...Introducing Sackboy! The Latest Computer Game Character

I just read an article in The Sun about the new craze in computer games, and it is a British creation called "Sackboy". Apparently he is going to be bigger than Super Mario!

Sackboy is about to become a worldwide celebrity and Sony is aiming to make him their mascot of the 00's. Well, since Mario has managed to become a household name, i guess it is entirely feasible that this new character could achieve the same fame. The thing is, we know and love Mario, with many of us growing up with him. He has had years and years worth of successful marketing pumped into him and he is quite a force to be reckoned with these days. If Mario is starring in a computer game, we all know it is going to be a hit.

What i don't believe, however, is that Mario can be replaced. Super Mario is Nintendo's brainchild and i am curious to know how Sony think they can bring Sackboy along and make everyone flock to buy a Sony game. When the Nintendo Wii came out, i would imagine Sony had to tale a backseat and re-think their console options. The success of the Wii really put the PS3 to shade, and while Sony have a perfectly good PS3 console with great games, they don't have the Wii's versatility, with the first wireless game controller.

So, with Sackboy coming along, is Sony going to get the success they think? Sony reportedly believe that every kid in the world will want their own virtual Sackboy within a few months. This may be a case of very clever marketing, but a few months? Seriously? Mario has been the product of years and years of marketing-driven love and attention, and Sony suddenly think they can bring along Sackboy to steal the show? I'm not so sure.

So what does Sackboy do?

Sackboy starts off as "naked" and players can then customise him in different clothes. So is it like the Sims? Well, no - far from it - but it is quite unique gameplay. Sackboy can then go and meet friends online and create their own worlds or play in ones created by other people. Also, Sony haven't forgotten about the female gamers, because there is going to be a Sackboy for the girls too! Presumably it will be called "Sackgirl"...

Sackboy is going to be unleashed next month in the PS3 game "Little Big Planet" and it is fair to say there is some anticipation for this game...apparently it is a cross between platform gaming and a sort of social networking site like MySpace.

I am going to keep my eye on this Nintendo vs Sony character war...

Anti-Virus Software & How To Stop Hackers

With all the anti-virus software options available today, it might be difficult to know where to start.

I remember in the 1990s when we didn't really think twice about anti-virus software, and for years i had a computer with no anti-virus protection. Nothing happened to my computer because of it, and everything was fine. However, as time has progressed, there is now a great need for all of us to have some kind of anti-virus software on our computers.

Why?

Well, there are so many forms of Internet viruses floating around cyberspace all the time, so you never know what you may accidentally download onto your computer when you click on - what you think - is a perfectly safe website. My anti virus software, McAfee, has Site Advisor, which tells me which sites have been checked by McAfee prior to me clicking on it in Google results. This lets me know if McAffee consider it 'safe' and i know that when i click on it i won't be getting any adware or spyware on my computer.

However, there are some people out in this world that love nothing better than to hack computers. It is a shame that people are still doing this, but i would imagine the situation will only get worse.

When my cousin was at University, he was telling me about how there were hackers located in the student Halls of Residence and some people's computers were corrupted. They all connected to the standard network provider at the Halls, and there was very little you could do if your computer got hacked into. My cousin had an anti-virus software package, but he didn't download the regular updates, therefore it did not stop him from getting his computer hacked into and he lost some important files, some of which were for his Dissertation.

So how do you stop hackers?

To stop hackers, you need to make sure you have up to date anti-virus software protection. Download the updates REGULARLY and do full computer scans on a weekly basis (minimum). Having a good anti-virus software program will help to keep Trojans, rootkits, worms etc (collectively known as MALWARE) out of your computer. Trojans allow hackers to take control of your computer and send spam and other harmful programs. Should you get one, a good anti-virus program knows how to quarantine and delete it without letting it cause damage.

The second important thing to do is ensure you have your firewall turned on. Windows comes with a firewall, which you can find out how to set up by going to the control panel and clicking on "Windows Firewall." There are also software and hardware firewalls which you can use, thus preventing people from hacking into your computer via USB ports etc.

Keeping your operating system up to date is important, because good hackers will know your computers vulnerability. Regular Windows updates are important. I think it is important to realise just how under threat any computer can be, and i know a few people that work with computers every day as part of their job, so they have the most up to date systems and anti-virus software. However, at home, they do not think it necessary to upgrade their computer or have any anti-virus protection, because they "don't use it very often". This is where it really is important to have your firewall turned on and also buy the latest virus protection software. An old Windows series computer (e.g Windows 98) might be of little use to you, but it is a hackers dream.

Finally, just be alert and aware of what computer issues there currently are. Don't be fooled by emails you get that you think are safe,as these could quite easily contain viruses. I get bombarded with spam phishing emails on a DAILY basis and it drives me insane. Emails from Paypal saying i have limited account access, that are actually not being sent from the Paypal company at all, and are designed to obtain my bank details etc. Thats the risk that comes with buying on eBay i guess.

There also other phishing emails, supposedly from banks, telling me i need to sort my account out. I don't even have an account with any of them, so i know they are spam emails and i never open them. Sometimes, they don't even get filtered into my Junk email folder, so then you really are at risk when they land in your Inbox, simply because you think they are safe.

I think it is really important to tell the older generation about all the potential computer threats out there, as i think it is safe to assume that many of them will not be aware of what threats there actually are. Warn them of opening suspicious emails and help them get sorted with the best anti-virus software available.

These are just a few steps we can take in helping to protect our love of going online.

Computer Games Software - The Love Of Guitar Hero

"Wow! Guitar Hero is so cool", remarked my young cousin as he was strumming away on the plastic replica guitar, feeling pretty pleased with himself as he was hitting all the correct notes. I have to admit, Guitar Hero is one of the coolest games around.

Before Guitar Hero, there wasn't anything really like it. There were music based computer games, but nothing where you actually got a guitar to play with! That's what helped make Guitar Hero very cool in a very short time. Yes, it is expensive, but everyone i have spoken to thinks it is well worth it!

Even complete guitar novices can do well at this game; there's no intricate finger plucking or anything, you just follow what's on screen and go with the flow. Perfect for kids, mums and dads. The only thing is, liking rock music is a bit of a must! Since all the songs vary from classic rock tunes to edgy, raw anthems, getting into the rhythm of that is key in appreciating the game. So, if you have a dad that listens to 1950s jive, obviously he's not the right person to ask to play the game with you. Maybe Guitar Hero is best suited to the younger generation? Its your call.

Rock music has really taken off in the last few years, so some very clever marketing has ensured the makers of guitar hero were totally accurate with their timing when they decided to bring the game out. It became an instant hit and is loved by gamers all over the world.

For me, Guitar Hero is all about the role playing. Imagining yourself as the next big rock star really makes this game exciting. Computer games software is developing all the time, and Guitar Hero is clearly ahead of its league.

Computer Game Software: The Classics

I recently found a Yahoo! games article conveniently telling us the Top 100 computer software games of all time. Great stuff - but do we agree?

The first thing i noticed is that Tetris is in there, which is a superb game. It's so good that many mobile phones have it as part of their built in games these days (except mine!).

There's also Mario in the list (and rightly so!), everyone's favourite little red-capped hero. Mario has covered all computer ground and if you have a Nintendo Wii then i suggest you purchase Mario Kart to add to your collection (if you haven't already).

Computer game software has really advanced since the early days. If you decided to play Theme Hospital on your PC now, you might be a bit shocked at the graphics quality. But then lets remember how these retro games are coming back into fashion. If you ever had Alex Kidd on the Mater System then you will remember how great this game was and i know lots of people who have gone up into the loft and brought down their old computer consoles and games so they can reminisce and play them once again.

Does anyone remember the following retro games on the Master System?

• The Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World
• Wonderboy III The Dragon's Trap
• Alien Storm
• Cyborg Hunter
• Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck
• Dragon Crystal
• Line Of Fire
• Penguin Land
  
  
  

Spore - Computer Game Software

Okay, so i was flicking around the TV channels the other day and an advert came on for Spore, the hot new computer game software. It looks amazing! So i decided to read up about Spore and see if it really does live up to the hype.

Firstly, i heard about all the technical problems that have occurred with the software, and how European players can't get access to the online element of the game. EA Games have reportedly received a 'stream of complaints'. (Source: The Telegraph Online)

In addition to the failing online element, some users are said to have reported repeated game crashing after a few hours of play.

Things don't look good.

That is, until you consider that this new computer game software is supposed to follow in the footsteps of The Sims, a worldwide smash that EA Games is clearly aiming to recreate.

If EA Games could give us The Sims, then you would think they would get Spore right before it is released, knowing how many PC gamers have anticipated the release of this game.

Another problem facing EA is the limited registration availability. Users can only re-install the game twice, so if you have any computer problems, you might find yourself in a bit of a quandary and feel more than just a little bit 'ripped off'. Should a user need to re-install the game again then they have to contact EA customer services to explain the situation and almost beg for remorse.

On the upside, Spore does look like a great game, allowing you to control the evolution of species. If you liked controlling The Sims and their every movement, then controlling the evolution of species is just taking it back to basics, and the graphics look excellent.

Would you invest in it?

I certainly would, and i would imagine the online problem that users are experiencing is short -term, so when i know this is all sorted i think i may well be heading down to the shops and purchasing a copy.

Computer Software Training - Interested?

If you feel like your computer software knowledge is letting you down, then why not invest in a training course to iron out those concerns.

It can be intimidating when you work on a computer on a daily basis and you're not really sure about the software side of things. You may feel uneducated, or at worst, not good enough. These days, there is no need to feel like you're in the dark, since there are so many courses you can go on to fill that void of knowledge about computer software.

Advent offers some great computer software training and you can study in your own time, around work commitments.

Or, if you just want some quick on-the-spot help, do a Google search for 'online computer software tutorial' and see what it throws up. An online tutorial is a great way of learning more about your chosen field step-by-step. My mum did one a while back, for MS Office. She was unsure about a few Excel things and upon completion of the tutorial she felt much better and more knowledgeable.

You can do an online tutorial in the comfort of your own home where no-one has to know you're swotting up! Even the pros need a bit of guidance sometimes, so go for it and see what happens.

VTC.com provides some great tutorials for computer geeks everywhere. Some video tutorials cost, but i reckon it's worth it. At the moment they have 70,000 Video Tutorials, 14,250 of which are free.

Computer Software Products

I was browsing the Internet last week looking for some suitable computer software products for my friend's little girl. She is 9 years old and loves being on the computer so i wanted to get her something really exciting. I found 'Scooby Doo - The Glowing Bug Man' which i thought i would be perfect, and it's also considered to be 'educational'.



So, i got it all wrapped up and gave it to her last Saturday for her birthday. She loves it! Scooby Doo is a bit of an "old-hand" at being a favourite with kids, since he has been around since the 1960's. I had been a bit sceptical about managing to find a decent software product for a 9 year old, but it all turned out okay and i would recommend this product to any parent for their child!



Aside from gaming software for your PC, there are of course the desired additions that you may need to invest in. For example, anti-virus software is essential in ensuring your computer stays safe from hackers and viruses. I have tried many computer software products and the best anti-virus name i have found so far is McAffee. My friend likes AVG though, and if you are on a tight budget, AVG should do the trick for free, although it won't obviously provide what a paid-for application can.