Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Ready to game? Get your friends, snacks and the game popped in. Have to connected to the Internet and your foreign gaming friends? Do not start playing right away. Your final check should be reading this article and making sure you are maximizing your gaming.

Try buying used video games. Brand new video games usually cost a lot of money, oftentimes as much as $50! If you buy one of those and find out that you do not like it, you will feel bad about it. You can save as much as 50% by purchasing used video games.

If you're buying a game for a gift, be sure to find the ESRB rating when purchasing one for a child. This rating will help you understand what age level the game is most appropriate for and will let you know if the game is violent. This should be a definite consideration before making the purchase.

Make sure you take cover if reloading a weapon during a shooting game. Gamers will often get their character killed by standing around and reloading in an unsafe area. Don't let this be you! Find a wall or building that you can hide behind, then reload as fast as you can.

If you are unsure if you can play a game on your computer, look to see if the game is supported by your version of Windows. After a download, this cool page will determine if you meet the requirements for a particular game. If you don't like to download things, just delete it once you are finished with it.

Turn off the chat if young children are playing. This will ensure they are safe from online predators. If the chat system cannot be disabled, you may want to reconsider your purchase. Speak with a salesperson or search the Internet to find out.

Be wary of online games. There is often a monthly fee for access to these sites. Before your child signs up for any site, be sure to check it out first. Be certain about fees. If there is a fee, decide whether or not the game is worth it.

Try a little one-on-one video gaming with your children. This is a great way to learn more about your children and their interests. Sharing video gaming with your kids can help to strengthen your closeness. They will also benefit from having you close by to see and aid in the progression of their developmental skills.

When playing, it's important to take many breaks. Video games can become very addicting and lead to an unhealthy lifestyle if you aren't careful with taking breaks. Playing and practicing a game is something that should be fun. If you suspect you're addicted to playing a game and it takes over your life, you should speak with a doctor about it.

If your child plays video games, it is important that you try these games yourself or at least watch what your child is doing. Spend some time playing the game and watching your child play. Playing video games together opens the door to great conversations and bonding. Hands-on experiences are always the most useful.

Video games can help you exercise. Gaming that involves motion sensing is all around you these days. Today, you can get your exercise in through certain sports-related video games like yoga. You can now get into great shape using your video game in your living room.

Try playing a demo before you spend money on a full copy of anything. Trials allow you to try the game on for size and see if you enjoy it. If you the trial of a certain game, try buying the full version.

Keep an eye on your kids whenever they play online video games. Many have their ESRB rating, but they also have warnings about situations changing in-game that will fall outside of that rating. You will learn that some games allow chat between players, and others have customizing options for weapons or risque articles of clothing. You need to make sure your child is safe when playing these types of games.

Now you are prepared to resume your position at the head of the gaming pack. It is possible to beat all opponents by gaining a bit of critical gaming knowledge. Gaming is like any other hobby, the more you know, the more fun you can have!