Galactic Civilizations II: Game of the Year

Special edition covers the dread war between galaxies of this award winning strategy game series / ESRB Rating E10 Everyone 10+
Customer Review: Brilliant turn based game that brings back the good-old-days
I used to really enjoy playing an old (DOS Era) turn based space conquest game called Stellar Conquest III. The best thing about that game was the ability to modify ships to any configuration you liked. You could easily make any sort of ship from massively slow base defender loaded down with weapons, to a scout ship, to freighter, etc. Aside from Alpha Centauri, I'd never found another game that captured that same level of freedom and creativity in designing a fleet. Until Galactic Civilizations I came along, and now its sequel, Galactic Civilizations II, which has taken the design process to a whole new level. I'll admit I'm a micro manager in turn based strategy games. I like tweaking things. I like to make sure everything is optimal. But I know that many people don't like the tediousness of maintaining every little thing. That's where this game excels: you can either customize endlessly, or play using presets that enable you to get right into the game and commanding your empire. The game is versatile enough to please a micro manager or a big picture player. The graphics are adequate. They are not eye-candy, but they are pleasing enough, and like most turn based strategy games, I'm not playing GC II because the visuals knock my socks off. Gameplay is excellent. If you play any of the Civilizations games (the Sid Meirs games like CIV IV, CIV IV WARLORDS), you will feel right at home. Camera controls are intuitive and once learned become seamless. You'll forget what you're doing as you pan around and check out your empire. Overall this is a great game, one that I am enjoying, and one that happily does not include any malicious DRM schemes. It's well worth buying on its own merits, but even more so considering it's makers are not treating me and the rest of the gaming community like a pack of thieves. If you like turn based strategy in a space setting, this is a perfect choice. Highly recommended.
Customer Review: An excellent 4x Space Strategy game
Galactic Civilization 2 is a great example of a 4x ("eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate") space strategy game. Masters of Orion is an old series with a similar feel. If you have played Civilization, GalCiv2 plays very similarly with planets in space as the only buildable area for 'cities', then other anomalies allow for other environment upgrades. GalCiv2 is a very complex game, and does not have much of a tutorial to help new players. The basic concept can be hard to learn initially, but is well worth the investment. For anyone familiar with turn-based strategy, it is not too different from the previously mentioned games, and can be picked up pretty quickly. Internet guides and FAQs will also help teach advanced techniques. There is also extensive help available through their official forums. New content, in the form of two expansions, have greatly lengthened the life of an already excellent game. Stardock shows themselves to be a great company who really work for their customers. I recommend using their Impulse service in conjunction with this game. You should be able to enter the CDKey directly in and download it without needing to put the CD in the drive (I have done this for the Non-Game of the Year edition and the Ultimate Edition). I recommend the Ultimate Edition over the standard, since it includes the two Expansion Packs, but if the price difference is too great the standard version of Galactic Civilization 2 is well worth giving a try.

It was a few weeks ago when a lone nutcase bought a few guns and killed 32 people in one of the worst massacres in U.S. history at Virginia Tech. So far, there have only been a few mumblings here and there that the media is to blame in all of this, most predominately by Dr. Phil. He accuses the videogame industry of being somehow complicit in this one crazed gunman's actions, which is obviously unfounded and ridiculous. But there are always congressmen in office who are otherwise ineffectual in getting anything done to stop guns from getting in the hands of mental patients, who go on tirades against the entertainment community when something like this happens.

Thankfully, most people are waking up and seeing that mental psychosis is responsible for these crazy people's actions, not the latest Rob Zombie horrorfest. The movie studios for the most part capitulated to congress' need for a better system of screening out hard "R" rated movies that are unsuitable to kids under 18 years old. They now force i.d.'s to be shown at all ticket windows to allow teenagers to buy tickets to r-rated movies. Now that another massacre has occurred, they might be encouraged to force even stricter guidelines on r-rated movies.

The Federal Trade Commission regulates video game ratings, and is the watchdog for the movie industry, making sure that r-rated flix are not seen or bought on dvd by kids under 18 years old. The FTC chairman, Deborah Platt Majores states "The latest FTC report shows improvement, but also that the entertainment industry has more work to do." The FTC conducted a research group whereby they sent a variety of children into a retail store to buy r-rated dvds. Eighty-one percent of kids 16 and younger were able to buy R-rated movies in 2003, and that number dropped just 10 percentage points to 71 percent in 2006.

Based on these statistics, and in light of the shootings at Virginia Tech, there is reason to believe that retail video chains like Blockbuster will be in the headlights of watchdog groups like the FTC to make sure movies like "Hostel" and "The Devil's Rejects" do not get into the hands of 12-year-olds.

Hopefully, a massacre like Virginia Tech will never happen again, and R-rated movies should be given the freedom to grow as a genre so movies like "The 300" can be made for the vast movie-going audience's never ending appetite for extreme, well made action.

Rob Mead has written many articles about internet marketing and how to create and find great website content that will increase your web site's traffic overnight. Go to http://www.perfectwebcontent.com and you will be able to use all of the web site's resources and articles in your quest for internet success.

videogame music

Nintendo 64 System - Video Game Console

Nintendo first dabbled in video games during the industry's early years of the mid-'70s. Generations of successful gaming console releases through the years led to the much-hyped 1996 launch of Nintendo 64, a system that represented a giant evolutionary leap in video game technology. Within the first three days of launch, hundreds of thousands of gamers hunkered down with Mario 64, considered by many to be one of the greatest video games ever created. Even today, the system's excellent design continues to host an ever-expanding library of breakthrough games.

Nintendo 64's popularity among younger gamers is no surprise. Well-respected games featuring such long-lived and much-loved personalities as Mario (of arcade classic Donkey Kong fame), Zelda, and Banjo-Kazooie are easy to learn and offer enormous replay value. But times are a' changin' and the system's ever-growing library of titles has expanded into every genre of games imaginable, including games better suited for older gamers. In fact, some of the most acclaimed--in some cases, groundbreaking--games available on any platform today are packed onto N64's old-school cartridges.

Under the system's hood, its appeal to the young certainly didn't produce a less mature gaming machine. On the contrary, the 64-bit system boasts impressive graphics, stereo sound, and numerous accessory enhancements, including a high-resolution pack that boosts graphics to awe-inspiring resolutions.

Start your library with Goldeneye 007, Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, and Star Wars: Episode One Racer--these titles represent a decent start to any N64 cartridge library.

With the recent launch of Sega's Dreamcast system, Nintendo 64 is being left behind as the leader in video game technology. And with newer game systems featuring CD-based games, the system's expensive cartridge format is proving itself an archaic and unconventional storage format. But, at a sub-$110 recommended retail price for a console with two controllers, innovative accessory enhancements and a great library of games keep the system's rabid fan base satisfied, if not eager for Nintendo's next evolutionary step. --Eric Twelker
Customer Review: very poor
the seller sent the 64 a month later with no plugs and no controllers so i never got to play. i sent it back. i am a faithful buyer at amazon and this is the first disappointment of trust. i am scared to order here again.
Customer Review: Nintendo 64: One of the Best Systems Ever Made, Now Discontinued
The Nintendo 64 had a small, yet a great library of games, including the best-selling The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This console had the best-looking kiosk in retail stores. But when the Gamecube came out in 2001, that, unfortunately, marked the end of the Nintendo 64. Nintendo published very few games for this system after the Gamecube came out. The last game that was published for this system was Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, which, if you're lucky, you can still find that game new today at retailers. I hate it when video game companies discontinue consoles because they released a new one. Look at computer manufacturers like Dell. Sure they make new computers, but you can still buy older models from them (not too old like a 486 computer, though... =D). Unfortunately, video game companies, even today, have failed to recognize this.

According to a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, about 58% of adults in the US experience insomnia or some form of sleeping difficulties. Respondents to the poll also believe that their lack of restful sleep significantly affects their work performance, their relationship with others, motor skills and ability to avoid accidents, and even their health. Research studies actually show that sleep deprivation can speed up aging, slow down metabolism and even increase a person's risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious illnesses.

If you are having difficulty staying or falling asleep, waking up too early, or feeling sluggish after you wake up, then you are probably suffering from some form of insomnia. You really do not have to worry too much if you are just experiencing short bouts of sleep problems or deprivation because of some trivial reasons. There is a big chance that your body can deal with a few days of lack of restful sleep. However, having chronic insomnia is another matter. If not having a good night's sleep is becoming the norm in your life, you have to do something about your problem now or suffer the consequences in the future.

Here are some tips that are effective in improving your snoozing time:

Hit The Bed When You Feel Tired

If you feel sleepy and tired, your mind and body are signaling that they need some time to rest and recover from a very busy schedule or strenuous activity. Take advantage of these moments to get even a 30-minute nap. As much as possible, do not fight your urge to sleep because if you do, you might find it more difficult to fall asleep as your mind and body will be in an extended active mode. On the contrary, if you don't feel like sleeping yet, do not go to bed and stare at the ceiling or force yourself to sleep. Instead, go out of your bedroom, do some stretching or other relaxing exercises and hit the bed when your mind and body are both ready to snooze.

Exercise During The Evening

Majority of those with sedentary lives are suffering from insomnia. If you spend too much time watching television or playing games on your computer or videogame consoles before your bedtime, your mind will stay active until the wee hours of the morning. Thus, it would be helpful if you exercise during the evening, just a few hours before you sleep. After a strenuous activity, you will feel tired in a couple of hours and have a bigger chance of getting deep and uninterrupted slumber time.

Follow A Routine

If you train your body to rest at ten o'clock every night and wake up at seven or eight the following morning, you will see that this will come naturally to you even during the weekends. However, if you suddenly change your routine and sleep late on Friday or Saturday nights, your body clock will go haywire and it will take some time before you can get the rhythm back. If you are the kind of person who is having difficulty sleeping, it is advisable for you to stick to your routine for a while and avoid breaking your sleeping schedule.

Stay Away From Caffeine After Mid-day

A glass of iced tea, cup of coffee or can of soda taken during dinner can actually affect your sleeping pattern. As much as possible, you need to stop yourself from indulging in caffeine-rich beverages or foods after lunchtime.

There are also some sleeping aids in the market that are effective in helping you sleep soundly at night. Aside from following the tips enumerated above, you can also take supplements that promote better sleep. Just make sure that what you pick is all natural and safe. One product that is guaranteed safe and effective is Somulin. Visit http:///www.somulin.com/ for more details.

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

Transformers the Game

Control the outcome in the battle for Earth this summer with Transformers, the official game of the blockbuster film. Protect the earth as Autobots or destroy it as Decepticons as you lead the Transformers in the epic battle for control of planet Earth! Make a choice: Protect Earth as Autobots or destroy it as Decepticons. With dual campaigns, the fate of the world is in your hands.
Customer Review: This game is absolutely awful...
so to be honest i could care less about transformers... no offense to those who are into that whole scene but when i bought my ps3 (recently) this game was included and i thought... "hmmm, this could be pretty cool i bet" - hah! now that's a joke... this game is absolutely worthless, and i'm upset because at the moment it's the only one i'm stuck with. i can't wait to trade it in for store credit so i can get something else. I have serious trouble completeing challenges because of the awful controls and the annoying camera. and even if i did beat the level im stuck at now i doubt i would play any further because the missions and fighting are stupid anyhow... you get to chase these guys around town while endless numbers of busses and cars get in your way (which fly away like cardboard when you hit them, not even a scratch shows, not to mention you can't even run over the pedestrians... they just magically avoid your vehicle... LAME), and when you finally get to fight another robot you have 1 attack button that does the same stupid combo over and over. This game was obviously rushed and gave me about 2 minutes worth of satisfaction because a) i just got a ps3 & b) blowing up the buildings and transforming was fun for 1 of those 2 minutes, the other minute was fun because i ended up playing Zelda PH for my DS when i realized i was wasting my time with such a terrible ps3 game... to those who have accidentally (or purposefully) encountered this game i feel your pain!
Customer Review: Does not live up to expectations
I grew up watching the original series and ended up loving the most recent movie. But, I have to say, this game was one major disappointment. While I wasn't expecting this game to be a God of War or a Ratchet and Clank, I was expecting some quality and some degree of good gameplay. Instead, I got the feeling that this game was designed with 10 year olds in mind. The missions are fairly generic with seemingly little variation and become boring quite quickly which isn't made any better by the fairly small size of the maps. The AI for the bad guys is pretty weak, quite predictable and easily figured out during "big" boss battles. Sad to say, the parts of the game I found most exciting was transforming and unlocking extras like artwork. Suffice to say, playing as some of my childhood favorites was certainly not worth the $60 this game cost.

According to a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, about 58% of adults in the US experience insomnia or some form of sleeping difficulties. Respondents to the poll also believe that their lack of restful sleep significantly affects their work performance, their relationship with others, motor skills and ability to avoid accidents, and even their health. Research studies actually show that sleep deprivation can speed up aging, slow down metabolism and even increase a person's risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious illnesses.

If you are having difficulty staying or falling asleep, waking up too early, or feeling sluggish after you wake up, then you are probably suffering from some form of insomnia. You really do not have to worry too much if you are just experiencing short bouts of sleep problems or deprivation because of some trivial reasons. There is a big chance that your body can deal with a few days of lack of restful sleep. However, having chronic insomnia is another matter. If not having a good night's sleep is becoming the norm in your life, you have to do something about your problem now or suffer the consequences in the future.

Here are some tips that are effective in improving your snoozing time:

Hit The Bed When You Feel Tired

If you feel sleepy and tired, your mind and body are signaling that they need some time to rest and recover from a very busy schedule or strenuous activity. Take advantage of these moments to get even a 30-minute nap. As much as possible, do not fight your urge to sleep because if you do, you might find it more difficult to fall asleep as your mind and body will be in an extended active mode. On the contrary, if you don't feel like sleeping yet, do not go to bed and stare at the ceiling or force yourself to sleep. Instead, go out of your bedroom, do some stretching or other relaxing exercises and hit the bed when your mind and body are both ready to snooze.

Exercise During The Evening

Majority of those with sedentary lives are suffering from insomnia. If you spend too much time watching television or playing games on your computer or videogame consoles before your bedtime, your mind will stay active until the wee hours of the morning. Thus, it would be helpful if you exercise during the evening, just a few hours before you sleep. After a strenuous activity, you will feel tired in a couple of hours and have a bigger chance of getting deep and uninterrupted slumber time.

Follow A Routine

If you train your body to rest at ten o'clock every night and wake up at seven or eight the following morning, you will see that this will come naturally to you even during the weekends. However, if you suddenly change your routine and sleep late on Friday or Saturday nights, your body clock will go haywire and it will take some time before you can get the rhythm back. If you are the kind of person who is having difficulty sleeping, it is advisable for you to stick to your routine for a while and avoid breaking your sleeping schedule.

Stay Away From Caffeine After Mid-day

A glass of iced tea, cup of coffee or can of soda taken during dinner can actually affect your sleeping pattern. As much as possible, you need to stop yourself from indulging in caffeine-rich beverages or foods after lunchtime.

There are also some sleeping aids in the market that are effective in helping you sleep soundly at night. Aside from following the tips enumerated above, you can also take supplements that promote better sleep. Just make sure that what you pick is all natural and safe. One product that is guaranteed safe and effective is Somulin. Visit http:///www.somulin.com/ for more details.

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

videogame

Super Nintendo NES System - Video Game Console

80s kids were sure that video games couldnt get better than the NES. Then the 90s happened and the Super Nintendo hit the scene. With 8 more bits, 4 more buttons and no more cartridges blowing, the Super Nintendo set the standard for 16-bit gaming. For 10 years, the SNES was king. Even as 32-bit systems tried to steal the show, the Super Nintendo proved that gaming genius was about more than technology: it's just about fun. Remind yourself how much fun the SNES is. This refurbished SNES console is guaranteed to work upon arrival or weâTMll send you another one. It comes bundled with 1 controller and hookups. .
Customer Review: It's fun, but...
I prefer the original NES system than this one. I remember getting the SNES for Christmas when it was the latest in the world of gaming. However, the games that are made for it are pretty fun, but I suppose I am an "old school" type of person. Although, the graphics for the SNES are a bit more superior when compared to the NES.
Customer Review: this brings back great memories!
I used to have a playstation when I was younger and now my kids are little and love video games. I always thought playstation 2 was the best! Especially Super Mario Brothers! I started looking around trying to find one and I buy almost everything on Amazon so I started here! I saw that this company, Pella Dvd's was selling playstation 2 video game consoles, a bit pricey, but the games we already had from years ago still worked, and none of them are violent like so many are today. The first one they sent me stopped working after 2 days, so I contacted Brian at Pella DVD and he had me send it back, he even reimbursed my postage! He shipped another one out to me and we got it in just a couple of days. This one works great, the people are nice and easy to deal with, and responded to every email I sent within just minutes, it seemed. I will definitely do business with this company again. My kids love this game system!

Im 26 years old and I had to have my first colonoscopy done a few months back. My grandmother had and lost her battle against colon cancer. Of course this made me scared of what they may find but I found the American Cancer Society website useful to help calm down my nerves.

The only thing that you should really dread, if any, is the prep process. The prep time consists of drinking medicines that will help clean out your system. Of course you will not be able to have anything to eat or drink that is solid or has any type of flavor, unless you like broth and jell-o as long as it is not red. You will then spend pretty much all day in the bathroom. While I was prepping I came up with a few ideas to help make the prep time more productive.

Make sure you bring in a book or magazine, move your TV into your bathroom if you have space, use your laptop to play games on the internet or instant message your friends and see if they can guess what you are doing, play a hand-held videogame, if you are a female, paint your toe/ finger nails and wax/ shave your legs and one thing you need to always remember is to MAKE SURE YOU TAKE YOUR PHONE INTO THE BATHROOM. You never know when the moment will hit when you have to go. After all, it always seems that people call you whenever you are in the bathroom. I hope this will help you with making the prep time a bit easier to deal with.

For information on colonoscopies or to help you better understand the process and learn more about the procedure visit.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_Frequent_Questions_About_Colonoscopy_and_Sigmoidoscopy.asp?sitearea=

xbox 360 videogames

Ultimate Puzzle Games: Sudoku Edition for Nintendo DS

All Sudoku games are not alike. Play an unlimited number of puzzlesvirtually an infinite number of puzzles, thanks to an internal algorithm that randomly generates millions of puzzles. Choose from 4 grid layouts to play with the touch screen and your stylus. Features multiple difficulty selections, 10 background choices, on screen "how to play" instructions and wireless play with either 1 or 2 game cards.
Customer Review: THE BEST, I LOVE IT!!
The Ultimate Puzzle Games - Sudoku Edition is the best Sudoku software I have tried. It has many choices for puzzles: the Classic 9 x 9 grid with Easy, Medium, Hard and Extreme levels of difficulty. It offers also the Eight 8 x 8 or Mini 6 x 6 grid with Easy and Medium levels. Has also a Junior grid which is a 4 x 4 with an Easy level. It offers from the very basic, beginner level to the extreme hard puzzles. If you get interrupted and cannot finish the game, YOU CAN SAVE IT if for later by pressing the START button on the DS console. A Menu opens offering a Game sub-menu with choices for Restart Puzzle, Solve Puzzle or Quit. Next is the Options sub-menu with the choices for SAVE, Reset Best Time, Music, ERROR HIGHLIGHT, Background and How to Play. Besides this, when playing the game you have on the screen icons that allow you to pencil-in or erase candidates, erase entries, undo last move or redo last move. I have played the Sudokus that come with the BRAIN AGE games and prefer the ones from the Ultimate Puzzle Games Sudoku Edition. The BRAIN AGE software frequently has trouble recognizing the numbers I am trying to pencil-in or enter, showing a 9 when I am trying to enter a 4, a 1 instead of a 7, and so on. It is quite annoying. With the Ultimate Puzzle Games Sudoku Edition I DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM, the numbers are tapped in, they are not "written" by hand. Also, the BRAIN AGE Sudokus do not offer the different kinds of Sudoku puzzles the Ultimate Puzzles Sudoku Edition offers, nor do they have the unlimited number of puzzles this software can create. The Ultimate Puzzle Games Sudoku Edition software is the one I prefer and I highly recommend it as the best.
Customer Review: Great Sudoku Game
This is a great game. It was well protected for shipping. This game alowes you to place small numbers in the blank squares to help you solve the puzzle. This is a feature usually found only in the expensive puzzles.I would highly recommend both the game and the company. The name of the game was; Ultimate Puzzle Games: Sudoku Edition for Nintendo DS.

Video game consoles are getting popular today because of the technology and the features when compared to that of the PC games. Initial video game console came with a cassette like circuit where you need to insert them into the consoles main box. Then games came into PC that was more fascinating than that of the ordinary video game because of its graphics and a variety of games available under different programming languages. Now, it has reached the next level like the Xbox or PlayStation, etc. The reason to this is some drawbacks in playing games in a PC in certain aspects. One of the major drawbacks is the graphics as PC requires special graphic cards to play certain games.

Microsoft's Xbox

Xbox is one such advanced gaming console available today in the market. Xbox is a product of Microsoft who themselves have developed the hardware for the console. We are all aware that, Microsoft is well known leader in writing program code. Xbox 360 is the latest product in videogame console released in the year 2005.

Design

Xbox 360 hardware was developed by Microsoft Corporation with Microsoft's own program codes running on each and every component. It mainly consist of two processors namely the central processing unit (CPU) and the graphical processing unit (GPU). The console boxes consist of a power ring around which LEDs light will be glowing in green or red. The heat sinks are fixed firmly to the microprocessor by means of two X clamp beneath the motherboard. The added feature in Xbox 360 is the CD-ROM where you can add new games to the console where you like playing them. The storage space in this console also has been increased when compared to that of the previous version of console.

Design Failure

Since its introduction into the market many Xbox 360 users have complained about the red light error in their console. In any kind of consoles, it has some inbuilt setups to caution the users about the status of the console. Likewise, Xbox has the lights around the power ring to indicate these errors and also will display the cause of failure on the screen with some error number.

Error E74

Most of the users complain about a particular error called E74. This error results in glowing of three red lights in the power ring area. This problem is commonly known among gamers as 'THE RED RING OF DEATH' or RRoD. This error might lead to the death of the motherboard if the problem was not properly fixed. The cause for this error is the overheating of the console.

How To Fix

This can be fixed by removing the X clamps in the motherboard. The heat sinks do not provide enough air supply to the processors and the heated air is not properly removed from that area causing the processors to fail.

Repairing of console can be done in two ways. One by sending the console to Microsoft service station or by repairing by own. If you have the warranty, then the repair is done at free of cost. But, if the warranty period is over then you have to pay for the repair which will cost you more.

The simple solution for this problem is that you can repair the console by your own. There are some video tutorials in the internet using which you can fix your Xbox in just one hour. The repair work is pretty simple and I myself have done the repair work in my Xbox 360. These videos will tell you how to remove the X clamps from the motherboard and how to fix them back without the clamps.

Xbox 360 Video Tutorials - Fix Your Xbox in just One Hour From Now

Repair your Xbox 360 by watching some of the online videos and fix your Xbox 360 now. You can fix your Xbox in just one hour from now and start playing the games again. Save over $100 and also the valuable play time. Just by using your household tools you can fix your Xbox and its very simple to do. Just give me ten minutes and I will show you how to fix your Xbox now. Visit http://www.squidoo.com/xboxredlightfix to Fix your Xbox 360 now.

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Game Boy Advance SP Pearl Blue

The GBA SP is as small as a PDA and more portable than the original GBA. Take your portable gaming to the next dimension with this futuristic new game system! Color - Pearl Blue
Customer Review: Not for seniors
I wanted a simple 'puzzle' handheld game that didn't involve rapid finger and thumb movement because I'm simply too old for kid's games. This is a kid's game and nothing I read in advance prepared me for that. Apparently all the reviews are written by youngsters who love to wail at the keys before losing to a relentless clock. The game console (used) arrived in excellent condition but it was just a shell. NO included games, NO instructions. I ordered two games (Tetris, Mario Bros) which also came without instructions. Eventually I figured out what was needed but, again, not what I wanted. I've asked the kids selling Wii, PS2 & 3, etc., and none seemed to understand I wanted puzzle or adventure games - NOT action games requiring manual dexterity, so they didn't know what I should buy. I'm afraid the days of King's Quest and Liesure Suit Larry are gone forever, or at least anyone that knows about such things are nowhere to be found. Guess I'll go watch some TV...
Customer Review: Great game
Game has been handed down from my 7yr old to my 5yr old and still gets a lot of play.

Okay, so that's a stupid question. Or at least it may initially sound like one. In terms of publication and distribution, and their dependency on advertisements, comics are clearly magazines by definition. Which would then make graphic novels compiled magazines... which they are clearly (I hope) not.

But the fact is that "comic book" is a dirty term in the art world. And though the work of people such as Daniel Clowes, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and too many other fine writers to mention, has done much to remedy this, the comic is still looked upon with disdain. Libraries and schools live in fear of the day that little Timmy is lured in by the colourful pictures of his first graphic novel, and vows never to read another novel again. Which is stupid, of course; the majority of those who read graphic novels are also literature lovers.

And then there are the critics. Bookworms and concerned parents feared that their beloved tomes would become obsolete with the dawn of television. Only almost a century after its conception was cinema embraced as a valuable art form. The videogames, a medium still in its infancy, is currently being subjected to the same media prejudice that faced the feel good movies of the 1920s. But whereas devotees and aficionados are willing to discuss the videogame medium, and argue as to whether it qualifies as high art, the same question is rarely focused on comics. This could be that, since the comic medium's maturity in the late sixties through to the mid-eighties, comics have been critically appreciated in a new, if not particularly bright, light.

Weary media lecturers will bore their students about the potential of "sequential art," but these academics rarely raise interest in anything other than the obvious award-winning "worthy" choices - Maus, Persepolis and the works of Scott McCloud, Harvey Pekar and Robert Crumb. All great starting points, of course, but any who dares to mention superhero books in such lessons will likely receive only scornful glares. Perhaps this is because comics, for the most part, share the shelves with that most unfairly treated of literary genres: Science Fiction and Fantasy. Works such as The Sandman, Watchmen, Strangers in Paradise and Cerebus the Aardvark are too often viewed as little more than fantastical nonsense for preoccupied adolescents. And as long as their creators continue to be imaginative and original, striving to push the boundaries of contemporary fiction, this is unlikely to change.

A friend told me not long ago that he'd read everything ever written by Alan Moore, but refused to read a graphic novel by any other author. I find it baffling that one could get so much enjoyment from the comic book medium yet have no desire to take that interest further. I wanted to tell him to read something else. Write him a list of recommendations, even.

But instead I kept my mouth shut. His loss, I figured.

Carl Doherty created http://www.holycr4p.com/ under supervision of his doctor, who conceived the criticism and categorisation of every film that Carl watches as a way of tackling his obsessive compulsive disorder. He has now watched 23 films, and is not entirely sure he liked any of them. Carl currently resides in Southend-on-Sea where he shares an abandoned warehouse with a buffy-tufted marmoset named Tautilus Samson. Together they have all sorts of adventures.

Read more of Carl's comic, graphic novel, and film related features and reviews, as well as more on Are Comics Books? at http://www.holycr4p.com/

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Mushroom Age [Game Download]

Customer Review: Offensive
I bought this innocent looking game for my 7 year old. We did the trial first and the graphics are great and he thought it looked very fun. We bought it and continued playing. This game is very offensive. First of all, in one of the games the player must massage a practically naked man (socrates) while he says Ohh and Ahh... Then there was another spot where there was a curse words in it "dam_" both written and spoken. Also, there is a ridiculus game where player must put pictures in "evolution" order - which is a theory, but treated as fact in this game. (IMO, it is a false theory at that!) Anyway, we stopped playing the game and I am contacting the company. This game is not appropriate for kids and should be rated Teen at the very least, and even at that - is quite strange.
Customer Review: One of the best hide-n-seek game.
This is one of the best hide-n-seek games I have played. There is also a variety of other types games to play as well. I fine that the charaters are very fun and amusing. There are many levels to this game so it takes a while to get through it. I have played it several times and it's still a blast.

According to a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, about 58% of adults in the US experience insomnia or some form of sleeping difficulties. Respondents to the poll also believe that their lack of restful sleep significantly affects their work performance, their relationship with others, motor skills and ability to avoid accidents, and even their health. Research studies actually show that sleep deprivation can speed up aging, slow down metabolism and even increase a person's risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious illnesses.

If you are having difficulty staying or falling asleep, waking up too early, or feeling sluggish after you wake up, then you are probably suffering from some form of insomnia. You really do not have to worry too much if you are just experiencing short bouts of sleep problems or deprivation because of some trivial reasons. There is a big chance that your body can deal with a few days of lack of restful sleep. However, having chronic insomnia is another matter. If not having a good night's sleep is becoming the norm in your life, you have to do something about your problem now or suffer the consequences in the future.

Here are some tips that are effective in improving your snoozing time:

Hit The Bed When You Feel Tired

If you feel sleepy and tired, your mind and body are signaling that they need some time to rest and recover from a very busy schedule or strenuous activity. Take advantage of these moments to get even a 30-minute nap. As much as possible, do not fight your urge to sleep because if you do, you might find it more difficult to fall asleep as your mind and body will be in an extended active mode. On the contrary, if you don't feel like sleeping yet, do not go to bed and stare at the ceiling or force yourself to sleep. Instead, go out of your bedroom, do some stretching or other relaxing exercises and hit the bed when your mind and body are both ready to snooze.

Exercise During The Evening

Majority of those with sedentary lives are suffering from insomnia. If you spend too much time watching television or playing games on your computer or videogame consoles before your bedtime, your mind will stay active until the wee hours of the morning. Thus, it would be helpful if you exercise during the evening, just a few hours before you sleep. After a strenuous activity, you will feel tired in a couple of hours and have a bigger chance of getting deep and uninterrupted slumber time.

Follow A Routine

If you train your body to rest at ten o'clock every night and wake up at seven or eight the following morning, you will see that this will come naturally to you even during the weekends. However, if you suddenly change your routine and sleep late on Friday or Saturday nights, your body clock will go haywire and it will take some time before you can get the rhythm back. If you are the kind of person who is having difficulty sleeping, it is advisable for you to stick to your routine for a while and avoid breaking your sleeping schedule.

Stay Away From Caffeine After Mid-day

A glass of iced tea, cup of coffee or can of soda taken during dinner can actually affect your sleeping pattern. As much as possible, you need to stop yourself from indulging in caffeine-rich beverages or foods after lunchtime.

There are also some sleeping aids in the market that are effective in helping you sleep soundly at night. Aside from following the tips enumerated above, you can also take supplements that promote better sleep. Just make sure that what you pick is all natural and safe. One product that is guaranteed safe and effective is Somulin. Visit http:///www.somulin.com/ for more details.

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

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