way to defeat your enemy is to build large numbers of units and continually throw them at the enemy. In the last two missions, you gain access to Tech 3 units and buildings, allowing you to come up with your own strategies. The skirmish and multiplayer modes make up for this, with many maps and options to play with. The maps range in size from 5km x 5km to 81km x 81km. The largest maps are perhaps the biggest even seen in RTS, and can take many hours to complete. SupCom also has in all probability the most nuclear explosions per round in any game. To win, you must destroy the enemy's ACU, which explodes in a nuclear fashion. Nuclear missiles are also the best way to destroy the enemy's base. However, every attack has a defense, and nuclear missiles can be stopped.

So, if you are experienced with RTS's and are looking for something more, check out Supreme Commander. It does have a steep learning curve, so I would only recommend it for experienced players. The scale is enormous, and allows players to come up with multiple strategies so that no game ever plays the same way. For those tired of traditional RTS's, SupCom brings a whole new definition and level of play.

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.

Why is Wii Fit System So Popular?

By John Wun

Wii Fit is a new video game developed by Nintendo for the Wii console. It includes 40 types of training activities, and comes bundled with the Wii Balance Board. It is the first game to make use of the Wii Balance Board as a unique platform peripheral that can measure a user's weight and center of gravity.

It is useful for working every muscle in the body including: abs, arms, back, chest, legs, gluteus maximus, and more through exercises and games: Yoga & Breathing Exercises, Muscle Strength & Toning Exercises, Flexibility Exercises, Balance Exercises, and Stress Reduction Exercises. Its best activities are the aerobic and balance games.

In fact, this game has become a favorite family activity at house. It is simple to use, and simply the most fun way to keep you, your family and friends fit. Also, Wii Fit along with the balance board takes this a step further as it is even more interactive, requiring more physical input. Keeping fit is indeed an ongoing process. It helps set fitness goals, track progress and work with a virtual trainer to do activities and exercises every day. It can weigh you in at any time, and let you know where you fall on the body mass index scale as well as giving you your weight in pounds.

The Balance Board has one drawback. Jumping seems like the natural thing to do in some of the activities, but unfortunately, it doesn't want you to jump on it. Meanwhile, the biggest problem would be the inability to set up a sequence of activities that you could run through one after the other. Wii Fit allows a player to keep track of activities outside of the game, which are then added on to the player's activity log, but not included in the daily exercise time. It gives you all these different yoga poses and exercises, but it never gives you any sort of big-picture overview of how to design a workout routine for yourself.

Even though Wii Fit isn't perfect, the feedback you get from the Balance Board makes it easily the best "exercise-game" yet. It should be great for anyone and what's good is Nintendo actually thinks about the people playing their games. This game is an excellent way to introduce a little physical activity into your daily routine -- if you can manage to find a copy. It works because it shows you everyday how much you weigh, how much time you have invested, and how well you are doing on your exercises. As for the training activities, both balance and aerobic workouts do a great job of masking the science behind them and these are probably Wii Fit's greatest strength.

To find Nintendo Wii top games, please visit http://www.videogamesmonster.com.

The Nintendo Wii Fit & Balance Board - Here They Are

By John Milligan

The Nintendo Wii Fit features four main categories of exercises to choose from: Strength Training, Aerobics, Yoga and Balance Games. Taking the revolutionary motion sensing abilities of the Wii, the Wii Fit itself features the inclusion of the Balance Board, a sturdy device placed on a flat surface, that can read the motions and gestures of anybody standing on top of it.

This nifty device features more than 40 different exercises across four areas of training such as leaning to block soccer balls, swivelling hips to power hoop twirls or balancing to hold the perfect yoga pose. These are of course fun activities, and don't forget the ski jumping and heading soccer balls, that challenge the player's overall body balance.

This is all about controlled motion using arms, legs and other body parts which in themselves include dancing, exercise, balance and dexterity games which Nintendo says will help to build muscles and provide stability.

The Wii Fit Balance Board will allow your Mum to do yoga, your Dad to do push-ups, and you to play that nifty head-the-soccer-balls-but-not-the-panda-heads mini-game that comes packaged with it. There are a slew of graphs tied in with a calendar to ensure that you stick to the programme and woe betide you if you miss a session because you'll get a good old fashioned nagging if you stay away from your Wii Fit for too long.

This system, with motion-sensing controllers and play is intended for a broad audience beyond hard-core gamers and I don't have to tell you that it's working just fine all around the world.

Fitness is about cardio-vascular, agility and stamina. Fitness and entertainment at the same time. Is it possible that the Wii Fit and the Balance Board can provide a stimulating workout? You bet it is.

John Milligan. http://www.computer-games-store.co.uk For your Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board check out this site and don't forget to scroll down to the Amazon Store for even more choice. 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.

Online Pro Evolution Soccer 3

By John Escribar

Have you downloaded the latest pro evolution soccer 3 game? Have you tried its previous versions? The previous versions of the game were the pro evolution soccer 1 and pro evolution soccer 2.

Pro evolution soccer 3 is a massive reworked game on the computer. It is easily downloadable by fan made modes of the game. Several features of the older versions of the pro evolution soccer games were included in the newest version. The game initiated its release for Microsoft Windows but it particularly does not support the common Geforce MX series. Additional flavors to the game were included such as new player models, ball moves (on and off) and simplified new modes for cup tournaments. Friendly matches, series of games and shop store are some of the new elements of the revolutionary game. The shop allows the player to choose their gears and equipments which will ultimately increase the players' excitement for the game. Training and soccer exhibition games were also added to the game which will help the player accumulate points. Trading is also an added feature of the game.

With trading, you get to convert certain amount of points to new stadiums, crowd effects, teams' players, and fashion statements as well as hairstyles of players which will grant the player prolonged hours of engaging with the game. The new series of revolutionary game is now fast paced with sharper versions of graphics. It is said to be the direct adaptation of the PlayStation 2 code.

New wave technology never puts a limit on what the human mind can do to meet his needs and wants. It continuously works to reach his standard of game and be amazed of his passion. This revolution is a living legacy on how the human mind works for its comfort zone and make it more fun and enjoyable.

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Answering the Call of Duty, For the 4th Time

By Brendan Durkin

I've never been a huge fan of World War 2 first person shooters. Sure I've rented Medal of Honor Airborne and previous Call of Duty games and enjoyed for a few hours; but I never had the inclination to buy one. That is of course until Call of Duty 4 came along. I played the game at a friend's house over the holidays and was very impressed by the graphics, game play and overall feeling of submersion like I was actually standing alongside fellow soldiers ready to storm a building. I hadn't had this feeling like I was actually a part of an actually gun battle since I stormed the beaches of Normandy Medal of Honor Frontline for the PS2.

I was pleasantly surprised when, after seeing me play the copy of Call of Duty 4 I rented from Blockbuster, my uncle bought me a copy of my own. Of course I played the whole game through a couple of times during Christmas break and I appreciated it well enough; but I wondered, what's next? If most of you are thinking: "What about playing it online?" I didn't even realize there was online play until I got back to school for the next semester. If you go to a school similar to mine, you pretty much get all the bandwidth you want so internet connections aren't a problem.

Call of Duty trumps any game created so far when it comes to online play. Nothing is easier to play, nor more fun or exciting. Call of Duty 4 is like a no BS version of Counter Strike and a lot more fun. The large number of maps have kept players hooked to this game since it came out last November.

My only gripe with Call of Duty 4 online is that it is so fast paced; people who prefer to be snipers are at a serious disadvantage, unless of course you have extremely good reflexes and can run and jump while looking down a rifle scope.

If you haven't played Call of Duty 4 yet, pick it up and enjoy the best online play for both the XBOX 360 and PS3.

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