Do you have an Xbox 360, do you have an IPod Touch or IPhone? If you do I would recommend downloading the Inside Xbox 360 app.

The Inside Xbox 360 app (which is the only app endorsed by Microsoft) allows you to keep track of you and your friends gamertags (up to 12 friends). You can also view community news, check out what the latest game and video downloads that are available on the marketplace, watch game trailers linked to YouTube and listen to latest Major Nelson podcast. There are other similar Xbox Live apps available, but I have found this one to be the most comprehensive and fastest. The Inside Xbox 360 app is also available for Blackberries and Windows Mobile Devices.

- Schu

 

Its hard these  days to get by without using some sort of  techno gadget.  It doesn't matter if your using a GPS to get some place, a MP3 player for music or cell phone or digital camera to snap a shot of life's most precious moments.

Most everyone has some sort of little gadget that they carry with them most of the time. Myself it happens to be my iTouch. I love taking it to the gym for music, sitting back for some ten minuet gaming sessions and falling asleep with it while listening to podcasts.

Lately though I've found another use for my iTouch. As I'm sure most of you know the iPhone and iTouch have an incredible amount of apps to choose from. Well over the last 6 months I've taken a turn for the better when it comes to my health and have been using the Weight Watchers program to shed some pounds.

Well I found a great app for only $0.99 that lets me track my food all day and log my points as well ! Its called iWatchr. It also has the wonderful points calculator built in which lets me find out the point value of food while on the go or even if I'm out food shopping so that I can make a smarter choice when buying food.

You see it doesn't have to be all fun and games with today's latest technology. It can be about being a better you as well.

-TX

For a blog that is named Text Adventure, this post can’t be more relevant with it also being the first for our portable/mobile games column Road Trip.

Frotz, is a Z-machine interpreter (z-code files are essentially story files) for playing text adventure games such as Zork (which happens to stand for the Z in Z-machine). Z-machine games should not be confused with SCUMM (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion), which is a graphical system similar to Z-Machine games. The Frotz application can be downloaded to a PC or in the case of this column on to your iPhone or iPod touch so you can play on the road.

Frotz for the iPhone is free application, which comes pre-loaded with a dozen or more text adventures, including the original M.I.T. version of Zork. The application also provides a link to a database where you can download more story files. The quality of the games will vary from game to game since most of them are fan creations. As far as the interface goes, Frotz is very well tailored for portable gaming. By tapping the screen the keyboard will pop up allowing the user to type in the common words and phrases used text adventures (ie. take key, examine desk, etc.). Short form for key words is also used such as “I” for inventory. The built in dictionary will also complete the spelling of words based on the initial letters used. The ability to save your game is thankfully available.

In the future, I would hope to see an update allowing for graphics and sound, potentially paving the way for Infocom’s library to be brought to the iPhone. This on my part is wishful thinking however. At any rate give it a try, you can’t go wrong with price.

- Schu