Team iDemise 1-80 Leveling Guide Review

Team iDemise has been putting out World of Warcraft leveling guides for quite a while now, and they're one of the most trusted leveling guide producers out there.  However, I hadn't actually used one of their guides before, so when I started my latest character, I decided to give their guide a spin to see how it compared to some of the others, like Zygor's and Joana's.

The Team iDemise guide is a little different.  Instead of guiding you through each quest and zone based on the route they took when designing the guide, as most guides do, this one instead monitors the fastest leveling routes taken by WoW players who reached 80 in the shortest amount of /played time.  They collect this data and consistently update the guide, so it's always got the freshest content.

A few shining spots of this guide:

-No side content to distract you from main leveling path
-No gold or instance guides; focused solely on leveling
-Goes from level 1-80 in under a week of /played time
-Easy to install, user friendly, clean design
-Horde and Alliance versions available

I wouldn't suggest this guide if you're looking for a PVP or gold-acquiring guide, or need help with professions.  But as far as leveling goes, it can't get much easier than this.

Install page:

Screenshot of the guide's interface in game :

Read more about Team iDemise's leveling guide

What are the two types of modding?

There are two types of modding that can be done to a game console: hard modding or soft modding.

Hard modding exploits the BIOS of the console (its mainframe, essentially) to run unsigned code and games. This form of modding is very popular because it allows the user to run many different types of software.

Soft modding is much more popular because it is so easy to do. Soft mods are very easy to install and relatively low priced - sometimes even free if you have the right tools.

Of course, there is also external modification such as modifying a console's outward appearance, usually by replacing the box, adding lights, cutting the case, or adding fans.

WoW Leveling Guide: Zygor Guide Review

Zygor's leveling guide, put together by John cook, advertises a leveling speed of less than 7 days for 1-80.  With the efficient way this guide is put together, the average WoW player will be able to come close to that time frame, assuming distractions are kept to a minimum.

Advantages of Zygor's Guide: 

The guide is in a small, resizable window you keep on your main WoW screen, so you don't have to deal with irritating alt-tabbing.  The guide includes waypoint markers for the minimap, as well as detailed quest information in the main guide window.

The guide keeps track of your progress automatically, so if you crash or log out, you can pick up right where you left off.   Completed quests are grayed out, so you know which ones you've done.

One of the best parts of this fast leveling guide is that it's automated, meaning you don't have to switch from game to guide, click to the next quest, etc.  The guide advances your quests and waypoints automatically, so you don't have to click through to progress.  You don't need to remember where you are or set waypoints at any point; the guide does that for you. 

You can also start the guide even if you're level 20, level 30 - even level 60.  Just advance through to the quests relevant to your level, and the guide will automatically start keeping track of your progress.

Because so much detail is included in the guide, you don't need to resort to Thottbot, Allakazam, Wowhead, or any of the other WoW quest guide sites.  In fact, looking at these sites will probably slow you down.

One of the main selling points of this guide is that it's as close as you can come to having someone guiding you over your shoulder, so it's very user-friendly (even for new WoW players).  It's not class specific, and class quests are also included. 

As to the question of whether Zygor's is faster than the other guides: I say yes, because Zygor's has tried to minimize distractions and things that slow down the leveling process.  How fast you level is ultimately up to you, but this guide does follow through on its promise to deliver quick, efficient leveling.  And the best part is that it's very easy to follow.


Read more about Zygor's guide 

Get Unlimited PSP Downloads for Movies Without Spending a Fortune

These days, pretty much all PSP owners - or at least those up to date with the latest console trends - are aware of modding/homebrew firmware for consoles.  These are essentially applications that let you run games and movies from a memory card instead of a UMD disk.  The Wii has recently jumped on this boat, as well.

Game developers haven't really embraced this practice, which is disappointing considering that it's not something they can really police or control, and it could potentially be a great money-making source for them. 

Third party developers, however, have recognized this, and are creating new products to fit the demand for modded consoles.  PSP Download Center is one of these.  It's a completely online service that allows PSP users to pay a fee and get unlimited PSP downloads for movies, games, music, or anything else they want without having to pay a fortune.  Technically you can purchase the membership and then only subscribe for one month so that you can get all the movies and games you want for a one-time fee.

You will of course need a modified PSP/memory card and free space to run the games, but there are many tutorials out there to show you exactly how to do this. 

PSP Download Center is a cinch to sign up for and get started with.  It took me maybe 20 minutes to get everything set up.  It was definitely worth the one-time fee because it meant I didn't have to go to any game or electronics stores to look for games, and I saved big time on space since I didn't have to carry around a bunch of different disks.  


As with most download/membership sites, it's totally risk free as there's a 7-day moneyback period where you can get your money back, guaranteed, no questions asked, if you aren't happy with it.

Odds are, though, that you will be.  If you want to get unlimited PSP downloads for movies and anything else you want to play on your PSP without having to spend a fortune, PSP Download Center is highly recommended.

Give PSP Download Center a try

What Should I Buy: Xbox 360 or PS3?

With Microsoft recently cutting the price of the Xbox 360 Elite down to $299 and the holiday season now approaching, it's time to ask that age-old question once again.  What should I buy: an Xbox 360 or a PS3?

Well, now that price is no longer a deciding factor (the PS3 and the 360 Elite are both running for $299), this decision is a little tougher.  If there are specific games you want (Fable and its predecessors, for example, are made exclusively for the Xbox and PC), that's something to take into account.  I'm not going to get into the details of which games are exclusive to which platforms, but you can visit this link to see a breakdown of how the two consoles rate against each other.

Now, there is the issue of the new PS3 Slim.  This is also running at $299 and has been pre-ordered by many consumers; how many of them are Xbox 360 owners is yet to be seen, but an interesting question to consider.

These days, in terms of hardware, the two consoles rate very closely.  It's much like the PC processor debate of whether to get an AMD or Intel processor: an undeniably hot subject of debate because the two processors are so similar, but the AMD's slightly lower price range vs. Intel's slightly better technology is frequently a deciding factor.  Where the Xbox 360 and PS3 are concerned, they both are priced the same, and their hardware is basically the same (though Microsoft is arguably leading in that department, as is proven by the 360's more powerful GPU). Both consoles are capable of acting as DVD players and can connect to the internet, so there's really no debate there, either.

That said, the main factor in the question of "what should I buy?" between the Xbox 360 or PS3 is primarily games.  If you're trying to decide which console to buy, your best bet is to find the one that's going to give you the games you want. The 360 arguably has a slightly larger game selection, but this is really a matter of personal preference.

Microsoft is likely going to be targeting the casual gaming market due to the 360's userbase already being saturated with hardcore gamers, and Sony will be turning its sight to these gamers.

However, one interesting thing to note is that the Xbox 360 is the only console that will officially stream Netflix videos, so if you are a dedicated Netflixer, you may want to consider this before deciding which console to invest in.

Tech-Ex: Microsoft Cuts Xbox 360 Elite Price $100

Tech-Ex: Microsoft Cuts Xbox 360 Elite Price $100

Shared via AddThis

Xbox 360 Red Light Fix Pro Repair Guide: Review

If you've ever owned an Xbox 360, you may have experienced one very common problem.  You go to power up your Xbox, and suddenly 3 of the 4 green lights around the light ring are suddenly red.  This is known as the Red Ring of Death (or RROD), and 35% of all Xbox 360 owners experience it at some point. Considering how many people own Xboxes, that's a pretty high number.

Now, there are a few ways to go about fixing the Xbox 360 RROD error.  Either you can:

1. Scrap your console and buy a new one
2. Send it to Microsoft or a console repair shop
3. Try to repair it yourself

Option one is usually the most costly, especially since Xboxes still run at around $300 depending on where you buy.  Option two is sometimes good, depending on whether your Xbox 360 is still under warranty, in which case Microsoft has to fix it.  This option takes up to a month or more for you to get your console back, however.

The third option is becoming more popular these days.  Because the RROD problem is so common, many savvy console users have put together repair guides.  These guides help you diagnose the exact cause of your RROD, then walk you through the repair process.  Not only are you saving a ton of money by investing in a repair guide, but you're also gaining valuable knowledge that you may need to fix the Xbox 360 RROD error for your next console if this happens again - or even for a friend's Xbox 360, if it happens to them as well.

There are a ton of repair guides out there, but the one I chose to repair my Xbox was the Xbox 360 Red Light Fix Pro.  Most of these guides promise to get your console up and running pretty fast, but I chose this one because of the guarantee that I'd be able to use my Xbox again normally within 2 hours. The other reason I chose this guide was the moneyback guarantee of 8-weeks to get a full refund (I didn't have to return my guide, but it was nice to have that security).

Whether you're interested in the free ebook they offer or not, the repair guide itself is pretty straightforward.  It's in PDF format so you get access to the download as soon as you buy it.  It's got clear instructions and a checklist of all the tools you need for the repair (which are few).  It's also got pictures to guide you through the process, which I found very helpful, since I'm not good at translating instructions to action in my head.

They also include high-def instructional videos on the site, which means you don't actually have to read the PDF guide at all if you choose not to.  I ended up combining the two, resorting to the videos when I wasn't sure what to do.

If you want a quick, easy way to fix the Xbox 360 RROD error, I highly recommend the Xbox 360 Red Light Fix Pro.  It'll save you money in the long run and get your console up and running really fast.  If you don't want to do it yourself, though, your best bet is probably to send it to Microsoft or try to find a repair shop.  I don't suggest buying a brand new console when there are resources like this available.


To learn how to fix your Xbox 360 RROD fast, click here

Best Video Game Rental Services: GameFly Review

If you're just starting up your game testing career, or if you're tired of going to the video store to rent games, there's an online solution: GameFly.

GameFly is essentially the Netflix of gaming. They provide unlimited game rentals through mail-in, just like Netflix does for movies. You choose the game you want from their website, they mail it to you, and you play it for as long as you want. Then when you want to get a new game, you send it back in the pre-paid envelope provided by them.

Their selection quality is very large, with over 7000 titles currently offered. They also offer games for pretty much every console on the market (excluding older ones like SNES/Sega Genesis), including handhelds like the PSP, Gamecube, and GBA.

Their delivery times are quite fast; I would usually receive a game within 2-5 days after ordering. I live in a residential area and have my mail delivered right to my mailbox (instead of a post box), so this made things really convenient. It was also nice to have access to any game I wanted as opposed to going to the video store and finding that they either don't carry the game at all, or it's out of stock.

In terms of price, I've found GameFly to be very reasonable. I usually rent between 6-8 games a month, which would be $40+ from a video store. GameFly charges a flat fee of $22.95 (plus any applicable tax) to have 2 games out at a time. You can have up to four games out at a time if you choose that plan. Personally, I chose the cheaper option ($15.95) to have one game at a time, just because I mostly focus on just one at a time anyway. Breaking this down, it worked out to about $2.50-3.00 per game, where I'd pay $6 or $7 at Blockbuster - and then got hit with late fees sometimes, when I'd forget to return it on time.

Shipping is free, and there are no late fees, obviously.

If you want to cancel, you can do so online or by phone. Your login and list of games you've rented or want to rent are saved for one year, and there aren't any cancellation or reactivation fees.

They also offer a rewards system, where you earn discounts and rewards the longer you stay a member. And their "Keep" feature lets you buy the games you've rented if you really enjoy them. Game manuals and cases are included and shipped with no additional fees, which is another nice bonus.

Also, if a game ever gets lost in the mail, GameFly doesn't charge you or hold you responsible for it.

Bottom line: GameFly is a great alternative for renting games, and will save you a good chunk of change in the long run. If you rent or buy games regularly, or if you've just gotten a new system and want to try out a few games, this is a great option. If you like the convenience of having games delivered to you, this is also ideal. GameFly ensures that you basically never have to rent or buy games from any other source.

If you don't like waiting for games in the mail or if you're not a fan of Netflix-style services, you're probably best sticking to video stores for your game rentals.

Visit GameFly to learn more or use Coupon Code TENDAY to start your 10-day free trial today to GameFly

Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter: Worth the price tag?

If you own an Xbox 360, chances are you've wanted to sync your PC with your Xbox at some point. Wireless adapters that you can plug directly into your Xbox can do this.

The Xbox 360 wireless network adapter runs at roughly $76, which seems pretty high for a little chip that's going to sync your PC and Xbox. So let's look at some of the pros and cons.

Pros:
-Very easy to use
-Plug and play for real: plug it in and it works
-Hassle-free, especially compared to offbrand adapters
-Looks great on the Xbox; snaps into place and prevents cable clutter
-Has a larger range than most network adapters, which is especially advantageous if you live in a large house or have PC and console in different rooms

Cons:
-Expensive

Bottom line: If you're willing to shell out a few extra bucks for ease of use and ergonomic design, this adapter is worth it.

If this is too expensive for you, consider the Xbox 360 wireless gaming receiver instead. It's slightly cheaper at $50, but you sacrifice range (as you have to have your PC and Xbox close enough to run a cable between).