JLBJ Computers

Assassin’s Creed

Assassin’s Creed is one of those games that can distract to the extent of skipping to go to work and just make you skip the most important lecture of the academic year. However, every gamer that has played that technological piece of art can tell you that it is not simply a game that you are just eager to finish off but rather a game that makes you wanna play more and more until it turns you into a Creed’s addict. Strong words but this is what happens when a game is a true masterpiece.

The game is developed by the outstanding Ubisoft and was released for the worldwide game market in November 2007. Versions were developed for both PC and gaming consoles ( particularly PS3 and Xbox ) and the game generated largely a positive response by fans of both PC and console gaming. Even though many were sceptical about it before its release, the came became a bestseller in the European and US markets almost as soon as it was put on sale.

The plot of the game is quite fascinating itself and this is what initially attracted many even before the release day - basically it is a science-fiction plot that is centered on a long-standing struggle between assassins and Knight Templars. With the development of technology scientists come up with a way to send a person back in the past. I will not reveal to much of the game’s plot since the thrill of playing it will not be the same, but what your character would have to do is go back in time as an assassin and discover the truth about his ancestors, going through the adventures of the middle ages Crusades and fighting his devoted enemies - the Templars.

With its outsanding plot and fascinating graphics and sound, Assassin’s Creed deserves the attention of every games since it is definitely one of the best games that have ever been released on the market. I would go as far as to say it’s even worth buying a used laptop just to play it.
Even though the release date seems to be in the ’ancient times’( 2007 ), the game can offer the ultimate gaming experience to every single gamer satisfying each of his expectations.

iPhone Plushed

I have recently bought an iPhone and having downloaded an app that showed me what was on sale in the app store each day, I started my obsessive compulsive download binge. It is amazing how much unnecessary stuff you can download just because it is free for the day!
I have found that most of the free apps were games, and since I enjoy an occasional play and I spend a lot of time travelling, I figured that any game I download will be played at some point. However it appeared that some games are so bad, they are unplayable even when bored out of your scull. Once you’ve bought the app then you’re money is gone, and apple mac support isn’t going to be interested in your whining.
One of the games that stuck out in my eyes as a really good arcade was Plushed. It is created by BlacksmithGames, and it is a brilliant toy that combines amazing cartoon style graphics, great characters, nice story line and good humour. You play as a toy plush rabbit who is sent into the world of fairy tales by a fat evil mouse magician, who got annoyed about not being given cheese. The little rabbit embarks on a voyage throughout the magical world of fairy tales to find and save his owner, a little girl. I found the game incredibly interesting to play. The levels are well crafted and can be played a number of times to ensure that you collect all the stars to unlock the mini games. On your way you will meet different funny characters as well as some evil bosses. The game is tricky enough to be challenging, but easy enough not to annoy you. Overall I would highly recommend it.

Battlefield 1942

Computer games have always been quite a fascination in the world of entertainment. Some particular themes among these games, however, have been adopted by almost every game producer since they completely satisfy the interests of every player - these are the games with war action, taking place under the theme of war. In that sense, there is probably no better game than Battlefield 1942, produced and released by Electronic Arts for Windows and Mac platforms. (Click here for the Sofa Sale - you’ll soon wear a hole in yours playing this game!)

The game is a first-person shooter and the action is taking place during the WWII - the singleplayer campaign would give the player the opportunity to fight in the battlefields of Europe, Asia and Africa and to follow sceinarios that have been hisorically true. The game gives the ability to pick up sides and decide which team to be in - whether the Hitler alies or the Western forces. The gameplay of Battlefield also gives the player the unique opportunity to pick up his role in the attack thus favouring the specific requirements and interests of every particular player. This is the reason why the gameplay of Battlefield remains its strongest feature and is what actually sells the game pretty successfully.

Other features that make the product extremely desired and quite loved by the fans of all computer game genres, are the sound and the visual effects. The stereo sounds and the war trebles are quite intense thus making the game quite authentic and realistic. The 3D high quality graphics also contribute to the overall game experience and almost bring the player into the world of war.

Truely a fascinating and quite an interesting game, Battlefield 1942 remains one of the classics in the computer game industry and probably the best war game ever made for computers.

Review: All Points Bulletin

APB is a fun and fascinating third party shooter that is a mix of both excitement and frustration. It is not a multiplayer online shooter game. Although the maps that are shared with the other 79 armed urban soldiers are the same, the shoot-outs happen on a small scale.

One of the disheartening features of the APB game is the uninteresting small battles that come in along the way. The larger battles are more adventurous and exhilarating like the online shooters of Battlefield: Bad Company II. The game gives you a chance to chase a running criminal with the help of other law enforcers, who take down the criminal’s reinforcements.

The APB has some of the most amazing configurations and features ever. The different terminals present in the social district are a testimonial to that fact. You can opt for the automobiles and players of your choice. Moreover, you can imprint the logos of your choice on the shirts and automobiles. The more you involve yourself in this shooter game, you will get to discover new decals, Tattoos, new accessories and new clothes.

The creativity and adventure will have to come from your own mind as the game can never meet your imagination level. When you take up a task for your team or a mission to be accomplished, you will have an opposing team that will create barriers between your team and the mission. You must have an efficient team, but with a press on the back button, the other team players will get to know whether you need more players.

The drawbacks does not really outweigh the games strengths. When the game starts, you realize that you are fighting against experienced and well equipped rivals. With time, you will realize that you need to choose the weapons based on the situations you face. Only then will you be able to win the battles.

Review: All Points Bulletin

Kinect For Xbox 360: A New Dimension

Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox is undoubtedly an impressive device with a technology that stands out, with plenty of storage space. It is surely going to be seen as cool and interesting by many Xbox users.

However gamers may face some concerns about this device that the company should take immediate steps to review and correct. The voice recognition system is clouded with noise and echoes and this is one of the reasons why the VRS sometimes fails. There is an added concern about the accents that have been used for the audio. The company claims that the Kinect has an audio feature that measures the noise in the environment and filters it out. This feature needs to be tested to find out how well it actually works in real life.

The spot on games that are available on the Kinect are good especially Child of Eden and Dance Central that does a great job of identifying dance movements and actions. Kinect Adventures experiences delays in the coordinated actions of the gamer and the movements of the avatars.

When the gamer wants the avatar to carry out a particular action the gamer sometime the Kinect does not respond quick enough, but that might just be me. Microsoft surely needs to do something about this for the gamer to enjoy the game and not get disappointed with the loss. Microsoft still has some months left before its release so they sure have enough time to correct any if not most of the current problems.

The company claims that some of games on the Kinect can be played while sitting down however this varies according to the experience of the player. At times the same game can be played while standing and so this claim seems baseless. A player can feel comfortable by both playing the game in the sitting and the standing position.

The Kinect has a number of games however it needs more new and compelling titles that will keep the gamer engrossed for hours at a stretch.

Review: Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption is a game produced by Rock Star games and captures the essence of the old west, carving out a real life animation of everything that happened before our time. This game is tailored to create an organic game play, trapped in the rural world of the western area. There is a huge cast of characters available to interact with. I have to say that this is one of the most enjoyable games that I have played, and it totally kept me from working on the HR Software I am coding for about a week…

As the game progress you find yourself walking through a world of unexpected situations such as wolves jumping out at you in the middle of the desert or trailing down a steep gold mine track. With the full cast of characters surrounding each scene, you can easily imagine yourself inside the TV as if you are the character himself. The obstacles provided for each scene are relevant to the period and adds excitement for any game fanatic.

There are more than several regions throughout the game. Each region has its own small or large town with mini posts to camp out at. What’s even better is that each town is populated by 100,000 people. Every character has their own personality, with a unique accent to match them. The main character whose name is John, and he’s a scruffy and rough looking guy - but the reason for this is because he’s been through it all! He sets out on the trail, tracking down the remaining members of his former gang.

With their advanced method of creating animations, every single part of the game is 3d. From the muscles of the horses, to the rifles glossed in a dark wooden hue. You can essentially see everything as if it were up close, even the pattern on the tables at the bar where all the cowboys are. Each action called pertains to jumping, running, shooting, or navigating your horse. During your long trek or ride on this journey, you will have access to various items such as treasure and weapons to help you get by.

The game basically leaves nothing out and as it turned out it is filled with unexpected events. This, by far is one of the most delightful games I have ever played - not to mention the graphics are stunning.

How to Speed up Website Loading Time

If you have a website one thing visitors do not want to experience is a slow loading site. Increasing your website’s loading time will not only help your customers enjoy your website without annoyance, but it will also help your rank on search engines. Recently, Google has changed their criteria for their ranking, which now includes loading times. If you have a site with slow loading times, your Google ranking will suffer as a result. Here are four ways to increase your website’s loading speed.

1. Website errors will slow down your site. Make sure that your site does not contain any broken links or unwanted tags. Spend some time doing maintenance on your site; ensure that there are no errors that will slow down your loading speed. Maintenance should be conducted monthly or even weekly, to ensure that your website is not full of harmful errors.

2. Image files should be kept small. Avoid using extremely large images, for example 800X800. Keep your images at a reasonable size, such as 300X300; a little bigger is okay, but if your images are full screen, this will no doubt slow down your website’s loading time. Many websites fail to adhere to this and their loading times suffer as a result.

3. Stay modest with your JavaScript. Include these at the bottom of the page as opposed to the top. If you have your JavaScript at the top of your page, your visitors will suffer the loading time of the script prior to seeing the rest of the page. This will no doubt annoy your visitors, possibly forcing them away from your site.

4. Keep your designs simple, the best websites are simple websites. If you have banners, do not make them intrusive. Also, make sure your banners are not more prominent than the content of your site itself. Keep a balance between functionality and flare.

The Apprentice PC game- An interesting innovation?

The Apprentice is a very popular programme here in the UK. Last year we tuned in to see Yasmina Siadatan take the role of Sir Alan Sugar’s Apprentice 2010. This year the latest series of The Apprentice has been delayed due to the General Election, and that Alan Sugar is now Lord Sugar.

For all of us Apprentice fans, who need their Apprentice fix, there is a fabulous game which you can download from Yahoo Games (or other sites), The More

Let them eat cake! (Fat Princess)

Everyone once in a while a game will come along that is pure fun and nothing else. These are games that can be enjoyed at any time and by anyone because they are such a good laugh. Fat Princess is definitely one of those games.

Available as a download from the PS3 Network, Fat Princess is a strategy game that places you on one of two opposing teams as you try to rescue your Princess (who can be fed cake More

Amazing Nostalgia: Shinobi

Everyone has wanted to be a ninja at least once in their life, haven’t they? Even old women who can barely walk harbour a secret longing to become a living, breathing, shadow. There is just something so fascinating about the idea of leaping around dingy alley-ways, being invisible and more importantly being a law-and-order ignoring rogue. That was why I loved the game Shinobi on the master-system. I could be a ninja while also being a twelve year-old boy. Which More