http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/computers/games/are-classic-arcades-back-again.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/games/are-classic-arcades-back-again.html Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Things changed significantly with the release of gaming computers such as Amiga, Commodore, and ZX Spectrum. They run all kinds of arcade games in color and with what was, at the time, good sound. Those computers were quite limited in their reproduction of motion and graphics, so no exposed violence there. Also, there were no computer viruses at those times, so every game was safe to play.

Now I am quite too old for that kind of fun, but let us face it: our kids do love computer games. With modern computers capable of hyper-realistic graphics and high-definition sound, the possibilities of entertainment are limitless. The kids now have much wider choice than we did at the time. In fact, they have so much choice that parents should be cautions: there's simply much too much meaningless and explicit violence out there. I am cautious when it comes to games my kids play.

Many companies try to get the kids' time with computer video games. So much so that they even offer their games for free! But do they always have good intentions of safely entertaining your kids, or do they have intentions of their own? Dare I say evil intentions?

That's a valid question, despite the frivolous names and entertaining subject. I am perfectly fine with the fact that free computer games bring good profit to these companies, sometimes more than the games they charge for. That's business, after all. What I do mind, though, is harming my kids with things that are inappropriate for them. Why would these companies care about my kids, anyway? They often plaque my computer with things that kids are supposed to fight in these games: the evil stuff. I mean spyware. Unfortunately, it is just too easy to get kids downloads and install a pretty game, which will plead your computer with advertising of adult of gambling sites. I also mind stealing my passwords or modifying the results of my Web searches, things that many spyware products typically do.

So what do I do to protect my kids from games I don't think are appropriate and myself from malicious software and other threats bundled with the games intended for kids?

I use tested sources to get the games.

One of these sources is My Play City www.myplaycity.com. Their games are perfectly suitable for my kids. The company does not have a single game on their Web site, out of several dozens, that has violence or profanity. That's certainly good for my kids. These games are also good for me because they don’t install any unwanted 'extras' on my computer. Are the days of great classic arcades back again?

For example, I recently tried their latest game, Demon's Doomsday. With its cartoon graphics it highly resembles the arcades of the old days. The script is nice and suitable for the kids: they are supposed to fight the evil. No blood, no exposed violence, and kids play for the good guy, and fight witches and ghosts. Quite reassuring, I would say after watching some modern 3D shooters. Added fun is a touch of competition: kids with greatest high scores can upload them to the Web, and compete against their counterparts.

After all, the days of classic arcade games are here. At least with the games made by www.myplaycity.com.

Here it is: you can get Demon's Doomsday for free at http://www.myplaycity.com/demons_doomsday

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Dmitry Bulavin is cofounder of MyPlayCity, Inc. located in Alexandria, VA. The company works out free games and entertainment content. The games are great fun for the whole family!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/computers/games/greet-your-friends-and-relatives-with-a-game-you-have-created.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/games/greet-your-friends-and-relatives-with-a-game-you-have-created.html Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
That is why numerous online greeting services offered means to design a colorful postcard right on the Web, and send it to the friends and relatives with a couple of mouse clicks. Such postcards are often animated and play nice background music. While definitely not boring, these postcards lack one thing: they are anything but unique. All you do is select a card and type a short greeting message. Best samples allow you to select the music that plays in the background. Besides, online postcards are all too common these days. Is this what you really want? Is that really what they call ‘fun’?

MyPlayCity, Inc. takes progress one leap further by introducing Custom Games. It offers a fun way to greet your friends and relatives with a unique game created by you just for them and no one else. Imagine what fun it will be to send them a game you’ve designed yourself!

Custom Games are by far the best way to greet and entertain your kids. They’ll have a lot of fun playing the game you designed for them! If they like the game, they can download it to their computer and keep it, making your game a precious gift. Custom Games are free of violence and kid-friendly.

No two Custom Games are alike. You have a choice of three game scenarios, but that is the only limiting part. Everything else is completely yours! You can set your own picture as a background for the game. You can draw your own characters for the game, record all the funny sounds that play back when your spaceship is hit by an asteroid, your little fish eats a piece of food or your car hits a patch on the asphalt. The game you produce will be unlike any other, with unique look, feel and sound! If you like, you can allow MyPlayCity to publish the game you created, allowing other Internet users to play and rank your game. You can also see what other users have created, and see for yourself that no two games are alike!

Custom Games make a perfect postal card in today’s digital world. Visit http://www.myplaycity.com/custom_games/online to design your greeting game!

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Dmitry Bulavin is cofounder of MyPlayCity, Inc. located in Alexandria, VA. The company works out free games and entertainment content. The games are great fun for the whole family!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>