Archive for October, 2008

World of Warcraft - MMORPG You Can’t Miss

World of Warcraft is an online game that has been taking the Internet by storm for quite some time now. You’ll commonly see it affectionally referred to as WoW for those who live to play this amazing game. Understanding the basics of the gameplay and why it’s so popular will have you wanting to play in no time.

First, it’s helpful to understand that this is an MMORPG game. For those who are new to online gaming, that seems like it’s part of a foreign language! Actually, it stands for ‘massively multiplayer online role-playing game’. The basic idea is that many, many people all across the world can play together over the Internet.

WoW takes place in a land called Azeroth. When you play the game you will control a character and interact with other people. You’ll explore the land, fight monsters, complete tasks, and more. It basically is its own world that you can really immerse yourself in.

Before you get started you will choose whether you want it to be player versus environment or player versus player. Your character will either belong to ‘Horde’ or ‘Alliance’. You’ll interact with people from your same faction. What’s really neat is that you get to select a trade that your character will become accomplished in.

As you work your way through the quests you will be rewarded experience points and money that can be used in the game. The quests are central to the gameplay, and move you through to higher levels. During these quests you may fight monsters, deliver something, or find an object. Be careful though! Danger lurks all around from different creatures, and even ghosts.

The World of Warcraft game must be played to be understood and appreciated fully. It’s no wonder that the game has such a popular following! Escaping daily life and immersing yourself in a game can be a great stress-reliever and form of entertainment.

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Classic Game of Life Board Game

The classic Game of Life board game is probably something enjoyed playing as a kid. If you’ve never had the chance to play it, now is definitely the time! It really does take you through the different stages of life, albeit in a simplistic way. Even so, it’s tons of fun and can even help teach the little ones some valuable skills.

The game basically takes you through different life stages. For example, you get to choose if you want to go to college or start a career right away. You could end up with several kids and lots of money, or hardly any money at all depending on how you play the game and what your luck is like.

This fascinating and fun game was actually created back in 1861 by Milton Bradley. Its name was slightly different back then, and was called “The Checkered Game of Life.” Milton Bradley changed the name to “The Game of Life” nearly a century later in 1960.

The modern day board looks like a track. Players spin the wheel and can land on different options and go through the various life stages. You’ll deal with salaries, insurance policies, stocks, and more. Don’t worry, just because it actually includes all the stages of life as well as the ups and downs doesn’t mean it’s a drag to play. It’s actually quite fun!

Throughout the years the salaries, cars, and prices have changed, but the basic premise of the game has remained the same. Since it has been able to keep up with the times it has enjoyed popularity throughout the decades. A CD-ROM version was released in 1998, which brought the game into the electronic age.

Though the game does teach valuable life skills, there are those who believe it does not offer enough teachable moments. A lot of the game is based on luck. Though you do need to make choices (such as going to college) these choices don’t always determine the winner.

The classic Game of Life board game is sure to be a winner in your household. If you haven’t played it before, or just haven’t played recently it’s time to get yourself a copy. You’ll enjoy laughing and playing for hours and connecting with family and friends.

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Classic Battleship Board Game

There are few games as fun as the classic Battleship board game. It almost seems like a rite of passage to play the game with friends and family members growing up. The game has a long history, and it is seeing a resurgence in popularity.

Battleship was published in 1931 by Starex Novelty Company. Its original name was actually “Salvo.” Though, experts have concluded that it was a game played with pencil and paper before it made its way into  board game history. Milton Bradley later published it as “Broadsides” in 1943.

First, if you’ve never played the game it can be helpful to know what it is about. Basically, it is a naval combat game where you command your own ships. Your mission is to track down your opponent’s ships and “fire.” Your opponent will try to guess where your ships are and fire back. Whoever is sunk first, loses.

You get your own grid that your opponent cannot see. Before you start playing you arrange your ships on the grid. Some of the ships are larger than others. It’s a lot of fun to try and sink your opponents ship first, and the gameplay is based on luck as well as intelligence as you try to figure out which direction the ship is facing and how long it is.

The classic Battleship game has seen many different forms in addition to its board game format. You can find it available for console video games as early as the NES. These days it is available for PCs, PDAs, and others. This electronic availability has kept the game alive for more generations.

Even though it is now popular in electronic form, it is still widely available as a board game. It is such a classic that it will likely continue to be popular. The combination of strategic thinking and simplicity makes Battleship a favorite of old and young alike. In fact, today’s youth will likely pass it along to their own children.

Few games stay popular as long as the classic Battleship board game has. It is truly timeless and a game that every member of the family can enjoy.

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