Jan 24th

Online Multiplayer Gaming Intro Guide

By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
Online Console Gaming Guide.jpg

One of the great things about gaming is the competitive aspect. When playing against the computer, no matter how smart the AI is, it can sometimes start to feel repetitive. Therefore, playing against a real life actual human being offers the added challenge and interest of more randomised gameplay with the added competitiveness of playing against and with another human being.

Playing online makes gaming an increasingly sociable activity allowing you to play with or against friends without being in the same room (or even continent) aswell as make new gaming friends.

Look out for terms such as 'Network Features,' Online Multiplayer' etc on the back of a games box to see if a game has online gaming features.

Conecting your console to the internet also allows you to download and try demos of games to see if the subject and gameplay is right for you before buying the full version.


XBOX 360

To play others online you must pay a subscription for XBOX Live Gold.

To connect to your internet either use an ethernet cable or for a wireless connection you need an XBox Wireless Adapter.

http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/live/Get_Connected.htm



PS3


Playstation Network is, for the time being, free, meaning no subscription is required. Either connect using an ethernet cable or connect using the internal wireless. 

http://uk.playstation.com/psn/



Wii

Multiplayer gaming is also free on the Wii WI-FI Connection. No ethernet cable can be used, instead the internal wireless connection must be used to connect to the internet.

http://uk.wii.com/wii/en_GB/wiiware/wii_connect_853.html
Nov 6th

Football Manager Live

By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
Football Manager Live Screen Shot.jpg
PC - Sports Interactive/Sega

Football Manager Live is not simply a direct transfer of the FM 2009 game to an online version. It is focused on the idea of online game play and built out from that. This has resulted in a standalone game, which offers a new experience from the offline versions.