Latest Articles by city_tiger

Achieving realism with PC and console games

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Playing a computer or PC game that immerses the player into its folds is an experience that gamers talk about for years. People still talk about Legend of Zelda for the original Nintendo System and there was nothing remotely realistic about it but the storyline and world was immense and sprawling.

We want to do more than just control a character and have a world and story force fed to us. We want to control the world, make the world. We have a need to grow within the confined of the game. Point A to point B just does not cut the mustard anymore we want to explore and interact.

How do software companies create games that are this immense? How can they possibly hope to achieve a semblance of realism in their PC and console games? There are several factors that, once they all are put together, can create a game that is perfect in all things.

The writers of games have a very ominous task. They have to weave a story that just isn’t good, but fantastic. The story has to be able to be understood as well as be full. There can be no holes in it and the plot has to be tight. Characters have to be properly represented. There is nothing that cannot be written in the world of PC or Console games.

Combing tremendous sound with the story, chiefly voice acting, really adds the sense of real people doing and saying real things – if the acting is good of course. Other sound effects like guns firing, doors opening and closing and any type of psychologically damaging auditory effects are all gold. The game, The Suffering, is a great example of sound effects that could be mind warping. Clive Barker’s “Jericho” and “F.E.A.R” are also top shelf examples.

Games today pride themselves on great graphics. The ability to create the most realistic, visually enticing world possible is one of, if not the most important, goals of game publishers today. If the game is set in the present time then New York should look like New York – as it is. If the game is in the past, say medieval Europe then there better well be castles and they better look like castles. The only time graphics should differ from the period in which the game takes place is if the storyline dictates it.

The final thing to look at to consider that grand achievement of realism in any game is how you, the player, interact with it. Of course you have the standard controller butt hat only goes so far. Enter gaming pistols, power gloves, dance mats and anything even remotely connected to the Wii. Heck, you even have musical instruments now. But can you FEEL the game? In the past – no, but now you can.

The gaming vest, a state of the art peripheral currently for the PC, allows you to feel certain games including Medal of Honor Airborne and F.E.A.R Platinum. The vest, resembling military style, is worn and stuffed with packs that get filled with rapid air to give the feeling of gun shots, punches, kicks and other moves. Combine graphics, sound, feedback controller and a gaming vest to Clive Barker’s Jericho on the PC spells awesomeness for any gamer wanted to be truly immersed in a game.

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To discover how you can add the ultimate realism to your PC games please visit Gaming Vests

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Making PC Gaming More True to Life

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

If you are anything like I am (and I bet you are) then you are a gaming junkie. Otherwise you would not be reading this, now would you? No, I’m not a psychic (nor have I ever played one on TV) but being like me you are interested in experience what it means to enjoy true lifelike gaming. As gamers we appreciate all that the programmers and publishers bring to us.

We do because they actually take the time to listen to us. We created the gaming culture and we are the ones that these companies are constantly sounding off to about gaming. What do we want to see? How do we want the new Halo game to play? What do you not like about this, that or the other controller? Companies that take our advice get publishing gold, those that do not wind up with Rumble Roses X. Nobody knows more about game than gamers.

If you think making these games seem more real or lifelike is some easy chore then you are sorely mistaken. It takes a lot of time, effort, money and a great many artists and designers to achieve something as lifelike gaming. These groups of creative individuals have been putting together tremendous storylines with beautiful graphics to put together some very engrossing games that draw us into them, making our subconscious minds pop and whir with anticipation.

There are very few games that can say they really got a gamer to immerse themselves into so fully as the makers of Majestic-12, a conspiracy puzzle game that would e-mail, call and fax you clues from whispered voices - awesome and creepy all at the same time.

Forget about games looking more real or stories being so engrossing they draw you into the storyline. There comes a time when a game has to evolve beyond visually appealing graphic or rich auditory cues. Moving away from the programming side of things the only thing that is left are peripherals.

Nintendo brought us one of the original light guns, the power glove and the power mat. These represented more advanced ways to play a game and immerse ourselves into it. Nintendo kept this ideal with the Wii making the entire system interactive. Harmonix gave us Rock Band and Guitar Hero so now we have microphone, drums and guitars. No matter how much more real games look they do not feel as real as they could and making games feel more real is what any game company should strive to do.

So how do you make a game FEEL real? The Gaming Vest, that is how. It is a technology fresher than your first wash of the week. The gaming vest closely resembles the type of thing that military and police wear that is loaded with empty sacks waiting to be filled with rapid air to give the ultimate feeling of being punched, kicked, stabbed, shot or even feel the G-Forces of your favorite air battle game.

Lifelike gaming is here people. The realism is surreal as you are running around in Unreal Tournament or Call of Duty getting shot at and feeling every strike. Nothing like the Wii and, unfortunately, the gaming vest is currently only available for use on PCs with a conversion kit forthcoming to use on your console.

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To discover how you can add the ultimate realism to your PC games please visit How Gaming Vests Work

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

PC Gaming Vests: Redifining Gaming Realism

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The video game culture began many years ago. I remember playing pong until my eyes bled (well, not bled – but I did eye drops afterward because they were so dry) and playing Pitfall for what seemed like an eternity only to never win and, like a fool, it was not until I aged beyond by 12 years, that I realized it was an endless loop. I could have played more pong at that rate. In otherwise: gaming is addicting.

Over the past decade or so the games have evolved into something much more than rectangle paddles and square balls. The realistic nature of the games that we play is such that can borderline on scary. We cannot, however, seem to get enough. It does not matter if we are blowing space aliens from Mars in DOOM into tiny pieces or fighting the Nazi’s in France while playing Call of Duty or pretending to be Mario Andretti flying down the Monaco Speedway. Games have become so realistic that we are made to feel as though we are in the game and not merely just playing them.

As a gamer I can honestly say that has been one thing missing. Realism. Sure – I have been talking about realistic things like graphics being realistic and characters being realistic. Even large worlds created by programmers for people like us to play around in are sort of realistic.

But realism, ah – that is the real holy grail of gaming. to make a player TRULY feel they are in the game. Virtual Reality gave us the visual idea that we were in the game and surround sound makes us hear the game from every direction. We become immersed in the game but never truly feel it. That dream is upon us now and I am rejoicing at the mere thought of it!

Move over power glove. Get shoved out of the way dance mat! Get ready to be crushed under foot vibrating controllers because the Gaming Vest is here and the gaming community is finally going to have what it has been craving: Realism!

The gaming vests are force feedback nylon vests that resemble those worn by military personnel to carry gear, ammo and other sundries (they even come in camo for your war game nuts out there). The gaming vest is available for PC gaming right now but no fear console gamers because they were working hard to bring the PC Gaming Vest to the consoles!

Shameless plug deployed now it is time for facts. Fact 1 was covered. They look like military vests. As cool as that is that is just a visual taste and though we gamers love to look cool in our living rooms it is not the bread and butter of the gaming vest. Fact 2 is more intriguing because these vests have pockets (imagine a hiking vest circa 1982 but not as visible).

These pockets contain little bags that are filled rapidly with air from a compressor. And you may be wondering what on Earth that is all about. Well, the deal with that is simple. During your gameplay whenever you are struck IN game you are struck OUT of game.

The bags fill rapidly with air as a bullet, punch or kick is struck. Several fill up and pulse to simulate G-Force from a jet or speeding a sports car. The bags create pressure so you can feel the strikes in the game. You are in the center of realism now, kids and doesn’t it look pretty sweet?

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To find out more about adding more realism to your videos games please visit What are Gaming Vests?

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Top 10 Video Games for Realism

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Realism is our friend. None of us can help loving a game that is so awesomely put together that is makes us feel and believe with every fiber in our bones that we are literally living it.

You can have all of the cool graphics and sound effects but if you can add light guns, swords and shields, dance mats and now even a peripheral called a PC Gaming Vest that offers you an entirely new experience in gaming where games like DOOM, Crysis and F.E.A.R will allow you to FEEL the games impact from bullets, kicks, punches and other force feedback things. But what games are the most realistic?

#10: It is no real surprise that a racing game would be on the list. I personally do not find them interesting but that does not discount the fact that they are realistic. Grand Turismo 4 is probably the most realistic of the racing games. The tracks and cities are to scale and the cars perform to industry standards including drag, speed and aftermarket upgrading.

#9: The Sims may not look or sound realistic and that is painfully obvious, but what realism it does offer is in the psychology - in the sense that you are creating a person who interact with others on a personal basis.

#8: I have to admit that Rock Band is a guilty pleasure. It is a wonderful game especially if you enjoy all kinds of music. You and your friends get together and jam the night away on the instruments provided. Point of fact is that the harder levels of the game is, according to the publisher, the same as playing the songs on real instruments.

#7: Assassin’s Creed is one of the best games on the market in my opinion. The people walking around the streets are rendered perfectly, fight scenes are seamless and accurate to physics and the landscapes are beautifully depicted.

#6: F.E.A.R is paranormal intrigue at its best. You are an agent ordered to rescue hostages but find, instead, poltergeists! The buildings are utterly realistic and the word perfectly to scale. The storyline is positively gripping.

#5: Half-Life 2 was a game of the year nominee along with its predecessor. Aliens and disease spell a very yummy combination.

#4: HALO is one of those game series that comes around once in a generation that gets so much world wide fame and notoriety and for good reason because it is great. An enriching storyline wrapped around an expansive world.

#3: Clive Barker’s Jericho, a surreal horror story, is a game that scare the pants off of you if you. Turn down the lights and just play it. The surreal backgrounds and vast landscapes coupled with eerie scenarios and music make this a game that rivals that of Silent Hill.

#2: The Medal of Honor games are the choice of warfare players everywhere but none have captivated the realism like that of Medal of Honor: Airborne. It is a visually breathtaking game with factually inspired scenarios.

#1: Call of Duty has long been one of the most realistic games ever made. Modern Warfare is the 4th installment of the game offering intense action in a modern world where you get to utilize current machines of war and where current politics play a part.

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To find out which games are compatible with the revolutionary forcewear vest visit Gaming Vests Compatibility

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Upgrading Your PC for Gaming

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Being a gamer is more than just going out to the Wal-Mart or shopping on eBay to pick up a new game and sliding it into the CD drawer of your desktop. Sure, you can do that and dawdle along the gaming plains for a bit until you get bored and move on to something new. That is barely a hobby gamer. True gamers realize that gaming is, in fact, a lifestyle choice, a culture. It is nearly generation specific, beginning in the 80’s with the advent of true video game classic like Pong, Pac-Man and Pitfall.

The games that you play have an intricate role in how you will upgrade your computer for gaming. The games that you are playing now as well as those being released in the future need to be kept in your mind when going to upgrade the system you are using.

Online gaming needs differ from the needs of those playing simulation and so on. Games like Clive Barker’s Jericho or F.E.A.R have more requirements than The Sims or Indy 500 Racing. Keeping your computer’s maximum upgrade potential in mind goes a long way in knowing what games you will be able to play in the coming months and years.

Your processor is the undeniable workhorse of your computer system. The processor makes all of your games work as well as they do. Such things like how much data runs from point A to point B and how smooth your game will run under heavy gameplay will be determined by the processor. Most games will run perfectly fine on your standard Pentium and AMD chipsets. Dual processors have the added bonus of processing multiple strings of information at the same time without overheating. I prefer the AMD Athlon Dual Processor.

Games are, without a doubt, memory hogs. Being able to save data to your systems cache memory is important to keep your games moving smoothly. The more memory that you have translates into being able to resend the information that the software program uses during the course of the game back to the computer quickly and easily.

Memory also pushes the graphic processor to make the graphics smooth and crisp with minimal pixilation. The amount of memory you need is up to you. The majority of games today will not run on 512k very well. One gig of memory is a great starting ground for most games, however two gig would be much safer.

I love a crisp sound to my games and I love hearing dialogue without having to resort to subtitles. I’m fairly certain you are the same way. Most computers will run fine with the stock sound card but who wants that?

I personally love the full richness of the sound that is produced from a real sound card. Soundblaster has always had some of the best sound cards on the market and should never be overlooked because it will give the game that deep sound that the developers fully intended.

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To buy the most realistic PC gaming accessory visit Buy Gaming Vest

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Forex Foreign Exchange Spreads

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Forex trading is one of the most popular and fastest growing financial trading opportunities. Exchange rates for currencies in the forex market are quoted as 'bid/ask' rates. The difference between the purchase (ask) and the sale (bid) rates is called the 'spread'. Forex spread is one of the most important single parameter to make the difference between a successful and losing trading.

Forex spread is expressed in percentage in point (pip) which is the smallest measure of price move. For example, if the currency pair EUR/USD is trading at 1.3000 and then changes to 1.3020, the pair is said to move by 20 pips. A pip in most currencies is 1/10,000 of an exchange rate, but in USD/JPY, it is 1/100.

The bid/offer spread is the difference between the buying (bid) and selling (offer) price. The ask price is the immediate execution prices for quick buyers or traders and bid price is for quick sellers.

In forex market brokers generally do not charge any commission from you. But they get their money by charging you a spread. As the spread is the difference between the bid price and the ask price for any currency being traded, the broker adds this spread onto the price of the trade and keep it as their fee for service.

Therefore, for you, lower the pips and spreads, higher the forex profits. If the spread is big, you have to pay more when you buy and get less when you sell. Forex spread is charged only on one side of the transaction, usually on the "buy" side of the trades. So, as a forex trader your aim should be to buy low and sale high.

If the quote between EUR/USD is said to be 1.2222/5, the spread equals 3 pips (5-2). Although it seems to be small, forex spread difference of one pip can make significant difference in your profit. You may find the difference to be as high as 25% on your trading costs.

Therefore, we advise you to choose a low spread forex broker. Most brokers offer different spreads for different currencies. For the most popular currency pairs like the EUR/USD or GBP/USD, you get the lowest spreads, while less popular currencies are traded with higher spreads.

The forex trade can also vary with the type of your account and volume of trades. But there are brokers who offer same spread to all accounts and any trade volume. You can even opt for fixed foreign exchange spread, but they are generally higher than floating spreads.

It should always be remembered that spread is the difference between bid prices and ask prices as determined by the free market and therefore can never be guaranteed. Spreads are generally tighter when there is good market liquidity but it widens as liquidity goes down. Find a forex broker, who is honest and transparent with the operations. Make sure there is no hidden spread and the execution is fast and accurate.

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To find out more about trading with currencies online visit Forex Foreign Exchange Spreads

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Forex Indicator Software Training

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Forex indicator software training programs are designed to facilitate individual traders and investors in learning the indicator software for using them effectively.

The training software ideally should be available in different levels, for beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners. An experienced conventional forex trader may not have strong computer skill as well. The software, therefore, should have the ease of operation and user friendly instructions.

If you subscribe to some technical indicator software, the vendor may offer you the training material for free. One particular software may have several indicators with detailed instruction on how to use them.

The training material should have step by step installation guide, basic operations, Frequently asked questions (FAQ), back-up support, and many such interactive features, through which you can develop a fair idea of the operations.

The software as well as the training program for forex indicator should work effectively in almost all platforms like Windows 2000/XP/2003/Media Center/Vista etc.

A professional forex indicator training software may also have trading simulator, which allows to make trades using history data, develop and test trading strategies, and check the performance of each and every trading indicators individually.

Through a forex indicator trading software you can acquire and improve necessary professional trading skills based on the technical indicator of your choice.

A good forex technical indicator training software combines traditional technical indicators with state-of-the-art neural network and genetic algorithm technologies to create a full-proof, effective trading models. It should be dynamic, interactive, and innovative method of providing traders with the most comprehensive training in forex technical indicators.

The visual representation of the data derived by the technical indicator is extremely important. The forex indicator training software should clearly explain the parameters with 2-dimensional or 3-dimension charts and graphs, so that you can relate the results to the indicators while making actual trading.

Most of the economic indicators have a marked effect on the forex trading market. Some of them are released weekly, while others are released monthly or quarterly. In advanced forex technical indicator software, common indicators are improvised with new technology.

As all the trading indicators are based on mathematics and computation, one may think learning them is pretty difficult. But this is quite wrong. All you need to learn is to understand the logic on basis of which these technical indicators are developed. Then you can interpret the indicator in your own way to apply it in your trading.

One must remember, buying a forex indicator software and the training material can never ensure your success in trading.

You should have the patience and zeal to learn the software with the help of the training material offered and apply them judiciously and not by following them blindly. Sound knowledge proves to be the key for a successful forex trading with technical indicators.

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To start becoming a better trader visit Forex Indicator Software Training

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Automated Execution Forex System Trading

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The concept of automated execution forex trading is quite revolutionary. It enables you to execute the trade automatically and anytime during the day, based on existing technical indicators and custom trading rules. There are many features of automated execution, which are extremely helpful for a busy trader. No human can ever match the level of efficiency of an automated execution forex trading system.

Unlike the human trader, automated forex execution system does not have any physical limitations on the number of markets and trading opportunities. Moreover, these software-based systems are free of basic human emotions like fear and greed. The automated forex trading system executes your trades faster and more efficiently than any human. Once your order is filled, it automatically places them for you.

Automatic execution for forex system trading takes care of automatic trailing stops, especially if the trader is losing in a particular trade position. It also acts as account equity management software. With automatic execution, you can place multiple stop or limit orders. You can also place discretionary market orders.

Once your order is sent, the execution software monitors the market until your order is actually filled, and lets you know with an alert. You can also have the advantage of partial fill. The biggest advantage is, however, you can explore various technical analysis indicators for finding a trend following system.

Automated execution of forex system trading supports multiple technical indicators like weighted moving average, exponential moving average, vertical horizontal filter, standard deviation, etc. Automated execution based forex trading is able to perform or execute trades in real time. Because of the automation, a trade can be closed within few milliseconds, which can never happen with manual trading.

Automated execution of forex trading system also offers greater diversification. You can now trade in various local as well as international markets within varying time zones without being physically present. You can place more trades on a single day, thus increasing the average volume of trades per day.

Most of the automated execution forex trading systems are easy to operate. Instructions are presented in lucid languages, so that you can understand the trading rules and use them easily. You can automate any trading strategy including multiple conditional entries and exits, profit targets, protective stops, trailing stops, etc.

With automated execution forex system trading, the evaluation of exchange rates and market conditions can be done within a few minutes, as forex data are updated in real time. Automated trade execution lets you apply the power of an algorithm based trading system.

The systems are extensively back tested. So if you wish to diversify from your own trading style, or want a better risk management control, a forex trading system with automated execution is just right for you.

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Learn more about Trading Forex by visiting Automated Execution Forex System Trading

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Process of Currency Trading

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The existing foreign exchange, forex, or currency trading market is worth of nearly $2 trillion of transaction daily. This is, unquestionably, the largest and most lucrative financial market to lure any investor.

The processes of currency exchange to take place, a robust, proven, and efficient infrastructure is required that will rapidly process the huge volume of orders, receipts, and carry away all other assorted computational tasks. There are innumerable types of parameter working together and influencing the global trading process.

The logistics behind modern currency exchange has evolved over several centuries and mostly driven by a series of conventions. Thanks to advances in modern technology, the process of exchanging currency has progressed from a slow, cumbersome, paper-based effort into a dynamic, computer-driven marketplace. It has opened up to the small and medium level investors with increasing potential and complexities.

There are approximately 164 different global currencies that are traded. The majority of transactions involve a small subset of this group. The most popular are USD (United States dollar); EUR (European Union euro); GBP (Great Britain pound); and JPY (Japanese yen). The global market is virtual and open round the clock.

Most trades take place on cash market, where prices are quoted in “pips,” which is the last significant decimal of the given exchange rate. Because the number of decimal places varies by currency, knowing the typical exchange rates for major currencies can help in avoiding confusion. An exchange rate of 1.1582 is quoted either as 82 for small figures or as 15 for large figures.

The two types of trades on the cash market are the spot market and the forward market. In spot trades, the transactions are considered to be immediate, as it must close within 2 days after the trade is matched. In the forward market, the transaction closes any time beyond 2 days. It can be several months but you must remember that the longer the close, the greater the risk of a currency fluctuation.

One extremely important concept for the process of currency trading is the bid and the quote prices. Bid is the price offered by a buyer. Quote or ask or offer is a price placed by a seller. The difference between these two prices is known as the spread, and it is quoted in pips.

When the buyer and seller agree on the transaction, a trade is executed, and currencies are exchanged. This exchange not a physical one but involves a series of accounting entries made by the two parties, which is recorded as the new positions.

Every process of currency trading involves two elements: buying one currency; and simultaneously selling another currency. So it is buying cheap and selling dearer that ensures a profit.

So you will have to consider the constantly fluctuating exchange rates to book a profit. But never underestimate the potential of a risk management feature that can save you from losing your investment in the process of currency trading.

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To find out more about trading Forex please visit The Process of Currency Trading

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

$1000 Managed Forex Account

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

A managed forex account offers freedom and flexibility to its clients. If you start a $1000 managed forex account, it indirectly provides a risk management support. Like any other managed forex account, you can utilize diverse trading strategies and can adopt stringent money management practices. This account ensures that you earn regularly with long-term capital growth.

In most cases, when you open a $1000 managed forex account with some trader or broker, they use a software based on an algorithm, for example, percent allocation management module, which distributes gains, losses and fees on an equal percentage basis. So even if your seed amount is only $1000, you enjoy the same percentage of returns like any other accounts.

In lot allocation management module, however, different trade lots are assigned to different accounts. As a result, you may receive a leverage that suits your need. The broker will deduct a profit share periodically in return of their service. Some may charge a small commission if they offer benefit of a smaller fixed spread for trades they make.

In a $1000 managed account, your investments are taken care of by experienced traders. If you do not have the expertise to invest in forex trading, they take care of your money so that you earn profit. You will have complete access to your account either through an online report viewer or the trading platform.

Here you can view the account, check the balance and activities, though, you will not be able to place any trades. As the trader cannot transfer your money, deposit, or withdraw your funds, your investments are fully secured. If you have any concern regarding the trades made in your account you can get them clarified from your broker.

The $1000 account is set up directly with the brokers who clears transactions and handles transfers, deposits, and withdrawals. You need to sign a limited power of attorney to authorize the broker to allow him or her to trade on your behalf.

Opening a $1000 forex managed account is really simple. Select the broker, open their website and find out the right type of account. Fill in some personal detail, transfer the initial sum and you are ready with your managed account. Before choosing your broker, find out if is registered with some regulatory agency. Always ask for the past history of their performances.

There is no ‘lock-in’ period for which you must keep your money in the $1000 forex managed account. There is no penalty for withdrawing either. Withdrawing money from your $1000 forex managed account is also simple and you can do it online. If you do not withdraw profits, you can reinvest them again, compounding your profit. So you gain much more than you expected to earn from your $1000 forex managed account.

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To start trading currencies online please visit $1000 Managed Forex Accounts

Source: http://www.articletrader.com