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Video Game Consoles (1980-1982)

Monday, April 5, 2010

Vectrex

Vectrex
Released in 1982
The Vectrex is an 8-bit video game console developed by General Consumer Electric (GCE) and later bought by Milton Bradley Company. The Vectrex is unique in that it utilized vector graphics drawn on a monitor that was integrated in the console; no other console before or after the Vectrex had a comparable configuration, and no other non-portable game console had a monitor of its own (integrated). It was released in November 1982 at a retail price of $199. As the video game market declined and then crashed, the Vectrex exited the market in early 1984.

Unlike other video game consoles which connected to TVs to display raster graphics, the Vectrex included its own monitor which displayed vector graphics. The monochrome Vectrex used overlays to give the illusion of color, and also to reduce the severity of flickering caused by the vector monitor. At the time many of the most popular arcade games used vector displays, and GCE was looking to set themselves apart from the pack by selling high-quality versions of games like Space Wars and Armor Attack. The system even contained a built in game, the Asteroids-like Minestorm.



Atari 5200

Atari 5200
Released in 1982
The Atari 5200 is a video game console introduced in 1982 by Atari. It was created to compete with the Mattel Intellivision, but it also competed with the Colecovision shortly after the 5200's release. In some ways, it was both technologically superior and more cost efficient than any console available at that time.

The Atari 5200 was in essence an Atari 400 computer without a keyboard. This made for a powerful, proven design which Atari could quickly bring to market. The system featured many innovations like the first automatic TV switch box, allowing it to automatically switch from regular TV viewing to the game system signal when the system was activated.

The initial release of the system featured four controller ports, where all other systems of the day had only two ports. The system also featured a revolutionary new controller with an analog joystick, numeric keypad, two fire buttons on both sides of the controller and game function keys for Start, Pause, and Reset.



Emerson Arcadia 2001

Emerson Arcadia 2001
Released in 1982
In 1982, the computer electronics company, Emerson, jumped into the gaming world. They released the Arcadia 2001, a small cartridge-based system.The Arcadia 2001 controllers are similar in design to the Intellivison or Colecovision, with a numeric keypad, a joystick, and two side buttons.

Emerson Arcadia 2001 was supposed to be the Atari 2600 killer. A great console with great games. Unfortunately they fell prey to complete lack of third party development, and the lack of Arcade game titles. Similar to other consoles before it, they were forced to release arcade clones.

The system didn't grasp much attention, and soon found it's way to the bargain bin at the cost of $99. The release of the Colecovision months later sealed the Arcadia's fate. The Emerson Arcadia 2001 died after only a year and a half with 35 game releases. Most never recall it existed.



Colecovision

Colecovision
Released in 1982
The Colecovision is Coleco's third generation video game console, released in August 1982. It offered arcade-like graphics and controllers, and an initial catalog of 12 titles, with 10 more promised titles on the way. All told, approximately 170 titles were released on plug-in cartridges during its lifetime. The controller was a flat joystick, two side buttons, and a number-pad, which allowed the user to put inserts for customized buttons. The majority of titles in its catalog were conversions from coin-operated arcade games. The ColecoVision introduced two new concepts to the home video game industry - the ability to expand the hardware system, and the ability to play other video game system games.

By Christmas of 1982, Coleco had sold 500,000 units, mainly on the strength of its bundled games. While Atari's fortune had risen on the popularity of Space Invaders, Colecovision was the first console to feature the hit Donkey Kong, by Nintendo. The Colecovision's main competitor in the next-generation console space was the arguably more advanced but less commercially successful Atari 5200.



Coleco Gemini

Coleco Gemini
Released in 1982
In 1982, Coleco released Expansion Module #1 for its Colecovision video game system using off-the-shelf components. Atari sued Coleco for patent infringement, however a court ruled that since Coleco used off-the-shelf components and not the same components found inside an Atari 2600, the Expansion Module #1 did not infringe on Atari's patents for the 2600. With this ruling, Coleco decided to make a stand-alone Atari 2600 clone and named it the Gemini.

The main difference between the Coleco Gemini and the Atari 2600 is the controller design. The Coleco Gemini controllers featured an 8-way joystick and a 270-degree paddle on the same controller (the joystick was at the top of the controller, and the paddle was at the bottom of the controller). Unfortunately, if one wanted to play the Atari 2600 game Warlords in 4 player mode, 2 sets of Atari-made paddles were required, and one set of Atari-made paddles was required for 2 player paddle games.



Mattel Intellivision II

Mattel Intellivision II
Released in 1982
Shortly after the Intellivision I released nationwide in the United States, Mattel followed up with the new updated Intellivision II unit in 1982. The product retailed for $99.99 USD and showed a few marked improvements. In order to cut costs Mattel featured 16 position removable joysticks on their 'new' system. A LED light was implemented to show owners when the system was on or off, since this was a difficulty with the Intellivision I unit. The power button functioned also as a reset switch and must be held for 5 seconds before the power will shut off, otherwise just pressing it will reset the system.

If the game was not in play the screen would go dark after five minutes in order to prevent burn in. To further reduce burn in, the Intellivision II Owner's Manual states that you should play the system using low contrast levels on your TV anyhow. To set the game on pause, you must simultaneously press 1 + 9 on the control pad. The system caused problems when running certain Coleco brand games such as Donkey Kong, Mouse Trap, and Carnival.
READ MORE - Video Game Consoles (1980-1982)

Video Game Consoles (1990-1993)

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Sega Master System II

Sega Master System II
Released in 1990
In 1990, Sega was having success with its Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis and as a result took back the rights from Tonka for the SMS. They designed the Sega Master System II, a newer console which was smaller and sleeker but which, to keep production costs low, lacked the reset button and card slot of the original. Sega did everything in its power to market the system, but nothing came out of it.

By 1992, the Master System's sales were virtually nonexistent in North America and production ceased. Sales were poor in Japan as well, due to the dominance of the main competitor from Nintendo, the Nintendo Family Computer.

The Sega Master System is still being produced in Brazil. The latest version is the "Master System III Collection". It uses the same design as the North American Master System II (Master System III in Brazil), but is white and comes in two versions: one with 74 games built-in and another with 105 games built-in on an internal ROM. But in Brazil it's hard to find the 3D Goggles, the Light Phaser Pistol and even the cartridge, leaving Brazilians only with the built-in games.



SNK NEO-GEO (AES)

SNK NEO-GEO (AES)
Released in 1990
Shin Nihon Kikaku (SNK) first ventured into the arcade market in 1989 and was successful with its unique 2D arcade machine, which was powered by an impressive custom graphics processor, 68000 and Z80 CPUs and offered 330Mbit ROM storage space. This arcade version was known as MVS, or Multi-Video Output and allowed 1 of 6 games to be loaded at any time. The Neo Geo AES (Advanced Entertainment System) was a home version of the Neo Geo MVS and played the exact same games as the ones in the arcades. In fact, even memory cards could be switched between the two, allowing players to save their progress on one machine and load it on the other.

The major weakness of the Neo Geo AES was the high price tag on the cartridges. Most games sold for about $200! The console itself was also fairly expensive, retailing at $650. Its arcade-style joystick and excellent arcade ports made it a very attractive console. A Multi-Link cable was released for the Neo Geo AES that allowed two Neo Geos to be connected together and be played on two separate televisions.



Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
Released in 1991
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System was Nintendo's second home console, following the Nintendo Entertainment System (often abbreviated to NES, released as the Famicom in Japan). Whereas the earlier system had struggled in Europe and large parts of Asia the SNES proved to be a global success, albeit one that could not match its predecessor's popularity in South East Asia and North America - due in part to increased competition from Sega's Mega Drive console (released in North America as the Genesis). Despite its relatively late start, the SNES became the best selling console of the 16-bit era but only after its competitor Sega had pulled out of the 16-bit market to focus on its 32-bit next generation console.

Nintendo released the Super Nintendo Entertainment System which initially sold for a price of $200. The North American package included the game Super Mario World. The SNES was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland in April 1992 for £150, with a German release following a few weeks later. The PAL versions of the console looked identical to the Japanese Super Famicom, except for labelling.



NEC TurboDuo

NEC TurboDuo
Released in 1992
In 1992 TTi (Turbo Technologies Inc.) released the TurboDuo, the North American version of the Japanese Duo. The system combined the TurboGrafx-16 and an enhanced version of the CD-ROM drive (the "Super CD-ROM²") into a single unit. The system could play audio CDs, CD+Gs, CD-ROM2 and Super CD games as well as standard HuCards. The Super System Card required for some games when using the original CD add-on as well as some of the Japanese variants of the TurboGrafx was built in to the Duo rather than requiring the card to be inserted at all times when playing CD games. The original pack-in for the Turbo Duo included the system, one control pad, an AC adapter, RCA cables, Ys book I & II a CD-ROM2 title, a Super CD disc including Bonk's Adventure, Bonk's Revenge, Gates of Thunder and a secret version of Bomberman accessible via an easter egg. The system was also packaged with one random HuCard game which varied from system to system (note: Actually, Dungeon Explorer was the original HuCard pack-in for TurboDuo, although many titles were eventually used, such as IREM's Ninja Spirit and NAMCO's Final Lap Twin and then eventually a random pick).



Sega CD for Genesis

Sega CD for Genesis
Released in 1992
The Sega CD had been announced at the Chicago CES on November 1992. Early reports had suggested that hardware in the system would allow it to display more on screen colors (from a larger palette) than the Sega Genesis or the Super Nintendo, which was an important technical concern for consumers.

In the end, the Sega CD failed to convince North American gamers, mostly due to the cost of the console, and the lack of any hardware advancements. There just was not enough value for the price. Moreover, the game experience was little improved.

The single speed CD drive added load times to all games, and the 64-color graphics and underpowered processor (for video rendering) made full-motion games look terrible. One particularly infamous example of this came in the form of the Mortal Kombat CD, which was widely criticized due to certain moves, particularly the games popular "fatalities", that would not perform until after a notable lag between the execution of the move and its actual on screen animation.



Panasonic 3DO Interactive

Panasonic 3DO Interactive
Released in 1993
The 3DO was a concept. "Create the blueprints for a next-generation, 32-bit, do-it-all, set-top system that is fully upgradeable and license the actual hardware manufacturing to some of the world's largest electronics manufacturers." That's the 3DO. Trip Hawkins, founder of the 3DO company, joined forces with RJ Mical and Dave Needle to create the most innovative system of the '90s. The 3DO was originally designed to be the next step in home entertainment: Audi-o, vide-o, 3D-O. The creators hoped it would become as common as the VCR and as fun and entertaining as a TV, VCR, CD player, video game system and computer combined. The idea was sound. Unfortunately, the execution of the idea was not.

Many companies obtained licenses to produce 3DO systems, including Goldstar, Sanyo, Samsung, AT&T, Creative Labs and the world's largest electronics company, Matsushita/Panasonic. With the idea that the 3DO was to become a multi functional part of everyone's home entertainment centers, the unit was released in 1993 with an MSRP of $700.



Atari Jaguar

Atari Jaguar
Released in 1993
Competing with Sega and Nintendo's 16-bit consoles, the Jaguar was said to be 64-bit. Back then, bit width was a big deal in the gaming industry, just as polygon-pushing power is today. The Jaguar did not work off of a solitary 64-bit processor, but instead it had a collection of processors with bus widths ranging from 16 to 64 bits. The bit width of the Jaguar is still a source of considerable debate today, but consensus exists among those who are familiar with the system hardware that, because Jaguar's main data bus and some of the processors are 64-bit, the entire system can be considered 64 bit. It would otherwise be considered a 32-bit console.

Nonetheless, it was technically superior to the leading 16-bit consoles at the time. Unfortunately, this last ditch effort by Atari to find room in the console market failed. A relatively small number of games were developed for the system, but Atari pulled the plug altogether in 1996.



Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Model 2

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Model 2
Released in 1993
In 1993, Nintendo released a top loading NES model 2. This newer model was scaled down to nearly half the size of the original. The case was a sleeker design (Like a smoother Famicom). The cartridge port was more stable, and used eject & power buttons similar to it's successor the SuperNES. Even the controller had the "bone-like" shape of the SuperNES. This new model sold for $45. The cheaper price came at the loss of the original model's interface and A/V output ports. Nintendo dropped support for this new model a year later. Today, it's a collectors item.

Nintendo's success introduced some of the most interesting accessories and conversions. Who could forget the "Power Glove", and "Rob the Robot". Nintendo slapped "NES-like" hardware into an Arcade cabinet and released Nintendo Playchoice to arcades everywhere. In Japan they released a disk drive accessory that allowed gamers to download games from vending machines onto a disk.
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Saturday, April 3, 2010

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Video Game Consoles (1994-1995)

Sega Genesis 2

Sega Genesis 2
Released in 1994
The Sega Genesis 2 Unit was released in 1994 and was nearly the same as the Sega Genesis released in 1989. The new unit was absent of a headphone jack and volume control and used a non standard RF switch and AC adapter. The pack ins were an AC adapter, RF switch, controller, and the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 game.

The failures of the Sega CD and 32X, a lack of effective advertising, and disputes between Sega of America and Sega of Japan had taken their toll on the company. By 1994, Sega's market share had dropped from 65% to 35%, and the official announcements of newer, more powerful consoles, such as the Saturn, Playstation, and N64 signaled that the 16-bit era was drawing to a close. Interest in the Genesis suffered greatly as a result, compounding its already falling sales. In 1996, less than a year after the debut of their Saturn console, Sega quickly brought their participation in the 16-bit era to an end by discontinuing production of the Genesis and its associated accessories.



Sega CD for Genesis 2

Sega CD for Genesis 2
Released in 1994
The Sega Mega-CD is an add-on device for the Sega Mega Drive released in Europe, Australia, and Japan. The North American version is called the Sega CD. The device allows the user to both play CD audio discs and specially designed game CDs. It can also play CD+G discs.

The development of the Sega CD was top secret; game programmers didn't know what they were designing for until the Mega-CD was finally revealed at Tokyo Toy Show in Japan. The Sega Mega-CD in Japan was designed to compete with the PC Engine, which had a separate CD-ROM drive.

In the United States, the Sega CD was considered a failure due to its high price, low sales and general confusion with the Sega 32X, another Genesis peripheral offered. Due to Sega of America's lack of support for the Sega CD and 32X, many consumers lost their trust in Sega and it can be said that Sega never recovered from this, as the Saturn sold poorly and the Dreamcast, although considered a good effort on Sega's behalf, was unable to compete effectively with the PS2.



Sega Genesis 32x

Sega Genesis 32x
Released in 1994
The 32X hit the market in North America in November 1994, during the same month the Sega Saturn was released in Japan. Many industry insiders speculated that the 32X was doomed from the beginning as the Sega Saturn hardware was widely regarded as more powerful than the 32X and had the support of many Japanese third party software developers.

The Sega 32X can only be used in conjunction with a Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis system; it is plugged in where the cartridge bay is. Besides playing its own cartridges, it also acted as a passthrough for Genesis games so it would be a permanent attachment. The 32X came with 10 coupons and several spacers, so it would work with all versions of the Genesis.

Since this was an expensive add-on system, Sega decided to bundle in some rebate vouchers, which were difficult to take advantage of. Orders exceeded one million, but not enough were produced, and supply shortage problems arose.



SNK NEO-GEO CD

SNK NEO-GEO CD
Released in 1994
The Neo Geo CD is essentially the same hardware as the AES but with a CD drive instead of the cartridge slot. CD's are a lot cheaper to produce than cartridges and SNK passed this saving on to gamers with the Neo Geo CD.

Unfortunately, the CD drive is single speed and it takes a long time for games to load compared to cart based games that load instantly. The loading isn't too bad on level based games such as Metal Slug, but it can be really infuriating on fighting games when it needs to load every couple of minutes.



Sega CDX

Sega CDX
Released in 1994
The Multi-Mega or CDX was a 16-bit video game console released in 1994 for $399 USD, combining the Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in North America) and one of its add-ons, the Sega Mega-CD (Sega CD in North America), into a single compact unit as a final attempt by Sega to encourage consumer interest in its unpopular Mega-CD format. It was released under the name Multi-Mega in Europe, Genesis CDX in North America and Multi-Mega CDX in Brazil.

Overpriced and underselling due to lack of high quality Mega-CD games, and the anticipation of the Mega Drive's successor, the Sega Saturn, it was never well-supported by Sega, and died a quiet death. Its counterpart, the combined Mega Drive/32X console, the Sega Neptune, never went beyond the prototype stage.



Atari Jaguar CD

Atari Jaguar CD
Released in 1995
Late in it's life span, Atari released this long-promised CD-ROM unit. The device sat atop the Jaguar console, plugging into the cartridge slot, the physical design of the system sometimes compared to a toilet. The drive had its own cartridge slot to allow cartridge games to be played without removing the CD drive. There was a separate "Memory Track" cartridge for storing saved game position and high scores.

The Jaguar CD unit featured a double speed (2x) drive and built-in VLM (Virtual Light Machine) software. The VLM, which provided a sophisticated video light show when an audio CD was played in the machine, was as popular among buyers as the games themselves. Packaged with the drive were two games (Blue Lightning and Vid Grid), a music CD (Tempest 2000 soundtrack), and a Myst demo disc.

The drive was manufactured for Atari by Phillips in the United States. The initial shipment was 20,000 units. With the JT Storage reverse takeover looming just a few months away, it is possible that those 20,000 drives were the only units ever produced.



Sony PlayStation

Sony PlayStation
Released in 1995
Nintendo asked Sony to develop a CD-ROM add-on called "PlayStation" for the SNES. Because Sony wanted 25% of all profits Nintendo earned from sales of this PlayStation and all PlayStation games, after Sony revealed that they were developing it, Nintendo instead went to Philips. This caused Sony to consider abandoning their research, however instead they used what they had developed so far and made it into a full blown console. This led to Nintendo filing a lawsuit claiming breach of contract and attempted, in U.S. federal court, to obtain an injunction against the release of the PlayStation, on the grounds that Nintendo owned the name. The federal judge presiding over the case denied the injunction.

The PlayStation was launched in Japan on December 3, 1994, the USA on September 9, 1995 and Europe on September 29, 1995. In America, Sony enjoyed a very successful launch with titles of almost every genre including Toshinden, Twisted Metal, Warhawk, and Ridge Racer. Almost all of Sony's and Namco's launch titles went on to produce numerous sequels.



Panasonic 3DO FZ-10

Panasonic 3DO FZ-10
Released in 1995
The 3DO sported some very innovative features. The fact that it is a CD-based system gave developers nearly limitless space to store their games and programs, something cartridge-based systems lack. There was only one controller port. However, this wasn't a problem since extra controllers (up to 8) could be easily daisy-chained as each controller has its own controller port. The original Panasonic controllers have a built-in stereo headphone jack along with a volume control dial. The system has its own internal memory to save games and other information. It has 2 expansion ports which were to be used for future upgrades such as memory cards, modems, digital video cartridges and the M2 system upgrade.

There were many accessories for the 3DO, some of them standard (like game pads, wireless controllers and a light gun). Then there were more unique items like the mouse, steering wheel, flight stick and the Super Nintendo controller adapters which allowed the cheaper Super NES controllers to be used on the 3DO. However, there were even more impressive items available that truly allowed the 3DO to stand alone.



Sega Saturn

Sega Saturn
Released in 1995
Sega's Away Team worked for an entire two years exclusively to make certain that the Sega Saturn was launched with some of the world's best hardware and software. The 27-member Away Team comprises Sega employees from every aspect of hardware engineering, product development, and marketing. Their sole mission was to ensure that Sega Saturn's hardware and design met the precise needs of both the U.S. and Japanese markets.

In May 1995, Sega launched the Saturn in the USA, a full four months ahead of schedule. This was announced at that year's E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) where Sega representatives were engaged in a public relations battle with Sony. This surprise move resulted in very few sales, however. This was due largely to the $399 USD price of the system and the lack of available software at time of launch. Also, Sega chose to ship Saturn units only to four select retailers. This caused a great deal of animosity toward Sega from unselected companies, including Wal-Mart and KB Toys.
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Video Game Consoles (2001-2006)

Friday, April 2, 2010

Nintendo Game Cube

Nintendo Game Cube
Released in 2001
Unveiled during Spaceworld 2000, the Nintendo GameCube was widely anticipated by many who were shocked by Nintendo's decision to design the Nintendo 64 as a cartridge-based system. Physically shaped similar to a geometric cube, the outside casing of the Nintendo GameCube comes in a variety of colors, such as indigo, platinum, and black (also a limited edition Resident Evil 4 platinum and black game console).

The Nintendo GameCube uses a unique storage medium, the GameCube Optical Disc, a proprietary format based on Matsushita's optical-disc technology; the discs are approximately 8 centimeters (3 1/8 inches) in diameter (considerably smaller than the 12cm CDs or DVDs used in competitors' consoles), and the discs have a capacity of approximately 1.5 gigabytes. The disc is also read from the outer-most edge going inward, the opposite of a standard DVD. This move was mainly intended to prevent piracy of GCN titles, but like most anti-piracy technology, it was eventually cracked.



Microsoft X-Box

Microsoft X-Box
Released in 2001
The Microsoft Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console first released on November 15, 2001 in North America, then released on February 22, 2002 in Japan, and later on March 14, 2002 in Europe. The Xbox was Microsoft's first independent venture into the video game console arena, after having developed the operating system and development tools for the MSX, and having collaborated with Sega in porting Windows CE to the Sega Dreamcast console. Notable launch titles for the console include Amped, Dead or Alive 3, Halo: Combat Evolved, Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, and Project Gotham Racing.

In November 2002 Microsoft released the Xbox Live on-line gaming service, allowing subscribers to play on-line Xbox games with (or against) other subscribers all around the world and download new content for their games to the hard drive. This on-line service works exclusively with broadband. 250,000 subscribers had signed on in 2 months since Live was launched. In July 2004, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live reached 1 million subscribers, and announced in July 2005 that Live had reached 2 million.



Sony PlayStation 2

Sony PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70000)
Released in 2004
In September of 2004, in time for the launch of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (the best-selling game during the 2004 Holiday season), Sony revealed a new, smaller PS2. In preparation for the launch of a new, slimmer PlayStation 2 model (SCPH-70000), Sony had stopped making the older PS2 model (SCPH-5000x) sometime during the summer of 2004 to let the distribution channel empty out stock of the units. After an apparent manufacturing issue caused some initial slowdown in producing the new unit, Sony reportedly underestimated demand, caused in part by shortages between the time the old units were cleared out and the new units were ready. This led to further shortages, and the issue was compounded in Britain when a Russian oil tanker became stuck in the Suez Canal, blocking a ship from China carrying PS2s bound for the UK. During one week in November, sales in the entire country of Britain totalled 6,000 units — compared to 70,000 a few weeks prior. Shortages in North America were also extremely severe; one retail chain in the U.S., GameStop, had just 186 PS2 and Xbox units on hand across more than 1700 stores on the day before Christmas.



XaviXPORT

XaviXPORT
Released in 2004
In January at the Consumer Electronics Show 2004 (CES), SSD COMPANY LIMITED debuts their XaviX® technology to the American public. The XaviXPort console was officially released in the US in August of 2004.

XaviXPort is a unique and innovative console that uses peripherals to interact with on screen games. The console contains image recognition and infrared sensors that can detect player movements. These movements are calculated by a proprietary multiprocessor that measures both velocity and angle. The multiprocessor then translates the actions into on screen movement.

Getting players to immerse themselves into games with body movements is not something new. However, this is the first time a console has been dedicated to providing this "Get your butt off the couch" interactive gaming experience. What makes XaviXPort even more unique is that the console’s multiprocessor is not installed inside the system itself. The multiprocessor can be found in each game cartridge.



Microsoft X-Box 360

Microsoft X-Box 360
Released in 2005
The Xbox 360 is Microsoft's newest video game console, the successor to their original Xbox. It was released on November 22, 2005 in North America, December 2 in Europe, and December 10 in Japan. It will be released on February 2, 2006 in Mexico, February 24 in South Korea, and March 2, 2006 in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.

The Xbox 360 will compete against the upcoming generation of consoles, including the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Revolution, and was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, a week before the E3 trade show.

Except in Japan the console is sold in two different configurations: the "Xbox 360" and the "Xbox 360 Core System". The Xbox 360 configuration, often referred to as the "Premium Edition", includes a hard drive (required for backwards compatibility with original Xbox games), a wireless controller, a headset, an Ethernet cable, an Xbox Live silver subscription, and a component HD AV cable (which can also be used on non-HD TVs).



Sony PlayStation 3 Sony PlayStation 3
Released in 2006
The PlayStation 3 was released in North America on November 17, 2006. During its first week of release in the United States, PlayStation 3s were being sold on eBay for more than $2300 USD. Reports of violence surrounding the release of the PS3 include a customer shot, campers robbed at gunpoint, customers shot in a drive-by shooting with BB guns, and 60 campers fighting over 10 systems. Two GameStop employees fabricated a robbery to cover up their own theft of several PlayStation 3 and four Xbox 360 consoles.

Sony stated every PlayStation and PlayStation 2 game that observes its respective system's TRC (Technical Requirements Checklist) will be playable on PS3 at launch. SCE president Ken Kutaragi asked developers to adhere to the TRC to facilitate compatibility with future PlayStations, stating that the company was having some difficulty getting backward compatibility with games that had not followed the TRCs. It has been confirmed (image) that initial PS3 units include the CPU/rasterizer combination chip used in slim PS2 (EE+GS) to achieve backward compatibility.



Nintendo Wii

Nintendo Wii
Released in 2006
The console was known by the codename of "Revolution" until April 27, 2006, when it was renamed Wii, spelled with two "i"s to imply an image of players gathering together, as well as to represent the console's controllers. It is said Wii sounds like 'we', which emphasizes that the console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii"

The Wii Remote is a one-handed controller that uses a combination of accelerometers and infrared detection to sense its position in 3D space. This allows users to control the game using physical gestures as well as traditional button presses. The controller connects to the console using Bluetooth, and features force feedback, 4KB non-volatile memory and an internal speaker. Perhaps the most important of these devices is the Nunchuk unit, which features an accelerometer and a traditional analog stick with two trigger buttons. In addition, an attachable wrist strap can be used to prevent the player from unintentionally dropping or throwing the device.
READ MORE - Video Game Consoles (2001-2006)

Choose the Best Assistant for Brushing Your Teeth

Sunday, March 28, 2010

ToothbrushA good quality toothbrush is an essential and irreplaceable instrument for maintaining proper oral hygiene. In our times, toothbrush is a first necessity both for children and adults, but sometimes one can get confused when trying to decide what type of toothbrush could be the best. Frequently, people tend to choose the brush of the shape and color they like, the brush that is affordable, or the one of the most advertised brand. However, making a decision about the most effective toothbrush requires a very considered approach and some basic knowledge.
Every toothbrush has a handle and a working part – a head with bristles. Nowadays, an assortment of toothbrushes of different shapes and sizes of the head, hardness and length of the bristles, sizes and shapes of the handle, are offered in our market of dental care products. The head of the toothbrush can be straight or angled. For many decades, only natural material was used for the bristles, but recently it was proven that synthetic fibers (such as nylon, derlon, nerlon, polyurethane, etc.) are better for the most effective brushing as these materials are less sensitive to moisture and do not get broken easily.
It is possible to classify manual toothbrushes according to the hardness of the bristles as the following:
  • Hard toothbrushes can be used only by those people whose teeth and gums are in a very good condition. These toothbrushes can do the most powerful massage of your gums.
  • Medium toothbrushes can be used by the majority of people, especially by those who have never had any problem like bleeding gums.
  • Soft toothbrushes can be used by children, pregnant women, as well as by the people who have periodontal disease, diabetes or other health problems.
  • Extra soft toothbrushes can be used by people with serious dental problems.
Tips for choosing the best toothbrush:
  • First of all, it is necessary to find a toothbrush with the head of proper size. Large toothbrushes can not access all the areas in your mouth, that is why you should prefer the brushes with smaller heads (around 1 inch in length and 1/2 inch in width).
  • Another way to select the toothbrush of a good size is to be sure that its head does not cover more than three of your teeth.
  • The best decision is to get a toothbrush with synthetic bristles since this material creates the least favorable environment for dangerous dental bacteria to develop.
  • Choose a toothbrush with the head of rounded shape; otherwise, the brush can damage your gums.
  • Hardness of the bristles must be selected taking into account the specifics of your teeth and gums.
  • Choose a toothbrush with long and wide handle plated with rubber or other material for a firm and comfortable grasp.
toothbrushKeep your toothbrush in an upright position in a safe and well-ventilated place. Do not put it into any case or holder, better keep it in a cup or use a special toothbrush protector. Do not forget to replace your toothbrush after two or three months of usage, when the bristles started looking worn out or when you recovered after any type of mouth infection. Also, you can sanitize your toothbrush once a week by placing it in hydrogen peroxide or in your dishwasher that runs at a temperature over 120 degrees (use dishwasher soap, not a liquid detergent).
READ MORE - Choose the Best Assistant for Brushing Your Teeth

20 Most Popular Myths about Dentistry


Dental Myths It seems like everything is known about the rules and recommendations on how to take care about our teeth effectively. However, day after day new versions of good old principles of dental care appear here and there. As a result, many people still remain confused about the basics of brushing, flossing, whitening and other dental care procedures. Check out the most popular dental myths and related comments of dental specialists.
MYTH: Brushing my teeth several times a day harms the enamel.
TRUTH
: This is partially true. Usually, it is enough to brush your teeth two times a day, but if you have an opportunity to brush your teeth more frequently (for example, after every meal), use a soft or extra soft toothbrush.
MYTH: Expensive toothpastes are always better than cheap ones.
TRUTH:
It is not always true, and some moderately expensive toothpastes can be very effective. Ask your dentist about the toothpastes that can be good for your particular dental situation.
Chewing Gum MythMYTH: Using a sugarless chewing gum with xylitol after meal can replace brushing and have the same effect.
TRUTH:
Not really, but if you can not brush your teeth after every meal, you can use a sugarless chewing gum to clean your teeth and refresh your breath. Do not chew it for more than 10 minutes.
MYTH: I must not brush my teeth if my gums bleed.
TRUTH:
Bleeding gums is a sign to see your dentist. However, if you can not do this as soon as possible, you can brush your teeth with a soft or extra soft toothbrush.
MYTH: Placing a tablet of aspirin beside my aching tooth can ease the pain.
TRUTH
: Aspirin does not work effectively for relieving toothache. Besides, it damages soft tissues in you mouth. Therefore, it is better to use natural analgesics, such as clover oil or tea tree oil.
MYTH: There is no need in seeing dentist if there is no visible problem with my teeth.
TRUTH:
You must see your dentist twice a year, no matter in what condition your teeth are at the moment. Sometimes, only a dentist can see possible problem, and it is always better to start treatment on the earliest stages.
Dental Myths 2MYTH: If tooth enamel is white, the tooth must be considered healthy.
TRUTH:
This is absolutely not true! A tooth can look healthy and white, but, at the same time, it can have cavities, problems with the root or other abnormalities that require treatment.
MYTH: After a decayed tooth is treated, there will be no more decaying there.
TRUTH:
There is no guarantee for this. After the treatment, every tooth must be properly cared about: regularly brushed, flossed and so on.
MYTH: It is better to treat a decaying tooth rather then opt for removing it.
TRUTH:
Before making a decision whether to continue treatment or remove an aching tooth you have to consult a qualified dental professional and, possibly, ask for the opinion of several specialists. Sometimes, even totally decayed tooth can be restored, and, at the same time, there are situations when even a healthy looking tooth must be extracted.
MYTH: It is better to remove wisdom teeth because they usually cause problems.
TRUTH:
Do not extract your wisdom teeth until you have started having real problems with them.
MYTH: Good dental health can be inherited.
TRUTH
: Such factor as inheritance plays minor role for good dental health of people. The main rules are to maintain proper oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly.
Chocolate MythMYTH: Eating a lot of chocolate brings to tooth decay.
TRUTH
: No, it does not, but if you do not brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth every time after eating chocolate, you are at much higher risk to get tooth decay.
MYTH: Eating too hot or too cold meals can harm my teeth.
TRUTH
: Only regular eating too hot or too cold meals can be harmful for your teeth and dental nerves.
MYTH: Using toothpicks after meals can widen the gaps between my teeth.
TRUTH
: Using usual toothpicks can not have such effects, but you must be very careful when using toothpicks because they can damage the gums and other soft tissues in your mouth.
MYTH: Teeth whitening is harmful as it can damage the enamel.
TRUTH
: Modern methods of teeth whitening, including laser teeth whitening or Air Flow technique, have minimal harmful effects. Nevertheless, one must remember that teeth whitening can not be recommended for many people, especially for those who has sensitive teeth, problematic enamel, underdeveloped tooth tissues, as well as for pregnant and nursing women.
MYTH: After any bleaching procedure teeth do not remain shining white for long time.
TRUTH
: In average, the effect can last for about a year or so, but after every following bleaching procedure the duration of the effects usually decreases.
MYTH: It is not harmful to whiten your teeth with usual sodium bicarbonate.
TRUTH
: It is, actually, very harmful, because sodium bicarbonate we use for baking has very strong abrasive effects. If you want to whiten your teeth in an easy way, use special whitening toothpastes with bicarbonate. Such toothpastes contain much smaller particles of bicarbonate and they do not damage teeth that much.
Dental Myths 3MYTH: There is no need in taking care about the teeth of my baby because in some years they are going to fall out.
TRUTH
: This is absolutely wrong from a variety of perspectives. First of all, if you do not take care about premature teeth, they may fall out before the time and cause problems with bite or improper development of your child’s permanent teeth. Besides, it is necessary to start educating your children to maintain good dental and oral hygiene since early childhood.
MYTH: It is necessary to avoid dental procedures during pregnancy.
TRUTH
: Regular dental treatment must not be avoided by pregnant women, but there is a number of procedures, such as X-rays or surgical dental procedures, which must be postponed for pregnant women.
MYTH: Any type of dental treatment is very painful.
TRUTH
: Not anymore. Advanced dental technologies allow making dental treatment not painful by using anesthetic agents.
READ MORE - 20 Most Popular Myths about Dentistry

Help Your Child Enjoy His First Visit to the Dentist


Specialists suggest making the first visit to the dentist before your child turns 3. By this age your child might have started eating the food that all your family members eat. Therefore, his teeth have started being affected by all dangerous bacteria and other factors that impact his dental health. This is the age to start teaching your child taking care about his teeth, developing good dental habits and doing regular check-ups. Many children are afraid of going to doctors or dentists because this profession is associated with pain. However, there are some recommendations for you on making your child’s first dental visit a good and positive experience:
  • Create a special strategy of preparing you child for going to the dentist for the first time.
  • Talk about visiting your dentist only from a positive perspective and make your child understand how important it is to see the dentist regularly.
  • Make your child feel excited about going to his first dental appointment
  • Never use such words or expressions like “it ain’t gonna hurt”, “you’ll feel no pain” or “be brave” when talking to your child about visiting the dentist.
  • A visit to the dentist must never seem to be a threat to your child.
  • Never share your negative experiences about visiting the dentist with your child.
  • If your child feels frightened, try to reassure him. Be calm, patient and supportive.
  • Read him a story about visiting a Teeth Doctor or play dentist with him by examining each other’s teeth.
  • Ask people around your child to tell him optimistic things and not to make him feel scared about going to the dentist.
  • Do not talk too much to your child about the work of dentists and what is waiting for him in the dentist’s room.
  • Select a dentist who is good in getting along with children and can put kids at ease during the first visit.
  • Talk to your dentist before bringing you child to him and let him know about the fears and weak points of your child.
  • Try to come right in time and not to wait next to the dentist’s door for long.
  • Ask the permission of the dentist to stay with your child during the examination.
  • Make sure that your child got a good impression of the first visit to the dentist.
READ MORE - Help Your Child Enjoy His First Visit to the Dentist

Tips for Developing Smart Eating Habits Ensuring Your Oral Health


Junk FoodAs an important supplement for usual procedures of oral hygiene, effective dental care requires developing healthy eating habits. Unfortunately, the realities of our life and such social factors as our age, socio-economic status, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, housing and so on, impact our eating habits a lot. Besides, such phenomena as advertising and social trends influence our eating habits, too. For instance, many people eat Chinese food because it is considered to be trendy.
However, nowadays, social influences started affecting our eating behavior to a great extent. For example, we often have no time for cooking healthy homemade meals and choose to eat in fast food restaurants or have snacks, which seriously harm our teeth and digestive system. In addition, modern young people live their life at night like owls, and this makes them eat and drink very late. Is it a healthy eating habit? Certainly not! That is why, unfortunately, the majority of eating habits of modern youth can hardly meet the requirements of healthy nutrition strategies and dietary recommendations.
FruitIt is especially important to educate your children for healthy eating habits and make them watch what they eat in order to take care about their teeth and gums. Childhood and adolescence are the most important times in everyone’s life from the perspectives of formation of human body and human psychology. That is why all good healthy habits must be established since early childhood, and all parents have to monitor closely eating behaviors of their children and be concerned about their dental and overall health.
Tips for developing good eating habits as important elements of dental care:
  • Try to decrease consumption of the foods and drinks with high content of sugar and acids, such as candies, chocolate, jams, various juicy deserts, lemons, and so on.
  • Try to decrease consumption of carbonated drinks as they are harmful for your teeth.
  • Avoid chewing hard foods, as well as cracking with your teeth such foods as nuts, dry beans, etc.
  • Avoid eating snacks between your daily meals as snacking considerably increases your risks to get tooth decay.
  • Berries If you can not give up snacking, eat some fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • Avoid binge eating and junk food.
  • If you suffer an eating disorder, learn how to protect your teeth in every particular situation.
  • Try to enrich your daily diet with fresh vegetables, berries, bread and cereals, cheese, milk and yogurt, meat, fish, mushrooms and other foods with proteins and xylitol.
  • Finally, make it a habit to rinse your mouth with a mouthwash or drinking water after every meal or snack.
PaprikaAfter you have started observing these simple recommendations, it will not take a lot of time for you to notice the improvements of your oral and general health. Eating the foods enriched with vitamins and proteins, as well as balanced and regular nutrition must become essential elements of your daily dental care. In addition, healthy eating behavior will help you to decrease the risks of obesity, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even cancer. Stick to these simple principles of eating and your excellent health will be the best reward for all your efforts.
READ MORE - Tips for Developing Smart Eating Habits Ensuring Your Oral Health

GOLD SERVER EMAS

Saturday, March 27, 2010

CHAR OL :     ○Mon3y○  (ngetik ○ dpn ma blkng x alt  + 13577)
HP             : 081349585843 / 08125053284  (Hasby)
Alamat       : Jl. Bali  -  Banjarmasin (70111)
Harga         : Nego


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Poor Dental Care Increases The Risks Of Heart Attack In Older Women


American specialists recently published the findings of their new study suggesting that regular dental check-ups and proper dental care can substantially decrease the risks of heart disease and other serious heart problems in women above 55. The research was carried out by a groups of American dental specialists who thoroughly reviewed medical records of over 7 thousand senior Americans (aged 45-88). The information used for this study had been collected for nine years.
dental careAccording to a recent issue of Health Economics magazine, the researchers are convinced that there are obvious connections between proper dental care and lower risks of heart disease. It was known before that such dental problem as gum disease and other dental infections may trigger heart disease. After analyzing the data of the large amount of people, American dental specialists came up with the conclusion that those ladies who visit their dental specialists once per six months and take a proper dental care have almost 35% lower risks of serious heart problems like stroke and heart disease.
The leaders and supporters of the scientific group were pretty much impressed and enthused by the findings of the study. According to Dr. Maria Emanuel Ryan, a professor at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, this research “confirms the findings of some of the studies conducted in the insurance industry, which suggest that the medical costs for cardiac care and diabetes are reduced in patients who have regular dental visits.” Dr. Stephen Brown, West Virginia University, commented on the study as the following: “We think the findings reflect differences in how men and women develop cardiovascular disease.”
It is necessary to mention that this study has not shown that proper dental care, regular brushing, flossing and visiting dentist can improve heart health of modern older women by decreasing the risks of stroke and heart disease. Also, there was no evidence found that regular dental check-ups and dental care can have the same effects on older men. However, there’s no doubt that dental care is extremely beneficial at any age, and the present findings can definitely help in making it even more effective for all of us.
READ MORE - Poor Dental Care Increases The Risks Of Heart Attack In Older Women

UNIFORM POINT

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Uniform Point















If you are looking for uniforms and workwear, Uniform Point is the place for you. We offer tons of career apparel because you are important to us. And looking good and feeling comfortable in the way you look while you go to your work is essential to us because we know you can do more and be better in whatever career you are in now. Any company can create the most professional look for their staff with the most widely recognized brands we have such as Nike, Port Authority, OGIO, Ping, Red House and many others.

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Uniform Point does not simply provide the latest tees but actually offer them in reasonable prices. Cheap t-shirts, that is. So when you want to express your mood in different ways, you can buy all designs you want for less. Choose from smart, sporty, cool, simple styles, and more. We also have the perfect shirts to give you utmost comfort on different seasons. You can choose long sleeve t-shirt and or short sleeve t-shirt, depending on your need. All these t shirts are from high quality cotton fabrics for exceptional comfort and durability that's worth spending for. And guess what? We also go to fully satisfy customers t-shirt needs – this is why Uniform Point offers customization services. We are the place to run to when you need embroidery for personalized tees. When you want your very own designs printed on your new shirts, our state-of-the-art screen printing service got your back. And if the t-shirts are for use as uniforms, customers can trust us for custom and stock logos. We do all these in quick turnaround time. We also offer wholesale and bulk orders at discount prices.

We are committed to providing you topnotch custom t-shirts because you deserve nothing less. Be assured that Uniform Point will continue to have enormous supply of clothing products to satisfy your needs in budget friendly deals. Buy with confidence and save money today!

READ MORE - UNIFORM POINT