Resources

 Online gaming is a quickly growing industry as people are learning how inexpensive the fun can be. There are a multitude of free gaming sites and other gaming communities with low game prices or monthly subscription fees. Although the game offerings and styles may be slightly different, in basic mechanics all of them are the same. To join any online gaming community, you will create a player profile, need a valid email account, and a method of payment to cover any fees.

The first step is finding an online gaming community you like. Some are very large with a multitude of card, puzzle, and popular web based games. Others are smaller communities specializing in perhaps only one game, like a role playing game or virtual simulation. The larger communities offer a greater variety of games, are more likely to be free or have nominal monthly fees. However, with smaller online gaming communities, players are more likely to regularly interact with the same players, thus making online friends. Another benefit of smaller online gaming communities is game developers are more likely to seek player input for new game functions and features.

Once you find a gaming community you enjoy, and most will offer some type of trial or guest membership to try out the games, you will need to sign up. In most cases, you really need to use your real name and information for registration, as this information is checked against your credit card company’s information when you pay. This information is also necessary if the online gaming community you join offers prizes or gift cards for frequent playing. For concerns about privacy, view the privacy statement of the gaming site to learn about how your information will be stored and used.

You should also note which information will be public and private, as you may only want other gamers to see your first name, and city location. There should be an opportunity to create a public profile, or choose which fields of your registration is made public. Do not advertise your personal email address. Instead, sign up for a free email address so other players can contact you, but spammers can’t access your main email account.

Once you register, the online gaming community will likely send a confirmation or verification email to the address you used. Open the email and click on the link inside to prove to the gaming website you are a real person registering with the system. Next, read the rules or Terms of Service statement. Online gaming communities are supposed to be fun, and many websites are now taking strong stances about profanity, adult content, and advertising inside game forums and chat areas. Common reprimands for TOS (Terms of Service) violations include account cancellation, IP address bans, and possible forfeiture of any membership fees.

To keep your online gaming experience safe, there are a few practices players should use to protect their personal interests, but still join in the fun.

* Use a separate email account just for gaming.

* Do not use the same password for the online gaming site as you do for your banking, credit card, or even Paypal account.

* If available, pay anonymously by purchasing gaming gift cards at a major retailer and use the codes to redeem game time.

* Absolutely use a professional anti-spyware application like XoftSpySE from Paretologic.com because “free” gaming sites are notorious for packaging adware and spyware with game downloads.

I keep getting the error message: java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\ Application DataSunJavaDeployment\ securitytrusted.certs (Access is denied).

Many MMOs (Massive Multi-Player Online) games rely on the magic of Java to work across the world. Although Java is universal, individual computers will have their quirks before all of the programs are running smoothly. Unfortunately, for this error there isn’t a specific fix from either Runescape or Java, but we can still try to fix it based on the type of error.

First, the majority of java.io.FileNotFoundExceptions are related to JDK (Java Development Kit) errors. JDK is for game developers, not game players. To play Runescape, you must download and install JRE (Java Runtime Environment) and the recommendation is to use version 6.0 or higher. Take a quick trip to the Java website, java.com to find out which version, if any, your computer is running. You may want to remove Java and reinstall a fresh copy just to make sure that the program installation is sound.

Another possibility is you have a firewall or other Internet security measure blocking Java applets. Unfortunately, not only those with scruples develop Java applets (the name of the little web-based applications that run on Java). Check your firewall and security settings to see if it is blocking Runescape. You can try adding it to an Allow list, or test by turning off the firewall just to see if this is where the block is occurring. There is also a Java Console in the Control Panel once Java is installed that may also provide Security Settings.

Finally, there are the problems associated with Windows Vista. First, you can’t use 64-bit Java with Runescape. The game does not support 64-bit Java yet, so that may be why there is a missing “file” though in reality the problem is the wrong version. Java.com may recommend 64-bit Java due to your detected system settings, Vista. You will need to manually select a 32-bit version of Java (such as one for XP) and it should work fine.

One last possible culprit is you are trying to run and install Java and Runescape without the administrator account, or without permissions to install software from the administrator. Windows Vista also has a feature called User Access Control that has been known to create access issues for Java applets. The only way around it is to disable the feature from the Control Panel, but Java warns this action will diminish your computer’s security features.

If nothing else works, remove Runescape and Java from your computer. Download and reinstall them, careful to note the settings and versions you are using. Then try calling Runescape’s technical help line. It’s possible they know of this error, and just haven’t published a solution for it. Given the proliferation of Runescape, and the familiar Compaq brand name, it likely just something is slightly amiss. A few attempts of changing security settings and making sure you have the right version of Java should fix the problem.

Installing Incredimail is an easy process that takes a minimal amount of time and few steps. Whenever I install any new programs, I always make sure that I close all other running programs. I do this is to cut back on the amount of memory that is currently being accessed by my computer, which should speed up the process. The Incredimail download is free.

Simply visit the website page for downloads and upgrades for Incredimail and follow the instructions for downloading the software. The download page for Incredimail indicates the total number of megabytes needed for storage. It’s important that the computer has enough free space on it to accommodate the download and installation. Otherwise, the process will not fully complete itself and the process will not occur.

For users with the Windows XP version, a dialogue box opens featuring the “File Download-Security Warning.” This is the typical warning that appears to caution users that some downloads are potentially dangerous. In this case, since you are initiating the download, you should have no cause for concern and you can continue with the download and subsequent installation.

When the “File Download-Security Warning” appears, simply click on “run,” which is one of three choices. The download will take place at this time. Once the download has finished with the Windows XP version, click on “run” again in order for the installation of Incredimail to take place.

For other versions of Windows, the Incredimail Installation dialogue box opens. It provides the option to select the language in which you want the installation to take place. Simply click on your choice and click the word “next,” which will appear in red at the bottom of the options. As soon as the installation takes place, Incredimail will open automatically. At this point, you can begin to enjoy the many features of Incredimail.

The primary reason for upgrading my version of Incredimail is simply to take advantage of any of the improvements or enhancements that have been developed since my version. Even though I might not be aware of any changes to this application, most companies are constantly tweaking their products in order to provide a better experience.

When I decide to upgrade my version of Incredimail, there’s no need for me to uninstall it first. However, I am going to check whether I need to upgrade or not. I can do this by going to the Incredimail download/upgrade page to see what the latest version is by checking the Build ID. This ID can usually be found by clicking the phrase “version details” in the center of the page. To check what version I have, I can visit the help menu and select “About Incredimail.” Not only will the page portray all of the latest versions, but it will also provide the release dates for each version along with a brief explanation of any changes such as bug fixes or compatibility issues.

 Casual computer gaming is the term referencing the explosion in downloadable games from popular PC gaming sites such as Yahoo!, Big Fish Games, iWin, and Pogo. The games are known for cartoon-like graphics, easy game play, and the famous one hour or thirty-minute trial period. Pricing for the games ranges from the high end of $29.99 for specialty games to $19.99 for the normal retail price. By signing up for monthly memberships, consumers can buy games for as low as $6.99 with the requirement of one purchase each month.

The concentration for casual games is on fun game play, the actions a user must engage in to progress the game, over flashy graphics or features. Most games are a simple linear story with users unlocking levels or areas as certain requirements are fulfilled. Understanding the game shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, and “beating” the game is usually an obtainable goal for most gamers.

Developers are springing up literally left and right to keep churning out the games. Each week sees numerous new games released in varying genres. The main genres for casual games are arcade, time management, object find, puzzles, word, trivia, and simulators.

Arcade games are the popular platform games we all grew up on. Arcade games are known for requiring actions by the user, whether it’s mouse click to shoot or switch pieces, or using arrow keys to move a character through levels.

Time management games are for those who like arcade style action with the timing of a clock. The game Dinner Dash is a notable title in the time management genre, and most involve the management of some type of business or organization.

Object finding games are colorful and interactive versions of the Highlights picture finds of childhood. Some games are linked to settings of magic academies, or castle, while others adopt a whodunit? theme with players searching for a crook and stolen items.

Puzzle games are simple games with matching colored pieces or shapes in pursuit of a goal. There are traditional games employing the traditional jigsaw piece method, and those that expand into three dimensional matching and swap games.

Word games involve everything from crosswords to finding words in a pile of jumbled letters. Other games include making words from a set number of letters, or filling-in blanks to make words against a timer.

Trivia games are mainly adaptations of popular game shows, or older trivia board games. Casual trivia games have the ability to update with time, and offer a wider range of categories than older versions of many popular games.

Simulators bring make-believe to home computers. Simulate real-life as a business person, pet owner, or even house decorator. Other simulations can provide educational opportunities for kids to understand money management, time management, or business skills.

The world of casual gaming seems to be growing as fast as developers can make them. Popular titles are even expanding beyond the computer world, and finding their way onto cell phones or traditional gaming consoles. Other forms of entertainment and media are finding casual games as another outlet to advertise the latest movie, television show, or book by tying content into a game. Some games relate very well to the material like the Agatha Christie titles or Nancy Drew mysteries; others are remakes of games with characters from the entertainment form, such as SpongeBob Diner Dash.

While some may cringe at the pricing of casual games, the subscription services really do make it worth it. For less money than a movie ticket, users can download a game that will give many hours of entertainment. As far as entertainment pricing goes, casual games offer some of the cheapest entertainment outlets available.

However, games aren’t completely trouble free. Common issues include out of date Java or Flash installations, out-of-memory errors, DirectX compatibility, video and sound driver issues, and system crashes.

 Games for Windows Live is an exciting gaming community (with both free and paid memberships) that connects PC gamers with other PC gamers and Xbox live gamers over the Internet for multi-player gaming. However, simply signing up for an account doesn’t always ensure smooth game playing operation. Your computer may not connect to Games for Windows Live properly or it may experience any number of errors including incompatibility, system crashes, and other issues. Below are a few of the more common Games for Windows Live errors and possible solutions.

One of the easiest of these problems to solve involves the Windows Vista “guest” account. If you are signed onto a Vista computer as a guest, you simply won’t be able to access the Games for Windows Live. To solve this, sign on with your regular account. If you are using a friend’s computer, you will need to ask your friend to create a special, basic user account that you can use.

Another reported problem playing Games for Windows Live involves anti-virus programs blocking this service. Visit the anti-virus vendor’s Web site for updates that may solve this problem. For example, this is a known issue with Kaspersky Antivirus software running on Windows XP.

If your computer has an AMD Dual-Core processor, you may experience unresponsive gaming or freezes while browsing Games for Windows Live menus. This problem is easily overcome by installing the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer update on your computer. This update is available from AMD’s Support and Resources page.

Connectivity issues are also common when trying to play Games for Windows Live games. This can happen when the network adapter isn’t configured properly. You can change the order in which the connections occur by going into the Advanced Settings menu of your network adapter. To do this, go to the Start button > Run and type in: ncpa.cpl (or go to the Control Panel and find the Network Connections icon).

Go to the Advanced Menu and select Advanced Settings. (If you have Windows Vista, hit the Alt key to show the menu). Click the Adapters and Bindings tab and find the Connections area. Click the up and down arrow to change the order.

Firewalls have also been known to block access to Games for Windows Live. You may need to manually enter your particular game as an exception. For example, if you have Halo 2 on your computer, you can instruct the firewall to allow Halo 2 to connect through the Windows Firewall. Do this by going to the Control Panel and opening Windows Firewall. Click on the Exceptions tab, click Add Program, and then browse for Halo 2 (or other Games for Windows title). Click Open followed by clicking OK several times to confirm your change.

Microsoft regularly produces updates for Games for Windows Live. Make sure to download the latest updates. These updates often address known issues.

 Many PC video games take advantage of the latest DirectX technology. However, as the games adopt the latest DirectX technology, your computer may not have kept pace. Games may not load properly or they may appear distorted with odd colors and textures or even missing graphical elements.

The first step in overcoming such distortion is to make sure that you have the latest version of DirectX installed on your computer and then update your video card drivers.

You can check your current version of DirectX by using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Go to the Start button > Run and type in: dxdiag. This will launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. The tool shows you a variety of information about your system including the current version of DirectX that you are running. If you need to update your version, go to Microsoft’s DirectX page and update your DirectX installation.

Once your DirectX installation is updated, it’s time to update your video drivers. As Microsoft releases new versions of DirectX, the video card and chipset manufacturers follow by updating drivers that can handle the new demands and features. You will need to know your exact video card along with crucial information such as current version and operating system. Find this out by going to the Display tab in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Here, you’ll find the name, manufacturer, chip type, driver, version, date, and other information.

Once you know these details, you can go the manufacturer’s Web site and download the appropriate updated device drivers. Make sure to follow all instructions carefully and double check that you are downloading the appropriate drivers for your system. For added safety, set a System Restore point before proceeding.

Did you know that excessive heat can affect your graphics? Many gaming enthusiasts “overclock” their systems; however, overclocking can cause the system to overheat. Consider resetting your hardware to default speeds and adding a fan to your computer to reduce this problem. Periodic maintenance such as blowing out dust and debris can also help air flow. If you have a laptop, an inexpensive chill pad will help cool things down.

Some distortion problems can be solved by configuring the display settings within the game that you are playing. For example, World of Warcraft display settings can be adjusted by opening the config.wtf file in a text editor such as Notepad. In this case, you would change the following settings:

SET specular “1″ - change this line to: SET specular “0″

SET pixelShaders “1″ - change this line to: SET pixelShaders “0″

If you do not see these lines, you can type them in yourself with the appropriate “0″ value.

Save the file, reboot the computer, and re-launch World of Warcraft.

If you are still having problems, you may want to adjust the rendering mode of the game from OpenGL to Direct3D. In the config.wtf file, the line to change this is:

SET gxAPI “opengl” - change this line to: SET gxAPI “direct3d”

Finally, you may need to adjust or turn off UI acceleration. Once again, go into the config.wtf file and make one of the following adjustments:

Set UIFaster “2″ (this sets acceleration to partial)

or

Set UIFaster “0″ (this turns off acceleration)

Note: do not use a value of “1″ in this command as it is an internal command. To turn UI acceleration back on, use Set UIFaster “3″.

Updating DirectX and video drivers will solve many common gaming graphical errors but not all. The game that you are playing will likely have display settings that you can adjust as shown in the World of Warcraft example. Keep in mind that the steps for doing so will vary by game. Check the support documentation for the game that you need to adjust for details.