goingprogaming.com

Valli Schieltz asked:


Are you simply infatuated with video games? If you are just a common person, have you ever thought about being able to create your own video game? Well, today, you do not have to learn ‘real’ programming to be able to do this.

So exactly where do games begin? They all begin with an idea. Games, just like all fiction, need an idea to be successful. If you can sit down and write a story with forethought, then you can probably slap a game together. However, the best games are usually the ones that have some thought behind them.

There are two methods of planning a game. First of all, you can begin from a known technological standpoint and simply build your project on top of that. This will more than likely save you many headaches. Then there is the second idea when you can just go for the design, add as many ideas and features as you like, and then, when you have decided upon the technology you are going to use the game with, you can remove the features that you cannot use. When designing a game, this is probably the best option to go with.

If this is the very first game that you are designing, then you are going to want to start out with a fairly simple idea. Imitation is the best way to begin. Simple games such as Tetris, Pong, Space Invaders and Pacman are great places to begin. For your very first attempt, it is recommended that you start even simpler than this. Space Invaders is a good point to jump in. You can make a simple, complete game without putting forth much effort and it is almost infinitely extensible. If you cannot think of an idea, then pick a genre that you enjoy.

After your game is finished, you can begin the tweaking phase. Play your game several times and ask other to play it also. Take note of what is not fun or could be improved and make the necessary changes. It is at this point that you will be able to add new features, improve sounds and graphics, and whatever else you desire.

Finally, when you are happy with your game, then it is time to share it with the world. You will be able to find many free or cheap place on the Internet for you to host your files on. Then you can jump on forums and link lists to let everyone know about you new creation. Hopefully this has been a helpful introduction into the art of creating video games. It is a great deal of fun!

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Cyrus Montesa asked:


Video Gaming today is nothing like it was back when the Atari 2600 ruled the day! Back then it was a party to play video games, because if you wanted to play with someone else, they had to be in the room with you!

But with online gaming becoming what it has today, you can play with players from all over the world, at any time of the day or night. Today online gaming has taken over as you cant release a game today that doesn’t support online multiplayer and expect it to do well in sales. And with the next-gen gaming just on the horizon, I expect gaming to take on a whole new entity as a competitor in the entertainment industry.

My blog is going to be informative about everything that has to do with video gaming today, I’m going to enlighten the public about the differences in console gaming and pc gaming. Such as costs per PC vs accessories and add-ons for the consoles. I’m going to review the newest games and hardware and report on what I think about them. I believe I can give this information reliably because 1) I am a gamer, from the Atari age so I know what is hot and what is not. And 2) I put plenty of hours in daily, playing every type of video game that is out today. So if your looking to buy a new game or pick up a gaming platform for a child or loved one, look no further than my blog to give you all the details you will need for your next video game purchase!

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Andrew Po asked:


So, you were working or gaming on your PC and suddenly started getting the dreaded Lsass.exe application error, which looks more or less like this:

This system is shutting down. Please save all work in progress and log off. Any unsaved changes will be lost. This shutdown was initiated by NT AUTHORITYSYSTEM

The system process ‘C:WindowsSystem32lsass.exe’ terminated unexpectedly with status code 128. The system will now shut down and restart.

Looks scary, doesn’t it? No worries, this error might be easier to fix than you think. Since lsass errors are usually caused by a computer virus or another malware, it’s a good idea to start by updating your antivirus, or downloading one if you aren’t using any. To give you more time on your PC before it restarts than those meager 60 seconds, do the following:

Right click on your My Computer icon and choose Properties > the Advanced tab > click “Startup and Recovery” Settings button, and uncheck the mark saying “Automatically restart”. Now your computer will not reboot even on critical errors. That of course merely gives you more time to research and solve the problem.

lsass.exe stands for Local Security Authentication Server, and is a critical component of several Microsoft Windwos operating systems such as Windows XP. That’s why it’s often a target of malicious software. Now that we’ve got more time, do the following:

1) Download and install a free antivirus program, such as AVG, Comodo or Avira – there are plenty to choose from, and most can remove viruses which cause the lsass.exe error. If you already have an antivirus on your PC, update it so it has the newest virus definitions.

2) Restart your PC and boot up in the Safe Mode. To do this, repeatedly press F8 while booting until you get the boot choice screen. Choose to boot in Safe Mode (networking isn’t necessary in this case). Safe Mode makes it so only the bare bone version of your OS is boot up. Now scan your entire PC with the antivirus program.

3) Restart the PC and boot normally. Launch Windows Update and download all the upgrades needed for your OS. In most cases, lsass.exe errors are caused by malware which uses vulnerabilities in older Windows versions. As soon as you get the newest updates, your PC will be safe once more.

If the above fails, that could mean several things. First of all, your operating system files might be damaged and corrupted by said virus. Alternatively, the problem might have been caused not by malware, but by conflicting software or hardware faults in your system. That leaves you a single course of action, namely repairing your Windows installation. To achieve this, do the following:

Insert the Windows CD or DVD into your drive. Reboot the PC, and make sure your CD-ROM is set as the first boot device in BIOS. Proceed to Windows Setup and press Enter when prompted to setup Windows XP (or other) now. Press F8 to accept the terms, and once inside select your Windows installation and press R to continue.

Note that repairing your windows installation means you will lose your old registry (most installed programs won’t work) and system restore points, so this should only be used as the last resort against the lsass.exe error. Do not forget to update your Windows right after repairing the installation!

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Gallery: UMID M2 hands-on at IDF

Amy Derr asked:


For most computer users, deciding between a PC and a Mac is not usually a life and death decision, but try telling that to the diehard technology buffs and you will have just stirred-up a hornet’s nest. The PC or Mac debate is one of those tempests in a technological teapot that never ceases to calm down. Some have dubbed it the new Cold War, where getting an unbiased opinion from experts over a simple purchasing decision like a PC or a Mac is often an exercise in futility, leaving you wondering if that old, Underwood Five typewriter is still in the attic.

But do not despair. By the end of this article, you should be able to draw your own conclusions about your preferred choice and maybe, even add to the ever-dividing fanbase of either Gates or Jobs.

Today, the personal computer endearingly called “PC,” is commonly understood to be associated with Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Although common sense says that the Mac is also a personal computer, it has become sacrilegious to refer to it as a “PC.” The Mac uses an operating system known as OS X and its operating systems are often legendary for its prettier interfaces.

When deciding between these two computer titans, it’s important to keep in mind what your needs are before coming to any purchasing decision. If we were to turn back the clock to the 90s, this decision would have been fairly easy. The Mac then was the design and print industry’s choice for all things graphic-orientated. The PC on the other hand, was confined to everyday use in the office and the home. This would have explained the exorbitant pricing discrepancy between both desktops then.

Today, this distinction has been blurred. Although, the Mac still costs more than the average PC, it’s finding itself in more homes and offices than at any other time in Mac history. Therefore, dissecting the pros and cons becomes all the more important before investing any kind of cash for these over-sized gadgets.

So, let’s break it down and get you moving in the right direction. These comparisons do apply to both desktops and laptops.

Hardware and Performance

The PC

Dollar for dollar, the PC offers more hardware specifications than the Mac, which for the budget-conscious, getting a PC requires no further deliberation. Intel-based dual-core CPU allows for blistering pace on the PC even for the most general-purpose PC user with a budget of less than a $1,000. If you drive a hard bargain, head over to Best Buy and you could get a PC for less than $350.

A variety of PC desktop sizes are also available, from the small form factor to the full tower case types. Again, sizes are a direct relation to the needs of the user, so do not mistake an all-in-one like the Sony VAIO to have the same power handling and speed of a mid-tower case like Dell.

Even as a power-user, whether using the PC for gaming or turning it into a mini home-theater system while running business applications on it, the PC is still able to meet all those demands at a very reasonable cost. Bargain basement prices are the main reason why PCs still dominate the desktop and laptop markets. It is economically-driven and caters to all segments of the buying public. Try as you might, you may never get a Mac for anywhere close to $350.

Performance-wise, PCs are still very cost-effective. Upgrading the graphics card, RAM or hard disk space is still much cheaper than having to buy a new PC altogether. This makes it truly easy for anyone to customize their PC without worrying about maxing out their credit cards. Another advantage to this is that businesses running multiple PCs will have a much easier time finding replacement parts or even upgrading components just because it’s so widely available at a very low cost.

As far as the operating system goes, Vista is the very latest introduction from Microsoft, although Windows XP is currently the more stable version. According to Gartner, XP will be installed on more than 77 percent of PCs worldwide by the end of 2007 while Vista might crawl to just about 12 percent. This suggests that if you’re planning to get a PC, buying one with Windows XP installed is still the preferred choice over the latest Vista.

The Mac

If you’re shopping for prestige rather than price, then Apple’s Mac is about as prestigious as it gets. Macs are about status, and status usually comes with a hefty price tag. Unlike the PC, there is no such thing as a truly “stripped-down” Mac. Hence, the PC being better value dollar for dollar. But on the other hand, the Mac was never truly built for the budget-conscious. Rather, it was targeted for those craving an “appliance” with style and innovative design, and Apple rarely fails to deliver on this. You would only have to visit an Apple store for proof.

As far as performance goes, Macs are up there with the best of them. There was a point in history where PCs were leading the pack in terms of how fast they performed. Mac’s G4 processors were never thought to be quite as fast as the PC’s Intel Pentium 4. But, Apple changed all that last year when it announced that their Macs will now carry the Intel processor, just like PCs. Apple’s migration to Intel processors has now made Intel-based Macs two to three times faster than ever before. But, that’s not all.

Apple has a new technology called Boot Camp that allows you to run Microsoft’s Windows on Intel-based Macs. This means you can have the best of Microsoft and the Mac on one elegant-looking computer. Software compatibility issues will soon be a thing of the past, although power-users will still find it difficult to customize and upgrade the Mac’s hardware. The same problem applies to businesses using Macs because Apple maintains a tight grip on its supply chain.

Mac’s current operating system, the OS X is reportedly far superior to Microsoft’s operating systems. Its selling points range from user friendly interfaces with attractive intuitive features, to a more secure, stable and virus-free operating system. These factors are usually enough to get the more security-conscious amongst shoppers, to hop on board the Mac bandwagon.

Software, Applications and Uses

The PC

PCs certainly have a much wider range of software of varying purposes available compared to the Mac, giving consumers a variety of options to choose from. This is why you’ll find most ******** gamers preferring PCs over Macs due to this availability of gaming software.

Business users will find that Microsoft Office is sufficient to manage their documentation and presentations, hardly requiring extra bells and whistles to meet their business needs. Small businesses rarely need to go beyond what Microsoft Office 2003 and the latest Office 2007 offer, using add-on software only for better productivity. Also, compatibility issues are rarely a point of contention with Microsoft Office because most computers recognize its format. In other words, if you’re running a business and Office applications are all you need, then choosing a PC would be the ideal choice for you.

Other uses for the PC such as web surfing, chatting online and e-mailing usually come as bundled software containing these applications, while additional peripherals are widely available in most electronic stores. PC manufacturers like Dell have made installing additional peripherals extremely easy, so long as your PC has the right ports (USB, FireWire, Ethernet, audio and video ports) available. For instance, if you’re an avid photographer, loading photos onto your PC would require a USB or FireWire port to connect your digital camera to the PC. Most PCs today come with these ports pre-installed, so not to worry.

The Mac

The tradeoff of having a secure, albeit tightly controlled Mac operating system is the lack of choices in software. Mac fanatics argue that this lack of software compatibility means lesser technical issues to deal with. A positive way of looking at things, but Mac users have no real need to complain about software issues. Business users on a Mac can quite easily exchange Microsoft Office files with colleagues or clients on a PC.

But where the Mac really shines in terms of software and applications is in multimedia. In all honesty, the Mac is far superior to the PC when it comes to multimedia applications. If your business revolves around multimedia or multimedia is a serious hobby, then getting a Mac is a must.

The iLife suite that comes with the Mac provides full multimedia capabilities, allowing anyone to create professionally finished products. It is setup in such a way that a complete novice will have no problems churning out quality audio or video products on the fly. Whether it’s buying music from the iTunes store, recording and burning DVDs, setting up a photo studio on your computer, chatting and communicating online, or blogging, the iLife suite has you covered. The Mac has become a necessary solution for the digital lifestyle enthusiast.

Conclusion

Choosing between a PC and a Mac really boils down to what you want to do with your computer and how you’re going to use it. If you want more bang-for-your-buck or more gaming options, then the PC is the way to go. If you’re leaning towards better stability, less system crashes and security breaches, then the Mac is the superior choice.

Weigh the pros and cons against your needs and you should be able to draw your own conclusions about the worthier computer for you. But, for the ultimate experience, why not buy an Intel-based Mac and run Windows on it? That could probably be the closest thing yet, to enjoying the “perfect computing experience.”

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