Gaming Community Software Systems and Strategies for Garmin Avionics Communication

Okay so, we living in a world that is constantly evolving on the technology front, and with all the internet communication going on, it's seems to be moving at a nice robust pace. Software and Systems engineers borrow ideas across industries and sectors, and why not. Speaking of which all these systems seem to be blending quite nicely, for instance take online gaming communities and consider how they've influenced the world of simulation, virtual reality, and augmented reality in the real world for training.

The other day, I was speaking to a computer hardware and expert gaming community think tanker, Troy Laclaire, about moving from using gaming community software for training simulators and applying this same software to the task of aircraft navigation, communication, and data information exploits. We noted that Garmin has sure come a long way with their recent GTN 650 and GTN 750 systems for private and corporate aviation. And, in considering ways to improve the uptime, constant flow of pertinent information, and increasing the rate of data transmission, well it seems appropriate to once again tap into the methodology of large gaming communities.

When using the GTN 650 or 750 it appears that the system is pulling in information all of the time, which would mean there really shouldn't be any delay in pulling it up, "however if its only pulling information for each "screen" as that screen is pulled up, then that could account for the delay," Troy noted. Okay, but only the information which is relevant, localized traffic, in that case, and weather radar information. Now then, Troy asks;

I do wonder, as the system gets into more use and the satellites have to transmit to more planes, if this might not eventually result in bottlenecks from the satellite system having to push more information, unless the satellites are just blanketing areas with information, which probably results in a lot of waste/3rd parties being able to receive information and tracking planes.

Now then, isn't this the exact same challenge that gaming communities have? Sure it is, data needs to get to each user, and the game cannot be delayed, or the action is stopped or slowed down, creating a nuisance, or challenges with continuity. In a game safety is not an issue, but in the real world it is, and the online gaming communities have figured out a way to make it all work even with the excessive bandwidth loads, and huge numbers of users.

Therefore, I ask the question; is the world of online gaming communities becoming one with the real world? If so which will survive or will they just blur into one. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Mobile Games Development: Its Latest Trends and Future Prospects

Mobile games and its development is now not a restricted territory. With the help of open source platforms, game developers are bringing in fantastic and interesting ones. Though the iPhone games rule the roost in terms of sheer classiness and operability, the Android and Symbian counterparts are not too far behind. 

One of the earliest games was the "Snake" which was launched in 1997. With the advent of sleeker platforms and consistent enhancements, the processing capabilities of today's average mobile phone are much better than the processing capabilities of the costliest phone launched a decade back.

Nowadays, smart phones include a wide range of games which can be played easily by any age group. Android is one of the most popular operating systems and platforms today. It has a Java based environment and most of the apps are developed using Java. Even amateur tech lovers can tweak their applications easily by referring to relevant gaming sites. 

Each and every mobile application platform has a software development kit which does have all the necessary ingredients needed to make a fantastic interactive app or a game. One can start on with Android app development using the Android SDK (software development kit).

Development of 3D apps and mobile games is very much in demand today, much like the demand for Xbox games and PlayStation games. Most analysts agree that in the near future, an average user would be able to have much more interactivity and fun within the mobile itself. Though the 3D gaming experience is at a nascent stage, do not be surprised if 3D games get found in most smart phones in the near future.

Some of the trends related to gaming include:

Java is the most popular gaming platform which is ruling the roost today. But with subsequent competition with other platforms, the trends might change rather drastically.

Multiplayer apps like chess and poker are preferred by the online audience, especially those who frequent on social media. The common gaming platform allows people of a group to compete with absolute strangers too.

Mobile games are also used in many promotional and advertising campaigns wherein the user can play games and even shop from their favorite merchandise.

The emergence of portals which are selling games is on the rise too. The games are quite affordable to the average user and the demand makes it a win-win situation for the buyer and the developer. Different mobile games based on different genres like action, adventure, racing, puzzles etc. are available online.

The Sweet Spot: Being a Gamer Parent

As a parent of young children, it is often tough to find time to game. Or energy. Gone are the carefree days of playing game after game after game. There's always something coming up... late bedtimes, going to the store for medicine, washing diapers (for cloth-diapering hippies like us!), cooking, cleaning random messes the kids leave... yeah, free time is at a premium. 

Every minute counts. So I have to shoot for getting the most out of my time when gaming. So what does that mean? How do I get the most out of my time gaming? Honestly, I'm still working it out. I have 5 years of practice, though, and I'll share what I've figured out. Here are some guidelines I use for finding the "sweet spot" in gaming.

1. Avoid games with complex or fiddly rules.

Some games are just elegant. Play progresses in an orderly fashion, there's an FAQ in the rulebook covering anything you need, and people just "get it" after a quick explanation. Play these games. And avoid games (especially teaching games!) that require a trip to boardgamegeek.com to arbitrate a rules question, use arcane iconography or just make things complex. 

A game that I really like that fits into this category is Race for the Galaxy. I love the game. I really do. The iconography makes it hard to teach, though, so it's not going to hit the table when new players are around. Especially with expansions. Complexity doesn't need to be there for depth, necessarily. So when a game delivers a comparable experience without the fiddliness, go for that one.

2. If the kids are around, figure in additional time... or get a babysitter.

I don't know how many games I've lost due to having to parent. In the scheme of things, it doesn't really matter. A game is a game. But gaming is a hobby, and meant to be relaxing. Socializing. Interacting with friends, or maybe just unwinding with the wife. And it really gets frustrating when I feel that I can't remember what I'm doing from one minute to the next due to constant interruptions. 

I'm not the best multitasker (just ask my wife!), and the kids usually get the priority in any situation where they're involved. A good thing to do is to make sure you "load 'em up" with attention beforehand. If they're going to be supervised less during play, set their expectations and try to meet all their needs (immediate and anticipated) before you sit down. Gaming with other parents helps. Often, kids will play together. Another option is a babysitter. Even having a babysitter over at the same time is a great thing, and well worth the investment.

3. Maximize the "Fun vs. Time Spent" ratio.

Some games are just long. I'm not averse to playing a long game; I enjoy the opportunity every now and then. But some games... are just long. As an example, I don't really feel that I get more out of Axis & Allies than I do out of Memoir '44. I'll definitely be playing it for five more hours, but I don't necessarily think that Axis is going to deliver six times the fun just because it takes six times the time to play. 

That means that it has a poor fun:time spent ratio. Look for games that deliver the essential experience. Some games are going to take longer to do that, so make sure that when you're selecting a game to pull off the shelf, that there isn't a game that delivers the same experience in a shorter time.

4. Read reviews of games before you get them.

This has become so important for my wife and me when buying games. In the past, we would drop loads and loads of money on games we had never heard of. Sometimes this would have positive results. For instance, we purchased Attika after a recommendation from a game store employee. Hadn't heard of it, or looked it up. Just bought it. And loved it. But sometimes... you end up with a game that doesn't fit your style, isn't what you expected or is just plain bad. I'm not going to point fingers at any games in particular, primarily because I try to stay positive. But there are definitely games out there with few redeeming qualities. Which is why game reviews are so important. Just as the reviews themselves are important, so are the reviewers. It's easy to look at a review uncritically and walk away thinking of the reviewer's opinion as the final word. 

My advice is to find a couple reviewers' blogs or podcasts and get familiar. My wife, for example, loves The Dice Tower, a podcast about games. She doesn't necessarily agree with all of Tom Vasel's opinions on games, but she knows where she stands in relation to him on things and can use that as a yardstick and gauge whether or not she thinks she might like something based on that. We've made some very informed decisions on games based on his reviews, and on the reviews of others. FYI, I know a blog that reviews games (hint, hint!)... ;)

So what is "the sweet spot"? The sweet spot is primarily about being cognizant of factors like time and parenting when purchasing games, choosing which games to play and playing games. How this is defined for each individual is definitely going to vary. Just think of this as a game itself! It's a very complex resource management game, and the resources are time, money and attention. Stay aware of this, and you'll find your sweet spot!

My Fun Experience of Yahoo Games

Gaming has always been a passion of mine, from the time my parents bought me my first Atari up until now, when I spend hours on Yahoo games. Some may call it an addiction. I, however, call it an appetite for competition. Additionally, I love being transported to another world and using skills, such as problem solving and critical thinking, while playing games. So while I may spend hours upon hours in front of my computer or television screen, my brain is truly being exercised.

What started out with personal gaming in the comfort of your own home (with one other buddy playing the cheats for Contra) has moved to a universal world wide experience. While buddies still play games together, they no longer have to be confined to the same room. Now we can play games of any style with people in other countries online or through our console system.

Getting games through Yahoo allows you to foster relationships with other people during the universal language of competition. With the world operating in various time zones, there is always someone online ready to play and engage in a game.

What I like best about Yahoo games is the ease of playing and purchasing online. Its seamless operation is safe and swift so I can purchase any new game at any time. What's even better, and easier on the pocketbook, is they offer coupon codes on specific games. These are generally limited time offers and are not on every game, but purchasing online games with coupon codes definitely makes the experience even better.

Yahoo offers a variety of games. Some of the most popular games are puzzles or role-playing. Gaming tends to get a bad rap for violence, but the most popular games on Yahoo revolve around women owning bakeries or breaking bricks by lining up the correct color series. These games are a tremendous escape from reality by taking on a fictional small business where the user is in charge and not forced to obey the rules of their superior, which is often the case in the real working world.

There is a game out there for everyone, and Yahoo makes it easy to play those games. You can play the games directly on a computer or netbook or game online through the Yahoo portal. This is where multiplayer action begins. Games of skill or chance are often the primary focus of these games, like Vegas style gambling or anything according to Hoyle. Whichever type of game you choose, though, you can expect to have some fun when you log into Yahoo games.