Home Theater and Game Consoles Review

Exploring South American Mountains with a Game Console

2010-03-09T19:51:37-07:00

I have never had an opportunity to go out of the country past Canada. Traveling has always intrigued me. After visiting every corner of America, it is time to spread my wings and fly overseas or down south to some exotic locales. After hearing a few stories about the beauty of Brazil and South America, I think this is where I want to start. At the moment, I’ve been exploring the rolling hills of South America’s mountainous terrain through an open world, third person shooter on my game console. The gist of the game is the main character is employed by a rebel group to screw the iron fist a military coup created in what once was a peaceful South American country.

Trained in flight, battle and evasion, the main character has the opportunity to ride, drive or fly anything he sees fit. I’ve been flying around to random ridges and into crevasses exploring a beautifully exotic landscape. It may just be on a game console but paired with a home theater and LCD widescreen HDTV, I can imagine what actually being there may be like.

I Knew He'd Want a Plasma HDTV After Seeing Theirs

2010-03-09T18:37:31-07:00

My mom and dad called me yesterday to ask if we wanted to come over and check out their new plasma HDTV. Now I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t really know the difference between one TV and the next. When I asked my husband if he wanted to go watch the Oscar’s on the plasma HDTV you should have seen his face light up. He couldn’t say yes fast enough. I had a feeling that us going to check out the TV was going to end up being more than us going to watch the Oscar’s. It would end up with my husband coming home and looking online for a plasma HDTV for us, even though it is the last thing that we need.

Sure enough, all through the Oscar’s my husband and dad talked about how great of a deal he got on the plasma HDTV and when we got home my husband mentioned us getting one of our own. I told him that we’d wait until the fall and then discuss it, but right now it just wasn’t in the budget, good price or not.

Set the LCD Widescreen HDTV Up In the Living Room for Game Night

2010-02-27T17:01:43-07:00

Tonight is game night, so we have brought out the game console from the guest bedroom, along with the LCD widescreen HDTV and have set everything up in the living room in anticipation of the fun we are planning with friends. We get together once a month for game night and usually rotate houses, but this will be the first time for us to host it in our new home. In fact, we haven't hosted in about a year, because everyone decided to give us a break while we were building our home, and we figured that since they did that, we'd host the next three months in our home to give everyone else a little break. The original plan was to just use the one LCD widescreen HDTV in the living room, but my husband thought it would be nice to have more than one game console going at one time, so we decided to move the LCD widescreen HDTV from the bedroom and set it up as well. That way people can have different games going on at once and everyone doesn't have to wait for their turn.

It makes me glad now that we ordered the LG 37LH30 37" LCD widescreen HDTV not too long ago from Online Direct whose online store can be found by visiting www.homeonlinedirect.com/ when we found it for a great price. I actually came across it by accident when I was looking for something else, but the price was so good on the LCD widescreen HDTV that I really couldn't pass it up. I asked my husband what he thought, and he agreed that we should make the purchase while we could get the LCD widescreen HDTV for such a great price. We ordered it on the spot, and had it in the house within a week. The day it arrived, my husband set everything up in the guest bedroom, and I've used it to watch TV several times a week since then.

Now that the LCD widescreen HDTV is set up, all I have to do is start getting the food ready and get a food table set up with the plates, cups, napkins and utensils. I made my famous tiramisu cake and plan to have plenty of goodies from sweet to savory. It will be the first time that some of our friends have seen our new home, so I want to make sure every room is spic and span so I can show them around. It's going to be a lot of fun.

My Game Console is Better then Facebook

2010-02-26T11:41:53-07:00

I see the appeal of social networking sites. Rekindling long lost friendships, seeing what the jock in high school is now doing, meeting new people. None of these reasons has been tempting enough for me to really get into it. Some Facebook and I game console. Connecting with old friends through online gaming is not as easy as searching their actual name on a networking site but it offers something more then leaving a comment on a digital wall. Last night while playing with a game console buddy he asked me if I remembered a guy named Ricky. Thinking for a second, I did. We used to ride motorcycles together probably three years ago. We weren’t ever good friends but friends through association.

My buddy then invited him into our game console party before we challenged another team online. As we caught up a bit, we played a shooter we are all obsessed with. This is why I love using a game console to talk to old friends. Once there is nothing left to say there is that shared gaming bond.

Playing Nintendo Video Games with Grandson

2010-02-26T11:40:30-07:00

I was never interested even one little bit about the nintendo video games. Even when the kids were growing up playing with the game console I just watched, listened and walked right on by. Well, I have to say that things have changed. Ever since I began watching my grandson I have been under his tutelage. At his young age he has a true talent for teaching and the patience of an angel. He and I are having so much fun as he teaches me the ropes of the nintendo video games.

Being a novice at the nintendo video games I not only am learning the games but also how to work the darn game console! My grandson has no problem showing me and reminding me again and again on which part does what. It seems to do his young ego good to teach this old dog some new tricks.

My kids think this is so funny! They can't help themselves but to give me a hard time about the whole situation. I am just taking it all in stride for now because one day soon I will know what I am doing with these nintendo video games and I will take them down! Until then, I will let the kids have their fun at my expense. He who laughs last...

Home Theater System Ensures Quality Family Time

2010-02-26T00:50:47-07:00

With there seeming to be no end to the amount of rain that's going to fall, we've been getting a whole lot of use out of our home theater system. We've used the home theater system to watch movies, listen to music, and even used it to create a great gaming experience for the kids. Ok, I admit, it hasn't just been the kids who have been enjoying playing games on the home theater system; it's also been my husband and I.

Last night after dinner, the kids asked if we could all play a video game on the home theater system. I told them to get started while I finished the dishes, and promised to come in the living room when I was done. By the time I arrived a half hour later, they were deeply involved with their game, so I sat on the sofa in amazement at how different the gaming experience is when we use the home theater system. They finished playing their game, and I joined in with them when they started the next game. My husband took a break and headed off to the kitchen to make hot chocolate for the kids and coffee for the two of us.

When he returned to the living room, he commented that he was glad that we found 42" 1080p LCD HDTV that he ordered from Online Direct whose online store can be found by visiting www.homeonlinedirect.com, because he thought that it really made the home theater system a total family experience. I agreed with him, and said that there was something very positive about the rainy days and not getting out of the house, and that was that we were able to enjoy playing games and watching great movies with the kids.

We've been using the home theater system almost constantly and most of the time we have been using it has been as a family. We've watched movies as a family, played games as a family, and even one night danced around the living room while listening to music on the home theater system. This weekend my sister and her family are supposed to be coming for a visit and I'm actually looking forward to it. The girls have already talked on the phone and they are going to hook a mic to the home theater system and hope to play karaoke. That should definitely ensure lots of fun and a few laughs.

Entering the Ring with Wii Video Games

2010-02-24T20:48:11-07:00

I have never entered an official boxing ring while we did setup some extremely fun backyard matches growing up but recently I have been landing jabs and uppercuts with the help of Wii video games over the home theater. Playing against a friend or roommate is my favorite. Boxing it out against my girlfriend was pretty good too. She has a really fast jab but after landing a haymaker, her little character hit the mat in a dizzy daze as the ref counted up to 10. It is cool to see who has a solid punch. My girlfriend is one of those people but I knew that before the Wii video games since she loves to practice on my right arm.

My roommate who is one of the most laid back guys I know came out throwing some really fast jabs while ducking and weaving all around. He was definitely the toughest competition. After about 3 different bouts, he proved to be the Wii boxing champion. It is great breaking a sweat, burning a few categories all while gaming out.

Going One on One in a Game Console Showdown

2010-02-24T20:35:50-07:00

At least three times a week, usually around 7 pm after we are both done with work, a friend and myself sign onto our game console and face all the other gamers looking for a challenge. Last night we felt like doing something different. I suggested we do a one on one cage match with some set rules. Being a first person shooter, we were only allowed to use semi-automatic handguns. In the setting section, I changed the damage to only occur during a headshot. This would make it much harder to take each other down. Then choosing a wide-open,large map, we ran back and forth putting our game console accuracy to the test.

As the battle raged on we each threw vocal jabs at each other trying to unhinge the other. It worked because we both could not stop laughing with every Yo Momma joke. The match ended with the first person to reach ten points. The score was 9-7 me, when my buddy tied it up before I ended it from a lucky shot from across the map. So much game console fun.

Kobe Does it Again on the Plasma HDTV

2010-02-24T20:24:31-07:00

Well, Kobe returned from injured reserve last night to face the young Memphis Grizzlies and showed them just what to strive for in their future seasons. This was an ultra close game as both teams operated well on offense. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, I could not take my eyes of a neighbors plasma HDTV. He is a Lakers fan, I was hoping they would lose to further close the Pacific Standings gap between the second place Phoenix Suns. Just as I thought the Lakers might fall, Kobe proved why broadcasters compare his clutch skill to Michael Jordan. With hardly any time left, Kobe as you can see in the video below hit a three pointer for a one point lead that ended the game.

It didn’t look like Kobe had ever injured his ankle. I was looking hard at every step he took on the plasma HDTV and did not see him wane at all. The fast break dunk he laid down was impressive too. LA defensivly could have been better but their offense because of Kobe won it. The home theater was silent after this loss in Memphis.

Wii Video Games Helping My Stroke

2010-02-18T00:50:44-07:00

I don’t know if there is a more frustrating sport out there then golf. I’m terrible at basketball, always have been but there has never been a pick up game where I was wanted to kick the ball over the fence. There have been more then a few occasions it took all the restraint I had not to huck my seven iron into the pond after shanking a shot out of bounds. Golf is a finesse game and I have just started to remember that after hitting the driving a range a couple times a week. The strength of a swing has nothing to do with how far the ball is going to go. I can come down on the ball with supersonic speed, catch it wrong and watch as it fly completely off course into the ground.

Some of the best instruction I’ve ever had for golf is when watching the pros. Videos like the clip above really highlight what a swing should look like. Will mine ever look like Tiger on an actual course? No but it will when playing Wii video games. It is weird to say it but golfing on a game console has helped teach some of the fundamentals forgotten when driving away at the range.

Wii video games being the only game console with motion control have helped hone the basics. Standing in front of the LCD widescreen HDTV with an invisible club held in hand is a little bit weird at first but in no time golfing some of the best courses in the world thanks to Wii video games becomes an invaluable asset.

It is a good thing when I don’t need to keep returning to YaYa Golf at http://www.yayagolf.com/ to pick a 12 pack of Bridgestone Tour B330 balls pictured above. I’m thankful a retailer like this exists from the sanctity of my home computer because they have great prices on golf gear for any level of player. Being I lose at least a sleeve of balls at the course, having a place with very low prices for high quality product is keeping money in the pocket to use at the range for more practice. The most cost effective way to practice is on a game console with golf Wii video games but doing the real thing is always the ultimate test. Now if someone could explain to me how to be consistent with a driver, my handicap may not have to be so high.

Finding my mental Zen with Nintendo Wii video games

2010-02-16T16:34:15-07:00

There are some days where I just really need to get away from it all, days where you can be overstressed and things just never seem to go right. But when such rare occasions take place, I like to find my peace of mind by escaping to the candor and glory of my favorite Nintendo Wii video games. There are so many great Nintendo Wii video games that are out there, and I find them to be great stress relievers because you are not only playing Nintendo Wii video games and distracting your mind, but you are also using your arms and getting quite the workout. And according to some articles that I have read online about stress, some of the best ways to defeat it include working out and distracting your mind. So whenever such a rampant case of the Mondays comes a calling to my mental doorstep, I easily win the war against stress by playing my favorite Nintendo Wii video games and escaping the present day for just a few hours of joyous gaming!

Husband Installs Home Theater Without Any Problems!

2010-02-11T17:46:43-07:00

I will be the first to say that I am completely surprised that he could install the entire home theater system and not make any mistakes! I was really thinking it was going to be another version of what happened when he wanted to build some custom built in bookcases. I wouldn't say that it was a complete disaster. In the end, the built in bookcase looks incredible, but it took four complete re-do's! It cost up to four times more than it would have if we hired someone to do it. But, he loves to tinker around the home and believe he is the consummate handyman. So, I will let him have his visions of grandeur.

He first came up with the idea of a home theater a few years ago, but I didn't take him seriously. We did not even have any of the pieces for a home theater at that time. Now, after the few years have gone by, he is ready to start installing. He bought several high end home theater components over the years and has been planning it out since he first mentioned it. I was really very nervous about the whole ordeal. I just imagined him electrocuting himself or burning the house down.

To make sure that he could install the home theater correctly, he took a week off from work. He took his time, read the directions, asked for help when he needed it, and installed an amazing looking, and sounding, home theater. Of course, I had to help a little bit with the finishing touch. He was going to set the large flat screen TV on an antique table we had, but after it was finished thought a wall mount would be better. When he said this, I was working on the laptop and just started looking for a wall mount to finish the home theater. Within a few minutes I was looking at this Universal TV wall mount is for Flat Panel LCD TV's.

I found this TV mount at a website called Online Direct, which is at www.homeonlinedirect.com. I really liked the way that is would swivel for a better angle no matter where you were sitting. I ordered the mount from Online Direct and my husband installed it - again without any problems! - when it arrived. The home theater really looks good. I guess my husband is getting much better at this do it yourself thing he has going. With all the practice he should be!

NFL games on my video game console make up for end of the season

2010-02-11T00:18:34-07:00

For all of you lovers of video game consoles out there and the NFL and NCAA season – which we all know has finally come to a closure with the final games being played and the champions being crowned – I say to you this: you can still pick up the season on your video game console by playing your favorite video game console NFL and NCAA titles; where the action never stops. At least that is what I have been doing: taking my favorite teams all the way to the Super Bowl once again, and reliving the moments on my awesome LCD flat screen TV. There are some really great NFL and NCAA games out for all of the game consoles, so if you are as addicted to these types of sports as much as I am, then you should really do what I do: satisfy your addiction by playing the games you can’t watch on TV on your game console. This, I have found, always keeps me going until the next football season starts!

xperiencing History as Hollywood Sees It with a Home Theater

2010-02-10T18:11:31-07:00

It is a beautiful Fall day. The leaves are turning a melody of yellow, orange and red as lackadaisical clouds float by underneath a shinning eastern sun. A flock of birds fly over a plantation where father, two sons and a young daughter stay huddled up in the top floor bedroom as a single well treated slave runs back and forth with overnight supplies. The beauty of the day disappears behind the sound of an advancing bugle and steady drum rhythm. If Paul Revere was anywhere near this place he would fly down the driveway screaming, “The Red Coats are Coming.”

This may just be a fantastic Revolutionary war movie playing over my game console but backed by a home theater and LCD widescreen HDTV, I can almost smell the gunpowder that would have been wafting in the farm air had this really happened. As the family stares out of the second floor window, a 100-yard long line of Red Coats emerge onto the flat, green farmland as American soldiers, in similar formation come out of the tree line. Each side prepares their weapons but the British are first to shoot. Canons, buckshot and yells engulf my living room as the home theater does a fantastic job at adding to the moment.

The father shakes his head to his young children, understanding century’s old line tactics are not going to defeat the well armed Red Coats. Guerilla warfare while considered barbaric is the only option Americans willing to fight have to win. The battle rages as the home theater keeps the action alive.

It is hard to look away from a good movie when the sound is engulfing an entire room. Moments like this are why I shop at electronic savvy web retailers like Home Online Direct at http://www.homeonlinedirect.com/. If it wasn’t for deals found while online shopping I would not have such an awesome home theater to come home to and enjoy movies over. As you can tell, I’m a huge fan of any type of well done war movie. Movies that follow history but add that Hollywood effect to still make them an interesting story.

On this night, my game console is playing one of my favorite big budget Revolutionary War flicks. It is a great reminder of how this country was built and how far we’ve come. The idea of living on a solitude farm with slaves is hard to fathom sitting in a sparse living room filled with multimedia electronics.

I love all of the video game consoles – for many great reasons!

2010-02-08T13:20:51-07:00

I just love playing NFL and NCAA games on my video game consoles, and I am the proud owner of all three of the next generation video game consoles that are currently on the market: the Wii, the Xbox 360 and the PS3. You might be wondering why I love and own all three video game consoles and there are a plethora of different reasons. But the best way to explain my adoration for such video game consoles is as such: there are just different games and gaming experiences that can be derived from each game console. For example, the Wii offers wireless and motion sensing controllers – a totally awesome and unique experience. Whereas the PS3 has a Blu Ray DVD player built right into the console. Finally, the Xbox 360 game console offers some games that are signature only to it, which is the best way for me to explain why video game loving neophytes such as I enjoy dipping our hands into all of the game consoles out there! This way we get not the best of only one, but three video gaming worlds!

King of Nintendo Video Games

2010-02-08T13:17:25-07:00

My son believes he is the king of nintendo video games. With that belief he feels he has bragging rights that he freely shares with whomever will listen. This can cause some tension in the household as his siblings tire of his goings on. I tell them to play nintendo video games with their brother and take over the reign of the household.

That is the drive of the nintendo video games in our home. Every day after their homework is done and checked for accuracy the kids jump on the nintendo video games. They will play until dinner time, then eat and do the dishes. Right after supper is eaten the challenge continues until bedtime.

Hey, the nintendo video games keep my kids out of trouble and within earshot. I have no problem that they play the nintendo video games as much as they do. They are more than willing to play amongst themselves and even more so when their friends come over. I am good with that and look forward to a new champion to be spawned here sometime soon!

New Home Theater Transforms TV Experience

2010-02-08T13:10:57-07:00

We had such a good time yesterday watching the Super Bowl on our home theater. We had some friends in, served plenty of ice cold beer, and all my time in the kitchen was well spent because our snacks and dinner were just perfect. We wanted to host the Super Bowl party this year because we finally got a LCD widescreen HDTV after many years of wanting one, but believing our old CRT TV was good enough. The switch to digital TV got us off the couch to find a new LCD widescreen HDTV last spring, and the moment we hooked up our home theater with that at the centerpiece, we were transformed. Instead of running to the theaters a couple of times a month for entertainment, we started staying at home to watch our phenomenal LCD TV, and now we have no desire to spend all that money at the movie theaters, opting instead for the latest in DVD releases to watch at home. Our friends who came to our Super Bowl party enjoyed our new home theater, too, and we promised them that we'll never get behind on the technology curve again, especially when it comes to our home theater.

Super Bowl was amazing to watch on LCD widescreen HDTV at brother’s house!

2010-02-08T13:04:53-07:00

I was thrilled to be invited over to my brother David’s house to watch the Super Bowl this year, and he had several LCD widescreen HDTVs that were setup around the different rooms in his rather large house for us to all enjoy the big game on. I have a great LCD widescreen HDTV in my living room, but David is known for hosting some of the most amazing Super Bowl parties ever! So you can bet that when I got an invitation to attend his in the mail last week I was very excited to be heading to a party on Sunday. The game was just great, and really was a solid match up for the ages, pitting the top two NFL teams against each other for what made for an experience that was just awesome! Being able to see all of my friends and family, and really get some time in with them was awesome as well. David also has HD programming, which made the Super Bowl just brilliant to watch on his LCD widescreen HDTVs!

Taking the Checkered Flag on Game Consoles

2010-01-29T01:24:27-07:00

It is another sunny day on the Catalunya Circuit as pit crews run back and forth from their lanes to the Moto GP racers now positioned in the starting grid. Beautiful CGI driven umbrella girls look off into space as the camera pans back through a group of the best motorcycle racers to ever step foot on this planet. Fans cheer from the stands and resonate over my home theater system. This is the final race of the game console season and I need nothing less then second place to come out as Champion. Air horns blow as helicopters circle above readying for the race to commence. At this moment, all of the people other then the racers drop off the track and the sound of 250 HP prototype factory motorcycles ignite.

The race will begin in 3,2,1 and we are off. Starting in sixth spot there is some serious work to do before everyone spreads out. The first turn is always tough. All the AI racers are fighting to get out ahead of the pack leading to bumping and the few who will always wash out. This time I escape in fourth place after stuffing a blue bike on the inside and gunning down the edge of the tarmac. It looks like I won’t be restarting this game console race.

It is lap three with one more to go and my eyes have not blinked for three minutes straight. The sound of my Honda is crisp over the home theater. It has thinned out with only the top two ahead. With ground to make up the final turn of the race I have been faster then the AI racers. This will be where I make the move. It is all or nothing. As the turn gets closer, the racers ahead slow early. I fly by and slam both brakes. Running wide, I’m in first but maybe not for long. Hitting the button to look backwards, one of the bikes coming in hot. I slap the joystick left to block him, it works and the crowd explodes over the home theater as I cross the checkered flag. From there the game breaks into cinematics that shine on the LCD widescreen HDTV. Moments like these are made possible thanks to game console retailers with great prices like Home Online Direct at http://www.homeonlinedirect.com/. You can tell I love playing racers on game consoles. What I also love is finding that perfect gaming deal online.

Saints At the Super Bowl Means New Plasma HDTV

2010-01-29T01:08:45-07:00

There are times in life when I wish that I would not have said certain things or made certain promises, but once they are made, they have to be fulfilled. Such was the case when I promised my husband at the beginning of the football season that if the Saints made it to the Super Bowl, that I'd buy him the plasma HDTV that he's been pining over for the past year. Granted, I said that I'd order him the plasma HDTV if the Saints made it to the Super Bowl, because I never in a million years actually expected them to get there. After all, they have never made it past the play offs in all their years as a team.

Well low and behold if my husband didn't come home from watching the game with friends this past Sunday humming the tune "When the Saints Come Marching In." I knew then that I'd better start looking for a plasma HDTV, because obviously the Saints were headed to Miami to their very first Super Bowl. My husband came in and gave me a big hug and kiss, and then said that I had two weeks to get the plasma HDTV in the house and to plan a party, because he'd just told everyone that the party would be at our place because he had won a bet and was getting a plasma HDTV.

I tried to put him off by saying that he wasn't giving me much time to find a plasma HDTV, but he said that if I started looking I should be able to find and order a plasma HDTV within a few hours. I told him I really wanted to do some price comparison, so he commented that it may take an extra day then, but that the plasma HDTV should be on its way within a few days. I could tell he wanted to gloat, but he didn't dare. I also know that he didn't expect them to go all the way either, but he was definitely going to take the time and cash in on the bet he'd won. I didn't blame him though; I would have done the exact same thing.

After doing a little price comparison shopping, I found a great price on Samsung 50" 1080p Widescreen Plasma HD Television, this plasma HDTV that I found at Online Direct whose online store can be found by visiting www.homeonlinedirect.com. was perfect. I placed the order and if all goes as planned the plasma HDTV should arrive either today or tomorrow, just in time for him to set it up and get it ready for the big game and time for me to start planning a party menu.