November 2011 Archives

A firmware is a program or a data structure used in most electronic gadgets such as your router. Firmwares help your hardware function properly. Most hardware manufacturers release firmware updates that contain improvements such as functioning more efficiently and other functions that help optimize your hardware (you can think of firmware updates as a patch to your favorite MMO game). As such, you can improve your router by just updating its firmware. An updated firmware can improve your game connection and reduce lag. 

In the past, firmwares cannot be updated and you should buy a new hardware with the updated firmware installed. Nowadays, you can simply download the firmware update and install it on your own.

Here is a simple guide on how to update the firmware of your router:

1. Gather the information needed - the brand, model, firmware version. You can usually find these information at the product label of your router.
2. Visit your manufacturer's website and download the firmware update to your hard drive. Most manufacturer's websites have a link on top for downloads. If there is none, you can always try doing a search. Make sure to download the correct firmware update. Check for documentations included in the downloaded file. These updates usually come with instructions on how to install them.
3. Check for documentations included in the downloaded file. These updates usually come with instructions on how to install them. Install the firmware update to your router.

Note that different manufacturers have different means and methods on updating its firmware. You should try to visit your router's manufacturer and check if they have any documentation with regards to updating your firmware. 

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializing in MMO gaming tools. WTFast, is a subscription based software app that can speed up a player's game connection by 60-90%. In a fast paced, competitive environment, having a fast connection is a big advantage.  In a battle game, like World of Warcraft, it's often the difference between the player living or dying. For a free trial go to http://www.wtfast.com/. You can also view testimonials at http://www.pingcraft.com/lower-ping-with-lag-killer/user-reviews.html

Did you know that you can enjoy playing your favorite MMO games without lag and still earn money at the same time? Yup, you can do both of the things you love at the same time with WTFast's affiliate system!

The WTFast affiliate system let's you earn money by just referring WTFast to others. You earn money (a percentage of the subscription fees) when someone subscribes to WTFast as your referral. To start, all you need to is to sign up for an affiliate account here. It's completely free so you have nothing to worry about.

After signing up, you will be given your affiliate link. Your affiliate link contains a tracking ID to make sure that you will be credited for people who sign up through your affiliate link. Then, all you have to do is to promote WTFast using your affiliate link. Here are some simple tips on how to promote your affiliate link:

• Social networks are one way of getting your message across a ton of people with just a simple click. Share your WTFast affiliate link with your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. This could get to a huge number of people if your friends and friends of friends share and tweet it too.
• Share it on social bookmarking sites such as Digg and Stumbleupon. A lot of people use this type of service which means a lot of people can see your affiliate link too.
• Get an affiliate banner (click here to see WTFast banners) and post it on your blog. You can also try writing a blogpost about your WTFast experience to convince people more. This would be beneficial especially if a lot of people visit your site often.
• You can also try to share it via word of mouth. It is one of the most successful techniques and it never fails. :)

Read more about WTFast's affiliate system here.

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializing in MMO gaming tools. WTFast, is a popular subscription based software app that runs in the background while you play World of Warcraft or other TCP based games. It can speed up a player's game connection by 60-90%.  You can go to http://www.wtfast.com/ for a free trial.

The last thing any gamer would want is a laggy connection - it makes one less responsive and doesn't give a good gaming experience. If we want to fix lag then we need to know first what causes them. So, what causes online games to lag? Well there are two common causes: your hardware and your internet connection.

If your hardware or its settings are not compatible with the game's requirement then that can cause some problems. Try checking the game specs then reconfigure or update your hardware to the game's minimum requirements for it to run smoothly. You can change your graphic preferences, add some extra RAM or even upgrade your CPU. You may also want to check all your computer-cables just to make sure they are working properly

Aside from hardware issues another thing that causes a laggy gameplay is your internet connection. You can try upgrading your internet connection so it can handle more data that flows from your computer to the game server. Also, if you own a wireless router, you might want to restrict connectivity or limit connection while playing to prevent unwanted wifi connection.

Various programs running simultaneously while you are playing can also cause lags. Close down all unneeded programs and stop all downloads during the game, this will save you much needed computing resources.

Read here for more tips on how to reduce lag.

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializes in MMO gaming tools. WTFast is a subscription based software app that runs in the background while you play World of Warcraft or other TCP based games. WTFast can speed up a player's game connection by 60-90%. It works nearly anywhere in the world, and benefits nearly anyone who tries it. For a free trial, please visit http://www.wtfast.com/

Just like in many of the games we play, there are certain traits MMO gamers must have in order to be a good player and succeed in any game.

Be determined, don't quit. This is especially true if one is new to the game or has repeatedly encountered difficulties in the play. Remember this is a game, as a gamer you must be up to the challenge. If your heart's in the game, you won't get discouraged by failure. Study, strategize and see what can be done differently. Don't be afraid to do some trial and error. A lost battle should not cost any MMO gamer the war. 

Be flexible and adaptive. Whether it is in the MMO environment or in real life, a true gamer must be able to effectively respond to whatever's thrown at him or her. Gamers must be focused on the game and keep their eyes on the goal, learn to manage their tasks and find ways to overcome obstacles may it be game related or not.

Be sociable and be a team player. MMO gamers must be open and able to communicate well regardless of age, race and background. Together with this is being a team player. We may have different goals in the game but there would be situations where we would need to work together to achieve something.

Be creative. MMO takes us away from the usual. There is no limit to one's imagination or possibilities. So when faced with difficult tasks, be it in the game or in life, think outside the box. There is no knowing what to expect in the game and while there is nothing wrong with trying to solve a problem logically, when you've tried all forms of logic but have yet to succeed, don't quit just yet. Try something unusual and unorthodox, that might just do the trick.

Be on the lookout and keep up. Being on top of everything and being in control all the time is impossible. We'll sometimes miss some stuff and fall behind but what's important is that we always get up and work on improvements. Whether it's upgrading our hardware, our gear or even improving your connection up to implementing patches on the game to eliminate lags or errors, gamers always must always be on the lookout to better the MMO experience. 

MMO games, just like any other game require something from the gamers: skill. This will make the gaming experience worthwhile and rewarding as players will be able to adapt to as the games progresses and when new patch or updates are introduced in the game itself.

Commitment - this is very important as the entire duration and impact of the game will rely on the gamers' ability to commit to the game. Any MMO decision or strategy to be executed must have the full attention of the player. The quality of the decision itself and the preciseness of its execution is affected by the gamers' dedication to the game.

Decision-making Skills - MMO is a game, a quest. Battles and challenges is a constant in the game so a gamer must be able to decide, decide good ad decide quickly. His commitment will ensure an understanding of the game which will help him or her in making decisions.

Sensitivity and Proactiveness - gamers must be able to use their senses and be attentive to others. This will make it easier for them to make decisions and they must also know how to use their senses to their advantage.

Planning and Financial Skills - this is important to be able to strategize or make alliances if needed as well as build one's arsenal or other assets which may be needed as the game progresses.

Versatility - some games might require you to be in different environments or play different roles, how you fare in the game will depend on how well you can adapt to different situations and circumstances.

Social Skills and Netiquette - all MMO gamers interact with different people from all over the world. MMO is a game and it demands the same amount of respect and sportsmanship from any face to face or physical sports. Make sure not to lose your temper and always be polite.  

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializing in MMO gaming tools. WTFast is their flagship product that can help speed up a player's game connection by 60-90%. For a free trial, you can go to http://www.wtfast.com/

Yeah, you read the title correct: MMO and other online games boost productivity. I didn't want to believe it when I first saw it but you can now go jumping up and down and tell your boss, parent or girlfriend that MMO gaming can help you become more productive.

On a study done in Germany back in 2009, researchers from the University of Hamburg in Germany investigated the recreational use of computers and online gaming in the workplace. One of the objective is to test this hypothesis: that "cyberslacking" can improve employee productivity.

Researchers emailed about 10,000 German workers to complete the survey about their gaming habits at work and how they feel before and after playing MMO games.

From a sample of 833 participants, about 46.6% or 383 people answered they regularly played online games daily, 10% played several times a week and about 15.5% played once a week.

So how do employers benefit from cyberslacking?

Simple when faced with a challenging or tiring work or assignment, workers or gamers need a "quick recovery".  This quick recovery is essential to achieving high levels of productivity and is made possible by taking a break and playing MMO.

Researchers also identified 4 essentials to successfully recovery from:

1. Psychological detachment from work;
2. Relaxation - to calm down and breathe to be able to respond well;
3. Mastery experiences - gaining skills from the experience; and
4. Feeling in control and feeling ready to face just about anything.

The study further pointed out that those with higher-levels of work-related fatigue reported stronger recovery during MMO game play and displayed the higher tendency to play games during office hours com. It also noted that employee receiving less social support from fellow workers played games more frequently than those with higher social support.

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializing in MMO gaming tools. WTFast, is a subscription based software app that runs in the background while you play World of Warcraft or other TCP based games. It speeds up a player's game connection by 60-90%.  For a free trial, please visit http://www.wtfast.com/

SteelSeries, one of the world's leading gaming periperhals manufacturer, has just released SteelSeries Shift - gaming keyboard that literally shifts from normal to awesome. It allows users to customize the keyboard to their own liking.

The main feature of the Shift Keyboard is its interchangeable keyset. You can remove the keys on the keyboard and change them to suit your needs. SteelSeries worked closely with game developers and publishers to produce keysets that are optimized for gamers. You can take off the normal keys and change it to one of your favorite MMOs like World of Warcraft. And because you can easily change keysets, this keyboard is keyboard is very all-around - from FPS to RTS to RPG.

However, the keyboard is a bit bulky with dimensions of 40mm x 490mm x 190mm (HxWxL) - its a bit massive. Though other features of the Shift Keyboard can compensate for its physical nature. One of this is its ability to record macros directly to the keyboard on eight specific hotkeys on top of the keyboard (you can configure the other keys using the software included). It also has 4 different "layers" (this brings the total number of recorded macros on the hotkeys to 24) which you can switch on-the-fly so you can change these 8 hotkeys instantly. 

Other features of the SteelSeries Shift Gaming Keyboard include:

• Extended lifecycle through the use of rubber domes
• Media controls on the left side of the keyboard for easy access
• Fine-tuned key spots for the most used keys
• Audio and USB hubs
• Enhanced tactile feeling

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company that specializes in massive multiplayer online game tools. WTFast, is a subscription based software app that can speed up a player's game connection by 60-90% as it runs in the background. In a fast paced, competitive environment, where having a fast connection is a big advantage, WTFast makes pwning second nature. You can visit http://www.wtfast.com/ for a free trial.

There are some alternatives to getting faster internet speed and preventing online games from lagging. This is through SSH tunneling and private networks, commonly known as 2^nd level ISP.

SSH Tunneling

Tunneling refers to the secure transfer of data between networks. Secure Shell Host (SSH) is a network protocol that allows transfer of encrypted or unencrypted data between devices or networks using a secured connection. The tunnel serves as a virtual alternate route allowing safe, immediate and faster means of sending and receiving data from one device or network to another.

How does this benefit online gamers? It makes it possible to have less laggy game play and enables quicker updates or response times as this method improves connection speeds and cuts ping rates by half ensuring optimum gaming action. Click here to learn more about SSH Tunneling

Private Networks

Private networks still run on local internet infrastructure but escape normal internet routes. This simply means gamers automatically bypass the internet per se avoiding others competing to connect to high density game servers by mapping a faster more efficient route.

How do gamers benefit from this? A private network is a secure connection that calls for authentication. Aside from security, gamers can also avoid lags and slow responses or updates from busy servers giving them lower latency. As speed in important in online games, a good network connection is guaranteed to give players a great experience. 

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializing in massive multiplayer online game tools. WTFast is a download/monthly subscription service that accelerates one's connection when playing massive multiplayer online games (MMOGs) by up to 60-90%. You can sign up for a free trial by going to http://www.wtfast.com/

Gaming is all about speed. You may have the best strategies, hardware and plans but if you cannot keep up with the rest of the pack, then there's not much to be proud about. That's why it's important to know about delays - its causes and what you can do about them.  

Latency defined

The term used to describe delay in the transmission of data from one point to another is known as latency. Delays of any sort are not good for online gaming: it compromises the game leaving you with an unpleasant gaming experience. The key is to keep latency to a minimum.

 Causes of Latency

Some causes of delay are:

• Propagation - the time it takes for data packets to travel from one point to another at the speed of light.
• Transmission medium - accuracy and stability of internet connections
• Size of the data packet - the larger the date the longer the delay
• Router and other processing - gateway availability and response time
• Other computer and storage delays

Improving on Latency

1. Check your internet connection - the better the connection the faster data packets can travel so games can update. If you have wi-fi, make sure that router is placed close to the console and has sufficient signal. Better yet, get hardwired.
2. Invest on your hardware - from your processor to the entire CPU and even up to the router, the best way to ensure you get the best gaming experience is to get the best gaming hardware. Top performance will always demand top prices.
3. Close all other programs - optimizing network and computing resources for your game means closing all other programs not needed in the game.
4. Tweak your firewall - hey, just tweak on the external one. Read here to learn more.
5. Try a TCP Optimizer - this is simply an accelerator that dramatically increases your computer's internet speed. Click here to read more.

The CPU plays a major role in a computer. It serves as the brain of the whole computer processing all data requests, logic, arithmethic, and other system operations - and it performs all of these simultaneously. As such, you should carefully choose a CPU that would suit your needs. However, choosing the right one can be quite a daunting task especially for non-techy people. This could distinguish between an enjoyable or laggy gameplay. 

Playing an MMO game requires tons of data processes from computing every character movement and environment effects to skirmishes and battles - all at the same time. These requires a lot of CPU firepower. If your system cannot handle this amount of load, gameplay will be poor and you may suffer from lag (though you can do some tweaks to reduce lag, but in general everything would be horrible) which will make the whole experience unenjoyable. 

 

The right CPU can give you a no-lag gameplay.

One way to help people decide on which CPU to buy is by conducting benchmarks. A benchmark is the process of conducting tests to an object (a CPU in this case) to determine its relative performance among others. By knowing how a certain brand and technical specification of a CPU perform, you can determine if it is just right for your needs.

The website cpubenchmark.net is probably the authority and one of the most reliable source when it comes to CPU benchmarking. The site tests a lot of different CPUs and of various brands and models. They also allow users to test their own CPUs by downloading a Performance Test software (all CPUs are subjected to the same Performance Test). The results are then submitted to the site and added to their database. This process helps increase the number of data gathered which also increases the accuracy of the results and rankings. The website is also updated daily which means it is a very reliable site.

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializing in MMO gaming tools. WTFast, is a subscription based software app that reduce lag and speed up a player's game connection by up 60-90%! Head now to http://www.wtfast.com/ and sign up for a free trial. 

A powerful gaming rig is very essential especially for MMO gamers. Especially nowadays that good games are being very demanding on hardware specs. Playing a game on minimum configuration is not as fun as playing it on max. What's more, you can experience lag, feel frustrated, and just shutdown your PC. 

A lot of gamers nowadays prefer laptops than the traditional desktops. Laptops give gamers the liberty to play games whenever and wherever they want to play. However, laptops are not as powerful as their desktop counterparts. Most laptops right now don't even meet the minimum specifications of a good game title. As fellow gamers, we've listed below some of the most powerful gaming laptops out on the market to satisfy your gaming needs (yeah, we're still waiting for the Razer Blade).

Alienware M17x R3

- Intel Core i7 2670QM 2.2 GHz (3.1 GHz with Turbo Boost, 6 MB cache)

- 17.3" (1600x900) display

- 4 GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600 MHz

- AMD Radeon HD6870, 1 GB GDDR5

- 500 GB (7200 RPM) SATA hard drive

Alienware M11x

- Intel Core i5 2467M 1.6 GHz (2.3 GHz with Turbo Boost, 3 MB cache)

- 11.6" (720 p/1366x768) display

- 6 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333 MHz

- NVIDIA GeForce GT540M w/ 1 GB video memory

- 320 GB (7200 RPM) SATA hard drive

MSI GT683DXR-427US 

- Intel Core i7 - 2630QM processor, 6 MB cache

- 15.6" (1920x1080) display

- 16 GB DDR3

- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570M, 1.5 GB DDR5 VRAM

- 1 TB (7200 RPM, 500 GB x 2 in RAID 0) SATA hard drive

HP Envy¹⁷ 3D

- Intel Core i7 720QM

- 17.3" (1920x1080) display

- 8 GB DDR3 at 1333 MHz

- Radeon HD 6850M with 1 GB  GDDR5

- 640 GB hard drive

Toshiba Qosmio X775-3DV78

- Intel Core i7 - 2630QM processor 2.0 GHz (2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost)

- 17.3" (1920x1080) display

- 8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz

- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M, 1.5 GDDR5 discrete graphics memory

- 750 GB (5400 RPM) SATA hard drive

Asus G74SX-XA1 Republic of Gamers

- Intel Core i7 - 2630QM processor, 6 MB cache

- 17.3" (1920x1080) display

- 12 GB DDR3 (can support up to 16 GB)

- NVIDIA GTX 560M with 3GB GDDR5 graphics memory

- 750 GB HDD (7200 RPM) hard drive

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializing in MMO gaming tools. WTFast is a popular game accelerator that can speed up a player's game connection by 60-90%. When used along with these powerful gaming rigs, MMO gaming will virtually have no lag. For a free trial, you can go to http://www.wtfast.com/

Notice that as your computer ages and as you install more and more programs in it, your computer seems to slow down and it's speed is not the same as before. One reason for this is data fragmentation. Data or file fragmentation means that your computer was not able to store your files sequentially. And because your files are not arranged and organized well, your computer takes time to look for the specific file that it needs. Think of this as a messy room against a clean and organized room. In a messy room, you'll most likely to take hours looking for what you need as opposed to an organized room where you can easily see where what you are looking for is placed. So, if you want your files to be organized, you should consider defragmenting your PC.

Defragmenting (or defragging for most people) your PC arranges your files (such as files of your favorite MMO game) and organizes them in a continuous manner. This way, the files on your computer can be easily accessed and it reduces the time your PC searching for a file that it needs. Also, the time to read and write files on your hard disk will be minimized. This means that more resources are used to read and write a file rather than looking for it. This translates to your PC being able to run programs faster which also means that you can play your favorite MMO game smoother. 

To use Disk Defragmenter:

1. Go to My Computer

2. Right-click on your Hard Drive

3. Select Properties

4. Go to Tools tab

5. Click Defragment now

This will open the Disk Defragmenter program window. The window will show which disks can be defragged and the percentage the disk is fragmented. It also allows you to analyze your disk drive before you do the actual defrag process. There is also an option that you can use to schedule disk defrag. Doing disk defrag at least once a month is very essential especially for old PCs.

Defragging your disk drives is one of the simple ways that you can do to reduce lag. Read more tips on reducing lag here.

About WTFast

WTFast is a global software company specializing in MMO gaming tools. WTFast is a subscription based software app that runs in the background while you play World of Warcraft or other TCP based games. WTFast can speed up a player's game connection by 60-90%. You can visit http://www.wtfast.com/ and sign up for a free trial.