People who are super organised are often teased for being a bit anally retentive, but if you’re one of those people whose home is always uncluttered, who’s never late and who is always ready for anything, you could be the one getting the last laugh. Why? Because being organised is seriously good for your life and career prospects.

Just look at this list of things that organised people are better at than the average person, and you’ll see how you could be improved by having this particular trait:

Ability to focus

When you’re organised, you don’t have to worry about the mess that’s piling up on your desk or the fact you’ve forgotten to write the notes for that speech you’d also forgotten you had to give, which means you can give the task at hand your complete and utter focus.

Improved productivity

For similar reasons, if you have your life organised, you’re more likely to be more productive, Whether you work, you’ll be able to get more done when you have a plan of execution and no distractions to stop you from following it. In fact, according to some research, organised people can be as much as 50% more productive than the disorganised in our midst.

Better time management

Organised people run their diary like the world’s strictest prison. They always know where they need to be and when and they are masters at prioritising tasks. That’s why so many companies look for organised people when they are recruiting.

Less stressed

Much like when you’re computer freaks out and you need a Mac task manager to handle all those applications open at once. When you have a million and one things to do, and you only know what half of them are - it’s easy to get really stressed really fast.

When you’re perfectly organised, it’s not so tough, and you will have a much easier time of managing your life, and your wellbeing than anyone else, which means fewer sick days and more career advancements for you. Seriously, there are no downsides to being organised!

Work-life balance is easier to achieve

It’s easy to throw your work life balance out of whack when you’re always on the back foot, but when you have the ball, and you always know what you’re doing, you can achieve what you need to at work and not have to worry about taking your projects home with you. If you want a career that you love and which doesn’t intrude on your life more than is absolutely necessary, then being well organised is a must. Like, seriously important.

People will be impressed

From CEOs of multinational corporations to HR managers, everyone is impressed with candidates/employees who have a cool calm demeanour and always seem to know what they’re doing. When you’re well organised, this is exactly how you will come across, which means that more and more opportunities will present themselves to you.

Put simply; the more organised you are, the better you’re able to handle the challenges of life and the more useful you are to the average organisation. So, get organised if you want to get ahead.

Thank you Kelley & Hall Publishers for sending us this book to review!

Bluefall is a graphic novel written by Andrew Trainor and illustrated by Dillon Snook. With inspirations from a few different stories, one of the major ones being Ready Player One, this sci-fi novel takes place in the year 2045. The man who created a virtual world by the name of Circus has been murdered, right along with his son. The job to find the murderer falls into the hands of Julian Ambrose. But something else is going on behind the scenes.

This graphic novel spans about seventy pages and is a quick read. This being the first volume, there seems to be quite a bit of world-building taking place. Some of this world-building explains the stock system of the virtual world, as well as other things, like pending updates and such. This makes the story very engaging, and it is very well written. The art is good, too, but being an artist, I can tell when art looks sloppy or rushed, and some of the art looks quite rushed. (The copy I received may or may not be a prototype draft in order to show the reviewers what the story is like.)

However, this isn’t a novel for kids. In fact, it’s anything but. There are countless swear words, ranging all the way from **mn to the F-bomb. There are a few sex scenes, and full frontal nudity is shown for both male and female characters. Even though the scenes aren’t extremely detailed in their execution, their presence immediately bumps this novel into the mature section.

Bluefall ends on a cliffhanger with a To Be Continued. It’s clearly designed to be a multiple volume series, and its short length reflects that fact. It is unclear how many volumes will be written, but while being very well written and executed, this series is one for the adults.

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There is an ongoing battle on which operating system is best and the foremost rivals are Windows and Linux. Everyone has his own favorite system and their arguments in online chat forums to present their system as the superior one, proves that both OSs have their strengths and weaknesses.

A major strength of Linux is integrating systems that can improve students’ lives and has taken various initiatives to continue penetrating on this strength. How has Linux proved better at helping students improve themselves?

Here are seven reasons how Linux for students is better than other OSs.

Financially savvy

When compared with its competitors like Mac and Windows, Linux comes out on top with affordability because the software is open source. Because of that, you can then choose to buy a machine with any operating system pre-installed, which can be very cost-effective.

Instead of paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars, you can pay a drastically lower price for an empty machine. Those costs can be reinvested to your education and buying resources you need to complete your studies.

Used by various academies

Some specific schools use the Linux Schools Project and others prefer using Ubuntu Linux because of that you probably seen more computers that are powered by Linux in schools. A good understanding of these will enable you to adapt easily in and out of class. The results will be enhanced understanding of those subjects that use Linux computers.

You won’t have a hard time trying to figure out how the system works; rather, you will be able to use that time progressing in your curriculum. Your grades will then subsequently improve and you will be able to have more time on your hands for extracurricular activities.

Some academies also have some strictly Linux projects for students and you will need to have an in-depth understanding of Linux.

It possible to master it

Because of the peculiarity of using a command-line system, it may be hard to master this operating system. However, it isn’t impossible to master and for some, it may be much easier to remember the commands. Technologies like computers also make our life easier because we can even find dissertation writing help trusted by students online. The writing services also help you with thesis, college essays, coursework, term papers and other forms of writing.

You may need only a few weeks or even days to be skilled at it. The best way to find out is to start using it. It is much like any other operating system; you have to put in some effort towards learning how to use it.

Makes you more intelligent

By using Linux, you will improve your problem-solving skills and you will earn a shot at flashing your skills to your friends. You will also have a deeper understanding of how operating systems work and add to your credentials.

Linux skills are sought after by many companies, so you will have open job opportunities when you are done with college. The results of familiarizing yourself with Linux and working on mastering it are highly rewarding and show that Linux for schools is a great choice

Free support

Another way to reduce costs by using Linux is that they free support and additional resources if you happen to stuck or face a problem. Additionally, there are lots of online videos, tutorials, and manuals about this OS that freely avail it to the public.

Also, books that give in-depth information and know-how are easily accessible and come at a low price. So, don’t fear that if you switch to Linux, you will be left stranded with no support.

You can customize it

Linux is customizable from the second you start using it. Because you may opt to buy an empty laptop, you have the opportunity to choose the Linux you will use and then install it.

Once you have installed it, you can customize it however you want and need to so it can better suit you. You have complete control of how your machine will look like and how it will function. In that way, you set up your computer to work in a way that will work best for you as a student.

It is secure

Probably after purchasing a computer with any other operating system, the first thing you consider is the antivirus and other antimalware. This is logical considering the threats Windows or Mac’s face, but when you choose to use a Linux machine, you don’t have to worry about that.

The reason behind this is that you don’t require an antivirus because the interface is built to shield you from threats. Its nature is highly secure and it will also save some costs for you because you won’t need to purchase an antivirus other protective software.

Conclusion

Using Linux for educational purposes is beneficial, this is especially true since the day and age we live in has shown that technology is changing education. Most of them are cost-efficient and help you save costs as a student because you don’t have to buy expensive hardware, any antivirus or support resources.

Linux is open source and is also used by some schools that prefer it over other operating systems. Also, Linux will open up career opportunities for you as some companies are looking for people with Linux capability specifically.

Author Bio:

Bobbi Sanchez is a technology expert providing expert guidance to students to master the art of programming and achieve higher grades in college and university. His guidance has helped many average students reach high levels in the tech world. In his free time, he likes writing novels, playing music instruments and practicing yoga.

Thank you HBO for providing us with a screener to review!

Other than taxes, death is the other certainty with life. With the increasing number of cremations, traditional funerals are on the decline and many funeral homes are predicted to close down if they don’t embrace technology and new ways to mourn the loss of loved ones. One funeral home was shown offering “drive-thru viewings”. Attending funerals has always been a little awkward, but that’s still bizarre to me.

Alternate Endings: Six New Ways To Die In America features six individuals/families who have recently lost or are in the process of departing into eternity. There’s a family who lost their young son to terminal cancer and per his wishes, had a celebration of life with five bouncy houses, fireworks, Batman, and face painting because funerals don’t have to be sad and boring. Another family threw a “living wake” for their terminally ill father. He appreciated being able to tell people in person how much he loved and appreciated them in his life.

For an ocean-loving father, his daughter mixed his ashes into some concrete used in making a memorial reef. Besides offering housing to aquatic life, man-made memorial reefs replenish the dying coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. A space-loving grandfather had his ashes blasted into space and his family enjoyed watching the rocket launch for that.

Green burials are also an option. In a green burial, the body is placed in a shallow grave without a coffin to give nutrients back to the Earth. The lady shown that chose this option was buried along with a tree she wished to nourish. California is one of the minority states that allow people with terminal illnesses to die with dignity (suicide). One gentleman wanted to die on his terms and set a time and date to drink a medical cocktail that would place him into a coma after a few minutes of consumption and meet his maker within thirty minutes. Although this man did not seem to be religious, he did request a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace to be played at his funeral.

There are lots of ways to honor and remember the passing of loved ones. This documentary was definitely somber, but informative. I just wish it showed the price ranges of some of these options. Not that I’m planning on having my remains scattered into the ocean or outer space, I’m a little curious how much those options cost.

Thank you Marvel Studios for sending us this Blu-Ray to review!

Note: Spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War follow!

After spending a lovely day with family on Mother’s Day in 2018, I thought I would end it with seeing Avengers: Infinity War with my husband. I didn’t expect such a downer of a movie! Not all of the Avengers are down for the count and they want to undo the devastation that Thanos caused to our beloved planet. With the help of the over-powered Captain Marvel, they have a slim chance of setting things right in Avengers: Endgame.

Avengers: Endgame begins with Hawkeye spending time with his family before they literally blow away in the wind. Earth is reeling from the chaos that Thanos caused. The remaining Avengers are not taking it well and are bickering more than getting along. Even five years after the event, people are still mourning and the world is a dump. After Ant-Man's return, they find a new, high risk approach they can take - if they survive.

As good as this film is, it’s not without some moral issues. Like any comic book themed movie violence is a given. There’s a fair amount of language and blaspheming. Even Captain America says S.O.B. Other words used include *ss, sh*t, p*ss, and d*ckhead. Last but not least is a scene where a homosexual man is talking about his dinner date with another man. Please exercise caution if showing this film to a child.

On the standard Blu-Ray disc, you’ll find 7.1 DTS-HD Master English audio, descriptive English, French, and Spanish along with subtitles. Commentary and an intro from the directors is also available. Also, like other recent Marvel releases, you have to purchase the 4K UHD Blu-Ray in order to get the Dolby Atmos mix, which is the highest quality mix available. The bonus disc contains featurettes (Remembering Stan Lee (my favorite), Settings the Tone: Casting Robert Downey Jr., A Man Out of Time: Creating Captain America, Black Widow: Whatever it Takes, The Russo Brothers: Journey to Endgame, The Women of the MCU, Bro Thor), deleted scenes (with minimal CGI). and a gag reel. For $25 or less, you can add one of the highest-grossing movies of all time to your collection.

(Amazon Affiliate Link)

You have likely played some type of game today on one of your many various digital devices.  From games like Angry Birds to Call of Duty, video gaming is a mainstream part of today’s culture.  

However, playing video games for extended amounts of time can cause physical damage to your body.  Your eye health, in particular, should be your main concern.  

Take a few moments to read through some of the most common ways in which excess gaming can affect your eyesight, and go forth with new knowledge. 

Problems focusing

Focusing on words you see on a piece of paper is much different than what your eyes go through when you play video games for hours.  Your eyes are used to focusing in on one depth and angle to read and write, but gaming requires much more from your vision.  

Gamer eyes are required to refocus on a dime, and long hours of play can really wear your eye muscles down.  You may experience problems focusing even after you turn the game off. It helps to limit your exposure. 

Issues with dry eyes 

Gamers tend to get tuned in to their chosen activity, and blinking becomes a bit of a distraction.  Hardcore gamers can go for quite some time without blinking their eyes.  

Though it may have seemed like a gift when you were young, allowing your eyes to dry out on a regular basis will likely cause vision problems in the future.  Remember to take the time to blink when you play games, and keep your most effective weapon on point.  

Eye irritation 

Eye irritation is a common effect of excess gaming.  Not blinking, constantly shifting your focus, and staring at the contrast of the screen for too long can really leave your eyes in a world of irritation.  

If you have kids who love gaming, it’s helpful to set a timer for breaks in screen time.  Every 20 minutes, make your kid take a break. Step away from the game, and go find something else to do for at least five minutes.  Taking a break will give your eyes time to rest, reducing your risk of inflammation and irritation.  

Computer Vision Syndrome

Using any digital device excessively can cause you to suffer a physical price.  You may experience pain in your neck and shoulders, headaches, and unusual fatigue after playing video games for a long period of time. 

Computer vision syndrome is not compartmentalized solely to the excess use of computers.  You may also experience these symptoms from gaming.  

There are some positive things

There are some positive aspects of gaming.  When done in moderation, gamers can really improve their eye’s abilities.  Gamers can see things quicker and more fine tuned than the average watcher. 

Thank you Materia Collective for sending us this digital album to review!

Kingdom Heartbeats features ten electronically remixed tracks from the popular Kingdom Hearts franchise. This album has been produced by Roborob and features some excellent vocals in some of the tracks.

The album begins with a nearly two minute shorter version of the intro song: Simple and Clean. Though the original tracks fall under the electronic dance music category, these remixes kick it up a notch. Tension Rising from Kingdom Hearts II is the second song and the remix amplifies it but stays true to the original battle music. The 13th Struggle from Kingdom Hearts 2 has also been tweaked for this album and it too sounds true to form and is nicely done.

Most of the tracks are from Kingdom Hearts 2 and Sora’s Theme has not been neglected. You’ll find a longer and tweaked version on this album. I have no idea what the Japanese singers are saying in the song Passion, but it sounds great. The menu music Dearly Beloved is so beautiful and should have been left alone. Although the remix is good, I still prefer the original.

Kingdom Hearts 3 gets some representation with Face My Fears. After that opening song, the first game is re-visited with some enhanced theme music from Traverse Town. Kingdom Hearts 2 takes the spotlight again with the upbeat battle music, Sinister Sundown. The album concludes with a much faster and dubstep version of one of my favorite tracks, This Is Halloween. Although interesting, I still prefer the original version.

Fans of Kingdom Hearts and electronic dance/dubstep music should definitely check out Kingdom Heartbeats. This album is available digitally for $10 and can be yours in MP3, Flac, and other lossless formats. A limited-run physical edition will be available in September for $20. If MP3 format is good enough for you, it’s also available on Amazon for $8.99.

(Amazon Affiliate Link)

The top 10 or top 20 of anything can be a highly subjective rating. Even when the rating depends on goals scored or blocked, passes completed or assists made, there is still the simple matter of likability. Some players, no matter how good they may be technically, just aren’t popular because they’re a horses behind.

A perfect example of this is Megan Rapinoe. Although she led the U.S. Women’s Team to a championship in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, her extreme attitude turned a lot of people off. Even if you agreed with everything she said, the way she said it was too ugly for most people to put up with. She needs to be reminded that FIFA is not the League of War where the object is to utterly destroy the other side.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association

Voting is going on right now for the top spots and will continue until August 19, 2019, for the Best FIFA Men's and Women's Players and Coaches. The awards will be given out once all the votes have been tallied and the results published. If you’re looking for more information on the best FIFA 20 Players altogether you can follow the link for a complete rundown of them and their stats. Be aware though that the stats given are temporary at this point and still subject to change.

One of the great things about FIFA is its openness to both men and women players. In the United States, for instance, the NFL is only open to male players. While there are certainly females involved in the game, they’re relegated to the sidelines as cheerleaders. They’re pretty and lots of fun to look at, but they’re not in the game.

In FIFA, women are definitely in the game. Returning to our previous example of Megan Rapinoe, whatever you may think of her, good or bad, there is no arguing the fact that she is in the game. She’s not on the sidelines in any way, shape, or form. She is one of the best women players in the world and she and her team won the championship fair and square.

They didn’t show much sportsmanship in the process, but that’s a different story.

Paid To Play

The women’s teams get paid to play too. That is important to note. Leaving aside for the moment of how much they’re being paid compared to the men (an economic question best settled by the bean counters in the back room), they are being paid. Furthermore, they’re being paid enough to make their living at it. That means they can survive on their player’s salary without having to moonlight at another job. It’s not nearly as much as men are being paid, but again, that’s for the bean counters to worry about.

In many ways, it is similar to the bad guys in the VR game High Noon, where the men and women have an equal chance to be part of the ravening horde trying to overrun your town. If both men and women have an equal chance to be the hero or the villain, whether it’s in sports or in a video game, then you can safely say that equality has pretty much arrived.

Choosing The Top 20

Choosing the top 20 players in FIFA is an emotionally charged issue. Everyone has their personal favorites; scoring, kicking, dribbling, etc., notwithstanding. It all comes down to personality. The inspirational story of Eric Abidal is a case in point.

In 2011, he underwent surgery to get rid of a tumor on his liver. Just two months later he was out there on the pitch playing in the UEFA Champions League Final. Then a year later he underwent another surgery, this time a full liver transplant. A year later he was back out there with his team playing a full 90 minutes.

Regardless of anything else you might think about Abidal, you have to admire his raw courage, determination, and guts to face those kinds of odds and make a full come back anyway.

It’s Not All On The Pitch

Why are footballers so passionate about the game? It’s because FIFA is full of examples of personal strength and dignity in the face of monumental struggles and obstacles, not all of them out on the pitch.

The players showcase the best of human nature as well as the worst. They represent all of us in our constant, eternal struggle to be better than we are. What’s not to love about that?

Ever since their invention, games have been seen as only a tool for entertainment. But, plenty of research and case studies have shown that games can be beneficial in many ways. Of course, the benefits will depend greatly on the game choice, as well as the time the person spends playing them. Even so, games can definitely lead to good things like good behavior, boosted critical thinking skills, etc.

In fact, this goes so far that there are currently scientifically proven advantages of playing games. According to research, games can increase memory capacity, provide pain relief, help dyslexic kids with reading, help limit trauma, etc.

That being said, it is about time that we all learn how to use games to our benefit. When it comes to students and behavior, here are the ways the good game can yield positive results.

1.  Students Can Learn While Playing

When a student plays teaching games, these games can help them understand the new concepts, learn new skills, and use their knowledge in practice. Games are a known way of boosting fresh knowledge, which is why they are so widely encouraged in the world of education.

Based on the choice of a game, students can learn quite a lot by playing. With the right approach and some quality educational games, teachers can create an interesting and inspiring teaching atmosphere. When you add some versatility to the study process, students are more likely to feel motivated to learn.

This is where games come really handy.

2.  Games Provide Learning Practice

Games aren’t an educational material on their own, but when combined with it, they provide an excellent opportunity to practice. When students are faced with a challenging new material to grasp, they can benefit a lot by some ‘mental exercise’. This is especially useful in cases where the students learn rules, structures, and vocabulary.

In such cases, the repetitive exercises in textbooks are simply not engaging enough. That’s where teachers have to include a new, fun element to boost the student’s motivation and therefore, behavior in the classroom.

3.  Games Help Students Learn New Skills

There are so many games nowadays, there’s no limit as to how much a student can learn by playing. Many skills can be developed with the help of games, such as creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and even good sportsmanship. All this leads to a more developed individual with better behavior and learning habits.

For example, when a student plays guessing games, he’s boosting his critical thinking skill and his circumlocution improves while he has fun. Moreover, by allowing students to play games, teachers can literally watch their creativity and tweak the education to fit every individual student.

There are even games that help with the writing skills. Students will still order from Edu Birdie when they lack of time to write a paper, but with some good writing and vocabulary games, they can work on this skill, too.

4.  Games Help Students Boost Their Memory

Memory games are an excellent way to boost the memory skill. When combined with material that the student needs to master, these can give the student a positive look toward the process of learning. If learning is fun, the student will be more likely to engage in it.

There are plenty of games that boost the memory in students. Some of them are so fun, they stick into their memory for years. With the right game and material-playing combination, teachers can help students master structures and vocabulary much easier.

Moreover, some games feature stimuli that will aid the students in remembering vocabulary words, such as mimics, acting words out, using clues, calling out answers, etc. As you can see, there’s no limitation of the fun. As long as you can find different games to play, you can engage the students and boost their behavior toward learning.

5.  Games Grab the Attention of Players

The concept of playing a game is engaging and fun. To students who are stuck most of their days in a classroom and have to spend hours studying from books, this is the best break they can get. So, since games are actually beneficial in terms of mastering the material and building new skills, why not use them to boost the motivation, too?

Games are known to grab the attention of those who play them. If students are too tired or lazy to study from books and textbooks, they might enjoy being more active and having fun. Instead of the standardized classes and exams, an addition of some games can be truly refreshing.

Final Thoughts

The education has improved a lot in the past few decades. We’ve found new things to teach the youth, but also new ways to engage them and help them memorize. The burden the educational system puts on children is immense and, even though its goal is to prepare them for the future, it still has to be relieved from time to time. As it turns out, games are the way to do this.

Author’s Bio:

Joshua Robinson is a teacher with eleven years of teaching experience. As an educator, he has worked with children from the youngest age up to high school, constantly inviting new, modern ways into his classroom. Thankfully, he takes the time off to share his results and tricks with others.

Thank you The Quarto Group for sending us this book to review!

This book is a guide to Fortnite players who had just started playing the game. It provides lots of tips and tricks to help you survive a good amount of time in a match. If you don't already know, Fortnite is a Battle Royale game, so the tips that this book gives are very nice to know when you are being attacked by another player.

This book is very useful, but it is also very outdated. When this book was made, it was in season 5 of the game. As of this review, it is in season 10. That does matter a lot, because the creators of Fortnite have removed and added some weapons and features since then.

This book helps you decide what gaming platform you want to play Fortnite on, learn the controls, helps you decide if you want to play Battle Royale or Save the World mode, and so much more. It tells you what to do when you encounter another player, stumble into a build battle, and how to use your weapons and conserve your ammo. It tells you what building materials to use, their advantages and disadvantages, and also what every item and weapon can do. It provides a description of a weapon, how easy or hard it is to find, and where to find them. It also tells you how to build a base and how to invade other bases as well. It also describes each location and tells the reader how many players usually land at that location.

I think that this book is very useful and whenever I play Fortnite: Battle Royale I use these techniques and I use the hints and tips that it gives me. There is also another book like this one called the 100% Unofficial Fortnite Pro Guide. If you read this one and use it, then you should also read the Pro Guide.

(Amazon Affiliate Link)

 Are your kids into Xbox One? Then maybe you are looking for games suitable for young players. Here is the selection of the best Xbox One games for kids in 2019.

Top Five Best Xbox One Games For Kids In 2019

If your child loves your new Xbox One, don't you hurry to ban them from playing. There is a massive choice of best Xbox One games, which are suitable for young children. These games will help your child to delve into an exciting fantasy world and wind down. 

1. Spyro Trilogy

All kids love dragons. Especially those which breathe fire and burn things. So, the Spyro Trilogy will be a perfect adventure for your child. This bright and fun game will let your child explore realms, solve puzzles and test their skills at completing various missions. Don't forget to install a parental control app to manage screen time of your kiddo.

1. Sonic Mania Plus

Classics never die. That’s why your child will enjoy playing Sonic Mania Plus. The Plus version of remembered Sonic Mania includes additional characters and modes as well as secrets and hidden paths that your child will need to uncover. This blue hedgehog won’t leave your little one disappointed!

1. Unravel Two

Another beautiful game the younger gamers can play is Unravel Two. Small creatures made of yarn and called Yarnys are going on a quest to find a magical spark, lost by two people. During their journey, they help other adorable Yarnys with their tough challenges. Your child may control both little creatures or invite a friend to play for another Yarny.

1. Stardew Valley

The Stardew Valley is an old farm with overgrown fields and abandoned household. Will your child be able to restore it? The game covers 30 characters living in a community and five different areas, where your kid will practice their farming skills and discover the benefits of slow life in the valley. Your offspring can also invite friends to play and explore the mysterious place together.

1. LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2

Co-written with brilliant comic book author Kurt Busiek, this game will capture your kid's attention. With their favorite Superheroes and their powers, your child will have to fight infamous Villains and surpass challenges. Eighteen amazing different locations will provide an unforgettable gaming experience for small Marvel fans.

Thank you Philip Kosloski for sending us a digital copy to review!

Finnian and the Seven Mountains is a 25-page long Christian comic about a man named Finnian who wants to find a lost sword because his village was raided by vikings. He wants to get revenge, so he asks a man who was fishing for a boat. He says that if Finnian helps him fish, he would show him where a boat is. Finnian helps him fish, and ironically, they caught so many fish in their nets that they could not carry them all. Finnian gets in a boat, and starts paddling. Weeks later, he arrives at an island that is supposed to have the sword. He gets hit by a giant wave but someone on the island named Brendan grabs his hand. Brendan takes him to an old man named Abba, who is a very wise man who the people on that island seem to speak to for help. Somehow, Abba knew that Finnian would come. He showed him around the island, and Finnian stayed there for a while, but when he had to leave, he slipped and almost fell into the ocean! He grabbed on to the cliff and climbed up. But when he did so, he loosened a rock and it fell down. Under that rock was a container. Inside that container was a map. It was a map that led to the sword he was looking for! But little did he know that vikings had another version of that map, but they only had half, but they were still going to the same place as Finnian...

I think that this book has a good art style which fits the book very well. It has a similar art style to a Marvel comic, except it doesen't have any action bubbles because there isn't any violence for those to fit in to.

I really enjoyed this story, and I think that my favorite part was the fishing, because it was obviously a reference to the Bible. I think that any Christian people who like comics would really enjoy this one. I am really looking forward to the second issue, and I think that anyone who reads this one would feel the same way.

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Author: Brett Weiss
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Hardcover book
464 full-color pages
Over 375 games covered
MSRP: $49.99

Thank you Schiffer Publishing for sending us this book to review!

As I mentioned in my SNES Omnibus Volume 1 review, I was blessed to grow up as video games did, and played tons of Atari, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), and got my Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in what was probably early high school. Based on the release date of Super Mario All-Stars as mentioned in this book, I believe it was 1993.

This book celebrates this generation of gaming by devoting one or two pages to each and every game in the SNES library. This volume covers every game in alphabetical order, starting with ‘Natsume Championship Wrestling’ and ending with ‘Zoop’. I highly recommend you check out Volume 1, as well as this one.

The first few pages include a foreword, where the technical specifications of the SNES are discussed, as well as a brief summary of the competitive landscape surrounding the system’s release. There is also a preface, where the author talks a bit about his love for the SNES, along with his rationale for making the SNES Omnibus series into two books, rather than one. The game compilation itself starts on page 12.

Each page is in full color, with the title, publisher, developer, game type, and release year all notated at the top. Under that is the box art, a picture of the cartridge, and a general description and summary of the game. If it’s particularly good or bad, you might find some commentary there, too. Sometimes they will compare the game with its Sega Genesis counterpart, if there was one. There are also screenshots, and some titles may have promotional art or a picture of an ad as well.

Other than the general overview, each page also includes a ‘Notable Quotable’, which is typically an excerpt from a review, sometimes modern and sometimes classic, or a comment from a famous YouTuber, game developer, or industry veteran. Some games also feature one or more ‘Insider Insight’, which is a story of how that game impacted one of the many contributors. There are eighty-seven people listed as contributors on pages 453-457. Having been recently honored by an entry in the Superstars of 2019 Walter Day Trading Card collection, it was really neat to see other Trading Card holders mentioned in the credits. There are also articles that go in-depth about the Super Game Boy, which is an accessory I treasured since I also loved playing Game Boy games on my TV, and Super Metroid, one of the greatest games of all time. There is also a bibliography.

Reading through this lovingly crafted archive, I was reminded both of the many great games that shaped my adolescence, and also the many that I remember looking at fondly but never having the chance to purchase for myself. I had a job in high school, so I worked for my games – but no kid can afford everything, so something always had to give. Thankfully, I often had great success scouring the used games at my old Blockbuster Video, which no doubt saved me a pretty penny in these early days before GameStop (as FuncoLand was the only used game store around).

A few notable games that I either own or owned, or borrowed from friends which are covered here include:

Pocky & Rocky (big garage sale win!)
Rampart (played at a friend's house as a kid)
Robotrek (love this game!)
Secret of Evermore (recent acquisition!)
Secret of Mana (one of the best games on SNES)
Shadowrun (borrowed from a friend - love this game!)
Soul Blazer (a friend of mine had this game when I was young. If anyone is willing to sell for a reasonable price, please let me know!)
Star Fox
Star Fox 2 (SNES Classic only)
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting (I have so many wonderful memories of this game!)
Super Castlevania IV (SNES Classic/Wii VC)
Super Double Dragon (garage sale find)
Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts (I played this at a friend's house, and now own it on SNES Classic)
Super Mario All-Stars (my SNES came with this and I loved it!)
Super Mario Kart (I love all of the sequels, but this one never really worked for me)
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES Classic only)
Super Mario World (love this game! I got all 96 stars)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (mind-blowingly good game!)
Super Metroid (one of the best games ever. Borrowed a friend's copy as a kid. I never owned a cart, but I own it now on SNES Classic and Wii VC)
Super 3-D Noah's Ark (Okay, I never played the SNES version, but we reviewed the Steam re-release!)
Super Punch Out!! (borrowed it from a friend as a kid, now own it on the SNES Classic)
Super R-Type (I remember playing this at a friend's house)
Super Scope 6 (never had one, played it once, but it looked really cool!)
Super Star Wars (played at a friend's house, and years later it was a garage sale find!)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (I never owned this, but have good memories playing with friends)
Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety (garage sale find)
Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits (a friend gave me an unopened copy!)
Wing Commander: The Secret Missions (I played a friend's copy. Great game, but even better on PC!)

And, of course, the awesome Super Game Boy, which has a dedicated article about it.

As an aside, many, many games of that era would call themselves 'Super' if they were on the Super Nintendo. If you want proof, pages 228 through 312 all deal with games that start with 'Super'.

This book is an excellent retrospective, and reminded me of several games that I wanted to pick up when I was younger, but never had the chance, as well as some new ones I hadn’t heard of. I had no idea Paladin's Quest was a good game. I had no idea that the NBA Jam games were popular because they were good (I've never been a sports game person). I ended up getting some new-to-me SNES games recently, including Secret of Evermore, thanks to reading more about them in this book. I'm sure my wife is thrilled!

If you want to be tempted to hunt down old games, or simply long to read about more games from arguably the greatest video game console of all time, then you owe it to yourself to check out The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games Volume 2. If you are a collector, or simply love the SNES, then I highly recommend that you pick up this book and its companion volume. It may be pricey, but it’s worth every penny.

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Thank you 4DX for providing my family with tickets to see this film!

The animated classic version of The Lion King was released in 1994. I owned it on VHS (later on Blu-ray) and bought the Hans Zimmer & Elton John soundtrack too. The voice acting talent from James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, and Rowan Atkinson is top-notch and hard to beat for this live-action version. Out of all of that talent, James Earl Jones was the only one to reprise his role as Mufasa in this remake. Seth Rogan voices Pumba and John Oliver is now Zazu and they both did a great job.

My biggest complaint about this film is that it’s not much different than the animated one. At least in the other live-action remakes there were some new characters and back-stories added. This film is almost frame by frame the same as the original. Again, with the other film setting the bar so high it’s hard to top it, but to not bring anything new to the table makes you wonder why they bothered remaking it in the first place.

The music sounds the same but has different singers so there’s not much deviation in that department either. Out of all of the songs in this film, Timon and Pumba’s rendition of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ is my favorite.

The visuals are quite impressive and the animals look quite realistic though expressionless. Their lips move, but their eyes don’t convey as much emotion as the animated version does. With the lions all being the same color, it’s hard to tell them apart. Compared to Mufasa and Simba, Scar seems to appear sickly. In the heat of battle, it’s still hard to tell which is which. Like the original, there is some violence, but some blood is shown in this version. The shaman monkey is still present along with references to the "Circle of Life."

We were blessed to see this film on opening night and the theater was packed as a result. It was nice to see how the audience reacted to the 4DX enhancements. The first time water spritzed the audience everyone in the room reacted (positively). It was neat to experience the savanna riding motion with the seats swaying as the birds were soaring in the air. Feeling the rumble from the stampede made you feel like you were in danger too! Scents were added at times too and I’m still not sure what fragrance they were aiming for. I’m just glad that they didn’t make us smell Pumba’s flatulence.

Like the other Disney remakes, I still have to give the nod to the original. Instead of a remake this film felt more like a rerun. The 4DX experience is still fun and I highly recommend checking it out if you have a nearby theater.

The gaming world is one of the most popular industries among today’s internet users and technology savvies. Video games are extremely fun and engaging and can take you to a completely different universe.

It is extremely interesting to observe how the graphic design and the functionalities of video games have changed over the last decade. From classic popular games like Pac-Man or Super Mario which used to thrive among gaming enthusiasts many years ago, to VR games. Thanks to technological advancements and the rise of machine learning, game developers have been empowered to create games that take players into an exciting digital world. These days, video games have evolved so much to the point where they offer a complex digital world with a multitude of possibilities for gaming enthusiasts.  

So, you are a game enthusiast yourself and you have decided to use your passion for gaming and your skills to create your first indie game. Creating and launching your own indie game can be exciting and rewarding. Perhaps not in terms of money, because most indie games are not profitable for developers, but creating a game that becomes popular among gaming lovers will give you a lot of personal satisfaction. Here’s everything you need to know to create a successful game, build your audience, and have a successful launch.  

Know your budget and stick to it

The first thing you need to keep in mind when creating your own indie game is your budget. Whether you have a lot of money to put into the creation of the game or a small budget, you need to know right from the beginning what costs you should expect and how much you can afford to pay.

Depending on your budget, you will be able to gather your team and discuss money. If you are creating the game together with your friends, chances are that you can all agree to be paid after the game is launched and becomes popular. However, if your team will contain employees that you have to pay, you must make sure that your budget allows you to pay for their work comfortably.

Play games to learn

Perhaps the most exciting part of creating your own game is using your passion to do it. So, you are a game enthusiast and love spending hours in front of your computer to enter the digital world of the video game you are playing. However, being a good player doesn’t necessarily mean that you know how to create your own game.

When learning about game development, you must see the games you play from a different perspective. Analyze what you like about the games you play, what offers a good user experience, which graphic design is more eye-catching, and perhaps even why you prefer a game over another one. You can use your experience as a gamer to create your own indie game.

Create a unique indie game

The fun part about creating your own indie game is the fact that you can use your previous experience as a gamer, your passion for video games, and your ideas to create a whole new digital universe.

Nowadays, every day you can hear about new games being launched from mobile games to PC and console games. However, while some have very poor graphics and user experience, others can be amazing but they are just a copy of a famous game which has already been launched. Thus, creating a successful indie game can also come to creating a unique one. Don’t be afraid to use your ideas and personal preferences as a gamer to create an indie game that represents you and offers the gaming experience you would like to have with other games.

Create a game website

The key to a successful game launch is to start preparing your strategy months before the release date. Your game’s website can be the most important part of your marketing strategy. It will not only be the place where you can update your audience with any information about the development process but it can also help you build a community for your indie game. You should consider hiring a professional outsource web development team to help you create an engaging website for your game. The website should include detailed information about your indie game, a development blog to build a game community, a news section where you can post all updates, your social media accounts, and contacts. The most important thing your website should have is the store section where you can sell your indie game.  

Create an amazing game release video trailer

A promotional video trailer for your indie game can play a huge role in how popular it will become among gaming enthusiasts. It is the first thing that can make people find out about your game and raise their interest in playing it once it is launched.

Your game trailer should have the most eye-catching images, engaging background music, and fast-paced animation all combined.  However, you must pay attention to the length of the video trailer. It shouldn’t be longer than 1 to 2 minutes because it can either bore the viewers or reveal too much information about the game which can decrease their interest in downloading and trying your indie game. The first few seconds from your trailer are the most important ones because they are meant to catch the viewer’s attention. Thus, make sure to include the best information about your indie game at the beginning of the trailer.

Capture engaging screenshots

Capturing engaging screenshots from the indie game also plays a huge role in your marketing strategy. The screenshots from your game will be the visual content that you will shave on your social media accounts and website. Those images should be high-resolution and capture the best parts of the story of your game. However, they should never reveal too much information to not make your audience lose their interest.

Choose an eye-catching app icon

The app icon of your indie game is also extremely important in catching your audience’s attention. Moreover, an eye-catching app icon can have a vital role in your App Store listing and optimization which will influence your app’s ranking and discoverability.  

Gaming has certainly evolved over the last decade.  Kids don’t use their consoles solely for gaming anymore.  An extensive interconnected network of millions of gamers is available for playing any time of the day or night.  

You can talk, text, send emails, send pictures, watch streaming movies/television, play games, and more from the access granted through one gaming console.  This means that parents have a heightened sense of danger, and must pay closer attention to what their kids are doing.  

Make use of the parental controls

Get to know your child’s preferred console.  All modern gaming consoles come equipped with the option of parental controls.  

Dig into the specific options you have for your child’s platform, and set them to your liking.  Here is where you can place a password on purchases from the online game stores, and keep your kids from blowing money without permission. 

Stay interested in what your kid is doing on their console

You can’t maintain full control of your child’s gaming until you really know what it’s all about.  Educate yourself on the various gaming platforms available, and understand what each machine is capable of doing.  

Stay interested in your child’s gaming likes and dislikes.  It’s helpful to be able to connect with your kids on this level, especially if gaming is something they really enjoy.  

Set time boundaries for your gaming kids

You should never just let your kids play video games for twelve hours straight.  It’s not good for their body, and it’s definitely not good for their eyes.  

You can experience vision loss from extensive exposure to screen time.  Use the parental control settings and your own verbal reinforcement to limit your kid’s screen time.  Consider their age and maturity while calculating just how long they can play each day/week.  

Have a conversation about cyberbullying

Your first instinct is likely to teach your kids what to do if someone is bullying them, but it’s important to remember that your kid may be the bully.  Teach them that it’s bad form to verbally abuse their competitors, no matter the setting.  

Gamers can be pretty unforgiving, so keep an open line of communication when it comes to your child’s gaming connections.  Some kids may not be responsible enough to use a headset.  Others are mature enough to be trusted.  Gauge your child before granting them free access.  

Maintain control over game choices 

Play a game before ever allowing your child to play it.  This is the best way to monitor the content your kids are really being exposed to during gameplay.  Use your judgment after playing to decide whether or not your child is mature enough to play the game in question.  

I see this error message almost every day.  I'm sure many of our readers do too.  Even without the error messages, the site's loading times are not the greatest.  As a 501(C)3 Non-Profit we rely on tax-deductible donations to cover our minimal operating expenses. We're blessed to have our own dedicated web server that we share with other sites to offset the costs, but that server is several years old and having a hard time keeping up with our traffic.  We currently pay $35/month for a 2.27GHz Xeon 5520 with 16GB or RAM and 2 1 TB HDDs.  Finances permitting we would like to rent out a $89/month server that's 2.66-3.06GHz turbo Xeon with 72GB or RAM and 2 480GB SSDs.  The SSD drives alone would make this site much quicker, but the faster CPUs and increased memory would also help out tremendously.  

Though the site still has a few volunteer reviewers (including the founders!), we've been blessed with many great paid reviewers who receive $25 per written review.  Given that our monthly income is less than $600 on average and our reviewer payouts take up a big chuck of that, we're not in a position to take on a significant expense unless we can secure more funding. 

We have some regular donators who contribute via Paypal.  We also have an active Patreon page.  For those who don't like those two options, we have a Subscribestar site that has yet to get a backer on it. If we can get $100/month via any of those platforms, we can afford to upgrade our server and use any additional funding to pay our reviewers. Thanks for reading our site, this appeal, and for your support.

in Him,
Cheryl

Thank you Quarry Books for sending us a review copy!

Minecraft Life Hacks Lab for Kids is a book that teaches kids some things about communication skills, building self-confidence, and much more. It has some stuff to do and build in Minecraft, and some stuff to do in real life.

There are two chapters: Life Hacks: Acquiring Skills and Life Hacks: Applying Skills to Projects. Chapter one teaches children skills (hence the name) like emotional empathy, problem solving, and much more. Chapter two teaches children ways to use those skills. For example, you would make an animated movie in real life, as well as a short film in Minecraft.

This book has twenty-four labs (twelve in each chapter), which are things that you can do. In every chapter, there are 6 in game labs, and 6 labs to do in real life. Most of the things that you have to do in real life have something to do with what you do in-game. As an example, you had to draw a map of a house, and then building the house you drew in Minecraft. It made you build your character as well, and it had you fill it with positive messages to gain self-confidence. A lot of the things you do in Minecraft relate to the real world. It makes you build a farm, but the farm has to be the same style of farm that you can find in the real world. It also had you build a democracy, which was interesting. My favorite thing to do was building a roller coaster that described me. I put lots of work into it, and it turned out very well.

Overall, this book was fun to work on and I loved building some of the things, and then testing to see if they work, and then fixing them if they don't work correctly. The only thing it had wrong was the estimated time that it takes to build something. The book said it would take one to two hours to do something, but I was able to do it in ten to fifteen minutes. Other than that, the book is great and I think that lots of people who enjoy Minecraft should read it and use it as well.

$15.88
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One of the most worrying things about being a gamer in 2019 is the deluge of stereotypes that the gamer community finds itself battling against. Let’s face it, video games (and the people who play them) are no stranger to controversy. From political outcry over violent games like Mortal Kombat and Duke Nukem to the frankly abysmal display of behavior in “Gamergate”, there’s a lot to reinforce the stereotype that so many gamers rail against. No matter how old, well educated and morally centered we may get, no matter how much we may read the Bible and try and lead lives that exemplify Christian values we can still find ourselves tarred with the “stereotypical gamer” brush. The popular image of an antisocial, basement dwelling and aggressively male teenager living out violent or misogynistic fantasies through their games is, tragically, one which still pervades in our popular culture today.

This is such a shame as many of us are far from this stereotype. We are nice, socially well adjusted, morally and spiritually sound people. Some of us may see gaming alone as a way to let off steam after a busy and stressful work day. But we also enjoy playing fun and wholesome games with friends and family.

With this in mind, we’re going to look at some fun and wholesome games that everyone in your family and friendship group can enjoy! We’re going to look at a wide range of games so that no matter what your hardware or personal preferences you’ll find something that you, your friends and your family will enjoy playing...

VR Games

What is Virtual Reality? It’s a technology that has fascinated us for decades, allowing software developers to create immersive digital worlds which users can just dive into. While VR lends itself naturally to gaming, it’s currently hard at work in a number of different industries facilitating employee training, creating safe combat simulations for the military and even transforming the way in which we shop. You could be forgiven for thinking that VR gaming is a solitary pursuit, but there are plenty of VR games you can play with friends and family for an experience that, while immersive can bring you together with the people closest to you...

VR Pictionary (Steam VR / Oculus Home)- A technologically advanced spin on a party game classic. It works in exactly the same way as the board game except with VR you can draw with much more artistic license using different brushes, a wide range of colors and even 3D effects. It can be used with Tilt Brush or Quill.

The Playroom VR (PS4)- If you own a Playstation VR set, the good news is that you already have a copy of The Playroom VR. It includes a fun array of mini VR party games which offer a combination of co-operative and competitive games. It’s a great way to get to know the capabilities of VR and enjoy it with special people.

Mass Exodus (XBox One)- A single VR player plays the role of a Seeker, an android tasked with the job of tracking down four rogue robots… That’s where the other players come in. Your friends will have fun confounding the seeker as it searches the factory floor for the mischievous bots.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (multiple platforms)- Ever wondered if you and your loved ones would be able to safely defuse a bomb together? Of course you have! Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a preposterously fun game that puts the VR player in a room with a ticking time bomb… And it’s up to the player’s friends to help them solve the puzzles to disarm it. Clear communication between players is the key to success, making it not just fun to play with friends and family but a potentially awesome team building tool for work or business colleagues.

AR Games

In the age of the cell phone, everybody’s a gamer! Even if you don’t have the time or cash to dedicate to serious hardware, as long as you have a smartphone you can play fun games with friends and family via AR or Augmented Reality. These combine digital elements with the world around you to create experiences that exist in the real world and the game world simultaneously. The Pokemon GO craze that swept the nation a while back was a great example of this. 

Today, of course, everyone’s in on the act. Although the Pokemon game is still as popular as ever, there are many other great AR games that can make for fun activities with friends and family. Jurassic World has its own AR game as does Ghostbusters and now Harry Potter is in on the act with Wizards Unite which encourages players to track down magical creatures in their neighborhood while also solving puzzles and expanding on the mythology of the beloved franchise.  

Don’t feel like tracking down ghosts, dinosaurs or nifflers in your apartment complex? How about raising a virtual pet with My Tamagotchi Forever. That’s right, the beloved cyber pet of the late ‘90s is back and cuter than ever. You can work with friends to keep your Tamagotchi happy and healthy or compare your virtual pets with others’.

Co-Op Games

I don’t know about you guys, but for me when it comes to family friendly co-op games, anything with Lego is a win. The licensed Lego games (starting with Lego Star Wars back in 2005 are just bursting at the seams with fun challenges and their own idiosyncratic charm. There are many, many franchises that have been given the Lego treatment from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings to DC and Marvel Superheroes to Indiana Jones and, of course, more Star Wars games than you can wave a lightsaber at! They’re easy and intuitive to pick up yet hard to master. Your four year old can play them while your forty year old friends can really sink their teeth into some of the games’ meatier puzzles and collection challenges.

Speaking of cute, lovable things. We can’t have a conversation about couch co-op without mentioning LittleBigPlanet 3. Ostensibly a simple yet satisfying platform game, it takes on a whole new dimension when playing with friends and family. You can create and explore one another’s levels, download levels made by other users around the world and work together to navigate them. All with an infinitely endearing art style that people of all ages will love. 

If, however, you like this dynamic but would prefer to move it to a more familiar environment, look no further than Super Mario Maker 2 which was just released last month on the Nintendo Switch. You can design levels in the familiar multicolored mushroom-centric universe and watch your friends navigate them or download one of the millions of levels which have already been created by gamers all over the world. 

Competitive Games

As fun as it is playing collaboratively with your friends, your loved one or your spouse… let’s face it, sometimes you just want to prove who’s best. The trouble is that the majority of competitive games are off-puttingly violent for some or at the very least less than appropriate for younger members of the family.

The good news is that there are a great many competitive games that eschew violence for family friendly fun. Needless to say, Mario Kart is always a win! Even those who don’t usually enjoy racing games can’t deny the charm of racing adorable characters from the Mario-verse (or their own Mii characters) around on little buggies across a wide range of tracks taken from various eras of the wider Nintendo Universe. While ostensibly a fighting game Super Smash Bros. is a more family-friendly button basher which is also a cornucopia of Nintendo references and easter eggs which devotees of the Nintendo brand will get a huge kick out of. Ever wanted to see Ryu from Street Fighter mix it up with Sonic the Hedgehog and Pikachu?

Looking for something with the gameplay mechanics of a shoot ‘em up but without the violence so that kids can enjoy it? You should definitely get to know Splatoon. It offers all the fun of firing paint guns at your loved ones… Without the humongous dry cleaning bill.

Puzzle Games

What could be a better way to bind with friends and family than by pumping some neurons together? Puzzle games are a great way to keep your mind sharp, and there are many that you can enjoy with other players, too!

Fans of PC and PSOne classic Myst will get a huge kick out of The Witness on PS4 which similarly dunks you in a digital world and forces you to use your problem solving skills to navigate it. It’s definitely too big a challenge for just one brain.

Or if you like your gaming worlds more retro flavored you could do worse than check out Fez, a NES-era inspired puzzle platformer that the whole family can enjoy.

Who said that gaming had to be an unhealthy, unwholesome and antisocial activity? 

It’s little wonder than the average age of a gamer is 33. They were coming to age just as video games really began to take off, and once they were on the hook, it was unlikely that they were going to stop. After all, games have just continued to get better and better, and in many ways, they’re “better” for people than watching TV shows and movies, which are passive experiences. When it comes to gaming, they’re involved every step of the way. Studies have shown that gaming can also have a positive impact on teenagers, especially older teenagers, as it develops their cognitive abilities, and, despite what people think, their social skills too -- they’re rarely playing by themselves, after all.

If you’ve got a teenager of your own, or are indeed a teenager yourself, then take read below, where we outline some of the best types of games for this age bracket. 

All Things Sport

It’s true that children should be spending more time in the outdoors than they currently do. It seems like when we were younger, we were always outside -- but times have changed. Even though crime is lower than what it was in decades past (it’s practically at an all-time low), perception of crime has gone up. And that’s what counts to parents. So if teenagers aren’t able to go out and play sports with their friends anymore, then they should at least be able to play them at home (and also with their friends). Get your child the latest soccer, basketball, or NFL game, and you’ll be keeping your child interested in sport, and they’ll be more likely to play when they’re older.

On the Roads

Everyone says that being a teenager is all fun and games, but it’s really not. For starters, you’re not able to do anything by yourself. You’re under your parent’s control, and you can’t even drive (or if you can, you probably don’t have a set of wheels). If gaming is about feeding the imagination, then look at introducing your teenager to some driving games. There’s a lot of fun to be had by playing drift hunters, for example. They’ll love being in control of the vehicles that are available in the game, even if they’re not yet old enough to have one in real life. In fact, that might make the game even more enjoyable for them!

Hollywood Goodness

There’s nothing that captures the imagination like a trip to the cinema. You’re transported into a magical, Hollywood-sprinkled world, one that is hard to resist. If you see a movie that you love, then it can be a bit of a buzzkill to leave and return to everyday life, can’t it? In this day and age, though, the magic can just keep on coming. If a movie is at all magical, you can rest assured that there’s a game that’s based on the movie. There are Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man games and much more than you can play. The out and out best has to be Lego Star Wars, however. It’s just super fun for teenagers (and, come to think of it, the whole family). 

Raising their own Family

What better way to prepare teenagers for the trials and tribulations of adult life than by...letting them play a game where you look after a family, and there are zero consequences? OK, The Sims might not really be all that relevant when it comes to actual parenting responsibilities, but it is fun. And the positive sides of the games seem to go beyond just what’s enjoyable -- there’s an element of elevated thought processes that are involved in the game too. There aren’t too many games where you get to create your own world from scratch.

In the Warzone

There has been a lot of negative talk about the use of weapons in video games, and some of it is justified. Grand Theft Auto, for example, isn’t right for kids -- it paints a terrible picture of violence. But that doesn’t mean that anything with a gun is wrong. Take war games, for example. They’ve probably had a more positive impact on teenager’s understanding of violence than people give credit for. There’s a storyline and honor and respect for the military in these video games -- and these are things that some teenagers are lacking in. 

Conclusion

Virtually every game can be fun when you’re a teenager, but the ones above are the best. If you’ve got to buy a birthday present soon, try one of these!