Buy An xBox 360: Payment Plan Options

With the xBox 360 still holding strong against the new PS3, many new gamers are planning on purchasing one. The biggest problem though is the price. At between $299 and $399 dollars it can be tricky coming up with the purchase cost all at once. Luckily, most of the major retailers offer some type of payment plan that makes the purchase much easier. Here's a look at several popular payment plans for the xBox 360.

Walmart's "Bill Me Later" Program

If you purchase an xBox 360 from Walmart, you have the option to use their "Bill Me Later" program. This gives you up to 90 days to pay for your xBox 360 at the retail price without any extra finance charges. The payment option is actual in the form of a loan from Chase Bank, but as long as you complete your payment within the first 3 months, you won't be charged any interest. You have to make sure and specifiy you want to use the "No Payments For 90 Days" option when you choose to use the "Bill Me Later" program.

If you have any questions, make sure to ask the salesperson before you sign any agreements and make your purchase. Rembember, if you miss your payments or are late, the interest and finance charges can add up fast.

Best Buy's Credit Card

Best Buy also offers great pricing on the xBox 360. Furthermore, you can apply for a Best Buy credit card. If approved, you can also split your payments over 90 days without worrying about paying any interest. Keep in mind, this credit card is only good for in-store purchases, but if you don't make your payments on time it can still affect your real world credit rating.

As always, use store credit like this with caution. These no-interest finance options sound great - and they can be helpful if you carefully budget your money and keep track of your payments. Unfortunately, they also make it tempting to buy more than you can afford. You'll have to ask yourself, is it really a good idea to buy an xBox 360 on this type of credit if in the end you have to pay extra fees, fines and interest because you didn't budget well?

Paypal Credit With Ebay Purchases

If you want to get a low price on an xBox 360 and split the payments up, you might consider shopping for yours on eBay. Many eBay sellers who deal in gaming consoles also offer financing plans if you make your purchase through paypal. The details of these options vary and are only available to United States residents who pass the credit approval process. With some of the financing allowing for payments to be split up over many months without interest though, the combination of eBay prices and Paypal credit is worth looking into.

Keep in mind though, when shopping through eBay, be very careful who you deal with. Despite eBay's strict rules enforcement, some scam artists still manage to list and sell gaming consoles such as the xBox 360 with no intention of delivering them. Luckily, in order to offer the paypal credit option, sellers have to pass a screening process which makes them much more likely to be safe to deal with.

Many other retailers offer variations on these payment plans, so you'll probably want to do a bit more research to find out which one is rigth for you. The descriptions above should give you an idea of what to expect though and give you a solid basis for comparing any other xBox 360 payment plan options you come across.

xBox 360 Game Review - Soccer on the XBox - Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007

Soccer on the XBox - Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 xBox 360 Game Review - Konami has always been the underdog of sports games. They never had EA backing, or the support of the big sports companies. But, they always managed to create games that played like a dream.

Winning Eleven is Xbox's first soccer offering. It's basically the same as the PS2 game but with improved graphics. It doesn't have all the features of the PS2 game.

Konami's soccer games in the past have always had an edge over everybody else's. This is because of the stunning realistic movement of the players. The team really plays together like a real team. The developers have really studied the physics of soccer and used the best technology available for the game.

Winning Eleven also has the best graphics I've ever seen on any soccer game. The backgrounds are so realistic you can almost make out the fans' faces, and the players look almost real. This is helped by the smooth movement of the game.

There are lots of set-up options so you can build your team. You can play quick games, career games or online play with other Winning Eleven players.

Most of Winning Eleven follows its predecessors, with the exception that there is more you can do offensively. There are so many ways to control dribbling, you really have to practice with the machine before you can start playing. If you know how to do it, you can control the ball perfectly, just like a real soccer game. You can stop or turn quickly, and even control how much time there is between taps on the ball. The controls are so sensitive to the touch, you can practice and learn how to finesse it just like you want to. The degree of control the player has is one of the best things about this game. You have tons of options for passes, using button combos on the controller for short, long or through passes. They've used AI technology to create the players, so you can really develop your passes like a real soccer pro team.

After you've reached a certain score (meaning that you have the technique to do them) there are a bunch of tricks you can do. You can fake out the other players, or do jutes or other common soccer tricks. These are tough to do, but can come in handy and make your game much tougher. When you first try to do tricks, it'll seem slow, clumsy and impossible. But, practice makes perfect.

The only thing I don't like about the game is the horrible music. For some reason, soccer games always have a terrible techno-electronic soundtrack. It might be the tastes of the primarily European audience. It's a minor detail, but it gets annoying. Some music preference features might be a good idea for future versions of the game.

If you want the most realistic soccer video game experience, XBox's Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 is just what you need. With some practice and experience, you'll be able to control your players so well, it's like a real game of soccer.

Where To Find XBox 360 Cheat Codes

You know, I never really considered myself a "cheater," and I always thought cheating was a low kind of thing to do, but I'm an avid gamer and I want to get further in my games. And besides, who'd be hurt if I cheated a little here and there on my XBox games?

So, maybe it's a question of honor: I got to the end of the game WITHOUT cheating! I did it all by myself! Aw, forget it, there's no glory there...

Let's Cheat!

There are tons of websites out there offering you cheat codes. What can you do these codes, anyway?

Cheat codes aren't really cheating, they're just giving your character new powers. I mean, it's not like putting a mod chip into your machine and hacking into the game itself or anything like that. In fact, nowadays cheats are built into games in the form of "easter eggs."

Remember "Adventure" for the Atari 2600, and that wall you could pass through into the secret screen? What? OK, I'm old. I'll shut up.

Alright, how about this: In "Contra" for Nintendo... up down up down left right left right b a b a - and you have 30 lives!

Okay, so cheats have come a long way since then. Some of the things you can do with cheat codes include skipping levels, giving yourself special powers, unlimited lives, indestructibility... anything you can imagine.

Serious XBox users cheat only for experimental purposes, or so they say. With cheats, you can get ahead a little or try out some new things to heighten your gaming experience. With most XBox games, you won't accrue points the same way when you use cheats. In other words, your score won't be the same as if you had done it yourself. Still, it's fun to see what you can do!

As far back as the mid-1980's there were gaming magazines that had cheat codes. Now it's a common feature of gaming magazines. But, the best place to find cheats is online. There are websites with tons and tons of cheats for you to try out.

Here are a few places to start:

www.CheatCodes.com - This site's front page has all the game system's logos. You just click on the XBox 360 and it gives you an alphabetical directory of all the games. There is all kinds of information for each game, not just cheat codes, and you can sign up and post your own cheats.

www.MoFunZone.com - Mo Fun Zone has free downloadable games you can play on your computer. On a side bar to the left of the screen, they have a game cheats section. They also have each system's logo, and an alphabetical listing of games. One of my fave XBox 360 games is Madden NFL 07, and just looking under that game, there are at least 40 cheat codes that let you do things like get 10,000 rush yards or 500 tackles!

www.GameFAQs.com - This site has tons of XBox 360 cheats. It has lots of other special features like the latest gaming new and review too. This is a good all around gaming sight.

Aside from these sites, check gaming forums. Most forums have a section full of cheats where everybody shares their best. So, get out there and have some fun!

Accessorize Your Xbox

Just like a car, Microsoft XBox consoles also have accessories. If you search for it online, there is an additional tax for shipping and delivery rate. You can get your Xbox accessories on www.amazon.com or even on www.ebay.com.

However, the XBox enthusiasts get theirs at toy stores. Besides, it is cheaper. Here is a list of the available accessories for the Microsoft XBox.

1. XBox Controllers

These are standard accessories, meaning they are made available when you buy the system. But some gamers tened to overuse their controller that they soon need a new one.

It is interesting to note that there is an array of XBox controllers available on the market. Like there are wireless controllers, XBox Eclipse controller, XBox Afterglow controller and so much more. It is all up to the gamer which one to get.

2. XBox Arcade Sticks

There are some games available for the XBox that can be controlled by arcade sticks for better game play. As opposed to the controller, arcade sticks can allow the gamers to flick their wrists more, therefore, there’s better control.

Best example where the XBox Arcade Sticks are compatible are the fighting games for the console.

3. XBox Steering Wheels

If there are fighting games, there are also driving games. Thanks to XBox Steering Wheels, the gamer can sit right in front of the TV set and drive away.

4. XBox Memory Cards

Memory cards aren't included when you buy an XBox console. This is because it isn't an essential accessory since the XBox has an 8 GB harddisk build-in. This can let the player save all his game information.

An XBox memory card is used when transferring a saved game from one XBox console to another. Some serious gamers also prefer that they back up their games, especially when it is a valued endeavor.

XBox memory cards are perfect for hardcore gamers. It is inserted in the console and plugged into the sockets on its two memory card slots.

5. XBox Headset With Communicator

The most successful game in the entire XBox franchise is “Halo”. Released in 2004, it is still as popular as ever. A headset with a communicator lets the gamer interact with the other players of “Halo” making it more real.

X-Box Cheat Sheets

A serious gamer wouldn't think twice when it comes to cheating. Obviously, he would want to finish the game without any help whatsoever. But there are those who get stuck at one point in a game and the solution they can resort to is the numerous cheat sheets that can be found online.

Before, gamers purchase the gaming magazines for a better viewpoint of the game. However, thanks to the internet, one can just sit back and surf and get all the information he needs for the game.

XBox cheats are rampant on the world wide web. So many kind souls have been generous enough to share what they know to players who are in need of it.

An example of a site that has all the cheats you need is the www.xboxcheats.com. There you will find every XBox game code, hints and video game cheats to every Xbox game out there on the market.

Gamers have collected cheat codes either from their own game play experience or from various network and sites out there. These have been placed up in their data base.

Not to mention that all these are added up thanks to the countless cheat submissions from visitors.

This access to various cheat codes is one reason why so many people find XBox to be the best video game console. It lets them try out the games that are released for this console and enjoy these in every possible way.

Take advantage of this information at your fingertips. Other sites offering the same knowledge are:
- xbox.gamezone.com
- teamxbox.com
- cheatscodesguides.com
- cheats.gamespy.com
- xbox.gamespy.com
- xbox.ign.com

And so much more. Sometimes what gamers do is they type in the game along with ‘cheat’. Example: “Need for Speed XBox Cheat”. Those keywords alone allow the search engine to peruse through page after page of the available codes, hints and cheats that have been uploaded by previous gamers.

It is interesting to note that these sites also include cheat sheets for other consoles such as the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3. If you feel that you can no longer solve the puzzle to a role playing game, or you want to have infinite lives in order for you reach a further stage, these are all possible just by clicking on the cheat sites mentioned above.

If you feel guilty doing about it, just think, ‘everybody else is doing it, so why can’t you?’

Tips for a Wedding DVD Slide Show

Creating a DVD Slide Show that you can enjoy for years can be difficult. Through careful planning a slide show can be both memorable and entertaining. Here are some lessons that we've learned at Photo Field Imaging while creating our slide shows.

1. Know who your audience is.

Try not to show just pictures of the happy couple but also pictures of their families, extended families and friends. Also, if you intend to use humor in your slide show, make sure that you get a second or third opinion to verify that it is both tasteful and appropriate. We recommend that you get permission from the intended target too, just to make sure.

2. Shorter is sometimes better.

Most people have a limited attention span and, as with most weddings, there will be parents in the audience with children in tow. It has been our experience that video slide shows that are between 8 - 12 minutes in length are ideal for most occasions, including wedding receptions. This usually works out to about 3 songs and 75-100 pictures. While you can certainly display more photos during your slide show, you want to be careful not to overdo it.

3. Choose quality photographs.

Although we are good at what we do, there are practical limitations. Though you may have an old damaged photo that you wish to have edited/restored and used in your DVD Slide Show, this could add both significant production time and cost to your DVD Slide Show. Pictures that have the proper color, lighting and exposure, will look great when displayed. Pictures that are, dark, grainy or out of focus may not display the best. Make sure to choose a company that can make digital enhancements to your pictures.

4. Choose a Variety of Photographs

Try not to use too many pictures of one item or person in your slide show. Instead of showing 10 pictures of your first car, you may wish to limit it to 2 or 3. Remember, people have a limited attention span and you need to maintain audience interest.

5. Landscape pictures show better than Portrait pictures

Given the standard 4:3 dimensions of television monitors, photographs that are in landscape mode as opposed to portrait mode show better on a TV. While portrait photographs certainly should be used in the DVD Slide Show, you should be aware that there will typically be a black border that appears around the photograph. It's best to use these sparingly throughout the slide show and not clump them all together.

6. Music

Choose music that has meaning to you and whose lyrics are appropriate for the pictures being displayed. Also pay attention to how long the music is that you're choosing. If you're only showing 30 pictures, you might not want to choose a 8 minute song. We recommend that each photo be displayed for no more than 5.0 seconds with a 1.0 second fade in and 1.0 second fade out. For a song that is 4 minutes long that would be approximately 34 pictures (240/7).

7. Add motion to your slide shows

Consider having your slide shows created using the "Ken Burns Effect" that Pan and Zoom on each photograph as this can assist your with focusing on the subject, or subjects of your photographs. Keep in mind that the implementation of such effects may increase the cost and time to produce your DVD Slide Show.

8. Add transitions to your DVD Slide Shows

Transitions such as fade in/fade out (our default method) and dissolve are effective ways to move from one photograph to the next. Be careful not to get too carried away with transitions. It has been our experience that simpler is better.

9. Add short video clips.

Think about adding perhaps a 10-15 second video clip in the middle of the slide show. The video clip can help break up the video montage and is a great way to keep your audiences interest. Make sure to choose a slide show company that can convert your video clips.

10. Check. Double Check. Sanity Check.

Test, test and retest. A big event such as a wedding requires that you make sure that ALL your equipment is not only work prior to the big day, but on the big day. Give yourself enough time to setup and test everything before guests arrive. Make sure that you have a screen that is big enough for the room so that everyone to see, sound that is loud enough for everyone to hear, a reserved table that is solid enough to put everything on, spare cords, cables, adequate power, etc. If you are doing this at a reception where there will be a DJ or band, communicate with them what you are wanting to do. Allot of times they are more than willing to help out.

xBox 360 Game Review: Viva Piñata

xBox 360 Game Review: Viva Piñata - Rare's Viva Piñata for the Xbox 360 looks like a kids' game. The graphics are bright and seemingly simple, the piñatas are cute and cartoony, and the game is based on a children's cartoon. It's one of those games, though, that if you take the controller to 'help out' for a minute, Junior will still be kicking you in the ankle trying to get it back three hours later.

Viva Piñata is a sort of collecting/resource management/strategy/god game. It's like a chocolately collision of The Sims and Neopets. While it starts out simply and has a nicely-managed learning curve, as you level up the game becomes progressively more complicated to manage, which may leave some children (and some not-so-children) frustrated. It uses all the usual devices to get you emotionally attached to your piñatas too, so failures could bring tears. Then again, there's a subtle but definite undercurrent of disturbing in the game too, which has definite adult appeal.

Your job in Viva Piñata is to tend your garden so that it will attract different piñatas to come live in it. That means providing the things they like, whether that's lots of water to play in, the right plants, or other little crunchy piñatas to eat. When you attract new species, or grow new plants, or make a piñata change color by feeding it something peculiar, you get experience points. These points will let you unlock new content, and attract higher-level piñatas. So the game gets more complicated solely in response to your progress, which should mean it doesn't rapidly get out of hand.

You start off with an abandoned garden, a helpful little friend, some seeds, a watering-can, and a shovel. This shovel is your main tool, letting you dig ponds, plant seeds, or smack your beloved pet piñatas in the head until they break open, candy comes out, and all your other piñatas rush over and eat it. Sometimes otherwise loveable piñatas will make this unnecessary by attacking your other pets and biting chunks out of them while they're still alive. While doing this, they'll still be fluffy, cute and smiley.

You have limited space in your garden and a limited number of piñatas and helpers you can have. Some piñatas fight each other, some eat other piñatas, some chase each other round the garden making cute squeaking noises. You'll need to keep what you've got happy and in balance, and keep out or tame the marauding wild 'sour' piñatas. If you discover a new kind of piñata you simply must have, you may end up having to make extensive changes to your garden, which in turn may upset some of your existing piñatas. Managing all this will become complicated as you progress.

The game's interface and controls are geared towards children. The 360's buttons are context-sensitive, and the control scheme appears on the petals of a little flower in the corner of the screen, so you'll always know what you can do. You can choose a less-restrictive scheme for manoeuvring round your garden, but there's no way to disable the check screens every time you try to do something. You won't sell something when you didn't intend to, but you will get frustrated with the number of times you have to say 'yes, I'm sure!'.

There are achievements to work towards through the game, some of which are secret until you unlock them. Some you'll get just doing the things you'd be doing anyway, others you'd have to put specific effort into. There are also optional 'piñata central' challenges where you need to supply specific piñatas for a children's party. Oddly, your piñatas actually come back from these events intact, worth more, and with special 'happy' candy.

Viva Piñata contains just about every trick for making a game addictive. The bright, surprisingly details graphics look fabulous even without HDTV, and combined with a slight subversive self-parody element, the game has a much broader appeal than you might expect.

Life After Xbox Mods

If you’re a novice gamer and you’ve decided to start out your gaming experience with an Xbox, you’ll probably have lots of people suggesting you to subject your Xbox to modding. Whether this is the right choice to do or not depends entirely up to you.

What Is Xbox Modding?

Modding is a technically illegal practice that makes use of various techniques and methods to get around security measures and other restrictions programmed by the manufacturer. Just a few months after the release of the Xbox 360 to the global market, the Internet had spawned a number of modding methods to allow players to get around signature checking and advertising and permit use of game backups and other add-ons.

What Xbox Has To Say About Modding

If and when you do allow the use of mods on your Xbox, this will automatically nullify your warranty contract with Microsoft, the maker of Xbox, because several mods require dismantling your gaming unit. It will also ban you from making full use of the Xbox Live Marketplace unless you’re able to install a mod whose sole purpose is concealing the use of mods.

Four Ways For Installing Xbox Mods

Modchip

– When you install this particular mod on your Xbox, you will have to hire a technician to disassemble your unit in order to insert the chip unless you believe you have the necessary technical skills to do it yourself. One little mistake can cause the whole unit to break down completely so care and precision must be exercised when installing this chip.

Upon installation, a modchip will allow you to play games and other add-ons that are presently considered unacceptable.

TSOP Flashing

– TSOP stands for thin small-outline package and this particular mod allows you to make the motherboard of your gaming unit writable. Be aware that TSOP flashing is only applicable for Xbox units V1.0 to V1.5

Softmod

– Unlike a modchip, softmods are any modification which is implemented through a software program. When softmod is installed, players are able to gain access to previously restricted parts of the game. If multibooting is implemented, softmods won’t affect your access to the Xbox Live Marketplace. Keep in mind however that softmods don’t always work.

Hot Swap

– Lastly, with hot swaps, you can use your very own desktop to change a particular set of information inside your Xbox’s hard disk drive.

Many things can go right…or wrong when you install Xbox mods so do be sure about what you want before taking any action.

Starting A Home Photography Business

By : Obinna Heche
A home photography business does not necessarily require formal photography training. What it does require is a passion for photographic art, an artistic flair, the technical skills to operate the equipment and the ability to market the business.

Someone who is still in high school or college can start out preparing for a photography business by taking photos for the yearbook or the student newspaper. A basic photography course would be very helpful as well. Nowadays, it is good to know how to operate both a 33 mm and a digital camera. Local community colleges often have very reasonably priced community education courses, many that involve just one class in the evening or on the weekend.

Colleges that offer lifelong learning centers for folks 50+ have courses as well, and some of these are taught by very experienced retired photography business professionals at little or no cost. For example, a 3 megapixel camera should have at least a 256 MB card, a 4 megapixel camera needs at a minimum a 512 MB card. Any camera with 6 or more megapixels should have a 1 GB card. This will eliminate the possibility of ever missing a shot because your memory card is full, or even worse, having to choose which photo to delete because you have found one more that you just have to take.

There are many types of photography and the home photography entrepreneur may want to specialize, perhaps in photography for news organizations such as the local daily or weekly paper, in advertising photography for local magazines and local firms that need to market their products. One of the most common forms of home photography business is for events and celebrations such as weddings, bar mitzvahs, anniversaries, and other events. These can be especially lucrative as repeat business and excellent multiple referrals.

Travel photographers have exciting home photography business lives, although it takes a lot of skill and a lot of travel expense and practice photography before that first paid vacation is finely paid for. Some folks create a home photography business working as photo journalists or specializing in medical or science photographers. While quite lucrative, these almost require a four year degree with extensive photography and communication training. A college photography internship is a wonderful foot in the door for a home photography business as well.

A portfolio is a must for building clientele for a home photography business. This means taking lots and lots of unpaid photo shots to show off exceptional talent to potential clients. Helpful ways to learn the ins and outs of home photography and a photography business are by working as an assistant to a photographer, by joining associations and organizations of fellow photographers and by attending seminars and workshops on home business and photography.

The Age of Digital Photography

By : Russell Hancock
Taking pictures is an enjoyable past-time. It is a means of capturing a moment in time and preserving it forever. It is a form of creative expression and for those fortunate enough to be really good at it, a way to make money.

There was a time not too long ago when it took a week or more before you could see the images you produced. Then the Polaroid instant cameras were introduced which gave a person the means to see their photographs in a matter of a few minutes, instead of a few days. They were revolutionary and popular but produced a rather small image

In 1972 the instant camera revolution really took off with the introduction of the Polaroid SX-70. The SX-70 was a folding SLR pack film camera which was produced in various iterations up until the early 1980s.

The SX-70 was revolutionary because it accomplished several things. First, it was the only motorized foldable camera on the market at that time. It was also convenient because it used a self contained, self developing film which did not need to be peeled apart.
By 1973 Polaroid was producing 5000 SX-70 cameras a day and almost 50,000 packs of film.

Throughout the 70's Polaroid continued to enjoy unprecedented success with their line of instant cameras.
In 1979 Polaroid produced 7.3 million cameras. They
seemed to be everywhere.

The digital age really came into being in the late 80's and early 90's. These first commercially available cameras were helped by the formation of the JPEG and MPEG standards in 1988 which allowed image files to be compressed for storage.

The first consumer camera with a digital display was produced by Casio in 1995. These first mass produced consumer digital cameras were originally a low resolution format, less than 1 mega pixel.
Around 1997 the first mega pixel cameras appeared with some offering the ability to record video clips as well.

In today's market, you will find that many digital cameras have become more compact. Yet in spite of their smaller size, they still yield superior quality images with most offering five to ten mega pixels of resolution or better. Some are also available with a wireless download feature so you don't even have to connect the camera to a PC.

The digital cameras of today have truly revolutionized the way we take pictures, much as the instant cameras did in the early 70's.
No matter what type of photographer you are, professional or amateur, go out and find the digital camera that is right for you.