Review - Arctic Adventures - Polar's Puzzles PSP (PlayStation Minis)

Platform owner Sony's foray into digital bite-sized games for PSP and PS3 so far has spawned more that 100 in-the-cheap games since the PlayStation Minis launched last year.

Developer and publisher Eiconic Games has chosen a somewhat novel path for their first Minis title. The company earlier this year launched Polar Puzzle on Microsoft and Sony's digital marked places for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The title is now back as a retooled budget offering for PSP and PS3, stripping away the original's story and multiplayer modes, leaving us with a streamlined and satisfying puzzler aptly renamed 'Arctic Adventures: Polar's Puzzles'.

Humble building blocks

The premise in Polar's Puzzles is quite simple, but put to good use delivering a game play experience that tests your reactions, memory and ability to think geometrically. The feisty artic bear Polar is challenged to defeat brain teasers that is best described as modern versions of the sliding jigsaw, albeit spiced up quite a bit! Basic ground rules require, that a number of pressure pads must be activated, before Polar can make his sweet escape. To achieve this end you'll position boxes, activate bombs in a hopefully timely manner and accurately slide slippery ice bricks around.

Dexterity, timing and concentration is the order of the day - whether you're trapping volatile barrels, build bridges between floating icebergs or setting of domino explosions. Moves must be carefully arranged, in sequences often more than 20 to 30 steps deep. But know this - Polar's Puzzles has no sense of mercy: use an ice block or bomb in error, and it is back to the starting line.

Arctic Adventures feels surprisingly fresh and original compared to the hordes of Tetris-clones, that we're normally treated too in the puzzle genre. You'll experience than elusive but sweet sense of accomplishment when you crack the hardest nuts, and seldom do you begrudge the game anything, when you have to start the more devious stages over again. Rare indeed and the mark of puzzle games that are truly worth your time.

Perseverance will be rewarded

50 levels divided into 10 tiers lies ahead - should you choose to accept the challenge. The learning curve is quite considerate put together; the first five or so levels will ease you gently into the game's universe and possibilities before putting the hammer down, hard! You'll easily pull 8-10 hours of fun out of Arctic Adventures, not counting replays aiming for better time and lesser moves.

It all adds up!

Arctic Adventures impresses with some good looking stages, cute menus combined with fine models and animations. The title doesn't offer much in the audio apartment, with some very basic sound effects and throwaway tunes. Still, above par from what you'll normally get from the Minis platform.

Even pared down compared to the XBLA and PSN versions Arctic Adventures: Polar's Puzzles is a most worthwhile addition to the PSP's library; even more so if you measure asking price against the package contents. High production values, plenty of value for money and solid puzzle action at hand - what are you waiting for?

Verdict: Get it! (Verdict list: 'Get it!', 'Borrow' or 'Never mind')

How to Play Kakuro - Live Cross Word Numeric Puzzles

Kakuro is a wonderful game for those who love solving brain teasers and puzzles. It is a live crossword puzzle. It requires a little more effort and care than playing Sudoku. It can be incredibly thrilling to players and fans. This game consists of a live check board with 16 squares. Live puzzle board of this game is 16 * 16 in size. The width of all puzzle squares may vary. The left most column and top row consist black cells. Rest part contains white cells. The goal of playing the game of Kakuro is to fill all white cells by using numeric digits between 1 and 9. This game involves investing more numeric combinations than Sudoku. Duplicate numeric combinations cannot be used in this game. There are many techniques to solve this game puzzle. Players can use complex or special techniques when simple techniques cease to give a unique puzzle solution. If a player is handling this numeric puzzle for the first time then he could feel it a bit challenging.

Here are few rules and strategies for playing Kakuro crossword puzzle:-

1) Players should remember that there are no zeroes in this puzzle game. So they have to use all digits and numerical combinations for a particular digit or cell by choosing values between 1 and 9.

2) No numerical digit is to be repeated again for a given sum of numbers.

3) The numerical combinations can vary according to the required sum or number of cells in the crossword puzzle. For example to cover a sum of 6 in 3 cells, players can use numeric combinations of 3-2-1, 3-1-2, 2-1-3, 1-2-3 and 1-3-2. For covering the same digit of 6 in two cells they can use numeric combination of 3-3 or 4-2.

4) Players can use the strategy of using common digits at the beginning. For example if a specific row in the puzzle has a sum of 6 over 3 squares and a column has a sum of 5 over 2 squares, then possible numeric combinations to cover those sums will be 1-3-5 for the row and 2-3 for the column.

5) Players can use noting possible solutions of Kakuro by using marks of pencils. This effort might seem to be a little extra but can help one to imagine and note all solutions. Players can use all marks of pencils for filling possible values in a particular box of the puzzle game.

6) If players want to remove pencil marks while playing then they can make combo lists to add a given sum total. After making the lists they can remove combos based on previously filled digits. The strategy of removing pencil marks can be used in combination with triples and pairs for removing combos.

7) While deciding which digit to fill in the puzzle box, players can refer to digits used previously in columns and rows. Such digits can be excluded from using again. Several digits can be seen around those previously filled columns and rows. Players can use these new digits to carry on the game.

3D Puzzles As Amazing Playthings With Optical Illusions

Three-dimensional or 3d puzzles have the illusion of depth and height as well as width is known as 3D or three-dimensional. Anything that has effects with these illusions is one of the most awesome optical illusions applied to things which are in existence for real. These amazing playthings have allured the interest of young adults and children. The wooden jigsaws feature three-dimensional effects making them more interesting and enjoyable.

Three-dimensional or 3d puzzles give a person the perception of looking at these types of playthings at a more realistic level. The concept of this toy has heightened the imagination of the players. These playthings are excellent brain teasers both for children and adults. Playthings such as these can enhance the imagination of any person holding them. Their interesting appearance can truly puzzle any individual.

Most of these toys are non-glue or non-stick when assemble. They can become whole by simply fitting together the pieces. Other types are the jigsaw pieces to be stuck or glued together to complete one whole object. These types come in various forms and designs with many different kinds of materials being used like foam or wood. There are so many shapes and sizes of these 3d puzzles that can be suitable young adults and children. Some come in classical pieces which have become a pastime for some puzzle lovers. Because of their extraordinary appeal these can make good house decors.

There are magnetic 3d puzzles which have offered much fun and amusement not just for small children but for adults as well. A child playing with toys like these will be able develop his mental faculties in solving such simple problem of putting the pieces together and the enhancement of recognition for shapes and colors. The basic senses of sight and touch are put into a good exercise with these toys.

It is truly interesting and a great pleasure to watch your little child playing it. A child's logical part of the brain is tapped and awakened with these brain teasers. Toys of these kinds are good materials for a child's IQ. Schools and homes can consider these toys as competent tools to develop the motor skills of a child using 3d puzzles.

Increase Your Self Esteem by Playing Scientific Brain Games

Have you been forgetting names recently? Do you look at a person and think "Yes, I have seen him/her somewhere"? Do you forget important dates and appointments? If you do not pay attention to working on the current situation you would soon be worse off. This can be a really embarrassing situation. Forgetting meetings, appointments, the name of your clients or friends can spell disaster. You would soon end up with people giving you no importance and in turn a self esteem problem.

Now what can you do to solve the problem and make things better? Enrolling for a course that would help you improve your memory is a good idea. However, there are chances that you may soon loose interest in the course. You definitely need something that can keep you interested and what you love doing. The scientific brain games offer the perfect solution to a memory problem or a low self esteem.

The scientific brain games are designed taking into consideration various aspects. Your brain like any other part of the body needs to be put into action on a regular basis to be alert and active. Thus, it is important that you pose new challenges and present situations that your brain has to use the different faculties to provide a solution. The scientific brain games have so many twists and turns that the brain would be provided enough exercise and this in turn would help sharpen your memory, concentration, alertness and help you overall. There are different questions that you come across for which you need to find answers. This makes it active and with thinking and alertness required you can be sure that all parts of your brain would be well-oiled and spring into action.

The scientific brain games are real fun and so you would not get bored. For the brain to be happy it is important that you put it into action and also that you are interested in what you do. With the scientific brain games you can be sure that you would be thinking. When winning in the game and moving ahead faster becomes important you would concentrate more and using the different parts of your brain. Gaming is also a very pleasant experience that gets your adrenaline rushing and makes you alerts. With all this you can be sure that the results would also get better making you feel on top of the world. Not only will the scientific brain games provide you happiness and entertainment but also sharpen memory and increase your self esteem. With the new games you can be sure that there will soon emerge a confident NEW you. If you thought gaming had only ill effects, then it is time to think again.

The scientific brain games can have a very positive effect on your personality increasing your self-esteem and memory and thus, it is time to give it a shot. Discover the new you with the gaming experience that promises to get you going on the right path. Take a step towards happiness and confidence and see the difference!!

The 10 books on brain health in 2008 - for the 'spiritual training?

Here you have the 10 most popular Cognitive Brain Fitness and health books of 2008. I hope you find them as stimulating as I do!

1. Brain Rules 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home and school (Pear Press, March 2008)

- Dr. John Medina, director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research at Seattle Pacific University, writes a binding and comprehensive introduction to the daily impact of many recent brainSearch.

2. The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain person, think like a thin (Oxmoor House, March 2007)

- Dr. Judith Beck, director of the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research, links the world of research-based cognitive therapy with a broad question: maintaining weight loss.

third brain that change: stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of Brain Science (Viking, March 2007)

- Dr. Norman Doidge,Psychiatrist and author of the New York Times bestseller list, it brings us ", a collection of compelling stories about the amazing capabilities of the brain to learn a new, thread and ask."

4. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Little, Brown and Company, January 2008)

- Dr. John Ratey, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, summarizes the benefits of exercise for more research on the brain.

5.The Art of Changing the Brain: enrichment of teaching practice through research on the biology of learning (Stylus Publishing, October 2002)

- Dr. James Zull, Director Emeritus of the University Center for Innovation in teaching and training at Case Western Reserve University, writes a must for educators and students to read throughout their lives.

6. Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a new science reveals our extraordinary potential to transform ourselves books (Ballantine,January 2007)

- Sharon Begley, Newsweek science writer excellent introduction to research on neuro-plasticity based on a Mind and Life Institute meeting.

7. Thanks: how the new science of gratitude can safely (Houghton Mifflin, August 2007)

- Prof. Robert Emmons, a psychology professor at UC Davis and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology, is writing a book that combines solid research-based synthesis of the issue andpractical suggestions.

8. The executive brain: frontal lobes and the civilized world Mind (Oxford University Press, January 2001)

- Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg, clinical professor of neurology at New York University School of Medicine, offers a fascinating look at the role of frontal executive functions and roles through life.

9. The Brain Trust Program: a science based on three-part action plan) to improve memory (Perigee Trade, September 2007

-Dr. Larry McCleary, former acting Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital in Denver, covering many of the recommendations lifestyle for brain health in this practical book.

10. A User's Guide to the Brain: Perception, attention, and the four theaters of the brain (Pantheon, January 2001)

- This book (pre-Spark), Dr. John Ratey presents a stimulating description of how the brain works. An excellent book for all new Brain 101the field.

I ask you ... You already have a book to read next?

Copyright (c) 2009 Sharp Brains

Keep Your Mind and Memory Intact

It's great to have full use over your faculties, but for just a second, lend your mind to the plight of the elderly who reach the later stages of their lives and don't have that wonderful full control that we (well, most of us) take for granted.

It's not the nicest way to finish up you life, but it's almost accepted as the way it is. I say no more!

There is a way to delay the onset of age related memory loss - By keeping your mind sharp and active.

The End Of The Line

At some stage we will lose some portion of our mental capacity, agility and aptitude. It's going to happen and we stop that, but what I say no more to is accepting that we have to start losing our better minds so early.

If you see people who are 70 years of age and they still seem young it's probably because they have kept their mind and body active. It seems that the more physical you are the longer you keep the ability to walk and all the ensuing dexterity.

It also seems that keeping your mind fresh and active can lead to longer use of your mental function.

Keep It Fresh

Just like a child doesn't worry about superannuation, middle age adults care not for their memory simply because they think they will have it for ever, but the dark truth is you may only be a decade away from the start of the deterioration.

Don't let it set in.

I believe that protecting your memory and building your intelligence is one of the most productive and fun things you can do.

All you need is the thirst for knowledge and you can go about getting some really good brain teasers and stretching that mind laterally and really work that gray matter into a sharpened tool.

The Power Of The Mind

Has anyone ever thought how funny it is that our own mind can make the conscious effort to make itself stronger? That's some seriously deep and philosophical stuff if your really think about it.

The mind is so powerful and can beget so many great things that it kind of stands to reason that we should develop our mind to it's full potential in order to make the most out of our brain.

They say that ignorance is the enemy of education, so imagine if everyone furthered their education? There would be so much less ignorance based hate crimes and prejudice based violence.

That's the world I want to live in - How About You?

Why Study Math? Linear Systems and the Substitution Method - Part I

After having read my previous articles on lines and their representative equations, we are now going to look at these objects two at a time, in which case we have what is known as a linear system. When we have two lines, and we try to graph them on the same coordinate plane, three things can happen: one, the lines may never intersect, in which case they are parallel; two, the lines may coincide, in which case they are identical; or three, the lines can intersect in one point, the unique solution of the system. Here we are going to look at how to find that unique solution using the method known as substitution.

In my article, "Why Study Math? - Linear Equations and Slope-Intercept Form," we talked about the standard form for the equation of the line, that is Ax + By = C. When we have a linear system, or pair of lines, whose solution we are looking to find, we usually write them in standard form. One of the advantages of standard form is that it allows us to solve the system more easily when we try to eliminate one of the variables. This method, known as elimination or linear combinations, is another method that we will look at in an upcoming article. For now, we are going to focus on the method of substitution, which
works particularly nicely when one of the equations is in slope-intercept form.

The method of substitution, as the name implies, allows us to substitute one of the variables by its value in terms of the other, and then solve for the variable. For example, take the following system: y = 2x + 1 and 3x - 2y = 5. The first equation tells us what y is in terms of the variable x. We use this in the second equation and replace y with 2x + 1. Doing this we obtain,
3x - 2(2x + 1) = 5. Now that we have an equation in x only, we can solve to get x = -7. We then plug this value in the first equation to get y = 2(-7) + 1 or -13. The unique solution of this system then is -7, -13, which is a point and the unique point where, if we were to graph these two lines on the same coordinate plane, the two lines intersect.

Although this method usually gives students trouble, there really is no difficulty with it if you keep your head on straight and your pencil sharpened. For example, take the following system:
3x - 5y = 4, and y = -3x + 10. By using the second equation in the first, we obtain
3x - 5(-3x + 10) = 4. Simplifying, we have 3x + 15x -50 = 4. Rearranging terms, we get
18x = 54 or x = 3. We use this value of x to get y = -3(3) + 10 or y = 1.

There really is no difficulty with this method if you keep your figures neat and precise. Just keep your eraser handy for an error or two and remember that errors are okay because the more mistakes you make, the better you are going to get. Remember: if at first you don't succeed, just do another problem. Happy problem solving.