Blog about Gaming, Computers and Technology

I remember when signing up with Intelliflix for $188 a year thinking what a great deal I just gotten, and how much money I was saving compared to the competition. Intelliflix claims to have over sixty thousand movie titles, rent video games, and also rent adult titles. I sincerely doubt that they have anywhere close to sixty thousand movie titles, and they have recently suspended their online game rentals. They still claim to rent other movie titles, but a couple of movies every few months, and it hardly seems like they even do that anymore.

For the first couple of months I received movies regularly, but then they stopped sending me movies. I went almost sixty days with well over a hundred movies in my queue without receiving one movie! They do not provide a customer service number and you have to open tickets through their email system. Of course when you get a response it will be about hoe they understand your frustration and will try to do better, but they still do not send movies on any timetable that could be considered regular. I go weeks without getting movies. I requested a refund more than once, but they claim they cannot refund annual memberships for any reason whatsoever. If it was not past the ninety-day mark I would dispute it with my credit card company. I even emailed the President of the company who boasted about publishing his email so regular customers could contact him. I received no response.

I have recently joined two other Online DVD Rental companies to see which one would work for me. I only will join at a monthly rate; I learned my lesson with annual plans. They are both excellent companies and actually sent me movies, and carried a wide variety of titles.

First let us look at Blockbuster Online. They have a tremendous amount of movie and television tiles and always have the newest releases. I usually received my movies in one business day. They also allow you to turn in your movies at local Blockbuster stores and give you free in store movie rental coupons every month. Their site is easy to navigate, and they also offer a trial period at a reduced fee. I took advantage of this offer to try them out.

The second company Netflix has just about everything put on DVD available for rental and all the new releases. One unique option they have is instant viewing online, and they are adding new titles to this service every month. I usually get my movies in one to two days. They also recently announced they will be offering a new service to play movies directly to people’s televisions at home through the Internet in the near future. Their site also has easy navigation and they also have the American Film Institute all time movie list which is great for movie buffs.

In summary look around at all the plans available, and do not sign up for an annual plan. Avoid Intelliflix at all cost. Both Blockbuster and Netflix are great companies, but in the end I stayed with Blockbuster simply because of their speed in sending me movies.

Christmas is just around the horizon, and like every year it will come with a full stocking of games that will have players of all ages counting the days until the holiday season. While some titles like Halo: Reach will be out in September, and other titles like Rockstar’s Max Payne 3 won’t arrive until the New Year, there are some excellent titles that should hit the shelves just in time to make the perfect gift.

Call of Duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360, PS3)
The ongoing series returns with both a single player campaign set in the Cold War and new multiplayer modes. For the first time the franchise will have an offline multiplayer bot mode called Combat Training, where you can practice and groom your skills before you go online. A wager mode will also be introduced where you can bet Call of Duty points on matches, the top three finishers splitting the winnings. All new weapons customizations have been implemented as well. You can turn your targeting reticule into a smiley face, and stick custom decals onto your weapon. Tier 1 perks will allow you to customize your player to give him a unique look.

Fable III (Xbox 360)
Peter Molyneux is often mocked in the gaming community for his notion that in Fable you can do anything, but to realistic gamers this is seen more as a mantra the game strives for rather than a literal fact. Real innovation happens slowly and incrementally, and Fable has always been about trying out new ideas. In Fable III, Molyneux hopes to remove some of the clunkiness of traditional RPGs by eliminating many of the menu functions and relying on the game universe to alter your weapons and clothing. While the Fable series has never been as good as Bioware titles in letting choice affect the main narrative, Fable III has always been more of a sandbox game than a true RPG, and it’s those features that have customers waiting for its release

Fallout: New Vegas (Xbox 360, PS3)
Set three years after the events of Fallout 3, the bright lights and desert wastelands should add a perfect backdrop for this post-apocalyptic odyssey. The game is being developed by the good folks at Obsidian Entertainment, many of whom worked for Black Isle Studios on the original Fallout game and sequel. The setting should add a little more life to drab, vapid brown landscape of Fallout 3, while still maintaining much of the jazzy charm, mutant tussles, and life-altering decisions that makes Bethesda one of the leading publishers of open world gaming.

Keep comfortable while playing with the i-eX Gaming Chair.

As a father of 3 kids that are avid gamers for 10 years now I could not tell you how many games that we have bought and hated only to resell on ebay or craigslist to recoup the cost. In early 2009 after we purchased the Wii console system we decided to give Gamefly a try as we had been seeing the TV commercials for quite some time. And we have not cancelled our membership since.

All those years paying $50 for a game from walmart or target or best buy only to play it once and not like it and not able to return it. Video Game Rentals Delivered. Start for only $8.95. We currently have a PS2 and a Wii console system that we rent games from Gamefly for. There have been times that we have kept a game for a day and their have been times that we have kept a game for a couple of months. We have even kept a game or 2 or 3 which Gamefly makes really easy to do as they will just charge your credit card on file and you just keep it. I really wish that we had started with Gamefly years ago. With a choice of more than 7,000 titles, GameFly delivers the widest selection and availability of games for the Playstation 3, Playstation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox, Wii, GameCube, Nintendo DS and GameBoy Advance without the hassle of due dates or late fees. You can’t really beat that.

I suggest taking advantage of the free trial. You can even trade in games and get , what I think is an honest trade value. Register for GameFly™ GameFly offers four different membership plans 2-Game Plan ( most popular plan) – Two games out at a time $22.95/month + applicable tax 1-Game Plan – One game out at a time $15.95/month + applicable tax 3-Game Plan (requires an active account in good standing for at least 60 days) – Three games out at a time $29.95/month + applicable tax 4-Game Plan (requires an active account in good standing for at least 60 days) – Four games out at a time $36.95/month + applicable tax And they do not charge any shipping, its all included. We take advantage of 2 games out at a time as we just have the 2 little kids left at home. It’s great if they don’t like the game we return it and a few days later we get another. And if you have a son like mine in which he will play a game that he likes until he beats it, you can keep it out until he beats it then get another. We have kept a few games from them as some games you can really play over and over and not get tired.

Another benefit to Gamefly are the GameFly Rewards program, the longer you’re a GameFly member, the more Rewards I automatically receive. I earn benefits for every 3 consecutive months that I rent from GameFly, including GameFly Dollars and percent-off discounts that I can use to save on Buys and Keeps of used games. The Benefits: Level 1: 5 GameFly Dollars Level 2: 5 GameFly Dollars and 5% off used game purchases Level 3: 5 GameFly Dollars and 10% off used game purchases Another important aspect of Gamefly is that they do not hold their members responsible for a game that has been lost or delayed in the mail. They do request to wait at least seven shipping days before reporting any type of a shipping problem. If they have not received a game and it’s more than seven days after the Ship Date or if I haven’t received an email confirming their receipt of a game I returned more than seven days prior, you go to Report A Shipping Problem and select Game never arrived or GameFly never received my return. They’ll note in your account that the game has been lost in the mail.

The only real bummer is that the games do not come with instructions, but that has not been a problem with us as they post the game controls on their website and if you buy a game they will send the booklet to you. Honestly what are you waiting for? Just click and give it a try ! Video Game Rentals Delivered. Start for only $8.95.

The world of a video games tester is different than most people think. Most video game testers do not sit at home on their couch and get paid to play video games. This is a real job, and like most other jobs you are required to report to the job location, work your scheduled shift, and produce results. There are however some unique duties and obligations that make a video game testing jobs different than most people imagine them to be.

It is important to clarify that video game tester jobs are very important. No gaming company in their right mind would attempt to market a video game knowing it was full of problems or “bugs”. It would ruin them financially as well tarnishing their reputation for product quality in the very competitive video gaming marketplace.  As a video games tester, your primary job is to find and report on gaming “bugs” so that they can be fixed before the game is released to the public consumers.

Now you would think that given this responsibility of ensuring the quality of video games before they are released to the public would mean video game testers would be highly paid. Unfortunately this is not the case, however the low starting pay does not mean there is no variety in the types of game testers jobs.

Being a video games tester does imply that you do get paid to play video games, however often not in the way you might imagine. Most of us get confused by terms “game beta testing” and actual “game testers jobs”. It is very important to realize that beta testing of games is generally done by volunteers, playing the full version of the game just prior to its release to the customer, sometimes playing at home, and for free.  Notice the words “for free” and “volunteers”, in other words you are not being paid to test out the game. This is a totally different set of job conditions as those experienced by most paid video game testers.

If you are actually interested the side of the gaming industry where you get paid to play video games, and not the beta testing, then the kinds of duties and responsibilities you would perform as a new video games tester may include:

repetitive tasks such as turning the gaming device on and off multiple times to ensure it works after extend periods of use playing and replaying the same level in the game numerous times to check for any glitches, freezes or other “bugs” in the game level testing out the controller pads for durability and ease of operation checking out in-game communications such as instant messaging features looking for missing graphics in the game animation, character flaws, etc. providing detailed reports on any problems that you find during your testing not sharing information about your testing with anyone outside your workplace under the penalty of instant firing and possible criminal charges.

Depending on your level of testing expertise, you may never get to test out the full version of the game and sometimes get stuck having to test out the early versions of the video game, minus any graphics or video clips.  Nothing is said that you will even get to game test the types of video games you happen to enjoy playing.

As with any job, once you become more experienced and demonstrate good skills as a video games tester, the odds will increase that you will be given more demanding and interesting game testers jobs.  At this point you may also be given some choice in the types of games that you wish to test depending on the company product line.

Clearly there appears to be many misconceptions out there about what a video games tester actually does, the amount they get paid, and even the types of personal qualities you need to be a successful game tester. Hopefully this article has helped to clarify some of the misinformation about video game tester jobs.

Everyone loves a new gadget, and digital gifts for Valentine’s day are fun ideas for something a little different this time around. gadgets are becoming an ever larger part of our everyday lives, and we use them for communication, entertainment, information and more in our increasingly hi-tech world. Thus a tech gift or two may be just the thing for your loved one this Valentine’s Day.

You will no doubt already know what they are into when it comes to gadgets, and thus accessories for their favourite pieces of personal tech may well be the perfect Valentine’s Day gift ideas. How about some new headphones for a much loved MP3 player? What about a cool USB turntable for transforming their fondly remembered vinyl albums onto their PC or Mac?

Other ideas for great tech gifts for Valentine’s Day could include games titles for the Wii, Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, FM transmitters for using mp3 players in the car, ebook readers and more. It’s really all a case of being aware of just what your partner has a genuine interest in and being able to find suitable gifts that can further enhance their enjoyment. What about games accessories such as the Wii light gun or a new edition of a particular game controller? There are other options on the market which are able to easily enhance your loved one’s gaming fun.

gadgets are becoming an increasingly important part of the lives we lead, and this Valentine’s day is an ideal excuse to get your loved one to update their gadgets by adding new models of an old favourite or trying out something altogether new. Along with the usual personal entertainment devices, there are a number of sporting and hobby choices too, allowing everyone to find that ideal present this Valentine’s day.

In addition, now’s an ideal time to discover these presents online for your special someone as a great many of the best tech gifts are currently available at superb discount prices. Purchasing gadgets and accessories as gifts for your partner for Valentine’s Day this year is a superb way to show that you think about them along with being a great way to show them you acknowledge their hobbies and interests along with the way they live out their life.

After all, there needs to be a good level of acceptance in any relationship. Gadgets and related accessories make for wonderful gifts as you know full well they will be used and appreciated again and again. The very best Valentine’s Day Gifts are those that take each partner into consideration, so that everyone has a shot at that happy ending.

OK, well maybe that’s an exaggeration – but it sure saved Mom’s cash! Video game rental is the single best way to try video games before you buy. Just like movie rentals, video games are available to rent from many or most movie rental companies, along with some game stores and online as well. The big problem with renting form a local store, though, is that they rarely have a good selection, and it can be very expensive.

Online video game rental is the ultimate in convenience and cost savings. Video game rental means you don’t have to buy a game for $30 or more, but you can try games before buying to make sure it’s a game you want to keep.

As a parent, online video game rental was a godsend. Our gamer at home was about 6 years old at the time we bought the GameCube. We had no idea about content of games or which games were any good, video game rental was a great way to go. I wanted to make sure I could view games before I let my son play them. I wanted to make sure they weren’t to violent, or moronic, or frightening.

It turned out to be a great decision! They had an incredible selection of games, we had so many to choose from. We also saved money over the local store because we paid no late fees or shipping; we were able to just send back the games that were really bad. But best of all, we earned credits toward buying, and if we found a game we liked, we just keep it and they send us the box and inserts, with free shipping. One game we bought retails for $50, but we “kept” it for $27 with credits and discounts – a really great deal all around! With another game, he played and completed all levels in just 3 days – definitely not one we’d have been happy to buy.

Now my son has a Nintendo DS in additional to the GameCube, and we’re thinking of getting the Nintendo Wii. Our service has all the games for every platform – it’s easy to put them in our “queue” and when we return one, the next one is sent out.

Online video game rental has been a wonderful service for us, and it can be a great deal if you want to try out games before buying and see if they’re worth keeping. Many online video rental companies offer a free trial – it’s worth it to see if it is right for you.

I have been gaming since the original atari came out and have owned almost every console out since nes,64,ps1 and the ps2. I never owned the xbox since the ps2 was so good (my personal experience). I took the plunge and tried the 360 when it came out since the PS3 Consoles was being delayed. Well I recently purchased a ps3 and was unfortunately disappointed that I ended up returning it. My first issue being that I was a early adopter of the HDTV movement since I have had my HDTV for about 6 years now.

But the problem lies with the fact that back then hdmi was a pipe dream. Well up to this point every hdtv product I have purchased would output at 1080i over component except for the PS3 Consoles. If I play a game that is 720p which is not compatible with my tv it down resolutions the picture quality to 480p which is what my ps2 already outputs. Now my 360 does the opposite it upconverts the 720p games to 1080i which is compatible with my tv. I loved the look of the PS3 Consoles unit its self and the fact that it plays bluerays but it again down rez’s the picture to 480p because it’s over component.

This seems to get over looked in alot of reviews and since it is a big neagative for me there may be others that need to know this information as well. I hear people say, oh buy a new tv and I personally think it not a smart investment to replace a 64 inch tv that has a great picture, still better than most the new sets for a gaming console. I have to admit that I am more of a 360 lover at this point which is sad because I loved my ps2 so much. I have to admit that after using the 360 GUI agianst the PS3 Consoles GUI, I prefer the 360.

I don’t like that xbox live is not free like the PS3 Consoles online but I don’t do alot of online gaming anyway so I wait to find the xbox live 13 month cards for $29. Maybe someday sony will make this work better or my tv will die and I will have a good reason to replace it, I might try the PS3 Consoles again but right now for my situation it is not the best console and if u don’t have a hdmi connection u may have the same issues.

PS3 Consoles

I have owned the PS3 Consoles for about a year now along with the Wii and Xbox360 and consider it a very good purchase. I originaly bought it for Blu-Ray and also purchased a Samsung 40″ 1080p LCD for the PS3 Consoles. I have noticed since watching alot of Bu-Ray movies over the last 4 months that majority of the movies I watch look more like upscale DVD’s. I also noticed from certian production companys like Disney for example tend to make good Blu-Ray movies.Also from news I have heard from multiple sites is that Blu-Ray is expected to last till 2012. For the gaming aspect everything is great.

The Online gaming capibilities tend to get better as time goes on. The controller’s battery life does not last that long. Also I thought I would note this down, my boss at work also has the 80g PS3 Consoles and has had issues such as frezzing and not recongizing discs to where he was not able to play games. He had to send it in twice and had a horrible time with customer service. I had my PS3 Consoles freeze once but it has been good to me since. I still consider the PS3 Consoles a good buy.