The Nintendo Wii has establish itself as a ground-breaking system, which is mainly because of it’s accessories that have change the way you can play games. You’ll no longer restricted to the couch with the little controller in your hand; now you can jump all over the room, serving up those bowling swings for real, and taking a roll of the ball in real-time.

Here are some of the new accessories that are available for the Nintendo Wii:

Wii Nun-chuck controller: This controller isn’t designed for kung-fu games, although it can be used for fighting games. The nun-chuck works similar to the Wii-mote. You hold it in your hand, and it is installed with a motion sensor technology so wireless play is intended. It’s designed to fit your hand well and can be used for either right or left.

What’s great about the nun-chuck is that, for some of the games, you use the analogue stick to control the characters basic movements and your wave the nun-chuck around to perform special actions, such as lobbing a ball or shooting a weapon.

The nun-chuck is notably smaller than the standard remote controller, and is fitted with less buttons. It is similar in design and intended for certain games only.

Wii Component Cables: The cables that are supplied with Wii are useful for various needs. You have the option of connecting your Wii to an HDTV for improved graphics. Or, you can hook up the Wii to your stereo system for better sound. The component cable basically offers you the chance to hook your Wii up and pimp it out.

Gamers have been delighted with these in view of the better graphics offered. The only set back is that Nintendo have not really made them that easy to purchase, they currently only available of online sale.

Wii LAN Adapter: Although the Wii has WiFi installed, you may want to get wired up, that’s what the LAN adapter is for. It is fitted with a USB port so that you can get a wired connection going through your Nintendo Wii. Many users tend to prefer a wired connection to a wireless when hooking up to the internet.

The start with, the LAN adapter was only available in Japan, and it came to the stage at one point when you couldn’t even purchase them off Play-Asia anymore. They just couldn’t keep up with the demand. Nintendo has now released this accessory worldwide.

Wii Controller Glove: The controller glove is extremely comfortable and stylish, but it’s more important positive point being that it makes gaming safer. Once you begin playing your Wii with the remote, it’s all becomes too easy to get into your game a little too much, and to watch the remote go flying. With the controller glove, it will help to keep the remote where it actually belongs – in your hand, and not flying across the room towards your television screen.

Although, the controller glove aims to make gaming safer, you still need to be careful. Last year, gamers were complaining about the thin straps breaking. Nintendo has stated that the newer one in production will be more durable, but try not to get too out of control.

Published by Darren Lintern

One of the many features of the PlayStation 3 is that it’s capable of using Linux, which means that owners of the PS3 can customize their system and get lots more out of it. Game consoles tend to be designed in order to prevent foreign systems from running on them, but Sony have gone in total the opposite direction with the PS3, allowing an experienced Linux user to personalize their system. Most of the gaming systems will be intentionally locked so that other systems will be unable to run, so the PlayStation is unconventional in allowing this. The only thing that is not possible with the PS3 is to run accelerated graphics.

The PlayStation 3 isn’t the first gaming system to allow Linux. The Xbox also utilizes this feature, but the PS3 differs in several ways. To start with, the PS3 is more powerful. In addition, the Xbox requires an additional chip to run Linux, whereas the PS3 is capable of running it without. In fact, it’s completely free to run Linux on the PlayStation 3.

Here are some options that you have with the Linux on the PlayStation 3:

With an addition of a keyboard and mouse, the PlayStation 3 can be used like a PC. Not all PC programs are able to adapt to the PS3 environment, as least not yet, but Linux enables you many choices.

Run your own operating system. This is a great advantage to those that would prefer to personalize their system.

Make sure of the Internet. You can search the web on your PS3 with the Firefox internet browser.

Use the office software package. Although, at present it’s been reported that Windows doesn’t’ run that well on the PS3. However, in the future, Microsoft may consider creating a version of Windows that can run on the PlayStation 3. There is no official word on this at the moment.

Run various kinds of emulators. This will allow you to play of your favourite games of yesteryear on your brand new PlayStation 3.

Play a variety of media types, such as CD’s, DVD’s and ROM’s. With Linux running, you can listen to music or watch movies on your PS3

Connect to share networks. This will enable you to save and retrieve file on a outside server, meaning a saving in memory.

There is one slight problem with getting Linux on your PlayStation 3 console though, and that is because it’s difficult to install and hard to use. At this moment, it’s pretty much restricted to the programmers and hobbyists. In the future, hopefully, there will be a more user interface to accompany Linux on your games console. Since PS3 emerged, most programmers liked to use Fedora Core to run Linux on their PS3’s, but there is now a new system in town called Yellow Dog, which is intended to be used specifically on the PS3. Yellow Dog is being highly rated ad gaining exposure.

Still, the best thing about Linux is that is totally free. All you need is a PlayStation 3, the necessary cable, a USB keyboard and mouse, a USB flash drive and various other accessories to make the installation run smoother… ok, so if you don’t already have all that stuff, its not really free, but Linux itself certainly is! It may not be that tough to install, if you’ve used Linux before. There is a wide choice of websites out there that provide tips on installation, and most seem to recommend Yellow Dog. You will also discover many great ideas on how to run Linux in the gaming forums.

Published By Darren Lintern

For Sony things weren’t looking so great going back to the Tokyo Games Show in September 2006. Sony was unveiling their eagerly anticipated new PlayStation 3 games system, and the demo unit were spluttering and dying left and right. This was essentially bad news considering the recent recall of Sony’s lithium ion batteries.

The problem was simply that the Playstation 3 console was overheating. A representative from an equities company was the first to report it and soon after, everybody in gaming industry was talking about the new PS3’ overheating problem.

Actually, there were several reasons why the consoles were taking to overheating, that did not really have anything to do with the design of the machines themselves. To start with, the Tokyo Game Show was extremely hot. Anyone that visited Japan in September will know that it’s a brutal time of the year, and the venue was lacking air-conditioning. There were 200 PlayStation 3 all in action close to one another, which is probably poor planning on the part of the organizers. To make things worse, all the consoles were sealed in cases to prevent anybody from peeking into the machine. This means that unfortunately there was no way that the exhaust fans, which were reportedly operating just fine, to get fid of all that heat.

It seems obvious that with 200 consoles in sealed cases in sweltering conditions that they would overheat. Still, it looked very bad. Representatives from Sony were all over the place during October stating that there weren’t any overheating issues and many gamers were sceptical.

To make things worse for Sony was the recent recall of the lithium ion batteries, which are mostly used within there Vaio Laptops. The batteries were overheating and bursting into flames! This resulted in a massive recall of nearly seven million batteries being returned, and this was a massive financial blow to Sony. Critics commented that Sony was actually aware of this problem but didn’t act quickly enough, and if they had, the recall may have been avoided. Taking all this into account, it did effect Sony’s reputation pretty badly, combined with the overheating demos at the Tokyo Game Show looked much worse. With batteries exploding and the new PlayStation console choking away, many investors decided to pull out. At that time, Sony’s share price dropped 2.75%

Now, since the release of the PlayStation 3 console late last year, how many machines have been over heating? The good news seems to be that nobody has reported their machines over heating. It may have been just a fluke. In view of the variety of reasons why the consoles were getting over heated at the Tokyo Game Show, none of which seems to be down to the machines themselves, and all lack of consumer confidence and bad press blew it way out of proportion.

It has been experienced by many gamers that after prolonged gaming, sometimes 48 hours straight (more or less), playing various games on the PlayStation 3, there was no trouble to report. The fans continued to run quietly, there was warm air coming out of the back, it got hot as all consoles do, but not too hot, and no overheating trouble was noticed. The only problems were bleary eyes, backs and thumbs, and delirium due to a complete lack of sleep and video game overdose.

Finally, if you don’t believe the lack of PlayStation 3 overheating problems, check out the gaming forums, you won’t hear anything about PS3 on these issues.

Published by Darren Lintern

Although the Nintendo Wii is great, no system is perfect. Here are some of the main problems that users have experienced since the release of this gaming console late last year.

Interference from Bright Lights:

It seems that many users who have experienced the Nintendo Wii, have noticed some kind of interference from light sources. It was reported that the consoles was unable to respond to the remote control while certain lights were on. Some gamers quickly discover that if they played on the other side of the room from the lights, there problem quickly went away.

This is a result of the sensor bar on the Wii console, a part of the unit that will detect changed in the position of the remote, which gets thrown out of whack by bright lighting. This is the reason that playing the console too near to a bright light source will mess with the remote control movement.

Nintendo’s response to this was to advice that the Wii remote may not work when played too close to a bright light source. It’s not an actual problem with the technology or design, they said, and suggested moving away from bright light while playing. Also, it is important to keep bright lights away from the TV, as this can also potentially interfere with the signal there as well.

Slowing Down and Crashing Wii’s:

A further technical problem noted by Wii gamers is their games slowing down. This only seems to occur after 10 or more hours of straight game play. The simple solution to this is to turn the console off and back on again, but the unit should really be playable for longer than 10 hours at once. The reason for the console slowing down is likely to be slight overheating, so if this does affect you, make certain that the warm air is able to escape and the fans are working correctly. It is recommended that if the stand that comes with the console is used, the warm air will be able to get out.

However, this problem does not seem to be affecting the Nintendo Wii nearly as much as the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 consoles, so it doesn’t seem to be a mayor problem.

Trouble with Online Connection:

Some users have reported trouble when attempting to establish an online connection with their Wii’s. It seems that the Wii doesn’t too well to on-bar connections, and results in a slow dial up process. The online connection used on the Wii is wireless, so is likely to suffer from all other problems associated with wireless systems. If it starts to get too annoying, you can always purchase an adapter from Nintendo and run a line.

Strap Related Accidents and Injuries:

The most notably problem with the Wii is not technical, but physical. It has been widely reported the number of Nintendo Wii related accidents. The main culprit, apart from the overactive gamers, comes down to the wrist straps on the controllers. The wrist straps, that are intended to keep the controller from flying across the room, apparently break easily. This becomes more of a problem, as the gamers hands become sweaty, which makes it easy for the controllers to slip. The result from this is lots ob damaged TV’s, broken glass, wrecked light fixtures, cut and bruises.

Nintendo is now actually facing a class-action lawsuit because of these strap related accidents and injuries. They claim that it is the users fault for not keeping hold of the controller properly. Still, the complaints have prompted Nintendo to recall millions of the original straps and offer an exchange for a thicker version.

In view of these problems, the Nintendo Wii will certainly continue to sell well, and is being enjoyed by gaming fans worldwide.
Published by Darren Lintern

A lot of the interest surrounding the Nintendo Wii comes down to its new remote controlled technology, but if you prefer more at home with the old school controller, they also offer the “Classic Controller”

As it been named the “classic” controller, it’s ideally suited for the good old Nintendo games of yesterday. It is intended to be used for the games where you aren’t able to use the innovative Wii remote, the nun-chuck, or any other fancy control, although it can be used with any game. This is the controller of choice if you really want to keep it simple.

The design has similarities to the Super Nintendo game pad. Its oval in shape and the buttons are shaped like a diamond. It has the usual D-Pad and a start and select button. The buttons included on the front are the good old A, B, X and Y buttons, and finally it does include the four buttons across the top edge of the controller.

The classic controller is a much smoother ride over the Super Nintendo control. The D-Pad has a much more comfortable feel than the SNEC, and the controller fits right into your hand better. The analog sticks will move like a dream compared to the old ones. For some, the A, B, X and Y buttons may pose a problem, as they are spaced further apart. It will take a little thumb stretching to use, but you will quick get over this. Although, it still may be tough to do some of those combinations moves on games like Street Fighter.

The classic controller has obviously been designed with maximum gaming comfort in mind. The controller buttons are rounded to be that much easier on the fingers. The previous controllers had indented buttons, while easier to grip, can get tiresome after extended play.

On drawback to the classic controller is that it can’t be used to play games on the GameCube system. If that’s what you were expecting, you be advised to get something else.

The left analog stick on the classic controller is use to control the cursor when you are in the Wii’s channel menu. If you intend to play the classic Nintendo games from the Virtual Console, than this controller is a necessity.

That’s the true purpose of the Nintendo Wii classic controller: to play all of those classic games that are being made available for the Wii. As cool as the Wii remote is, you simple can’t play Mortal Kombat or any of the thousands of other games that Nintendo are intending to release. It is expected, that shortly the Virtual Console will allow you to access all the excellent games of yesteryear, and the classic controller is that perfect, retro controller to enjoy them with.

The Wii classic controller will need to be purchased separately for $19.99, and there are places all over the internet where you can grab one.

Published by Darren Lintern

The Nintendo Wii is truly a remarkable new gaming system which has incorporated state of the art remote controller technology. It really allows the player to get involved with the game, like it’s actually happening. However, there is a problem to this, people do… and break things!

It’s apparent that the Wii remote has handy uses: to given an enjoyable and exciting video gaming experience; and to help in getting rid of any unwanted light fixtures, coffee cups, and appliances.

The majority of the accidents and injuries tend to involve the safety strap on the Wii remote. After some intense game player, users claim that the strap breaks easily, and if you waving your arms around at the time, it likely to send the remote flying across the room in a collision course with a TV or somebody’s head.

Nintendo initially stated that they do not take responsibility for these strap-related accidents, but if you refer to Nintendo’s customer service site, a warning about the safe use of the remote had been posted.

However, Nintendo are now offering to replace the original version of the wrist straps for the Wii remote with a newer version. If you do happen to own the original version of the strap, and would prefer a replacement, simply visit Nintendo’s official site and complete the necessary online form.

Many of the remaining causes of Wii related accidents and injuries are generally down to people, and the silly things they do.

Most of the trouble seems at the moment to be related to the sports games. It you take a gamer involved in a heated game of bowling. He desperately needs to get a strike and gives the all he’s got. Unfortunately, as he swings the remote forward to release the ball, the tiny strap snaps and the remotes gone flying – fight into his shinning new HDTV. It’s a very sad day all around.

In a further bowling related incident, on this occasion the gamer is using the Wii sleeve for additional protection, as the gaming gets more and more exciting the sleeve becomes sweaty and flies off. The remote shoots across the room crashing into the china cabinet and the symphony of breaking glass brings his angry mother stomping into the room.

Baseball is also proving to be a pretty dangerous sport to take part in these days. As you can imagine, pitching can be pretty deadly. There have been reports all over the place of wild pitches sending the Wii remote into lampshades, plasma lamps, coffee cups, and basically any glass surface in the room.

Fishing is not an activity that you would imagine to be an high intensity sport, but still Wii games have been able to injure themselves and destroy items around them while trying to reel in that big score. One gamer leaned back so hard into his chair that it snapped and sent his onto the floor. Maybe the game-play of the Wii games is too realistic!

The deadliest game by far is tennis. This is especially for the taller people during serves. Some people get widely out of control from waving their arms about for there severs, and end up smashing their hands into light fixtures, ceiling fans and chandeliers. Worse then that, some tennis players have accidentally whacked friends and loved ones in the face during a high energy match.

The Wii can be dangerous not simply for the players and household items, but any other person in the same room. There have been reported cases of innocent bystanders, in some instances kids, being brained or smacked due to a golf tournament. Some children has received bruises and busted lips from their parents bowling. It shouldn’t really be that surprising, but by placing the Wii remote in the hands of little children often results in something going smash.

Apart from natural human stupidity, there are some things to take note of to game safely: make sure to hold the remote as firmly as comfortable in your hand, make sure that there is plenty of space, and certainly nothing within your swing distance.

On the other hand, you could simple take the Wii outside and play.

Published by Darren Lintern

All venues:
Enter the phrase NEWVIEW as a first name in Create Champ mode

Bonus venues:
Win a match at one of the corresponding venues in Career mode:
Madison Square Garden & The Staples Center

Box as Ko Rey Mo: Defeat Ko Rey Mo in the light heavy division in Career mode.

Boxing styles:
Win matches in ESPN Classic Fights mode or Career mode to unlock various new styles:

Sinister Cross
Textbook
Uptight
Hard Straights
Hook Master
Judge Jab
Slickster
Smooth
Lethal Uppercuts
Philly Shell

Burger King trainer:
Win the Burger King event in the career mode. Then at trainer selection screen, press Down until Burger King appears as a choice.

Easy wins:
To get easy wins in career mode, set Illegal Blows to Off in the options menu. After that go to the fight store and purchase the illegal head punch (Elbow Shot). During your fight, be sure to use the Elbow Shot against your opponent whenever he throws a punch. This will result in a KO in a short time period.

Don’t Lose:
If you get knocked down while fighting in career mode and you aren’t going to make it, quickly turn your PS3 off. When resume the game, you can start the fight again.
Burger King Achievement for 100 points:
Beat The BK Invitational Fight

Dodge Achievement for 100 points:
Beat the Dodge sponsored fight

EA SPORTS Achievement for 150 points:
Beat any EA SPORTS sponsored fight

ESPN FNF Achievement for 150 points:
Beat any ESPN Friday Night Fight event

ESPN PPV Achievement for 150 points:
Beat any ESPN Pay Per View fight event

ESPN WNF Achievement for 150 points:
Beat any ESPN Wednesday Night Fight event

Everlast Achievement for 100 points:
Beat the Everlast sponsored fight

Under Armour Achievement for 100 points:
Beat the Under Armour sponsored fight

Published By Darren Lintern

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 for the PlayStation 3 will pleased the many Golf enthusiasts. Be prepared for the unbelievable visuals and graphics that are included within this game. The effects created are very real in resemblance to an actual golfing event. The beauty of the golf courses throughout the game will be enjoyed. It is quite easy to get side-tracked by the scenery, such as the trees, birds, and gorgeous blue sky. Those gamers that have played the previous versions of Tiger Woods golf for the PlayStation will be truly impressed with the many improvements made to the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07.

The animation of the players in this golfing game is amazing. The designers have really put a lot of time and effort into getting the details correct on this one. The commentary is provided by the voices of David Feherty and Gary McCord – Those of you that watch professional golf will easily recognize them. The sound effects are excellent, allowing you to hear voices extremely clearly. Throughout the game you will receive comments on your moves, both good and bad. The soundtrack to the game has been well designed. The game is spread across 12 outstanding golf courses and 12 famous golfers.

For anyone that is new to the game of golf you will appreciate the benefit provided by the tutorial features of the Tiger Woods PGA 07 game. The rules of the game are explained in plain terms, which make is easy to get a grasp on the entertaining Playstation 3 game. When you are ready to play golf, you have the choice to pick from practices, match play, tournaments for money, four ball, and stroke ball. Also included is various forms of scoring that can be chosen from.

There is also now the addition of battle golf. In this version of golf after each hole the winner gets to remove a club from the loser’s bag. Both players continue to play the remaining shots only using the clubs left in their bag. This game can be great fun! Another new game to look out for is call one ball. In the game, both players share the same ball. Each player takes turns in taking a shot. The best possible strategy in the game is to take easy shots whilst trying to set your opponent up with hard shots. It’s certainly not as easy as it sounds, but the game is challenging and fun.

With the arrival of the new PlayStation 3 controller, users will enjoy the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 game immensely. The controller will allow hours of play without the sore hands. If you’re up to it, why not challenge another player to a few rounds of this game using the online interaction features. As you become more confident you are encouraged to create your golfer to start building your own career. Choose from either a male or female character, which you can greatly customizing, together with the swing to use, and even the reactions. It is really amazing to view!

There is no doubt that the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 game is great fun to play. With such great feature and graphics for you to admire, you will be amazed at how fast your gaming time flies by. There is a great choice of game types to play as well as increased difficulty levels to challenge you as you improve. The game is currently retailing for $40.00 at you local stores or online.

Published by Darren Lintern