The video game industry is soon to undergo a serious change. A change that many feel is for for the better.

Currently video game manufacturers and publishers usually sign what is called an exclusive agreement. What this means is the video game hardward manufacturer, such as XBox, PS3, WII, etc. has the sole rights for that publisher`s particular game.

However this trend of exclusive deals may be coming to an end. In the November issue if Electronic Gaming Monthly, Evan Van Zelfden says, “that the agreements between game publishers and hardware makers called as third-party exclusives may be ceased in the future.” Van Zelfden explains further, “that more publishers and developers were willing to create computer games that can be used for different gaming platforms such as Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation, and Xbox 360 than giving an exclusive license to only one platform.”

Not having an exclusive license allows publishers to develop a video game for multiple platforms. Van Zelfden agrees, “their games would have a wider market if it will be available in multiplatform versions.”

It may be a while before the entire industry jumps on this “bandwagon” however there are a couple of games on the way. The games that would soon launch in multiplatform versions include “Devil May Cry 4″ and “Grand Theft Auto IV”.

Keep an eye out on this trend and the games that will be hitting the market soon. Soon you will no longer have to buy just the XBox to get a certain game and so on.

By: Michael C. Podlesny



By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:

If you want to become a video game tester and get paid to beta test unreleased video games, I believe there are 4 tips which will help you get a games testing job quicker. I have been working as a games tester for a little over 2 years, and following these pointers helped me to become a video game tester.

Tip 1 - Understand Games Testing Is A Career

If you want to become a video game tester, you need to know that it is a career and not just some fun hobby. You will have deadlines like any job and will need to show commitment to your set tasks. Game testers who prove themselves reliable and able to deliver on deadlines get rewarded with more jobs.

Tip 2 - Own Many Different Gaming Platforms

The second tip I would suggest for those who want to become a video game tester, is to own as many gaming platforms as possible. Bottom line is the more gaming platforms you own, the more games you will be able to test. And the more games you can test the more money you will make - period.

Tip 3 - Follow Instructions

If you want to become a video game tester you need to be able to follow strict instructions from your employer - the gaming company. You will always be asked to fill out surveys and make specific notes. You must have legible writing and be able to communicate the bugs/issues you find in the games you test very clearly. The more information you provide the better.

Tip 4 - Keep Applying For Jobs

If you want to become a video game tester you must keep applying for jobs. There is a reasonable amount of competition so you will not get all the jobs you apply for. Sometimes you may have to knock back a job as you are committed to another, so you want to be sure you always have backup jobs waiting for you.

Conclusion

Follow the above tips and you will become a video game tester sooner rather than later. You need to be patient and persistent initially, but the hard work will pay off. I have been involved in games testing for a few years, and have built up a solid reputation with gaming companies cause I always finish the games on time and give them good feedback - do the same and you will have no problem.



By: Peter Johnson

About the Author:

I am a games tester and I make money testing video games. You can definitely make a decent income testing video games. It seems too good to be true right - sitting on your couch beta testing unreleased video games and getting paid for it, but it’s a reality now with the gaming industry being worth in excess of 30 billion dollars. Here are a few tips, which if you follow, will make sure you succeed as a video game tester.

Tip 1: Don’t Get Scammed By A Video Game Testing Guide

Because games testing has become such a viable money making opportunity, many people are trying to cash in by selling bogus scam guides. They will promise you unlimited jobs that can pay hundreds of dollars an hour. In reality this is crap. I know this because I bought a few of these guides before stumbling upon a legitimate one that has hooked me up with some great jobs. Check out the bottom of this article for more information.

Tip 2: Take It Seriously

I know some of you are probably laughing at this comment, but you need to be pro active to succeed as a video game tester. You need to make contacts with the job offers and make sure you present yourself as a reliable person. Don’t wait for days to reply to emails - show them you are keen and willing to make money testing video games. When you start landing jobs, make sure you give as much information as possible - be thorough and you will be rewarded with more jobs. It goes without saying that you need to meet all deadlines set.

Tip 3: Own A Few Gaming Platforms

This is one of the most common mistakes why people fail as a video game tester. The reality is the more gaming consoles you own, the more jobs you will be able to take, and the more money you will be able to make testing video games. An insider tip is that you can generally make the most money testing Xbox 360 games, so I would definitely recommend you own that gaming console at least.

Conclusion

If you are serious about make money testing video games and follow the above tips, there is no doubt that you will be successful. Make sure you stay pro-active and respond to all relevant job assignments, and you will quickly earn a name for yourself as a reliable video games tester.



By: Peter Johnson

About the Author:

GameGuideDog.com: 2008 TOP 20 Video Game Walkthrough Strategy Guides helps Kids Charities!

Yes, you read that right! GameGuideDog.com makes the TOP 2008 Video Game Walkthrough Strategy Guides help Kids Charities!

All the online support and WALKTHROUGH GAME STRATEGY GUIDES that are now available for you at GameGuideDog.com bring visitors that in turn help childrens charities!

If you have children or if you are an avid gamer yourself why not get the best Game Walkthrough Help ‘for LIFE’???  GameGuideDog.com is an Ad free, kid safe website.  Since they continue to contribute to children’s charities (sponsors on their main page), signing up will have your child helping other kids in return!

Pick up a title and get the guides right from GameGuideDog.com and make a good cause for the holidays with your gaming purchases!  This season is jam-packed with a lots of very interesting titles and of course more sequels to some of the most popular games. Here are our recommendations as a guideline which games you can expect to appear on most wishlists of gamers.

As always please make sure the RATING for your game is appropraite for the individual you are buying it for! 

 Reported and seen on the blog from: http://news.wonderdogsoftware.com



GAMEGUIDEDOG’S: 2008 TOP 20 HOTTEST GAME TITLES ALONG WITH THE WALKTHROUGH STRATEGY GUIDES TO HELP YOU PLAY THEM!

1. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (EA; Release date: October 27, 2008) - This computer game is a real-time strategy game that is a continuation of the Command & Conquer series. The Red Alert game series asserts that Albert Einstein designed a time machine and used it for the purposes of traveling back in time to kill Adolf Hitler, thus preventing Nazi Germany from forming and preventing World War II from ever taking place. In this scenario, Joseph Stalin becomes Europe’s main aggressor. Following the events of Red Alert 2, the Soviet Union leadership plans to also travel back in time with a time machine they too have created with the intent to assassinate Albert Einstein following his killing of Hitler, thus placing the Soviet Union in a position of power. Unfortunately, during this mission a terrible mistake is made and a completely different timeline is created that erased all of the events of the previous games thus altering the evolution of technology and creating newer, more advanced technologies such as a super power deemed the Rising Sun. This inevitably fuels a World War between the Soviets, the Allies and the Empire.

2. Fable II  (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide) - Fable II is a role playing game designed to be played on the Xbox 360 console. It is a sequel to Fable and Fable: The Lost Chapters. Set 500 years after the original Fable, Fable II is an action role-playing game that allows players to live whatever life they decide in a completely open world environment. There is limitless freedom and choice and players can explore many different catacombs, caves, and dungeons in the world of Albion.

3. Fallout 3  (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide) - Fallout 3 is a PC game and takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States in the year 2277. The character the player chooses is a member of a fallout shelter, Vault 101 that serves Washington, D.C. The character resides with their widower father (voiced by Liam Neeson) until, one day, the player awakes to discover that the father has vacated the vault and journeyed into the wasteland for an unknown reason. The vault overseer becomes suspicious that the player is the cause of the father’s disappearance, so the player decides to travel into the wasteland in search of their father. The player will run into organizations from previous games such as the Brotherhood of Steel (a group of tech coveting survivors), and the Enclave - an elitist and genocidal group from the United States Government.

4. Far Cry 2 (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide): Far Cry 2 is a first-person shooter game designed originally for Windows, but will be available on October 21, 2008 for PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation platforms. The game no longer entails the science fiction aspects of its predecessor; in fact, the setting is realistic. The game takes place in a small, imaginary, central-African nation that is in a state of civil war. The protagonist of the games in the past, Jack Carver is not featured in this game. In the sequel, the player will have an option of choosing nine different characters for play. Each character has its own unique look and story. All of the characters will be different types of mercenaries. Any playable character not chosen will become a non-player character throughout the game. The plot of the game is centered on the recent collapse of the nation’s government which leaves two factions trying to gain control. The United Front Liberation and Labor, and the Alliance for Popular Resistance are at war with one another. Both groups claim to have the interest of the people at heart but are both obviously corrupt. It is then revealed that the diamond minds have been completely depleted, leaving the people with nothing, causing even more drama amongst the people of the country. The player must find and liquidate “The Jackal” an arms dealer that has been selling weapons to both sides of the conflict. This goal is to be accomplished by any means necessary.

5. Gears of War 2 (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide): - Gears of War 2 is a third-person shooter game developed exclusively for the Xbox 360. At the end of the first game, there was a Lightmass Bomb; Gears of War 2 takes place six months after its detonation. The majority of the Locust Horde was destroyed. In addition, the explosion caused the majority of the liquid Imulsion underground to vaporize thus causing a fatal disease deemed “Rust Lung”, which spread among the already diminishing human population. Following months of piece, Tollen and Montevado (two cities) disappear underground, thus causing the COG to believe the Locust has resurged. The players responsibility is to save the Jacinto Plateau, one of the only remaining safe harbors for humans, to do this one must take on a war with the Locust.

6. Lego Batman  (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide): Lego Batman was released for the PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable and Microsoft Windows. Lego Batman is Traveller’s Tales fifth shot at a Lego Game, and though the game should be perfected, it most definitely is not. It is still quirky. The puzzles don’t make sense, and it is still difficult to judge your jumps. Lego Batman is unique, however, because the story is not based off of a movie, or a comic book plot. The tale is basic- villains escape Arkham Asylum and Batman is responsible for hunting them down. Basically the whole point is breaking things, fighting, and getting rid of the bad guys. Throughout the games, you’ll have an opportunity to play in a vast array of scenarios and encounter a ton of characters. It’s a great simple mix, and a really fun, simple game to play.

7. Little Big Planet (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide): - Designed for the Playstation 3, Little Big Planet is a unique experience in that players learn about the powers that their characters have when interacting physically with the environment. There are many different obstacles to explore, items to collect, and different puzzles to solve that require not only mental ability, but also teamwork and collaboration. As players explore the game, their creative skills will begin to grow and they will be able to begin modifying their surroundings. All of the skills required of the game are acquired through play, so this game is very simple and user friendly.

8. Call of Duty World at War (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide): - Designed for play on your PC; Call of Duty World at War forces players into the awful, and ruthless chaotic world that was WWII combat, and also challenges them to survive the worst battles that led to the fall of the Axis powers.

9. Dead Space (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide): - Dead Space is a third-person action video game designed for PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. It is set in the future and revolves around a space engineer, Isaac Clarke. Clarke works for Concordance Extraction Corporation, a company responsible for “giant mining ships” all over the galaxy. His company gets a distress call from the USG Ishimura, a ship that destroys planets for the purpose of extracting valuable ore. When he thinks that a mechanical failure is the only issue, he goes to rendezvous with the ship to find that the ship has been overrun be Necromorphs, a flesh eating alien race. Isaac is then separated and must battle his way to safety.

10. Guitar Hero World Tour (Activision; Release date: October 26, 2008) – This is the fourth game in the Guitar Hero sequence and should be available for Wii, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, and the Xbox 360. The game will continue to feature the guitar shaped controller, but will now be equipped with drum and microphone controllers for the percussion and vocal parts. This version of the game will allow users to create their own songs, not just perform the ones available on the game.

11. Left 4 Dead (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide):  – The goal of Left 4 Dead is an easy one - all you have to do is survive. You are lucky enough to be one of the few survivors of a new and highly dangerous strain of the rabies virus that has spread over the entire human population. It turns all humans into rabid and bloodthirsty zombies. Team work is necessary if you want to finish the game alive. Left 4 Dead is a first person multiplayer co-op survival horror shooter. It pits four human survivors against 4 human controlled characters. The game is available for the Xbox 360 or your PC.

12. Mirror’s Edge (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide):  – Mirror’s Edge will be coming to you via the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. It is a game about a runner, whose parents were murdered while protesting the government. Her name is Faith and she has to aid her sister in escaping from the corrupt government. Faith was taught that it is important to not utilize or rely on current communication methods because they are monitored by the police and government. She is forced to run messages to the criminal underworld in an attempt to rescue her sister. She is pursued and chased by government agents. The game play is realistic, and the graphics from the trailer look great.

13. NHL 2K9 (2K Sports; Already released)- 2K Sports really did a great job with the completely rebuilt NHL experience. NHL 2K9 offers a new in-game presentation system, new player animations and controls. You’ll be pleased with the new commentary, and even more user friendly controls. It makes playing the game on your Wii, Xbox 360, or Playstation 3 even better than it was before.

14. Prince of Persia (Ubisoft; Release date: December 2, 2008)- Just in time for Christmas, Prince of Persia will be released for play on your PC. The game starts off with a new Prince of Persia. He is returning home from his travels and adventures on a donkey that is full of treasure earned over time. He wants to spend his treasure on women and liquor and any other luxury possible. Unfortunately, he is caught in a fierce sandstorm. After the sandstorm dies down, he finds that he is in a mythical garden, and at its center there exists a Tree of Life. The Prince and a girl stumble upon one another and stuck in the same scenario make a decision to aid one another. Together the venture to the center of the garden, where they watch the trees destruction, thus leading to the liberation of Ahriman, the ancient god of darkness. After Ahriman is set free, he begins covering the lands with evil and darkness. The Prince and Elkia fight against Ahriman in an attempt to make the world good again.

15. Resistance 2 (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide) : Designed exclusively for the Playstation 3, Resistance 2 is an alternative history first person shooter video game. Resistance 2 is a continuation of the Resistance: Fall of Man story line. The game picks up at the end of Resistance Fall of man, and takes place just outside of London, England. It begins with hale walking through a field covered in snow; he is armed with only one grenade. A VTOL Aircraft sees Hale and then transports him to the Dan Aric Johnson Air force Base in Iceland. When the VTOL lands the U.S. Black Ops Soldiers try to subdue Hale. When Hale arrives at the base he finds he is not alone, he has been collected with other men who are resistant to the Chimeran Virus. They are called Sentinels and are a highly trained task force. Now he must fight a war against the Chimera.

16. Rock Band 2 (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide) - For play on your Xbox 360, Wii, or PlayStation 3 Rock Band 2 allows you to take your band on an online-enabled World Tour mode where you can record albums, tackle different set challenges and even compete against other bands. You can compete with friends, or compete with people across the country in the “Battle of the Bands” mode. This version also has all of the features you’ve come to adore from the first Rock Band game.

17. Soulcalibur IV (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide)  - Soulcalibur IV is available for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 and delivers different characters, enhanced features, and amazing 3D modeling not previously available in the Soulcalibur series. The game features not only the familiar but new faces from all over the galaxy that want to fight , breaking new boundaries, taking on harder challenges, and uncovering a new level of mystery. This is a great and timeless series if you love fighting games - and this is the best Soulcalibur yet.

18. Spore (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide)  – Spore is available for the PC, Mac and Nintendo DS. It is a multi-genre, single player online metaverse video game. The game allows the player to take control over the evolution of a species starting with its beginnings as a unicellular organism all the way through its development into an intelligent and social creature exploring its way though space.

19. Tales of Vesperia (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide)  –Tales of Vesperia is available exclusively for the Xbox 360 and is a role-playing game that is full of vibrant design. There are hidden gems and superb graphics hidden throughout the game. The characters are amazingly crafted and the dialogue is great. The game is long and entertaining, there are multiple combat elements, and it’s a great game in the series.

20. World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King  (GameGuideDog.com has the walkthrough guide)  - This is a second expansion of the multiplayer online game for your PC. This game allows you to power your way through the newest quest and dungeons in an attempt to defeat the Lich Kin Arthas, in a sequel to the World of Warcraft.

In addition, GameGuideDog.com promotes the awareness of the ESRB Game Ratings system, helping families across the globe get involved. 

In conclusion,  please be sure to visit and tell any friends, family members, even school teachers about the benefits of belonging to the Wonderdog Software website (aka GameGuideDog.com).   Any guides you normally buy are added for you and since 2001, they have had enough members to support the system in keeping it up to date on a daily basis.  

Chrissy Snow, Author 

Source & Guide Location: http://news.wonderdogsoftware.com/

BLOG SOURCE: Where to Get ANY Video Game Walkthrough Guide Online

GameGuideDog.Com - The ONLY Video Game Help Website you will EVER need!!



By: Chrissy Snow

About the Author:

If you need to know how to find the best video game rental services online, then this article is for you. It shares some useful information for people who are interested in subscribing to a video game rental service on the Internet, but are worried that they might be signing up for a service that sucks. I’ll give you three basic factors to look for in a good service – free trial memberships, a large selection of games, and an all-around store for your rentals.

First, let’s talk about free trials. This is a critical factor that you should never ignore, especially if this is your first time subscribing to a service like this. A good video game rental store should offer at least one or two kinds of free trial memberships. In fact, it’s becoming quite common nowadays among the better online services out there. Some sites offer a free month of membership, while other sites offer varying periods.

You should take advantage of these free trials. It helps to be able to familiarize yourself with their services before making a commitment to sign up with them. Test their services first and get to know how they operate before paying up for a subscription.

The sites you should sign up for must have a huge selection of games to make it worth your while. Otherwise, what’s the use of paying for a membership fee? You’d be better off borrowing from your neighbor if this is the case. Good video game rental services have thousands of available games for their subscribers.

Some sites specialize in one gaming platform only, while the bigger sites contain thousands of games for all popular formats like PS2, PS3, Xbox, Nintendo Wii, and even the handheld devices like DS and Game Boy. It’s really your call to make. If you’re a solid Xbox gamer, then you might be satisfied with a video game rental service that specializes in Xbox games. On the other hand, if you have a couple of different consoles, then it’s a no-brainer to choose a service with varied game titles.

Most of the bigger sites also stock up on older game titles, not just the new ones, so you’re better off signing up for one of these sites. This makes their games library a whole lot bigger, which is always a good thing. Of course, having lots of competition also helps, so it pays for these video game rental sites to stock up on more titles as often as possible.

Perhaps you’ve already noticed, but some of these sites do not only rent out video games, but they’re branching out on movies and music, too. These are one-stop shops that offer a lot of convenience for subscribers who are looking for a single location to rent out games as well as movies. What’s even better is that you don’t have to sign up for a separate account each for renting games and movies. One single membership with these sites allows you to rent the kind of entertainment you want.

There are a few other factors that may help you decide which video game rental service you sign up for, but these are the three that you need to consider. Free trials are a great way to sample the service before paying. An extensive selection of game titles in the popular gaming platforms is always a huge plus. And if you want a one-stop shop for your varied entertainment needs, there are a few sites that can offer you this service as well.



By: Mawe Barrios

About the Author:

Video Games are vastly disseminated all over the world. Questions can never be asked regarding their capacity to entertain and the ability to fully satisfy a gamer. In the past researches, it was found out that roughly millions of people in the United States have access to video and pc games. This just means that a majority of the population is looking around and trying to discover what’s available for them.

People or enthusiasts can be leveled into three; 1) beginners 2) frequent gamers 3) experts. These three are bound to one arena where they will meet: the gaming world.

These people have their own questions in mind and are trying to personally find out the answers to their questions.

For a beginner, the question may be something like; what will I do with this game? This question may seem very simple but needs patience to answer. Such question would change and would elevate as time goes by and as the ability of the player improves. From this stage, their focus is neither to look for games nor to discover new game systems or consoles. Their mission is to learn and master the game no matter what game it is regardless of the console they use.

The second level of gamer is something caught between seeking and constantly going with the flow. These types of gamers now actually find some time to discover new things and ask question like, what other games are there for me. This question is embodied with the desire to satisfy the game and not just to play with it.

The third must not be misinterpreted with an addicted player or any other worse negative term for it. These people are actually the ones not just looking for games but also make ways so other gamers may understand them and develop the game further. They do not just play games, they even interpret it. They are expert enough that they would try as many games as they could and try to master it then make some articles or reviews about what they found out with the game. They are actually doing comparisons.

Comparing a video game system is very important for these three levels of enthusiasts. This will help them master whatever they are currently into. In addition, reviews and comparisons aid other gamers in finding out which games are worth looking into and which game consoles to buy.

But how do these people come up with a review and what are the things that they do in order to write one? There are also techniques and procedures that one must follow in order to arrive at a very good comparison of video game systems. Here are some that you may first include in your list of techniques to compare a video game system.

- The very first thing that one must do is to play the video game itself. Play it until you finish the video game. If it is a leveled game then play it until the last level.

- Take note of the effects, the color and the other features of the game that you may share with the readers. All physical observation must be related to readers for their information.

- Relate to the readers the basic information that they need to know about the certain game. They will probably need to know about the console compatibility, the release date of the game, the name, the publisher, the platform, etc. For pc games, it is very important to first relate to the reader the system specification requirement of the game. Try to inflict your own observation on it.

- Give the readers a gist of what the game is. If it is a race, then tell them specifically that it is a race and what kind of race the game is. There are so many types of video or computer games that are now available in the market, all with different ways to play and with variable number of players that can play. These facts must also be included in the review or comparison.

- Give your opinion in the sense that they will agree with you when they will try the game you are comparing. There are so many things that you may want to point out in the game. The scoring system, the level of difficulty, the length of the game and so on, these are just examples of things that you may critic.

- Compare the game with another game with the same playing method. The game that you will compare it with must a game that you have already played with. Give the strengths and the weaknesses of each game according to your observation.

- Lastly, conclude in a manner that you balance things. You may also cling to the other game that is really good for you but do not ever forget the good side of the other game. Compare video game systems in an unbiased way.



By: T J Madigan

About the Author: