Compared to Xbox or PS3 the Wii game discs are also costly. Because of the prices, many Wii owners have started to backup their games and save the original discs. The game discs are fragile and they can damage easily.

Since the game discs are fragile, they can damage in just one day. And after multiple usages, the game disks get deteriorated. But don't think that backing up the Wii discs is something you can do with a normal CD or DVD burning software. You need a special game copying software that costs only $30. I still don't understand why people prefer to fix the scratched disks instead of buying this cheap software.

Some people use fixing methods like alcohol or bananas. But rubbing a banana on the disk or cleaning it with alcohol is not the way to approach this problem. Once the game disk is scratched, there is nothing you can do about it. These rudimentary methods don't work. So spend some time using the backup's software and you will win more.

Making a backup of your game disk is not hard at all. You just need to install the special software and then copy the disk. The software will transform the game into an ISO file. The whole burning process it can take a few minutes or a few hours, depending on the CPU speed and the memory you have on him.

But it is a very simple procedure, if you are patient. You need to insert the original disk and then start the software. It will decrypt the game data. After the transfer is complete, you have to insert the blank disk and copy the game. That is all! And the software is completely legal and you can do as many backups as you want.

Backing up the original game disks is the way to save your money and not fixing it for nothing. You only need the special software. It is legal and cheap.

Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

Saving Money By Backing Up Wii Games

Publishers rarely do more with their back catalogues than try to prevent anyone distributing them, stores don't have the space to stock games that aren't selling great guns, and gamers, well, gamers are fickle.

Just a couple of years can be the difference between the Best Game Ever and outright torture on a neatly pressed CD. The absence of basic features like high-resolution, mouse-look, or the ability to jump can turn even an acknowledged classic like Doom into nothing more than a rose-tinted amble for old-school players, while newer players try to work out just what all the fuss was about.

And then there are the remake projects. There are two basic types of remake; what you might call reconstruction and re-mastering. A reconstruction takes a basic game concept, such as Frogger or Space Invaders, and tries to modernize it. A re-mastered game focuses on keeping the core gameplay more or less as it was, but bringing the technology (and typically interface design) to modern levels. An example of the former might be a 3D version of Frogger, where the camera is in the frog's mouth instead of hanging over the level, or where the frog has to navigate a multi-level 3D world to get to its destination. A re-mastered version would simply swap out the old sprites for polished 3D models and leave the rest alone.

Commercial Remakes

Very few companies have bothered with either, for a number of reasons. Most notably, there's not much money in it, unless you're porting a game to a completely new platform and a new audience. Even if the game has been radically overhauled, the perception that it's old can work against you, and the number of people desperately hankering for a second crack at one particular title is rarely going to match up to the potential audience of something shiny and brand new.

Services like Xbox Live have shaken this up a bit, as happened when Prince of Persia got both a shiny new game in the form of the Sands of time trilogy, and a full remake of the original plat-former, but this rarely happens. That said, there have been some high profile commercial remakes. Most recently, the heavy hitter was Tomb Raider: Anniversary, which took the original game's plot and basic locations and rebuilt them. As well as having more polygons and graphical effects to splash on Lara and her environment, each area was designed with the idea of creating the game Core would have made, had they had modern technology and ten years of sequels behind them back at launch. This included far more intricate puzzles and scenery, a Lara capable of moving freely around the world (the original used fixed block units, and access to triangles didn't occur until Tomb Raider III) and QuickTime events during cut-scenes and big boss fights.

Most remakes aren't lucky enough to have such major licenses behind them, and the games that companies choose to grace with a new version can be... unusual. RealMyst - a 3D recreation of the original Myst game - is fair enough.

The Journeyman Project? Not so much. Westwood called in outside assistance for Dune 2000 - easily it's most forgettable RTS. Sid Meier's Pirates travelled from 1987 to 2004 and picked up nothing but new fans. And of course, some games should just have remained buried. Any good feelings people had towards Defender of the Crown went right down the privy after actually playing it in the cold light of good gaming. Goodness only knows who was clamoring for an update of Bad Mojo, the cockroach simulator/adventure in gross-out graphics, where dead rat and chopped up catfish backgrounds were lovingly reintroduced to our stomachs.

Arguably the most impressive commercial remake of all time was Tex Murphy: Overseer, released in 1998. This was based on the 1989 adventure, Mean Streets, although about all they had in common was the basic plot framework. Mean Streets was an odd mix of side-on adventure, flight simulator bits, and very primitive attempts to get actors (or to be more accurate, employees of Access Software) into a game.

Overseer's story was completely re-written, setting it in a full 3D world that could be explored at will, with all the characters and cut-scenes handled by some surprisingly good full motion videos. It was one of the last interactive movies. It, didn't so much bomb as nuke itself - the UK release going straight to budget.

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Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

The Art of Remakes

The major point is that there are only really two graphics APIs worthy of notice. Much like the NVIDIA/ATI divisions that are the subject of almost every tech-forum, API usage is spilt into proponents of DirectX, the current market leader and the brainchild of your friendly neighborhood Microsoft, and OpenGL, the resident underdog that could still turn DirectX on its ear.

What's the point?

Both OpenGL and DirectX have gone through many incarnations since their inception and cataloguing absolutely everything is a job for Wikipedia. There have been some major differences over the years that have set each apart from the other and it is these which are of interest. OpenGL and DirectX have used completely different methods from the very beginning; with the line between the two blurring in later versions. We'll find out why this is the case, though some can spot why right off the bat.

According to Microsoft

DirectX is Microsoft's favorite little creation, allowing them to wield the banhammer on a lot of folks by virtue of its proliferation. Direct3D is the major component in DirectX, supporting only Windows systems and pretty much anything else Bill Gates has touched. It is even the base software for the Xbox and the 360. Created to deal with 3D applications and graphical rendering, Direct3D handles all of those nifty features that show up while setting up options in your latest game. It controls hardware acceleration, should the hardware be capable of using it. Functions such as anti-aliasing and texture mapping are also handled, as is everything else to do with the GPUs 3D functions. Software emulation of certain bits of a GPU are also picked up by DirectX. Direct3D can emulate vertex software but it cannot do as well with pixel shaders. It'll allow an image to hit screens but it will be of shocking quality.

Open source opinion

OpenGL is Microsoft's open source competitor but the major battles are now confined to the past. Some folks still code games to take advantage of the API but it is often sitting side by side with the Microsoft equivalent. Being open source, there is no real limit to the number of versions out there but a stringent qualifying process is needed to qualify for the OpenGL standard. OpenGL is the default API for almost everything that is not Windows-based, running the iPhone, most of Sony's consoles, some of Nintendo's hardware and Mac and Linux-based systems. It also runs on Windows but has none of the exclusivity that Direct3D enjoys. With this wide base of operations it should seem remarkable that DirectX holds so much sway in the API arena.

Head to head

Each API has positive and negative points. Some are valid or can be corrected or lived with. Others are nigh unbearable, forming the bane of programmer's and end-user's existence. Let's start with a few of those.

Microsoft's DirectX is a completely proprietary system, functioning only on selected hardware. In case it was not clear, this translates to Microsoft only systems. Other problems have included the standard Windows bloat for programs which appears to crop up in some of their software. Even the almighty XP has been guilty of this failing. Other cons for DirectX only appear on direct comparison with the competing API.

The fundamental differences in how DirectX and OpenGL go about their business are miles apart. DirectX has tended to focus on the capabilities of the hardware itself without giving much thought to additional features that may lie outside the realm of the GPU in question. The software allows whichever features a card may hold to be utilized by a system and beyond that does not concern itself much with anything else.

OpenGL has been about creating a system whereby all possible features are made use of, either by driving a card's inherent capabilities or by using software to render as much as possible. In the case of OpenGL software is the de facto method of driving a 3D application, with hardware acceleration being used if it is available.

Seeing the difference in approach between the two APIs, OpenGL appears to have a much more robust and potentially more powerful application. With software rendering being the first line and acceleration being secondary, OpenGL's capabilities at running a 3D application would be higher than DirectX's, should the system they are running on have identical hardware.

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Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

Open GL vs DirectX

It can be argued that it is more of the same this year but EA have also whipped something new out of the bag for us. This something new is the control method. FIFA is generally best played using a gamepad which is why we loved hauling out that Xbox controller. Keyboard skills are a sheer nightmare, particularly for the left-handed fraternity but to our great surprise, FIFA is now playable using the mouse.

The mouse can be a solo affair or used in conjunction with the trusty keyboard. It takes a fair bit of getting used to but once the basics are learned and players have had a few goes, passing shooting and scoring become a pleasure. Right clicks pass on offence and tackle on defence while a left will shoot or slide respectively. The worst bit is getting used to clicking in the right place at the right time; players will give away the ball quite often until that is learnt.

What was also great to see was the differences between teams, regardless of difficulty settings. A lower ranked team will play noticeably worse than a top-ranked one at any setting. Thus, Spain will mop the floor with the South African team unless one happens to be exploiting the holes in defenses that only the very easy setting gives.

With as much of the world's soccer events crammed into the game as EA possibly could, the prospect of playing online (which requires the creation and activation of an account) and the multiplayer options, there is very little to detract from the content available.

There are a list of achievements which can be used to buy new stadium packs and other goodies once enough points are earned. For all that, FIFA 09 on the PC falls a little short of its console brethren. The graphics settings cannot be scaled up enough to satisfy the rabid gamer and we really were hoping for a little more eye-candy. The cut-scene replays look great and the commentators don't repeat themselves as much as we remember but we were hoping that more of the ingame models were better detailed. It's a case of something old and something new from EA.

At the end of it all, it is still FIFA and you will play it.

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Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

FIFA 09

As long as your network has the range, taking your laptop into the garden and plugging in some external speakers, is possibly the simplest way of getting music to your garden party. However, Windows networking is notoriously fickle, especially if you are mixing operating systems, so a dedicated software solution may be better.

Windows Media Player 11 is built into Windows Vista and can be downloaded for XP and once set up for sharing, WMP11 turns your PC with the media library into a media server. A Vista laptop will usually automatically detect a shared library and ask whether you want to connect to it. You can also share your iTunes library, and then access it from another PC or laptop running iTunes.

However, one of our favorite solutions for sharing media is Orb (www.orb.com), which enables you to share music, video, pictures and documents, not just across your local network, but across the internet as well. It's a great way to listen to your music collection when you're at work, a friend's house or anywhere else that you can get a respectable internet connection. Not only is Orb free, but you can use it to stream your files to the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii and even some handhelds, like the iPod touch and mobile phones. An alternative is TVersity, which will also work with any internet connected device that has a web browser that supports Flash.

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Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

Software Streaming

There will be more problems with a PC title, we know we can usually expect that, but it should look and play better as well as contain some extra content if we're lucky. PC hardware allows that to happen. However, in this case, the PC release of Rise of the Argonauts has fallen flat on its face. Down an open sewer.

The Horror

Perhaps we should start at the beginning on this one. The very first indication that something had gone awry was after the unnecessarily lengthy installation, when the very first screen after the obligatory intro credits said 'Press Start'. There is obviously no start button on our keyboard that we can find but moreover this just screamed CONSOLE PORT.

Next, we hit the menu section to tweak some settings. The graphics options were much less complex than we are used to, barely anything outside resolution could be altered. The control configuration took a similar route and to our dismay, keys could not be remapped. There are three pre-set control layouts, it is that or nothing. More console copy paste.

Our initial foray into the game itself created a very bad impression. The graphics are supposed to be powered by the Unreal Engine, but the bland textures and barren scenery of the first level had us scratching our heads about where the Unreal tech was used. The camera is a bit of a mission on its own, not affording us the range of angles and movement we are used to; simply looking up and down is not possible.

The second time around, we'd hooked up an Xbox gamepad to try and overcome a few of the control hassles we experienced. Activation of God Powers is a nightmare on the keyboard, especially for a left-handed person like yours truly. Adding a gamepad suddenly makes the game playable, revealing how little was done to port RotA to the PC. The control menu switches to the default Xbox 360 layout, converts directly to the Xbox version of the game and control became much easier with a gamepad in hand. The camera still sucked though.

Once past the initial (bad) impression, the play through of RotA is not too terrible. There are some novel systems, with deeds (read: achievements) that can be dedicated to the gods in exchange for skill points. Dialogue choices can fill these god-meters too. These unlock upgrades and abilities that can be used in battle and the skill tree is pretty extensive.

The game is also not as bare and bland as it seems on first viewing. There are some very nice textures and effects later in the game and the FMV sequences also seem to get better as time passes.

Combat improves upon progression, though even from early stages it is mostly a repetitive affair. The only notable differences are the boss battles, which change things up a mite. There is a full RPG system in place, with party members that stay aboard the Argo unless you take them along for the trip. These would be the Argonauts of mythology. The game's storyline doesn't really bear mention.

It follows the myth pretty closely (for a given definition of close) and has the player taking the role of King Jason, trying to resurrect his love by obtaining the Golden Fleece. This leads to the next tragedy within the game: the never ending conversations. The dialogue scenes are too static to be really effective and the overall impression of the game is that there are short periods of combat followed by forty minutes of exposition and some bad acting. To add insult to injury there are tons of RPG-style side quests that involve running from point to point on the map.

Speaking of the map, there isn't one. Not one that can be accessed outside the menu anyway, which requires pausing the game, loading the map and then setting off. There is also no HUD to speak of, meaning that one has to be careful around foes that deal massive damage or risk sudden and unplanned death.

The console version of Rise of the Argonauts has garnered poor reviews all over and the PC version has not fared much better. The biggest problem is that it has all of the faults of the console version as well as a few crashes. The really sad thing is that God of War II did this better, it looked better, played better and did it all with a PS2's hardware.

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Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

Rise of The Argonauts

You may have thought about how to burn PS2 games, just so you could store the original and use the copy for playing, to avoid buying a whole new copy of the game. You might have tried to make copies of your PS2 games on your computer with regular software, but with no luck!

These days are now over
New technology software makes it possible for you to take copies of your favorites PS2 games on a regular DVD.
You simply just install the software on a computer follow the instructions and in no time you will have a 1:1 copy of the original PS2 game, without any need for being a technical wizard or to master any computer language.

The Software also eliminate the need for installing a mod chip into your PS2 and PS3 Consol, so your warrant stays intact, and your consol electronic circuits does not over burn.

This software is not only limited to PS2 and PS3, but also works with Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo WII and Pc Games, so there is a lot of money to be saved.

Just by using a game back up, without having a mood chip installed in your consol, allows you to keep continue playing on any gamer network. You will not get banned

So with the new back up game technology so can keep enjoying playing your games with out the fear of loosing your favorite games, because of the disc gets scratched, or the DVD get exposed to sunlight.

You just have to remember every time you get a new game, you have to make a back of the original and store it on a safe place and use the back up version of the game. That way you will have many fun hours with your favorite games in front of you.

Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

How to Burn Your Ps2 Games as Back Ups, No Mod Chip Needed

The good thing is that way your warrant stay intact, and there is no risk of over burn you Nintendo WII because over expanded power in the circuits, by adding a mod chip.

This game burning software does not only work with Nintendo WII, but can also copy games from Xbox 360, Xbox, Ps2, PS3, Game Cube and PC games as well.

There is a lot of money to be saved making a back up of your games, because there is not warrant or money back guarantee on games. If the game gets ruined it is lost forever and you have to spend money on the same game twice.

Here is how you can copy and back up your Nintendo WII games:

- Install the game burning software on your computer, and restart.

- Open the game burning software application, and insert the original Nintendo WII game disc to your computer.

- Copy the game to a location on your computer, it might take a little depending on the size of the game.

- Insert an empty DVD disc to your DVD burner. Notice that you might need a dual layer disc depending on the size of the disc.

- Follow the instructions and copy the game from your computer to the empty DVD

You can create as many copies as you like, just remember to store the original on a safe place, and make copies from that when the backup DVDs wears out.

Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

How to Copy Nintendo Wii Games Without a Mod Chip

Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

Netflix Vs. Blockbuster

There are several good versions of software for copying PS2 games available in the market place, and most of them will make good copies of games. From experience, however, dedicated gamers highly recommend a version called Game Copy Wizard, because it is reliable and very easy to use. All you need, in addition to the PS2 game copying software itself, is a computer with a DVD burner, and some DVD blank disks.

If you have all the equipment and supplies needed, and of course an original PS2 game to copy, it's simply a matter of installing the PS2 game copy software, alternately inserting the game disk and the blank DVD disk, and following the on screen instructions. You don't need to be a rocket scientist. In very short order, you'll have a usable, high quality copy of your original game. If you have games from other systems that you also wish to copy, not to worry. The Game Copy Wizard can copy most popular games such as Game Cube, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PS1, PS3, DreamCast, and several other PC games.

Simply by owning a copy of the Game Copy Wizard, you can control the fate of your expensive games, avoiding the prohibitive cost of replacing them should they become damaged, lost, or stolen. To ensure that you have the maximum protection possible for your games, copy them, store away the originals for safekeeping, and use the copies for playing the games. All risk is reduced. If you damage a copy, simply make another.

Game Copy Wizard has had rave reviews and excellent testimonials from users. It takes only a couple of minutes to download and install. It supports most file formats like AVI, DIVX, MP3, MP4, and many others. In addition to backing up all of your games, PS2 game copy software allows you to copy music, video, data, and movies. If, for any reason, you are not happy with the Game Copy Wizard software-but I'm sure you will be-you can return it for a full refund, so there is no risk at all!

Original Post: Xbox 360 Walk Throughs

Backup Your Games Using PS2 Game Copy Software