2012 In Video Gaming: 10 Games to Wait For

Year 2011 has been very good for a gamer, possibly the best in a long time. We had Littlebigplanet 2, Killzone 3, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Uncharted 3 and the list goes on. The year 2012 will see many original video games, as well as the release of numerous sequels to already successful franchises. Here are ten titles to wait for in 2012.

1. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

This upcoming single-player RPG developed by 38 studios has all the potential to be a success. The game universe is created by fantasy author R.A. Salvatore and responsible for the artwork has been no other than Todd McFarlane (Creator of Spawn). Taking God of War and marrying it with Oblivion is a BIG promise (one made by Curt Schilling), but we will see does the game live up with the hype. Oh and btw Claudia Black (you know.. Morrigan) is doing some voice acting.

2. Torchlight II

Supposedly being bigger and better than the original game, Torchlight II features overland areas with multiple hub towns, and a longer campaign. New features are heard to be included as well such as time of day cycles, weather and renewed user interface. Players can now also customize their appearance with choice of gender, face, and hair style. We are eager ready for this new hack-and-slash rpg. PC, MAC

3. Final Fantasy XIII-2

Claiming to fix the problem fans hated in Final Fantasy XIII, read: linearity, the game continues five years after the events of FFXIII. The game claims to add freedom, new towns, and improvements to the (already excellent) battle-system. Glorious world design, excellent combat and strong storytelling: These are the things look for in Final Fantasy XIII-2. PS3, XBOX360

4. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

We love eye candy and interesting stories. A game which combines both, is surely welcomed. If you already haven't heard: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a game developed by LEVEL-5 with Animation by Studio Ghibli. The title surely has the potential to be a keeper. PS3, 3DS

5. The Last Guardian

What can Team Ico can offer us this time? If you loved Ico or the Shadow of Colossus there is no need for explanation because it is something good. Unfortunately, The Last Guardian has been a title people have just been waiting... and waiting.. and waiting with most recent news being Yoshifusa Hayama, The Last Guardian's executive producer, leaving the studio to develop some Facebook games!!! The Last Guardian is a third-person perspective game that combines action-adventure and puzzle elements. PS3

6. Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Uncharted: Golden Abyss is the first Uncharted prequel and first Uncharted title on handheld devices, meaning Sony's upcoming PlayStation Vita. We will see how the Uncovering of the dark secret behind the 400-year-old massacre of a Spanish expedition goes on PS Vitas OLED screen. PlayStation Vita.

7. The Last of Us

We don't know much about this title yet, since it was just recently released. Resembling I am Legend, the game has astonishing graphics and developer team which no doubt can deliver a real adventure. If Uncharted meets Enslaved in this game, consider me sold. Even with so little detail, this game might already be the most hyped PS3 game for the following year. PS3

8. GTA V

GTA V, the latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto series and another GTA that is set in Los Santos, San Andreas! The game looks awesome so far and will most likely deliver what is to be expected.

9. Borderlands 2

Gearbox's shoot and loot game looks better than ever. The first Borderlands was purely an awesome game. Building upon the gameplay elements of its predecessor, Borderlands 2 features all-new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in a crafted story. PC, PS3, XBOX360

10. Mass Effect 3

Earth has been taken, the galaxy is on the verge of total annihilation, and you are the only one who can stop them. This probably is the game everybody is waiting for. Mass Effect 2 was the best sci-fi RPG I've ever played. So get ready to follow YOUR story of Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3, if you have the save-game files for Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. If you don't.. I suggest you leave home now and don't come back without those earlier Mass Effects.

Trailers for games to wait for 10 Games to wait for can be found here.

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I am editor-in-chief and a webmaster at Bag of Games. I have always been captivated with games, be it console, board, card or any types of games. It is only fair that I share my honest thoughts and reviews about them.

How to Play DS Games on Your 3DS In Native DS Resolution

After picking up a Nintendo 3DS over the weekend, and after playing "Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars" for a couple of hours I decided to fire up "Sim City DS" to compare how the older DS games played, and to be fair I love a bit of Sim City now and then.

What I noticed though, is that the 3DS will stretch out original Nintendo DS games so the image can look a little pixellated, I decided to quit out of the game and have a little look at the system settings on the main menu to see if I could find any options to optimise the picture quality.

No, there are no options.

After a little bit of playing about though, the solution came to me.

After turning on your 3DS with your DS game inserted:


Press and hold the Select and Start buttons, these are on the left and right of the Home button below the touch screen
With Select and Start held down, select the DS game icon to launch it
Keep both buttons held down until the game has loaded
When the game has loaded, release the buttons

When the game has loaded up it will now be in its native resolution,

This does come with Pro's and Con's to this though.

Pro

Image is a lot clearer

Game runs a little smoother

You are still able to play all your favourite DS games the way they were meant to be played

Con

Black borders, instead of the black borders being slightly noticeable on the left and right sides of the top screen, they will now be roughly 1/2 inch thick on the left and right sides, and just over 1/4 inch thick on the top. With roughly 1/4 inch on 3 sides on the bottom screen.

To me this is not too much of an issue, but to other's this may be a bit off-putting.

In all I'm quite happy with how the 3DS has been performing, this is nothing more than minor irritation though. I am looking forward to the future releases and will enjoy playing my old DS games for a long time to come, and as long as Nintendo continue to release top quality titles, and re-release the older NES and Snes games on the upcoming eShop for the Virtual Console, I am confident that the 3DS will have the same success as the previous Nintendo DS handheld's.

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Gary D. Cook is just a regular guy from the UK, works in a cinema as a projectionist by day, and plays games in his spare time. Join him at http://tactixalgamer.blogspot.com/ to hear more about his views and opinions from the world of video game's and occasional movie news.

Three Awesome Games That Every Gamer Is Waiting for in 2011

Every new calendar year there are one or two titles that every gamer is looking forward to in the upcoming video game season, however rarely does a release list look quite as impressive as the upcoming 2011 list of games. Three games stand out more than anything this year, and they all have one big thing in common: People have been waiting a long time for them.

1. Diablo 3 (Blizzard) -- For years, Diablo 2 was the powerhouse of the competitive online world, and even to this day you can find thousands of players online at any given time hacking away at demons, or running through bosses for the millionth time still hoping to find that ever-elusive Windforce. Now, after eleven long years, Diablo 3 is ready to take back the crown its series once held and take gamers back on the road of a hero, this time with a brand-new crafting and rune system to further add depth to what is expected to already be one of the most replayable games ever made.

2. Defense of the Ancients 2 (Valve) -- Defense of the Ancients, or DotA for short, is a bit of a phenomenon in the world of online multiplayer games. While most games are developed by big companies and distributed by major publishers, DotA began as a community mod for Blizzard's popular Warcraft III game. After years of community updates and a massive increase in attention by fans who loved the unique style of play, Valve managed to hire the latest developer of DotA and patent the name for future use. Yes, that's right, Valve took the mega-popular DotA game right out from under Blizzard's noses, and are now in development of DotA 2, which is scheduled to release early in 2011.

3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda) -- The Elder Scrolls series hit mainstream affection in 2002 when it released its critically acclaimed third-installment in the series, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Unlike many of the games during its time, Morrowind introduced gamers to the concept of a massive, free-roaming world that put it in the player's hands to decide how they wanted to craft and enjoy their experience. A few years later, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was released, and while it initially garnered good reviews for its impressive graphics and reworked combat system, it has ultimately been considered by many to have been a disappointing continuation of the saga, especially coming after the masterpiece that was Morrowind.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the fifth installment in the series, and is set to introduce several new features and enemies, including dragons, dungeons and a controversial removal of the long-standing class-based system. Many gamers are looking for Skyrim's release in 2011 to be the true sequel worthy of building upon Morrowind's success, although only time will tell whether or not Bethesda's latest installment can bring the series back to its glory days.

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David is an avid gamer and current video games entertainment writer. When not salivating at the prospect of defeating hoards of skeletons in Diablo 3 later this year, David can be found teaching gamers in the real world how to approach a girl and win on his Alpha Male tips website.

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The Games You Remember Are Played in November

I first heard this phrase used in describing college football when I was a teenager. I'm not sure who originated this saying, but I have seen this play out year after year ever since then. We just completed the first weekend of games in November and have already witnessed BCS #1 ranked LSU defeating BCS #2 Alabama 9-6 in overtime on the road, BCS #3 Oklahoma State beating BCS #14 Kansas State 52-45 at home and BCS #7 Arkansas overwhelming BCS #9 South Carolina 44-28 at home.

This coming week features the game between current BCS #4 ranked Stanford hosting BCS #7 Oregon and on the weekend of the 25th BCS #1 ranked LSU will be hosting BCS #8 Arkansas. In addition to all those games with national implications riding on them, November is the month a majority of the in-state rivalries take place and most fans do not soon forget which teams won those games and hold all bragging rights heading into the following season.

Despite their importance and the memories created by the games played in November, one must remember that in order to make those games, games of significance, the teams involved have to win most, if not all of their games leading up to November. This is best achieved by staying in the moment each and every week, and focusing on your own improvement. If LSU was thinking about their upcoming game with Alabama in November when they opened the season against Oregon, chances are the outcome of that game would not have come out in their favor.

Far too often teams get ahead of themselves and are more focused on where they see themselves going, rather than where they are right now. This is how upsets and disappointments tend to occur. Teams that control what they can control, which is their own improvement and beating whoever they are facing each week, are the ones who are likely to be playing those meaningful games in November.

For example Florida State and Texas A & M were in nearly every preseason top 10, coming in at #6 and #8 in ESPN's preseason top 25. But as we entered November, neither one of them was even listed in the BCS top 25, in fact Florida State only received 12 votes in the poll that came out yesterday and Texas A & M did not receive any votes at all. Now imagine how big Texas A & M's game against BCS #6 Oklahoma would have been this past weekend had they taken care of business in all their earlier games.

Good teams avoid getting caught up in all the hype surrounding them, knowing that each game counts the same on their record. Teams that are not constantly improving themselves usually find that the only games they remember, that were played in November -other than the aforementioned in-state rivalry games- are sadly games played by teams other than themselves.

Posted in The Mind Side Blog Supertao.com

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Sam Obitz is a leader in the use and development of mental skills that help you achieve peak performance. Visit The Mind Side Blog at http://supertao.com/category/the-mind-side-blog/

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The Top Three PS3 Games Of 2011

2011 has seen the physical manifestation of the dominance of the PS3 over other consoles. This year sees it about to overtake the Xbox 360 in global sales since its launch in 2004.

Quite a reversal. Many people at the time of its launch disputed the wisdom of an expensive Blu-ray component, which has since been one of the main features that set it apart from other consoles.

The other feature that has secured its dominance is the rich video games library available to its users, and not surprisingly, with the upcoming holiday period, that archive is about to be replenished with some great blockbuster games.

2011 has seen some real innovative gaming hit our shelves.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

I must admit I'm a sucker for fantasy and role-play games. I first got the taste with Myst, which I played on Mac around 20 years ago. Things have certainly come on a pace since then.

This is part V of the epic fantasy by Bathsheba Softworks (The Elder Scrolls series). Skyrim brings a totally new dimension to RPG. Amazing graphics transport you into an immense world where you get lost.

Picking up 200 years after the end of Elder Scrolls IV - Oblivion, Skyrim is set in the midst of a civil war

You can roll play a character as your favourite species of choice, be it human or elf, and add to your strengths during the game.You can boost your skills in magic, alchemy or weapons. A humdinger of game for any RPG fantasy fan.

The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection

One of the most irritating things about the PS3 for any Playstation aficionado is that it's not backward compatible with any earlier console games.

What a relief that these two games, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus feature in a PS3 combo pack. Widely considered examples of epic storytelling these two games are enhanced by HD, full 3D support and 7.1 surround sound.

Many a teary-eyed PS2 user will be waking up to this in their Christmas stocking come December 25th.

Battlefield 3

The hugely anticipated FPS release from DICE does not disappoint. In direct competition with Modern Warfare it literally blows it away.

Choose between Tehran, New York and Paris as the backdrop to your combat zone, throw in some game changing technology powered by DICE's Frostbite 2 engine and great co-op and multiplayer functions and you have the ultimate wartime first person shooter.

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If you think that purchasing these games may make for an expensive Christmas, my advice is to audition them for free first with a good game rental service like Lovefilm.

As a love film ps3 subscriber you can take advantage of a love film free trial and enjoy some great Christmas movies too as part of one of the many very reasonable love film ps3 gaming packages available. A real money saver much needed this time of year.

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Kinect Exercise Games

The best kinect exercise game so far is"Kinect Sports", this game has many different sports games for you to play. Sports like soccer, beach volleyball, bowling, table tennis, track and field, and boxing. But not only kinect sports can give you a workout and there are several other kinect games that get your heart pumping.

"Your Shape and Fitness Evolved" is another kinect exercise game that will improve your fitness level. You get a personal trainer and find out which fitness level you are at, the game asks a few questions and you get put at a certain level, then you get to choose which class you would like to take for the day. Classes like Yoga, Martial Arts, or Tai Chi. You can play with one player or with up to 4 players, this game will challenge everyone and it really is so much fun.

This game is a great workout and it tells you when you are doing something wrong and gives you good tips and words of encouragement. There are different programs for different goals such as toning, weight loss, after baby workouts, they have really thought of everything and I highly recommend this game if you are looking for a top kinect exercise game.

"Zumba Fitness" has had mixed reviews, there are 30 fitness routines to choose from with nine different dance styles: Reggaeton, Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, Hip-Hop, Mambo, Rumba, Flamenco and Calypso. This game is fitness with fun, but the kinect controller seems to have trouble tracking some of the moves, it's about finding the correct position so the kinect controller can track your movements.

"EA Active Sports" is another kinect exercise game but you get to build muscle with exercises like squats, lunges and bicep curls, and also included in your routine is a large range of fun fitness activities from mountain biking and dodge ball to boxing. Step aerobics and boxing is a lot of fun. Intensity is not a problem with this game. I completed medium intensity workouts and my heart rate stayed at about 70-80% of my maximum.There is lots of statistics, if you like that sort of thing.

But the number one kinect exercise game is "Kinect Sports", it's so much fun for everyone. The game is meant to be a family or friends game because as you play in single player mode from boxing to table tennis it almost feels like you are running in circles, while it's fun to see who gets the higher score when you compete against a family member or friend when you compete against the A.I. of the game it just feels like you're seeing if you can get past this point of the level of difficulty. This really is a must in your kinect library.

Coming up in March is "Get Fit with Mel B" and this is another kinect exercise game, but with a little different theme. Ex Spice girl Mel B has over 200 exercise and 140 recipes. This program promises to have a wide variety of exercises to develop strength, tone, flexibility and aerobic fitness and is complemented by full nutritional advice, which includes recipes and shopping lists based on your unique goals. An all in one kinect exercise package.

So these are the best kinect exercise games and upcoming exercise games, if you would like to see the videos and full reviews please go to Kinect Exercise Games and see the other exercise games available.

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Make sure you get the latest kinect information on the new Kinect Exercise Games for 2011. We have so many good games coming up, games like Michael Jackson- The Experience, Michael Phelps - Push Limits and a couple of tennis games coming out.

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New iPod Games

I can't say for sure when I know I was bitten but I have the date on my receipts (11/15/06). I guess I was late to the iPod party but I've not missed a step since I got involved with "Buck," my iPod.

I've got 3 now, one just for movies, and another for music and one for data and I'm negotiating with a contact in China for 5 more.

iPod is the brain child of Steven Jobs, Apple guru and all around genius. More than 22 million ipods have been sold to US adults, which amounts to approximately 11% of the population (according to the non-profit Pew Internet & American Life Project). I became a fan and user and my addiction continues to grow stronger.

Now I spend my days learning about new applications and my nights surfing for clearance sales, closeouts, underground sources for discounts on accessories. For example, last week I found a site that sells what they call an iPod Converter.

This unit allows for unlimited downloads of movies and music and games and software and provides a lifetime membership in their download club. As a full blown movie nut this little handful of technology is gobbling up my free time by the hour.

Talk about addiction, I was rummaging through some magazines in the basement of the library at midnight (don't ask) and found this underground techie magazine. There was a story about an MP3 converter that took me a few minutes to realize was the iPod converter I heard about last week.

The techie manual indicated this is better than Blockbuster and NetFlicks all rolled into one very user friendly palm-sized unit. I'll share the link here anyone who is interested can read all about it.

As I continue to learn about all-things-iPod I've just discovered about iPod hacks. This reference startled me at first as it is not in my nature to destroy other's enjoyment in any manner, especially when it comes to something like PCs and iPods.

What I learned is the term hacks when it refers to iPod is another way of saying accessories, except that the modification most likely will void your iPod's warrantee. In any case the lists I found were nothing less than fascinating.

For instance, according to howstuffworks.com, the range of accessories includes downloadable iPod games and programs that convert DVDs to iPod-friendly video files. There are also programs that convert PDA files your PowerPoint presentations into files that work with your iPod-compatible.

The howstuffworks website also provided a reference to a list of some current applications:

"iPod hackers are publishing all sorts of programs that alter the way an iPod works -- some of the software is free, and some of it is for purchase. Some currently available hacks let you:

o Make an iPod work with Linux machines and run Linux applications

o Remove volume caps (iPods sold in Europe cap the volume at 100 decibels; uncapped iPods can reach more than 115 decibels.)

o Turn your iPod into a universal remote

o Attach an external hard drive to your iPod to increase the storage capacity

o Change your iPod's font and graphics

o Watch movies on your iPod in full-screen mode

o Plug your iPod into any computer (even without iTunes) and listen to music from the hard drive

o Transfer photos to iPod without using iTunes

o Replace iTunes all together as the iPod's main jukebox

o Use an iPod with a Windows 98 machine "

While I am fascinated with the expansion this provides I am too cautious and protective of Buck to try anything other than factory sealed products from Apple. I can be patient until they ramp up to the accessory list I peeked at in an underground publication.

The upcoming Apple list is robust and will blow away the hacker's meager offerings. Meanwhile, I'll stick to my movie and music downloading which keeps me rather busy and satisfied.

However if you hear any buzz about an auto-pilot for long cross-country drives that's compatible with a 2006 STS, please pass it on. I might just let Buck give it a try.

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About The Author

Alex Rich is a business and personal coach. Doc has a growing collection of iPods and accessories in addition to a large list of unusual discount sources.

Did you know you can save money normally spent renting games, software and movies? Click here for a source for immediate access to unlimited downloads.

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Nintendo 3DS Games

Nintendo 3DS is a brand new way of gaming for this generation of gamers. You do not have to wear glasses to experience the special effects in this gaming device. It is surely a revolutionary machine, which will alter the way we play games. Nintendo 3DS has a very cool backwards compatibility feature and more horsepower. The processing power of the 3D component in the upcoming Nintendo 3DS handheld device can be used efficiently for making better-looking games. Nintendo 3DS handheld device is slick and stylish. The players will have a third dimension to this game but they can also enjoy the standard 2D format.:The physical turntable peripheral in this game is brought to a handheld portable device and you do not have to pay anything extra for the special attachments. It does not have GBA cart slot and even if it does there is no way to attach it to the latest handheld device from Nintendo. Note tracking becomes easier with the 3D effect and you can focus on the closer planes. The background fades and blurs effectively into nothing. Controls are handled with stylus and like the console version the notes flow down the track. The color-coded arrows will tell you whether to flick right or left. When you find long stretches of some colors you have to scrub your stylus and when you find circles you should tap. It is very satisfying and simple game.Steel Diver:The Steel Diver submarine warfare game was long expected in Nintendo DS, but launched in Nintendo 3DS. It has been reworked for the 3DS version. Shigeru Miyamoto says that this title is almost done and the 3DS version is expected soon.Kingdom Hearts:The kingdom hearts video demo starts with Sora sitting on a branch by the edge of ocean water. It continues with various familiar locations, which is inter-spliced with the shots of some characters from the game. The trailer shows the 3D port of Kingdom Hearts rather than a new 3DS title. The graphics in 3DS is very nice but the 3D effect looks very weak.Paper Mario:It has new features like chain chomp companion and peel-off badges for Mario. Otherwise, it looks like GameCube and N64 games. The 3D effects in this game are completely binary and it does not matter whether the 3D slider is on or off, there is no variance in the 3D effects.Mario Kart:This Mario Kart game comes with 3D graphics. It is not as good as the Wii version and visually it is underwhelming. The 3D effects will pop up when the players overlap but still it is an exciting game.Tangled:Nintendo's 3DS top screen shows the trailer of Rapunzel animated movie from Disney. It looks exactly like the theatrical version of the animated movie trailer, but it a lot smaller. There is nothing Earth-shattering in this game. If this device is capable of playing full 3D movies, it will be much more interesting.upcoming gamesMatt Anton is an avid player and journalist of video games. He enjoys blogging about all things in the tech industry, specifically related to game news. He is best known, however, for his contributions at http://GameFriends.com - The Video Game Social Community for Gamers.

Most Popular Upcoming PS3 Games You Should Not Miss

Sony PlayStation 3 is designed to fulfill all of your gaming pleasures especially with the right games. Here are the most popular upcoming games to watch out for!

NCAA 09 Basketball

Do you want some hard court action at home? If so then order for your own copy of NCAA 09 Basketball!

Formerly named as NCAA Mega March Madness, the latest installment to the series comes with a new game engine - the same one used in NBA Live - as well as an all-new dynasty mode where you can enjoy roster sharing and playing against online rival teams in an instant. Its coach feedback system gives you critical coaching instructions and add the presence of Division I coaches in the sidelines.

Wolfenstein

A first-person shooter game with single player and multiplayer modes, Wolfenstein is expected to have a 2009 release. News about the game came as far back as 2004 with a TechNews report.

Wolfenstein is set at the peak of WWII with the whole world suffering amidst the chaos and devastation caused by the Nazis. Although the Allied Forces are experiencing a slow and steady progress against the Third Reich, Nazi forces are still substantial. To save the world from far greater horrors, it's up to OSS agent BJ Blazkowicz to eliminate the secret weapon of the Nazis: an occult force known only as the Black Sun.

Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon

The Path of the Furon is the third installment in the popular Destroy All Humans series. Set with a December 2008 release, the game has also been produced for Xbox 360.

The game takes place in the 1970's, right after Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed.

You still take the role of Crpyto, an alien assigned to gather DNA samples, and face a new opponent. In the third installment, Crypto is now a casino owner and collects DNA samples from brainstems of his patrons. Trouble ensues, however, when his casino is attacked by Nexos, a strange cyborg race that represents a huge threat to his "normal" lifestyle.

Eternal Sonata

For true blue romantics, their excitement is probably focused on the anticipated release of Eternal Sonata in October 2008.

The protagonist of the game is a romantic himself, Frederic Chopin, a legendary pianist and composer in real life. Eternal Sonata is based on a fictional world that the romantic musician dreamt of in the remaining hours of his life (he had died at the young age of 39). Battles and attacks are based on the elements of Chopin's music.

Playing NCAA Basketball 09 will be more fun if you have downloaded the most accurate NCAA Basketball 09 rosters. Learn what your options are.

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Gamerosters.com provides NCAA Football rosters files for PS2, PS3, and Xbox 360. We offer purchase new memory card, memory card mail-in, and roster download service particularly NCAA Football 09 Rosters.

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What Is New in Video Games?

Thinking of video games often brings about many memories, memories of college friends sitting in front of the television for hours, of heated arguments over remote controls, of friends playing World of Warcraft during commercial breaks. The truth is that video games have become an essential part of our life and culture. Ask any preteen or teen how they love to spend their spare time, and most likely you will get an earful about video games. The next few months are going to see some of the most impressive game releases in years. Meanwhile, the all time classics are proving age is no barrier to sustained gaming popularity. To get you acquainted with the newest trends, here is a brief overview of the latest news in video gaming.

The highlight of this month is easily the anticipation of the highly awaited game Portal 2 because with the release of its trailer very recently, the game is looking more and more awesome.Valve has just released a new trailer for Portal 2 that wants you to appreciate how important panels are to your survival. Portal 2 is to be released on Mac, PC, PS3 and 360 on April 19.

As for the latest in Nintendo Games, if you're thinking about picking up the Pilotwings Resort game along with a new Nintendo 3DS when they debut in stores, there is only one advice I can think about, be ready with an air sickness bag! That said, Pilotwings Resort is a delightful, high-flying flight simulation game, as long as the soaring 3-D effects that are its selling point don't make you woozy.

Also, Kalypso Media have released a new trailer for the upcoming adventure game The First Templar, where you fight your way through the 13th century Crusades in search of the Holy Grail. Heading back in time to the lovely and scenic 13th century, home of the Crusades, and taking the role of a member of the Templar Knights in the newest adventure game offering from Kalypso Media, I bet you cannot wait for it! Although the details on the game's story are still fairly vague, it is highly anticipated all over the world.

It is always good to step back and get a good look at the various cross-currents in the games landscape, and with this article on the latest in video games, and a combination of passion, innovative thinking, and wonderful execution, I do hope you make the best out of this gaming season!

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Please browse my sites at http://www.just4mazes.com and http://www.pausetostart.com for more information on gaming and gaming products.

Cartridge-Based Gaming Limits Innovation in Nintendo DS Learning Games

I've been writing often, lately, about educational games, especially Nintendo DS learning games. Most of my research has had a common thread of truth: it's a difficult medium to work in. According to industry sources, most learning games marketed towards kids never see the light of day, and the ones that do make it out of the planning phases can be a bit of a gamble for their studios. Especially, as is the case for many recent games, the teams who lack the backing of a major label. Major label = assured distribution.

Problem is, the major labels don't necessarily want to innovate. They don't often want to chance the market's willingness to accept a new ideas, foreign or unfamiliar gameplay, or, really: anything that isn't guaranteed to make a certain percentage of profit. It's understandable; they're publicly-traded companies, for crying out loud. Of course they're built to play it safe. DS learning games are a tough sell to begin with, these companies seem to say. Why swing for the fences when we've got a guaranteed base hit?

Well, that's true. But there are game makers out there, right this very second, who're toiling in obscurity, putting the finishing touches on the next Katamari Damacy. Ah, says the company, the Katamari example. For every Katamari, they say, there're three or four games you never hear about that fail miserably on the market. And Katamari wasn't even a DS learning game!

Also true. So, then - the problem isn't squarely on the shoulders of these monolithic gaming corporations. It seems the handheld gaming device industry deserves much of the blame.

Unfortunately, most of the gaming innovation I'm seeing is limited to the Internet. It's as if Indie game makers are sticking to personal computers, Flash games, and internet distribution, with the hope that they can attract a grassroots groundswell, maybe get noticed by one of the aforementioned big-name companies, and try to work for change within the system.

Without major changes withing the handheld gaming device industry, the Nintendo DS and its fleet of DS learning games will be in danger of running aground against the improved software distribution system of multiple-use devices like the iPhone. Here, at least, game makers can self-produce and release games to the market without the current logistical and production restraints of the cartridge-based gaming world. I fear for the Nintendo DS's survivability. For as many things as the Sony PSP got wrong, their recent switch to digital distribution is right. They just came to it too late - no one wants to re-buy games they already own.

The handheld gaming world is changing, and I hope that Nintendo helps lead that transition. I'd like to see a similar amount of fun DS learning games on the 3DS, but, by sticking with cartridge-based production, they're hurting their customers, smaller game producers, and ultimately, themselves.

Of course, in the meantime, we have some amazing games coming out. And the pre-existing DS learning game library is formidable, fairly deep, and has plenty of hidden gems. Nintendo needs to reevaluate its cartridge-based gaming platform for its upcoming Nintendo 3DS, lest they lose yet more ground to other handheld devices.

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William is a parent and a New York straphanger. His kid is already on the way to becoming a gamer who sometimes needs a little "gentle encouragement" to play his Nintendo DS learning game, even the ones the little guy picked out, himself. William misses the days of Sonic and Mario when they'd only go from left-to-right, rather than 360 degrees.

Planning Your Bridal Wedding Shower Games

There are plenty of details to consider when planning a bridal shower. Some of these considerations include, who will throw the bridal shower, when will the bridal shower be held, who will be invited to the wedding shower, how do you choose a theme for the shower and what type of menu will be served. The bridal shower is a chance for the women in the bride's life to honor her upcoming nuptials and give her a few useful gifts for starting her new household. While there are no clear cut answers to any of these questions this article will outline the more traditional answers to these questions and will also include some variations on traditional ideas.

Deciding who will throw the bridal shower for the bride is the first thing to consider. Traditionally the maid of honor hosts the bridal shower with the assistance of the bridesmaids. However, in recent years it has become increasingly popular for others to be involved in planning the bridal and it is not unheard of for a bride to have multiple bridal showers. For example the mother of the bride may throw a bridal shower for the wedding party and the women in the family while the maid of honor may throw a shower that includes friends of the bride and the bride's co-worker may also throw her a shower in the office.

Timing is also an important factor to consider when planning a bridal shower. The rule of thumb is that the bridal shower should be held relatively close to the wedding date but not too close that it begins to infringe on the bride's wedding preparations. For this reason it is not appropriate to hold the bridal shower less than two weeks before the wedding date. However, it is also not appropriate to hold the wedding shower very early in the engagement before the couple has had the opportunity to create their registry. In general the bridal shower should be held as early as two months before the wedding date but not later than 2 weeks before the wedding date.

A crucial element to planning a bridal shower is drafting up the guest list. While it is not obligatory to invite every woman on the guest list, it is appropriate to invite all of the bride's female relatives as well as her close female friends. If the maid of honor and the mother are hosting separate bridal showers they may want to coordinate to ensure that they do not have overlapping guests. Care should be taken to avoid inviting anyone to the shower that has not been invited to the wedding. Also, there has been an increasing trend where the bride and groom participate and the showers are co-ed. While these showers don't follow tradition they can be a way for the groom to share in the fun with his friends as well.

The theme of a bridal shower is another planning aspect that should receive careful consideration. It is important to choose a theme that reflects the personality of the bride. For example throwing a lingerie party for a shy bride may not be appropriate but throwing a beach themed bridal shower for a surfer may be a good idea. The theme of the party is important because it can affect items such as decorations, favors and games. When choosing a theme for a bridal shower, it is important to choose a theme based on the taste of the bride and not the taste of the hostess.

The traditional menu for a bridal shower calls for light hors devours that can be eaten in a cocktail hour type setting. However, when planning a bridal shower the hostess is free to choose whatever menu she wishes. It could be either an elaborate sit down dinner for a shower that includes the elderly relatives of the bride, a barbeque for a shower that includes the groom and his friends or even a night at a fancy restaurant for shower that is thrown by the bridesmaids and includes friends of the bride.

Planning a bridal shower can see daunting because there are so many options but it is important to remember that you are not bound by traditions and are free to choose any theme, menu and location that the bride will enjoy. The key to planning a great bridal shower is to keep the bride's taste in mind during the planning effort.

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New Kinect Games March 2011

Here are some of the new Kinect games released in March 2011.

Yoostar 2 is a game where you can act in your favorite movie in the luxury of your own living room. If you have made a good performance you can save and share this with your friends on Facebook, Xbox Live and other social portals.

Yoostar 2 has 50 movies and 10 Hollywood sets, with 20 video backgrounds, which is a pretty good assortment of sets. Here are just some of the more popular movies which you can act are The Hangover, Tropic Thunder, Meet The Fockers, 300 and Kick Ass; Modern classics like "Forrest Gump","The Godfather" " The Gladiator","Top Gun" and "Rocky"; All-time classics like "Casablanca," and "The Wizard of Oz"; " The Italian Job" Popular TV shows such as " Star Trek", " Mad Men", and "CSI". You can act like some of the famous actors and actresses like Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Gerard Butler, Cameron Diaz, Arnold Schwarzenegger and lots more. So if you like acting or enjoy movies this is a game for you to consider.

Fantastic Pets was the next Kinect game released in March 2011. A Kinect game for the kids, that lets you collect and interact with pets, let your kids' imagination go wild. You start with four animals a horse, lizard, dog and cat then let your imagination go wild and let these animals lose and they become dragons or unicorn. You can talk to your pet and give them commands; this is where the virtual and real worlds connect.

Get Fit with Mel B was suppose to be released in March but now has been delayed until December. This is going to be a little more than fitness and exercise game. There is over 200 exercises to choose from and a personal nutrition program including 6 different meal plans and 140 recipes. There are also easy to follow videos and shopping lists. When you are dieting and exercising it is also very important to write down what you eat and how you have exercised that day and you can easily load this into your Xbox Kinect controller. With the Xbox Kinect technology you can interact with other people that have this game and you can inspire and support each other, by joining the online community. This Kinect games seems complete and a lot of thought has gone into the details. So if you are looking at a really good exercise and nutrition program this is worth a look at.

Please check out the videos and previews of these three new Kinect games for March 2011 at Newest Kinect Games List

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For all your latest Kinect games information please get my Kinect Newsletter and I will keep you up to date with all the Xbox 360 Kinect news.

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Max Steel Games

When you hear this term Max Steel games, what is the image which comes to mind? Definitely not some board game because this is about some gungho swashbucking action hero and science fiction superhero so I do not think when I talk about such games it is about playing monopoly or risk. So when I talk about these games, I am talking about real life shooting games using Max Steel toys!

That is right! Though there are not many such toys available right now, I can tell you that with the latest upcoming movie on this superhero coming up, I am sure that there would be more interest in this science fiction character as well as all the toys and games that come with him. Currently I have only managed to find a few action figures and toys of Max. Sadly if you want to play any max steel games, there is only one max steel toy gun available. This is the 5 in 1 multi gear N-tek blaster. The cool thing about his gun is that it really is multi purpose and 5 in 1! Do you know that this toy package contains a target scope to allow you to see your enemies far? A mini blaster gun that can be detached from the main big blaster so that you can actually have two blasters as one pack? How about a knife to knife your enemies when you have run out of ammo? Or the chainsaw to give your enemies an agonising death! I am not asking you to do the Texas chainsaw massacre here and I do not think Max would want to cut up his enemies into so many different parts! Not to forget mentioning the 5 discs that are included as ammo for your blaster!

Well talking about this cool blaster really makes me want this movie to come earlier. Seriously is it being filmed right now because I really cannot stand waiting for it anymore! 2010 is here yet time is passing so slow! Hopefully when the movie comes, there would be more Max Steel games for us to play. Not to forget wishing that you can have some really gorgeous and sexy handsome men like Taylor Lautner to play with. That of course is another different story that can only happen in another different era. In my dreams that is!

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Well do not despair as you can always get yourself a part of Max Steel from my blog which will not only sell Max Steel games but also other cool stuff like toys and action figures. Remember that cool 5 in 1 blaster that I was talking about? Check out my blog to see where you can buy this cool Max Steel toy. You would not be disappointed.

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Make a Fortune With Free Wheel of Fortune Online Games

Can free Wheel of Fortune Online Games become a viable money-making opportunity for niche marketing investors? The answer is yes. Even though these clever, interactive fortune-telling games are free to users, they still bring traffic to websites all over the Internet. In the world of web marketing and promotion, these fun online games entice readers to click and visit websites that also offer paid advertising, and other products that require a payment or monthly subscription fee.

You can find the best free games by searching the Internet and trying them out. A great wheel of fortune game may give some clues about the future...including glimpses into a person's upcoming triumphs, challenges, and goals. For this reason, many people with questions about their lives seek out Wheel of Fortune games they can use for free. Once they arrive at a site, they become fascinated by in-depth reports and other website features. Thus begins the process of building loyalty between the visitor and the website brand. Once this has been established, it's easy to make money and keep traffic high enough to interest advertisers.

If you want to invest online, you may find that websites featuring psychics or astrologers have the best free wheel of fortune games. These types of online retailers specialize in giving visitors a sense of what is going to happen...the degree of success of a website often rests with the quality of the fortune-teller's work. The ability to write articulate horoscopes and answers to queries will also affect the viability of a website. If games and other features satisfy the client's need for detail, they will come back again and again - and investing will be a sound strategy.

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Online Naruto Games

Among many Japanese Manga series, Naruto is one of the most widely read and watched episode throughout the whole world. Its story is based on a ninja named Uzumaki Naruto, whose strong aspire is to become the leader of the village, Hokage. Due to its popularity and strong story line, it has reached out to generation of fan group, including children regardless of gender and their favors. Even some adults like this anime series thus joining online community talking about its characters, upcoming episodes and playing Online Naruto Games as well.

There are few sites that offer this type of free online Naruto games, which is basically running online website therefore no need to download or install anything on the user's computer. So called flash game, its simple and easy design and active function is good enough to attract many visitors and they always enjoy playing it online for free. Also it is safe to be played at any children's computer with most characters are already introduced to them via television series. Unlike any other flash games which tend to be violent by its nature, which sometimes include extensive actions and visual effect, these Naruto games are pretty well designed and won't hurt player's eye.

Another good thing about these games is that it encourages players with positive mind and teamwork environment. For example, in Naruto Star Student game, Sasuke and Sakura must escort Tazuna safely to his home in the land of waves. But they have to cooperate to get through opponent in their way. Players can select one's own character and let the journey starts. In other games such as Naruto Dating games and Naruto Olympics Game, players can experience other great features of flash function without having to use joystick or complex controller.

These games are loved by all genders alike, especially due to many unique characters such as Sasori, Sakura, Gaara, Hinata and Tenten. Besides these female characters, there are popular male characters such as Hidan, Itachi, Pain, Rock Lee, Sasuke and the main Naruto. They all have their own skills when it comes to battle, and it is often discussed among group of fans on the online community.

Check out Online Naruto Games for various flash games and up-to-date information about Naruto episodes, pictures and wallpapers.

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James L Kirkland is a big fan of Naruto animie series, Naruto Pictures and would like to share information with other online users.

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PC Dress Up Games With Your Kid's Favorite Virtual Dolls

Little boys always prefer to have great looking toys, saying, super heroes, while girls like sweet Barbie or Bratz dolls, specifically those Barbies that they are able to design an outfits for by dressing them or creating makeover for them. This behaviour didn't change with the invention of the web.

The most beloved doll by everybody is of course Barbie. The style of this popular doll hasn't been changed since 70's, however the wide variety of accessories, e.g. shoes, make this doll ready for any occasion.

Barbie doll can be quickly found in any toy store, and this doll is easily recognized by kids. Along with the Barbie or Bratz dolly, you and your girls can easily find some other wonderful toys that will make tour doll's world even more attractive. Each princess needs a castle, the same is with Barbie doll; you and other players can find a toy house specially for your doll with a garage for a beautiful black car and a yacht, so that you and your girls should never get tired.

The basic doll remains the same, she comes with different outfits, in such case you and your little girls can choose her own style, so that Barbie will be pretty and ready for any occasion. Many of such uniform clothes include, just as an example, a formal gown which makes sure that the attention is focused on her.

If you and your girl like Barbie and you also like surfing the World Wide Web, you may now enjoy online fashion games with your beautiful dolly. This can be really funny and simple to play. Sweet Barbie or Bratz doll might be dressed with the clothes you and your kid select with a simple drag and drop method. Of course you know that purchasing a doll and accessories for it can often cost a pretty penny, these web virtual character games are in most cases free of charge without reducing the entertainment level.

Fashion games are various and such games may even include makeover. Yes, you and other players can now use make up on your dolly to make her beautiful. You and your kid can pick from various lipstick shades.

You and other gamers probably think that many of these dress up and makeover games can't be useful for your daughter; if so, you are wrong. Fashion and makeup games can help you and your daughter improve a sense of fashion that can be applied when she is going on a date, also remember that it will be really funny for your child to experiment with different makeup styles in the web, on a virtual face, rather than on herself.

Barbie doll is a known doll and and it is a favorite doll for most of little girls. Because of this popularity, you and your children may easily find traditional outfits for Barbie from various continents, or for special cases, like the upcoming Christmas season. You can make your little girl so happy with a red dress for her Barbie or Bratz doll, like you used to be at the times when you were playing such doll games.

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Use many dress up games and facts about game

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Online Killing Games That Supply Entertainment and Thrills

Killing Games include a lot of bloodshed caused due to gun shots, bomb explosions, and fights using knives, fists, and much more. Yet, all these actually make the online killing games more interesting and also more sought after games. Listed below are some of the killing games that you would be more than happy to check out.

Mass Mayhem 2: Mass Mayhem 2 is a great killing game where the gamer has to kill to earn points. The gamer can kill as people as possible with all the different weapons provided during the game. Some of the most effective and also the most devastating weapons available in this game are the rocket launchers and the suicide bombs.
Stab: One of the craziest online games available. In this game you are inside your own house. You need to look around for a knife and use it to stab as many people as possible. You will do good to stab everybody that you see on your screen. So start stabbing.
Mother Judgement: A fast paced game where you can use the A, D and W keys to move around and also jump if need be. You can also use the mouse in order to aim and fire at all the zombies who have gone insane and are a probable upcoming threat.
Suicide Kittens: Suicide is not a good idea in real life but in this online game it definitely is a great source of fun and entertainment. You have to try to shoot yourself by allowing the bullets to deflect according to your choice. However, don't be slow as you have been allotted a definite time to carry out your crazy business.
Desolation 2: In this action packed game you have to reach to the helicopter that is at the top of the building. It is not just climbing the stairs but combating and killing the scary creatures awaiting you as you go up. Be quick and also be alert.

Try out the above mentioned online killing games and check out for yourself the excitement factor and the thrill therein.

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The above killing games are my favorite games and you can play them at killing games.

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Playing Online Games for Profit

People of all ages enjoy playing online games because they like the idea of engaging in new virtual environments with other people around the country or around the world. Players that know each other can go on a getaway together and take their digital personas through the game.

Of course playing all day keeps these players away from work which may lead to the conclusion that gamers never gain anything productive out of gaming. However there are a number of players that also play some online games for the sake of profit.

It goes a lot deeper than simply playing casual games like SpongeBob SquarePants for the Wii. Playing certain online games can be serious business if you know the ins and outs of gaming in general. Here are some ways that you can get some profit out of your enjoyment.

Beta Testing

Video game developers continue to come up with new ideas on how people can interact and play with others. However, it is difficult to tell if gamers will really enjoy given the so many popular games that are already out. It is also hard to make a solid game that plays without bugs or does not have any unfair or cheap elements.

In order to come up with a more attractive package, developers release betas of their upcoming titles for others to try out. Basically, developers require these players not only to enjoy but to give feedback regarding any bugs or gameplay issues so they can take note and improve the game.

Gaming companies that are very serious in making a quality game may go as far as paying these testers making it one of the popular ways of getting profit for gaming.

Item Selling

Getting into beta testing is not easy since there will be so many interested beta testers and most developers only accept a handful. Fortunately, you can still profit from playing existing games that involve character creation and items.

Many of these games are MMORPGs where players can embark on a getaway adventure where players fight enemies and collect items along the way. Some of these items are very valuable and can only be obtained by very slim chances.

These items are often very powerful and give players a significant advantage in the game. Because of these rare properties, these items are in high demand and some people would go as far as paying for them. This is where item selling can be profitable. Just be sure to read the rules of the game because some games discourage selling virtual items for real money especially if it involves in-game currency.

Strategy Guide Making

While this is not a direct way to playing online games for profit, certain gamers just have fun by playing games online so they can come up with excellent strategies to help other players. This may not be a reliable method since there are many guides that are available for free.

But if you believe that you are an expert player of a very popular online game that has lots of users, you may be able to sell a few copies of a strategy guide authored by you if you commit some time to make one. World of Warcraft is a perfect example of a game that has so many commercial strategy guides online.

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Buccah is a research student who enjoys article writing and blogging in his spare time. http://www.usafootballyearbook.com

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Phenomenal Action Games in China

China has become home to non conventional games like the X-Games since the advent of the Olympics. While the traditional Chinese martial arts is still popular, the induction of the adrenaline inducing X-Games has left its mark. The country now hosts Action Games Sports Tours on a regular basis which sees huge participation. The popularity can clearly be witnessed by the fact that the country is now home to the world's biggest skating park. The interesting fact of the situation is that these adventure sports evolved in the country after the sponsors found that there was a huge market to sell their products in.

Learning Chinese martial arts may not be the only option for sport-lovers visiting China. Being the host of the Olympic Games, the country has made way for non-traditional sports to make sure that visitors from around the globe feel completely at home when on the China tour. Now the world's largest skate park has been built in Shanghai. Spanning an area of 44,936 sq. ft the SMP Skate Parkhouses several skating rinks inside it. There is everything here that a skater can want. There are flat banks, quarter pipes, hips, hand rails, wall rides and everything else that one would be looking for. This skate park has become a part of the Mandarin culture and the pro and neo skaters can be found honing their skills here.

There is an annual competition called the "The Showdown" that is held there. A 12,300 square foot viewing deck and plaza that allows an enormous crowd to gather and watch the ongoing fun.

The initiation of the X games and their rising popularity in China, surprisingly has been a result of a number of businessmen seeking new business opportunities in sports. In 2006, a group of five Chinese businessmen visited NBC Sports in their quest for new business opportunities in the light of the upcoming Beijing Olympics. They saw a presentation from Dew Action Sports Tour and decided to introduce and promote action sports in China. As a result in August 2007 Xingyi cut a deal with NBC to bring Action Sports Tour to Beijing. This not only popularized the games that did not receive recognition in China earlier but also offered the companies offering sports accessories an opportunity to promote their products and consequently the Action Games in China.

X-Games, Action Sports Tour and Action Sports Association held events in the Mandarin territory in 2008 and there has been no turning back ever since. An interesting fact to note is that; in the U.S. the "sport" came first and the industry got built around them whereas in China it has been the exact opposite. It was only after the industry established itself that the games grew around it. This has all gone so well that the world's largest skating park is now a rage in the country.

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MindsAbroad is your informed counselor for study abroad language programs in China. Learn Mandarin Chinese in China and enrich your cross-cultural experience. For more posts and information on Chinese language schools in Kunming, China visit http://www.mindsabroad.com

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