A few months ago I released my Sniper Guide to the world. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to complete the guide, at least to the level I had envisioned, before Call of Duty: Black Ops was released. Regardless, I decided to release what I had because I didn't want all my effort to go to waste. Taking into account the fact that the guide wasn't really "finished" I chose to release it free. Yes, that's right FREE. So, all my hard work is yours to browse at the cost of $0.00. How's that for a Christmas present?
Download your copy of my Modern Warfare 2 Sniper Guide
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Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Modern Warfare 2 Sniper Guide
I've been putting off this project for some time now and it's about time I got crackin' on it. You see Modern Warfare 2, although the best selling game ever, is old news and a new title will replace it in November. In order to beat the movement of popularity, I have to write, and publish, the ebook by September, although I would love to have it done before August.
It is a project in the works, but I hope you will look for it on Amazon when it is finished.
It is a project in the works, but I hope you will look for it on Amazon when it is finished.
Why Elie Wiesel's Night is Called Night
Elie Wiesel's Night is a work of historical fiction based on his own experiences during the Holocaust. There are many reasons why Elie Wiesel decided to name his book "night", including its symbolism of the cruelty of
the Holocaust, as a symbol for death itself, and as a metaphor for his childhood.
Throughout the Holocaust, people (mostly Jews and enemies of the Nazi movement/party) were sent to concentration camps where they were forced to endure harsh conditions. Since the beginning of history, people all over the world have related the night to evil, darkness, and the unknown. Concentration camps had prisoners starved, beaten, and burned alive, each an act of great cruelty and heartlessness. Prisoners were subjected to such great torment that they, themselves, began to act like animals, cutting them down to their soul instinct, survival. Elie Wiesel describes this transformation from human to helpless creature on page 37, "The student of Talmud, the child I was, had been consumed by flames. All that was left was a shape that resembled me. My soul had been invaded - and devoured - by a black flame." Such was the horror of the Holocaust that, to the prisoners, life was like one long, unrelenting, night.
Death, though often a source of fear, and power, is rather, to some, a sanctuary. Many accounts of the Holocaust tell of people who would rather have chose death than deal with the injustices done to them by the Nazis. Death, eternal darkness, was used by the Nazis, and many other governments throughout the ages, to put down party opposition before it arose. Such fear of death was surpassed only by the pain inflicted upon prisoners residing in concentration camps. To them, death was their only solace. They could escape fear, pain, and suffering, finally being able to rest for eternity. This want for nothing more than an end to suffering is described in Night on page 105, "I knew that I was no longer arguing with hum but with Death itself, with Death that he had already chosen." This longing for darkness, for night, is portrayed in the book's title.
In Judaism, night symbolizes beginning, creation. As translated from chapter 1 of the book of Genesis, Berishit, "Now the Earth was astonishingly empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep... And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good, and God separated between the light and between the darkness." This was on the first day of creation and, as you can see, there was darkness before there was light. The same reason that Jewish holidays begin at sun-down rather than sun-up, is why Elie Wiesel decided to title his novel Night. He was only a child when he lived through the tragic events of the Holocaust, sixteen when his father was taken. These events not only took from him a normal childhood, but also the ability to live a "normal" life. It is impossible for him to have lived through such devastation unscathed. In fact he says, in the interview by PBS, that he had always felt that he should write a book about his experiences and that if he had not written Night, his first book, then he probably would have never written a book at all. Night symbolizes Elie Wiesel's beginnings both as a child and as a writer.
The Holocaust showed the world the evils that humans were capable of towards one another. Elie Wiesel's Night not only captures his experiences in the pages of the novel, but also in the title itself, describing the horrors of the Holocaust, the significance of death, and his own, tragic, childhood experiences.
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the Holocaust, as a symbol for death itself, and as a metaphor for his childhood.
Throughout the Holocaust, people (mostly Jews and enemies of the Nazi movement/party) were sent to concentration camps where they were forced to endure harsh conditions. Since the beginning of history, people all over the world have related the night to evil, darkness, and the unknown. Concentration camps had prisoners starved, beaten, and burned alive, each an act of great cruelty and heartlessness. Prisoners were subjected to such great torment that they, themselves, began to act like animals, cutting them down to their soul instinct, survival. Elie Wiesel describes this transformation from human to helpless creature on page 37, "The student of Talmud, the child I was, had been consumed by flames. All that was left was a shape that resembled me. My soul had been invaded - and devoured - by a black flame." Such was the horror of the Holocaust that, to the prisoners, life was like one long, unrelenting, night.
Death, though often a source of fear, and power, is rather, to some, a sanctuary. Many accounts of the Holocaust tell of people who would rather have chose death than deal with the injustices done to them by the Nazis. Death, eternal darkness, was used by the Nazis, and many other governments throughout the ages, to put down party opposition before it arose. Such fear of death was surpassed only by the pain inflicted upon prisoners residing in concentration camps. To them, death was their only solace. They could escape fear, pain, and suffering, finally being able to rest for eternity. This want for nothing more than an end to suffering is described in Night on page 105, "I knew that I was no longer arguing with hum but with Death itself, with Death that he had already chosen." This longing for darkness, for night, is portrayed in the book's title.
In Judaism, night symbolizes beginning, creation. As translated from chapter 1 of the book of Genesis, Berishit, "Now the Earth was astonishingly empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep... And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good, and God separated between the light and between the darkness." This was on the first day of creation and, as you can see, there was darkness before there was light. The same reason that Jewish holidays begin at sun-down rather than sun-up, is why Elie Wiesel decided to title his novel Night. He was only a child when he lived through the tragic events of the Holocaust, sixteen when his father was taken. These events not only took from him a normal childhood, but also the ability to live a "normal" life. It is impossible for him to have lived through such devastation unscathed. In fact he says, in the interview by PBS, that he had always felt that he should write a book about his experiences and that if he had not written Night, his first book, then he probably would have never written a book at all. Night symbolizes Elie Wiesel's beginnings both as a child and as a writer.
The Holocaust showed the world the evils that humans were capable of towards one another. Elie Wiesel's Night not only captures his experiences in the pages of the novel, but also in the title itself, describing the horrors of the Holocaust, the significance of death, and his own, tragic, childhood experiences.
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
What PS3 Trophies Do
People new to the "gaming scene" often wonder about their gamer score. Questions like "what can I do with it?", "Does it unlock stuff?", and "How do I get more?" are frequently asked by friends and in forums. To clear up all this confusion, I'll tell you exactly what the in-game trophies award you, as well as what they don't.
For those of you who don't know, trophies are awarded upon completion of pre-designated feats or parts of the game, such as beating a boss and finishing a level. These trophies are used to keep players playing, giving them an incentive to experience everything the game has to offer, and also share it with their friends. I often use the unlockable trophies to get a notion of what the game is in terms of plot, openness, and abilities.
Now that we know what the basic principle is behind gamer score, we can go into what you can do with all those trophies that you have unlocked. The most prevalent misconception that I have come across in regards to gamer score is that you can use it to buy things. Gamer score is nothing more than points that track your progress/completion of games. As a general rule, the more gamer score you have, the more seasoned you are as a gamer. Of course, there is the occasional exception where you will find a gamer score "guru" who must have more money than he knows what to do with as his profile sits on a game library populated with a couple hundred titles. But I digress, gamer score cannot be used to purchase anything, not yet anyway, although you are able to use it as bragging rights or a badge displaying your gaming expertise. Despite not being able to purchase anything with your trophies, it is possible to unlock items, DLC, or secret codes/missions with your gamer score. One example is relatively new program run by Ubisoft that allows you to trade in Ubi points, given to you by unlocking trophies, for exclusive content such as missions and outfits. Another instance of said situation, although only available to Xbox 360 owners, is the availability of the Hyabusa sword in Halo 3 matchmaking by unlocking achievements equaling 1000 gamer score, or more, in the title. So earning gamer score isn't a total waste, but the thought of unlocking content won't be the driving force behind your trophy unlocks. Trophies weren't created for micro transactions in the first place, being geared more for friendly competition than anything else. Regardless, trophies, and gamer score for that matter, are constantly being fixed and tweaked to provide a more engaging gaming experience for all.
To sum it all up, trophies won't get you much when it comes to purchasing add-ons and other DLC, but it will provide a more enjoyable gaming experience and much-sought-after bragging rights.
For those of you who don't know, trophies are awarded upon completion of pre-designated feats or parts of the game, such as beating a boss and finishing a level. These trophies are used to keep players playing, giving them an incentive to experience everything the game has to offer, and also share it with their friends. I often use the unlockable trophies to get a notion of what the game is in terms of plot, openness, and abilities.
Now that we know what the basic principle is behind gamer score, we can go into what you can do with all those trophies that you have unlocked. The most prevalent misconception that I have come across in regards to gamer score is that you can use it to buy things. Gamer score is nothing more than points that track your progress/completion of games. As a general rule, the more gamer score you have, the more seasoned you are as a gamer. Of course, there is the occasional exception where you will find a gamer score "guru" who must have more money than he knows what to do with as his profile sits on a game library populated with a couple hundred titles. But I digress, gamer score cannot be used to purchase anything, not yet anyway, although you are able to use it as bragging rights or a badge displaying your gaming expertise. Despite not being able to purchase anything with your trophies, it is possible to unlock items, DLC, or secret codes/missions with your gamer score. One example is relatively new program run by Ubisoft that allows you to trade in Ubi points, given to you by unlocking trophies, for exclusive content such as missions and outfits. Another instance of said situation, although only available to Xbox 360 owners, is the availability of the Hyabusa sword in Halo 3 matchmaking by unlocking achievements equaling 1000 gamer score, or more, in the title. So earning gamer score isn't a total waste, but the thought of unlocking content won't be the driving force behind your trophy unlocks. Trophies weren't created for micro transactions in the first place, being geared more for friendly competition than anything else. Regardless, trophies, and gamer score for that matter, are constantly being fixed and tweaked to provide a more engaging gaming experience for all.
To sum it all up, trophies won't get you much when it comes to purchasing add-ons and other DLC, but it will provide a more enjoyable gaming experience and much-sought-after bragging rights.
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Thrill of Simulation Games
Honestly, most people lead mundane lives. Lives of repetition. This rhythm of life is what has lead to the enormously successful entertainment industry filled with pastimes and original stories that transport the viewer/player into a new world. A world of bliss and, to some extent, ignorance.
Simulation games are popular for much the same reasons that many MMOs are so popular; sim games allow you to step into a new life, a new skin. In this simulation of life whether it be fantasy, science fiction, or based on real-life, you are granted the ability to craft your own destiny, something that many people feel is out of their reach. Regular, ordinary, people are given god-like powers to customize, control, and perform incredible acts of kindness, power, or even cruelty. The possibilities really are endless, at least as long as the player's imagination is intact and the game continues to receive updates. Furthermore, such bouts of rage, showcasing of power, and acts of benevolence cause no, tangible, repercussions. Sure your character may be sent to jail for two weeks, thirty minutes real-time, but you aren't actually going to jail and your life will continue as normal the next morning, assuming you haven't played into the early hours of that same morning. Running rampant through the city won't get you shot at, or thrown into the judicial system for that matter, though such illicit activity may bring about the timely appearance of a tight-wearing superhero. But when it comes down to it, it isn't the fantasy creature, beautiful graphics, or tear jerking audios that cause the "thrill of simulation games", no, it is the chance to live another life, another way, without regrets, responsibilities, well maybe to your king, but definitely not your boss, or hard ships. You are simply living the life of someone else, doing what you want to do, when you want to do it, without the burden of society resting on your shoulders. The experience really is liberating, you should try it sometime, in fact some might argue it is therapeutic, but that's for a different discussion, in a different piece of writing.
To sum it all up, the thrill of simulation games flows out of the simulation experience itself, the donning of a new skin, a new persona, even if it is only for a couple hours at a time.
Like this article? Have Hamilton write an article on YOUR subject for a low flat rate.
Simulation games are popular for much the same reasons that many MMOs are so popular; sim games allow you to step into a new life, a new skin. In this simulation of life whether it be fantasy, science fiction, or based on real-life, you are granted the ability to craft your own destiny, something that many people feel is out of their reach. Regular, ordinary, people are given god-like powers to customize, control, and perform incredible acts of kindness, power, or even cruelty. The possibilities really are endless, at least as long as the player's imagination is intact and the game continues to receive updates. Furthermore, such bouts of rage, showcasing of power, and acts of benevolence cause no, tangible, repercussions. Sure your character may be sent to jail for two weeks, thirty minutes real-time, but you aren't actually going to jail and your life will continue as normal the next morning, assuming you haven't played into the early hours of that same morning. Running rampant through the city won't get you shot at, or thrown into the judicial system for that matter, though such illicit activity may bring about the timely appearance of a tight-wearing superhero. But when it comes down to it, it isn't the fantasy creature, beautiful graphics, or tear jerking audios that cause the "thrill of simulation games", no, it is the chance to live another life, another way, without regrets, responsibilities, well maybe to your king, but definitely not your boss, or hard ships. You are simply living the life of someone else, doing what you want to do, when you want to do it, without the burden of society resting on your shoulders. The experience really is liberating, you should try it sometime, in fact some might argue it is therapeutic, but that's for a different discussion, in a different piece of writing.
To sum it all up, the thrill of simulation games flows out of the simulation experience itself, the donning of a new skin, a new persona, even if it is only for a couple hours at a time.
Like this article? Have Hamilton write an article on YOUR subject for a low flat rate.
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