Brain Food: The Importance of Playing Mind Games :)

How to Give Your Brain the Proper Mental Workout!
It has been a part of popular knowledge for some time now that people who exercise their brain by consistently challenging themselves with mental activities such as jigsaw or 3-D puzzles enjoy a healthier cerebral capacity.

Apart from adults, playing mind games like jigsaw puzzles and brain puzzles is also the best way of exercising your child's mind and keeping it active during long summer vacations. Apart from them being beneficial for the brain's development, it is also a fun and hands-on way of keeping their minds pre- occupied.
Mind bending 3-D puzzles and other brain puzzles are easily available on the internet at online stores like. Puzzles also improve a child's visual and spatial skills along with building critical thinking abilities which is very important during a child's growth process.






Jigsaw Puzzles:

Puzzles come in all shapes and sizes that are appropriate to the child's age. Some games for children require physical manipulation while others rely on vision in order to find a solution. One of the popular puzzles for children which require manipulation is the jigsaw puzzle. Puzzles for children usually show scenes from popular nursery rhymes, food, numbers and alphabets.
Jigsaw for older kids depict movie scenes, pictures of various places, historical events, and famous people. A jigsaw puzzle can also involve a game context, like those which give clues for solving a mystery.

Sliding Puzzles:

Sliding puzzles are made up of small plastic squares that are held together in a plastic case and usually depict a picture or cartoon character. These brain puzzles are generally of eight plastic squares with one empty space which is used to move the different pieces to a proper relationship in order to show the picture.

Rubik's Cube:

The Rubik's cube is one of the most popular 3-D puzzles. Also known as the magic cube, it can easily be called the world's most perfect puzzle. The pieces of this puzzle can be moved around in all directions. The goal to get all the colours organized. For some, solving a Rubik's cube is a matter of seconds, for others, it can take decades. Buying 3-D puzzles is sure to keep you busy for a while.

Others:

Puzzles that rely on a child's vision often include word searches. For children, the word puzzle is arranged going only in one direction, but for adults, the words can be arranged vertically, horizontally and diagonally in either direction.
Visual puzzles are puzzles made out of wood or metal and are shaped in a particular design as to form a riddle.

For more Assistance, Brain puzzles and 3d puzzles brilliantpuzzles.com

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List of Board Games that i find :)

There are two styles of Avid gamers. Don't get them mixed-up. I despised the name 'Gamer' for many years. I didn't suspect it related to me in the slightest. See, I grew up not knowing much more than Mario Kart as well as the Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo 64. Those were the good days. It didn't take long for me to leave behind the video game systems and head for a kind of what I may likely judge far more 'wholesome' entertainment. I fell deeply in love with board games.
For sure, video games have their place, still I would bring up 3 reasons why I in essence rejected video games and ventured into Tabletop Games. A few might not seem that different, and many bear similarities and yet i am going to lay out a handful of ground rules for activities that I approve of.

First would include activity. I rejoiced when the Wii from Nintendo was released not to mention the Kinect from Microsoft. Motion has a way of improving game play regardless of what it is. As opposed to the thumbs being the main thing moving, I like a game or activity that requires action. The more action the better. Card games aren't that action intensive, but you have to admit there is certainly a whole lot more in arranging pieces, cards, rolling dice, and dealing cards than there is in the flicking of a joystick. Thus, I really like video games similar to 'Just Dance'.

Second I might add that social interaction is essential. In this board or tabletop games take a large stride in front of video games. If you are going to be having fun, why not share it with people. We remember events a great deal more if someone else was associated. Mario Party was an amazing invention and I still have Mario Kart tournaments with my relatives. Tabletop Games are virtually solely two or more players. Board Games are excellent for their encouragement of social interaction.
And the last is physicality. Perhaps sometime in the future video games will bridge this gap, however for now, board games have the upper hand on the physical component. The other day I played a game of Quirkle and the board was so eye-catching I simply had to sit there and stare at it for a short time. I was in awe. I would submit there is an aesthetic benefit that accompanies Board Games that you simply cannot get with video games.

Board games and video games certainly provide their advantages and drawbacks, nevertheless I merely hoped to present a few reasons why I think that board games usually beat out video games. The physical activity involved, the social interaction, and physicality are just 3 of the reasons why I will always take pleasure in board games.

For more information on Board Games and a list of my favorites visit http://www.thelistofboardgames.com

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How To Make Cash Playing Video Games :)

Want to make money playing video games? Become a beta tester and get your piece of the billion dollar video game industry!
Video games started way back in the 1950's with a game called Tennis for Two being played with two paddles and an oscilloscope. Now we are playing 3D games on our hand held game units! The progression over each decade has been unbelievable!

The world of video games has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. This consists of home gaming systems, hand held systems, PC games, and systems specifically designed for kids. This is because the appeal doesn't stop with young people. People of all ages, races, and religions get in on the playing of video games.
It has turned into an outlet for people to pass the time, get aggression out, stay fit, and believe it or not, learn.

There are many different companies that develop and produce video games. These companies have many people on their payroll to do all of the technical work. When it comes to testing the games out, it is their practice to have a group of individuals from their target market play the games and give their feedback.

The feedback they get usually consists of glitches, ease of play, if the game was enjoyable to play, and what things could be done to improve the game. Obviously it is extremely valuable to get this kind of information. This is just one of the many ways video game software advances so quickly.
This type of testing is called Beta Testing. This is just one way of how to make money playing video games. Companies all over are always looking for market consumers to get paid to test their products. That is where you come in.

Don't just sit there and spend hundreds of dollars on a video game system and just play. Use it as a tool to make you cash. Use your PC in the same way. You can look up Beta Testing on the Internet and find companies to test for. Or you could pay a small fee and have someone else find these companies for you.

Keep in mind there is no guarantee that the game you test is going to be a huge big name game like World of Warcraft or Madden Football. There are so many games out there, all that should really matter is that you get paid cash to play (test), a game.

Just think. All you have to do is wake up, sit in front of the TV or PC and turn them on and you are at work! Most of these pay you per hour. If you are going to sit and play a game for hours you might as well get some money to do it!

This is perfect for someone who is out of work. You might be in college and need some extra cash. Whatever the case might be it never hurts to try.
We have all at one point in time or another wondered what it would be like to get paid to play games. Beta testing is just one of those ways.

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Mobile Gaming - A Corporate Curse or Consumer Gift? :)

Since the iPhone was launched and the App store was released upon the world, we've seen thousands upon thousands of new apps and games flood the market from creative individuals and developers. This made mobile gaming a true platform to be enjoyed by literally everyone with access to a Smartphone, iPod touch or other compatible device. Specifically I'm talking mobiles/Smartphones/Tablets and not PS Vita or Nintendo DS/3DS.


From the age old classic of 'Snake' a decade or so ago in black and white, where having any game on your phone was a novelty in even the most basic of forms, to now almost PlayStation 2 level graphical quality with games such as N.O.V.A or Real Racing series by EA - mobile gaming has come a very long way indeed. Making calls and shooting zombies all on the same device has never been so rewarding or time consuming. From a good business standpoint it's opened up the gaming market to the widest audience possible - a recent report found that 79% of 18-44 year olds have their Smartphones near them 22 hours a day. Giving consumers something fun to do while they are waiting or commuting whilst being engaged with a brand/mobile advertising is the best of both worlds one may think, but can this be destructive?

Games come in many varieties. Free, paid for or a disconcerting mixture called 'Freemium'. Free games are generally supported by advertising (as are Freemium) whereas paid games generally speaking contain few or no advertisements. The paid or free games I take no issue with. Freemium however are cleverly disguised as 'Free' but soon either halt your game progress or constantly bombard you with slightly misleading options which make you unsure whether you have to pay or not. The aim is to get you so hooked with an addictive business model that you feel enamoured to spend money to continue. Granted, the issues arising from this are aimed at the younger audiences entering their Apple id and not realising there is a charge yet it's an unsavoury practice. It's much like a game demo but a very restrictive one that is rarely representative of a decent gaming experience. As a result this has caused untold grief for many people mistakenly making payments which were unclear and generally creating a bad taste in consumer's mouth.

There is a fear in my mind that a Smartphone culture has made us all both less aware of what is going on around us, but also turning our brains on autopilot to an extent. On the train this morning out of 6 seats (split into 2 sets of 3 facing each other) every single person was deep into their Smartphone swiping and tapping. We're in a digital age so naturally assume this to be pretty normal and there is almost a stigma attached to you if you don't have a Smartphone, however I can't help feeling a little jaded that most would spend all day with screens in offices and the natural instinct is to look at another screen on the way home. People miss train stops, lose track of time or even have been close to having an accident walking across the road due to playing on their Smartphone. Make no mistake, Smartphones will only get more advanced and more time sappingly engaging addictive games will arrive.

Largely due to the complexity of mobile games we can now tweet, share and socially integrate ourselves with our digital counterparts. Perhaps cynically it's a way to boost brands' digital footprint under the guise of competing with your friends for a high score. In previous times the computer opponent was the only top score that mattered and now you're up against the world - a daunting task if ever there was one, but empowering nonetheless.

Shady DLC practices and social monitoring aside, mobile gaming will simply continue to drain both time and money from many consumers but ultimately levitating any notion of boredom that ever existed when your train breaks down, your girlfriend is late or you've had that dodgy Indian curry and are 'otherwise engaged'.

For video game reviews and other interesting content visit my site at http://souther29.hubpages.com/

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Kids Play Free Online Adventure Games For Mental Stimulation and Learning :)

Are you concerned that your child is spending far too much time playing video games for his or her own good? There are so many free online adventure games available that it is hardly surprising that kids cannot resist their attraction. It is certainly not practical to forbid your child from playing them. However, you shouldn't worry about your kids playing too many of these games. As a matter of fact, most adventure games offer a great deal of mental stimulation to people who play them. Also, you'll be glad to know that you can limit their drawbacks and increase the benefits of playing these games.

* Adventure games generally require the player to assume the role of a character in the game and solve various puzzles. There can be many different types of puzzles such as locating and utilizing various hidden objects, decoding hidden messages etc. The game generally proceeds to the next level only when a certain number of puzzles are solved. These games are therefore very effective at polishing the players' analytical and reasoning skills.

* Some adventure games provide learning about nature, geography, history etc. depending on where they are set. The visual format of video games is very interesting and they provide easy learning when compared to books.

* Video games help improve reflexes. In addition, they enable people to take very quick decisions in stressful situations. These games provide sufficient practice for the collection of data and processing it rapidly.

Make sure that your child has access to the right free online adventure games because this is a great way to ensure that he or she gets adequate mental stimulation. However, you do need to make sure that your child stays away from games that have inappropriate content. Keep in mind that many adventure games has a great deal of sexual and violent content in them. It is best to set many filters in place so that your child cannot play the wrong kind of games even by mistake. In addition, you should be wary of certain sites that can harm your computer with malware.

Many parents also worry that kids do not get sufficient physical activity because they play too many video games. Therefore you should ensure that your child only has limited access to free online adventure games and other types of video games so that he or she also gets time for physical activity.

Free online adventure games are a surprisingly good source of mental stimulation. Find out how you can use them to get the maximum benefits for your child.

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Some Popular Action Adventure Games :)

An action adventure game, also known as arcade adventure can be defined as a video game that mixes various elements of adventure with action elements. Perhaps, these games are regarded as the most diverse and broadest genre in the world of games. Atari 2600 game Adventure is the first action entertainment. Apart from this, you will come across several other types of choices too. Some of them are:

- God of War:

 This action adventure play is a masterpiece. If you are among those who love to play video entertainments then you will definitely like this. The compelling storyline of this amusement play makes it one of the best action adventure games. The cut scenes in this gaming activity are unique making them a rare art work. If played on the PlayStation 2, you will realize that the characters and environments are shown in a detailed manner. The fight is really good and cannot be compared with other actions. The context sensitive buttons control extra depth in the game.

- Ninja Sigma:

 There are people who find action adventure gaming activities to be very confusing. If you are one among them then you should play Ninja Sigma as it is one of the simplest action games. The thing that sets this one apart from other options is the bonus feature included. The graphics of this gaming event are astonishing. The fluent and smooth nature makes it popular among the players. Another special feature is that the player cannot beat the game by using the buttons as most often they have to block the enemies and escape from them. Environments in this game are similar throughout the event and the boss fights are funny but not as memorable and creative as the boss fighting involved in other action games.

- Devil May Cry: 

When this action amusement play was invented, there was no other action game that could compete with it. This one has a good storyline and includes a perfect combat system. The surroundings in the event were not different but the boss battles involved in Devil May Cry were memorable and exciting too.

- Devil May Cry 3:

 This is probably the most popular among the various action adventures because it is a combination of many action games. The story is well inscribed. This game explains lots of things about the past life of Dante and his brothers that were not known in other series.

There are various types of action adventure games available. Each one of them has a different storyline and feature.

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Trends Of Mobile Gaming :)

Anyone can play mobile games; it's not an issue of age, gender, or geography (however, kids surely dominate in this area). Mobile games can be played anywhere, on tablets and smartphones; and the former are especially great for such pastime. Games top other mobile app categories in the stores, and receive new opportunities with every fresh platform version and sophisticated hardware. Sales of mobile devices go up, and the game industry is blooming, profitable and changing. Trends of mobile gaming come and go; and some hold position, because they simply work. And which mobile gaming trends and rules do we currently have at disposal?

Popular games can appear out of the blue. A catchy game with all the necessary ingredients can always become an instant hit; surely, with well-planned and well-implemented promotion behind its back. It can be simple, which is perfect for brief time-wasting. It can be innovative, which is perfect for experienced gamers; because nobody needs simple clones of popular games. But an idea can be taken to shape it into something unique; and it's often better not to overcomplicate things - find a balance instead.

Freemium or one-time paid? There are various ways of gathering revenues; for each game you can choose a perfect one. In general, freemium model is more profitable potentially. You allow users to enjoy the experience of an ad-free game, then offer them in-app purchases to improve it (buying virtual goods and features). That's really great for multiplayer games; this way has been feeding desktop online games for a long time. The second way often works as try-and-buy: users can try a free version of the game (usually ad-supported), then can purchase the ad-free and full-featured one. Works for ad-haters, of which there are many. Both of these models work, think which one's better for the specificity of your game.

Tablet wins. Tablets are great not only at browsing through the Internet and some cloud-stored databases that you use in work. Tablets are great at gaming. You usually play smartphone games when you need to kill some short amount of time. But a richer experience can be provided by tablets, which allow to dive deeper into the environment. For numerous gamers that is a must. That's why tablet users are more engaged, download more and pay more. You can't carry game consoles everywhere. Perhaps you don't carry a laptop everywhere either. Tablet is a perfect combination of mobility, screen size, work and entertainment. What's more, tablets currently outship PCs, game consoles, and even laptops - they peak at popularity. What else is required to call it a winner?

Online + Multiplayer = Win. Obvious, isn't it? The boom of multiplayer desktop games went mobile. Gamers gather together and compete with each other online; and that is sure to last. There is also such thing as cloud gaming, which is easily accessible for gamers, and cheaper as well. They can also gather gamers from different mobile platforms.

Augmented reality has so many areas of application - perhaps any industry can find a use of this technology, from health care to education; and mobile gaming is just one of them. Augmented reality perfectly suits here and offers a worthwhile playing experience to gamers. Anything that's surrounding can become a part of the game environment; this can be successfully applied to numerous game concepts.

These tips might prove helpful to those who think over launching a mobile game project. You should also remember that people learn about new games mostly through recommendations of friends and acquaintances, who can easily advise something according to the person's interest. Other spread ways include top lists in application stores and specialized websites. Take note of this before you plan promotion. May success be with you!

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