As well as the usual user-generated content that fills up most video sites these days, Funny Or Die is also home to some original content, much of which is exclusive to the site. Even better this content is often of professional quality and includes appearances by famous actors, comedians, or other celebrities.

Not everything on Funny Or Die is worth watching, but there are some Web series that will likely have you guffawing with laughter, if guffawing is your thing. I personally prefer to titter. Or even LOL. What follows are five Web series that justify the existence of Funny Or Die, and though some of its one-off videos are also worth watching, it is these series that make it one of those rare sites you should bookmark.

NB: All of the following videos should be considered NSFW and viewed at your own discretion.

Raaaaaaaandy

Raaaaaaaandy is a Funny or Die Web series in the mockumentary style. It tells the story of the titular Randy, pronounced “Raaaaaaaandy” for no particular reason, a stand-up comedian gaining notoriety thanks to a cameo in the Judd Apatow movie Funny People.

Randy is actually Aziz Ansari, a real-life stand-up comedian, and the whole thing is a well-formed parody. Not that everybody seems to get that, perhaps because Ansari isn’t all that well known. Regardless, Raaaaaaaandy is funny and clever, and more than worthy of your time and attention.

Acting With James Franco

Everybody knows James Franco is the man, right? He’s a great actor, he’s been in some great movies, he’s a hit with the ladies, and he’s funny too. The only thing that could make him any more of a hero would be curing cancer. But as that’s unlikely, he’ll have to stick to giving acting lessons to his brother.

Acting With James Franco is a very fitting title for this Web series, as it literally consists of James Franco giving acting lessons to his real-life brother Dave. Thankfully he doesn’t need acting lessons so the whole thing is just an excuse for some easy laughs. And the laughs will come easy when you watch this show.

Drunk History

Drunk History shows what school would be like if all the teachers lectured you while liquored up to the eyeballs. It would be a mess; facts and fiction would combine to form a new reality, and chaos would ensue. However, we would all have happy childhoods laughing at our elders for being drunk idiots.

This is the work of Mark Gagliardi, who gets drunk (supposedly on a whole bottle of whisky) and then recounts a moment from history. His words are recorded and then acted out by famous actors and comedians. The first episode features Michael Cera, with Jack Black and Will Ferrell making appearances later in the series.

Don Cheadle Is Captain Planet

Captain Planet was a real show, and still is now thanks to continued syndication. It’s a lame animated show that is clearly pitched as edutainment, teaching kids about environmentalism while supposedly also entertaining them. This live-action version is much, much better.

This Captain Planet features Don Cheadle as the titular superhero, though whether he’s actually a hero or not is the question. He has the power to conjure trees from thin air but enjoys turning humans into trees instead. Well, you would too, wouldn’t you?

Between Two Ferns

We’ve saved the best until last, with Between Two Ferns being an unmissable Web series for anyone who know their actors. Between Two Ferns features Zach Galifianakis (from The Hangover) as an interviewer who puts his subjects at ease with an odd mix of boredom and vitriol.

The title comes from the fact that the interviews take place between two ferns, and on a set that resembles something from the 1970s. Which is, I suspect, the idea. Some big-name guests have appeared on Between Two Ferns, including Natalie Portman, Ben Stiller, and Bruce Willis.

Conclusions

If any of these Web series has made you laugh then I, and the people who actually created the shows, have done their jobs. If you watched them all and are still sitting staring at your computer stony-faced then it may be time to think of undergoing a sense of humor bypass. But just to make sure there is no non-surgical hope, check out these original YouTube comedy channels before signing any formal agreement.

What do you think of Funny Or Die? Which of these series particularly tickled your funny-bone? Is there another Funny Or Die video you feel deserves a wider audience? As always we’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject at hand in the comments section below.

The post 5 Funny Or Die Web Series Worth Watching appeared first on MakeUseOf.

Seeing kids using cutting-edge technology is certainly a relatively recent development. But I guess it isn’t a surprising one. After all, the technology exists, parents own it and (over)use it, and so kids are likely to want to follow suit prematurely. Should this be something we embrace? Or should kids be encouraged to leave technology alone until they’re old enough to fully embrace it?

This Week’s Question…

We want to know, At What Age Should Kids Be Exposed To Technology? We’re using “technology” as a catch-all term, but we’re really talking about new technology. Television sets have been around for a long time, so they don’t count. But smartphones and tablets are relatively new innovations, so seeing young children using them as though they’ve been around for forever is more surprising.

How young is too young for a child to be handed a smartphone? Would you let your child use a laptop or desktop computer? If so, are they trusted to go online without supervision or is their use heavily guarded to ensure the seedier parts of the Internet are avoided?

Do you encourage your children to play outside or are you happy for them to stay in and play video games all day? If so, do you worry about them playing online and meeting unsavory individuals?

Tell us your story, or recount a story from a family member of friend. If you don’t have a story to tell, just tell us at what age you think kids should be exposed to technology. If indeed you think there even should be a minimum age limit.

Drawing Conclusions

All comments will be digested to form conclusions in a follow-up post next week where we will detail what You Told Us. One reader will be chosen for the coveted Comment Of The Week, getting their name up in lights, the respect of other readers, and 150 MakeUseOf points to use for MakeUseOf Rewards. What more motivation than that do you need to respond?

We Ask You is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. The questions asked are usually open-ended and likely to necessitate a discussion. Some are opinion-based, while others see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps to fellow MakeUseOf Readers. This column is nothing without you, as MakeUseOf is nothing without you.

Image Credit: Paul Inkles

The post At What Age Should Kids Be Exposed To Technology? [We Ask You] appeared first on MakeUseOf.

It’s far better to discover new music for yourself, but where do you begin? You could listen to online radio and pick and choose the songs that resonate. Or you could use Spotify apps to be recommended new music based on what you already listen to. Then again, you could delve into music mapping apps created using The Echo Nest platform (also responsible for Infinite Gangnam Style).

Mapping music isn’t as bizarre as it may at first sound. In the same way locations can be mapped out, so can music genres and artists, with one style feeding into the next, one band being connected to another. What follows are three methods for mapping genres and artists that should lead to you to discover new music. Hopefully, all without having to offend a friend or loved one.

The Music Maze

The Music Maze is surprisingly simple but effortlessly efficient. Rather than throw a whole map of genres at you — which is what the two other apps on this list do — it guides you by the hand through the music maze, hitting different, interconnected artists as you go.

You can enter the maze at a point of your choosing. Just type the name of an artist into the space provided and hit ‘Enter‘. A song by that artist will start to play, and a number of other artists will pop up alongside your chosen act. You can then choose either one you already know or one you’ve never heard of.

You navigate the maze by clicking on one of the artists, repeating the process ad nauseum. There is no exit to find, this is merely a way of presenting similar artists to those you already like. The grouping means you’re only ever presented with artists that share something in common with those you have already indicated you enjoy.

Don’t Forget To: Click the ‘Random‘ button in order to land on a random artist in the maze.

Map Of Music Styles

Map Of Music Styles, or MOMS for short, is a visual representation of the various genres that exist in music. There are over 1,000 listed, pared down from more than 2,000, and each is grouped together to sit alongside genres that they have things in common with.

Each genre is listed in terms of importance; the names appearing larger or smaller based on the number of artists contained within. There are lines between each genre, sometimes connecting multiple different genres. The end result is a kind of Google Maps for music, with genres grouped into continents and countries.

You can zoom in and out of the Map Of Music Styles, discovering smaller, more niche, genres as you do. Clicking on a genre will play a random song from that genre. In this way you can get a feel for which genres you would like to explore further and which you would rather leave well alone.

Don’t Forget To: Try charting a continuous line through all of the genres you like.

Every Noise At Once

Every Noise At Once is the most epic of the apps on this list. Not only does it list all of the genres you’ve likely ever heard of (as well as a few more you haven’t), it has another layer dedicated to artists, all grouped within the genre they belong to.

The genres are clustered according to data, so there is a discernible pattern present. However, as no attempt has been made to add a visual element to the raw data (by design) the list can at first seem overwhelming. Focus on the kinds of genres you gravitate towards, however, and all becomes clearer.

Clicking on the small double arrows at the end of each genre’s name leads you further down the rabbit-hole, with artists in that genre revealed. Clicking on a name will start a random song by the artist. Clicking ‘Scan‘ within a genre plays a snippet from each artist located within it.

Don’t Forget To: Click ‘Scan‘ to have the app play through the genres at random.

Conclusions

I found all three of these music mapping apps to be both fun and fascinating. I’ve discovered genres I never knew existed, links between genres I could never have visualized for myself, and connections between artists that now seem rather obvious but which I was previously unaware of. Most importantly I discovered a host of new music to explore further on Spotify and beyond.

Which of these music mapping apps did you find the most useful? Did any of them help you to discover new music genres or artists? What kind of music map would you like to see created? Are you aware of any other musical mapping apps that deserve a wider audience? As always we’re keen to hear your thoughts on the subject at hand in the comments section below.

Image Credit: Dennis Tang

The post Discover New Music By Mapping Musical Genres & Artists appeared first on MakeUseOf.

However careful you may be about what you share on the Web, there is always a chance you’re leaking information. Websites collect data about you, which is then used to present you with relevant adverts. Social networks store updates and comments you make, any of which could come back to haunt you later in life. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Which is why we decided to ask you for your views on this issue.

The Results

We asked you, Does The Internet Need A ‘Delete’ Button? The question was prompted by comments made by Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, who, while defending his company’s policies, declared we needed to have a debate about the lack of a ‘Delete’ button on the Internet now rather than later. The MakeUseOf readership delivered.

We received a healthy number of comments, and although this isn’t a discussion that can be neatly summed up in a few words, we can try to reach a consensus of sorts.

Most commenters accepted that while a ‘Delete’ button would be nice, it’s not feasible. The best we can ever hope for may be “something like a simple dashboard which shows all websites and services I am active on and lets me delete my identity and traces from selected web services,” as suggested by Harshit J. Even that may be wishful thinking.

A couple of people mentioned the usefulness of the Internet for future historians, who will need to see the data intact in order to make sense of how civilization looked at the start of the 21st century. But that wasn’t enough to convince people that we shouldn’t be the sole arbiters over the fate of our own personal data.

Comment Of The Week

We had great input from the likes of Rob H, BiG eViL, and Lisa Santika Onggrid, to name just a few. Comment Of The Week goes to dragonmouth, who, as well as the respect of myself and hopefully everybody reading this, receives 150 points to use for MakeUseOf Rewards.

While it might be nice to have, it is much too late for a “Delete” button. Pandora’s box has been opened and cannot be closed. There are too many entities in possesion of our data to even contemplate its complete deletion. Besides, each and every entity will argue very strongly for their right/need to retain the data. By saying “there are times when erasure [of data] is the right thing … and there are times when it is inappropriate.” Mr.Schmidt is already positioning himself to argue Google case for retention of any data in their possession.
“How do we decide?”
WE don’t decide. The owner of the data decides. Mr. Schmidt and his employers DO NOT have a say in the matter. Unless they are following the maxim that possession is 9/10ths of the law.
” We have to have that debate now.”
There is no debate, there is no “WE”. If, as the owner of the data, I decide to expunge it from the Internet, not Mr.Schmidt, not his employers, not the government have any say in it. Privacy is like being pregnant, either you are or you’re not, either we have privacy or we don’t. There is no partial privacy just as there is no partial pregnancy.
Of course, in the real world everybody wants to know everything about everybody. Whether it is vital for business interests, as in the case of Google, Amazon, etc., or for “national interests” as is the case with governments, we will never be allowed to expunge traces of ourselves from the Internet.

We liked this comment because it strongly argues the case for why a ‘Delete’ button is improbable (likely impossible) at this stage of the game. It also addresses Schmidt’s points directly, cutting through the notion that he might be working on our behalf rather than on the behalf of his company.

We will be asking a new question tomorrow, so please join us then. We Ask You is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. We ask you a question and you tell us what you think. The question is open-ended and is usually open to debate. Some questions will be purely opinion-based, while others will see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps for your fellow MakeUseOf readers. This column is nothing without your input, all of which is valued.

Image Credit: Matt McGee

The post Does The Internet Need A ‘Delete’ Button? [You Told Us] appeared first on MakeUseOf.

There are simple steps you can take to protect yourself online. Using a firewall and antivirus software, creating secure passwords, not leaving your devices unattended; these are all absolute musts. Beyond that it comes down to keeping up with the latest news about spam, scams, phishing attempts, hacks, and malware.

This is where the following list of security experts on Twitter comes into play. They’re all dedicated to delivering updates, news, blog posts, and opinion pieces designed to keep you, the average Web user, informed about the latest online security threats.

AVG Free @AVGFree

Never Mind The Kids – Watch out for the Sexting Boomers! avgclick.me/12TNgMd #freeantivirus

— AVGFree (@AVGFree) May 1, 2013

This is the official Twitter account for AVG Free, a high-ranking piece of antivirus software that is free to download and available for Windows. The feed links to highlighted posts from AVG blogs, which includes regular updates regarding current threats.

Eugene Kaspersky @e_kaspersky

Dutch police would be able to hack into computers, install spyware, read emails and destroy files bbc.co.uk/news/world-eur…

— Eugene Kaspersky (@e_kaspersky) May 3, 2013

This is the Twitter account of Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and Chairman of the Kaspersky Lab, the developer of various security products, including Kaspersky Internet Security. Eugene is considered an expert in the field, and his Twitter feed is full of links to security news from around the world, sometimes with added commentary.

Avast! Antivirus @avast_antivirus

E! Online Twitterhackers claim Justin Bieber is Gay. Teenage girls cry with disbelief.sbks.co/pmldg4/ @eonline has been fixed.

— avast! Antivirus (@avast_antivirus) May 7, 2013

This is the official Twitter account for Avast!, an award-winning and immensely popular piece of antivirus software that is completely free and available on Windows from XP all the way up to Windows 8. The feed focuses on the latest security news, as well as updates regarding the Avast! software.

Graham Cluley @gcluley

The Onion is Twitter hacked by Syrian Electronic Army. Hardly anyone notices wp.me/p3qRGV-W3Q

— Graham Cluley (@gcluley) May 6, 2013

This is the Twitter account of Graham Cluley, the editor of Naked Security at Sophos, a company responsible for a mix of free and paid security software. Naked Security is the newsroom at Sophos, delivering updates and advice on the latest happenings. Cluley also tweets other security-related links.

McAfee Inc. @McAfee

Heard about the @ap Twitter account hack? @garyjdavis shares the phony news and tips to keep your account secure: bit.ly/13d8jdD

— McAfee Inc. (@McAfee) May 6, 2013

This is the official Twitter account for McAfee Security, a company dedicated to security solutions for computer users, both on a personal level and in the business world. The feed focuses on up-to-date security news, as well as updates directly related to McAfee products.

Mikko Hypponen @mikko

Play a game of Asteroids and disclose a list of websites you’ve visited:lcamtuf.blogspot.it/2013/05/some-h…Nice idea and a proof-of-concept by @lcamtuf

— Mikko Hypponen ? (@mikko) May 5, 2013

This is the Twitter account of Mikko Hypponen, the Chief Research Officer for F-Secure, a computer security company based in Finland. F-Secure offers a huge range of security products and services, and Hypponen has worked for the firm since 1991. His tweets flit between addressing security issues and personal news.

Symantec @symantec

Join Symantec & small business expert Rieva Lesonsky to learn how to protect and secure your business’s valuable data bit.ly/ZGGnxw

— Symantec (@symantec) May 2, 2013

This is the official Twitter account for Symantec, a company with a full complement of products designed to protect individual users and businesses when they connect to the Internet. The feed keeps followers updated on the latest happenings in the world of online security, as well as news related to Symantec products.

Jeremiah Grossman @jeremiahg

During 2012, 86% of all websites tested had at least 1 serious* vuln. serious = vulns leading to system breach, data loss. #WebsiteVulnStats

— Jeremiah Grossman (@jeremiahg) May 2, 2013

This is the Twitter account of Jeremiah Grossman, who is the Founder & CTO of WhiteHat Security, an Internet security expert, and public speaker on the subject. He tweets links to news updates about security issues, and personal views on the things happening in this space.

SANS ISC @sans_isc

[Diary] Report Fake Tech Support Calls submission form reminder, (Mon, Apr 29th): Previously we det… bit.ly/14JGsor #sansisc

— SANS ISC (@sans_isc) April 29, 2013

This is the official Twitter account for SANS ISC, which is the Internet Storm Center at the SANS Institute. Their job is to monitor the levels of malicious activity taking place on the InterWebs, and the feed links to the daily updates reporting on these levels as well as other news we should all be aware of.

Schneier Blog @schneierblog

Honeywords: Here is a simple but clever idea. Seed password files with dummy entries that will trigger an alar… bit.ly/18M4a00

— Schneier Blog (@schneierblog) May 6, 2013

This is the Twitter account of Bruce Schneier, an Internet security guru who has written several bestselling books on the subject. This feed auto-posts all of the blog content written by Schneier, which, as a whole, gives a detailed overview of the security issues the world faces.

Conclusions

My advice to those of you on Twitter — and you really should be using Twitter by now — is to follow these 10 accounts immediately and to start paying attention to what they’re tweeting. The trends, tips, and tricks they report could save you from suffering a security nightmare in the future, or help you recover from one you have already suffered.

Are there any other Twitter users you’d recommend everybody followed in order to keep on top of online security threats? Do you find any of those on this list particularly useful? What do you think of the need to stay secure online overall? Are the threats overplayed or is it a problem that is only going to get worse?

As always we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

Image Credit: Surian Soosay

The post Stay Safe Online: Follow 10 Computer Security Experts On Twitter appeared first on MakeUseOf.

In fact, Wikipedia can be an important and exhaustive repository of knowledge, helping to demystify myths and explain unsolved mysteries. With a good amount of sources cited, and the evidence stacking up until it becomes overwhelming in its conclusions, urban legends can be explained away on Wikipedia with surprising ease.

What follows are six well-known unsolved mysteries or strange phenomena that have been solved to such a degree that a simple visit to Wikipedia is enough to inform you of the truth. Not all are 100 percent foolproof solutions, but all have been de-mythologized by a consensus of overwhelming evidence.

Gravity Hills

The Mystery: Gravity hills, also known as magnetic hills or mystery hills, are places where the laws of gravity would appear not to exist. If you parked your car on one of these hills and left it out of gear it would appear to travel uphill rather than down.

The Explanation: Gravity hills are the result of nothing more than an optical illusion, though one which suggests nature is trolling us all. When the surrounding landscape is pitched just right and the horizon is obstructed then slight inclines can be mistaken for slight declines.

TL;DR: Gravity hills have more to do with perspective than supernatural forces.

Numbers Stations

The Mystery: Since World War II people have been hearing strange broadcasts made over shortwave radio. These broadcasts consist of nothing but a series of numbers (and sometimes words or Morse code) being read out in an artificially generated voice.

The Explanation: Numbers stations are used to convey messages to spies, with the seemingly random sequence of numbers actually containing messages for those with the key to decoding them. Some criminal organizations are also believed to use them.

TL;DR: Numbers stations are a simple method for sending messages to spies.

Klerksdorp Spheres

The Mystery: These spherical or disc-shaped objects have been found underground in deposits dating back 3-billion years. And yet they have parallel grooves or ridges scored around their circumferences. How could they have possibly got there?

The Explanation: These seemingly out-of-place artifacts look like they’ve been manufactured by intelligent beings, but the uniform shape and lines can be easily ascribed to natural geological processes.

TL;DR: Klerksdorp spheres are natural, and not manufactured by ancient intelligent beings.

Atlantis

The Mystery: The story of Atlantis is one that has been written about for more than 2,000 years. It claims that a naval power based on the island of Atlantis sank into the sea overnight, with explorers having been searching for it ever since.

The Explanation: There likely never was an Atlantis. Instead it was probably a legend borne out of other, older legends or historical events. The latter including volcanic eruptions that wiped out whole cities. Some scholars blame Greek philosopher Plato.

TL;DR: Atlantis is unlikely to have existed; instead being an amalgamation of historical events.

Crop Circles

The Mystery: Each and every year strange concentric circles and patterns appear in fields thanks to the crops being flattened. They have appeared in multiple countries over the past few decades, but the majority occur in England.

The Explanation: While there are some crop circles that remain unexplained, the scientific consensus is that the vast majority are man-made. Natural or meteorological phenomena may account for the others, with extraterrestrial involvement unlikely.

TL;DR: Crop circles are overwhelmingly considered to be entirely man-made in origin.

Bermuda Triangle

The Mystery: The Bermuda Triangle is the name given to an area in the Atlantic Ocean running from Florida to Puerto Rico and Bermuda. It has obtained a reputation thanks to the number of aircraft and ships that have disappeared while in the region.

The Explanation: The total area of the Bermuda Triangle is as much as 1.5 million square miles, and it gets a lot of commercial shipping and flights crossing it. The number of disappearances is no more than anywhere else on Earth.

TL;DR: The Bermuda Triangle is a manufactured mystery built on misconceptions.

Conclusions

At the very least you should now be more informed about the unsolved mysteries or myths included in this list. And you have Wikipedia to thank for that enlightenment, with just a smidgen of help from myself. The next time someone brings one of these subjects up in conversation you’ll be able to hold your own. You may want to hold off telling everyone you sourced your information from Wikipedia though, as its (unfortunate and mostly unfair) reputation precedes it.

What are your feelings on Wikipedia as a source of information? Do you trust the knowledge garnered from the online encyclopedia, or do you prefer to use a different domain for sourcing accurate accounts of people, places, and events? Let us know your thoughts on the subject in the comments section below.

The post 6 Unsolved Mysteries Solved On Wikipedia appeared first on MakeUseOf.

Most of us are worried about maintaining some level of privacy online, but it’s insanely hard to embrace the new opportunities the Internet presents while anonymously hiding away in a dark recess of the Web. It’s all good until things go pear-shaped, at which point there is really no option left open to you.

This Week’s Question…

We want to know, Does The Internet Need A ‘Delete’ Button? This question is prompted by a discussion between Google Chairman Eric Schmidt and economist Nouriel Roubini at the New York University’s Stern business school, as reported by Fast Company.

Roubini grilled Schmidt about Google’s role in devolving privacy online, with some people suggesting that the search and advertising giant is one of the main offenders eating away at the idea of privacy. Schmidt defended his company, saying, “Let me be very clear that Google is not tracking you … it’s not doing all these things.” But then conceded the point that the Internet represents a challenge to the sense of fairness when it comes to an individual’s right to privacy.

He stated that “[the] lack of a delete button on the Internet is in fact a significant issue,” continuing to say, “there are times when erasure [of data] is the right thing … and there are times when it is inappropriate. How do we decide? We have to have that debate now.” A debate? Now? MakeUseOf delivers.

We want to know whether you believe the Internet needs a ‘Delete‘ button, which obviously wouldn’t be a literal button but an accepted process by which an individual could wipe their online slate clean, removing all traces of themselves and their activities from databases.

Should companies be allowed to track you across the Web as they currently do? Is it our own fault for giving up so much of ourselves to the Web companies that use us as their business models? Do you worry about your privacy on the Internet or do you accept that it’s an outdated concept that those of us who spend our lives attached to Internet-connected devices have given up on?

Drawing Conclusions

All comments will be digested to form conclusions in a follow-up post next week where we will detail what You Told Us. One reader will be chosen for the coveted Comment Of The Week, getting their name up in lights, the respect of other readers, and 150 MakeUseOf points to use for MakeUseOf Rewards. What more motivation than that do you need to respond?

We Ask You is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. The questions asked are usually open-ended and likely to necessitate a discussion. Some are opinion-based, while others see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps to fellow MakeUseOf Readers. This column is nothing without you, as MakeUseOf is nothing without you.

Image Credit: Matt McGee

The post Does The Internet Need A ‘Delete’ Button? [We Ask You] appeared first on MakeUseOf.

There is one small problem with Pinterest – it attracts mostly women. It’s estimated that around 70 percent of the Pinterest user base is female, with men being nothing more than bit-part players on the site. While this should be applauded — after all, the Web needs more corners where women reign supreme – it does mean men and their interests can get crowded out on Pinterest.

Thankfully some enterprising folk saw a gap in the market and seized upon it, and sites which are like Pinterest but aimed solely at men popped up across the InterWebs. What follows is a list of what we consider to be the four best “Pinterest for men” websites, presented in no particular order.

NB: Some of the following sites have been known to contain risque images, so you visit them entirely at your own risk. It should be noted, however, that the images are no worse than you can find from a quick Google search.

Manteresting

Manteresting clearly exists to offer a place for men to pin images of things that interest them. Rather than “pin” things, you “nail” them to a “workbench.”

A quick look at the homepage reveals food, cars, and women seem to be the main focus of Manteresting. Content can be sorted by category, while there is also a ‘Random’ button and lists of the top posts made Today, This Week, This Month, and All Time.

Notable categories include ‘Architecture’, ‘DIY’, ‘Sports’, and the exquisitely titled ‘Manly Things’, but there are many more to choose from. Manteresting is a well-designed, simple-to-use Pinterest-alike.

Gentlemint

Gentlemint looks more akin to the new Digg than Pinterest, but it offers a similar experience to the latter. Rather than “pin” things, you “tack” them, because tacking is more masculine than pinning, I guess.

A quick look at the homepage reveals infographics, memes, and weapons of all kind seem to be the main focus of Gentlemint. Content is sorted by popularity, with posts popular Right Now, This Week, This Month, and All Time.

Notable categories include ‘Cars’, ‘Fitness’, and ‘Popular Culture’… as long as it’s manly then it’s welcome. Gentlemint looks classier than most of the other Pinterest clones, but it essentially does the same thing as the rest of them do.

Dudepins

Dudepins makes no secret of the fact it’s a Pinterest clone, just one that caters solely for men. Women aren’t banned, of course, but the content on offer has an especially manly feel to it. Rather than “pin” things you “pin up” images and videos.

A quick look at the homepage reveals hipsters, interesting designs, and lots of clothes. Which leads me to suspect this is more for refined gentlemen than laddish dudes, despite the name. Content can be sorted by category, with a button specifically bringing that which is trending to the front page.

Notable categories include ‘Animals’, ‘Travel’, and ‘Man Caves, the latter referring to rooms that generally feature lots of hardwood and gadgets. Dudepins is, for my money at least, the best looking of the Pinterest-style sites on this list.

Tapiture

Tapiture has a distinctly Facebook feel to it, which will immediately put off those people who hate Mark Zuckerberg and co. It’s no surprise to find that joining via Facebook is heavily recommended, though there is an email option as well. Rather than “pin” things you “tap” content, including animated GIFs and SoundCloud audio.

A quick look at the homepage reveals male celebrities that all men aspire to be, and once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities. Content is sorted by category, with an added option to pare it down to what’s popular.

Notable categories include ‘Body Art’, ‘Science’, and ‘Men’s Style’, the latter of which brings those damn hipsters into focus once more. Tapiture boasts some great content, especially thanks to its embracing of more than just still images.

Conclusions

I feel more manly for having browsed these sites. Pinterest is nice and all, but it definitely has a slightly overpowering feminine touch to it. When I use Pinterest I often come over slightly funny, in exactly the same way I do when I get dragged into a women’s clothes shop. I think it’s the perfume ominously and omnipresently hanging in the air at all times.

These do all feel like Pinterest clones, but they fill a niche that needed filling. Unless and until Pinterest starts to cater for men and women on more of a 50/50 split, then these manly alternatives will continue to breed. As will the websites lightly mocking Pinterest.

What do you think of Pinterest? Does the disparity between the amount of content geared towards men and women bother you? Why do you think Pinterest appeals more to women than it does men? Which of the manly male alternatives to Pinterest listed here do you feel best caters for men? Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Image Credit: Alan Cleaver

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Gates was asked about the future of the PC, to which he opined that it’s “going to be harder and harder to distinguish [between] products” and so the Microsoft Surface brings together the “portability of the tablet but the richness of the PC.” In other words even Microsoft thinks that tablets are here to stay, but do the MakeUseOf readership agree?

The Results

We asked you Are Tablets Here To Stay? We had a fantastic turnout in the comments section, with people from both sides of the debate airing their views on the question at hand. The vast majority also took my advice to explain the basis for their opinion over merely answering the question with a simple one word answer.

The general consensus that emerged from the collective mind of the MakeUseOf readership is that tablets are here to stay for the long-term. Making Heins looks like a poor soothsayer who may just be bitter because the BlackBerry PlayBook failed so spectacularly. But that consensus came with several caveats.

First is the scope for the form factor to evolve over time. We have already seen this happen with the emergence of smaller screen sizes and phone tablets (phablets), and laptop/tablet hybrids which try to give consumers the best of both worlds. It would stand to reason then that tablets will continue to evolve over the next few years.

Second is the question of how tablets are used, with the majority agreeing that they’re much better suited for consuming than producing. So, watching movies, listening to music, and reading webpages as opposed to writing articles, editing videos, and creating art.

There were also a proportion of commenters who agreed with Heins in principle, suggesting that tablets will give way to something else within a few years. Which wouldn’t be all that surprising given the pace of technology and the way only a select few form factors actually manage to survive beyond the launch of their direct successors.

Comment Of The Week

We had great input from the likes of Austin H, Moi, and John F, to name just a few. Comment Of The Week goes to Rob H, who, as well as the respect of myself and hopefully everybody reading this, receives 150 points to use for MakeUseOf Rewards.

I’d steered clear of tablets until recently. Then a relative showed us her photos on an iPad. My wife seemed impressed and was showing strong signs of wanting one. I’m not a fan of Apple products, in my opinion overpriced and too restrictive but I could see the attraction. I bought an Android 10 inch model instead.

Last week I want for a country walk with a group of friends. When we got back to the pub I popped the SD card out of my camera into the tablet and showed everyone the photos of the walk. There were a couple of Apple fanboys there. They seemed to think that operation was too easy (is that right? no SD slot in an iPad?). When they realised they’d paid 3 times as much as me they started to try to find fault but instead found other features they’d not got like USB, and HDMI. Ahh but no SIM… so I opened a web page via my wireless tethered mobile phone.

You may be thinking this is “off topic”. No. My point is that at Apple’s prices and specifications tablets are only for a niche market but at Android prices we can all afford one. That changes things.
One attraction of tablets is portability. Yes, for most of my computing needs I prefer a powerful large screen desktop PC with a proper keyboard, mouse and external speakers. It can do everything fast and well.

When I’m out and about I use a smart phone, frankly I make very little use of the “smart” aspects, the small screen image and tiny on-screen keyboard are OK when there’s no alternative but otherwise forget it.
The tablet is not a replacement for either but fills a gap. It has its own niche and I believe it’s a valid one. The screen is big enough to show a document at readable size, the on screen keyboard has big keys so I don’t make typos (a big problem on my phone), it’s OK for TV and movies. It goes around the house with me – read an online recipe in the kitchen, check my emails on the sofa, read an eBook in bed, Skype my overseas relatives (front and back cameras so I can show them the garden as well as my handsome face!). It is small/light enough to take round to a friends house to show them my photos. I can even use it in the car for bigger and more versatile mapping than the SatNav (not as a replacement but sometimes “as well as”).

In short my experience of using a tablet is that it has a lot of advantages over mobile phone or desktop and a few disadvantages. On balance that makes it worth having. If anything I wonder if tablets might erode the market for laptop computers, their additional features come at the cost of bulk, weight and price.

In my opinion the tablet could actually make mobile apps worth bothering with. I only ever got under a dozen for my phone and several of those got deleted as just unsuitable in such a small format.

We liked this comment because it presents an argument as to why tablets have a place in the world. It may be a niche – sitting between smartphones and laptops –but it’s a niche that seems to have found an audience. Tablets may never become an essential purchase, but for those who can afford to own one they’re a worthy addition to their collection of Internet-connected devices.

We will be asking a new question tomorrow, so please join us then. We Ask You is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. We ask you a question and you tell us what you think. The question is open-ended and is usually open to debate. Some questions will be purely opinion-based, while others will see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps for your fellow MakeUseOf readers. This column is nothing without your input, all of which is valued.

Image Credit: Cheon Fong Liew

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Short films can be anything up to 40 minutes long, but most are considerably shorter than that. As can be seen on the best short film channels on Vimeo, most short films are a few minutes long. But there is a new trend emerging for even shorter films… films that last just a few seconds.

These are “short short films” or “micro films” (both of which are terms I’ve just made up), and the very best of them are well worth watching. After all, doing so will only take a couple of minutes at the most.

All About Vine

Vine is a video-sharing service launched in January 2013 by Twitter. It enables people to easily create and share videos of up to six seconds in length both on Twitter and elsewhere on the Web. The app enables this with a simple click-to-record interface, with multiple edits spliced together.

Vine videos can be watched in a variety of different ways, with several ingenious websites popping up to bring the Vine video feed to a wider audience. There are a surprisingly high number of different ways of using Twitter Vine, with those six seconds enabling creative people more than enough time to create something worth watching.

Tribeca Film Festival Vine Competition

The Tribeca Film Festival is an annual film festival held in New York City. It was founded in 2002 and draws in around 3 million people each and every year. As well as recognizing the best actors, documentarians, and independent filmmakers, Tribeca also celebrates short films.

For the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival the organizers held a competition centered on Vine. Everyone was invited to take part, with entries divided into four categories: ‘Genre’, ‘Auteur’, ‘Animate’, and ‘Series’. There was a shortlist of potential winners, with the final selection announced at Tribeca itself.

The Tribeca Film Festival Vine competition was judged by the team behind 5 Second Films, renowned Vine user Adam Goldberg, and film director Penny Marshall. What follows are the best Twitter Vine videos uncovered during the judging process, with the Vine videos embedded being the winners of each category.

Genre

The ‘Genre’ category applied to any Twitter Vine video that fitted into a particular genre, whether that genre was comedy, sci-fi, or western. The Vine videos shortlisted in this genre can all be viewed here, with a reminder to click to unmute.

The winner was @MattSwinsky for ‘LazerAndDonald Close Shave‘. This successfully manages to encapsulate the horror genre into the space of six seconds. It’s atmospheric and spooky, with some great lighting and pitch-perfect editing.

Auteur

The ‘Auteur’ category applied to those Vine videos that stood out for depicting a truly original idea or story, one that showed the filmmaker truly expressing himself or herself. The Vine videos shortlisted in this genre can all be viewed here.

The winner was @KevyPizza for ‘There Is No Sunny-Side to This Story‘. This is a simple idea brought to life perfectly, and it has layers beyond what we immediately see thanks to an analogous nod to wars involving people rather than eggs.

Animate

The ‘Animate’ category applied to all Vine videos that eschewed live-action and instead concentrated on creative animations. The Vine app lends itself perfectly to stop-motion animation. The Vine videos shortlisted in this genre can all be viewed here.

The winner was @JethroAmes for ‘How to Clear Your Garage From a Scary Ghost‘. This is a well-conceived short that plays with lighting and perspective to show off both the power of animation and of the Vine video app.

Series

The ‘Series’ category applied to all Vine videos that told a story over a course of clips rather than just one. For Tribeca it was limited to trilogies, though there is scope to carry on for much longer than that. The Vine videos shortlisted in this genre can all be viewed here.

The winner was Chris Donlon (@creepycrawler) for ‘The Book Beetle trilogy‘. This is a brilliantly animated set of three videos showing a book beetle (?!?) burrowing its way out of its nest and paving the way for an infestation.

Conclusions

I was already a fan of micro films before Vine appeared on the scene, but the Twitter app has undoubtedly helped foster an interest in the form factor. It has also forced creative filmmakers to concoct new ways of condensing their work down to just a few seconds.

The Tribeca Film Festival Vine competition has proved that six seconds is long enough to create compelling content, with the Vine videos that were shortlisted being spellbinding. Those embedded above represent the best Vine videos created so far, but I’m confident there is even better to come.

What do you think of Twitter Vine videos? Is six seconds long enough to get a message across? Are you impressed with the quality of Vine videos created so far? Let us know your thoughts on the subject in the comments section below, and then why not download the app and create your own six-seconds-or-less wonder to share with us all.

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Most people approach Wikipedia as they approach Google: they head there with a search term already in mind. But that approach may mean you miss out on much of what Wikipedia has to offer. It boasts entries that are obscure, odd, offbeat, and unlikely to be seen by more than a handful of people. Welcome to the world of weird Wikipedia.

What follows is a list of six people with their own Wikipedia entries. They have been chosen for being interesting, intriguing, and (relatively) important. You may well have heard of some of these people, but I doubt you’ll have heard of them all. Each one has a fascinating background and will likely lead you further down the Wikipedia rabbit-hole.

John Titor

John Titor is the name of a man claiming to be a time traveller from the future. Titor posted to Internet forums at the beginning of the millenium, outlining future events from the year 2000 to the year 2036, which is the time he claims to have travelled from.

Titor detailed the state of affairs in his timeline, outlined the basic elements of his time machine, and made predictions for the coming years. Those predictions were not accurate, leading many to totally trash the claims. But it’s a fascinating story nonetheless.

Stanislav Petrov

Stanislav Petrov is someone humanity should collectively thank. Without him it’s very possible that none of us would be alive today. This is due to Petrov preventing a possible nuclear war by correctly judging that the satellite warning system of the Soviet Air Defence Forces was malfunctioning.

In 1983, Petrov decided not to report an incoming missile launched from the U.S. to his superiors, correctly judging that the report was erroneous. Had he not made this judgment call a missile could have been launched on the U.S. in retaliation, and an all-out nuclear war would have begun.

Natasha Demkina

Natasha Demkina is a rare breed, as she has the ability to see inside the bodies of other people. In other words she possesses X-ray vision that allows her to diagnose people with illnesses. This is all just alleged, of course, but interestingly no one has been able to disprove her claims.

Demkina’s amazing ability manifested when she was around 10-years-old, and people have been seeking out her help ever since. Demkina has travelled around the world demonstrating her extraordinary ability, but now works at the Center of Special Diagnostics of the Natalya Demkina (TSSD).

Roy Sullivan

Roy Sullivan is either the luckiest man who ever lived or the unluckiest man who ever lived, depending on your point of view. Being struck by lightning on seven separate occasions is insanely unlucky, but he survived them all without any serious injury, which is amazing good luck.

Rather unsurprisingly this makes Sullivan the holder of the Guinness World Records record for the most lightning strikes, with his occupation as a U.S. park ranger in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia contributing greatly. In an ironic final twist Sullivan ended up taking his own life at the age of 71.

Wolfe+585, Senior

Wolfe+585, Senior is otherwise known as Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff, Sr. But this is just a shortened version of his full name… Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Apollo Wolfe­schlegelstein­hausenberger­dorffvoraltern­waren­gewissenhaft­schaferswessen­schafewaren­wohlgepflege­und­sorgfaltigkeit­beschutzen­von­angreifen­durch­ihrraubgierigfeinde­welche­voraltern­zwolftausend­jahres­vorandieerscheinen­wander­ersteer­dem­enschderraumschiff­gebrauchlicht­als­sein­ursprung­von­kraftgestart­sein­lange­fahrt­hinzwischen­sternartigraum­auf­der­suchenach­diestern­welche­gehabt­bewohnbar­planeten­kreise­drehen­sich­und­wohin­der­neurasse­von­verstandigmen­schlichkeit­konnte­fortplanzen­und­sicher­freuen­anlebens­langlich­freude­und­ruhe­mit­nicht­ein­furcht­vor­angreifen­von­anderer­intelligent­geschopfs­von­hinzwischen­sternartigraum, Senior.

This is, as you may have guessed, the longest personal name ever recorded, comprising of 746 letters. Wolfe+585, Senior was a German immigrant to the U.S., where he became a typesetter. He died in 1985, and is likely to forever be the record holder as the category no longer exists.

Guy Goma

Guy Goma is an ordinary man. In fact, he may be just about the most ordinary man you have ever read about online. However, he gained international fame when he was accidently interviewed on BBC News after being mistaken for someone else. The video of the incident is embedded below for your viewing pleasure.

Goma was a Congolese business studies graduate who had applied for a job in the IT department of the BBC. While waiting to be interviewed for the position he was wrongly identified as technology expert Guy Kewney and interviewed live on air about the court case between Apple Computer and Apple Corps. His reaction to the mix-up was priceless.

Conclusions

I don’t know about you but I feel thoroughly enlightened after learning (more) about six people who I was previously either unaware of or only vaguely familiar with. And if you, like me, clicked on some of the links spread liberally throughout the Wikipedia entries for these people then you’re still discovering new things as we speak.

These are just six of the amazing people whose lives are outlined on Wikipedia, but there are many more. If you have your own to share with the rest of the MakeUseOf readership then please leave a link and related response in the comments section below.

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Who really thought the iPad would usher in a time when tablets were the thing to buy? Who would have thought that even Microsoft would be forced to jump on board the bandwagon — with both Windows 8 and the Surface — for fear of losing its dominant place in the market? But both of these scenarios have played out.

This week the CEO of BlackBerry, Thorsten Heins, called into question the future of tablets by telling Bloomberg, “In five years I don’t think there’ll be a reason to have a tablet anymore. Maybe a big screen in your workspace, but not a tablet as such. Tablets themselves are not a good business model.” Is he correct or should we not pay attention to the guy in charge of the company responsible for the PlayBook?

This Week’s Question…

We want to know, Are Tablets Here To Stay? We’re keeping things very simple this week, with a question that could be answered with as little as a “Yes” or a “No.” Obviously we’re hoping you’ll go above and beyond what’s merely necessary and instead tell us your thoughts on what Heins said about the tablet form factor.

We particularly want to know whether you think tablets are likely to stick with us, and if so, for how long? They’re certainly proving popular right now, but some people are finding the form factor just isn’t for them. Ryan couldn’t find a single productive use for his tablet, and my cheap Android tablet has been usurped by a shiny new Chromebook.

Start with that simple “Yes” or “No” as outlined above, but then tell us why you think tablets will either stand the test of time or disappear as quickly as they invaded the personal computer market. If you disagree with Heins tell us what’s so great about tablets?

If you agree with Heins and think tablets are nothing more than a novelty, a stopgap, a means to a better end, then what will replace them? Is Google Glass going to usher in a new wave of wearable computing devices? Or is the smartphone going to continue to grow in size and stature until it kills the need for the iPad, the Nexus 7, and all of the other tablet wannabes?

Drawing Conclusions

All comments will be digested to form conclusions in a follow-up post next week where we will detail what You Told Us. One reader will be chosen for the coveted Comment Of The Week, getting their name up in lights, the respect of other readers, and 150 MakeUseOf points to use for MakeUseOf Rewards. What more motivation than that do you need to respond?

We Ask You is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. The questions asked are usually open-ended and likely to necessitate a discussion. Some are opinion-based, while others see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps to fellow MakeUseOf Readers. This column is nothing without you, as MakeUseOf is nothing without you.

Image Credit: Cheon Fong Liew

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When one discovers a new music artist our first instinct is to head online to find out more about them and hopefully hear more of their music. So why do the websites of numerous musicians and bands suck so badly? I’ve lost count of the number I’ve visited only to be disappointed by the bland, insipid design that shows a complete lack of creativity or imagination.

Thankfully not all music artists suffer from this trait. Some actually spend the time, money, and effort needed to maintain a good presence online. Their websites are good looking, interactive, filled with great content, and are generally blessed with cool designs.

What follows are the current cream of the crop, along with screenshots showing their awesomeness. Websites naturally evolve over time, and bands often change the look and feel of their online properties in order to promote new material. However, the bands listed here have a history of offering a certain aesthetic on their websites, so this list should remain relevant for many years to come.

Nine Inch Nails

NIN comprises Trent Reznor and whoever he picks up along the way. Reznor is the driving force behind the band, which straddles genres but is generally regarded as an industrial rock group. The website is clean and efficient, but contains masses of content, including free downloads and more than 50,000 photos and videos spanning the history of the band.

MGMT

MGMT are an indie rock group who experiment with alternative and experimental sounds. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden are the founding members, with the other band members having joined later. The website is a strange mix of the ordinary and the bizarre, with fan art providing the background for more traditional merchandising and forum areas.

U2

U2 are pretty much legendary at this point. Led by Bono, who is ably supported by The Edge and those other two guys, the Irish rock group are famous in all four corners of the world. The website has everything a U2 fan could ask for, with photos, audio, video, a discography, an archive, and a nice community feel that is rare for bands of such size and scale as U2.

The Killers

The Killers are an American rock band led by the always-entertaining Brandon Flowers. They’re big in the U.S, but arguably even bigger in the U.K. The website always looks good, with a color scheme and style matching the band’s current album. There is an active community, and members can enjoy additional features.

Radiohead

Radiohead are a British alternative rock group that have gone from strength to strength over the years, gaining fans and followers in most territories. Their sound is always evolving, with each album marking a new line in the sand. The website is absolutely epic, with multiple areas covering different portions of Radiohead’s persona.

Gorillaz

Gorillaz are a virtual group consisting of animated members taking the place of the evolving mix of actual contributors. Damon Albarn, formerly of Britpop sensation Blur, is the driving force behind the project. The band are currently on hiatus, but the website is still rocking, and Gorillaz are highly likely to return before long.

Flight Of The Conchords

Flight Of The Conchords are a duo from New Zealand comprising Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. They’re primarily a comedy folk group, but thanks to a hit show on HBO they’re far more successful than such a moniker would suggest. The website has a retro feel to it, with a style and sense of humor which perfectly complement the band.

Muse

Muse are perhaps the best live band in the world at the moment. They make a lot of noise for a trio of musicians from the South-West of England, and their innovative style of genre-redefining music has earned them fans around the world. The website is heavy on graphics but has enough great content to justify the overpowering feeling this engenders.

Conclusions

You may not like some of the bands listed here. I’ll be honest and admit there are at least two of the eight who don’t do it for me personally. However, their websites ooze with an elementary cool factor, to the point that I’m happy to hang out on the domains of bands I don’t even like.

Which of the best band websites on this list do you particularly like, if any? Are there any band websites with cool designs you think should have made the cut? Do you feel music artists and their labels should try harder to foster a following on the InterWebs? As always we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

Image Credit: Nina Matthews

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You also need to utilize the knowledge of those already well-versed in photography. As with everything in life, taking the advice of those who have already been there and done that can help you shortcut the usual learning curve. With that in mind we sought to mine the collective experience of the MakeUseOf readership when it comes to photography.

The Results

We asked you, What Are Your Favorite Photography Tips? Unfortunately, few people took part in the discussion, with only a handful of comments having been submitted at the time of writing. Thankfully, those who did submit their favorite photography tips provided some really useful advice that should help anyone reading this article in the future to become better photographers.

With so few comments to draw conclusions from the best we can do is choose a few of the tips mentioned to discuss in more detail…

Find a unique or interesting perspective: At this point in time every subject matter in the world has probably been covered by someone, somewhere. Which means you’ll have to work harder to make your photos stand out from the crowd. One reader suggests always taking a moment or two to think about the photo, and try to engineer a unique or interesting perspective.

Put yourself in the right place at the right time: The emergence of smartphone photography and citizen journalism has highlighted the importance of being in the right place at the right time. But you can, to a certain degree, help yourself on this score. One reader suggests heading out early — between 7:30am and 9.00am — to capture the essence of local life.

Practice makes perfect: This tip extends to most creative pursuits, and photography is no exception. It’s only by liberally using your camera that you’ll figure out what works for you. You can even do this when you don’t have a camera to hand; one reader suggests practising your composition as you walk around, thinking about the photos you would be taking at such times.

Comment Of The Week

We had great input from the likes of Scott M, ralphvelasco, and annonymousjon, to name just a few. Comment Of The Week goes to Eugene, who, as well as the respect of myself and hopefully everybody reading this, receives 150 points to use for MakeUseOf Rewards.

1. Practice your composition in your mind everywhere you go.
2. Look for natural frames.
3. Know the rules just to bend it.
4. Use a film camera once in a while.
5. Let your shot tell the story.

We particularly liked this comment because it includes five brilliant tips, all spelled out in very simple and easy-to-understand terms. Tip 2 is especially important for turning average photos into ones that look and feel professional. Tip 5 is an absolute tentpole for those who want to take their photography to the next level.

We will be asking a new question tomorrow, so please join us then. We Ask You is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. We ask you a question and you tell us what you think. The question is open-ended and is usually open to debate. Some questions will be purely opinion-based, while others will see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps for your fellow MakeUseOf readers. This column is nothing without your input, all of which is valued.

Image Credit: Mark Probst

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Although video gaming is a relatively young hobby the industry has already seen its fair share of censorship. Over the last 25 years there have been scores of video games banned around the world, some in individual countries, some in multiple territories, some for common sense reasons, some for nonsensical political points-scoring.

What follows is a list of 10 of the best video games banned somewhere in the world for one reason or another. It’s an eclectic mix of games that covers more genres than you’d imagine, though violent video games are, unsurprisingly, the main culprit/victim.

The videos embedded within the list don’t necessarily show the scenes which led to the video games in question being banned. Instead they are there merely to give you a taste of the game and what it was about. Some were clearly developed with controversy in mind, while others were merely caught up in the tangled web that is censorship.

Wolfenstein 3D

Released In: 1992
Banned In: Germany
Reason For Ban: References to the Nazis

Wolfenstein 3D is a legendary game, mainly because it (alongside Doom) popularized the first-person shooter genre that now dominates mainstream gaming. Many of the basic tenets of the FPS genre can be seen in Wolfenstein 3D, so Call Of Duty probably wouldn’t exist without it.

The gameplay was simple, with you playing an allied spy trying to escape Castle Wolfenstein during World War II. The game was banned in Germany thanks to the Nazi references, as the Fuhrer discovers in the Hitler reaction video embedded above.

Mortal Kombat

Released In: 1992
Banned In: Australia, Brazil, South Korea
Reason For Ban: Violence

The original Mortal Kombat was a decent game that exceeded the levels of success it should have achieved thanks to the ramped-up levels of gore. Finishing moves, which saw your character killing his or her opponent off in a grisly manner, shocked politicians, owing to a ban in various countries.

Doom

Released In: 1993
Banned In: Brazil
Reason For Ban: Violence

Doom is, like Wolfenstein 3D, another legendary first-person shooter that set the template for all of the future titles in the genre. The gameplay was simple and to-the-point, with a gun bobbing about on screen taking demons from Hell down left, right, and center.

It was only banned in Brazil, probably because other countries realized the poor graphics and non-human combatants meant the chances of influencing young people was slight.

Carmageddon

Released In: 1997
Banned In: Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom
Reason For Ban: Violence

Carmageddon is a game that had violence at its very heart. You took part in a race with other drivers, but the ultimate goal is to kill as many pedestrians as possible, with extra points awarded for style.

The big issue with Carmageddon was the portrayal of humans as the victims, so an edited version of the game was released in some countries. This saw the humans turned into zombies, with the blood and gore able to be switched on or off in the options.

Football Manager 2005

Released In: 2004
Banned In: China
Reason For Ban: Tibet recognized as independent country

This has to count as the oddity on the list, because Football Manager 2005 isn’t violent or controversial in any possible way. Except in China, which took exception to Tibet being recognized as an independent country. The rest of the world just wanted to watch little stick figures play soccer.

Mercenaries: Playground Of Destruction

Released In: 2005
Banned In: South Korea
Reason For Ban: North Korea being invaded

Mercenaries: Playground Of Destruction is a third-person, open-world shooter which favors mayhem over precision. You play a mercenary entering North Korea to carry out contracts in order to make money. And it’s this fictional plot in a real-world setting that led to South Korea banning the game.

Bully

Released In: 2006
Banned In: Brazil
Reason For Ban: Violence in school setting

Rockstar has always used controversy as a way of ramping up interest in its games. Which is why three of their games make this list (the others being Red Dead Redemption and L.A. Noire). Grand Theft Auto didn’t make the cut even though several of the GTA titles have been banned for various reasons.

Bully details the activities of a troubled kid in a new school. Although there are lessons to be sat through, the main order of the day is to bully your way through the game, and that didn’t go down too well. In the U.K. it was renamed Canis Canem Edit to avoid negative connotations.

Heavy Rain

Released In: 2010
Banned In: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
Reason For Ban: Nudity, sex scene

Heavy Rain isn’t a particularly controversial game, though it is a rather unique one that sees you essentially playing through an interactive movie rather than controlling every element of the gameplay. There is some nudity and a suggested sex scene though, which led to its ban in at least two countries.

Red Dead Redemption

Released In: 2010
Banned In: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
Reason For Ban: Nudity, violence

In Red Dead Redemption you play a cowboy living out the Wild West experience as he hunts for the former members of his gang. As with most open-world games, and particularly those made by Rockstar, the range of activities you can get up to is mind-boggling.

Some of these activities aren’t exactly wholesome or family-friendly. You can duel with other cowboys, kill wanted men, gamble, and engage in bawdy bedroom behavior. None of which went down particularly well in a couple of countries.

L.A. Noire

Released In: 2011
Banned In: Saudi Arabia
Reason For Ban: Nudity

L.A. Noire is a fascinating game that ramps up the acting and visual side of things using a new technique to capture the facial expressions on the cast of actors. This means the whole thing looks and feels more real than most games, which didn’t help its appeal in some countries when there is some nudity involved (at least on corpses).

Conclusions

These games were (at the time of release) all worth playing, some because of the controversy attached to them, and some because they were actually good games. Several nailed the perfect combination of being a decent game and possessing a subject matter or gameplay element that attracted (valuable) press attention.

Have you played any of the games on this list? If so were you aware it was banned somewhere in the world? Are there any other games you think should have made the list? What is your opinion on the reasons given for some of these bans? As always we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

Image Credit: RadishTM

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