Bioshock Tips

BioShock from 2K Games may seem at first like a linear first person shooter, but you should still pay attention to the many well-crafted scenes and story fragments that are served up in this wonderful game. Unlike most pure action titles, this one supplies you with limited amounts of ammunition and Eve (the fuel bar for your Plasmid abilities - think of it as the same thing as Mana in a fantasy game), challenging you to face your enemies with the right tools. Let's look at a few areas of the game where solutions aren't totally obvious but are helpful if you find them.

Please note: that some of the things mentioned in this guide might be considered very light spoilers. I'm not giving away any plot points and do point the way towards making some real story choices, but I deliberately stay very vague. If you want to know nothing about Rapture or the weapons and abilities you get, wait until you've played someBioShock before coming back to this guide. Bookmark it, though!

USE THE RIGHT AMMO

All of your ranged weapons in BioShock have a few types of ammo which you can load. The pistol and machine gun both include normal, Antipersonnel, and Anti-armor rounds, the latter two of which are more scarce than the regular stuff but also more specialized to killing specific foes. I recommend you keep your anti-armor rounds specifically for fighting Big Daddies with, especially earlier in the game. The shotgun has a different set of ammo: Regular, Exploding, and Electric Buck shot. Unfortunately I found that as you go through the game, the shotgun - even when upgraded - isn't quite as useful as I expected. I usually just would leave Electric ammo in there for a quick stun on a Big Daddy or to take out a security camera I didn't feel like hacking.


Later weapons have some wacky ammo, most of which is limited in use by just what enemies are weak towards what. Feeding a ton of Liquid Nitrogen at a Splicer doesn't help much, but some Napalm does pretty well - just be ready for long reload times and a huge thing blocking your view when using the Chemical Launcher. The Crossbow is very powerful, but you'll really need some good aim with your gamepad or mouse to make it worth using. If aim is not one of your strong suits, then put your efforts into setting up traps with Trap Bolts to take people out ahead of time.

DEALING WITH SCARCITY TONICS

One thing you'll find out quickly in BioShock is that you can't just have a favorite weapon or Plasmid to stick with for most of the game. You're going to run out of ammo or Eve hypos eventually, and your money only goes so far in replenishing them at Circus of Values machines. It's much smarter to balance out your style at the beginning of the game by using Plasmids as well as all your weapons and ammo types, along with some healthy use of the Wrench - yes, the Wrench (more on that later). The side effect is that you'll figure out what weapons and ammo work best.


One of the best ways to increase your combat abilities is by choosing the right tonics. You can make yourself a stealthy, wrench-swinging madman who beans Splicers over the head without being seen, or you can make yourself a master magician with pumped-up Plasmid usage. Some of the game's Tonics aren't terribly useful, like the ones that give you extra Health or Eve when hacking or drinking alcohol, but most have a pretty good application.


Remember that even if you get an upgraded version of a Tonic you already had, you can still use both in different slots for a stackable effect.

THE WRENCH

Unlike most action games, your starting weapon can still be very useful even at the end of BioShock. The key to it is installing the specific Tonics that make it hit harder and faster. I wasn't a big fan of the stealth-related Tonics I grabbed, but you will find that the wrench is great since it allows you to deal with Thug, Spider, and Houdini Splicers efficiently while using no ammo.

THE RESEARCH CAMERA

Partway through BioShock, you will gain the Research Camera which allows you to take pictures of your foes - doing so repeatedly gains you damage bonuses on the enemy types you've photographed. These bonuses can be increased with relevant Tonics, too, which is a good idea to use if you're planning on getting to Level 3 research on enemies. New Tonics will even unlock just by taking pictures, so it's actually quite useful to go ahead and use the Research Camera. Remember that you can take multiple pictures of enemies for diminished research progress, and considering how cheap film for the camera is at just about any Circus of Values, it's worth taking a ton of pictures. Any picture that the game considers not good enough won't use any film either, so go wild!


If you're having trouble swapping out the camera with your real weapons or your Plasmids on the 360, remember that if you hold either bumper for a split second the game pauses and you get a quick menu for easy switching without missing a beat(down?) in combat.

PLASMID COMBOS

As you traverse Rapture you will find special stations that give one of several upgrades to your weapons. Each of your projectile weapons has two upgrades to tack onto it, and I would recommend that you fully upgrade one gun before moving onto the next. The pistol's ammo-capacity upgrade is easily the most amusing, as it adds a miniature belt-feeder onto it to serve up 24 rounds over of a normal revolver's measly six. Those who have a tough time with the Big Daddies should snag upgrades for the Grenade Launcher, as it's easily the best weapon for quickly taking out the big guys.BioShock does do a pretty decent job of explaining this in its introduction, but do keep in mind that easy kills can be gained by using elemental Plasmids. Of course you can amplify your electricity by shocking Splicers that are in the water, but hitting oil patches with Incinerate works wonders too. Splicers that are on fire will run to water nearby to put themselves out, and that's when you can drop some electricity on them. Feel free to get creative - the game usually rewards you pretty well.

WEAPON UPGRADES

If there's one weapon I'd recommend you skip upgrading, it'd probably be the shotgun. Even upgraded, it just felt too weak even when dealing with basic Splicers later in the game. That's not to say that the Exploding and Electric buck shot isn't good, as it does have its uses, but upgrades generally seem to be better placed elsewhere.

HACKING

The Vita Chamber is a checkpoint-like system that lets you respawn when you die without forcing you to load your game. Sometimes, you might want to go ahead and die rather than use a first aid kit, and in other cases you might actually want to load your game when you die instead of respawning at a Vita Chamber (especially if you were fighting a Big Daddy and can't get back to him in time before he puts a Little Sister back into one of their hiding places). Maybe you're on a tough hack and would rather die and respawn once you're done rather than loading your game repeatedly after each failure. As you go throughout the game and get into different predicaments, think about your situation and remember that the Vita Chamber is sometimes quicker than loading your game, and sometimes loading is the better idea.That hacking mini-game can really get annoying after a while, so I highly recommend you go ahead and put at least 2-3 Hacking tonics into your Engineering Tonic slots when you can. Hacking the various cameras and turrets really helps (especially for high-traffic areas where Splicers seem to respawn often), and getting into safes without paying huge amounts of cash is nice. You'll of course have to get good at the hacking game as well, as the Tonics only take you so far, so get practicing! Freezing something before you hack it will also give you extra time to work as the water will move slower. Another tip is that while hack failures do hurt your health, they won't kill you. If you don't feel like loading repeatedly on a tough hack, then just go ahead and keep trying it, going down to zero health, and either dealing with it afterwards or, if you did manage to trigger security bots with a hacking mistake, just letting them kill you. It's not so bad - that leads us to ...

USING THE VITA CHAMBER

The Vita Chamber is a checkpoint-like system that lets you respawn when you die without forcing you to load your game. Sometimes, you might want to go ahead and die rather than use a first aid kit, and in other cases you might actually want to load your game when you die instead of respawning at a Vita Chamber (especially if you were fighting a Big Daddy and can't get back to him in time before he puts a Little Sister back into one of their hiding places). Maybe you're on a tough hack and would rather die and respawn once you're done rather than loading your game repeatedly after each failure. As you go throughout the game and get into different predicaments, think about your situation and remember that the Vita Chamber is sometimes quicker than loading your game, and sometimes loading is the better idea.

TAKING ON THE SPLICERS

Headshots count! This is probably the biggest advice I can give, but I also recommend that you use Antipersonnel ammo whenever you can against Splicers. If you find that you're blowing whole 40-round magazines of Machine Gun ammo on a single Splicer, that's probably a clue that your aim could improve, but I do recommend to learn how to dodge incoming melee attacks from the Thug and Houdini Splicers and bash them with the Wrench. It's a great way to save your precious ammo for the game's tougher fights.

FUN WITH TELEKINESIS

This Plasmid is the source of some of the most fun in BioShock. You can create effective bullet shields by holding something like a trash can in front of you, or toss clutter around to take out the electrical traps strung around some rooms. It's also pretty painful to punch something heavy, even the body of something else you've killed, right into an enemy's face. Houdini Splicers are tough to fight with Telekinesis considering how fast they throw their projectiles at you, but Nitro Splicers are easy to take on with it. Overall, this is one of the more Eve-efficient Plasmids once you get good with using it, and it's definitely one of the more amusing abilities in the game at times.

BIG DADDIES

If you want to get the ADAM from a Little Sister, you have to go through these guys first. They might seem impossible to take down sometimes, but it really is just that they're so resistant to certain forms of damage. First things first: anything that explodes does well against a Big Daddy. You can lay out Proximity Mines and then draw the Big Daddy right into them (just make sure you don't put the mines all on top of each other in the same spot, otherwise you will only get the damage equivalent of one explosion) or just dodge incoming attacks and dump grenades. Anti-armor ammo in the Pistol and the Machine Gun work well also. Once you get the Crossbow, using the Trap Bolts can be highly effective, but make sure that the Big Daddy doesn't send you flying back into the traps you've set out for him. The absolute best ammo to use, however, are the Heat-Seeking RPGs from the Grenade Launcher. You'll find that they do excellent damage and rarely miss, even if your own aim isn't so great.


The other type of Big Daddy is the Rosie, who dumps the daze/charge attack for a plain old rifle. This thing hurts really bad, so make sure you are firing from around corners and getting cover as much as possible. Beyond that, Rosie is a tough opponent since it's hard to shoot at something you're hiding from.One thing to note is that there are two types of Big Daddies inBioShock. The most common one is the Bouncer, who has a daze-then-charge maneuver that can be really devastating if you're not ready. They'll pound the ground, causing your vision to blur, then charge right in on you. All you've got to do is sidestep the incoming charge and you'll buy yourself a second or two of free shots. It's not much time, so stay on the ready. You can also use Telekinesis to catch incoming Proximity Mines they throw and dump them right back into the big guys' faces.

LITTLE SISTERS

Once you've downed a Big Daddy that's protecting a Little Sister, you will have the choice to either Rescue or Harvest her. Not only do continued choices down one path or the other affect the ending you get, but you also get to choose: take 80 ADAM for a Rescue and a bonus 200 (plus some extra items/ammo) after a few rescues, or go with 160 ADAM now to go down another path and get no bonuses? If you're the kind of player that hoards ammo all the time and you don't care about which way you go in the story, you might go with the Harvest route. By the end of the game an ammo hoarder will easily be full on most kinds of ammo, so the extra perks you get from saving Little Sisters doesn't help as much as having extra ADAM. If you find yourself using way more ammo more than you do Plasmids and run low constantly, still do find the Little Sisters in every level and make sure to rescue them rather than harvest them.

HAVE FUN IN RAPTURE

If you want to check on the status of Little Sisters in a level, just pause the game with the Start button and look at the bottom of the screen. Don't worry if you seem to have progressed some and still haven't found one in a level, as you usually get a warning before leaving the area. Do note, though, that once you leave a level, you won't be coming back.

Remember that this game is not just another DOOM clone. The visuals are definitely worth ogling at, but BioShock also has an incredible story along with plenty of atmosphere that you'll miss if you fly past at top speed. Take the time to check out your environments, to learn about the many characters, both dead and alive, and really immerse yourself into Rapture. My favorite part about this game is that you can do all this and still get a great first person action experience where few compromises are made, and I hope you too can enjoy BioShock on a higher level than the more brainless titles that flood your local GameStop constantly.

Reference: http://www.atomicgamer.com/articles/455/2/bioshock-tips-tricks

Halo 3: ODST Firefight Mode

One of the most exciting modes in ODST is the new Firefight mode. It pits you and up to three friends against endless waves of Covenant infantrymen. If that sounds a lot like Gear of War 2’s Horde mode, it is – except Halo’s killer enemy A.I. makes it a much more challenging affair.

Like similar modes, the key to Firefight is teamwork, and although you know that every battle will ultimately end in bloody defeat, you don’t want to be the one who delivers your squad to death’s door that much quicker. Here are a few tips to help you do your part – they won’t make you the Master Chief, but they should give your score a healthy boost.

Tip #1: Understand the Rules
Firefight mode seems self explanatory: enemies show up, and you shoot them. But Bungie complicates this simplistic formula with a fairly intricate rule set. The action is broken down into waves, rounds, and sets, with extra ammo and lives being awarded after each set. Modifier skulls also affect gameplay; some will make enemies more resistant to certain weapons, or more susceptible to using grenades. Knowing each skull’s symbol and effect on gameplay will help shape your team’s tactics. G.I. Joe (no, not Juba) wasn’t lying: knowing really is half the battle.

Tip #2: Stick Close to Shelter
Most Firefight maps feature both indoor and outdoor environments. Some enemies, like Drones are deadly out in the open, but easily dispatched when they funnel through doorways. Brute Cheiftans, on the other hand, can kill you with one swing of their Gravity Hammer, so you’ll want to keep a distance. Surviving in Firefight mode is a lot like surviving an earthquake; find a doorway and straddle it. When weak mobs of enemies show up, go indoors. When Cheiftans appear, run out into the open. Also, when facing a Cheiftan, try yelling “Hammer dude! Hammer dude’s gonna get me!” This will hopefully give your friends enough of a head's up to shoot him from behind before he bludgeons your brains out.

Tip #3: Big Fish
The easiest way to rack up points is by taking down enemy vehicles. Don’t bother with the Covenant drop ships, as they are invincible – instead focus your destructive abilities on Wraiths. The Spartan Laser is your best weapon of choice, as it strikes instantaneously when it fires. If all you have is a rocket launcher though, you’ll want to attack the Wraith from behind so its driver won’t have a chance to dodge your shot. Whatever you do, forget about boarding; hopping on the front of a Wraith, beating a hole in its hood and chucking in a grenade was sweet when you were the Master Chief, but Firefight’s battlefields are much too crowded to make it a viable tactic. Instead play it safe and take enemy vehicles down from a distance.

Tip #4: Be the Gunner
Another easy way to rack up kills is on the back of a Warthog – there’s nothing like an unlimited supply of bullets to compensate for bad aim. Make up an excuse why you should be the gunner, or if all else fails, jump onto the back and pretend that you can’t figure out how to dismount (“…The “B” button? Huh, it doesn’t seem to be working…”) until your partner gives up and hops in the driver seat. Then shoot away until your teammate loses interest and leaves you stranded – that’s what you get for being such a turret hog. Speaking of…

Tip #5: Don’t Break the Turret
Most levels will have at least one stationary turret overlooking the battlefield. Like Halo 3, they can be snapped off and carried away, eliminating the dangers of being a sitting duck. But don’t be in a rush; if you break the turret off of its stand, it will no longer have infinite ammo. I’ve witnessed countless players hopping onto a turret before the first wave of enemies, only to break the gun off and run once the drop ship starts shooting at them. Doing so can cripple your team in later rounds. Instead jump off the gun when taking fire, and return when things are safer.

That’s not to say turrets can never be detached though. Like other ammo, turrets will respawn after sets, so if things are looking bleak and that mounted gun is in an otherwise indefensible position, feel free to take it with you.

Tip #6: Get To Da Chopper!
The only thing better than a Warthog in Firefight mode is the Chopper, which lets one player drive and shoot at the same time. When enemies start rolling in on these bad boys, resist the urge to rocket them – instead try to headshot them out of the driver’s seat and steal it. It’s well worth the extra bother – just don’t run over your friends!

Tip #7: Know Your Combos
A headshot will get you more points than a normal kill. So will killing several enemies in a row. So will sticking a plasma grenade to the back of an enemy, or meleeing an enemy from behind. There are a lot of ways to score extra points in Firefight; knowing how to get bonuses – and when to go with a safe kill instead – is essential to getting a high score.

Tip #8: Live to Fight Another Day
Not dying seems too stupid to be a tip, but it’s the best advice I’ve got; the longer you stay alive, the more points you’ll get for kills. When playing with skilled players, you’ll probably want to run into a pack of enemies like Rambo to prove your bravado. Fight that urge. A more conservative approach that keeps you alive will net you greater points in the long run. Also, you don’t want to be that guy who died twice as many times in a match as everyone else. Is getting 100,000 points and dying 10 times really better than getting 20,000 and only dying once? Since each death detracts from the life pool shared by you and all your friends, the answer is probably no.

These are just a few ways in which you can get more points – and less dying – out of your Firefight matches. Got another tip? Help your fellow Shock Troopers out by adding it in the comment section below!

reference: http://gameinformer.com/blogs/editors/b/gijeffm_blog/archive/2009/10/12/blog-halo-3-odst-firefight-mode-tips-and-tricks-for-a-higher-score.aspx?PostPageIndex=2

Resident Evil 5 Tips and Tricks

Mix Herbs
Herbs are more effective when mixed than when simply used on their own. Mixing two Green Herbs will give you more health than two seperate green herbs would, and mixing a Red Herb and a Green Herb will give you all of your health back. Plus, it conserves room when you turn two items into one!

Use the environment

The settings of Resident Evil 5 are full of environmental hazards you can use to your advantage. Flammable barrels can be used to block enemies from taking a certain path, or even used to damage groups of enemies in the explosion!

Check all crates

Crates, barrels, and even piles of fruit may have hidden surprises. Take out your knife and give them a hit, as you'll sometimes find gold, ammo, or herbs inside.

Use melee attacks

Melee attacks are effective, especially against enemies like the Axe Majini. Do enough damage with your firearm to stun them, then quickly run up to them and hit the action button when prompted!

Share with your partner

There is no point in hording shotgun ammo if your partner is the only one with a shotgun! Sharing ammo and weapons not only allows you to adapt your arsenal to the situation, but ensure maximum effectiveness. Using herbs or sprays in close proximity of a partner can often assist them too!

Watch out for your partner

If your partner is under attack by an enemy and requires your help, help them! It saves them valuable time and ammo, and assistance melee attacks do a large amount of damage while conserving ammo. It is win/win!

Disarm your enemy

Shooting at the arm of your enemy will often cause them to drop any weapon they're holding. If they're holding something like a glass bottle, you can even shoot the bottle to destroy it. And if you see someone holding something explosive like dynamite or a Molotov, give it a shot and see what happens.

Use the D-pad

The D-pad directions on your controller can be used to quickly switch items. If you need to switch weapons in a hurry, this is the best method to use.

Look for the Chicken in Mercs Mode

There is a chicken in every Mercenaries level, so be sure you kill it. Why? Well, it drops a golden egg that completely refills your health. Oh, and it is worth 2,000 points. Not too shabby!

Use Melee Moves in Mercs

Melee moves in the Mercenaries mode not only conserves ammo, but it gives you an extra time bonus if done correctly.

Unlock new Mercenaries characters

Get an A-Rank on all of the Mercenaries levels to unlock a new character/costume. Each level unlocks something new.

Unlock New Guns

It is possible to unlock new guns by upgrading existing guns. They can be unlocked as follows:

• Gatling Gun - Full upgrade the VZ61. The Gatling Gun will then be available from the shop. Only Chris can use it.
• Hydra - Fully upgrade the Ithaca M37. The Hydra will then be available from the shop.
• Longbow - Full upgrade the S75. The Longbow will then be available from the shop. Usuable by Sheva only.
• M93R - Fully upgrade the M92F. The M93R will then be available from the shop.
• S&W M500 - Fully upgrade the S&W M29 Magnum. The S&W M500 will then be available from the shop.

Get the Infinite Rocket Launcher

Beat the game in under 5 hours on any difficulty.Then enable infinite ammo for the Rocket Launcher in the Bonus Features section.

Game Completion Bonuses

You get various bonuses for beating the game. Listed below are the unlockables:

• Alternate Costume - Beat the game once to unlock Chris and Sheva's BSAA outfits.
• Classic Horror Filter - Beat the game on Amateur difficulty.
• Noise Filter - Beat the game on Veteran Difficulty.
• Retro Filter - Beat the game on Normal difficulty.
• New Game+ - Beat the game once.
• Library - Unlocks after beating specific chapters. Beating the entire game will unlock the whole library.
• Infinite Ammo - Beat the game once and purchase the upgrade in the Bonus Features menu.
• The Mercenaries - Beat the game once.

Play As Sheva

Beat the game on any difficulty to play as Sheva.

Professional Difficulty

Beat the game on Veteran to unlock the uber-difficult Professional difficulty. This difficulty is very uhh whats that word... Difficult! If you can try and play with a friend and make sure you have alot of ammo and some good weapons.

Reference: http://planetresidentevil.gamespy.com/wiki/Resident_Evil_5_Tips_&_Tricks

Blur tips

If you're planning on picking up Activision's Blur-- out next week for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC -- take heed to these 10 tips to tackling the racing game. We got the goods directly from Gareth Wilson and Ged Talbot, lead designers forBlur at Bizarre Creations.

1. Defense is the best offense: Try to keep a power-up in reserve to block any incoming attacks.

2. Horses for courses: Pick the right car for the right track. Off-road cars rule on desert, sand and non-asphalt races.

3. Minesweeper: Mines can be destroyed by being hit by other power-ups.

4. Stay prepared!: You can see which power-up an opponent has selected by checking the icon above their car.

5. Experiment: You can equip three Mods at once; experiment with different combinations to suit the vehicle, track or game-mode you are in!

6. Backward Fire: Certain power-ups can be fired backward by moving down and firing.

7. Rearview: Keep an eye on your rear-view mirror to spot incoming power-ups and other drivers.

8. Forward Mine: Fire a mine forward by moving up and firing.

9. Close Combat: Barge is a close-range attack that blasts cars away. A well timed Barge can defend against incoming attacks.

10. Target first place: Shock launches EMP fields at the front of the pack, stunning any vehicle passing through them.

reference: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/05/10-developer-tips-to-mastering-blur/1

Uncharted 2 Multiplayer tips.

To get loads of kills and minimum deaths, follow these tips for Uncharted 2's multiplayer.

1. Keep moving. never camp. If you're in a spot and get a couple of kills, chances are someone will know you are camping there. They will probably kill you. pick a spot, get a kill or 2, and MOVE.

2. Watch your flank. If you do choose to camp, you gotta watch your back. many above ground camping spots allow you to see any flanks. The good part of 3rd-person view is that your character can be looking straight but you can see behind. You see someone trying to sneak up on you, "beat" them to the "punch".

3. Use your camera! the number one weapon in 3rd person view is your camera. If youre next to a corner and someone starts chasing you. Turn the corner and wait. put the camera at an angle so you can see him but he cant see you. When he gets in range, knock his lights out.

4. Trick 'em AND treat 'em. IF you see someone trying to flank you at an above ground spot, pretend like you're jumping off but just hang there. When he gets close, pull him down.

5. Dont aim. When you use a grenade in the middle of a gun fight, dont stop and aim the grenade to be accurate. Just aim the camera while youre in cover at the enemy and blindfire your 'nade. Same goes for shotgun. The shotgun doesnt need aiming. Run up to someone (or let them run to you) and when you're close enough, just press R1 once, sometimes twice, and you get a sure kill. Follow these tips and you'll be pro in no time.

6. Press the cover button sooner to magically slide to nearby safty. When presented with two enemies, coral them together and grenade them; even if that dosent kill them you will make quick work of them.

7. Do not stand still when in a gunfight with an opponent. Instead move either to the left or right while aiming and shooting at them. This can throw off your enemy and make it harder for them to shoot you. If nothing else it makes your opponent work harder to kill you.

Reference: http://gameinformer.com/games/uncharted_2_among_thieves/w/guides/uncharted-2-multiplayer-tips-and-hints.aspx

Tips for Super Street Fighter 4.

Here is some basic tips for Super Street Fighter 4 to help you get started.



Quarter-Circle, Forward, Punch
Nothing in this game is as important as learning, remembering, and practicing this motion. The quarter-circle, forward, punch has gone down as an iconic video game mechanic. Whether you're using a gamepad, a joystick, or a directional pad, this is top-priority.
Start off slow. Try starting off in the crouch position and then swinging your joystick from six o'clock to three o'clock. At the end of this motion, press one of the punch buttons to throw a fireball. Once you get this down, try completing the motion without starting off in the crouching position. Eventually you'll be able to do it mid-combo.
This motion is not only important because it allows you to throw fireballs. It is also important because every other technique in the game is a variation of this motion. Once you learn the quarter-circle the Z-motion, half-circle and charge motions will come more naturally to you.

Flexibility is the Key
Know how to throw a fireball? Great! Do you throw fireballs until the cows come home? Not great. In the middle of a match, the best thing you can do is read your opponent. The easiest way to do this is to be conscious of how you're playing. If you were your opponent and you were facing someone playing like yourself, what would you do?
If your opponent is constantly throwing fireballs, are you going to close the gap and get to him? Of course you would. So if you're the one throwing the fireballs, he's going to move in on you. When the words "Get Ready!" appear on your screen, you should have a game plan, an idea of what your opponent is going to try first, and an exit strategy if he does something different.

Master Crossover Attacking (Cross-Up)
Crossover attacking, also known as a cross-up, has helped me destroy less skillful players without using any special moves. Most veterans of the series use this as a simple way to weed out real competitors.
A crossover attack is when a mid-air attack lands behind an opponent, but still connects due to hit box detection. To do this you must be familiar with how far a character can jump. Once familiar, you must jump just enough so you should land exactly back to back with your opponent. While mid-air perform an attack. If done correctly, the attack will hit from the front but you will land behind your opponent.
This works very well against players who crouch block frequently. Mid-air attacks can only be blocked while standing, so if you attempt to do a crossover attack to a crouch-blocking opponent, you will hit him and be set up to continue attacking him from behind.

Adapt
Before venturing into the world of player-vs.-player fighting, you should know when to use what. You should be able to look at a situation and pick the right technique out of your arsenal to combat an opponent's strategy. If you can defeat players on the ground with ease, but then players who use mid-air attacks beat you with little effort, you can learn how to fight back.

If your weakness is players leg sweeping you, try out some mid-air attacks. If players keep attacking from a distance with fireballs, try to close the gap. There is always a strategy to combat a fighting style.

Don’t Forget to Throw!
Throwing is such an underrated technique among new and old players alike. It's extremely easy to master, and can turn the tide of most fights. Move in close to someone and press both light attack buttons together to grab them and fling them across the stage. This does substantial damage and also sets your opponent up for more attacks.
If you just blocked a move and your opponent is wide open, instead of landing a single hit or trying to do a move you haven’t mastered yet, simply throw them and move in to do more attacks. When you get more experienced, throwing someone is a great way to set up for an Ultra combo attack.

Block, Block, and Block Some More
Blocking in "Street Fighter" is a hit or miss with players. Some players understand the concept right away -- which attacks can be blocked by which direction. There are two ways to block in "Street Fighter."
Standing blocks, which can be done by simply holding the direction away from your opponent, will deflect high, middle, jumping and overhead attacks. Crouching blocks, performed by holding the direction away and down from your opponent will block middle and low attacks.
Many players only crouch block, leading to numerous losses to the hands of aerial attacks. If an opponent is concentrating on jump attacks, make sure you’re standing while blocking.

Know Your Character
There is nothing worse than going into a match unfamiliar with your character. Not knowing how to do a certain move is one thing, but not knowing a move exists can lead to a very easy defeat.
Run through the useful trial features with a few characters until you find one that feels comfortable. Try out different moves. Assess what you think is out of your lead, and do not try new things in the middle of a fight. Can't do a Z-motion Shoryuken? Start off with a Hadouken. Master that, and then use the motion you've learned from that to help in practicing tougher moves.

Get Mental
All fighting games have a mind-game element to them. The "Street Fighter" series is no different. Remember when you see an opponent about to do an attack and you already know what it is, he’s thinking the same way when you attempt something. Don't grow stale. If your opponent is doing well at blocking your aerial attacks with standing blocks, go up for a jump attack but come down without attacking. Then perform a leg sweep. He'll still be blocking your aerial attack, leaving him open to other moves.
A great mind game is to throw a series or fireballs, coercing your opponent into doing the same. Once he begins to mimic you, time a jump so that you jump over his next fireball but land close enough to him to hit him with an aerial attack.
There are many tactics to use online, and as you progress in your training you will come up with your own mind games to play on opponents. Just remember, you’re not the only one playing them. Always think about what your opponent will do next, and if you get caught off guard by a trick, recover and don't give up.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tips

Here is link to a good walkthrough for Super Mario Galaxy 2.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Super-Mario-Galaxy-2-Walkthrough-1-Introduction

League of Legends Tips

Here is 10 different starter tips for the game League of Legends.


1) League of Legends is a TEAM game. I'll say that again...League of Legends is a TEAM game. Don't try to be a hero when you are just starting. If you try to do too much as a beginner, you will end up being the reason your team loses the game.

2) Do NOT Die. I cannot stress this enough. Most players come from games like World of Warcraft, or real time strategy games, where losing a a single unit isn't really a big deal. While it may not seem like a huge issue to be dead for 30 seconds, it usually means your enemy players will gain a level or two and 100-200g that you did not get, and it only gets worse as the game goes on and the death timer is increased. Also, while the experience rules have been changed recently to prevent things from snowballing, it can still happen. If you give a good fighter or mage character 3 or more early kills, it is going to take at least 3 of you to take him down, and that's if he's alone. Overpursuit is probably the most common type of death, but is easily avoided, and will get your teammates frustrated very quickly.

3) Attacking a champion causes everything computer controlled in range to attack you. This includes minions and towers. As a new player, hitting an enemy champion anywhere near a tower should be completely avoided until you know what your limits are.

4) You do get a constant stream of gold, but your main source of income is killing minions and champions. You receive gold for getting the killing blow on any minion, or for getting a champion kill or assist. Your entire team gets gold if a tower is destroyed (100g) or if anyone kills the dragon minion (165g). It's very important to not be passive in a lane, you should be trying to kill minions as much as possible.

5) Call missing in action (MIA) champions. For the first 15 minutes or roughly 10 levels of the game, and at lower summoner levels and ELOs, players tend to stick to thier lane while they build up skills and gold to help in the end game. Laning can often leave players in vulnerable positions. It is your duty to inform your team mates when someone is not in your lane so they know to be on thier guard. A simple 'top mia' is sufficient, naming the champion is better ('annie missing top') as it helps others know what to expect. The best thing to do is to combine the this with pinging the map (alt clicking on the mini map is the fast way) a few times in the general direction the player went.

6) Pay attention to the map. At a minimum of every 15 seconds (I personally am closer to 5), you should take a glimpse at the map and see where all of the enemy champions are. If you are in a vulnerable location (more on that in a second), and none of the enemies are showing on the map, odds are they are coming for you and you should head to safety immediately. If you can see all multiple champions harassing an adjacent lane, you should be ready to come and help your teammates. If your teammates have the entire enemy team occupied at a tower on the far side of the map, you should be pushing toward the enemies base for as long as it is safe to do so.

7) Don't be a laning robot. One of the biggest mistakes I see from beginning players is that they fall into laning and pay attention to nothing else. If you die, the first thing you should do when you respawn (or even while you are dead) is look at the map. Starting as soon as level 10 (although usually more around 12), you should very rarely be alone, and most of the killing and tower pushing will be done with most or all of the team together in one place. If your lane has minions pushed all the way to the other side of the map, and the enemy is near your base in the opposite lane, don't feel compelled to stay in the same place.

8) Know your escape route. If you are alone, or with just one other teammate later in the game, always be aware of how far you are from the nearest safe spot (tower or your base). If you have a short escape route, you can be a little more agressive. As the game progresses, you should be VERY cautious about being on the enemies side of the map alone, because escape will be virtually impossible if you run into more then one champion.

9) Support your teammates. I've put a lot of stress on not dying, but it's important to not be a coward when your teammates are involved. If you have a fight that is anywhere near close, it is better to die fighting with your teammate then to let them die unopposed. If your lane partner is being attacked by enemy champions, you need to put the pressure on them as much as possible. Remember, the team that dies the least is usually the winner, so it is just as important to make sure that none of your teammates die if you can do anything to avoid it.

10) Play every champion at least once. It's the best and fastest way to understand what thier capabilites are, and what tactics opposing players will be using to try to kill you. I have seen countless deaths as a result of a player not knowing what the champion they are fighting is capable of. For example, Rammus has an ability that forces you to attack him for a few seconds. He ABSOLUTELY must be early game when he is near a friendly tower, or when he taunts you, you will be attacked by the tower and surely die. Even if it's only practice games against bot opponents, you should try to play every champion right away, even if it's only once.

Bonus Tip!

11) Don't take the game too seriously, have fun. It can be very tough as a beginner in League of Legends because it is very easy to be the reason your team loses the game, and people are quick to vent thier anger. Since normal games are the only avenue for matched play right now, the pool includes people of all experience, skill, and dedication levels. That means often there will be people who are hardcore and only care about winning on your team. Don't sweat it. Riot is working on ranked games, and when that comes in, it will be a much better environment for beginners. Just try to be an attentive teammate, have fun, and the rest will come!

StarCraft2 Tips

Here is a list of some really good tips and general guidelines.

1) Starcraft Etiquette

Starcraft is incredibly competitive and many of the players you will meet have been playing for several years now. Basic etiquette is not only polite it is expected by most. Most games will begin with a goodluck wish. Most often "glhf" which simply means Good Luck Have Fun. The game host may add dd to the welcoming as well which means Don't Die. At the end of a game the loser should be graceful and players will end with "gg" which means good game. If you felt that your opponent was very skill you may say "wp" which means Well Played. All in all it does not matter what you say so long as you are polite and friendly.

2) Hotkeys & Shortcuts

Probably the most important key to success in any RTS is the use of keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys to speed up your game play. Starcraft is designed with this in mind and everything is at your fingertips. You just need to learn how to use the tools available. Some players will often change the assigned keys to suit their play styles and you should experiment until you are comfortable. You will not regret the effort you put in once you see how much better you will play.

3) Learn the Jargon

Like everything in life and all other games there are abbreviations and jargon to master, Spend some time paying attention to the phrases used and google those you are unsure of. 

4) Workers are key to success.

Worker production should never stop, you will need a strong cash flow if you want to have a chance at victory. Starcraft II is geared around 3  workers per geyser or mineral field however never forget that you will need to saturate another resource location at some point being able to do that instantly can be the key to victory. Idle workers are lost income or production. Keep them busy and don't be quick to sacrifice them and focus on disrupting enemy production by killing workers when the opportunity presents itself.

5) There is no interest on resources saved.

Spend and Spend more, Each player will find a comfortable balance to maintain in case of emergency vs the spend to maximize production. I normally hover around the 500 mark once the game settles. Having low resources while maintaining constant production is the first clue that your macro is taken care of.


6) Build orders

Learn and practice build orders, tweak them to suit you play style and review the statistics after each match to see how your build order compares to the opponent. You may find clues to improve your skill level and minimize wasted time. It is important to scout early using a worker to find the enemy and to get clues about their tactics and build orders which will help you adjust on the fly to respond. Continue scouting throughout the match in order to keep tabs on your opponent.

7) Leave Micro until Macro is solved.

Don't get caught up in the Micro until the Macro is looking after itself. The last thing you want is to make big mistakes while you try blink back stalkers. Once you have sorted out all the Macro issues you can spend time on the Micro, Micro is often the difference between winning and losing but can be distracting when you are still learning the game.

8) Learn the Races and Units

Knowledge is power and in Starcraft knowledge about the strengths and weaknesses of each race are valuable if you want to succeed. Play the challenges and learn about the counters. Learn the maps and use it to your advantage and beware of potential choke points or use them to your
advantage. Playing the campaign will also teach you lessons about the units and in some cases like "the dig" you will learn tricks like commands queues.

9) Practice makes Perfect
Keep practicing and spend time watching replays to learn tricks that you may not figure out yourself.Get a sparring partner to play against often and it helps if it is somebody you can chat to afterwards about tactics. Read the forums and ask questions if you need assistance. The official forums are very helpful and the players are polite when helping others.

10) Stop and Think
There are times when the above tips will not be enough to save you, be creative and respond to new threats quickly. Analyze your opponents strategy and exploit any weakness.

Xbox Live Gold

I know this isn't really a "game tip" per say but i guess it could be considered a tip to by xbox live gold cards now.




As I thought I should inform everyone that there is a Xbox live price increase coming November 1.


I extremely dislike how they are raising the price even more and not really giving us that much more content but here is the details on it:

Xbox Live Gold subscribers might want to renew before November 1, when the price of a yearly subscription to the service jumps $10 in North America.

According to a post on Major Nelson's blog, after eight years' of Xbox Live at the $50 a year price point, the service is finally seeing a price hike. Starting on November 1, a year Gold subscription to Xbox Live will run $59.99, versus the current price of $49.99. One month subscriptions will jump from $7.99 to $9.99, while three month subs will rise from $19.99 to $24.99.

Other regions will be seeing increases as well. In the UK the price of one month will jump from 4.99 GPB to 5.99 GPB. The price of a month in Canada rises a dollar to $9.99. Finally, a year subscription in Mexico rises from 499 to 599 pesos.

Microsoft is running a special deal right now for U.S. customers, allowing them to lock in a year at $39.99, $20 less than the new rate. For details, visit the deal website.

Jesse Divnich with industry analyst EEDAR sent out a statement accompanying the news, insuring consumers that $60 is still "an incredible value."

"When originally launched in 2002, a Gold subscription cost the same as an AAA video game, $49.99. When taking into account for inflation ($50 in 2002 is roughly $60 in 2010) and the additional services available to Gold subscribers in 2010, such as ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Video Kinect, a $10 price increase still represents an incredible value to consumers"

Whether or not $60 a year is an incredible value is ultimately up to consumers. What say you, consumers?

Uncharted Drakes Fortune Tips

Here is a link to a really good Uncharted Drakes Fortune walk through for those who are stuck on some missions.

http://faqs.ign.com/articles/839/839263p1.html

Halo 3 tips

Here is a link to some really good Halo 3 tips.

http://halowiki.net/p/Playing_Strategically

Gears of War

Having problems with Gears of War? Here are some basic strategic tips that you can try.

Use Cover

• This may seem pretty obvious, but using cover will make you a smaller target and will also make you more hidden. Seeing any enemy before he sees you is a huge advantage for you, and cover can get you this advantage.
• Using the cover button can also help you move faster around the map. One helpful hint when moving is to move from one covered spot to another covered spot. This will keep you moving quickly around the map and will also make you a hard target to hit.

Falling Back

• If you get yourself into a bad situation, don't be afraid to fall back. Gears of War is all about who advantages and disadvantages and you can help regain the advantage by falling back to a safer spot on the map.

Flanking

• Flanking your opponent will force them to seek cover from multiple angles and to worry about mulitple targets. A good flank will often end with you getting a frag or your teammates getting one. Make sure to be careful when flanking, as the enemies may be hiding and waiting on you to do so.

Active Reloading

• Hit the reload button and watch the upper-right corner of the screen. Notice that meter that slowly trails right? Wait for the meter's needle to match up with the white area near the center of the meter. Press the reload button a second time at this point and you'll execute an active reload and speed up the usual reload time.

Using Stealth

• Taking the first shot on your enemy is a huge advantage, especially after you get your aim to a good point. You should try to be stealthy, quiet, and a small target whenever possible to get this first shot and also to prevent the enemy from getting an easy shot on you. 

Megaman 10

Having a tough time killing the bosses in Megaman 10?

Heres some tips on what items to use on which bosses for maximum damage:


Strike Man
Use Blade Man’s Triple Blade

Commando Man
Use Nitro Man’s Wheel Cutter

Pump Man
Use Sheep Man’s Thunder Wool

Sheep Man
Use Strike Man’s Rebound Striker

Nitro Man
Use Chill Man’s Chill Spike

Chill Man
Use Solar Man’s Solar Blaze

Solar Man
Use Pump Man’s Water Shield

Contra

Ever get stuck on the old NES game Contra just because you always run out of lives?

Try entering this button combination.

UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A START

During the title screen.

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair game tip.

This is a tip on on the location on all of the hidden items in Castlevania: Harmony of Despair for the Xbox 360.

Each Chapter has a Secret Item in it that provides a tremendous boost to your
item score at the Chapter's conclusion.  You cannot store or use them in any
other way.
Chapter 1 - On the left hand side of the map, in the room with the flea men and
giant green bells, slide underneath the lowest bell and jump to make it appear.
Chapter 2 - Play "Bloody Tears" on the Piano,
Chapter 3 - After Menace smashes the area to pieces, dive kick through the exact
center of the stage (the background's nexus) to make it appear.
Chapter 4 - Enter the dark area on the far right of the map to make it appear.
Chapter 5 - Use the mirror at the top of the left tower, then stand in the dark
room next to the chest and hold Up to make it appear.  You will need to climb up
to catch it.
Chapter 6 - Climb the building to the right of the boss staircase.  When you're
at the top, hold Up to make it appear.  You will need to jump to catch it.

New Blog

This blog is setup for me posting tips for some video games new and old.