Unblock Me

This game is a beautiful waste of time. If you favourite pastime is to dig through wooden logs, trying to find a way out for the red brick that finds itself all lost in the woods, this one is for you. As you can tell by the name, Unblock Me, for iOS is where you have to find a way out for the red brick. For Android, this game is called Mouse Trap which makes more sense because in Mouse Trap, it’s a tiny, clueless mouse that you have to help in finding the mouse hole, not some stupid red brick. This game is for the geeks. Truly.

Greedy Spiders

Greedy Spider is where the black widow spiders get really greedy and entrap poor and stupid little bugs in their web. Now it is your job, as the player to try and find a way to rescue these bugs and save them from being consumed by greedy spiders. It’s like any other chess game but with better graphics. Spider and the player take turns to make their move, as the spider(s) inches closer. It may not sound as tough with this one is a bummer. To be honest, I have not gotten past err level 21 and that’ unflattering.

Jenga

Jenga is your good old fashioned block building game where you have to stack a pile of logs, adding more storeys without bringing down the house. It’s an easy to play game with fairly simple interface. However, this game does have one problem. In its description, the writer says that this game was a favourite pastime for children. For children? Are you kidding me? Because if you’re not, it is pretty embarrassing that the tallest structure I ever constructed had only 21 storeys. Seriously.

So there you have it, my top 3 smartphone brain games. For those of you, who think I am not very smart, I just want to say that I am having a bad day and that is a very bad excuse for being stupid. Oh okay, all right! I will say one thing that these games really stumped me. If you’ve been led into feeling the same way by some other game then feel free to share your embarrassment with me. After all, I did too.

Playing Sudoku is really entertaining and enjoyable. It is an interesting, brain stimulating game. However, playing this game is not easy and if you are a beginner, you will find it very difficult to win. This complicated game requires you to use logical reasoning and thinking skills to solve the puzzle and it is a great exercise for your brain. Here are some ways with which you can easily master Sudoku.

Start with the easiest level

There are different levels of Sudoku. If are a beginner, it is better to start with the easiest level and then move on to the more complicated ones. If you win an easier game, it will encourage you to move further to the next level. On the other hand, starting with the difficult level in the beginning will leave you frustrated.

Play Sudoku online or on mobile

Although Sudoku first became popular when it was published in newspapers but now the wide popularity of Sudoku games on the internet and as mobile applications has really increased the number of fans. Playing on paper is very frustrating and difficult as compared to playing online. If you are a beginner, the idea to fiddle with numbers on paper and keep erasing them until you get the pattern right, is itself really frustrating. If you play online or on mobile, you don’t need to use an eraser to erase the number on your puzzle; it simply requires you to press the clear button.

Be patient

If you are thinking you would win in your first try, you are wrong. To win Sudoku and be a master in this game, you need to reason and think a lot as well as exercise patience. Be patient and solve the puzzle meticulously. After you solve it, go through it with vigilance to spot any duplicates and be ready for a re-do.

Popular Games

One of the prime reasons as to why Sony PlayStation 2 always was a mark above the rest was because of the popular games it released for its console. It won’t be wrong to assume that in PlayStation 2’s success, many games had a role to play. These games include and not limited to the Resident Evil series, Command and Conquer and Tomb Raider etc. Sony PlayStation 2 provided an unbelievable playing experience for all of these and other games that gamers just had to get their hands on the console. This resulted in PlayStation 2 grabbing 154.4 million worldwide sales, making it the best selling console in the history of games.

Competition (or the lack of it)

Now while Sony has never had the fortunate to operate in a market free of competition but it won’t be wrong to say that when the company came out with its PlayStation 2, it literally bulldozed all of its competition. Nintendo and many other manufacturers which have been in competition with Sony for a long time could not combat with the company any longer when the Japanese giant came forth with its PlayStation 2 which became a mega hit amongst all kinds of gamers across the globe.

This, amongst many other reasons, is how and why Sony PlayStation 2 remains the best consoles of our times.

According to several rumours, an early release of Wii U came in context with the ever dropping profits of the company. The release of new consoles is closely linked with the company’s policy to give a boost to its sales. Nintendo’s decision, not surprisingly, has come in the same context where perplexed by the future of consoles, the company is dealing with the fear of gaming consoles becoming a thing of the past. Amongst many its competitors, Nintendo finds itself in direct competition with all the smartphones and tablets, which have grown to become the latest craze.

To fight off the charm that is held by tablets, Nintendo’s new Wii U console is rumoured to feature a hand held controller which is akin to tablets, with a built-in screen. The company which, according to stats, expects a total annual loss of $575 million has decided to go into the battle of its survival with all of its big guns. Although the news regarding its Wii U is only expected to be released at sometime in May this year but according to rumours, Wii U will be twice as powerful as its predecessor. Whatever the future might hold for Nintendo’s Wii U, one thing is for sure that online gaming has kind of erased the need of gaming consoles.

There are many universities, which are offering traditional BSc degrees in games development and designing but none of it as part of their distant learning programme. Keeping the increasing trend of games in mind, now universities are offering online BSc (Hons) degrees. This bold step will further enhance the games development and a new era of games will soon be started.

Even though many people are sceptical about the future of online degree in games development, however, the fact is that your portfolio matters the most and if you are able to come up with impressive samples then you will be the adequate job candidate regardless of your degree. If you think that you are an extreme gamer and want to take your talent, expertise and imagination beyond the game play then online games development degree could be quite beneficial for you.

In recent few years, games sector has grown at a fast pace and its monetary value has also increased in a dramatic way. Gaming sector is now considered one of the biggest job producing industries, which is why an online degree in games development has presented itself as a worthy option for distant learners.

Enrolling for an Online Degree

First, you will need to find a university, which offers accredited online degree in games designing and development. Accreditation ensures that the university meets proper standards and is recognized. If you are taking an online course for the first time, then you should familiarize yourself with how it works. Different programs conduct their studies and classes in their own way. Some offer synchronous classes while others have asynchronous learning opportunities. All you have to do is to choose what is best for you.

As a distant learner, it is important to have self-discipline and determination so that you are able to submit assignments on time. In order to achieve that, you can dedicate a separate area for your study and schedule a particular time to study regularly.

Course Outline

The online degree in games development and designing is meant for students who want to be programme games as well as are able to work outside the gaming industry. Keeping this point in view, the course merges the technical aspects of game programming and artificial intelligence with organizational and project management principles with quality assurance. Other topics related to games such as creative designs, character animation, level design and storytelling are also covered as part of the programme.

The duration of the degree is three years. Roughly, the degree comprises of Game Design, Game Development, Mobile Computing, Software Development and Software Engineering. During first year, the focus is on game play, which includes the study of character creation, narrative, issues related to hardware, games genres, business and social context of games development. In sophomore year, the focus is shifted on 2D games programming and mobile communication.

In final year, 3D-games programming techniques and work with games engines are taught to students.  Additionally the learners also have to choose some extra specialization courses and then after final project, the online degree will be completed.

The online degree offers an equal learning opportunity for all. Learners who were unable to attend regular varsities would now be able to take this course, just like many other programmes.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Almost all of the gamers must have played call of duty but Modern Warfare 3 is surly a refined and improved game with completely new experience and graphics. It can be played on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Modern Warfare has adopted latest technologies to ensure the highest quality of graphics with in depth detail of everything. The game is quite complex and completely new player will take time to understand full controls. The game is developed after experimenting on real time warfare. The player will be playing role of a soldier fighting infantry fight, driving through dangerous routes, dropping supplies through aircrafts and much more. This is a must play game for every gamer.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is the latest installment in the Elder of Scrolls Series. The player is thrown out to fantasy land in northernmost country in the very middle of the earth. The developers have created a superb fantasy land where dragons are flying and other monstrous creature are dwelling. This is a full adventure game which keeps the player alert at all times while fighting with beastly creatures.

Dark Souls

This Christmas no game like Dark Souls is released. This game is full of crumbling clock towers, knights in tarnished armors and ferocious fights. The player is literally spell bound by the game really feels like he have travelled times and now in medieval age where skeletons are patrolling and ice giants are gate keepers. Player has to collect souls of the enemies he kills as a currency and once killed himself all currency is lost. This game really challenges the player and no newbie can easily play this game. To succeed in this game the gamer had to have guts.

All these games will add thrill, adventure in your cold Christmas celebrations and warm you up for next year.

The plot of the game is also adrenaline packed, as the player will be in shoes of the hero Jack who is in heavy debt of underground mafia. He is also declared as most wanted person by police, which makes him in troublesome situation as he have to run from mafia lords, police and other crooks. To pay all his debts and settle matters with police, he needs a lot of money. In order to get money, jack participates in an illegal off-the-grid race worth $25 million across the country from San Francisco to New York.

This is the first time that NFS has used real locations like Denver, Los Vegas, Detroit, New York, San Francisco and much more. The player races through different kinds of terrains and types of races. There are races through dense urban traffic, sloppy icy mountains, narrow and breathtaking canyons where racers race at breakneck speeds and even a second’s mistake can make them loss their lives, cars and off course race.

Need for Speed: The Run is powered by Frostbite 2 engine, which makes it the first non-shooter game. Graphics, visuals and car physics of this game are extremely high and the player is meant to feel what it is like to race under great pressure in real world. This game has employed a large number of real world vehicles including racer cars, muscle cares, exotic cars and street race cars.

This is the first time in NFS history that players are allowed to travel on foot, attack, sprint, run and jump in certain situations and missions. Game has also included three exclusive cars, Lamborghini Aventador, Porsche 911 Carrera S and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Racing and sports cars’ enthusiasts are eager for the arrival of this game, as people just cannot wait to get their hands on Need for Speed: The Run.

While the game held its charm for most fans for a long time but a few really disappointed parts prove to be a kill joy even for the most ardent fans. The release of The Dark Angel back in the early 2000s was no less than an excruciating experience for the lovers of the game which completely buried the whole theme of the game. With the release of Legend however, developers were successful in lassoing Lara Croft back to the ruins and out of the corporate buildings, elevators and offices.

Crystal Dynamics was really able to inject ecstasy in the veins of fans of Classic Tomb Raider with the release of Anniversary. The stellar graphics and the too good to be true game play made it an almost addictive adventure. This not only rejuvenated some of its previous glory but also gave the fans some new hopes for the upcoming parts.

But as ill luck would have it, Underworld popped the bubble as it completely failed to live up to the expectations of the fans. The trailers released for the upcoming Tomb Raider seems promising enough and it has been successful in rekindling the fire amongst the stirred fans already. The game is scheduled to be released in the third quarter of 2012 which is a long way but the very idea of seeing a much younger version of Lara Croft, lost and bewildered is enough to keep the gamers hooked.

The question arises here is if the franchise will be able to meet the expectations of the fans and regain its lost glory? We will have to wait and see.

As it is a known fact that in the days of recession, the crime rate around the world surges. The recent statistics however show a decline in the crime rate over the last two years. There has been a talk relating reduction in crime to playing violent video games. The idea has been supported by the notion that violent video games have been able to channel the frustration in the youth and other to be criminals. As the new video games not only involve the players into themselves but also have a lot of fire power to gust out the aggression. This may make things easier for the violent game video makers, which usually face a lot of public criticism for the ever-increasing violence in their newer released versions.

The flip side of the coin is the struggles that concerned circles of society are making to ensure that violent games are not sold to minors. In U.S, California’s governor Arnold Schwarzenegger attempted to stop the sale of the violent video games to minors by signing a law back in 2005. The attempt had been unsuccessful because of the opposition met by the case from the video game industry. The law was abolished as an infringement on the law of free speech. It was also argued then that a rating system based on the violence of the games and some other key characteristics was already put in place so there was no need to put additional measures on that.

The decision of the court was appealed against but the court retained the original decision of the first court. At last the state has gone to the Supreme Court which has decided a hearing of the case in spite of already made court decisions. The video game markers are sceptical about the hearing as they fear that the decision might turn against them because they think that if court had been satisfied by already made decisions it wouldn’t have asked for another hearing.

The BSc degree in computer games development aims the students who want to be gaming programmers but also need sufficient grounding to work outside the games industry. That’s why the course adopts software engineering to games development and combines the technical aspects of games programming and artificial intelligence with project management principles, organizational management and quality assurance. Other topics related to games such as creative designs, animation and storytelling are also covered as part of the program.

The course is roughly compromised of 5 computing programme themes such as Game Design, Mobile Computing, Game Development, Software Engineering and Software Development.  The degree comprise of 3 years of duration time divided in three parts. In 1^st year the course mainly focuses on games and game play. The content also include the study of character creation, games genres, narrative, issues related to hardware, social and business context of games development. In the 2^nd year, the course starts its focus on 2D games programming and mobile communication studies. It also includes project management and software engineering.

In third and final year, the students are taught 3D games programming techniques and work with games engines. Students will additionally have to choose two more courses such as Software Systems Development, Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Software Applications and Architectures, etc. In nutshell, it can be stated that this new level of gamming could make the games more enhanced and sophisticated then ever.