Last Day For Free Games From Amazon

Amazon Launches Game Download Center

Dear Amazon.com Customer,

As someone who has shopped PC Games at Amazon.com, you might want to know that we are unveiling the Amazon Game Downloads Store. You'll find a broad selection of fun, casual games to download to your PC, all priced at $6.99 or $9.99. Downloading a game is simple, so you'll be playing in minutes.

Download and Play over 600 Games

If you like puzzles or board games these games are right up your alley. And if you've never played a casual game before, don't worry: You can try every game for free for 30 minutes! So play at home, at work, or at school--we won't tell.
What's a Launch Without a Party?
For a limited time we're offering three free full-version games. You can download your free games now and start playing immediately. Offer ends February 10, 2009.

CoD 5 Now On Sale

Some of us are just great big kids at heart, and I have to confess to you that I have a little bit of that syndrome too. Besides being a World Renown Tech Journalist and Ace Computer Support Technician and all that other grown-up stuff-- I am also a gamer.

Yes, it's true: looking at a the insides of an "UG rig" (high-performance computer specially built for 3D video game excellence) makes my pulse quicken.

No, I have not ever attended a LAN Party (or convention) and generally never play "multiplayer" games online... and no, I did not spend more on my rig than I did on my car. But I have been a gamer since.. well, let's just call it "the beginning".

"Hail to the king, baby."

Everybody has their favorite game, or at least, a favorite genre. Whether that be cards-- like Solitaire, Texas Holdem, and Pinochle, or puzzles-- like Sudoku, Mah Jong, and Scrabble, or simulators-- like Need for Speed, The Sims, and Combat Flight Simulator 2 or Sports, or Strategy, or Arcade.. or Fantasy/Adventure.. (am I forgetting any?)

Mine happens to be the Call of Duty series, which is a combat simulator of the "first-person shooter" 'genre', and is affectionately known as "CoD".
Infinity Ward rocks.

The latest release of Call of Duty was CoD 4 -- Modern Warfare, which if I remember correctly, was released in time for Christmas last year. I think it did pretty good in sales... (over 7 million units in 2007).

This year, Activision is again releasing its big title in time for the Holiday shopping season, and CoD 5 -- World At War is set to hit the shelves November 11th. But you can "pre-buy" it now.

That's right, I said pre-buy. Pay now, and get the actual game later.

Some of you might find that concept a little odd, but us gamers know that this ensures that we won't have to stand in line or face an empty shelf, and that we sometimes get a special bonus for pre-ordering (and, it gives us something to talk about to our gamer friends/rivals).

I was determined not to let myself get too excited about a game that isn't even out yet.. especially when I had read that CoD 5 was not a Infinity Ward title, but a Treyarch (they were the authors of CoD 3, which was never ported to the PC, and generally received bad reviews). But I have seen the trailer and YouTube videos of gameplay, and I'm hooked.

I know what I'm gonna ask Santa for this year.

Today’s free link: for those of you who prefer arcade style games, download Mega Mario. Featuring the Mario Brothers — first introduced in Donkey Kong — this classic arcade game works on all versions of Windows.

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

Everyone Plays Games

* The five most popular games among American teens are Guitar Hero, Halo 3, Madden NFL, Solitaire, and Dance Dance Revolution.

* Almost all teens play games. (Fully 97% of teens ages 12-17 play computer, web, portable, or console games.)

* Video gaming is pervasive in the lives of American teens— young teens and older teens, girls and boys, and teens from across the socioeconomic spectrum. Opportunities for gaming are everywhere, and teens are playing video games frequently. When asked, half of all teens reported playing a video game “yesterday.” Those who play daily typically play for an hour or more.

* Gaming is often a social experience for teens.
For most teens, gaming is a social activity and a major component of their overall social experience. Teens play games in a variety of ways, including with others in person, with others online, and by themselves.
Although most teens play games by themselves at least occasionally, just one-quarter (24%) of teens only play games alone, and the remaining three-quarters of teens play games with others at least some of the time.

* Parents of teens who play games are generally neutral on the effect of games on their children, with nearly two-thirds believing that games have no impact one way or the other on their offspring.

Today's free link: This information was cited from the Pew Internet and American Life Project's report titled Teens, Video Games, and Civics.

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

Is Your (inner) Child Addicted to the Internet?

Two recent events have reminded me to ponder the social implications of Internet Addiction-- one, the power (once again) went out for a lengthy duration here at T4E Headquarters; and, two, my nephew's father wanted to take him for his first fishing trip.
At a lake.
Out in the boondocks.
Where there is no Internet. (Thus, no Swords & Dragons Quest Guild Wars*) My nephew is 12.

We use our computers, and the Internet, for lots of different purposes (see Why We Compute) and some of us, like me, even conduct our businesses online. For us, service interruptions can seem minor inconveniences, or disastrous business events.
12 year-old boys (well, my nephew anyway) use computers, and the Internet, to play games, and an interruption seems like the END OF THE WORLD.

Dr. Orzack, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of cyber-addiction, and member of the Harvard Medical School faculty, lists the Symptoms of IA:

* Having a sense of well-being or euphoria while at the computer
* Inability to stop the activity
* Craving more and more time at the computer
* Neglect of family and friends
* Feeling empty, depressed, irritable when not at the computer
* Lying to employers and family about activities
* A child's grades fall and the teacher notes that he/she is falling asleep in class

When I lose my Internet service, not only am I unable to assist clients with Remote Sessions, but I experience a good dose of #5 on that list. I joke with friends that I experience Internet "withdrawal" (and I show them my trembling hands). But I am not an addict, not like some of the people who have appeared in the headlines-- I have not lost my wife/house/job/friends.

And, honestly, I don't think my nephew is that bad off either.. he did go on the fishing trip.
But I am concerned. I know that these MMORPG's are designed to be addicting, and that they take hundreds of hours to play enough to "advance" in. I know that my nephew spends far too much time with his online games (like, all his free time).
And I know that his behavior (getting home from school and going straight to the computer) is considered "normal" these days.
(And mom can keep an eye on him.. and he's not out doing risky things like skateboarding, climbing tall trees, riding motorscooters, or running with sharp sticks..)

I am not an expert. I cannot tell you if you, or your child is an Internet Addict. I cannot predict the future, and see how my nephew is "going to turn out". I can only tell you that Internet Addiction is real, and that it is a subject worth consideration. And, there's an online addiction assessment test you can take if you have suspicions.
It is a problem very similar to Pathological Gambling or Compulsive Shopping.

If you think you (or your child) is an addict, there is a large community of help available. Enter "Internet Addiction" into a search engine, and start seeking it.

* A game name I made up.

Photo courtesy of WiredParentPad, What Every Parent Ought to Know About World of Warcraft.

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

On the road

Today Tech--for Everyone is being broadcast to you from a remote location, as circumstances force me into being a "road warrior". T4E Headquarters is temporarily down for maintenance.

In this day and age, that is not nearly as inconvenient as it used to be. Today I merely grab my laptop and head for the nearest "hotspot" or Internet cafe... though, if my thumbs were up to the task, I could also "text" in my article on my cellphone or PDA.

I have been using computers since this ability (mobility) was just someone's fantasy. And so I have an appreciation for this that sometimes borders on awe. But then, as I mentioned in The New Generation Gap, when I was in my "formative years" there weren't even ATM machines yet.. much less cellphones, and computers were giant machines owned by NASA.
The fact that I can get on the Internet (almost) anytime and anywhere still amazes me... and makes me giggle.

Tip of the day: If you are thinking of purchasing a notebook computer (or PDA), or already own one-- having decent battery life can really be important (especially if your job or lifestyle has you always "on the go") and yet it is usually not factored in at purchase time.
I highly recommend that you either buy a second battery, or spend more for the "extended" battery option. These "extended" (I think of them as "heavy duty") batteries have more "cells" to generate and hold the charge, and thus allow you to operate your machine for a longer period. Well worth the prce of the upgrade.

Today's free link: RealArcade, a free download, offers a huge selection of more than 500 download games--puzzle, word, action, arcade classics. RealArcade also has features that help you find, manage and play all your favorite games. RealArcade also includes Web-based games that run directly in your browser; and for those looking for some friendly competition, there's an online community for matching players, sharing information, and enhancing the overall gaming experience. Version 1.27 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

Google, Spell Check, puzzle games*

I suppose I'm not alone in this, but I am a stat-watcher. It is a way for me to learn about you -- the reader: about what topics you're interested in and which ones you don't bother to investigate ("you" in the broad sense). I love to get into all the statistical details, and sincerely believe that a fella cannot be presented with too many informational statistics -- and I always want more.

I am fascinated by "keywords" that catch your eye: a great 'for instance' is that this blog is for the most part a 'how to' and is almost always posted in that "category", and yet only one "view", so far, has been linked from there. (What is that telling me???)
It surprises me sometimes that my "catchiest" titles have the lowest number of views, and that I would get a lot more Google Search "hits" if I simply titled a post "System Restore"...as an example. (Now I don't want you to think I'm 'hit-desperate', and would start resorting to such tricks. I'm not. Honest. But it does make one think...)

I am fascinated by which of my "Today's free links" get used and which one's don't so much. It says nothing about which one is more useful than another, but it does tell me some things. For instance, apparently my readers already have anti-spyware tools or just aren't concerned about malware, yet a large number just as apparently delete files they'd like to get back. Curious. At least to me it is.

But the most interesting statistic is the Search Engine Links, which shows not only how many people found my article via a search on Google (Yes. I know. There are more engines than just Google.) but what words they used in their searches. These "search terms" have been the source of ideas for posts I've written, and will continue to be so. There is one inescapable factoid that becomes quickly obvious when reading these search terms, and that is: I am not as poor of a speller as I thought I was...by comparison. Of the many people who googled 'system restore', not one spelled it correctly. The folks at that outfit are doing a terrific job of not only deciphering our gibberish, but doing it in micro-seconds, and I for one am grateful for it. They sent me one spelled "sistim restro"...amazing!

Tip of the day: If you are like me and need a helping hand spelling a word every now and then you probably (like me) hailed the "built-in Spell Check utility" as the greatest thing since sliced bread. And you've probably learned over time (like me) that they miss far more than they catch, and cannot see the difference between they're, there, and their, and generally aren't much help at all. You simply won't be doing yourself any favors if you rely on spell-check, and I don't care whose it is.

Instead, bookmark an online dictionary like Merriam-Webster and enter your word into their search box. Unlike a real dictionary, you don't have to know how to spell the word to find out how to spell it. Enter "sistim" and the top choice of spellings/words is "system". It gives definitions, so you can make sure it is the word you're thinking of. And it has a thesaurus so you can find words with the same or similar meanings. Online dictionaries are great resources, and I hope you will find them as useful and handy as I have. I couldn't write this post without one...

Let's just have some fun with Today's free link: Thinks.com offers free puzzles of all sorts (crosswords, sudoku, jigsaw, etc.) and games like checkers and chess. Fit for the whole family.

*Original posting: 6/24/07

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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Grand Theft Auto IV unleashed

There are many happy people out there today. They're happy because the long wait for the next Grand Theft Auto is over. GTA 4 is now available for the Xbox and Playstation game consoles.

Developed by Rockstar North, and distributed by Take-Two Interactive, GTA 4 is the ninth release of this hugely popular title, and the first of its "fourth generation". This reworked and 'new' generation of GTA's features a new environment (modeled on NY city) and has graphics and gameplay that the gaming magazines and review sites are giving their highest scores. (Some have called the game "nearly perfect".)
IGN rated the game a 10 out of 10 in nearly every category, and awarded it its Editor's Choice... and a reviewer says, "Every facet of Rockstar's new masterpiece is worthy of applause."
It is Rated M (for mature).

* This will put parents in a tough spot-- your kid will want this game.. really, really badly.

You may have heard of "Grand Theft Auto".. the name may be ringing some bells. Why? Because Grand Theft Auto (particularly the title San Andreas) is the poster child for video games being too violent, leading to the erosion of civic morality, and being a cause of the increase in crime.
Grand Theft Auto has been called a "murder simulator".. and "How to be a gangster 101". When some ultra-Right winger calls for the banning of video games, they invariably trot out Grand Theft Auto-- San Andreas as their cause célèbre... and point out that in the game, you gain points for killing policemen.

* If you're a parent, and you have a kid not old enough to buy this game himself, and they're begging you to get it for them, they will show you articles about how Rockstar has changed its ways and toned all this down in GTA IV. Such as, "it's gone legit. Oh sure, you'll still blow up cop cars, run down innocent civilians, bang hookers, assist drug dealers and lowlifes and do many, many other bad deeds, but at a cost to main character Niko Bellic's very soul. GTA IV gives us characters and a world with a level of depth previously unseen in gaming and elevates its story from a mere shoot-em-up to an Oscar-caliber drama." (from IGN)

Folks, I have not played any of the GTA series; they simply haven't appealed to me. I am not going to label it "good" nor "bad".

I am not going to tell you how to raise your child.

I am not going to speculate, nor debate, whether there's too much violence and realism in video games.. and whether or not this has some detrimental psychological effect on those who play them.

I am just going to say this: in this particular instance, there are very good reasons why there's a "Rated M" on the box.

Today's free link: for those of you who need to replace the expired "trial" antivirus, and want a free replacement, Avira AntiVir Personal Edition is a good choice (if for some reason you're not happy with the new AVG, for instance).

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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Leopard wins title of "best"

You might be aware of the long-running debate known as Mac vs. PC (personified by Justin Long + John Hodgman on the humorous "I'm a Mac" commercials). And you may be aware that there's a debate whether XP isn't a better OS than Vista. And, you may be aware that there's a free OS, known as Linux, which has a few proponents who claim theirs is the best.

Which one's the best? There's an awful lot of opinions out there (and if you agree with mine, you're really smart!), but has anyone every done a true, impartial test to determine which one really is the safest/fastest/most features/cost-effective/easy-to-use operating system today? Well yes, someone has-- and the latest comes from PC Magazine's March issue.
[Yes, PCMag has long been accused of being a Microsoft puppet and/or shill. Look at the name, though: it's "PC", not "Mac Magazine" (and, yes, there's one of those, too). But how do you write about personal computers and NOT write about Microsoft? Hmm?]

The article compares Mac OS 10.5.1 (the latest "Leopard"), Windows XP SP2, Vista, and Ubuntu 7.10 , and it compares them in these areas:
*Price
*Installation (ease)
*GUI (the graphical 'look')
*Bundled Software
*3rd Party Software
*Drivers/Hardware
*Networking
*Security

As you might expect, each OS won some categories, and lost in others; for example, Ubuntu is free, so it will clearly win the Price category, and since it doesn't have a huge budget for graphic artists (and Linux folk aren't afraid of the command line) it loses the GUI category. To see the results chart, click here.

The scores in each category were totaled to produce a winner, and the "Microsoft shill", PC Magazine, proclaims Leopard the winner. (And, perhaps more interestingly, XP and Vista tied.)

My two cents: There are a few flaws in this comparison 'test' that shouldn't be overlooked.
*Vista was tested before Service Pack 1
*The first three categories are largely non-factors: Price and Installation are largely irrelevant to most people. Most people buy a new computer, not an OS Install CD/DVD. And a GUI is a GUI-- how pretty it looks has nothing to do with your computer's operation.

I believe the most important factors are Security and 3rd Party Software.. followed by Drivers/Hardware.
In Security: Leopard wins.. not because its armor plating is more bulletproof, but because less than 3% of the worlds computers are running it and so hackers ignore it.
In Drivers/Hardware: XP SP2 wins.. but time will move Vista ahead as more drivers get written and pass MS's WHQL.
In the all-important 3rd-Party Software category: XP SP2 wins.. but again, time will move Vista into the lead.

So clearly PC Magazine is wrong. XP SP2 is the better OS.. for now.

How can I say that? Games, baby. Games. There aren't any for Macs.
And of course.. other programs. Walk into a store that sells software some time and look at the size of the Mac section and then the size of the PC titles. That tells you all you need to know.

OS's and you: But which one is best for YOU? I agree totally with the author of the article in PC Mag (Eric Griffith): it depends on what you use your computer for.
If all you do is surf the Web, and you're on a budget, Ubuntu is probably your best choice. If you're a cutting-edge gamer, you probably will have to struggle with Vista for Direct X 10 titles. If you're a network admin.. Red Hat is probably your OS (are you ready for Server 2008?).

But the fact remains, the OS you use will be the one that came with your computer. And as I mentioned in "Mac Myths", which brand you decide to buy will probably be decided by which 'camp' you joined.. way back in the early days.

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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Computer games onboard

[Original post date: 3/4/08] I am absolutely wiped out this morning, and the reason for that, well.. some of you may find hard to believe. But it's true.

The story goes like this: kinda late last night, I went into my new Vista machine's Games folder so that I could right-click-and-drag some icons to my Desktop and create shortcuts for Solitaire and Chess Titans, my two favorite built-in time-wasters. (To create Desktop shortcut icons, release the right-click/drag, and select "Create shortcut here".)

While I had my Games folder open, I decided to also open Add/Remove Programs and get rid of the crapware games the manufacturer provided as a "value bonus"-- you know the ones; trial versions of Penguins, TradeWinds, etc. from Wild Tangent (I have not yet run the excellent tool, PC Decrapifier, on this particular machine. I don't usually do that until the Norton trial expires.)

I also thought about removing the Windows games that I never play, (I was killing time.) such as Minesweeper. Spider Solitaire was going to be the first to go. As odd as this may sound, (and I have been running Windows since Win 95) I have never, ever, not once, played Spider Solitaire. I didn't know how.
Well, being all grown up and conservative and everything, I decided I better play it, and make sure I didn't like it, before I took the step of deleting it forever. Maturely erring on the side of caution...
Next thing I knew, it was 1:40 a.m.! Yikes.

Addicting.. and it takes your mind off of your troubles, and fast. It takes a little brain work and calculation to win.

Microsoft has added some new games in Vista, which I for one welcome. I am particularly pleased with the inclusion of a chess game (I have been playing chess since I was knee-high to a grasshopper; and, no, I'm not very good). From what I understand, chess is rather popular right now.
Sometimes I play Mah Jong (which now comes Standard), but only when I want to be frustrated and unhappy... I have the durndest time defeating that thing. Several members of my family are Mah Jong mavens (and seem to win every time). Tile matching is not as easy as it sounds.
Also new, and worth taking a look at, is a weird game called InkBall. This animated game is a bit like bumper billiards. The object is to get the moving balls to drop into the appropriate holes. But instead of using a "cue" to direct your "shots", you are given a pen, with which you draw lines on the "table" which act as "bumpers" and deflect the ball's path. You have to be quick, and have an eye for angles. Challenging. Fun. And a big improvement over the stock games we've been used to since Windows 95.

And then there's something totally different (for Microsoft)-- Purble Place. This colorful and cartoonish-looking game is clearly aimed at children, but I am not (too) ashamed to admit that an old dinosaur like me enjoys its simple distraction from time to time. It has a lot of matching, and it uses simple mechanics. I believe that it teaches problem-solving skills as well.
There are actually 3 games inside Purble Place.

In the screenshot below, I am in a cake factory "building" a cake (I am adding the icing in the shot) and I have to match the "order" by choosing the right 'component'. Fairly straight-forward stuff. For adults, try setting the Options to "difficult" and select the "Advanced" difficulty at the beginning of a game, and then try playing this "child's game". You might be surprised at how much simple diversion this new game provides (or, you might hate it. But, so what? It doesn't hurt to try...).


Well, in conclusion, if you have a new PC and it came with Vista, stay away from the Games folder.. and definitely don't try any of the new games there.. at least, not on a "school night". You might find yourself with a new "addiction" (like me and Spider Solitaire).

{Bonus Hint: if the Boss walks by, hit Alt+Tab real quick.}

[Update: I have become fairly skilled at Spider, so I decided to try my hand at the "Medium" difficulty. This complicates things by using two suits. I actually pulled it off and won one... after forty-some-odd tries. Ugh.]

Today's free link: is already mentioned. PC Decrapifier is a blessing to everyone who has recently bought a new PC, (or still has all that "Try AOL Dial-up free!" and "Gateway Games" crud still on-board) and is one of the best freeware tools/ideas to come down the pike. Just scroll up, and click the link. See what this wonder does (and doesn't) do. Odds are good you can use it (and be glad you did). Thank you, Jason York!

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved.

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