10 Kinds of People You Encounter on Xbox Live

Kids that own you or odd shut-ins await on Xbox Live

Gaming online is not a fad, trend or passing fancy. It’s an ingrained part of how games are created, marketed and played with online avatars, clans, user groups and more. With so many gamers of varied ages, genders and manners jumping online it’s a very unique mix that games will encounter online, some good and some bad. Online Degree takes a look at the 10 Kinds of People You Encounter on Xbox Live so take a look and see if you’ve encountered these people, maybe you are one of them.

10 Deaths Caused by Video Games

Proof that video games, like many things in life, can lead to death

Over on Criminal Justice Degrees Guide there is a very interesting article about deaths attributed to video games. Very interesting read given the legalities going on with gaming in recent days, weeks. At first it may seem odd to see this type of content on a legal site but as the world goes more digital it should not be surprising. Take a read now and see the 10 Deaths Caused by Video Games

10 Most Visually Stunning Video Games

Web Design Schools Guide checks in with an article strong in supporting video games as art. From BioShock to Mass Effect, this list of the 10 Most Visually Stunning Video Games warrants debate and is a great example of how games are just pretty. Includes video and explantaions of why each game is listed so go and check it out now ... NOW!

Babelgum on the MMO Lifestyle

Welcome to the second guest blog post this time taking a look at two very interesting gaming subjects. First up is Gamers which takes a look at the MMO lifestyle while The Battle for Our Minds takes on those who's live have been influenced by computer games. Enjoy, check out the links and give some impressions. 

Gamers takes a close look into the mysterious MMO (massively multiplayer online) lifestyle, revealing the lives of dedicated players across the country. Documenting his adventures to gaming conventions, basement lairs, and game companies, director Ben Gonyo talks to everyone from “Super Fans” at World of Warcraft conventions to staunch critics, game designers, and even gaming celebrities such as Red Sox star pitcher Curt Schilling, comedian Jay Mohr, and New York Times bestselling fantasy author RA Salvatore. 

The Battle for Our Minds tells the stories of people whose lives have been deeply influenced by computer games. Using the microcosm of game fans in the USA and Korea and game developers working for Microsoft as a magnifying glass to reflect upon the broad social, moral, and political impact of this new medium, Halcort explores to what extent these games have impacted individuals identities and lives today.

PS3 - The RPGs Console

The console wars wage on. There is no clear winner in site, and there may never be one. The Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have all found different niches. The Wii has locked up families and younger gamers. The hardcore gamers are split down the center between the 360 and the PS3. You can argue hardware back and forth, but choosing a console comes down to two things. Note how many pixels or polygons, but can it do more then just play games, and the games themselves.
 
PS3 has Blu-Ray; 360 not so much. Given a Blu-Ray player is a significant fraction of the cost of a PS3, I'm sold right there. Does the 360 have great games? Yes, but the PS3 has cornered the market on high quality RPGs.

Go on, I hear you in the back. Finish your snickering about RPGers not being real gamers. SquareSoft mades it's reputation as one of the greatest game developers on RPGs. RPGs have come a long way since the first Final Fantasy. When I sit down and intend to lose a day to a game, shooters don't do it for me. Platforms are fun now and again, but after a few hours I get frustrated. Pick up one of the new RPGs, FF13, Dragonage:Origins, Mass Effect 1 or 2. You will get drawn in, the games are just fun. The characters are engaging, likable. They banter back and forth. They help pull you in, engage you in the story of the game in a way that a great novel can. Except that with these games, you choose that plot twist.

A gamer should choose their console based on what they most enjoy. The Xbox and Wii just don't provide me the same value as the PS3. I'm an RPG guy, can't beat the PS3 for that.
 
About the author: James Mowery is a computer geek that writes about technology and related topics. To read more blog posts by him, go to led tv.