Virtual Ping Pong

David asked:


Virtual Pets

The virtual pets also known as the digital pets have mostly taken the place of the real animals like the dog, cats, hamsters and few more similar to it. The virtual pets are artificial human companion and are kept for enjoyment and companionship. Nowadays people prefer a digital pet in the place of real pet. The virtual pets are gaining popularity simply because keeping a real pet is sometimes practically impossible due to lack of time. The pet when added in the family becomes the responsibility of the owner to look after it in every sense. For this real virtual pet cab be the better choice and can give a sense of owning a pet.

There are basically three types of virtual pets namely gadget-based virtual pets, web-page based virtual pets and Game –or-application based virtual pet. The gadget-based virtual pets are sold as a self contained, palm size computer. It has a small screen where the image of a pet appears. The buttons on the case are meant for the users to perform different tasks like feeding them, playing with them or washing the pet clean. Pets who are not satisfied with the care taken can emit beeps and sometimes die.

Many of the popular websites adopt virtual pets to put on their webpage and use for role playing in chat rooms. In some websites you can become the adoptee and ca adopt a virtual pet for which you will require to have a web page ready for your virtual pet. Some of the sites can also adopt pets to put on a web-page and are revolving around writing for and breeding said pets to create newer, often ’showier’ virtual pets. Members of such sites are often encouraged to create their own species of draconic creatures, to adopt from other members, and to breed the various species together.

The last one is the Game –or-application based virtual pet that comes in software run on PC or video games consoles. It had powerful computing than with web page or gadget based digital pets, which helps in achieving a higher level of visual effects and interactivity.

The advanced technology gives a sense of reality to the virtual pets and some enhance playability. With the advanced video gaming technology the user and interpret the actions of the pet like body language and the facial expressions. The user can have a short term or long term interaction with the pet. In short term interaction the user can touch the pet with the cursor of the mouse and the pet will response to the touch. In long term interaction the users action affect pet’s growth, behavior or life span The user starts understanding the needs of the pet through its behavior, which seems natural and nurtures a feeling of developed relationship between the virtual pet and the user.

The virtual pets are designed in such a manner that their certain level of autonomy and unpredictability gives a user a sense of reality. The user can interact with the pet and forms a special corner in the heart of the user. The user starts developing attachment for the virtual pet and a sense of responsibility towards it like when it comes having a real pet.

William E Reinka asked:


Gross Weight

A basic tenet of shipping is that freight is rated on its gross weight. Gross weight is simply the weight of the product and its packaging. For example, the glass vase, packing peanuts, carton, sealing tape and label combine to make the gross weight.

Even when you attach your freight to skids or pallets for ease of handling, pallet weight (which can be considerable as anyone who has tossed them around a dock will testify) must be included in the gross weight.

Net Weight

The weight of the product itself without packaging. (The vase by itself.) Net weight is rarely a factor in shipping unless a carton is overpacked and splits open. (Check the seal on the bottom of a standard shipping carton for the maximum weight the carton will hold safely.)

Tare Weight

Tare weight is the weight of an empty vehicle or container. Normally not something that a shipper is concerned with but it’s a term everyone should know.

Volumetric Weight - Air freight

International airfreight shipments are usually rated per pound or per kilogram. However, what the airlines are really selling is space aboard the aircraft. Therefore, they have a volumetric equivalent for shippers of lightweight articles. Consider how much space 100 kgs of ping pong balls would consume vs. 100 kgs of anvils. International air shipments are figured on both the actual gross weight and volumetric weight and rated at the higher of the two. To determine volumetric weight for air:

Multiply length x width x height in inches and divide by 366. The result is the volumetric in kilograms.

Example: 20″ x 20″ x40″ = 16,000 cu. inches

Divided by 366 = 43.7 (round up to 44 kilograms)

If the gross weight of the shipment is 35 kilograms, it would be rated on the volumetric 44 kilograms. If the actual gross weight is 50 kilograms, it would be rated at 50 kgs.

Weight/Measure ‘ Sea Freight

Many sea freight shipments are rated on a Full Containerload (FCL) basis. However, Less-than-Containerload (LCL) and the occasional FCL shipment are rated on a metric “Weight/Measure” in most trades. This formula is based on 1 cubic meter (35.3147 cubic feet) versus 1,000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds), whichever yields the greater revenue to the carrier. Let me save you some time. Unless your shipment is extremely dense, it’s going to go on Measure. I’ve shipped tractor parts that went on Measure. Weight basis shipments are rare.

Trucking Density Rates

Motor carriers also sell space on their trailer, even though the rates are on a weight basis. Domestic LTL (less-than-truckload) rates are usually charged per one hundred pounds (”cwt”). However, think of those ping pong balls again. Many trucking rates factor in density. Plastic items and commodities of a similar nature have tiered rates that are based upon the density of the product. The tariff may read something along the lines of:

Plastic Items NOIBN (not otherwise indexed by number) Density under 10 pounds per cubic foot

Rate $10.00/ cwt.

Plastic Items NOIBN Density 10 to 20 pounds per cubic foot, Rate $8.50/ cwt

The difference between motor carrier density rates versus air or sea volumetric rates is that the motor carrier density rates apply only to select commodities. They’re universal in air and sea shipments.

GROSS MEASUREMENT

For air and sea freight, the LxWxH measurements are stretched to the farthest point. For example, an automobile length would stretch bumper tip to bumper tip. Therefore it’s advisable, whenever possible, to “square off” the package. Say you’re shipping a stove with a chimney attachment. Remove the chimney before shipping and lay it flat alongside or inside the stove. If you are shipping an automobile, remove the radio antenna.

Joaquin Reveron asked:


Selling video games on eBay is one of the greatest way to make huge profits from your wholesale video games business. Many in the international market place called eBay, a gateway in making green bucks in no time. One of the first things you have to do before setting up your online store is to find suitable video game suppliers who can provide you with the products you need.

You should take into consideration the quality, price, and credibility of each video game you are about to sell online because these factors either affect your business rating or actually benefit you both in the short term and long term from the relationship from actual customers. The more popular and valuable you become, the more customers you will have.

We do know that customers are always looking for bargain prices online. Through eBay you can attract them with your huge discount deals and promotions. Some go from 10% up to 60% off the retail price of regular video games. Many of these power sellers are pioneers in the video games business and if you want to enter such market or simply outshine them, you have to keep updated with the ever changing rules of such market.

Rule number one, you got to have the right tools for the business. The basic tool you will need is a catchy online store that attracts customers to certainly make their first purchase as well as encourage them to come back for more of your products in the future. Before setting up your store, you have to jot down some of the most important factors you wanted to highlight such as discount deals, promotions, payment options, best buys, product categories, customer feedbacks, and so much more. When you have the right tools, you will surely gain top notch position in the wholesale video games business and these will surely help you outshine your competitors.

Rule number two, you have to know the trend. Selling video games on eBay requires you to know the gaming trend as well as the different genres of games that will appeal to certain age groups. You can check out online game reviews about the video games you are selling and make recommendations to your customers. This will enable you to up sell your products to the age group with the appropriate gaming target market.

Say for example you have encountered an adult who wanted to play human simulation games and asked you for some suggestions. You can provide them with a wide array of choices, tell them the uniqueness of each product, and give them some of your personal insights about each video game. Start with, Well, product A can be played by anyone of any age since it has lesser adult content. But if you are looking for more passion and excitement, product B will surely be the fitting choice.

From my personal experience, both games are great because they will provide you with unlimited game play as well as different gaming satisfaction. This kind gesture allows you to create a personal connection between you and your customer as well as build up on the trust factor. It is like a live feedback feature but by providing a review.

Rule number three, always remember that your wholesale video games business should create a home for gamers. Just like befriending a total stranger, you have to gain their trust for them to regard you as their true friend. When you do this, it does not really matter whether your online store has the biggest discount deals or not.

Customers will always come back to the store they feel is trustworthy and safe. Selling video games on eBay is easy. All you have to do is establish friendship with your customers.

Groshan Fabiola asked:


Mobile games are basically the same as video games and computer games, but they are played on a cellular phone or other portable communication devices. Mobile games use software that is already present in the cellular phone, or can be retrieved from the Internet as mobile phone downloads. They use different software platforms, and each has their own limitations, but mobile games as a whole have developed a great deal since the early days of cell phones.

People often play mobile games that use the software already present in their cellular phone, which are sometimes already on the phone or can be downloaded from the service provider. These simple mobile games use text message, multimedia message and GPRS location identification technologies. Phone downloads from the Internet provide the widest array of options for gamers. These are usually downloaded through the cellular phone radio network, or through an infrared connection, Bluetooth or memory card.

There are different software platforms that are used for mobile games, including Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Symbian OS, Macromedia’s Flash Lite, DoCoMo’s DoJa, Sun’s J2ME Java software, Qualcomm’s BREW, WIPI and Infusio’s ExEn. The original software platform that was used for mobile games was Java, but it had a few limitations. It was difficult to offer advanced graphics and complex game-play on cell phones in the past. Several advances have been made to improve the technology that is available for higher-level game playing, though.

Some of the recent advances in mobile games include multiplayer gaming and 3D graphics. Virtual gaming enthusiasts usually enjoy both single player and multiplayer games, and now they don’t have to choose when they open up their cellular phone. Multiplayer mobile games are quickly gaining popularity as developers allow people to play against other people. This is a natural extension of the phone’s capability to communicate as well as entertain.

Internet gambling has also become more popular recently, and various companies are taking advantage of the market for mobile phone downloads to attract new customers this way. Ongame developed mobile games with working poker software that are available in both play money and real money formats. Cellular phone users can play the game in a single player or multiplayer format as well.

Cellular phone users may find it difficult to figure out if different mobile games are compatible with their phone handsets. Some mobile games are very difficult to find online, but there are many free mobile games that are very easy to find. A downloadable game for mobile phone use should be compatible with most phone handsets, though, unlike some of the more expensive software. With quick call to the cellular phone service provider, gamers should also be able to find out if their cellular phone is compatible with the mobile games they want.

For more resources about Free Phone Backgrounds or even about Free Phone Wallpapers and especially about Free Phone Screensavers please review these links.

Nancy Sheerin asked:


Made by one of the finest foosball manufacturers, the regulation-size foosball table retails for around $600. DirectBuy of Boston South Owner John Massaria delivered the table to the Mill Pond Y, located at 75 Mill Street in Hanover, just in time for the long Martin Luther King Day weekend.

“Winter is a time of year where finding things for the kids to do can be a real challenge for children and parents alike. That’s what makes our activity center so great. Parents can drop off the kids, go grab a workout and then maybe play a game or two with their children before heading home,” said Jim Bunnell, executive director of the South Shore YMCA’s Mill Pond branch. “DirectBuy of Boston South’s generous donation of the foosball table makes our activity center that much more of a draw for school-age children and their families.”

Open during after-school hours and on weekends, the activity center offers a range of fun and safe activities such as foosball, ping pong, shuffle board, computers and board games. The activity center is available on a drop-in basis at no cost to youth and teen Y members ages 7 and up. Adult members are also welcome. Children under 10 may use the activity center, a well-child area, during supervised hours only and must have a parent or guardian age 16 or older in the facility. You can call (781) 829-8585, x 232 for Activity Center Hours.

Since 1971, DirectBuy franchises have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by buying wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. As one of DirectBuy’s largest New England showrooms for the past 21 years, DirectBuy of Boston South has also been an active contributor to many local non-profits and charities, including the South Shore YMCA, Homes for Our Troops and Children’s Hospital.

“To us, being a member of the business community here on the South Shore also means being a member of the community in general, just like our members. So when we make a donation to a place like the Y, we’re not only helping out a worthwhile cause, but one that probably benefits our members, their families, and their friends and neighbors, and that’s always worthwhile.”

For more information on DirectBuy of Boston South, you can call (781) 878-8846 or visit www.directbuybostonsouth.com.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, allowing them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct enables members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy of Boston South has been serving the South Shore since 1986 and prides itself in providing excellent member service. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. DirectBuy of Boston South is one of the largest DirectBuy showrooms in New England, and part of more than 150 franchise locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 1-800-DIRECTBUY or directbuy@usa.com. To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuybostonsouth.com.

About the South Shore YMCA

The South Shore YMCA is a not-for-profit association of individuals dedicated to improving the quality of life for all through programs that promote healthy spirit, mind, and body. Rooted in Christian tradition and values, the YMCA seeks to serve all people, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or economic circumstances.

Its programs and services strive to strengthen the family, guide the youth of today, and meet the ever-changing needs of our community.

For more information about the South Shore YMCA’s Mill Pond Branch, please contact (781) 829-8585 or visit the website at http://www.ssymca.org/branch_mphome.shtml.