Fun Online Games

Money-saving secrets and technical tips every parent should know!

Know Your Ports

There are only so many things you can plug into your TV. Figure out what type of connection ports your game console uses and which are free on your TV – you may need cables or adapters. Consoles provide multiple video and audio outputs so chances are you can get everything hooked up without having to toss something on the scrap heap. If you can’t, it’s finally time to sacrifice your VHS VCR.

Crank the Resolution

Most consoles come with a cable. However, it’s usually a cable type that’s incapable of outputting the highest resolution your console provides. The composite cable typically included can send a 480i signal, but the Wii is capable of 480p and the PS3 and Xbox can both pump out 1080p resolutions. Before you panic, not all games take advantage of the highest resolutions. Plus, none of this matters if your TV doesn’t support the top resolutions anyway, so do some research before splurging.

SURPRISE! Just when you were comfortable exploring Wintertusk and Wysteria in Wizard101, KingsIsle shocked us Dr. Katzenstein-style with a continuation of the Morganthe story, which is riveting wizards everywhere with a new complex world, 10 new levels, new spells, and loads of new quests. No one even had a clue we'd soon be adventuring safari-style in the world of Zafaria, a lush world layered with dangerous landscapes and the pulsing tribal rhythms of Africa. Put your ear next to the hot news in this magazine, readers! I think you’ll hear the heat of the jungle calling.

Taking a look back, it was a long road to the Celestia expansion where we first met Morganthe and finally laid Dragonspyre and Malistaire to rest. KingsIsle relentlessly teased the community with a slow information leak that led right up to the release of the expansion. In fact, by the time Celestia was "finally" released, players were exhausted in anticipation. However, it's been an entirely different approach with Zafaria: goodbye slowly leaked concept art and characters, hello new perilous adventures out of the blue! Surprise parties like this are the best!

Preview picks of 5 games you won’t want to miss!

Ben 10: Galactic Racing

Platform: 3DS, DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360

Publisher: D3 Publisher of America

ESRB Rating: RP

Price: $29.99 (DS, Wii) - $39.99 (3DS, PS3, Xbox 360)

Suggested Age Range: 10+

Expected Release Date: 10/18/2011

Here’s a kart racer that takes things to another level – outer space! Race with Ben, his 10 alien forms, and characters from the cartoon series in a galactic grand prix that takes you to five different planets. There are 25 tracks and more than 30 karts to master. Since this race takes place in the Ben 10 universe, it’s only fitting that each character has a unique Ultimate power move that can be charged through daring mid-air stunts. Playing your power move at just the right time can make the difference between victory and second-best. Like most kart games, you can play alone, but it’s more fun with friends.

Here’s a hot pair of creepy card games perfect for the Halloween season! 

Zombie Fluxx

Website: http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/Zombie/

If you’re an avid card lover, you might already know about the popular game of Fluxx. In this dynamic game, change is the only thing you can count on. The number of cards you draw and play each hand may change. The number of cards you’re allowed to keep in your hand may change. Even the goal of the game is a moving target. You really need to stay on your toes and go with the flow.

But once the leaves start falling off the trees and the pumpkin carving begins, don’t settle for the original Fluxx. Zombie Fluxx adds a festive Halloween flair to the game, introducing a new card type: Creepers. Creepers are the opposite of the Keeper cards – while Keepers are the cards that help you win, Creepers will prevent you from winning. (Good thing there are also some new Keepers in the game, such as the Shotgun card, that will help you destroy those Creepers!)

Candy isn’t the only thing that’s sweet this season. Check out these awesome online game updates!

Club Penguin

www.clubpenguin.com

Join millions of ghosts, monsters and werewolves for all the haunted Halloween adventures on Club Penguin.

The entire island is transformed for Club Penguin's annual Halloween Party. This year, for the first time, everyone can venture into the Forest to explore the Haunted House! Get in the spirit with a free ghost costume, and trick-or-treat at spooky igloos to earn a rare party Stamp. Find and catch candy ghosts on the new Halloween scavenger hunt for a special surprise.

At the Stage, you can re-create the Halloween classic Night of the Living Sled. Or head to the Ski Village with some friends to show off your scariest and silliest Halloween styles. If you're up for a creepy challenge, visit the Cove and stop in at the Monster Catcher HQ. Or share epic ghoul catching stories around the fire.

Check out all the cool mini-games you can play between adventures! 

Although Wizard101 is an MMO with a storyline, it also has a lot of fun mini-games. These games aren’t just fun, playing them helps you fill your potion bottles. You can even play some games at KIFreegames.com to win prize codes for you and your friends! Also, you can now buy mini-games from the crown shop to build your own arcade in your player housing. Check 'em out!

Skull Riders

Points to fill potion: 325

Tip: Don’t wait too long to get those skulls – if you do, they’ll come back to life!  

It may look like Joust, but you're not jousting at all! Avoid your enemies, blast 'em with fire, and then grab their skulls.

Online adventures from the comfort of your living room couch! 

Take a look at the computer monitor you use to play your online games. Now look at the giant TV sitting in your living room. Wouldn’t your games be cooler if you could play them on it, just like your console games?

If you’re a Free Realms fan with a PlayStation 3, you’re in luck – Free Realms is now available in the PlayStation Network store as a free download. This is pretty exciting news as it marks the first time a free-to-play MMO has been released on a console system. Hopefully we’ll see a lot more in the future!

The PS3 version of Free Realms has the same mini-games, jobs, and quests from the PC version. Even the housing system has been converted for the console! The only thing that you might miss is the trading card game – unfortunately, that didn’t get copied to the console.

Sponsored by YugiohMint.com

The Xyz Monsters have arrived!

Jason and Bill face off once again to see who can find the rarest (and most expensive) cards in a new box of Generation Force booster packs. The competition seems to be escalating and they seem to be identifying a little too closely with the cards they're finding. We're actually getting a little worried.

Console-style RPG fun on Facebook 

Platform: PC

Price: Free (with optional purchasable items)

Ages: 7 and up

Treasure Abyss is Namco Bandai’s first foray into social networking games. It's a strategic RPG on Facebook that’s free to everyone, but there are special items and armor you can purchase to make your character more powerful.

The first thing you’ll notice about Treasure Abyss, unfortunately, is the massive load time. It takes several minutes for the game to load, which can be rather annoying compared to other social networking games, which load up almost instantly. After creating an account, you create a character. Everyone starts off as a warrior, but you can choose your gender.

Hero up with your friends to fight evil in Super Hero City! 

This summer is shaping up to be the season for superheroes. Not only is it jam-packed with movie releases based on famous Marvel comics, you can also now play as your favorite characters in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online!

This browser-based MMO lets you leap into the action as legendary heroes from a long list of Marvel stars, including Spidey, Captain America, Cyclops, Wolverine, and the Fantastic Four. You’ll have access to a handful of playable heroes at the start, but more can be unlocked later.