Dominate Halo Reach: 5 Simple Tips to Improving Your Game

Here are a few useful and easy tips to get you started on the path to Halo Reach Multiplayer Domination:

1. Shot Placement: There's a very common misconception out there that you should always be aiming for your opponent's head and that they will die faster when your shot grouping is focused above the shoulders. This is only partially true. When your opponents shield has yet to "pop", it does not matter where your shots are placed. You could hit your opponent in the pinky finger and it will do the same amount of damage as a shot to the center of his facemask will do. However, once the shield pops, then the head is key. One shot with the DMR, Pistol, or a couple of bullets with any weapon really will finish them off. So, the idea is to initially aim for the largest target there is, the chest. This way, once the shield pops, it's an easy shot to the head and you're off to the next victim.


2. Use Your Armor Well and Use it Often: There are a few maps where a certain armor type offers a real strategic advantage over the other armor types. For example, Sword Base. I always use the Jet Pack here. I started doing it, because I like to get to the shotgun first after initial spawn, and I get it in virtually every game on Sword Base. Also, you can move from level to level very easily with the Jet Pack and often have wide open grenade possibilities. What is most important is that you are comfortable with the armor ability you are using. Often, there is no real advantage from one armor type to another. It's really about how you use it and that you use it. Armor is far too important a tool to be sitting in the box. Lastly, where there may be no obvious advantage from one armor type to another. A chosen armor type on the wrong map can be a disadvantage. For example, on most indoor maps, the Jet Pack can be fairly useless. These maps are more catered to the fast (Sprint), furious (Armor Lock) and the cunning (Hologram/Active Camo).


3. Situational Weapons: Don't bring a knife to a gun fight, but most definitely do bring a knife to a dark room filled with opponents. Always pay attention that you are bringing the right weapon to the right situation. For example, if your running with the DMR and the Assault Rifle, have your DMR as primary for areas of long sight lines, but when you are heading into close quarters, switch to the Assault Rifle. Watch where you are and where you are going. If you are heading out into open space, get that DMR ready. Also, know which grenade you have active. If you are heading into a room, or into blind corners, have the Plasma Grenade active and be ready to stick the next croucher. And with open areas, the Frag Grenade is a better option where bounce shots and bank shots are more effective.


4. Don't Stop Moving Unless You're Crouching: If you stop moving in this game you will die. There are constantly snipers and adept shooters just looking for some dude standing still. If you stop moving, crouch. If you slow down, crouch. And if you crouch, never do it when you are open from any sniper angle. Crouch in rooms or behind walls, or in places where you can zoom and shoot accurately, but where your opponents don't have a good shot on you.


5. Practice and Warm-Up Offline: Use the additional game modes on Halo Reach to complete Daily Challenges, warm up, practice and cool your nerves. My favorite additional game mode in Reach is Firefight Matchmaking (specifically Score Attack). Check the Daily Challenges to see if they include Firefight modules and get yourself some easy credits. Score Attack is a great place to get a quick warm up in before entering the vicious, fast-paced Multiplayer realm. Another great tactic is to take a break from Multiplayer and re-focus with some Firefight. The easier, more predictable game play can be just what you need to cool your nerves and get back to dominating. Lastly, this is the best place to up your weapon and armor know-how. If there is a weapon armor type you want to become more proficient with, Score Attack is the place to do it. Play a few games with a particular Load Out and see what you can bring to your Multiplayer Game.

These are some basic tips to get you on the right track to Halo Reach Multiplayer Domination. I have created Halo Reach Multiplayer Tips site that includes more information on how to really change your game and start putting the competition to sleep!

I hope you found these tips helpful and wish you happy gaming! -Andrew

Top 10 Most Independent Women in Video Games

10. Chloe Frazer (Uncharted Series)

Quote: "Seems like I am always saving your ass."

Not only is she a treasure hunter, this Australian badass is equally comfortable in a gunfight or a fistfight, whatever the occasion demands. Chloe is fearless, brave, and possesses a saucy attitude to boot.

9. Samantha Byrne (Gears of War 3)

Quote: "Don't mind him, somebody stole his teddy when he was little."

Private Samantha "Sam" Byrne, also called "duchashka" or "lovely duchess" is not your typical soldier. She's a battle-hardened veteran who kills alien Locusts by day and fights for humanity's survival by night.

8. Oerba Yun Fang (Final Fantasy 13)

Quote: "You want to keep breathing? Shut up and come quiet."

With a name like Fang, this girl has to be tough. As a member of the Yun Clan, Fang is as intense and fearless as she is compassionate and caring. With willingness to fight and sacrifice for those she cares for and tremendous skill with a spear, Fang is more than able to handle business.

7. Chun Li (Street Fighter Series)

Quote: "Don't worry. I didn't damage anything permanently, I think."

Driven by a plot of revenge, Chun Li sought to avenge her father who was murdered while investigating the Shadaloo crime syndicate. As a talented martial artist with legs as thick as tree trunks, I'd say Li is undoubtedly a contender in the hardcore category. Since her origins in Street Fighter II in 1991, Li has been an icon of the entire franchise and has been dubbed, the "First Lady of Fighting Games".

6. Faith Connors (Mirror's Edge)

Quote: "The authorities said the changes, the monitoring, banning and regulations, were for the greater good. But good, isn't the same as right"

Not only is she a free-running expert, she's a tattoo-wearing, independent woman who jumps off of buildings for fun. To rebel against the totalitarian regime of her city, she joined the Runners, an illegal underground courier group who operate independently without the intrusion of governmental surveillance. Beauty, brains, and passion.

5. Jill Valentine (Resident Evil Series)

Quote: "It's true that once the wheels of justice begin to turn, nothing can stop them... nothing. It was Raccoon City's last chance... and MY last chance. My last escape..."

Special Agents are sworn to secrecy and for good reason. Jill Valentine has witnessed a multitude of government secrets over the years ranging from covert research facilities to genetic mutants. Despite the multiple zombie outbreaks, she managed survive and destroy the most menacing creatures in her path and with limited ammo mind you.

4. Sheik/Princess Zelda (The Legend of Zelda Series)

Quote: "Time passes, people move... Like a river's flow, it never ends... A childish mind will turn to noble ambition... Young love will become deep affection... The clear water's surface reflects growth..."

With exception to Kitana from the Mortal Kombat series, princesses aren't typically the toughest characters on the block. Princess Zelda fulfills this traditional role with an insufferable habit of getting kidnapped over and over again. In her usual form, she possesses the Triforce power of wisdom...yawn. As her alter ego Sheik, she takes on an entirely different persona becoming proactive, determined, and... a great harp player.

3. Jack (Mass Effect 2)

Quote: "Turns out, mess with someone's head enough, you can turn a scared little kid into an all powerful bitch."

Jack, also known as "Subject Zero", is a notorious criminal whose crimes include piracy, kidnapping, vandalism and murder. As a biotic, she has immense power allowing her to tear enemies apart and lift foes and objects from a distance. Jack exudes a tough exterior but under the surface, is still haunted by her troubling past. I wouldn't say that to her face though that's for sure.

2. Samus Aran (Metroid Series)

Quote: "My past is not a memory. It's a force at my back. It pushes and steers. I may not always like where it leads me, but like any story, the past needs resolution. What's past is prologue."

Samus shocked the world in 1986 when unsuspecting gamers discovered that the infamous bounty hunter and protagonist of Metroid was in fact a female. As one of the world's most loved video game heroines, her gender in no way hindered her from a lifelong career battling space pirates, clashing with extraterrestrial parasites, and exploring hostile, unfamiliar worlds. Not to mention that she owns an arsenal of lasers, rockets, gadgets and weaponry that make her formidable against any opponent.

1. The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)

Quote: "One must die and one must live. No victory, no defeat. The survivor will carry on the fight. It is our destiny... The one who survives will inherit the title of Boss. And the one who inherits the title of Boss will face an existence of endless battle."

The Boss's story represents a tragic past, a courageous present, and an absent future. She sacrifices her life, her motherhood, and her legacy for the prospect of a country that had turned its back on her. There are very few characters in existence, let alone female characters, that portray this level of depth, complexity, and distinctiveness. Her story paired with her commanding physical ability of CQC (close-quarters-combat) is what sets The Boss apart as the most indomitable, creative, and profound female character of all time.

Connecting Your Xbox Using An Optical Audio Cable

Connecting your Xbox to the TV using S/PDIF is a great way to achieve fantastic sound quality. But would you know which type of cable to buy? Do you have to stick with Microsoft and spend a small fortune buying their original lead? The straight answer is no. But there are so many optical audio cables on the market today, you could easily purchase the wrong cable. However we will point you in the right direction to ensure you get the correct lead.

You first need to make sure your television has optical capability. Almost all modern flat screen panels will have an input known as S/PDIF (this is short for Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format) for optical cables the signal is transmitted over a TOSLINK cable which is made from fibre optical cable. You can also transmit S/PDIF over a solid copper lead but we will not go into detail as that's not relevant. When buying an a cable it's important you look for the name TOSLINK. Optical audio leads are also available in a smaller format similar to a 3.5mm jack, this is used for portable audio devices such as mini disc players and laptop computers. This size of connection will not work and should be avoided.

As mentioned previously, S/PDIF optical audio cables transmit the signal using light over fibre optic cable. You can actually see the red light at the end of the cable. Whilst it's always best using the shortest possible cable, you can get an optical audio lead up to 30 meters long. It's important not to bend the cable to tightly as this can kink the fiber optic inside and permanently damage the cable. If you are looking to purchase a higher quality cable you should consider a lead that uses quartz glass.

TOSLINK S/PDIF audio cables are relatively inexpensive. A simple internet search returns decent quality optical audio cables from as little as four pounds for a 1 meter cable. If that's too short we found a 20 meter cable on sale from a respected internet retailer for just twenty-four pounds in the United Kingdom. On final point to remember when you take delivery of your new cable, don't forget to remove the dust caps that protect the plugs on the end of the cable. You would be surprised just how many people ring the shop and say the cable does not fit.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 - Useful Facts and Information

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is the latest release within the successful Final Fantasy series, which has sold in excess of 100 million units world-wide. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a RPG title and will be the follow up to the previous hit, Final Fantasy XIII (which scored 83 within Metacritic), and offers numerous gameplay improvements with the aim to be better than its predecessor in every way.

The critically-acclaimed Final Fantasy combat model is totally overhauled, so gamers have got more options within battles through the use of dynamic cinematic quick-time actions. In this game players can also tame any monster in the game, and use these 'tamed monsters' as party members to help them fight in combat.

This game offers a multi-path, player-driven experience, and any choices made by the player within the adventure affects the way the story unfolds - Final Fantasy XIII-2 offers a number of story conclusions, and this offers extensive replayability. With larger, more user-interactive environments to discover, an abundance of side quests and secrets to discover, as well as fantastic visuals and sound effects, this game promises to be the most memorable Final Fantasy experience thus far!

GAME FEATURES:

A Wonderful New Story - Embark on an out of this world journey together with well-known as well as completely new heroes within the Final Fantasy story - the storyline for this game was written to ensure that anyone can play the game, even with no prior knowledge of the storyline through previous titles in the franchise.

Travel Through Time - A completely new gameplay feature known as the Historia Crux enables players to travel to places centuries into the future or centuries in the past. This gives players to experience possibilities like no previous title in the franchise, and many items in addition to information can only be collected in a certain location plus time within history. Additionally the scenery, plants, animal-life plus the weather within an environment will change according to 'when' one visits.

Monsters That Can Be Tamed - Any of the 150 various monsters you come across in the game can be tamed. Any creature that is tamed is enrolled within the player's party, and may then be used within combat. Each and every monster possesses unique abilities that may be further developed, and tactics are needed in order to choose the best tamed creatures for each battle situation.

Upgraded Battle System - Aided by the advantages of dynamic cinematic quick-time actions, gamers are provided with much more choices during combat. The new combat clock may punish or even compensate players based on the behavior and decisions made during battle, plus movie action scenes blur the line between battles and cut-scenes.

The actual release date for Final Fantasy XIII-2 is slated for 3rd Feb, 2012, with the video game to be available for the following gaming systems: Xbox 360 Consoles and PS3. The publishing house for the video game is Square Enix, and Square Enix were the developers for this game. The PEGI rating specified for this game is PEGI 16, so that it is suitable for ages 16 and upwards. The game will be single-player only.

Yellow Light of Death Fix: Ready Anytime, Anywhere

Hardcore gamers know how devastating it feels to encounter hardware problems with their PS3. It is like having your favorite pet die, knowing it will never come back. It is like losing an important document like your passport or a birth certificate. But good thing about PS3 equipment is that Yellow Light of Death problems can easily be addressed. Yellow light of Death fix can be obtained easily if you come to the right place and if you know the right person. To maximize the gaming experience with your PS3, problems on Yellow Light of Death should be solved with the help of a skilled repairman. A Playstation console is considered intricate equipment that contains great many parts which the untrained eye may not be able to handle effectively.

Yellow Light of Death may cause devastating problems for gamers, and most of the time console owners cannot help but feel helpless when struck with this problem. Out of desperation, some just junk out their malfunctioning console and just opt to buy a new one in order to get back to the game, but this is of course seriously impractical. A yellow light of death fix need not be expensive or costly. First, kindly check if the cords are placed in their sockets. If it is, check the power supply. Another thing is to check if the console is still covered by the company's warranty. Look online for the nearest service center that caters to the equipment's need. Compare also the service rates and decide which center you wish to entrust your console to. Find a reasonable rate and remember to keep it professional.

If you are not sure what caused the Yellow Light of Death to light up, do not panic. More importantly, do not undertake the task of performing a repair without proper and professional knowledge of the equipment. This may void the warranty (if it is still in effect) and may endanger you, should the equipment cause shock due to faulty electrical problems. Know first the company's profile and check with the people you know about the quality of service that they provided. Once you have settled on where you wish to have your console repaired, meet the technician and talk to him about what happened before the Yellow Light of Death lit up. A yellow light of death fix cannot be made if the technician does not have a background on the console's history. Remember to be honest as this will hasten up the process of a yellow light of death fix. If the technician knows what he is looking for, he can fix it faster. Agree on a reasonable service fee and do not be shy to ask for a discount; just remember to be gracious when he has done his job well too.

After having the PS3 yellow light of death fixed, remember to take care of the equipment. Check for overheating and make sure that adequate power supply reaches the console. Do not allow dust to build up on the console as this may affect the Blu-ray drive's ability to playback the disc. Place the console in a secure, well ventilated area. If possible, place a cooling fan near the console to prevent overheating. This will prevent the thermal paste to heat up to much and thereby cause the dreaded Yellow Light of Death. In the meantime, enjoy the endless possibilities with your PS3. You can challenge your friend on the latest first person shooting or your brother to a racing match. Whatever game you may choose, remember that Yellow Light of Death does not spell an end to your PS3 experience, if you know where to go and what to look for.

PS3 Repair: Important Tips You Must Know

To get the best of a PS3 repair, you must remember a couple of things. First, know what the problem is. It could be a YLOD, which generally means hardware malfunction, or a red light, which might indicate some mix up on the cords, but whatever it is, do not panic. The problem will be addressed as soon as you are ready to deal with it. If it is blinking too loud or hissing or making noises abnormally, unplug it from the power source and check for hardware damage. Be careful not to touch any exposed metal parts as those may cause shock, should the console be connected to the outlet.

Contact the nearest Sony service center and ask about a PS3 Repair. If you do not have the information at hand, you may browse their website and contact them immediately. Be careful in your search for online help. Hackers may present themselves as online customer service representatives and they may try to take your personal information as well as your banking details. Under no circumstances should you voluntarily give out sensitive information such as those mentioned above to those you do not trust. When you have contacted your trusted repair shop online, talk to the technician and describe your problem. If you can perform a self repair, the technician will guide you through the process. It is better to perform a PS3 repair with a trained technician guiding you through the process than opening the console at your own risk. Ask about data recovery and how you can salvage the game information if possible. If data recovery is not possible, proceed as instructed.

If you feel that the technician is not effectively guiding you through the repair process, do not hesitate to ask help from another, more skilled technician. This is to save you both from the agony of waiting and mind reading and to achieve faster PS3 repair. Never risk yourself or your hardware with the inexperienced or else your problem will just become aggravated when they mess up your entire system instead of fixing it. But rest assured that certified technicians will have had dozens of experiences similar to what you are experiencing at the moment. Do not also try to perform a PS3 repair by yourself with the aid of a video from the internet. It might worsen the problem and cause you a shock. Repairing the system requires true knowledge and mastery of the proper way of manipulating the parts.

Get the right PS3 repair with expert personnel who can help you in your trouble. If unsatisfied with the results, it is best to visit the nearest service center in town. You may bring the damaged console for a quality PS3 repair. An authorized service center is complete with the latest equipment to repair or replace damaged parts and is licensed to open your console without breaking the company's warranty. Bring in the equipment and explain the details to the technician making sure that you are on the same ground. Do not hesitate to ask questions if you are in doubt and in turn be ready to volunteer information that may hasten up the diagnosing process. It would be easier for the technician to perform a PS3 Repair if he knows where to look and what to look for. Agree on a reasonable service fee. Be generous to the technician and let him know that you will send word to your friends if he does a good job.

Lastly, once your PlayStation has been fully restored, take care of it like you would take care of your own body. Keep it away from dust and humidity making sure it is well ventilated and adequately powered.

PlayStation Vita Games - What You Can Play With the Latest PS Generation From Sony

PlayStation Vita is the next PS generation from Sony whose installment was released on 17 December 2012 in Japan and some countries in Asia and is due to launching on 22-23 February, 2012 in Europe, Australia, and North America. Along with that, several vendors are also attempting at developing games for the latest console. For you who live in Europe, Australia, and North America, here are some PlayStation Vita games you can pre-order along with the console. One of the cool fact when people buy this new console is there will be 25 games available on day 1 with the console and more than 100 games currently in development.

1. Ben 10 Galactic Racing
Monkey Bar Games is the developer of this racing game of the Ben 10 series. You can enable Ben's alien forms during the race in Galactic Grand Prix circuits. Released in North America on 18 October, 2011 and in Europe on 25 November 2011, Ben 10 Galactic Racing is also available for other gaming consoles such as PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS.

2. Uncharted: Golden Abyss
As one of the PlayStation Vita games developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, Uncharted: Golden Abyss offers versatile gameplay for Uncharted fans. Still with Nathan Drake as the story's protagonist, this latest Uncharted series takes its setting some time before the Uncharted: Drake's Fortune installment. In this story, you will undergo an adventure with Nathan Drake to uncover the mystery of a Spanish expedition massacre which happened 400 years ago while attempting to solve murderous problem amongst an ancient and secret Spanish sect.

3. Army Corps of Hell
Army Corps of Hell is a game designed by the Entersphere, Inc, which launches at the same time with the launching of Sony PlayStation Vita in North America. This action game will bring the player to a vicious combat between goblin soldiers and the enemies to regain the throne of the King of Hell.

4. Silent Hill: Book of Memories
For you who love survival horror games, you must be familiar with Silent Hill series. Good news for PS Vita enthusiast that in its latest installment of Silent Hill, Konami is releasing the Book of Memories only for the console. Silent Hill: Book of Memories will give you overhead isometric view, a new storyline, and recurring creatures from the previous series. Silent Hill: Book of Memories is the first series of the game which enables multiplayer gameplay.

5. LittleBigPlanet
Specially designed for PS Vita, the LittleBigPlanet is developed by multi-developer of Tarsier Studios, Double Eleven Limited, and Sony XDev Europe. This fifth installment of LittleBigPlanet series also launches in 2012. As other series of LittleBigPlanet, you will follow the adventure of Sackboy in many different kinds of world through the multi-touch display PS Vita.