Posts Tagged ‘video games’
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Where do gamers go?
The choices you have as a gamer are:
- Buy (Online, Ebay, used, Gamestop..)
- Rent (Gamefly, blockbuster…)
- Trade (Goozex, Switchplanet..)
Renting in the past at your brick and mortar rental place can easily set you back more then $5-$7 every week like Blockbuster. There have been other online rental game sites that charge a monthly fee like /month for one game out like Gamefly. Renting isn’t all together bad but playing videogames isn’t like watching movies. There is a considerable larger amount of time invested in videogames then in movies. Most movies range from 1.5 hours to epics of 6 hours. Where most videogames you could get a good feel for a game in 3 hours but most sports games and long role playing games could be played for more then 70 hours.
This is where Goozex steps in. Goozex allows the gamer to keep the game as long as you want but have the option to sell it too. There is only a $1 transaction fee if you request a game on their network. So basically you can trade in your older games and build up Goozex credit until you get enough for a newer title and just pay the $1 transaction fee. A shipping and handling is handled by sender and the buyer only pays . There is no monthly membership so you can stop at anytime or go at a slower pace. This is ideal in the sense that you could play the game until you are actually sick of it then send it in for credit. No hurry as you play and ship at your own pace. Plus you OWN the game. At that point it is yours.
The network is peer to peer in that you can only request games and send games to other members. There is no single central warehouse and the pricing of the credits of the system are in points (100pts = $5). The pricing of the game is determined by market demand, release date, initial cost of the game, and a couple other factors. Most xbox 360 titles will go for 800-1000 pts which translates to $40-$50. This isn’t bad for a used game. Some money can be saved buying used but there is still tax and travel time/cost. Goozex gives you free shipping to you with no tax charge. You can buy games directly but will cost you a premium but then again this money is locked in credits anyways. The game prices will fluctuate and you will see the price change in your history. I’ve had a couple games I requested and I can see that price increase/decrease. It doesn’t happen that much but some games change +/- 200pts depending on market demand.
So why use Goozex instead of a used videogame store or an auction site with games like Ebay? You just need $1 to pay for the transaction fee. Most people don’t like to continually shell out more money for a game and then feel like the games they bought are depreciating at a very fast rate. Selling your game for cash anywhere will not give you that much. Brick and mortar stores resell your games for a huge mark up. Selling online is tiresome. Goozex at least you get to trade in games you are done with and still get some value out of it as it will lead to other games you really want. There might be more difficulty in sending older sports titles as those don’t have much demand once their season is up like trying to sending in EA sports Madden 2005 will be a hard game to sell to someone on the network. Even if you were to put it older games on ebay you will have a hard to moving it and you will have to pay per insertion. On Goozex you will be able to list it and it will just stay there without having to pay insertion fees.
Each videogame is packed with information like reviews from Gamepro, some tips/trick, game description, and some even have instructions. I love being able to see the supply and demand of each game. This will let you know if you have a game people want or if you can possibly get a game on the network. The system chooses who gets paired up. There is a waiting list that is generated and when you add a game you will see in what place you are waiting for that game. You get a good feel to when you will get a game. You need to make a list for want and haves for your games. They will show you your place in line per game. Great place to build your wishlist. It is ideal to have a very large set of games you want now so you will have a very good chance of getting a game soon. I requested Crackdown and I was like 60 people back. I got this game in 14 days. Just because you’re really deep in line doesn’t mean you won’t get the game soon. Newer games do get pushed out in the system fairly quickly. You have many options to what you want to trade in terms of instructions, case or just game. This is helpful as some gamers tend to lose instructions and/or cases. The value of the game doesn’t go down as the credits don’t reflect what is included. This is because the user requesting the game can have the option to request only full packaged games, games with instructions, or just the game itself. I have not had a problem with getting full packages as I’ve gotten over 49 games and I’ve sent out 54 in under 2 years of being there.
Why NOT to use
For this site to be a perfect 5 star site I would like to see:
1. More users (will there ever be enough?)
2. More old school games (nes, snes, saturn….)
3. is still not free. I’m a member of another site that has no transaction fees yet still protects the members.
4. Video game trailers for each game
5. More user interaction like user reviews and tournaments…)
All the above are small tweaks to the system that is already very functional. The main reason someone would NOT want to use this system is time and money. If you have the dough you would just buy it new down the street? Why wait? The main draw to the site is how much money you can save and the community there. Save money and also connect with other gamers. If your very impatient then new release games will have to be purchased. Most new release games takes on average of 1-2 months. Why? You are placed in a waiting line. The order of the Que determines when you get the new game, but more importantly is how many are available? Most people will play a new release for a certain amount of time before listing their games. That could be more time than one might want to wait. Say you want a popular game that normally runs 40 hours to complete. You gotta factor in that a player like me would take over 1 month to beat a game like that. More popular games of course like Madden will hit the system quicker but that is also a bad thing. You don’t want to hold a game too long or it will lose it’s value. Trading for early on might be for 1000 points but in a couple months with the market being saturated it could be 500 points in no time losing half of it’s value. Not Goozex’s fault but some games just don’t move well.
Current Goozex Simultaneous Transaction on the Network as of Mar 11, 2009 = 4793
Tags: exchange, games, goozex, goozex review, next generation, nintendo, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation, playstation 3, ps3, psp, review, trading, video, video games, videogames, wii, XBox, xbox 360, xbox360
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Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
Playing slots on the Internet is much the same as playing slot machines in more traditional casinos. You put coins in a slot, pull a lever, and hope the same pictures on the reels all line up. However, online slots give you the convenience of being able to play without having to leave your home, any time of the day. And on most sites, the payout is set as high as the highest machines in Las Vegas.
Like its real life counterpart, online slots are one of the most popular casino games. Many people find slots less stressful and easier to play than games such as blackjack and roulette. They are a simple, carefree games. If you have never played online slots, you may want to start by finding a site that lets you play with virtual money. That way you can familiarize yourself with the game without losing money. Once you are comfortable playing, you can start playing with real money.
Just as with traditional slots, when playing online slots you get the potential to make money, but you also have the potential to lose money. Check into sites to find out which have the highest payout percentage. Many people worry that they may get cheated; but these machines are powered by random number generators, and the results of every game is completely random.
If you go to reputable sites, you do not have to worry about being cheated. The best way to avoid scams is to read reviews and try multiple sites. Some people also worry about using their credit card online. Again, if you do research and go to reputable site, you don’t have to worry. Your credit card information will be sent over encrypted connections. Just to make sure, do a spyware and virus scan on your computer before putting in your credit card number anywhere on the Internet. Just as with factual life slots, there are different types of online slots.
Although all online slots are really just visual representations of three, and five reel slots, they all have very real slots jackpots. Do not worry about what type you play, just be sure to always have fun! You can find free slot software on sites like Casino Locations, Casino Morongo or Casino of the Sun.
Tags: baccarat, bingo, blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, cash, casino, craps, excalibur, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, money, online casino, poker, roulette, slots, video games
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Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
Playing slots on the Internet is much the same as playing slot machines in more traditional casinos. You put coins in a slot, pull a lever, and hope the same pictures on the reels all line up. However, online slots give you the convenience of being able to play without having to leave your home, any time of the day. And on most sites, the payout is set as high as the highest machines in Las Vegas.
Like its real life counterpart, online slots are one of the most popular casino games. Many people find slots less stressful and easier to play than games such as blackjack and roulette. They are a simple, carefree games. If you have never played online slots, you may want to start by finding a site that lets you play with virtual money. That way you can familiarize yourself with the game without losing money. Once you are comfortable playing, you can start playing with real money.
Just as with traditional slots, when playing online slots you get the potential to make money, but you also have the potential to lose money. Check into sites to find out which have the highest payout percentage. Many people worry that they may get cheated; but these machines are powered by random number generators, and the results of every game is completely random.
If you go to reputable sites, you do not have to worry about being cheated. The best way to avoid scams is to read reviews and try multiple sites. Some people also worry about using their credit card online. Again, if you do research and go to reputable site, you don’t have to worry. Your credit card information will be sent over encrypted connections. Just to make sure, do a spyware and virus scan on your computer before putting in your credit card number anywhere on the Internet. Just as with factual life slots, there are different types of online slots.
Although all online slots are really just visual representations of three, and five reel slots, they all have very real slots jackpots. Do not worry about what type you play, just be sure to always have fun! You can find free slot software on sites like Casino in Hollywood, Casino Keno or Casino LA.
Tags: baccarat, bingo, blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, cash, casino, craps, excalibur, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, money, online casino, poker, roulette, slots, video games
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Saturday, June 13th, 2009
Sic bo (also known as tai sai, dai siu, big and small or hi-lo) is an ancient Chinese game that’s played with dice and has been played for money from as far back as thousands of years ago. The word ’sic bo’ actually means ‘Dice pair’. Today sic bo is likely to be available at your favorite online casino, as well as in land-based gambling hot spots such as Las Vegas – although it may be a bit difficult at times to find the sic bo tables at a casino because they won’t be as prominent as the slot machines or blackjack tables. The sic bo tables are usually tucked away in some corner of the casino – along with other popular Asian gambling games.
Much like in roulette sic bo offers you the option of placing many different types of bets. Players place their sic bo bets by placing chips on different spots on the table (much like is done for roulette). You place your bets, the dice are rolled and you win or lose. The losing bets are collected by the croupier and the winners are paid. Sic bo is as simple as that. Although there really isn’t much strategy to sic bo, it can be a fun game to play.
Below is a list of the sic bo bets that you can make. The payoffs on some bets will vary from casino to casino, so for those bets a range of viable payoffs is indicated.
* Small: Wins on total of 4-10, except for a 3 of a kind. Probability of winning is 48.61%. Pays 1 to 1. House edge is 2.78%.
* Big: Wins on total of 11-17, except for a 3 of a kind. Probability of winning is 48.61%. Pays 1 to 1. House edge is 2.78%.
* Total of 4 and 17: Pays 50 to 1 in Macau, 60 to 1 in Atlantic City, and 62 to 1 in Australia.
For free Sic Bo software downloads, please visit the Play Sic Bo web site.
Tags: baccarat, bingo, blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, cash, casino, craps, excalibur, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, money, online casino, poker, roulette, sic bo, sicbo, slots, video games
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Friday, June 12th, 2009
Blackjack, a favorite game for centuries, is sometimes known as “21,” from the French game of Vingt – et – Un. Although its history goes back as far as the 1700’s, along with roulette, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that Blackjack became a popular game. 1930’s Nevada was synonymous with gambling and it was in a Nevada casino that the Blackjack we know today was created. This casino was the first to offer 10 to 1 odds for a hand made up of the Ace of Spades and Black Jack.
Over the years the casinos have made it easier to get a blackjack but they have also lowered the odds to 3 to 2. As Blackjack slowly gained popularity authors began writing books about blackjack.
As books on strategies and tips on how to win playing this exciting game hit the shelves, Blackjack became more and more popular which meant more and more books were published. “The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack,” by Roger Baldwin, delves deeply into probability, statistics, and mathematical compilations.
The “Einstein of Blackjack,” wrote on the subject of card counting in his book “Beat the Dealer.” Other contributors over the years on the study of blackjack include the likes of Stanford Wong, whose book is still considered a valuable handbook on “Professional Blackjack.” The movie “Rain Man” further enhanced the widespread appeal of blackjack. The basic concept of blackjack is to get a total of 21, or to beat the dealer, without going over 21.
There are a number of websites that offer free information to players, as well as online tutorials that will allow you to learn everything you need before playing with real money. Blackjack is not a difficult game, and it can be the casino game with the lowest risk when using a strategy called Basic Strategy.
The casinos welcome players who use the Basic Blackjack Strategy as it can be very difficult to play perfectly and the casino still has a slight edge. It is possible to shift the odds in the players favor when playing Blackjack. To do this the player must be Counting Cards. Counting Cards tracks the value of the deck and allows the player to predict how the cards will fall.
While not illegal, Casinos actively seek out and remove card counters from their premises. multiple decks, card burning and constant shuffle machines have all been introduced to make it more difficult for card counters. There are a number of slightly different versions of Blackjack, each of which has slightly different odds. Adding a deck, allowing a player to double down, no splitting Aces all have a subtle impact on the game. But by paying attention to the rules of the table, a moderate amount of ability and an understanding of when to hit and when to stand with a bit of luck thrown in, you can see some real gains. Download black sowftare for free at Play Blackjack Free, Play Blackjack Online Free or Play Free Blackjack.
Tags: baccarat, bingo, blackjack, cash, casino, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, money, online casino, poker, roulette, slots, video games
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Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
Online casinos have been flooding the online world lately. It seems that they have been trying very hard to attract more and more players to test their luck at their online casino.
Each online casino tries to outdo their competition by creating new and better promotions to catch a player’s attention. One of the most popular promotions being used right now is the bonus casino money. These promotions offer depositing players match bonuses of 20%, 50%, 100% and even higher of free money to use in that particular online casino.
When you take advantage of an bonus offer at an online casino there are restrictions that are put in place. These restrictions are to prevent a player from depositing their money, getting the bonus, and then withdrawing their money and the bonus without wagering a single dollar. Some casinos require that the player wager the value of the bonus money a number of times before being allowed to cash out the money. Some casinos will also require the player to wager the bonuses on certain games.
Games like baccarat, craps, roulette and blackjack generally do not qualify for the bonus play through rules. The bonus offer attracts two types of players. The first type of player uses the bonus to play longer, take bigger risks and have a lot of fun playing different casino games they would not normally play if they were wagering their own money. The second type of player is known as a bonus hunter. The bonus hunters deposit just enough money to get the maximum bonus, play through the minimum requirements, withdraw all their money, and then move onto the next casino.
Online Casinos are always on the lookout for bonus hunters and when they are caught their bonus privileges are usually revoked. Get your free software via sites like Online Games Blackjack, Online Gaming Casino or Online Gaming Sites.
Tags: baccarat, bingo, blackjack, cash, casino, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, money, online casino, poker, roulette, slots, video games
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Monday, June 8th, 2009
Here are a few blackjack tips that we hope you’ll find useful.
1. Use basic blackjack strategy – because it reduces the house edge to less than 1%. Of course, the house edge will be lowered to that level only if you are flawless in the use of basic blackjack strategy.
2. Play at blackjack tables where the dealer must stand on all 17s. This reduces the house edge a little – compared to situations where the dealer hits soft 17, which actually increases the house advantage.
3. If you don’t know how to use the insurance bet, don’t attempt use it – it’s one of the worst at the blackjack table. It may seem like a good bet in the beginning, but once you really think about it and calculate a few numbers, there’s too much of an edge against you, so stay far away from it.
4. Play against as few decks as possible. It’s always at your advantage to do this.
5. Don’t be greedy. One thing that can destroy you when gambling is greed. When playing blackjack you should set limits for yourself and set aside a certain amount to gamble and once you’ve lost that, head for the exit. Don’t get sucked in, thinking that if you play long enough you’ll win back the money you have lost – it never usually works that way. Think similarly when you’re winning. If you have won a certain amount and you’re above what you have set aside for the night, simply put it in your pocket and forget it for the rest of the night. That way, you might surprise yourself in the end.
Hopefully you’ve found these blackjack tips useful. If you haven’t already done it, you should try playing blackjack at your favorite online casino. Some selections would be Blackjack Las Vegas, Free Blackjack Download or Basic Blackjack.
Tags: baccarat, bingo, blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, cash, casino, craps, excalibur, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, money, online casino, poker, roulette, slots, video games
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Sunday, June 7th, 2009
Does a Caribbean stud poker strategy exist that will make the house’s edge reasonable? Unfortunately, the answer is no unless the jackpot is at a high level. To explain further… Caribbean stud Poker offers a sizable house advantage of over 5% – not in terms of cards but by way of the betting structure. The fact that you MUST bet three times in order to stay in a hand definitely does not help your advantage. The times that the dealer does not qualify (44% of the tim), you only win your ante – which in most instances isn’t very much. On the other hand, if you decide to fold, you lose your ante and the round is over.
For Caribbean stud poker, there is no room for ‘dumb’ play – the house edge is already high enough to take care of that. Despite the overwhelming house advantage, there are a few little things that you can do to better your odds, here we go:
1. Always fold if you hold nothing.
2. If the setting isn’t right, don’t make the bet.
3. Always make the bet with a pair of better.
4. If you hold ace-king, make the bet if one of your other three cards matches the dealer’s up card.
5. Make the bet if you hold ace-king-queen or ace-king-jack when the dealer’s up card is any of your five cards.
Most all online casinos now offer you a free bonus deposits. Some are known as sign-up bonuses, here if you deposit a certain amount of money the casino will match it the first time (up to a set limit) these types of bonuses tend to stay in the hundreds of dollars. Past types of free money amounts can be anything from 20 – 50 dollars, and even much more depending on your sign-up deposit – so be sure to cut out good online casino reviews.
Caribbean stud poker is typically available at your favorite online casino. It and other casino favorites such as the slots and roulette can be played directly online. Try it for yourself if you haven’t already via sites like Frenchlick Springs Resort, Frenchlick Springs Hotel or French Lick Springs.
Tags: baccarat, bingo, blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, cash, casino, craps, excalibur, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, money, online casino, poker, roulette, slots, video games
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Sunday, June 7th, 2009
At a glance, the game of craps may look complicated, but in actuality it is really quite simple. Here’s a simple craps game flow for you to grasp:
If the come-out roll is a 7 or 11 (which craps rules label a natural) the don’t pass loses and the pass line wins. The shooter (person rolling the dice) has another chance to set a point and rolls another come out roll immediately. If the come-out roll is a 2, 3, or 12 (called ‘craps’) the don’t pass line wins, or ties and the pass line loses. The don’t pass bet is a tie when the come-out roll is a 12. The shooter once again gets another chance to set a point. In order to pass the dice along the shooter must first set a point, and then ‘7-out’ by hitting a seven before he/she hits the point number again.
If the come-out roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 then that number becomes known as the ‘point’. The dealers will then place a little puck with the word ‘ON’ written on it and put it on top of the number that is the ‘point’ on the layout. This is just to remind players that the session is on, and what the point number is. Before the dealer did this, the puck would have been just off the table with the ‘OFF’ side up. Any don’t pass line or pass line bets at this point are in a state of limbo, waiting for more action to determine their outcome. Do you have a craps strategy? We’ll discuss this further soon.
The shooter will keep rolling until one of 2 things happen: if they roll the number that they had set to the point (i.e. they made the point) the don’t pass bettors lose and the pass line bettors win. If a 7 is rolled before the point number is rolled (which is called 7-out), the winners are the reverse: don’t pass bettors win and pass line bettors lose. In both instances, the round is over. How’s that for simple craps game play.
If you haven’t already done it, you should try playing craps at your favorite online casino. Check out Deuces Wild Video Poker, Diamond Casino Tucson or Diamond Jacks for more information and free craps software downloads.
Tags: baccarat, bingo, blackjack, cash, casino, craps, excalibur, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, money, online casino, poker, roulette, slots, video games
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Sunday, June 7th, 2009
Research has shown that slot machines tend to get most of their trade towards the end of the evening, and most, if not all players end up losing, due in many cases to the influence of excess alcohol. Clearly this doesn’t happen at an online casino.
Contrary to popular belief, arcades and amusement parks are not the best places to play cherry slot machines. In fact arcades are probably the worst, simply because the slot machines on these premises are being played all day, and by people who know what they are doing (This can be a good place to watch and learn from others, but experts often don’t appreciate an audience, so be careful who you might bother!).
Another disadvantage of slot machines in arcades and amusement parks, and even travelling fairgrounds, is that they are not as well governed. It is not usual for slot machines at these sorts of venues to have been tampered with illegally. I definitely prefer free slots.
Unfortunately, it does not take a rocket scientist to lower the percentage rate to considerably lower than the 70% requirement, and then to quickly raise it again, when the official inspections are being carried out!
Apart from public houses, other profitable venues to play the cherry slots include: Bingo Halls, Working Mans Clubs, Snooker Halls, Ferries, Motorway Service Stations, and many pub type restaurants are also profitable.
Considering Online gambling instead? You can play Double Diamond Slots, free slot games and more. There are several casinos that have added real online casinos to their already existing brick and mortar casinos, as substantially as countless online-only reputable casinos. Online casino promotions offer a wide range of single-player as substantially as multi-player games. This is good news for those who like to play for high stakes; they can do so from the privacy and comfort of their residence without having to move around with excess cash.
Tags: bingo, blackjack, blackjack strategies, cash, casino, free games, gambling, game, games, gaming, keno, lottery, money, online casino, poker, roulette, slots, video games
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