Category: Gaming

Revenue, mostly from in-app purchases, is expected to hit an estimated $36.87 billions for the year. Behind a pair of recent multibillion-dollar deals in the mobile video game industry is an expertly crafted weapon: virtual goods sold inside apps for as little as 99 cents a pop.

In-app purchases let players spend real money to bypass advertisements, acquire skills or grow powerful quickly, among other benefits. The terms “in-app” and “in-game” refer to purchases that take place while a person is playing, as opposed to paying outright to buy a game.

Once considered an unrefined nag, the in-app pitch has been honed so well it coaxes tens of billions of dollars a year from people who have gravitated to free mobile games. Mobile game revenue, made mostly from in-app purchases, is expected to grow 21% to $36.87 billion this year, according to research firm Newzoo BV. By 2019, it is expected to reach $52.5 billion.

Traditional game publishers like Pokémon Co. and Nintendo Co. have noticed. Their new game made with augmented reality firm Niantic Inc., “Pokémon Go,” soared to the top of app charts just a day after its July 6 release. It has grossed about $120.3 million from in-game transactions to date, estimates industry tracker SuperData Research Inc.

In-app purchases are “dramatically changing the mobile entertainment landscape,” said Andrew Phelps, director of digital media at Rochester Institute of Technology. They “engage people in a longer financial discourse than you would have in an upfront sale.”

A handful of developers has mastered the art, including Finland’s Supercell Oy, which last year pulled in revenue of $2 billion from its war-strategy game “Clash of Clans” and two other mobile games. Tencent Holdings Ltd. is betting revenue will keep growing as it seeks partners for its deal to buy 84% of Supercell for $8.6 billion—mobile gaming’s biggest-ever acquisition.

The secret sauce behind many in-app purchases is the countdown clock—a frustration tax that forces gamers to idle before they can perform duties such as farming crops or replenishing fuel unless they pay for more turns or items to speed up the action.

In “Clash of Clans,” players slowly generate elixir and gold needed to train troops, or they can spend real money to stock up quickly. Players can wait out a timer without spending, though the countdown often takes longer to resolve the further along players get in a game.

King Digital Entertainment PLC’s hit puzzle game “Candy Crush” makes players wait after running out of lives before retrying a level, or they can pay to play sooner. Earlier this year, Activision Blizzard Inc. spent $5.9 billion to buy King. It credited the company with contributing about 23% of adjusted revenue in the first quarter.

Rather than hound people to repeatedly spend in small amounts, game makers sell caches of virtual currency, such as gems to be used inside games. The idea: Gamers will have an easier time parting with virtual coins than actual coins.

Converting players into spenders without turning them off is key; gamers have derided free-to-play games as “free to play, pay to win” for years. Developers, though, have gotten savvier about giving players more free things to do to keep them hooked until they start spending.

In “Pokémon Go,” players can go weeks capturing dozens of “pocket monsters” without needing to spend money. After investing so much time, players might be more inclined to dole out cash to upgrade their gear so they can carry more items and creatures, for example.

In Electronic Arts Inc.’s “Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes,” players unlock characters by grinding their way through the role-playing combat game or using crystals available in increments ranging from $1.99 to $99.99. The game gives out crystals free, too, to keep people coming back. EA in May said it generated $173 million in revenue from mobile games in its fiscal fourth quarter, up 15% from a year earlier.

Algorithms are playing an increasing part in nudging players to spend. Based on dozens of data points—how often gamers play, what model mobile device they use, location and gender—developers might raise a game’s difficulty level, making no two players’ experiences exactly alike.

Data on players’ behavior also are used to strategically tweak prices for virtual goods in real time. “You get people to spend more money if you understand their behavior,” said Niklas Herriger, founder and chief executive of Gondola, a New York analytics firm that develops algorithms for game developers. “You can trace their finger every step of the way.”

Other tactics: tapping into players’ “fear of missing out” through limited-time events, and cultivating relationships between players. Machine Zone Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., for instance, uses language-translation software so players from around the globe can chat in its two hit games, “Game of War: Fire Age” and “Mobile Strike.”

Joe Akaki of Rockville, Md., has developed friendships with people in Brazil, France, and Kosovo through “Game of War.” He used to buy packs of virtual gold in $4.99 increments; now he buys $99.99 packs about three times a week. “The personal relationships are probably the main reason I keep coming back,” the 32-year-old said.

Neither the Day by day Dot nor the author count on responsibility in your moves or the results of modifying your telephone software program Pokémon, installing any apps, or dishonest at Pokémon Pass. You could very without problems brick your tool and if you’re now not comfy with probably breaking your smartphone, you shouldn’t do it. Length. There’s also a top-notch risk than Pokémon Go developer Niantic will no longer best patch this make the most but additionally ban all of us who uses it. if you lose your Pokémon Move account because of this, neither the writer nor the Each day Dot is responsible. Continue at your personal threat.

Pokémon Go is, by way of all debts, a brilliant cell recreation that has spawned a legion of dedicated fanatics internationally. But just due to the fact a sport is incredible doesn’t suggest it may be broken.

I’m going to train you a way to absolutely destroy Pokémon Cross (on Android), trap any Pokémon you want, anywhere inside the global, and, genuinely, break the whole revel in for yourself. If you’re loving the sport right now, I’d endorse you forestall studying right here and pass on together with your lifestyles. Cheating in Pokémon Move takes a lot of the fun out of it and can sour you on the complete enjoy. In case, you cheat, you’re a terrible person.
This is your remaining danger to shrink back.

If you’re still analyzing, I’ll count on you’re a terrible man or woman and you need to cheat, so allow’s get to it! Right here’s what you’re able to do after you efficaciously regulate your cell phone.

Pokémon Cross uses GPS place track to move you across the virtual game world. This monitoring is what makes it feasible to go to Poker stops, hunt for creatures that seem for your “Close by” listing, and it’s surely critical for the game to the characteristic. But, GPS can be without problems tricked, and a few early Pass players observed that you may spoof your vicinity on Android with one of the many to be had faux area apps.

On the time, tricking the sport turned into as simple as permitting Mock Locations within the Android developer options menu after which choosing an app to do the spoofing. This seemed to work for a confined number of human beings within the very earliest days of the game, however, developer Niantic wised up and implemented some gear to preserve Android game enthusiasts from cheating the device. Now, allowing Mock Places reasons the game to spawn you in the middle of a clean field together with a mistake that says your GPS data is unavailable.

The hassle right here is that with the aid of enabling Mock Places you’re telling the smartphone that you’re faking your vicinity records. Android then tells Pokémon Move that you’re faking your region records, and the app prevents you from gaining a bonus through throwing you into a Pokémon-less field of depression. To without a doubt fool the app, you need to change your GPS data without the running system figuring out that you’re doing so, this means that you will need to root your device.

How to tug off the cheat

I can not provide an in-depth academic for each possible Android device, however, the overall method and the apps you will want to put in may be the same across the sizable majority of gadgets. I have examined this on three specific phones strolling variations of Android ranging from 4.for Package Kat to 6.0 Marshmallow, and they all work perfectly.

You may want to root your device if you have not already. That is the component a good way to vary the most from tool to tool, but there are several unofficial apps and tutorials that may make the technique lots easier. Test out the hyperlinks under or hit up the excellent XDA Builders tutorial to locate which technique is excellent on your unique tool.

That is what is going to assist you to set up the fake location app which you want to do the GPS spoofing. You will need to download the file to your smartphone (4.four KitKat / five.0 Lollipop & 6.zero Marshmallow) and install it. The set up will most effective paintings if your cellphone is rooted correctly, so don’t try it unless you’ve finished that.

Inspired by the NBC TV show, the following Minute to Win It games ideas will help you have a blast at your party. The gameplay of the TV show involved contestants trying to complete a challenge given to them within a minute. These games prove as great ice breakers and build team spirit as well. There are many Minutes to Win It ideas that can be tried, using materials and objects you can find around your house.

In this game, the contestant has to balance a plate on his head and stack about 5 children’s building blocks on it. The stack needs to be balanced without falling for 3 seconds to win.

The contestants are provided with half-full bottles of water. The challenge is for the participant to throw the bottle underarm and it should land upright about 5 feet away. Every participant is given ten attempts to complete the challenge successfully.

The contestant has to bounce a ping-pong ball onto a piece of bread. What is the challenge? The bread is covered with peanut butter and placed on a platform that is about 15 feet away. And, just bouncing the ball is not enough, the ball needs to stick on the bread.

The participant has to suck up M&M’s using only a flexible straw and transport them onto two or four flexible straws which have been arranged vertically. To win, at least one M&M candy needs to be balanced at the end of the minute.

Cooked pasta pieces are kept in a bowl, an empty bowl is placed on the side and the contestants are given an uncooked spaghetti strand. In under a minute, the contestant needs to transfer 6 pieces of pasta using only the spaghetti which is held in the mouth. The contestant should be careful and avoid using hands, or it will result in a foul. Also, if the uncooked spaghetti strand breaks, the game is lost.

On a table, arrange a stack of candy canes (as many contestants as there will be) and a basket next to each stack. The contestants have to transfer as many candy canes as they can into the basket, within a minute. The hitch is that they cannot use their hands and must only use a candy cane to transfer the other candy canes. The person who manages to transfer the maximum number wins.

Use a tub and fill it with water, then place a plastic plate on it. The challenge is to stack 5 aluminum cans on the plate in under a minute. The plate has no solid base because of the water and that’s what adds to the challenge.

The contestants have to place a Popsicle stick or a ruler into their mouth and stack 5 dice one on top of the other under a minute. The dice have to be balanced for 3 seconds at least.

Place 5 bags of varying heights are on the ground for each contestant participating in the game. Using their mouths, the contestants have to transfer the bags from the ground to the table that is placed some distance away. The rule is that they cannot use their hands and cannot bend on all fours to retrieve the bags.
Note: There are high chances of the participants tripping in this game. Make sure that you take the necessary precautions.

These Minute to Win It games help create some interest during a boring office party and can be used as a team-building game. They are great ice breakers as well.

The contestant needs to wear a pedometer on the head using a headband. Then, he/she is supposed to get a minimum of 125 head jerks in one minute.

A yo-yo is tied to the waist of the contestant. Using this yo-yo, the contestant is supposed to knock down four empty soda cans which have been arranged at different levels from the ground.

This is an interesting Minute to Win It games idea where the contestant runs a thread through the eye of not one, not four, but ten needles. The challenge is that each eye is smaller than the previous eye of the needle.

This is a stacking challenge, where the contestant stacks four lip balm containers on each other. The challenge is to stack the lip balms over a pair of chopsticks. The tower should stay in place for about 3 seconds to win the challenge.

In this challenge, the contestant carries two eggs on inverted plates from point A to point B, which are 15 feet apart. If the egg drops, the contestant loses the challenge.

In under a minute, the contestant needs to pull out all the 160 tissues in a tissue box using just one hand.

A jumping game, where an empty box of tissues is tied to the back of the contestant’s belt. This box is filled with 8 tennis balls and the contestant has to jump or wriggle to get the tennis balls out. Using of hands is not allowed. One can use this game as a competition between players of different teams. Even if one is not able to get all the 8 balls out, the player with the least tennis balls left in the box wins.

10 plastic cups are turned upside down and placed in a row on the table. The participants have to use only a straw and blow the plastic cups off the table. The contestant who manages to move all the cups off the table wins. Or, the participant that manages the maximum cups in under a minute, wins.

Stock up on the thickest cookies that you can find and keep them on a table within easy reach. The contestants have to stack 10 cookies one on top of the other on their forehead in under a minute. If the cookies fall, they have to start all over again.
The kind of fun you can have playing these games is simply incomparable. So what we suggest you do is throw a party, call all your friends over and have a marathon Minute to Win It games special. You will love the rush. That we promise.

Simulation games cover almost all genres possible, from city-building to living the same life in the real world. But we have compiled together the best simulation games for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. Read this article to tick every awesome simulation game off your list.

If you thought only life imitates art, then get ready for a role-reversal in simulation games. Simulation games were first used for testing a hypothetical situation or a science nerd’s pet project. Well, the project has come to life, and it’s being used on a regular basis. Simulation games have been used not just by introverts and agoraphobics, but by others too, as they simulate real-life what-if situations. They have been used in online classes, as they improve the concentration of students, and lets them absorb every aspect of the subject, rounding out the learning experience.

These games have been used to undertake driving lessons for the new and old, and by teenagers to develop their cognitive skills. In fact, after playing SimCity, teenagers have a better appreciation of their government officials. Since the Sims, a myriad of games has been developed, covering almost all genres, from racing to flight training. The following sections list the best simulation games, covering the three most popular gaming systems – PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

If you are tired of the fast and slick ways of the city life, then farming is the way to go. This game introduces you to a dilapidated farm and the machinery that goes along with it. Your objective is to get the farm up and running by upgrading your farm machinery as well as trading the crops to make better investments. Moreover, you get to test-drive the latest vehicles from the top 20 vehicle manufacturers. It has 3 games in its series, with the latest, Farming Simulator 15, releasing in 2015.

FIFA

Whether you hate or love Soccer (Association football), you can’t resist playing this game. With the players looking more real as the years go by, the commentary getting more interactive, the game never looked better. The latest release, FIFA 15, has the players understanding your strategy and reacting accordingly. Plus, a new feature includes loaning players to other teams and taking players from others teams on loan for a limited time period. If you are new to the game, you can learn the skills using Neymar Jr., or the footballer gracing the cover of the game – Lionel Messi. One thing’s certain, you won’t be disappointed.

Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII

If you consider yourself a top ace, then this game might be the platform for you to prove your worth. As an elite pilot on the Allies’ side, you undertake missions detrimental to victory, such as distracting bomber planes, rescue missions, and flying experimental aircraft during World War 2. Relive history and save the world with your daredevilry.

WRC 4: FIA World Rally Championship

If paths of gravel and snow don’t put a damper on your driving skills, give this game a test ride. It features all the official teams and drivers of famous manufacturers, as seen in the World Rally Championship (WRC). If you have a steering wheel attached to your system, then driving feels like a dream. Complete all the 13 races to win the championship and revel in the glory.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey

Another simulation game based on World War 2, it has breathtaking visuals of the various cities and the skyways above. The game was named after the Soviet Ilyushin IL-2 ground-attack fighter and features 31 planes for ready combat. It has a multiplayer feature which can support up to 100 players. Get ready to take part in the most famous battles in World War 2.

Air Conflicts: Secret Wars

Air Conflicts lets you take part in both World Wars. With 50 missions and 16 detailed aircraft, you can control the game in both, arcade mode or simulation mode. Besides the single player mode, it offers a multiplayer mode which can support up to 8 players. The missions are diverse from attack, reconnaissance, escort, and patrol.

Need for Speed Rivals

If you are tired of racing around the same track, you can try your luck in street racing. The need for Speed started off as a race between fast cars and started emulating Road Rash in the titles it developed later on. In this edition, you can play twin story lines of a cop and a street racer, who both take part in the races. The rivalry between the two escalates, and the finale is based on your driving skills. Get fast and furious in the ultimate game of the street rivalry.

After all the war and race games, we come to the reason simulation games were made in the first place – strategy. From Dust offers a god-like perspective on the inhabitants of a nomadic tribe. Your objective is to help them survive the wildlife and nature’s wrath. Help the tribe rebuild their civilization from dust to one that stands the test of time, in this epic strategy simulation game.

These games are not just for entertainment, but for educational purposes too. This list covers the best simulation games on the most popular consoles available at the moment. Have a blast!

Games are meant to be enjoyed with pleasure. Ignorance is bliss, in this department. Some people play games to ease their stress, while others do so to escape reality, albeit for a few moments. But what does one do when an error occurs and ruins the fun? Cursing your PC might ease your frustration, but it won’t bring back the 8 hours of gameplay.

 

 

The Sims 3, created by EA Games, is an open-world game, which lets you control the lives of multiple characters. It follows their lives in Sunset Valley, as they enjoy the highs and lows of life. Their wishes and personal goals all coincide together, in this roller-coasting epic of betrayal, happiness, envy, and satisfaction, all in one big package. It emulates real life perfectly, with each character knocking on your door with a specific purpose in mind. As you have spent the entire day monitoring their progress, leveling them to a point where their happiness levels have gone through the roof, what do you do when the file refuses to be saved? This is one of the few bugs associated with The Sims, and we shall tell you how to fix this particular error.

What is The Sims 3 Error Code 12?

The file refuses to save due to insufficient RAM. This usually results from long-playing sessions with large families within The Sims. If you create custom outfits for each of your Sims, then you would run out of virtual space, and the game would crash or refuse to save the file.

Symptoms of Error Code 12

You lose your game file and are prevented from saving your game file until you restart the game.

Your game freezes suddenly; the application closes without warning, and you are redirected back to the desktop.

Characters or textures might load incorrectly.

Prevents you from logging into Sims Wall if you have The Sims 3: Showtime installed.

Your files get corrupted and your saved games will have a .bad extension.

How to Prevent The Sims 3 Error Code 12

Save your data at nighttime when the Sims are asleep, or save before you go on any side quest.

Close any additional programs running in the background. Otherwise, it leaves less space for your game to use and eventually, would crash.

Minimize using Windows Task Manager or switching between windows, as it eats up the processing time.

Since Error Code 12 seems to be caused by memory issues, upgrading the system to a 64-bit operating system and 4GB RAM processor could solve the problem.

Check the folder in CurrentGame.sims3, in the ‘My Documents’ folder. It should be empty when the game starts. If there are any files with the .bad extension, delete them immediately.

How to Fix The Sims 3 Error Code 12 for Mac/Windows

Switch tabs during the game by pressing Alt+Tab in Windows or Cmd + ~ on a Mac.

Open your Windows Explorer or Finder window to open your Documents Folder.

Browse to the folder where these games are saved. In Windows 7, go to

Delete all the files that end with a .bad extension. These are the failed saves. You can save them in a separate folder and rename the extension to .sims3 if you like to keep a copy for safe-checking.

Try saving the file again, as the game generates new files for every save.

Alternative Quick Fixes

As you go on playing the game for a longer period of time, the game gets saved in virtual memory. But virtual memory is part of RAM, and it can’t process the data more than what’s in-built. One solution is to increase your RAM and thereby increase your virtual space.

If you have The Sims 3: Showtime installed, try logging out of the official site of The Sims through the options menu. Then lower the resolution of the save file. It unloads some of the graphical data back to the RAM, and thus saves the file.

If you have recovered from the Error Code 12, it’s recommended that you quit and restart the game. This unloads the data back to the RAM and gives you a leverage next time you play.

You can save the game file using the ‘Save As’ option, and give the file a new name. This is the easiest method around the problem.

These are some of the methods by which you can fix the Error Code 12 problem. Once again, take a backup of your files with the .sims3 extension before you attempt any of these methods.

The method has been one of the preferred genres inside the gaming global. The plot for area Method games, is, at instances, futuristic. Right here is an outline of some of the high-quality area Approach games. Take your pick out.

The plot of the game Deus Ex, launched within the yr 2000, is centered in the 12 months 2052. The skyline of recent York Town depicted in this recreation did no longer function the twin towers on the sport’s release. The developers reasoned that they were destroyed in terrorist assault previously in the sport. This turned into over a 12 months previous to the 9/11 attacks.

In an Approach game, the decisions that gamer(s) take at some point of the path of the game makes a difference in the outcome of the sport. When gambling those games, gamers need to be privy to the tendencies that take area in the game. What looks like a minor going on could have a momentous impact on the very last outcome of the game. These video games call for, from the gamers, the potential to think beforehand of the contemporary situation and have a second plan prepared in case the desired final results aren’t performed.

Many are curious about the area. They’re hardcore fanatics of Big name Wars, Famous person Trek, and so forth. Add a few Strategy-constructing capabilities to this fascination, and be prepared to be entertained for hours together, by means of some first-class area Method games to be had.

Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri

This flip-based sport has been developed by way of Firaxis video games. It belongs to the 4X style. On this style, players need to expand, explore, take advantage of, and exterminate an empire. The plot is futuristic and set in the twenty-second century. The gameplay is from a 3rd-character perspective, and it’s been directed through Sid Meier. The techniques in the game revolve around the idea of colonization of the area. Players can pick to be the leader of anyone of the seven to be had factions. This recreation is a spin-off of the Civilization collection. It was released in 1999 and is well suited to Linux, MAC OS, and Home windows systems.

Sins of a Solar Empire

This sport has been evolved by way of Ironclad video games. It’s miles a real-time game and belongs to the 4X Strategy genre. Here, gamers can select to be the chief of someone of the 3 races – Dealer Emergency Coalition (TEC), Introduction, and Vasari. Leaders have managed in their area empires. The purpose Right here is to overcome one of a kind Famous person systems. There are four applications of the sport which have been launched thus far. The first was Entrenchment, accompanied by International Relations. The 0.33 package deal was Trinity. Rebellion became because of the fourth stand-alone package deal of this sport. This recreation becomes released in 2008 and is well suited with the Home windows platform.

Megastar Wars: Empire at War

This game has been evolved by way of Petroglyph video games. The showdown on this sport is specifically among Empire and Rebels. gamers can select from three to be had sports modes. Those are a Marketing Campaign, Galactic Conquest, and Skirmish. In this game, at times, there are land battles along with area battles. It’s far a real-time Approach sport, which becomes released in 2006. Later, in the equal 12 months, a ramification p.C. was released for the sport. This becomes titled Megastar Wars: Empire at Warfare: Forces of Corruption. This recreation is well-matched with Windows and MAC OS systems.

Galactic Civilizations

That is another flip-primarily based Method recreation, which has been developed via Stardock. The plot of this sport is based on the 23rd century. Players are the handiest assigned the human race. The player becomes the leader of the human race, and the goal to be carried out in this game is of galactic domination via colonization of the distance. This game does no longer assist multiplayer gameplay. The participant has to play in opposition to AI (Synthetic Intelligence) opponents. He can pick from diverse civilizations, that are Terran Alliance, Drengin Empire, Altarian Resistance, Arcean Empire, Yor Collective, Torian Confederation, Dominion of the Korx, and Drath Legion. This game become launched in 2003, and is well suited with the Home windows platform.

Lords of the Black Solar

This sport changed into formerly titled Celebrity Lords. It’s far a turn-based totally sport of the 4X Approach style. You may play this recreation with a couple of players alongside AI. gamers have eight races to choose from, and They’re assigned as the leader of the race they pick out. These leaders rule their empire, wherein the aim is to gain space colonization. The sport has been developed by Arkavi Studios. It becomes launched in 2014 and is well suited with the Windows platform.

Grasp of Orion

This once more is a turn-based sport, and belongs to the 4X style of thriller games. It’s been developed by using Semtex. Like most other video games on this list, the purpose Here is to develop colonies in area. This sport has its consciousness on colonization of the Star systems. There are ten races to be had for the participant to pick from. This isn’t one of the multiplayer area Approach video games for Laptop. It’s far a unmarried-participant sport, and players are pitted against AI. This game changed into first launched in 1993, and is compatible with MS-DOS, Apple Macintosh, and Commodore Amiga.

Sword of the Big name

This game is also from the 4X Approach genre. It’s been developed by way of Kerberos Productions. gamers get to pick to play the numerous races, and the goal is to colonize the Megastar structures. That is also a multiplayer recreation, except imparting an option to pit a single player against AI. Its sequel changed into released in 2011, while the sport was at first launched in 2006. It’s miles well suited with the Home windows platform.

Homeworld

This sport has been advanced by way of Relic Entertainment. It’s miles The first three-D recreation inside the actual-time Approach (RTS) category. There are races to pick from – Kushan and Taiidan. Players are provided with the choice of playing individually against AI or in a group. The sport changed into released in 1999 and is well matched with the Home windows platform.

 

With every passing year, video games are becoming increasingly popular among children. The increasingly addictive nature of video games has left parents and caregivers wondering about the effects of these games on kids. This article will help you understand the positive and negative effects of video games on young minds.

The Mario franchise is one of the best-selling video games ever, having sold more than 210 million units worldwide and the character Mario has appeared in more than 200 games.

Today, about two-thirds of US population plays video games. These games were first introduced in the 1970s and have now become an invariable source of fun, learning, and entertainment for children and adults alike. You will find Nintendo, PlayStation, or Wii U in almost every home, with multiple video game genres categorized under action, adventure, role-play, sports, general entertainment, adult, and educational games.

Since the time video games were devised, extensive research has been conducted to study the effects of these games on kids. The results of these studies have shown that there are both good and bad effects, depending on whether children play age-appropriate games and the time they spend in playing. Let us look at the possible advantages and disadvantages of gaming and see how video games affect children.

Playing video games helps in the development of perceptual and cognitive abilities and motor skills.

While playing video games, children acquire problem-solving skills, learn teamwork, and become more alert. It also helps improve their short-term memory. Playing video games requires them to make faster, accurate decisions, thus developing their decision-making skills.

Interactive video games compel a child to practice more and more in order to be the best. Playing, devising gaming strategies, and winning gives children a sense of achievement and boosts their confidence.

A study conducted by the University of Rochester states that “Gamers perform better in tests that involve focus, speed, multi-tasking, vision, and accuracy than others or non-gamers.“ So playing video games can teach your children to concentrate, plan, come up with different strategies to reach the goal, perform multiple tasks at the same time and learn how to handle complex situations.
This virtual environment is the future of education as it offers an interactive way for students to learn and succeed in this competitive world.

Video games have negative effects on the physical health of children. Sitting for hours before the video game consoles can increase the risk of obesity, sleep disturbances, headaches, dry eyes, carpal tunnel syndrome, muscular diseases, as well as skeletal and postural disorders in kids. Other health effects include agitation, increased heart rate, and high blood pressure.

Various research studies conducted by B. D. Bartholow, D. A. Gentile, B. J. Bushman, and M. A. Sister have shown a relation between aggressive behavior and playing video games that have violence in them. They say that indulging in games that have a lot of shooting and killing is said to increase anger in children, leading to aggressive behavior.

These video games hook children as playing and winning boosts their morale. The University of Calgary conducted an online survey on children aged 9-15 years who play mature and violent video games and concluded that it has a direct relation with tendencies like bullying, becoming abusive, beating, or clobbering siblings or peers.

There is a direct correlation between children who spend a lot of time playing games and those ignoring their studies, resulting in poor academic performance, cutting school, and dropping out of school.

Numerous deaths have been reported from around the world because of obsessively playing video games for hours, days, weeks, or months. In 2005, a 28-year-old man from South Korea collapsed and died of cardiac arrest because of playing World of Warcraft and StarCraft games for 50 straight hours. In October 2007, a teenager from Ohio (USA) shot his parents for taking away his copy of the game Halo 3.

A Korean couple, in 2009, spent hours playing video games, neglecting their 3-month old baby, who died from malnutrition and dehydration. A 16-year-old from South Philadelphia (USA) killed his mother in the year 2010 for confiscating his PSP.

To decrease the negative effects of gaming on children, parental control is essential. Parents should keep a close eye on the type of games their children play.
When buying games for kids, parents should check the age limit mentioned on the cover by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). They should also avoid buying games that have too much violence in them.

The most important thing that parents must observe is the amount of time their children spend in front of video game consoles. They should not allow their kids to spend more than two hours per day in gaming.

To track and monitor your kids’ video gaming habits, place all gaming devices in a more visible area of the house and children less than 2 years should be kept away from playing video or mobile games.

Encourage your children to play outdoors or enroll them to different youth clubs that have outdoor activities, which in turn will help them communicate face to face and socialize with people comfortably. Encourage them to take up hobbies, like reading, gardening, and camping.

Last but not the least, talk to your kids about how video games should be enjoyed and how much use is a good use. Also, make them aware of the negative effects these games can have.

Video games are definitely fun and entertaining. However, too much indulgence can lead to addiction and have physical as well as psychological effects on one’s health.

If you’ve got great interest and potential at chess, don’t let the silly mistakes bring you down. Keep the following pointers in mind to save the game-changing blunders.

 

With practice and study, one can always improvise and perfect their strategy. Now that it’s the blunders that bring us down. Chess is complicated, and even some of the strongest grandmasters in the world are known to have made the silliest mistakes. To master this tricky game, one needs to work on their mistakes and eliminate them, only then can the best of the strategies play out to their advantage.

While there are endless ways in which your one move can hand your game to the opponent, there are some blunders that are commonly observed among beginners.

 

Understand and know the strength of each piece. A lot of beginners build their moves around a single piece of their choice and neglect the rest. Remember that using each piece to its maximum potential is crucial to your victory. So, if you feel like your game’s no good without your knights, try bringing other pieces into the game as well. For an amateur, understanding the value of each piece is the first step.

♘ The queen is your most powerful piece. Period.
♘ The rooks come next, followed by the knights and bishops, which are equally powerful so to say. So, technically, you can use or sacrifice them equally.
♘ The knights, however, play a unique role – one that the queen cannot dispense. So personally, I hold them close.
♘ Even if your game play isn’t really strong with knights, simply placing them centrally serves as a great defense, especially in the first half of the game.
♘ A well-placed knight will cover 4 critical spots of your opponent; correction: four critical spots of your opponent that he can’t protect by moving the pawns ahead.
♘ The pawns are the weakest pieces on the board, but playing them sensibly will buy you a lot of leverage in the game. Remember that the board is crowded in the first half, and losing an unprotected pawn gives an opening to your opponent. To stay ahead, move the pawns wisely.

♔ Castling is not an option, but a necessity. Your very first motive in the game is to move the intermediate pieces out so you may castle to the king’s side and waltz him away to safety.

♔ Once your castle, your king is naturally protected in a corner. This buys you time to attack instead of having to defend.

♔ Not only this, the two rooks will cover one another, once the intermediate pieces move out. And upon losing a pawn, either of your rooks has a clear opening in due time.

♙ An average chess game usually lasts between thirty to forty moves. How wisely you play these 40 moves decides the fate of your game.

♙ To make the most of your moves, creating correct openings for your pieces is quintessential. Else, your opponent will have planned an aggressive attack while you’ll be fumbling with taking each piece out of the pawn fortress.

♙ While creating an opening, think carefully. Your knights don’t need openings as such; that leaves you with your rooks, bishops, and a queen.

♙ A single pawn moving ahead can simultaneously free your queen as well as a bishop. Thus, freeing most of your pieces should be simple, except your rook.

♙ Rooks are powerful, but they need space to move around freely. Investing moves in getting them free is a folly you’re bound to regret sooner than later.

The Best Kind of Defense is Offense

This is strictly only for those who’re past the learning phase. While making your moves, try to intimidate the opponent as far as possible, wherein your opponent is forced to cover a piece or move away from your attack line. This ensures that while you’re proceeding with your strategy, the opponent is occupied with saving his game, thus giving him lesser time and moves to attack or formulate a strategy.

♕ The queen is the epitome of strength on a chessboard, so don’t invest precious moves in getting her out.

♕ Instead, make space for the weaker pieces and position them well. The queen can always turn up last minute.

♕ Not only this, the queen needs ample space to display her best. With pawns crowding the board, she’ll be out, but she won’t be of much use.

♕ While all of us sacrifice pieces to gain a desired position in the game, be very watchful while doing so. If the opponent already has more pieces than you, a one-for-one trade is not favorable.

♙ Chess is all about brains, and to win against a worthy opponent, you will really need to sweat it out. At each step, reevaluate your pieces, whether they’re in danger.

♙ Once you’ve checked the safety of your pieces, take a second to think why the opponent played that move? Many a time, the oncoming attack is fairly evident. It is just that we’re too involved in our own strategy to have noticed it.

♙ After assessing the opponent’s move, you should proceed with yours. The biggest mistake is when people are so absorbed by their plans that they block out everything else, and believe me, this never plays out in your favor.

♔ Towards the end of the game, be very mindful of whether your opponent can check you. As far as possible, try to avoid being checked. It gives your opponent the upper hand as you’re forced to cover your king.

♔ Though the player with more pieces is said to have an advantage, it is not essential that he must win. The point is, if you’re in a better position than the opponent and have captured vital pieces, don’t be slack! The game can turn in no time, and one bad move can cost you the game…. and not just the 10 or 20 where you’re concentrating. Make it a point to scan through the board before making any move. The opponent’s pieces and positioning across the board determines whether you move is good or bad. Else, you may not lose a piece, but you’ll give the opponent his much-awaited opening or chance.

A bad loss isn’t entirely a loss unless you don’t learn from it. Where did you go wrong? Most of us make the same mistakes or leave the same loopholes in every game; observing and improvising is crucial to better your game.

Pawns, Pawns, Pawns

♙ Many a time, you will encounter a situation wherein the opponent is offering you a pawn for free. Though it’s a tempting offer, calculate whether it works in your favor in the long run.

♙ After all, why would anyone give up a pawn for no reason? More often, you will come to find that it’s more beneficial to let go of the kill and step ahead rather than giving the opponent what he seeks.

This is far easier said than done, because most of us tend to proceed with two or more of our favorite pieces in the same fashion in every game. However good your move might be, the opponent will definitely learn it and counter accordingly.

Mostly, the player who controls the center has the upper hand in the game. This is also the reason why many players use the knights to control the center squares. Even if you are at odds with the opponent, it is fine, but giving up control is half the battle lost right there.

Like anything else, chess requires practice for perfection. The more you play, the more your mind betters at analyzing and judging situations. You can formulate better strategies and work your way out of sticky positions a lot faster.

Chess isn’t exactly shoots and ladders. You need to think hard and long, and you can still make mistakes. Despite practicing and calculating endless times, we’re only human and can make the silliest of mistakes. Frustration due to consecutive losses is the primary reason why most people give up playing altogether. Frustration is also a reason why most of us lose a game. If you’ve made a blunder and lost a piece, assess the situation well and proceed cautiously. Getting frustrated and losing hope will lead to committing bigger mistakes.

Animal Jam is one of the popular games aimed at kids and teens. If you are in search of games like this one, those like Habbo and Neopets should be on your list. This article gives you some games similar to Animal Jam.

Animal Jam is a multiplayer online game (MMORPG) by Smart Bomb Interactive that has got kids hooked. It takes place in the world of Jamaa, where the players can explore different regions. Each environment is different from the rest with museums having different exhibits.

The kids once registered, are given animal avatars with randomly generated names according to their avatar and are called Jammers. Players can accessorize their house and even adopt virtual pets. They can talk to each other using Jam-a-Grams or Safe Chat, a filtered chat which restricts the use of any foul words. Gems are used as a form of currency within the game to buy gifts or trade between players in a store called the Diamond Shop. One of the main benefits is that your kids won’t be exposed to online advertising as the site adheres to a strict policy. It serves as an important educational experience to learn about different animals and their habitats.

There are different avenues within the game, which let the players view videos. The Sarepia Theater lets the players watch the fun and educational videos on animals. Brady Barr’s place lets the kids experiment with different colors, go on expeditions, and learn about land-dwelling creatures. Tierney’s Aquarium lets you learn about underwater creatures and lets you touch some animals in the aquarium. Overall, this game is fun. If you want more games like Animal Jam, scroll through the list below.

Fantage is an MMORPG released in April 2008 by Fantage, Inc. It lets the players create a cartoon-sized avatar of their real self. Targeted mostly at the 6-16 age demographic, it lets the players explore the virtual world of Fantage, consisting of 16 locations on its map. The players are allowed to customize their avatars as well as interact with each other at social events inside the world. But to get access to more than the standard wardrobe, you need a premium membership. It has mini-games which you can play with other members as well as your pets, as well as educational content in conjunction with games which makes learning fun. It has created many mobile applications like Fantage Bullseye, Fantage IDFone, and Fantage Fish Fish for the iPhone.

Habbo is the largest Finnish social networking service for teenagers. It was previously known as Habbo Hotel. The players can create their own Habbo character, design hotel rooms, meet friends, plan parties, play games, and look after pets. Though targeted at a different age group, the exposure and learning experience offered is similar to that provided by Animal Jam. Habbo has many features and has earned a big user base.

The game was developed by RocketSnail Games and later distributed by Disney Interactive. In the game, you play as anthropomorphic penguins who are given a customary igloo. The players can interact with other players as well as decorate their igloos with the help of in-game currency. A game was launched on the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS, wherein the currency earned in the game can be used in the online version as well. This game has more than 200 million users and counting.

If magic and wizardry garner your attention, then Wizard 101 is the game to play. The players choose to start their journey out of the seven magical schools of Ice, Storm, Fire, Death, Life, Myth, and Balance, each with its own unique set of spells. The game includes a hobby to train pets. It is a role-playing game created for young players. These factors make it a game similar to Animal Jam. It led to the development of Pirate101, which is also a choice of people who like playing Animal Jam. Warning: It may leave you under an addictive spell.

Marapets is an online game where you take care of your virtual pet. This game teaches kids to be more compassionate towards animals. You can own 12 pets at the same time.

Dogzer is an online game that lets the players take care of a virtual dog. There are different breeds of dogs to choose from. The main objective of the game is to compete with other players and win the dog championship. If you are a dog lover, you wouldn’t want to miss this tail-wagging adventure.

Neopets lets users take care of virtual pets. The game takes place in the world of Neopia. The virtual world has its own sense of time. You can trade items or buy more stuff which will increase the interactions between you and your pet using Neopoints, the in-game currency. Users can earn Neopoints by playing games of different genres such as puzzle, action, and luck with different users. It even has its own community in which users can chat, make friends, or share tips about the game.

The game is played on the island of Panfu, where the users play in the avatar of pandas. This game is aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 13. Players can chat with each other and go on different quests while enjoying the comforts of a safe environment.

Mind Candy developed this online game aimed at children aged between 6 and 14. You can adopt a monster as your pet and choose from six virtual monsters, Diavlo, Luvli, Katsuma, Poppet, Zimmer, and Furi. You can explore this virtual world and gain currency known as Rox by solving puzzles.

BittyBay is a virtual animal kingdom in which the players can meet new friends and collect items and avatars. It is a multiplayer online game, which is safe for kids and teens.

Some more games that are similar to Animal Jam (in the sense that they are based on the animal theme and are created for kids) include Switchzoo, Mondo Zoo, Wolf Quest, FeralHeart, and Webkinz. Enjoy!

Fb may additionally attempt to compete with Steam, or at the least win lower back revenue lost whilst casual gaming shifted to mobile. Nowadays Facebook officially introduced it’s working with game engine Unity to build a devoted, downloadable computing device gaming platform, plus it’s broadening the Facebook.Com enjoy for game enthusiasts.

Both will allow publishers to provide their iOS and Android games on desktop further to the informal games Facebook is thought for, at the same time as the computer Laptop app should aid more hardcore video games.

Facebook video games Platform Computer

Starting Today, sports builders can apply till August thirty-first for immediate get admission to a constrained alpha of a version of Team spirit five.four that will permit them to build and export video games to Facebook’s internet site and computer app. “Integrating tools that offer convenient get entry to Fb’s community is a key part of supporting builders locate the fulfillment they deserve,” says Cohesion’s Vp of biz dev Elliot Solomon,

Previously, Solidarity builders needed to work with a greater code-intensive Fb SDK to convey games to its internet platform. Fb already partnered with Harmony to assist Oculus VR recreation development.

Facebook turned into as soon as the home for social gaming, incomes a top of $257 million in fee taxes in This autumn 2014. That’s slipped to $197 million last zone as game enthusiasts moved to mobile app shops. However, Facebook still has 650 million customers who play video games every month. It’s paid out over $8 billion to game builders considering the fact that 2010, and $2.five billion in 2015 alone.

Fb changed into anxious to reveal details about the specs and plans for the Computer platform, But here’s what we know from talking with Facebook and Unity:

It’s going to run on special kinds of Desktops, no longer simply Windows just like the video games Arcade check
The laptop platform presents a distraction-loose gaming surroundings uncluttered through other Facebook functions just like the Information Feed
It will support the conventional informal Facebook games, mobile video games ported from iOS and Android, and Team Spirit says It’ll probably assist more “immersive” hardcore video games such as you commonly see on Steam or consoles, as there are no plans for a restriction on genres or specifications right now
It’s going to provide discoverability so game enthusiasts can discover titles to play
Fb will offer sales split for sports publishers, although it’s unclear if It will deviate from the industry standard 30% it’s used in the beyond

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Battling Steam, iOS, and Android

Facebook’s stronger net and new Laptop platform could permit it to compete with Valve’s Steam market. though Facebook would possibly begin by specializing in greater casual titles in place of the huge console blockbusters, it could flow in that route finally.

At the same time as Steam has over a hundred twenty-five million month-to-month users, Facebook may want to entice builders with its big person count number. If Fb and Team Spirit can make it simple to port video games to Fb’s platforms without a gaggle of greater coding, devs might as well advantage a few greater exposure. Fb’s Oculus Domestic is already competing with Steam.

In the meantime, those systems’ aid for mobile may want to allow Fb to earn taxes on cellular games without proudly owning its personal cell operating device. It once attempted an extraordinary approach, building an HTML5 mobile internet gaming platform referred to as Venture Spartan to evade the iOS App Save and Android’s Google Play. However, builders disregarded it as underpowered in comparison to the local operating structures.