Starcraft 2 – How to Use a Mule and Why to Use a Mule

In Japan the Dragon Quest games are a force of nature. Developer Square Enix’ long running series of role playing games has been with us for more than three decades and sold more that 50 million games worldwide. The ninth title in the series – Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies – launched in Japan back in 2009 to record sales. After a year of waiting, western Nintendo DS owners can finally get their hands on the much wanted title.

A storm is upon us

In this latest entry in the Dragon Quest universe you take the part of a Celestial – a group of guardian angels of towns and people in the mortal world. As a budding caretaker, you’re finally ready to fly solo and be sole guardian of the small, secluded hamlet of Angel falls. Needless to say, your protector ship doesn’t go either smooth or entirely as planned. The title starts out slow, a series stable, but picks up pace within the first two-three hours. The game’s manuscript is lighter than previous games, but still retains its cute characters, funny dialog and distinct Japanese flavor.

Evolve or become extinct

Dragon Quest IX is instantly recognizable to fans of Japanese roleplaying games. You explore a huge world filled with dungeons, cities and adventure. You fight monsters of every kind and spend hours tinkering with your party, ensuring that they have the best possible equipment and survival skills. Combat is turned based yet engaging – with options to control every one of your party members individually or let the capable AI decide for faster execution.

But producer Ryutaro Ichimura wasn’t satisfied with abiding with conventions, and the development team looked towards western games like Oblivion for inspiration. The result is a Dragon Quest game, which is streamlined, modernized and enjoyable even after many, many hours.

Pandora’s box – be warned

As expected and demanded – the main story in Dragon Quest IX is a lengthy one – to put it mildly. Square Enix didn’t stop there though; up to four players can join each other via local network. Doing so, players are free to explore the host’s world, participate in the storyline or just help out with battles. Multiplayer is a fantastic experience, perfect for families and friends with DS’s lying around.

Compared to Square Enix’ previous Dragon Quest titles on the DS, Sentinels of the Starry Skies takes a giant stride forward presentation wise. A fully realized 3D engine brings the game firmly into the current millennium, and Koichi Sugiyama has again composed a fitting and elegant soundtrack.

Grab it while you can!

Dragon Quest IX is amongst this year’s best releases – on any platform, on any continent in any genre. Square Enix has deftly managed to stay true to the series core, remove old stagnant truisms and deliver of some of the best multiplayer fun on Nintendo DS. Best game in ages on Nintendo’s handheld – essential purchase, and worth getting a DS for.

Verdict: Get it! (Verdict list: ‘Get it!’, ‘Rent’ or ‘Never mind’)

For in-game screenshots, trailer and additional portable game reviews, please check: Dragon Quest IX review.

More reviews and news from the handheld video game scene at Handheld Gaming Age.

Raven Squad

Mules are one of the the most important Terran units in Starcraft 2 and can be used for many important tasks to help you win games. With a mere 60 hit points, a repair time of 16.66, a hotkey of “E”, and much more the Mule is one of the best units in the Terran armory in my opinion.

With as much as I use the Mule, and for those of you that don’t use him, I decided that I might tell you a bit about him. To get a Mule you must create an Orbital Command Center which costs a solid 150 Minerals. An Orbital Command center can have a maximum of 200 energy allowing it to call down up to 4 Mules! To call down use the hokey “E”.

Mules are weak with their low 60 hit points. Eventually Mules will reach their limited battery supply which is a timed life and will explode. They can easily be killed by melee units such as Zerglings or ranged units like Stalkers. You should hide all the Mules you have behind your army and keep them protected from all those Cheesers.

To call down a Mule you need at least 50 energy. They have two abilities which are Repair whose hotkey is R and Gather whose hotkey is G. Repair restores the health of mechanical units and structures at the cost of resources and Gather allows them to mine Minerals for a short period of time as their battery supply runs out.

While harassing enemies with units such as Vikings or Banshees you could call down a Mule or multiple of them and repair if your harassing units are injured and need repair.

These are all supporting evidence that has persuaded me to believe Mules win games and must be used to win or play at high levels against better players. Now incase any of you haven’t looked at the achievements also if you can bring down 30 Mules in one game you can get an achievement to show off that you know how to mine some minerals!

This is an original report by Caleb Nelsen
To find out how to use the mule better as a unit and better than what I’ve taught you check out this SC2-Strategy Guide

This is an original report by Caleb Nelsen. All statistical information was taken by me and tested by me.

Aion Vs World Of Warcraft Review

Raven Squad is a cheap version of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. There – cards on the table. It’s a hybrid of first person shooter and real time strategy, the two camera perspectives being interchangeable with the tap of the Y-button, identical to GRAW’s UAV in interface, right down to the way that enemies are marked with little red shapes. Though neither genre is executed well in any particular regard, Raven Squad is inoffensive enough to have some base charm.

Despite that fact that it feels extremely cheap, Raven Squad somehow grows on you. It captures the Eighties dumb-ass action movie tone, doing so through a mixture of bad voice acting, ridiculous civil war scenarios and, of course, casual racist stereotyping. Nothing about the gameplay really falters, save for a few pointless invisible walls – you can’t shoot between branches – and, while the linear structure of levels wears thin, there’s an agreeable level of variety between the abilities of the six men under your control. The overall quality of the game is very disappointing and not up to the mark.

At its best, Raven Squad’s occasionally overwhelming odds can create a fair amount of tension but most of the time its cookie-cutter level design makes the experience too tiresome. Based on this, we don’t think making a great shooter is beyond Atomic Motion’s capabilities. With budget, technology and manpower, there’s cleverly enough talent at the studio to make something superior and more multi-layered than Raven Squad. Until it does, however, there’s no reason to suffer this budget release.

New Games Reviews.

Wii Games Reviews – Wii Fit Plus

Aion also known in some parts of the world as Aion: The Tower or Eternity or Tower of Aion is a MMORPG that is set in a fantasy world. Aion developed by Aion development team and published by NCSoft has swept over the world like a rage. Players everywhere have taken a huge liking to this MMORPG that allows them to play a good character or a bad one and also use their celestial powers. The World of Warcraft is another MMORPG that of late has always been compared with Aion. Also known as WOW, this MMORPG is developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. The player can choose his or her screen avatar and explore the land, fight against monsters and complete several tasks and quests to level up. With the passing of time and completion of tasks, the avatars get more skilled and more adept. In this article we have compared both the hugely popular games.

Size of the gaming world

The game play of Aion is set in the harsh world of Atreia, whereas World of Warcraft is set in the world of Azeroth. Atreia comprises of Elysea and Asmodae whereas in World of Warcraft, there were two more expansions that was added to the game namely the Outland and the Notherend, thus widening the area where the player can choose to play. A player can explore several new routes, new expeditions and much more.

Player Versus Player

In the World of Warcraft the Player versus Player environments are controlled and there are several level ranges. In these realms players can combat against each other for supremacy. The combat between players in the PvP mode is possible and it is not restricted by time or location of the game world. It is mandatory that the player enables the Player versus Player flag if he or she wishes to enter into the PvP mode of game play. In Aion too the option of PvP exists and the players have an option to choose this mode of game play. However during its review it was noted that the game servers of Aion were not capable to handle large number of players opting for PvP

Quests

In World of Warcraft there are several quests that a player can participate in. Quests are also known as missions or tasks that a player can complete in order to gain special rewards or points. They also allow the players to gain and hone new skills and abilities and allow them to explore new routes. There are more than 80 quests that a player can indulge in while playing the World of Warcraft. In Aion too the players have access to quests however the choice of quests is limited. In Aion there are three types of quests that a player can play the ordinary quests, the work orders and the campaign quests.

These are some differences between Aion and World of Warcraft. However both the games are brilliant by themselves and have their own huge fan followings spread across the world.

Matt Anton is an avid player and journalist of video games. He enjoys blogging about all things in the tech industry, specifically related to game news. He is best known, however, for his contributions at http://GameFriends.com – The Video Game Social Community for Gamers.

PS3 Review – Skate 3 DLC

A few years ago, for my birthday, I decided to treat myself. I usually didn’t used to play much video games, but after trying a few Nintendo Wii games at my nephew’s birthday, I realized how much fun I missed out by refusing to spend a little bit of money on entertainment. So that night, at midnight, I went online and decided to order my first console ever. A few years later, here I am shopping for a new game. After hearing so much good things about Wii Fit, I decided to purchase the Wii Fit Plus.

When I first played the game, I had so much fun I stayed up way passed bedtime to play the game!

What comes in the game

I would have never believed it 10 years ago if someone had told me that one day, I would skateboard, cycle on island, hula-hoop and fly over water from the very comfort of my tiny living room! The games are just so fun and entertaining. And the great thing with these games is that there are no stress dying and of a game over (except for the Bubble game), something that has turned me off from playing video games for years! All you do is collecting points and improving.

Full work out

There are so much games and work out to pick from, each will improve different aspect of your fitness. From strength training to flexibility, customize your routine, just hit start and start your very own fun work out, or choose from the pre-made routine: lifestyle, health, youth, form and combine.

Tracking calories

The Nintendo Wii Fit Plus also includes a calorie counter. Enter what you did today, how many steps you walked and easily track how many calories you burned on the course of the day.

BMI

Enter your height and the board will calculate your BMI.

Conclusion

If you don’t like the stressful shooter video games or the time consuming RPGs, give Wii Fit Plus a try, I guarantee you love at first try! Easy to set up, to figure out, EXTREMELY fun to play with and a great way to help you control your calories and possibly lose weight I highly recommend the Wii Fit Plus and the Wii Balance Board.

For more information about Wii Fit Plus and other Wii games, please read Best Wii Games at ConsumerTop10.

A Baker’s Dozen Feel-Good Movies – Good Medicine for You!

Marketing data confirm what every stay-at-home viewer already suspected: The majority of Americans will invest time and money going out to a movie only for a truly buzz-worthy, genuine and certified, bona fide blockbuster-a movie that is absolutely and non-negotiably “must-see…right now!” In a year distinguished by some truly fine “indie” and art house films, and in a season marked by movie producers’ marketing machines running in overdrive, 2010 has generated remarkably few big hits. In fact, market trends show that the Grand Canyon between the big films and the flops yawns ever wider. “Toy Story 3″ is the season’s runaway winner, but several other heavily marketed Disney offerings have gone straight to video, complete box-office disasters.

The trend is accelerating. Most of the time, American movie audiences will wait even for Academy Award-winning films to become available on DVD or via their on-demand services from cable and satellite providers. Now, with the advent of online movies, trips to the multi-plex may become even rarer.

An embarrassment of riches on the online menu

Although it hardly matters now that the field is crowded with competitors, analysts say that Netflix launched this trend and has emerged as its biggest beneficiary. Making movies and hit television programs available online and accessible through Wii, Playstation, and X-Box, Netflix has driven its earnings up 34% in the last year. More importantly, it has revolutionized users’ viewing habits, making all of their favorites instantly accessible through a variety of devices including their hand-held phones and iPads.

In addition to making movies and television series more accessible, online movie sites provide viewers with a staggering array of choices, and the menu seems to grow exponentially with each passing day. In addition to recent hit movies and individual episodes of popular television shows available almost immediately after they air, some online movie sites offer impressive libraries of drama classics dating back almost to the invention of movies with sound. Just as importantly, with the advent of 3D television, many viewers enjoy better, more vivid, more engrossing experiences with considerably better sound and far greater comfort in their home theaters than they did in high-priced amphitheater presentations.

“This is not an anomaly, a blip on the line, or a flash on the radar screen,” insists Danielle Brooks, media analyst at Patterson-Forbes Partners. “Consumers are voting with their thumbs, choosing online movies over theaters by a huge margin, and preferring internet viewing even over their cable and satellite options.” Brooks explains that online viewing sites offer more choices among more brand-new movie and television hits, often at little or no charge. “Netflix, primarily on the strength of its reputation, numbers among the few services that makes money from user fees,” says Brooks. “Just about all the others depend on advertising revenue from distributors and from producers of high-end video games-another option readily available from most online movie sites.

Brooks and other visionary online movie prognosticators foresee the viewing experience gradually becoming more interactive. “Producers and directors will make big-budget movies available with alternate endings or extra action sequences, letting consumers contribute to the movies’ development,” Brooks suggests. “DVD sales tell producers and studios that viewers like having control over the content of their movies, and parents especially appreciate having some measure of control or influence over their teen-agers’ viewing.”

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The Uses and Abuses of Television

A positive attitude is a wonderful thing. But what do you do when your positive attitude refuses to get out of bed in the morning – when it just wants to lie in a dark place and suck its thumb? You could try meditation and exercise, or make a list of all the things you’re grateful for – those activities have been known to be somewhat cheering.

What If There Was a Remake of the Graduate?

When Baird invented the television it is unlikely that he had imagined the scope of its use. The fascination of the small screen knows no bars of race, sex, caste or creed. Television has gained such heights of popularity that for a very large number of people it has become an essential part of their lives.

As a medium of entertainment the television has a very important position. Its prime advantage is that it brings entertainment to our drawing rooms and bedrooms. We can enjoy what it has to offer in the comfort and security of our own homes. Television has almost unlimited value as a medium of mass education. It brings into our homes events that are taking place or have taken place all around the globe.

Moreover it offers us a choice of wares. If one does not want to watch sporting events all that is needed is the touch of a button and a film is promptly on show. If you do not like the seven o’ clock program you simply have to wait for the next program. On any one evening you can watch your favorite singers perform, a documentary on African wild-life and a film. Which other entertainment media can offer such fare?

Medicine must be administered in prescribed doses. Too much of it may prove extremely harmful. In the same way television too must be used in a sensible manner. We must always be in total control over it. We must not allow it to control us. We should learn to be selective and to watch only those programs that are suitable and those that do not interfere with our daily lives.

Michael has been writing articles online for 10 years. Check out his latest website Ducted Air Conditioner which help people find more about central air condition.

Are People Really Watching Hulu? Distribution is a Dirty Little Business

It’s widely acknowledged that “The Graduate” is one of those iconic movies, it’s become a mainstay of top movie lists and although over 40 years old remains timeless with a storyline which is as apt now as it was back in the 60s when released. But with so many old movies getting the remake treatment what if someone did the unthinkable and decided to remake “The Graduate”. It’s a horrible thought I know but who would they cast in those iconic roles of Benjamin Braddock, Mrs. Robinson and her daughter Elaine Robinson.

You could look at the relatively recent stage version of “The Graduate” where Kathleen Turner took on the iconic role of the seductive Mrs. Robinson, followed by the likes of Anne Archer, Amanda Donohoe, Linda Gray and Jerry Hall. But to be honest it’s been a few years since the stage play drew in crowds and as such I wouldn’t really consider any of those actresses for a remake of “The Graduate”.

So who would I chose in those iconic roles. Well let’s start with the easiest that of Elaine Robinson a role which Katharine Ross played so wonderfully in the movie. It’s not a complex character the innocent, attractive daughter whose life is messed up when she discovers her boyfriend has been having an affair with her mother and as such there are plenty of young actresses who could play the role effectively. One such actress for me would be Rachel Bilson, naturally beautiful and has the ability to play the nice innocent sort of characters. Well I did say it was the easiest one and although I would pick Rachel Bilson there are many young actresses who could more than adequately deliver both the beauty and innocence which the character requires.

Having dealt with the easiest character now to what could be the hardest that of Mrs. Robinson. It’s a complex character an older woman, sexy, seductive, likes a drink, yet also manipulative and icy as well, all of which Anne Bancroft instilled in her original version. Now instantly when you think sexy, seductive and icy Sharon Stone springs to mind going on her performances in the “Basic Instinct” movies, but there’s a problem as Sharon Stone is too linked to that sort of sexy character and bringing her into the witty and clever “The Graduate” would possibly change the way the movie comes across. It could end up turning a remake of “The Graduate” into a more steamy, sexual movie rather than the magnificent tale that it is.

There are others who could do it, Susan Sarandon definitely has that sexy older thing going on as does Hellen Mirren. But there is an actress who for me has all the characteristics that Anne Bancroft gave Mrs. Robisnon in the original and that is Diane Lane. She has proven in various movies that she can be manipulative, icy but also sexy and seductive, you just need to watch “Unfaithful” to see how sexy she can be. Plus being in her mid 40s is also the perfect age for playing the older woman, the mother of an early twenty something daughter who could be interested in having fun with a younger man.

Now to Benjamin Braddock a character which to be honest will always be associated with Dustin Hoffman who gave a sublime performance as the young man in one of his earliest movies. The character requires an ability to deliver drama, emotion as well as subtle comedy and with that last element makes it quite a difficult character to cast if they were to remake “The Graduate”. The ideal actor would be someone in their early 20s, in fitting with the age of the character and who can balance drama with subtle comedy and there are not many I can think of. A few years ago I would have said Jason Biggs or Paul Rudd would have been good in the role but now they seem to old for the role.

But one young actor who could make a decent enough stab at it would be Nicholas Hoult (A Single Man & The Weather Man) who has demonstrated in his young but quite impressive career that he is capable of delivering drama but also moments of comedy. Plus being 21 he is the ideal age to play the young nervous graduate who ends up seduced by the older woman. But at the same time deliver the inner turmoil of the character, that of fearing the future and the confusing mess of his feelings to Mrs. Robinson and her daughter Elaine.

Thankfully this is of course just pure theoretical speculation as to my knowledge there are no current plans to do a remake of “The Graduate”, although there were rumours of one a couple of years back which seem to have come to nothing, thankfully. Whilst I can come up with 3 candidates for those important roles I doubt that a remake would ever get close to recapturing the seductiveness, the humour and drama of the original.

For a review of the iconic “The Graduate” please visit The Movie Scene where you will find a wide range of movie reviews covering several iconic movies over the decades.

The Many Layers of Inception and the Cobol Job

All I know about Hulu is that is an online TV site that Alec Baldwin did a commercial for I saw. The only reason I kept watching was because his short role in Glengarry Glen Ross was one hell of an acting performance. What sparked this post was an article I read in The Los Angeles Times business section with the headline – How many people are really watching Hulu?

The smaller headline about measuring online audiences remains uncertain is what really caught my attention the most. I am an independent content producer that continues to rely more on video on demand (VOD) and online digital distribution to computers and mobile devices for sales to viewers.

Like many independent entertainment producers that are not backed by studios and corporations I turn to the Internet to self-promote Slice Of Americana Films releases. I took notice when Keith Richman, CEO of Break.com, expressed frustration that his video site, “was dramatically underrepresented and misrepresented” by online audience measuring systems.

After reading this excellent article by Times reporter Dawn C. Chmielewski I started think of how what is happening with media giants in terms of distributing entertainment on online to viewers relates to the indie world. I immediately tossed out the advertisement dollars at stake because at the true independent level there is not advertising revenue being shared with producers, unless you consider Google AdSense.

Where my focus went was to the debate on the number of viewers that were really being reached online. Because underneath that argument that is important to companies that stream content for free solely to make money from advertisers there is an independent production side to the story.

As an indie producer I cannot afford to give away free content that takes hard work, time, and money to create. There are no advertising dollars being deposited in my bank account to balance out the costs, pay people, and earn a living. What I do is create entertainment that viewers enjoy and are willing to pay for on VOD or digital download.

Back to the debate on the number of real online viewers for a site, are companies dependent on advertising revenue and not sales of content over stating the paying demand for online content? Or is their take on things not making a difference between online viewers that buy content or watch content for free?

I would like to think that viewers are willing to pay for quality entertainment from indie producers online. Right now Slice Of Americana Films has mobile videos like Club Universe with Supermodel Joanna Krupa that sell for $1.50 a download that are doing well, especially in Japan and Poland.

There is also a successful VOD run with the America’s Wildest Bachelor Parties reality series and Fantasy Striptease Private Shows through a company I will not mention. The feature films Consignment and In With Thieves that I wrote, coproduced, and directed are with distributors. Honestly, I do not get any information on how digital sales online are going. The filmmaker is always last to know.

I personally do not think DVD is a dead format. It reminds of The Sky Is Falling with Chicken Little, but with online sites hungry for advertising money sending the message. Fantasy Striptease Private Shows on DVD is doing solid sales numbers every month. Units are selling at a steady pace that tells me people still appreciate production value and not just viral videos.

So my question is not are online viewers really watching, but are online viewers willing to pay for independently produced content? This indie filmmaker Sid Kali typing ARE YOU?

Sid Kali takes you inside his life as a filmmaker. Get the scoop on screenwriting, producing, directing, and movie distribution. Visit his blog Slice of Americana Films