Play n Trade

Video Games are not just for Boys anymore

Posted by Play N Trade Staff Writer, 3rd Mar 2010

I’ll be honest, despite the fact that I work for a Video Game company, I’m not much of gamer…Instead I am an extreme foodie! Shooters, and role-playing games simply don’t appeal to me the way fresh sushi or a plate of spicy Pad Thai does. Just as my DS looked like it was beginning to gather dust, I stumbled upon a game called “Personal Trainer: Cooking,” and was delighted to find that this interactive cookbook included not only recipes for these dishes, but also over 200 other recipes for signature dishes from around the world.
 
I love all things practical, so the audio tips and instructions, video tutorials, and voice controls make the software user friendly and convenient. The voice control function is the real icing on top of the cake since it allows you to move through the recipe by using the commands “last step,” “repeat,” and “continue” so you don’t have to touch your pretty little DS with messy fingers… Just be sure you warn those around the kitchen or they might think you’re a bit nutty for having to shout and repeat yourself several times if it doesn’t recognize your way of saying “CONTINUE!”
 
I actually successfully prepared a French Stuffed Tomato recipe from the software last night. I found it very easy to follow, and the result was a real crowd pleaser. My only gripe was that sometimes the sounds of pots and pans hitting the stove trigger the game to move on to the next step. I also wish that they included the measurements for the ingredients in the audio instructions rather than just the preparation list in case you forget while you’re cooking.
 
This game makes the traditional cookbook just seem outdated. “Personal Trainer: Cooking” could be a fun and great tool for the modern woman, food network junkie, aspiring epicurean, or for the typical gamer who wants to upgrade from a diet of instant ramen and pizza. I think this game has unlocked a new door for me now that I know the gaming industry also includes innovative and practical products to offer the casual gamer like myself.

No More Heartbreak

Posted by Play N Trade Staff , 8th Feb 2010

This is not a V -Day post well sort of…..the image at least is!

When I was about 10, I fell in love (at Toys R Us, of all places). I was Christmas shopping with my dad, when my eyes fell on her for the first time: Nolan Ryan’s Strike Zone Baseball. It was an electronic board with a scene that looked like a catcher and batter on it. The player (me) would throw foam baseballs at it and try to pitch just like Nolan Ryan. It was everything I wanted for Christmas and more. After my dad bought it (and quickly packed it away, as Christmas was at least a month off), I dreamed about this game. I talked about it incessantly. I may have even cried over it.

At last, Christmas came. I knew it would be my biggest gift, so I saved it for last. Finally, my dreams would be fulfilled. I would be Nolan Ryan. I tore through the wrapping, hung it up on the wall, and…it sucked. It was so incredibly repetitive, that literally after five minutes, I had seen, heard and accomplished everything possible within the game. Not to mention it was so loud I could only play with a sound permit. I was shattered.

Surely you’ve had a similar situation? Some call it buyer’s remorse. I call it sneaky advertising making a product look better than it is. And it’s happened to me over the years many, many times. Beck’s Midnite Vultures. Mortal Kombat 4. New Mountain Dew. And yet, after opening something, we’re forced to live with it. Until now.

So come shop at Play N Trade, if for no other reason, to know you’ll be able to get what you want. No more heartbreak. No more tears. Parents, come test games for content before you buy them for your kids. Kids, come play at Play N Trade and show your parents how cool video games are.

Play N Trade’s “Try Before You Buy” policy helps you to avoid that feeling. Being able to try any video game before buying helps us all breathe a little easier because you know what you’re getting. Come to Play N Trade and fall in love with something! Check stores for V-Day specials!