Silver Chips Online

It may soon dawn on the casual gamer that Guitar Hero and Rock Band can only be played on expert so many times before they get old. At some point, everyone needs something that they can sink their teeth into, lest they go back to doing something productive like homework (gasp!). Fortunately, that game has arrived, and its name is "Left 4 Dead."

For students without game consoles such as Playstation and Wii, the Internet is perfectly adapted for easy and quick gaming. But teens looking for a quick break often find themselves immersed in a world of bag games promoting boxy graphics and cheesy concepts. Fortunately, there are easier ways to find enjoyable games to play that are both easy to learn and fun to play.

Now that most of the hype surrounding the release of the three major next-generation video gaming consoles — the Microsoft Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) — has died down, we can take an objective look at which one has come out on top. Or can we?

The 2006 holiday season is finally here: let the gift giving, store camping and mall looting officially begin! As usual, some of the hottest items around this year are the new next-generation gaming consoles: the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. With the release of the PlayStation 3 on Nov. 17, people were trampled, shot at, robbed and generally disappointed as they tried to get their hands on limited units of the coveted game console. With less scandal, the Nintendo Wii debuted 2 days later, along with a considerably lower price and many fewer customer grievances. A year ago, the Xbox 360 flew off the shelves, selling 10 million units within 16 months of the release date, according to CNET. Which one of these souped up gaming machines it right for you? SCO gives you a look at the hardware, support and games backing each in your quest for the ultimate holiday gaming machine.

Every year, the Electronic Entertainment Expo takes over the video gaming world for a week, setting the tone for the year to come. This year, the E3 expo took off with a bang and never looked back, leaving every gamer in a fever pitch.

The stunningly innovative sequel to the critically acclaimed "Black & White" once again puts you among the higher powers. As a god, you are given a civilization and a choice: will you be good or evil? Black or white?

The first step in fully appreciating "Star Wars Battlefront II" is to forget everything about the first "Battlefront" game. While both are part of the same bestselling series, "Battlefront II" has been tweaked and refined to the point where it is a fresh and excellent game.