New Playstation 2 Games - Downloading Ps2 Games Online

Do you still buy your console games from the local shop? Now the PlayStation 3 has been released the games for older consoles are cheaper than ever, especially used games. But is this the cheapest and easiest way to get your games? Walking to your local gaming shop only to find they haven't got the game you're after?

These days, with broadband internet becoming more and more popular it's a lot cheaper and easier to download your ps2 games online. It's a lot easier to click a few mouse buttons then burn the game to CD than it is to go buy the game. You could be downloading a new game whilst you're playing another one!

But is this legal? Downloading from certain P2P (person to person) networks and from certain sites does break copy write laws. So you have to be careful where you download from. But some sites, you can pay a small one time fee (about the price of one game!) and get lifetime access to there constantly updating database full of PS2 Games. Some even have music and movies as well.

These sites are easy to use, you just log on, search for the game your after, click to download then burn off to CD. Simple! So which sites should you use? There are a lot out there you should definitely avoid. Some have out dated database, which do not get updated regularly, so you will not be able to get the newer games.

Do you want all the games you can handle without ever leaving your home? Check out http://www.squidoo.com/download-ps2-game for more information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lewis_Waller
http://EzineArticles.com/?New-Playstation-2-Games---Downloading-Ps2-Games-Online&id=691856

Xbox 360 Mod Chip - What Is It And Should You Buy One?

As a serious gamer myself, I love to see games before they hit our shores here in North America. But more than that, I am always looking for the hottest and most unique games I can get my hands on. Unfortunately, many of those games just don't come to our side of the ocean from Japan. Typically, since the days of the original Nintendo NES, Japanese gamers have enjoyed much more unique and often times much better games than their North American Counter Parts. I've been very fortunate to be able to play many of these Japanese games while I was living in Japan, but when I returned back home to Canada, I simply could not find many of the games that I had played with such pleasure while in Japan. So I searched and researched and found exactly what I needed to be able to just put those Japanese games into game console and really start playing again. What I found was a Mod Chip, for my Playstation console. And I've been using mod chips ever since then. Having most recently purchased and installed my Xbox 360 Mod Chip into my system - and I've got games from Japan on the way. So Just what IS a mod chip? Let me explain. A modification chip or mod chip is a device used to play import, backup, or home brew games. Mod Chips first came into 'fame' when die hard, hard core gamers who were tired of the slim offerings that were made available for them in the USA, wanted to get their hands on the often better and more unique Japanese games that were coming out for their game console. This is nothing new, even the Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into their USA NES system so that they could play those really unique Japanese games, or the latest Mario offering that was only available (or came out much sooner) in Japan. Mod chips are available for all the major video game consoles, including the Xbox 360, Xbox, Sony PSP, PlayStation, Playstation 2 and GameCube. Almost all modern console gaming systems have hardware-based schemes which ensure that only officially sanctioned games may be used with the system and implement regional lockout similar to the scheme used in DVD movies. The specific technical nature of these DRM systems varies by system, and may include cryptographic signing (Xbox), intentionally unreadable sectors (PlayStation, Sega Saturn), custom optical media (GameCube, Dreamcast), or some combination thereof. Modchips are available also for some DVD players, to defeat region code enforcement and user operation prohibitions. Mod Chips first came into 'fame' when die hard, hard core gamers who were tired of the slim offerings that were made available for them in the USA, wanted to get their hands on the often better and more unique Japanese games that were coming out for their game console. This is nothing new, even the Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into their USA NES system so that they could play those really unique Japanese games, or the latest Mario offering that was only available (or came out much sooner) in Japan. Modchips typically require some level of technical ability to install. Most commonly, modchips must be soldered on to a console's motherboard, although there are no-solder install kits (which instead rely on the precise positioning of electrical contacts within the case) which work with some revisions of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox hardware. As console systems got better and better, a whole following of home brew developers starting making their own software for their consoles. Software like the Xbox Media Center (XMBC) as well as their own little games and programs to stream video and audio. But in order to play / run this software, users are required to be able to load unsigned / home brew code onto their system. This is where mod chips come in. Not only do they allow you to play the latest game offerings from Japan, which as stated earlier, are often much better both graphically and in the way of originality than the games that are for the North American market. As with any new system, and the new mod chips that first come out - we're always hit with loads of 'compatibility' issues. Much like when the ps2 mod chip first came out, they had chips (different chips) for each 'version' of the ps2 console. And the Xbox 360 mod chips are no exception. The very first chips that came out were for very specific 'versions' of the XBox 360. First it was a mod chip for the Samsung drives .. Which means that if your XBox 360 had a samsung DVD drive, then you needed to buy an Xbox 360 mod chip that worked on the SAMSUNG drive, to bypass the current firmware. Then the Team Underdog chip came out, this chip had 2 versions. One for the samsung drives, and another one for the LG/Hitachi Drives. So again, you were 'stuck' having to find out exactly which Xbox 360 you had, in order to select the right chip for your console. Now, as with most developments in the mod chip manufacturing world, eventually, some very smart programmers and developers finally get it right. Naturally, it is common sense to assume that customers would be much more likely to buy a mod chip for their Xbox 360 is they could do away with the 'version' checking, and buy a chip that they KNOW will work in their Xbox 360 console... Of course, when they take it apart after receiving their chip, they WILL have to find out which model they have so they can use the right installation directions - but they don't have to fret or worry that the chip they have purchased may NOT be compatible with their XBox 360. Much like any product, customers want the peace of mind of knowing that what they are buying will simply just WORK, and in the case of mod chips, will work in their Xbox 360 console regardless of the version of the Xbox 360 that they purchased. In comes the Globe 360 Xbox 360 Mod Chip. The Globe 360 is the world's First Xbox 360 mod chip that is compatible with ALL DVD Drives currently on the market! Rather than having to figure out which model drive you have, as you do with other chips, the Globe360 Xbox 360 Mod chip works in ANY drive model to date. And the home brew software that is available is outstanding - and I expect it to get a whole lot better. My Xbox already acts as a complete media center, even streaming Google Videos directly from the Internet. And my Playstation 2 has been transformed from just an awesome games machine to a DVD Player, DivX Player, MP3 Player, and streaming content directly to the console from the Internet makes it something that I could not do without. To sum it up, if you have an Xbox 360, then you should really consider getting an Xbox 360 mod chip. Not only will you be able to protect your expensive investments by making backup copies of your own original games, and putting the originals away for safe keeping, but you'll also open up a whole new world of games that you simply would not be able to play otherwise. There are truly very unique (and playable) Japanese games that we'll simply never see otherwise. And if home brew or cool utilities, applications or add-ons are your thing, then having a mod chip is an absolute must.

About Author: Steve Fields is an avid gamer and writes game reviews and provides customer support for Xbox 360 Mod Chip customers at http://www.xboxmodchip.com The online Xbox Mod Chip store. He has written numerous tutorials and help guides on do it yourself moddding of game consoles.

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

Video Game Console History

During the early years of video games, it was incredibly popular for young children to go down to the Arcades and play video games. In the modern ages, children now save themselves the journey of a five to ten minute walk and now easily plug in and play their desired games in their very own home. Playing video games at home began in 1977 when the company, Atari, released their video game system, 'VCS' (later known as Atari 2600) for a princely sum of $249. In the same year, Nintendo released their console, TV Game 6, to rival the Atari 2600. Arcades were very popular in those days, as it still is in the modern world, as Midway released the first video game that could keep high scores. It's name? The world-renowned 'Space Invaders'. In 1980, many classic arcade games were made. Video games such as Atari's 'Asteroids' and Namco's 'Pacman' which can now be easily played in handheld consoles such as the Nintendo DS. By 1994, many sagas of Video Game history came and went. There was a Video Game Console market crash which made many companies pull out of the business leaving Nintendo, Sega and Atari - the leading competitors of the market. In 1995, Atari pulled out of the market and a new competitor emerged - Sony - which would famously go on to lead the console market. In that year, Sony released the 'Playstation' - a 32-bit CD-based video game console, Sega released the 'Saturn' and Nintendo released the 'Nintendo 64' which was the last video game console that used cartridge media. By the year 2000, Sony had a firm grip on the Video Game Console market as it released the Playstation 2 with many loyal game developers such as Namco (Ridge Racer, Tekken) and selling over 100 million units. The Playstation 2 was the first console which was able to play games of its predecessor. In the following years, Microsoft entered the market with the 'Xbox', Nintendo released the 'Gamecube'. Nintendo led the handheld console with the release of Gameboy Advance which could play Gameboy and Gameboy Color cartridges. Sega eventually left the Console industry, happily residing to be a software-only designer. Now in 2006, there seems to be a gradual switch of the market leader with Microsoft releasing their Next-Gen console faster than Sony and Nintendo. The 'XBox 360' features razor-sharp graphics and enables users to play online with each other. It was released at Christmas 2005 but many consoles were sent back to the manufacturers because of faulty parts. The Sony Playstation 3 is set for launch on the November 2006 after the delay of its original release date Spring 2006 because of copyright complications. It is rumoured that there will be over 30 launch titles. It is also rumoured that Sony has invested over $800 million in development, research and production. Nintendo will release its console 'Revolution', now renamed as 'Wii' (pronounced We) shortly after the PS3 with its release date being scheduled for Christmas 2006. The end of 2006 will certainly entail some turning points in Video Game History.

About Author: ArticlesAlley.com

Xbox 360 Mod Chip - What Is It And Should You Buy One?

As a serious gamer myself, I love to see games before they hit our shores here in North America. But more than that, I am always looking for the hottest and most unique games I can get my hands on. Unfortunately, many of those games just don't come to our side of the ocean from Japan. Typically, since the days of the original Nintendo NES, Japanese gamers have enjoyed much more unique and often times much better games than their North American Counter Parts. I've been very fortunate to be able to play many of these Japanese games while I was living in Japan, but when I returned back home to Canada, I simply could not find many of the games that I had played with such pleasure while in Japan. So I searched and researched and found exactly what I needed to be able to just put those Japanese games into game console and really start playing again. What I found was a Mod Chip, for my Playstation console. And I've been using mod chips ever since then. Having most recently purchased and installed my Xbox 360 Mod Chip into my system - and I've got games from Japan on the way. So Just what IS a mod chip? Let me explain. A modification chip or mod chip is a device used to play import, backup, or home brew games. Mod Chips first came into 'fame' when die hard, hard core gamers who were tired of the slim offerings that were made available for them in the USA, wanted to get their hands on the often better and more unique Japanese games that were coming out for their game console. This is nothing new, even the Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into their USA NES system so that they could play those really unique Japanese games, or the latest Mario offering that was only available (or came out much sooner) in Japan. Mod chips are available for all the major video game consoles, including the Xbox 360, Xbox, Sony PSP, PlayStation, Playstation 2 and GameCube. Almost all modern console gaming systems have hardware-based schemes which ensure that only officially sanctioned games may be used with the system and implement regional lockout similar to the scheme used in DVD movies. The specific technical nature of these DRM systems varies by system, and may include cryptographic signing (Xbox), intentionally unreadable sectors (PlayStation, Sega Saturn), custom optical media (GameCube, Dreamcast), or some combination thereof. Modchips are available also for some DVD players, to defeat region code enforcement and user operation prohibitions. Mod Chips first came into 'fame' when die hard, hard core gamers who were tired of the slim offerings that were made available for them in the USA, wanted to get their hands on the often better and more unique Japanese games that were coming out for their game console. This is nothing new, even the Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into their USA NES system so that they could play those really unique Japanese games, or the latest Mario offering that was only available (or came out much sooner) in Japan. Modchips typically require some level of technical ability to install. Most commonly, modchips must be soldered on to a console's motherboard, although there are no-solder install kits (which instead rely on the precise positioning of electrical contacts within the case) which work with some revisions of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox hardware. As console systems got better and better, a whole following of home brew developers starting making their own software for their consoles. Software like the Xbox Media Center (XMBC) as well as their own little games and programs to stream video and audio. But in order to play / run this software, users are required to be able to load unsigned / home brew code onto their system. This is where mod chips come in. Not only do they allow you to play the latest game offerings from Japan, which as stated earlier, are often much better both graphically and in the way of originality than the games that are for the North American market. As with any new system, and the new mod chips that first come out - we're always hit with loads of 'compatibility' issues. Much like when the ps2 mod chip first came out, they had chips (different chips) for each 'version' of the ps2 console. And the Xbox 360 mod chips are no exception. The very first chips that came out were for very specific 'versions' of the XBox 360. First it was a mod chip for the Samsung drives .. Which means that if your XBox 360 had a samsung DVD drive, then you needed to buy an Xbox 360 mod chip that worked on the SAMSUNG drive, to bypass the current firmware. Then the Team Underdog chip came out, this chip had 2 versions. One for the samsung drives, and another one for the LG/Hitachi Drives. So again, you were 'stuck' having to find out exactly which Xbox 360 you had, in order to select the right chip for your console. Now, as with most developments in the mod chip manufacturing world, eventually, some very smart programmers and developers finally get it right. Naturally, it is common sense to assume that customers would be much more likely to buy a mod chip for their Xbox 360 is they could do away with the 'version' checking, and buy a chip that they KNOW will work in their Xbox 360 console... Of course, when they take it apart after receiving their chip, they WILL have to find out which model they have so they can use the right installation directions - but they don't have to fret or worry that the chip they have purchased may NOT be compatible with their XBox 360. Much like any product, customers want the peace of mind of knowing that what they are buying will simply just WORK, and in the case of mod chips, will work in their Xbox 360 console regardless of the version of the Xbox 360 that they purchased. In comes the Globe 360 Xbox 360 Mod Chip. The Globe 360 is the world's First Xbox 360 mod chip that is compatible with ALL DVD Drives currently on the market! Rather than having to figure out which model drive you have, as you do with other chips, the Globe360 Xbox 360 Mod chip works in ANY drive model to date. And the home brew software that is available is outstanding - and I expect it to get a whole lot better. My Xbox already acts as a complete media center, even streaming Google Videos directly from the Internet. And my Playstation 2 has been transformed from just an awesome games machine to a DVD Player, DivX Player, MP3 Player, and streaming content directly to the console from the Internet makes it something that I could not do without. To sum it up, if you have an Xbox 360, then you should really consider getting an Xbox 360 mod chip. Not only will you be able to protect your expensive investments by making backup copies of your own original games, and putting the originals away for safe keeping, but you'll also open up a whole new world of games that you simply would not be able to play otherwise. There are truly very unique (and playable) Japanese games that we'll simply never see otherwise. And if home brew or cool utilities, applications or add-ons are your thing, then having a mod chip is an absolute must.

About Author: Steve Fields is an avid gamer and writes game reviews and provides customer support for Xbox 360 Mod Chip customers at http://www.xboxmodchip.com The online Xbox Mod Chip store. He has written numerous tutorials and help guides on do it yourself moddding of game consoles.

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

Xbox 360 Mod Chip - What Is It And Should You Buy One?

As a serious gamer myself, I love to see games before they hit our shores here in North America. But more than that, I am always looking for the hottest and most unique games I can get my hands on. Unfortunately, many of those games just don't come to our side of the ocean from Japan. Typically, since the days of the original Nintendo NES, Japanese gamers have enjoyed much more unique and often times much better games than their North American Counter Parts. I've been very fortunate to be able to play many of these Japanese games while I was living in Japan, but when I returned back home to Canada, I simply could not find many of the games that I had played with such pleasure while in Japan. So I searched and researched and found exactly what I needed to be able to just put those Japanese games into game console and really start playing again. What I found was a Mod Chip, for my Playstation console. And I've been using mod chips ever since then. Having most recently purchased and installed my Xbox 360 Mod Chip into my system - and I've got games from Japan on the way. So Just what IS a mod chip? Let me explain. A modification chip or mod chip is a device used to play import, backup, or home brew games. Mod Chips first came into 'fame' when die hard, hard core gamers who were tired of the slim offerings that were made available for them in the USA, wanted to get their hands on the often better and more unique Japanese games that were coming out for their game console. This is nothing new, even the Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into their USA NES system so that they could play those really unique Japanese games, or the latest Mario offering that was only available (or came out much sooner) in Japan. Mod chips are available for all the major video game consoles, including the Xbox 360, Xbox, Sony PSP, PlayStation, Playstation 2 and GameCube. Almost all modern console gaming systems have hardware-based schemes which ensure that only officially sanctioned games may be used with the system and implement regional lockout similar to the scheme used in DVD movies. The specific technical nature of these DRM systems varies by system, and may include cryptographic signing (Xbox), intentionally unreadable sectors (PlayStation, Sega Saturn), custom optical media (GameCube, Dreamcast), or some combination thereof. Modchips are available also for some DVD players, to defeat region code enforcement and user operation prohibitions. Mod Chips first came into 'fame' when die hard, hard core gamers who were tired of the slim offerings that were made available for them in the USA, wanted to get their hands on the often better and more unique Japanese games that were coming out for their game console. This is nothing new, even the Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into their USA NES system so that they could play those really unique Japanese games, or the latest Mario offering that was only available (or came out much sooner) in Japan. Modchips typically require some level of technical ability to install. Most commonly, modchips must be soldered on to a console's motherboard, although there are no-solder install kits (which instead rely on the precise positioning of electrical contacts within the case) which work with some revisions of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox hardware. As console systems got better and better, a whole following of home brew developers starting making their own software for their consoles. Software like the Xbox Media Center (XMBC) as well as their own little games and programs to stream video and audio. But in order to play / run this software, users are required to be able to load unsigned / home brew code onto their system. This is where mod chips come in. Not only do they allow you to play the latest game offerings from Japan, which as stated earlier, are often much better both graphically and in the way of originality than the games that are for the North American market. As with any new system, and the new mod chips that first come out - we're always hit with loads of 'compatibility' issues. Much like when the ps2 mod chip first came out, they had chips (different chips) for each 'version' of the ps2 console. And the Xbox 360 mod chips are no exception. The very first chips that came out were for very specific 'versions' of the XBox 360. First it was a mod chip for the Samsung drives .. Which means that if your XBox 360 had a samsung DVD drive, then you needed to buy an Xbox 360 mod chip that worked on the SAMSUNG drive, to bypass the current firmware. Then the Team Underdog chip came out, this chip had 2 versions. One for the samsung drives, and another one for the LG/Hitachi Drives. So again, you were 'stuck' having to find out exactly which Xbox 360 you had, in order to select the right chip for your console. Now, as with most developments in the mod chip manufacturing world, eventually, some very smart programmers and developers finally get it right. Naturally, it is common sense to assume that customers would be much more likely to buy a mod chip for their Xbox 360 is they could do away with the 'version' checking, and buy a chip that they KNOW will work in their Xbox 360 console... Of course, when they take it apart after receiving their chip, they WILL have to find out which model they have so they can use the right installation directions - but they don't have to fret or worry that the chip they have purchased may NOT be compatible with their XBox 360. Much like any product, customers want the peace of mind of knowing that what they are buying will simply just WORK, and in the case of mod chips, will work in their Xbox 360 console regardless of the version of the Xbox 360 that they purchased. In comes the Globe 360 Xbox 360 Mod Chip. The Globe 360 is the world's First Xbox 360 mod chip that is compatible with ALL DVD Drives currently on the market! Rather than having to figure out which model drive you have, as you do with other chips, the Globe360 Xbox 360 Mod chip works in ANY drive model to date. And the home brew software that is available is outstanding - and I expect it to get a whole lot better. My Xbox already acts as a complete media center, even streaming Google Videos directly from the Internet. And my Playstation 2 has been transformed from just an awesome games machine to a DVD Player, DivX Player, MP3 Player, and streaming content directly to the console from the Internet makes it something that I could not do without. To sum it up, if you have an Xbox 360, then you should really consider getting an Xbox 360 mod chip. Not only will you be able to protect your expensive investments by making backup copies of your own original games, and putting the originals away for safe keeping, but you'll also open up a whole new world of games that you simply would not be able to play otherwise. There are truly very unique (and playable) Japanese games that we'll simply never see otherwise. And if home brew or cool utilities, applications or add-ons are your thing, then having a mod chip is an absolute must.

About Author: Steve Fields is an avid gamer and writes game reviews and provides customer support for Xbox 360 Mod Chip customers at http://www.xboxmodchip.com The online Xbox Mod Chip store. He has written numerous tutorials and help guides on do it yourself moddding of game consoles.

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

Playstation 2 Games - Popular Titles

Gaming has taken over the entertainment field as one of the most popular forms of entertainment, both for children and adults. Over the past 20 years, there has been a drastic increase in the sales of gaming devices, like consoles and other handheld gadgets. Video games have replaced television and books as the most sought after mode of recreation. In this regard, there has been a great influx of gaming gadgets, each one more developed and including more features than its predecessor. One such gadget is the PlayStation 2, or shortly, PS2. This is a gaming console which can be connected to the television, and using special discs, can be used to play games. PlayStation 2 was released in 2000 as the successor to the original.

PlayStation 2 games are manufactured in discs that contain the game data. With the release of many famous games as PS2 compatible discs, the demand for PS2 increased greatly leading to a major revolution in the gaming industry, bringing down the sales of computer games. Some of the famous PS2 games are discussed in the following paragraphs.

The 'Grand Theft Auto' series is one of the most popular selling games of the PS2. This game is a free form adventure-cum-action game, where the player is given control of a particular character, the name and appearance of the character varying with versions of the game. The player starts off as a normal citizen of a city, and gradually rises to become a gangster, stealing cars, and performing bank robberies. The game is versatile in the sense that there are no restrictions in the gameplay. The player needn't stick to a particular set of directions to complete the game. He can roam all over the city, do what he likes, whenever he likes. This makes the game more realistic, thus gaining great popularity among the gaming audience.

Another very famous game is the WWE Smackdown series. This series of games has been developed after the popular television show, WWE. Judging by the enthusiastic response for the WWE television show, game developers came to the conclusion that if this concept evolved into a game, it would be patronized, and rightly so. As soon as the first edition of WWE Smackdown hit the market, it was a huge success, mainly among kids. Soon, WWE Smackdown 2 was released, which tasted similar success. You can find more information on gaming at http://www.fanprogames.com

Currently, WWE Smackdown 4 is the latest version among this series of WWE Smackdown games. All these PlayStation 2 games involve all the excitement of the WWE television show. The player has the option of choosing the type of wrestling match, the wrestlers involved in the match, and the winning conditions. They can perform a variety of realistic moves to bring down their opponent and win the match. Newer versions include the feature of customizing the wrestler, where the player can customize his wrestler, right from the appearance, the ring costume, the moves, special moves and entrance styles. This has made this series very popular among the WWE loving audience.

Article by Dean Forster at http://www.fanprogames.com . For more information on ps2, xbox and gamecube home entertainment visit Video Game Rental

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Forster
http://EzineArticles.com/?Playstation-2-Games---Popular-Titles&id=718582

Xbox vs. PS2 Game Consoles

There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the two most popular gaming consoles currently on the market: PlayStation 2 (PS2) and Xbox. PS2 is a Sony product, while Xbox is owned by the software giant Microsoft. Many different people have worked with these gaming systems inside and out, attempting to determine which system provides the best performance for your hard-earned gaming dollar. Here we take a look at each gaming system and compare the specs and performance of each. We will attempt to answer that age-old question: which is the better gaming system, Xbox or PS2?

You can take a look at a table comparing hardware specs here.

There are many specs in addition to the ones listed above, but these should give you some idea of just how close these two game consoles really are. If you are looking for pure processing power and graphics capabilities, the Xbox appears to have a slight advantage. In addition, its computer-like features, such as a built-in hard drive are nice to have. With the PS2 you must purchase a memory card if you run out of storage room. When comparing raw power and extra features, the Xbox wins - but you have to keep in mind that the PS2 was released first, and there are additional things to consider besides system specs.

What about Multi-player Capabilities?

Both the Xbox and PS2 have multi-player capability. You can hook up a series of both consoles so that you and your friends can play games together at the same time. The Xbox may be connected using a home LAN system, much like your home computers (here's another example of how the Xbox is more like a specialized gaming computer). The PS2 may be connected using a link cable, not a LAN. This system may be cost prohibitive for some gamers, since you have to own multiple consoles, separate TVs for each, and several copies of the same game (yep, that's expensive).

Of course, you can always ditch the local network and play through the internet. Bboth PS2 and Xbox allow you to play online against a random assortment of opponents. Xbox uses Xbox live, a fairly well supported online gaming network. PS2's network is not as popular as Xbox Llive, but it works fairly well all the same. If you are really into multi-player, it seems that Xbox is probably the best console for you.

Xbox Games vs. PS2 Games

When deciding which of these two game consoles is best for you, you should certainly take into consideration what types of games each offers, and which games you are most interested in playing. PS2, having been around a little while longer, tends to have the larger game library, but Xbox is not terribly far behind. In addition, Xbox tends to produce games geared more towards adults than children. The graphics seen on the new Xbox games are also clearly a step ahead of PS2 graphics. There is, however, nearly a PS2 game for everyone, and there are lot of PS2 games geared towards teenagers. If you are looking for games for kids, the Nintendo Gamecube may actually be a better choice than either of these two - and it's cheaper.

Other Considerations

Some other things you may want to consider when comparing PS2 and Xbox is the controller provided by each. These may not seem like a big factor at first glance, but people usually prefer one type of controller over the other. The Xbox controllers tend to be slightly larger than PS2, mainly because Xbox is designed with older gamers in mind. You can always buy a converter in order to get one game console controller to work with another.

As far as price goes, PS2 has typically been cheaper than Xbox. As of the time of this writing (Dec. 2004), PS2 retails for about $150 and Xbox $100. Game prices are very similar for both game systems, with most new games costing about $30 - $50.

The bottom line is, PS2 is a little older than the Xbox, and is geared for a younger gaming crowd. If you are buying this console for a teenager, the PS2 may actually be your best bet - they have more games, the console is cheaper, and the games are more appropriate for that age group. The Xbox is a little more expensive, has fewer games, but it out-performs PS2 and has more adult-oriented games.

Bradley James is a senior editor for [http://www.scinet.cc], a consumer electronics review website. You can find more information about Xbox vs. PS2 at: [http://www.scinet.cc/articles/xbox-vs-ps2/xbox-ps2.html]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bradley_James
http://EzineArticles.com/?Xbox-vs.-PS2-Game-Consoles&id=26664

BloodRayne Review for the Playstation 2 (PS2), XBox, and Nintendo Gamecube

BloodRayne is seductively different from other games. The character of this game, Rayne, has been dressed very provocatively and has a body that would turn heads, but that is not what makes this game special. Many games have women that wear revealing clothing. What gives this character and this game a more sexual feel is that she is part vampire. Vampires have often been portrayed in a sexual light due to the intimacy shared between the vampire and the victim during feeding. This game incorporates a sexually charged female character as the heroine and gives it a sort of horror movie feel with all of the creatures that Rayne has to fight. Any woman who can kick butt while wearing next to nothing makes a great video game character.

BoodRayne is about a sexy half-human half-vampire who is working to rid the world of supernatural activity caused by black magic. She was recruited by and takes orders from a secret agency. Throughout the game Agent Rayne makes contact with this agency to update them on her progress and to receive new orders. Since Agent Rayne is only a half-vampire she does not share all the same weaknesses that full vampires do, however she still must be careful around water and sunlight. This is especially tricky in the first part of the game that is set in the Louisiana swamps.

Agent Rayne is sent to the Louisiana swamps in the 1930's to kill Zombies and giant-spiders. Her goal is to rid the swamp of all the giant-spider's nests so that there will be no more reproduction of this abomination. This part of the game drags a little bit, but if you can just hang in there the action picks up in the next area that she is sent to.

Five years after the Louisiana mission is finished Agent Rayne receives new orders from the agency to take out the Nazis because of the work that they are doing with black magic. Her goal is to find the laboratory where these experiments are taking place and to put a stop to it. This area is a lot of fun to play because Agent Rayne runs into some really creepy monsters.

Agent Rayne gains many abilities as the game progresses which adds a lot of flavor to the gameplay. She can see enemies through walls and is guided by a red light to her targets. This helps with navigation through tricky areas that are easy to get lost in. Agent Rayne can also move super fast in order to dodge bullets that are coming at her. This move works great when there are a dozen enemies shooting at you all at once. Then there is the blood rage that increases while she is kicking butt. This bar will fill up so that you can use your supper attack that increases the amount of damage that she inflicts on the enemy.

Personally, my favorite part of the game is that Agent Rayne can feed off of any of her enemies; when she feeds her life increases and the life of the enemy decreases. Jumping on an enemy and feeding when there is a lot of gunfir works great because you can use the person as a shield from the bullets. While agent Rayne is feeding she makes very sexy moaning noises that let you know just how much she is enjoying it.

Agent Rayne comes equipped with knives and swords to kill the enemies; the attacks with these swords can be really grisly. She can slash her victim to death, decapitate them, or even impel them; all are equally bloody. The blood splatters all over the walls, all over the floors, basically everywhere and they remain there even after you leave the area which helps you to know whether you have already been to that area. Agent Rayne can also pick up stray guns. These are very easy to use since all you have to do is lock on and shoot. The guns come in handy when you are sorely outnumbered.

The graphics are decent; each one of the new areas that she goes in are equally interesting and look very realistic. The camera on the other hand can get stuck sometimes and usually the only way to fix it is to reset the game. The player can interact with almost anything in the game, for instance a desk can be smashed, items knocked over, and curtains can be torn which makes a very realistic tearing sound.

This game is quite long, but on the up-side the game is relatively easy so flying through it should be a breeze. One thing to keep in mind is that it starts out rather slow and boring, but the farther into the game you get the more interesting it becomes. I would recommend giving it a try if you have the time to devote to playing it.

Miranda Stites

www.HeroesOfGaming.com [http://www.HeroesOfGaming.com]

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Sony Playstation 2 Vs Microsoft Xbox - Setting the Tone?

A systems' availability, specifications, price, number and quality of games and perhaps most importantly its' ability to provide fun and longevity are all factors that should be considered when purchasing a game console. After assessing the PS2 and Xbox on these criteria can we determine which console succeeds at obtaining higher sales?

The PS2 has the most games available as a result of its backward compatibility with Playstation. PS2 can not only play games intended for the original PlayStation but it also makes them look better. It does not seem that Sony will have this advantage for very long however, as Xbox gears up to offer an extensive amount of games to a variety of gamers.

These two consoles are very similar in price however, Xbox tends to require the purchase of extra equipment for additional functions. For example, the PS2 comes ready to play DVD's whereas the Xbox requires the purchase of the Xbox DVD playback kit. The Xbox to its credit does contain an 8GB Hard drive and is broadband ready and offers a live online gaming service. It is worth mentioning that PS2 does have extra gadgets available also for example a DVD remote, a hard disk, a mouse, a keyboard, an eye toy camera and game-specific gadgets such as a microphone for Guitar Hero.

Both systems have online capabilities, a similar amount and quality of games, cost the same amount of money and target the same market. The differences to follow put Xbox a nose ahead of the PS2. The graphics are sharper on an Xbox. Xbox loads and saves games faster since it writes the saved game data directly to the hard drive. This eliminates the need for memory cards. Also, with the purchase of 2 additional games and a controller a 50 dollar rebate was being offered on Xbox making it 50 dollars cheaper!

However, PS2 remained the leader in the industry. The year of its release the PlayStation 2 showed the power of brand awareness and supplying capabilities. Sony PlayStation 2 was the sales leader with a final tally of 1.4 million units sold as opposed to 934,000 Xbox consoles.
With the launch of a new product by each manufacturer, Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 can we expect similar results? Is the PS3 likely to keep its lead in light of the inclusion of a blu-ray player combined with its industry clout? The most notable advantage for Microsoft is it's one year jump on the release of the PS3 which resulted in many multi-platform developers making Xbox 360 their primary platform, which means the games will look and perform better. The PS3 versions will be ports of the 360 versions (the opposite was true for Xbox and PS2). The PS3 ($399.00) is also 100 dollars more expensive than the Xbox 360($299.00).

A systems' availability, specifications, price, number and quality of games and perhaps most importantly its' ability to provide fun and longevity are all factors that should be considered when purchasing a game console. An assessment of these variables for the PS2 and Xbox revealed two very similar products and a leader as a result of industry clout. Their newer versions have changed the platforms a bit and resulted in products that are more dissimilar than their predecessors. These changes are bound to shake up the results of future product analysis!
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