History of Gaming

History of Gaming
Computer games have changed a lot over the last 35 years; ever since the Television was created people wanted to take part in the action and in 1972 we could.

1st Generation.
1972 was the year that Magnavox released the first home video game console called the“Magnavox Odyssey”.The Odyssey was initially only moderately successful, and it was not until Atari's arcade game PONG popularized video games, that the public began to take more notice of the incoming industry.By 1975 Magnavox, saw the popularity of PONG, cancelled the Odyssey and released a scaled down console that only played PONG - the Odyssey 100. Almost simultaneously released with Atari's own home PONG console through Sears, these consoles jump started the consumer market.As with the arcade market, the home market was soon flooded by dedicated consoles that played simple pong and pong derived games.2nd Generation.Fairchild released the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES) in 1976.While there had been previous game consoles that used cartridges, either the cartridges had no information and served the same function as flipping switches (the Odyssey) or the console itself was empty and the cartridge contained all of the game components.The VES, however, contained a programmable microprocessor so its cartridges only needed a single ROM chip to store microprocessor instructions.

3rd Generation.
In 1983, Nintendo released the Famicom in Japan. It supported high-res, full color, tiled backgrounds, and high-res sprites. This allowed Famicom games to be longer, and have more detailed graphics. It was brought over to the US 1985 and was renamed the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System).In the US, video games were seen as a fad that had already passed. To distinguish its product from older video game consoles Nintendo used a front loading cartridge port similar to a VCR on the NES, packaged the NES with a plastic "robot" (R.O.B) and a light gun (The Zapper), and originally advertised it as a toy. Nintendo also built a lock-out chip into the NES.This kept third parties from producing their own cartridges and forced all developers to go through Nintendo to get NES games published. This allowed Nintendo to do things like prevent developers from releasing low-quality games and limit developers to five titles a year.Like Space Invaders for the 2600, Nintendo found its breakout hit game in Super Mario Brothers. Nintendo's success revived the video game industry and new consoles were soon introduced in the following years to compete with the NES.

4th Generation.
Sega's Master System was intended to compete with NES, but never gained any significant market share in the USA and was barely profitable. It fared notably better in PAL territories, especially Brazil. Sega regained market share by releasing their next-generation console, the Sega Mega Drive, which was released in Japan on the 29th of October 1988 and in the USA/Europe on the 1st of September 1989 (renamed in the USA to the Sega Genesis), two years before Nintendo could release the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) (1990).

5th Generation.
The first fifth generation consoles were the Atari Jaguar and the 3DO. Both of these systems were much more powerful than the SNES or Genesis (known as Mega Drive outside the U.S.); they were better at rendering polygons, could display more onscreen colors, and the 3DO used CDs that contained far more information than cartridges and were cheaper to produce. Neither of these consoles were serious threats to Sega or Nintendo, though. The 3DO cost more than the SNES and Genesis combined, and the Jaguar was extremely difficult to program for, leading to a lack of games that used its extra power.It was not until Sony's PlayStation, Sega's Saturn, and Nintendo's Nintendo 64 were released that fifth generation consoles started to become popular. They had advanced polygon capabilities. The Saturn and Playstation used CDs to store games, while the N64 still used cartridges. All three cost far less than the 3DO, and were easier to program than the Jaguar.

6th Generation.
In the 6th Generation Gaming advanced in massive leaps and bounds with the release of high graphic gaming.Sega's Dreamcast was Sega's last videogame console, and is discontinued, despite being the first internet ready console. Sega now develops software for other consoles.Sony's PlayStation 2 was the sequel to their first console, PlayStation.Nintendo's GameCube was Nintendo's fourth home videogame console and the first Nintendo console to use discs.Microsoft's Xbox was Microsoft's first videogame console.

7th Generation.
The 7th Generation is the future of gaming and will soon be arriving, one console has already arrived.Microsoft's Xbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005.Sony's PlayStation 3 was announced to be released in Japan on November 11, 2006 and in North America on November 17, 2006(retailing for $600) and in Europe in March of 2007.Nintendo's Wii was announced to be released in North America on November 19, 2006 (retailing for $250), in Japan on December 2, 2006, in Australia on December 7, 2006, and in Europe on December 8, 2006.

Conclusion
Many people may say video games are dumbing down people nowadays but this is wrong it has been proven that video games improve your strategic skills and your reflex’s; obviously there are downsides such as poor eye sight if you play a lot of games and if you play lots of game and stop doing exercise your body will become weak and frail,Luckily the Nintendo Wii now has motion sensor game which means you have to move to control the action, now this won’t make you fully fit but it helps to stay healthier.Luckily for us who like to play games companies will always make bigger and better computer games as long as money is involved.Thank you for reading my blog.Remember always have a break between 1 hour of gaming.

By Frankie

Man utd stay top of the league after their impressive display against Blackburn as Chelsea trail after destroying Watford. Arsenal go to 3rd in the table after dominating Liverpool who drop to 9th Watford go back into the relegation zone whereas reading stay comfortable in mid-table but Charlton stay in their abysmal form as they are still! Bottom of the league Sheffield united’s valuable draw with Bolton lifts them out of the relegation zone

International news

International news by Jackir Miah

4 die in Basra blast
4 soldiers were killed by an explosion on a patrol boat in southern Iraq the following day another three were in a put in a critical condition, the soldiers were from the intelligence corps and the assault squadrons. 1 of the three injured men has recovered significantly but the other two remain in a serious condition, the families of the soldiers wish to stay unknown until a further 24 hours to release their names.

Ps3 sells out at launch in Japan
Game stores in Japan have sold out of PlayStation 3 consoles after thousands of gamers queued for hours in the cold to buy them. The console went on sale on 11 November but Sony only made 100,000 machines available on launch day. (The console will hit the U.K in March 2007)
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is being sold in two versions. The more expensive version has a 60GB hard drive and wi-fi but costs 60,000 yen (£270). The cheaper version has a 20GB hard drive, doesn’t have wi-fi and will cost 50,000 yen (£222). Prices are expected to be higher in Europe. Both versions include a wireless controller, a Blue-ray high-quality video disc and a port so they can work with a high-definition display. Buying a PS3 also gives owners free access to the online PlayStation Network where they can meet and play other gamers. Sony expects five games to be available at launch including Ridge Racer 7, Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight, Genji, and Resistance: Fall of Man.
Anniversary of Pakistan earth quake
Last month survivors of the Pakistan earthquake had to deal with their loss as anniversary ceremonies brought painful memories. The disaster brought death and destruction. People were kept out because Kashmir was essentially a military zone. War divided the territory between Pakistan and India nearly 60 years ago. And, since 1989, Kashmiri rebels have been fighting on the Indian side. This began as a nationalist uprising, but was taken over by Islamists, sponsored by Islamabad.

Farm workers killed in train collision
27 people have been killed in a train crash, 3 have been critically injured. The train was crossing a train track when a train came out from nowhere and collided with the truck full of employees, the passengers on the train suffered no injuries but were suffering from shock because of the incident involving deaths

National news

National news By Francis Evangelista

Healthy Hammond behind the wheel

Richard Hammond-top gear presenter and Brainiac boffin-has been on his first drive since the September crash. Recovering from the brain injuries Hammond drove one of his sport cars around Gloucestershire on a Sunday afternoon. Although having to pass a 2-hour test he enjoyed every second of it. He stated "It was wonderful to be away from everything, being able to tootle around the lanes in the foothills of the Malverns in Gloucestershire on a sunny Sunday afternoon." Hammond was advised by doctors to take things slow and easy for now so he’ll only be taking short trips.

Bullying has to STOP

Schools minister Jim Knight demanded for pupils to speak up and fight the bully. This year’s anti-bully week (20th November-27th November) is all about the people who watch those who get bullied and do nothing about it. Jim knight stated that it was “vital” for people to stand up for those around them and to eliminate the ongoing problem of bullying.
Anyone can be bullied; stars like Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox, singer Jo O' Meara, and former England football captain Gary Lineker were all bullied at school. Since 1999 the government has made every school have an anti-bullying policy. It means having sessions where you can talk about past experiences. There are many things to do if you’re getting bullied however the most important thing is to TELL SOMEONE.

Local Chippy smells like chips!

A fish and chip shop has received a complaint from its local council. The complaint was about the smell of the shop; it smelt like fish and chips (never saw that coming). Steve Morton-owner of the chippy in Wakefield, Yorkshire-thought the letter was a joke. He announced "I didn't think there was a problem, if anybody can tell me how to make fish and chips not smell like fish and chips, I'm grateful." Later the council admitted that there’s no reason why a fish and chip shop shouldn’t smell like a fish and chips, and that they shouldn’t have accepted the complaint in the first place.

Hip Hop By Kumbi & Bonez

Hip hop: Influences
Recently the well known artist Rhymefest (US rapper) visited England to discuss the effects that modern rap has on the British youth. Rhymefest wrote to the Tory leader on account of Mr Cameron’s views on DJ’s who play violent music. Having sent the letter the two then met for an informal discussion about the matter. Rhymefest later then said he found Mr. Cameron very “Bill Clinton-y” and invited his new found pal out for a night at the clubs to actually see what a rap scene looks like. Mr. Cameron sadly turned down the offer because of a full diary but said the meeting was very positive and was happy to meet Rhymefest.
Hip Hop: UK Hip Hop
UK rap is getting bigger by the minute because of its more commercial style. It appeals to everyone from children in council estates to middle aged people in houses, whereas other genres such as grime are not so appealing. By alluring such a wide variety of people, artists such as Sway, Sincere, Estelle, Black Twang and many more are well known throughout London and in surrounding areas. The growth of UK Hip Hop will always struggle as American Rap is dominant, many artist believe that UK Hip Hop will blow and develop into its own genre.
Jay-Z:
Shawn Corey Carter better known by his stage name Jay-Z is an American rapper and current president and CEO of Def Jam and Roca-Fella Records. He has been one of the most successful American rappers of the past decade. In 2006, MTV named him the "Greatest MC Of All Time". Known for his use of free styling abilities, flow, and blending of street and popular hip hop, Jay-Z became one of the most respected rappers in the music industry before his declared retirement in 2004. He is admired for his ability to craft lyrics from memory, without the use of pen and paper (he claims his critically acclaimed album The Blueprint was written in album Kingdom Come will be released November 21st, though it already leaked on November 10th.only two days).[He also returned from retirement in October 2006; his new
Along with Damon Dash and Kareem Burke, Jay-Z was one of the founders of Roca-Fella Records , a hip hop record label which also launched the careers of artists such as Beanie Sigel, Kanye West and Teairra Mari.

robo set for rfu backing

ROBO SET FOR RFU BACKING


Andy Robinson has been given at least 2 games to try and save his place and coach of the England team.

Robinson met with the rfu after England lost their 7th game in a row on Saturday against Argentina
Despite many fans calling for his head the rfu has given Robinson at least two games saying there will be no “knee-jerk” decisions.

Robinson will be in charge for England’s back-to-back freindlies with South Africa and his position as England coach will be assessed following that match.

Chief executive Francis Baron will meet with Robinson told the daily telegraph: “we have to get to the bottom of this we’ve got to turn this around there is a real buzz in the training ground which is missing on match day”

"At the end of the autumn programme he will produce a report on the four-match campaign which will be considered."
Will these recent comments be just the confidence that Robinson needed or will the next four games just be delaying his sacking?

Junk food and exercise.

Good nutritious food: is needed for a healthy diet and life.

In schools from this September: food in high fats salt and sugar will be band in vending machines and meals.
Why should all of this junk be ditched?
Old people die from heart problems, these days’ young people are suffering from heart problems which in their cases are caused from junk food and not enough exercise. It not only heart problem that young people are facing it is other diseases.
With the help of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, the UK government is trying too combat unhealthy eating in schools across the UK. Since Jamie’s initiative schools in the UK there are providing healthy and nutritious food.

Did you now that eating junk food, during pregnancy raises new born risks of diabetes and obesity?
Junk food is aloud sometime but all the time because you will go obesity if you don’t add excises to it.
Have you seen the film “Super size me?” It is really good. It is about a man who kept on eating Mc Donald’s for six months and nearly killing himself after. This film shows that we shouldn’t eat too much fast food especially not for six months. He does this because he wants to show the dangers of eating a large consumption of fast food. So…we need to eat healthy and be active.

We all need exercise so we can stay fit and healthy. We need the right food and the right exercise. Some kids sit in front of their TV and play on there computers all day long eating junk food whilst being entertained by the screen in front. There is no activity taking place which could cause potential health problems for example obesity and other health related illnesses.







Who is having fun?
Which picture would you rather be in?



Having a healthy life means having a balance of everything. That means eating from a balanced diet this included fruit and vegetables as well as the odd snack and fast food but only sometimes!! It is good to go out and play and exercise because you have fun and it helps you keep healthy and fit.

On one extreme we have young people who are eating too much of the wrong foods and on the other we have young people who are starving themselves. There are many terms for starving one common term is known as anorexia nervosa. ….(1 in 4 girls suffer from this problem). Anorexia is a mental illness caused by young people wanting to appear skinny. This maybe because they want to be like their friends, they want the body of their female icon like a celebrity for example Nichole Ricchi.
Things you can do to have a balanced life:
· Do not always have junk food (treat yourself now and again to fast food, that does not mean treat yourself everyday).
· Exercise regularly at east two times a week. This might be walking instead of taking the bus to school/shopping.
· Get all your friends together and start playing football/tennis/basketball on a regular basis.

Have fun and be healthy!!!

Arsene Wenger vs Alan Pardew

Former Arsenal boss Terry Neill has blasted Arsene Wenger for reacting to Alan Pardew's celebrations during West Ham's 1-0 win at Upton Park.

Gunner’s manager Wenger and opposite number Pardew had to be separated following Marlon Harewood's 89th-minute winner which saw the Hammers climb out of the Premiership drop zone. Neill, who was boss at Highbury from 1976 to 1983, attended Sunday's game in which Wenger also snubbed Pardew's post-match handshake.
Pardew told Sky Sports: "I apologise if I offended Arsene. I apologise. It was nothing personal, I was celebrating the goal." He added: "It was shame because it was a tense game and we were under lot of pressure. I was celebrating the goal, that was all basically. "Arsene seemed to have a problem with that, probably rightly. It was frustration, there was nothing personal.
"Nothing was said. Maybe he [Wenger] was angry at a couple of decisions and it was a physical game. We wanted to upset Arsenal, we wanted to win. "But I was celebrating our goal, nothing more, and I apologise to him again and to Arsenal.” He is a top guy and I really respect him. I thought I was entitled to celebrate the goal after a pulsating game." Asked if the pair shook hands at the end of the match, Pardew insisted: "I tried to. I hope [to see him after the match] and hopefully I will. I want to sort things out. It's not right for the image of the game. "The important thing is it was a great victory with a goal in the last minutes. Emotions were high, but there was nothing dangerous or horrible.
"That is what happens with last-minute goals."
Pardew was anxious that his players got credit for the 1-0 win over Arsenal.
"From our point of view the performance of the players was the key. We looked to close them down and we were brave in the way we approached the game. Tactically it worked for us but it doesn't always.
Personally I think that Wengers performance was poor, he was just being a bad sportsman when he pushed west ham manager Alan Pardew on to the ground because he was celebrating the last minute goal.

Why are you celebrating,
I will kick your a**.




Bring it on.

R&B

…R&B…
ByDeleshaMcIntosh
What Do You Automatically Think Of When You Hear Of Rnb Music?
The slave day terms abbreviated for rhythm and blues and now the meaning of the genre of music to which is now known to the world as the music that promotes, drugs, expensive jewellery ,flash cars, grills and sex and violence.

The recent perception of the rhythm and blues has totally altered in comparison to what the meaning of rhythm and blues meant in the slave trade years that the slave who were talented and could sing could express themselves with an variety of instruments behind the singers, informing people of the unfair treatment they received whilst being involved and captivated in the years of the slave trade.

Nowadays it is essential for the urban R&B videos to have expensive cars and jewellery,and any other sterotypes which are nessacrily interlinked with peoples perceptions of the modern day definition of rhythm and blues
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Ciara Harris:
Ciara the singer/songwriter/dancer/actress has taken the world by storm. Also dubbed as the first lady of “Crunk & B”. She was the second artist to have released a song that was of crunk and b beats. In the year of 2002 Ciara released her first debut single entitled “Goodies” which was an female empowerment record.This is a perfect record for the ladies of the latest and urban generation.Ciara is Known for her up beat and fast tempo and appealing lyrics.But on her latest song promise she expresses her feelings towards being lonely after the dreaded break up with teen love bow wow (also known as Shad Gregory Moss).This Tune is definatley on for the ladies who feel lonely at the moment. And are feeling someone and want to tell them that they wont lie to them as quoted in the chorus of her song “I promise that I would never lie to you boy”.
I personally give this song an 5 ½ stars out of 6
- -The Song.
--The Video.
TO SEE THIS VIDEO VISIT www.musicjesus.com and type in ciara promise
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Cassandra Ventura (A.K.A Cassie):
Cassie also known as next selections newest sensation. Cassie’s career initially kicked off In New York, where Cassie was modeling; she took classes at the Broadway Dance Center. Producer Ryan Leslie began spotting her at clubs and parties in late 2004, and he was charmed by Cassie’s endearing personality. She was finally introduced to Leslie by Sean “Diddy” Combs’ make-up artist, who had worked with Cassie at one of her modeling photo shoots. Shortly after being introduced to music producer Ryan Leslie, Cassie's mother asked Cassie to record a song for her as a birthday gift. Cassie approached Ryan, who put wrote a duet for them called "Kiss Me". Ryan played "Kiss Me" for Tommy Mottola and he offered Cassie a management deal. Cassie inked a deal with Ryan's NextSelection label, and Ryan co-wrote and produced Cassie’s first single, “Me & U” " in 2005. In March 2006, Cassie signed with Diddy's record label, Bad Boy Records. Her latest song is long way to go produced by Ryan Leslie is an urban theme remembered and loved by young women, men, and teenagers.
***-The song*****-Thevideo………………………………………………………………………
to see this video visit www.musicjesus.com and see the long way to go video

©This review has been written by Delesha©

Article By Multi-Talented Kid
UK Grime the Underground Music Taken to the Streets

Grime star Bashy and grime high hitters, Low Deep have been working closely on a new film project called ‘bull’s eye.’ With Bashy’s new mix cd ‘Ur Mum’ Volume 2 soon to be released this summer coming up.
Bashy dropping some exclusive lyrics






Lord of the mics 2 a greater and better version than the first one
Front cover of the 2nd DVD Lord of the Mics is a lyrical battle where known mcs from the streets of London and the outer m25 area lay down their offensive and exclusive lyrics to win, as viewers’ text in to vote who was the better mc.
The clashes for lord of the mic 2 were: Tinchy Strider vs. Ears, Skepta vs. Devilman, Bashy vs. demon and many others.
Front cover of the 1st DVD
How did grime come of age?
UK Grime a music genre straight from the streets, an aggressive and a raving kind of scene.
It is highly known for the abusive lyrics the artists come out with and the way the artists try to promote themselves with making tracks with artists from other parts of the music scene.
Nowadays if you walk on the street and listen to the type of English kids on the streets speak then you would start to realise there’s new slang words which are used in the grime scene, used sometimes carefully and abusively.
Now UK Grime is totally different to some other music genres such as hip hop, because grime is about guys from council blocks and guys who have been living on the street letting out their feelings in their lyrics and sometimes they let it out physically.

Arsenal vs Liverpool

ARSENA Vs LIVERPOOL
3 . 0


In the match of Arsenal v Liverpool arsenal scored three goals which led them to victory. The three goals were scored by Flamini, Toure and galas
Flamini put arsenal ahead five minutes before the break. But Arsenal moved into top gear after the interval, Kolo Toure racing on to Robin van Persie's clever pass to slide home a cool finish after 56 minutes.
William Gallas was then left
Completely unmarked to head
In Van Persie's corner to seal
The win with 10
Minutes left.

It was unusual that two of the
Goals came from centre backs.
It looks like Arsenal are getting back on
Track for a good season.
After a humiliating defeat by West ham last week.
And Wengers poor performance which led him into
A fight with Alan Pardrew. In the week Alan
Apologised if Wenger was a fended but all he was
Doing was celebrating then also Wenger said he was
Sorry for his childish act and a bad example to
Younger people. So they are now back friends and hope the next game they play will be a lot better.

It dose not look good for Liverpool now they are in 9th position. Benitez is starting to get frustrated with his team hope fully they will start getting some victory’s and move up the table.





By Ryan .Davis

A Size too far

A Size too Far
By Alice Knowles

While the government are trying to rid the country of obesity, there are others who are going further. There is a "growing" trend happening in fashion these days and no it has nothing to do with, Hem length, lip colour or fabric style. According to “woman’s wear” the newest trend in fashion is the legendary size zero, women these days are ecoming thing In fact the number of women that are size zero is rapidly increasing. More and more skinny and it doesn’t help that size zero is no longer a catwalk only

The measurements for size zero are only a 23 inch waist and a bust no bigger than 31 inches.. But is the new infamous size zero a step up in trying to promote healthy eating and stomp out obesity? And do these super skinny women give our women of tomorrow something sensible to look up to?

So who can we blame for this new size zero? Is it our new culture and love of fashion and to look good? Why we have suddenly been forced to feel as If we are not skinny enough? Do the media have too much effect on our appearance? If you would care to look back to the 16th century you will find that skinny people just simply didn’t exist so how have we come from a generation of curvaceous women to worrying thin.

But its not all bad news in fact many company some as big as Gucci are banning the new size zero. Gucci says that it will no let models smaller than U.K size 10. And dove are starting a campaign called “real beauty” Razing the awareness of everyday women being Beautiful. Dove did a survey of women aged 15-25 and it turned out that 90% of women aged 15-64 said they would like to change at least one thing about there personal appearance. (with the highest being weight) 67% of all women 15 to 64 withdraw from life-engaging activities due to feeling badly about their looks (among them things like giving an opinion, going to school, going to the doctor)

But surely a size zero can’t be healthy for a woman of 5”5? So is there another reason for this I hear you ask! Well maybe there is what about Anorexia nervosa. Anorexia is a common eating disorder that often start’s with normal dieting to lose weight but turns into a form of starvation causing a person to become dangerously underweight It's estimated that about three or four people in every 100 have anorexia. Most deny they have a problem and many have depression. But yet we are still finding clothing on rails getting smaller and smaller so do we really need a new race of super skinny’s

By Alice Knowles

Doves Campagin for beauty

How much carbon do we put into the atmosphere?

by krishnan patel

Carbon is released when we drive our cars, when we go on holiday, and it is what causes global warming, so why do we still release it? Most electricity has derived from coal which when burnt not only releases carbon but also using up oxygen.
A study, by scientists at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, determined that 160,000 people die every year from the effects of global warming, from malaria to malnutrition, children in developing nations seemingly the most vulnerable. These numbers could almost double by 2020.
The government predicts UK air passenger numbers will rise from 180 million to 475 million by 2030. If we carry on using oil coal and gas what will be left in three generations time? It is quite true that we, in Britain, have been burning coal for several hundred years, but Carbon Dioxide emissions each year have risen sharply since 1900.
The current path that we are going through means that there will be no fossil fuels left by the year 2050. Our primary source of energy is fossil fuel although we have renewable types of energy the are not being put into mass production because the cannot satisfy our excessive power demands. What is the point of burning so much coal? What ever you may think a typical light bulb actually is only 15 percent efficient from when the coal is burned for energy.
These higher levels cannot be taken out of the atmosphere by growing plants so we must find a way. One of the main reasons for this extreme climate change is that vehicles have become cheap and so has air travel. Airlines like easy jet and Ryan air are some of the cheapest airlines around; despite being so cheap they are still major players in the game. These big time airlines are rapidly changing our atmosphere but what can we do to stop them?

Games and Reviews.

Up and Coming:

This year has dawned on a new era with the Xbox 360 becoming a real hit and with new Nintendo Wii being launched on December 7th. With the new technology improving graphics and game play, gaming companies have had to up the ante for a higher demand of the products.

Xbox 360 and Latest Games:

The Xbox 360 has sold over 50 million products worldwide and is still selling

Reviews for games:
Gears of War is a tactical third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games. Developed using the Unreal Engine 3 technology, it was released for Xbox 360 on November 7, 2006 in select stores in the United States and will be released in major retailers on November 12, 2006. It will be released on November 17, 2006 in Europe outside of Germany, where the game was banned after being denied a rating. According to Microsoft Game Studios VP Shane Kim, the preorder sales were expected to reach $100M USD, second only to Halo 2 in videogame history.
Gears of War centers around protagonist Marcus Fenix, and the conflict between the human inhabitants of planet Sera fighting a subterranean enemy known as the Locust Horde. The game is available in both standard and limited editions.

Screenshots:

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent is the fourth installment in the Splinter Cell series of video games developed and published by Ubisoft. The series, created by American author Tom Clancy, follows the character Sam Fisher, a "Splinter Cell" employed by a black-ops division of the National Security Agency, dubbed Third Echelon. This game offers stealthy, intelligent game play but still offers you an enjoyable third person shooter which will keep you entertained even when you’ve completed the game.


Screenshots:






Call of Duty 3 is the name of the latest installment in the Call of Duty video game series. This series of games focuses on the Second World War and offers fantastic realism to first-person environments to put you into perspective of a World War II soldier. You play through various levels completing tasks that don’t always involve a shoot-and-move style. You may have to plant mines in certain positions and then evacuate your faction within a certain time limit. Unlike it’s very successful prequel Call of Duty 2 Big Red One, this game offers quicker reload times and offers easier access to very unique and deadly weaponry.

Screenshots:


Nintendo WII

The Wii (pronounced as the word "we") is Nintendo's seventh-generation video game console. Its project code name was Revolution.
The key feature of the Wii console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which may be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect motion and rotation in three dimensions. The console also notably features WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while consuming very little electrical power.





Nintendo Wii Remote:
The Wii Remote is a one-handed controller that uses a combination of accelerometers and infrared detection (in conjunction with the sensor bar) to sense its position in 3D space. This allows users to control the game using physical gestures as well as traditional button presses. The controller connects to the Wii console using Bluetooth, and features force feedback, 4KB non-volatile memory and an internal speaker. The controller can connect to other devices through a port at the base of the controller. Perhaps the most important of these is the Nunchuk unit, which features an accelerometer and a traditional analog stick with two trigger buttons.

The Legend Of Zelda
Twilight Princess:

Twilight Princess is the latest instalment in the Legend of Zelda series. With the new generation of wireless, sensor controllers, this game is extremely immersive and very entertaining.
If you’re out to get a Nintendo Wii, make this a game to consider.

My top rated game out of all games is Gears of War because with the fantastic graphics and immersive gameplay, it's an excellent game to sit down and play.
10/10

Games and Reviews, Xbox 360

Games and Reviews, Xbox 360




Xbox 360- The Xbox 360 came out in November 2005 and has been a hit across the world. It’s the predecessor to the extremely successful Xbox from Microsoft.


Here are some of the great games that have come out on the Xbox 360:

Game play footage of Full AutoFull Auto: Full Auto is a fantastic racing game for the Xbox 360. It consists of destructible scenery a wide range of different cars and WEAPONS. There’s everything from shot guns to missiles and mines to grenades. Although it’s not a very well known game Full Auto was obviously a hit as there is a already a sequel in development. Its developers ‘Pseudo’ plan an official release on November 17th 2006 in America. In my opinion this game deserves 9.9/10. Rating: 12+








Game play footage of Full Auto



PGR 3 (Project Gotham Racing 3): This Arcade style racing game was released in November 2005 (In America) along with the launch of the Xbox 360 however it was only released in Europe in December 2005. It has been voted “The best 1st Person (Non shooter) of the year” because of it’s realistic inside car view. This game offers fantastic graphics and the once in a lifetime chance to drive your dream cars. I would recommend this game for hardcore racers only and I would give it 10/10. Rating 3+









Game play footage of Project Gotham Racing 3

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (Pro 6, PES 6): Pro 6 is a fantastic football game for any football fan! There have always been wars between Pro and FIFA according to critics, Pro games have always been slightly ahead. Therefore, the latest in the series should and is a game play revolution. The amazing graphics ensures that this is the best football game on the market today. Although most of the teams are unlicensed, the developers and publishers “Konami” still manage to attract millions of gamers across the globe. EA Canada (developers of FIFA) have tried too hard to make their new game brilliant and consequently ruined the game play. Pro is a lot smoother to play with more accurate representations of the players. To sum up, I would give Pro 6 blinding 10/10. Rating 3+









Game Play footage of Pro Evolution Soccer 6


Viva Piñata: This game is quite childish for me and it doesn’t appeal to me in any way. The project for making this game was headed by the makers of Banjo Kazooie, a children’s video game. As Viva Piñata is also for children, I show no interest in this game and I have no positive words to say about it. I would give it a 3/10. Rating 3+





Game play footage of Viva Piñata

Out of all of the games that I have reviewed and given information about, the best one is definitely PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 6, so if you’re a football fan I think you should go out and buy it as soon as you can.




Generally games aren’t educational. They are usually for entertainment but sometimes there are some games that offer educational benefits for the gamers.

Customizing Cars, is this the next stage?

Now it’s time to find out the truth about customized cars, so read on.
These day’s people think the standards cars they buy nowadays are just not good enough for the average person. Many just can’t afford Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s because of there wages. People now are pushing their standard cars to the limits by doing ultimate upgrades like adding new components to the engine like new ECU chip which really upgrades the speed of the car and the acceleration as well. Also they are making the exterior and interior of the cars outrages mainly the drivers are boy racers. Like this Cadillac the owner has tinted the windows, put hydraulics and putted some large rims to attract people towards it.
Many famous people in mainly the singing business tune cars like 50 cent, Lloyd Banks, Chamillionaire and others. These people often use tuned cars in their videos they make because tuned cars mainly show that the singers (rappers) are gangsters and they are also showing they are Powerful and rich. One of the most American gansta cars has to be the1967 Ford Mustang GT which many singers (rappers) buy because of what it shows about the owner and that it appeals a lot. This is because they go for the big engine American look and they do often make it more powerful; better in performance.
Many people support tuning cars because there are many shops to do with as well as shows (it’s where people show off cars). And there are many sponsors to tuned cars like apex, audiobahn and others.
A custom car is a phrase that became prominent in American pop culture in the 1950s, and has enjoyed special interest popularity since that time. It relates to a passenger vehicle that has been modified to improve its performance by altering or replacing the engine and transmission and to make it look "unique", unlike any car that might have been factory finished, always a personal "styling"
statement by the re-style/re-builder.
A development of hot rodding, the change in name corresponded to The change in the design of the cars that were being modified. The first hot rods were made from pre-WWII cars that had running boards and simple fenders that bent over the wheels. These were modified by removing the running boards and either
removing the fenders entirely or replacing them with very light "cycle fenders". The purpose was to put the most powerful engine in the lightest possible frame and body combination. The suspension was usually altered to make the car lower; the front was often made much lower than the rear.
Conclusion
Customizing cars is the next stage for cars and the many customizers will agree with me and fans of it.

National news

National news By Francis Evangelista

Healthy Hammond behind the wheel

Richard Hammond-top gear presenter and Brainiac boffin-has been on his first drive since the September crash. Recovering from the brain injuries Hammond drove one of his sport cars around Gloucestershire on a Sunday afternoon. Although having to pass a 2-hour test he enjoyed every second of it. He stated "It was wonderful to be away from everything, being able to tootle around the lanes in the foothills of the Malverns in Gloucestershire on a sunny Sunday afternoon." Hammond was advised by doctors to take things slow and easy for now so he’ll only be taking short trips.

Bullying has to STOP

Schools minister Jim Knight demanded for pupils to speak up and fight the bully. This year’s anti-bully week (20th November-27th November) is all about the people who watch those who get bullied and do nothing about it. Jim knight stated that it was “vital” for people to stand up for those around them and to eliminate the ongoing problem of bullying.
Anyone can be bullied; stars like Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox, singer Jo O' Meara, and former England football captain Gary Lineker were all bullied at school. Since 1999 the government has made every school have an anti-bullying policy. It means having sessions where you can talk about past experiences. There are many things to do if you’re getting bullied however the most important thing is to TELL SOMEONE.

Local Chippy smells like chips!

A fish and chip shop has received a complaint from its local council. The complaint was about the smell of the shop; it smelt like fish and chips-I never saw that coming. Steve Morton-owner of the chippy in Wakefield, Yorkshire-thought the letter was a joke. He announced "I didn't think there was a problem, if anybody can tell me how to make fish and chips not smell like fish and chips, I'm grateful." Later the council admitted that there’s no reason why a fish and chip shop shouldn’t smell like a fish and chips, and that they shouldn’t have accepted the complaint in the first place.

SERIOUSLY FAST CARS!

SERIOUSLY FAST CARS!
By Jake Bayford!

Human beings are born with two incurable diseases! The first is the need for speed which inevitably no one on this planet could resist not evens a religious man, and the second is seriously good looking stuff such as cars. So if you are a fan of seriously fast cars stick around for the update of Richard Hammond and Jake’s top 3 fast car list!

The extreme car in third place is the Maserati MC12; this seriously cool car is ranked third because it scored a respectable 1.18.9 on our race track! I love this car because of its fantastic flirting front.


The daring car in second place is the excellent
Pagani Zonda F; this excellent car ranked
second because it scored a respectable 1.17.4 on our cool and curvy race track! (This is actually my favourite car! I love its speed and sleek shape and don’t even get me started on its lucky looks)




I’m very pleased to announce that in furious
first place it’s the Koenigsegg CCX! This seriously sub cool car scored a fantastic 1.16.6
on our outrageous race track! This is my dads all time favourite fast car; and to be honest I can see why.

Richard Hammond!

Richard Hammond continues to do well following his near-fatal accident in a 300 mph jet-powered dragster while filming for Top Gear last month. Richard has now given information on when he will be returning to the world famous car show ‘TOP GEAR’ He claims he will be back in time for the sixth session of top gear; which is prosily next September!

Definition Of Speed!

In my opinion speed is not just the ability to phenomenally travel quickly over land. Its much, much more for example the buzz you get from knowing your in control of a fantastically fast car!

For more information on cars ECT Please e-mail me at:
Kidmixer@bthotmail.co.uk

Technology - Is Internet out of harm's way?

Is Internet out of harm's way?

By Rio-John Hadzic

Throughout the years new technology has been made. Many of the new and latest products have been bought by millions of people all around the world. Nevertheless in some cases the use of the internet has been an issue to the buyers.

Internet, one of the most worldwide sources used around the world can be also the source of many dangers. Many people, especially kids are very vulnerable while on the internet. They can access many chat rooms, such as 321KidChat, Teen Say etc... and talk to people they have never known. In some of these cases it can result with crime (e.g. kidnapping. explicit material etc.)

The question is: Is there anything to prevent this from happening? The answer is: Yes, there are many ways in order to prevent this from happening. Things like encouraging kids from giving their personal information in chat room is a thing that helps prevent crime while surfing on the internet. (Source taken from the Daily Mail) These are one of the few pointers you can find on the internet.

Even though using the computers might be fun, it is advised to take precautions when you're on the internet and what you’re accessing. Safety is a number 1 priority and you should be aware of what can happen to you at any moment. Here are a few pointers on how to keep your and your family safe:

Going to a chat room is alright but make sure you go to a minimum for you might encounter people you have never known. MSN Messenger or Windows Live Messenger is a good program to use for you can people you know to it and talk to them no matter where they are.
Never give out your personal information.
Be careful when shopping online for you might get money theft
Be aware of people in chat rooms. They could be lying about themselves.


Kid’s Safety

As said earlier kids are very vulnerable when on the internet. They can be exposed to all sorts of dangerous things on the internet. In order to keep kids safe while surfing on the internet, parents can get a list from the Daily Mail website with Do’s and Don’ts on how to keep kids safe and protected from dangerous sites. A few points to keep kids safe:

· Make sure that the computer is in the living room where everyone is so that the parents can see what their child is doing.
· Try and discourage you child from giving out their personal information.
· Discourage them from doing face to face conversations with people they have met on the internet.
· Try and filter some sites and things on the computer so the child can not access things that can be harmful and unsuitable in any way.
· You should teach your children to never open e-mails or attachments for they might contain a virus and it can harm your computer and its performance.
· If a child encounters something that they find uncomfortable or something that they find worrying, you should support them by helping them and next time they come across something like that in the near future, they should feel comfortable and talk to you.

These points can help your child access the internet safer and this can lessen the worry of parents.

Technology - Has it changed our lives?

Technology
Anonymous

Has Technology changed our lives?
Technology has a big impact upon people and their lives. People are more dependant now upon computers and televisions and other electrical appliances now than before. Now if people need to find out information, they more likely look on the internet, than going down to their local library and looking it up in a book. Also more people use internet chat sites and emails instead of phoning people or even writing letters. Also more people sit and watch the television when they have free time rather than going and playing a game or reading a book or doing something else.

How Technology has improved our lives:
Due to Technology, we can now stay in contact with people that have moved away or live in other parts of the world. With only a simple download, we can stay in contact with friends and family anywhere in the world. There are many chat sites in which we can meet people from all over the world and start friendships. With the technology that is being created, we can do almost anything on our computers. We can even order our shopping over the internet! We can even watch movies and listen to music on the internet now.

‘For the sake of the argument, say, the same job 20 years ago took 10 times longer to execute (which is probably not far from the truth), and one designer used to take on 5 jobs a year. This means that, with the increase in efficiency, today’s designer can take on 50 jobs a year.’ Quoted from http://www.dyske.com/index.php?view_id=823

Has Technology had any negative effects upon our lives?
As well as the problems that can be caused by Internet Security risks, there are some aspects of technology that can be damaging to us. For example, less people go and practise sport, with more people sitting and watching television on a weekend and during their free time. Also when people do shopping over the internet, they are more likely to miss out on things that they needed or wanted to buy because when they are looking around a shop, they will see the things that they want to buy and they will not forget, but on the internet, they can not see the products, so they are more likely to forget what they need, or end up buying something that was not what they wanted in the first place. Also when you are shopping over the internet, if something you want can not be found, then the shop will try to find a compromise item instead, which may be of lesser quality and value and might even cost quite a bit more than what they wanted would have cost.
Due to some recent technologies, people are getting less ands less exercise because they would rather sit and watch television, or play on their computer, or listen to their music than go out and do something. Also because of technology, more people are getting stolen from because they have the most advanced phone or music player. It also means that more people are spending their money on things that are not especially necessary, such as cameras on phones and video playing capabilities on music players.

Is technology a good or bad thing?
There are many advantages and disadvantages that arise on the subject of technology, but I think that, when used correctly it is a good thing. Despite the problems that can be noticed quite obviously, such as thieving and lack of good exercise, the rewards that can be gained from using new technology correctly and well can be great.

five out for england

Five out for England
By Ziyad Ibrahim

A further five players have been called out for
England’s mid-week friendly against Holland.

England already lost Gary Neville on Saturday to a calf injury during Man Utd’s
1-0 victory against Blackburn.

But England boss Steve Mcclaren has now lost striker Darren Bent, midfielder’s Stewart Downing and Scot Parker and spurs defender Ledley King to injuries.

Also Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland will be given a leave of absence due to the fact that his wife is going to give birth to his first child.

Mcclaren has made sure not to draft anymore into his team and in Kirkland’s absence only two keepers will travel to Amsterdam.

But with Scot Carson playing for the U-21 team Mcclaren always has a stand-by option should he need his assistance.

With Parker and Downing both picking up groin injuries in their weekend games Mcclaren seems almost certain to start fit-again Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole to fill that hole in left midfield.

Because of Darren Bents hamstring injury it frees up space for Jermain Defoe or in-form striker Andrew Johnson or maybe Peter Crouch can stay on goal scoring form as he still goes for England’s goal scoring record.

Recent news shows that Jermaine Jenas has also been rules out of England’s friendly and he will be replaced by Man Utd midfielder Kieran Richardson

England have failed to beat Holland in three friendlies since losing 4-1 to the Dutch in Euro 96.

Holland beat them 2-1 in 2001 at White Heart Lane and since then they sides have been neck and neck drawing 1-1 at the Amsterdam arena also drawing 0-0 draw in 2005 at Villa Park.

Will England break this 10 year curse against Holland this Wednesday? Or will Holland stay ever solid and keep their impressive run going.

Haverstock Blog