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The eternal quest for entertainment leads us to the virtual world of video games, and mind you it’s a huge world out there. With companies coming out with newer, revolutionary games, that are even more challenging, have enhanced graphics, integrated realism, and other awesome effects in their games practically every fortnight, it’s difficult to see which ones made the cut.

There’s a huge gaming community out there and it’s fair to say that what’s popular with them is probably worthy of a mention. However, scrubbing through the popular games to determine which one ranks top most is no easy feat. The demand for game testers are on the rise. Getting paid to test games is the future. For the best information to get started in the game industry, join now!

While the top positions are constantly shifting around, some of the games that have made it to the top this year are:

Halo 3

This game is simply brilliant; it incorporates all that worked well in the previous “Halo” games and has mush more to offer. One of the key points that makes this game refreshing is the fact that the enemies in the game are perhaps as smart as the player itself so its all the more challenging and fun. The makers have also suped-up the multiplayer options and the feature of “Saved film” incorporates a PC idea with console like accessibility.

Super Mario Galaxy

An all time favourite and a legend in its self the Mario games have yet again made it to the top with Super Mario returning and a space adventure riddled with action that has enhanced gameplays and moves away from the dull and common routines making way for some really interesting variety. Packed with surprises the game feel fresh and new despite the fact that it probably a rehash of its predecessors. The graphics are great and sparkle, while the controls prove nicely tight. Is it any surprise then that Super Mario has made it to the top again?

Rock Band

It looks like the purchase of Harmonix by MTV is finally paying off. This game is lets four players, a guitarist, bass guitarist, Drummer and Vocalist have a blast on or offline through the revolutionary rock band rhythms game. It features loads of tunes licensed from several big record labels. Although it’s not completely perfect in the sense that it really lacks the “world tour” bit to give it that touch of making it big, Yet it give people a chance to explore a perhaps unfulfilled ambition as a musician in a rock band and it works out great as a substitute for those who just won’t be able to ever play onstage with real music instruments.

BioShock

Designed for play on the Xbox and PC its setting is based in an alternative reality that’s an underwater battleground. There’s a lot of strategy and thinking involved in this first person shooter game. Attacks from mutants and mechanical drones that roam across this underwater world make for a very interesting game. An intriguing game it captivates the players right from the beginning where the primary player “Jack” ends up on the scene thanks to a plane crash over the Atlantic Ocean. From then on Jack makes his way through the game advised by different charters, he learns his of his origins and the purpose he is there. It’s a real thrilling game and definitely worth trying out.

Portal

Part of the 5 games constituting ‘The Orange Box’, ‘Portal’ turns out to be a pleasant surprise this year. This unique and innovative game is a puzzle of sorts with an excellent story line. The puzzle game is based on the concept of a special gum which is used to shoot portals and create worm holes to enter and exit them from time to time as well as to zap objects. The gun can be operated on almost all of the flat surfaces in the puzzle. What makes this game special are the excellent number of loops, comic narratives and excellent graphics and audio. The theme song of this game which you can hear towards the end is a work of genius.

Call of Duty - 4

Fourth release in the series of the same name, Call of Duty - 4 is a master piece from X-Box. This latest entry gives a powerful and dramatic sense of realism and a sense of immediacy to the player. The game offers you a choice of playing a US Marine as well as a British S.A.S. This gives the game a unique global appeal as players are drawn to it with a sense of loyalty and patriotism. Drawn from the latest experiences of war, this game will take the player across the globe, from one extreme battleground to another, be it the Middle East or Russia. Rendering images from the worst offerings of modern warfare, you will be enthralled by the reality of war and its effects in the real world. All said and done, this game will surely keep you on your toes.

Don’t just play games. Test games and get paid!!
Become a game test today!

Millions of Americans enjoy video games-for the adrenaline rush, the companionship, the competition, and the chance to become a conquering adventurer, at least in a virtual world.

The good news is Americans don’t have to break the bank to play the video games they love. Turner Broadcasting System’s GameTap is one of the latest and greatest options for consumers to get their game on and experience all the good things about games. Some are game testers and get paid to pay games.

“Turner created GameTap because they wanted gamers to have a wide variety of games-a virtual vault-that allows them to experience all types of thrills including role-playing, action, and puzzle games,” says Stuart Snyder, General Manager of GameTap.

But in addition to being fun, can playing these games really promote self-improvement? Hold on to your controllers: some researchers and social critics are now arguing that video gaming has its virtues. It can speed reflexes, improve mental abilities and even reduce violence. While nobody is arguing for a 24-hour diet of video games, many observers now see some hidden values.

Consider research done at the University of Rochester in New York, which concluded that young adults who frequently played video games can improve their “video attention.” In one experiment, for example, test subjects were asked to quickly figure out whether or not a certain shape-a square or a diamond-appeared within one of the six rings. Video gamers came out on top. The researchers said that video games force players to simultaneously juggle a variety tasks, such as detecting and tracking enemies, and avoiding getting hurt. Those game-playing skills can translate into more general visual skills that apply to everyday life. Sure go ahead and buy games at game store.

“We sometimes think of popular culture as a passive recreation, but there’s nothing passive about video games-they are the most interactive, demanding entertainment medium ever created,” said Snyder. “If the GameTap staff of overachievers is any indication, video games are a great way to learn how to think on your feet.”

Simulation games, where players design everything from roller coasters to cities, can get kids interested in mechanical engineering and urban planning. Wrote author Steven Johnson: “My nephew would be asleep in five seconds if you popped him down in an urban studies classroom, but somehow an hour of playing ‘Sim City’ taught him that high tax rates in industrial areas can stifle development.”

Johnson, the author of “Everything Bad Is Good For You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter,” has become a prominent defender of video games. He has also entered the controversy over whether video games promote aggression, arguing that crime among teens and adolescents has dropped by almost two-thirds since 1975. Whether video games can take credit is a matter of strong debate, but Johnson suggests that video games may act as a safety valve.

Video games may even have therapeutic value. Mark Griffiths, a professor at Nottingham Trent University in England, argues that video games can help distract children undergoing chemotherapy and treatment for sickle cell anemia. The games may also work as physical therapy for arm injuries.

Like many researchers, Griffiths advocates moderation in game play. GameTap’s Snyder agrees. “At GameTap, we love games, we’re immersed in them, and we’ve got hundreds to choose from. But we also know the importance of putting the controller down. A virtual world can be fun, but there’s no substitute for the real thing.” Get into the game become a video game tester!!