For those of you that do not know what NCAA stands for, chances are this post is NOT for you! The National Collegiate Athletic Association has some great college basketball going on and you want to watch NCAA games online for free do you?

Well there are a bunch of free alternatives to watching the games on the old boob tube. We will take a look at two of them.

Our first option is NCAA.com. That is the NCAA’s on demand site.

If you browse on over there you will see this:

So if you want to be emailed and have access to all the NCAA games starting from the first round all the way to the NCAA championships simply fill out the form above. Once you do that you will see this confirmation:

You can click here to forward this information on to your buddies.  Seeing as I can’t show you this year’s games as they have not started yet, here is a peak at what the service has looked like before:

You get the full action on your computer or mobile device and best of all you can hit that magic boss button at the top right hand side of the screen to minimize your action and display a fake Excel-like spreadsheet. I don’t think that would satisfy my boss but hey maybe you work for a pushover (or a dummy!)

Here is what that boss key brought up last year. Maybe it will stay the same, maybe it won’t. But their press release has already stated that the boss button will still be present.

If you look closely you will see it is a spreadsheet with details about NCAA’s Video On Demand service! How funny is that? Why not a chart of women’s breast sizes? That would be just as relevant wouldn’t it

And if we take another look at the video window we will also see a perpetual score at the top of the video, buttons to hide the video or audio, a stats button (this is something every fan will love!) and a button to share the video with others.

Another advantage to watching online instead of regular television, besides the fact you can do it at work, is that you can click around the web while you are doing it. You can look up facts or even save the video for another viewing.

I wonder if the option is available for Pro games? Not likely huh? They need to make their money somewhere right? How about advertising online on the side of the game? That has to be a viable option. Maybe we will start to see that soon.

Another option for catching NCAA games online for free requires a little technical knowhow and a sling box. But if you have a Sling Box at home chances are you don’t need me telling you how to use it! It allows you to watch your TV at home over the internet.

Do you know of any other ways to watch sports online? If so, let us know in the comments.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Watch YouTube Videos on Your Large Screen TV (4)
• The 3 Best Sites To Watch Your Favorite Classic TV Movies For Free (26)
• How To Get On YouTube At School Using Mobile Internet (8)
• 5 Great Sites with Free Video Lectures from Top Colleges (23)
• 4 YouTube Tools you Probably Don’t Know About (48)

Now, I’ve gained some, but not all, back. I’ve become a little more serious lately and hope to work my way closer to my ideal weight again. As I’m about to doze off into a carb-induced coma, I realize why I’ve gained some of my weight back.

No matter the amount you want to lose, it can be very difficult. A “weight loss” search is likely to yield a myriad of websites trying to sell you gimmicks, pills, powders, or exercise equipment. You rarely find free weight loss sites that are actually free and helpful when it comes to weight loss.

After scouring the internet, here are some of the best free weight loss sites to help you on your weight loss journey. Remember to consult with a doctor before beginning any special diet or exercise regimen.

The Mayo Clinic weight loss website provides some basic, yet useful information. Count on this medically oriented site to guide you reasonably and safely on your journey. If you are a beginner, this is a key place to start. If you have hit a brick wall in your weight loss, this is a place to return to the basics. Sometimes just doing that will spur your weight loss once again.

WebMD has a Healthy Eating and Diet Center, which much like the Mayo site, provides doctor approved tips and tools. There are calculators, galore and a “Diets A-Z” section that includes the low-down on various diets like the Cookie Diet, the Atkins Diet, and the Cabbage Soup Diet (never mind that retching sound in the background – just gimme a sec).

A cool feature of this site is their free Food and Fitness Planner. You enter the basics and the Planner takes you step-by-step through providing a meal and exercise plan to reach your goals. The Planner’s settings only allow you to pick modest goals, but research has shown that slow weight loss equals longer term success.

As a huge (no pun intended) fan of “The Biggest Loser”, I am disappointed in their “official” site. It appears simply a sales and marketing tool. Almost any selection will take you to products you can buy. There are a few free resources, like an occasional recipe here and there, but nothing substantial. However, going to NBC’s Biggest Loser website will provide better results. The site has video, blogs, recipes, exercises and tips – all free!

If you think you need community motivation, try The Biggest Loser League. This is free to join, and requires a simple registration. Complete your profile, set your goals, and track your progress. There are League challenges that you can sign up for and earn points. You can set up your own individual challenges or form a team with family or friends and create challenges for the team. Points simply allow you to move up in rank in the League, but earning points may keep you losing weight. The variety introduced through the challenges will keep your journey fresh.

You can upload your photos, and view a weight loss time-line. The site’s targeted feature is that of creating community, or building a team. The added accountability of partners may be all you need for motivation.

Prevention Magazine is a Biggest Loser partner, so it’s no surprise that their sites are linked. However, Prevention itself offers some additional resources. The coolest thing I found was their Weight Loss Simulator for women. This offers a 3-D comparison of your “virtual” body now versus what you might look like when you lose weight.

You enter specifics about your body, including height, current and goal weight, and you can even change your avatar’s look. To save the profile you have to register with My Virtual Model, which is a free process. Since Prevention is primarily targeted for women, many of the tools, like the Simulator, are geared for women, but there are charts, calculators, food diaries, and many other free resources anyone can use.

Weight loss is about the basics – intake versus output; keep your online weight loss tools basic and you will see results! Remember, when using weight loss tools like calculators, be honest! You have to have a true assessment of where you are now to accurately measure results.

Which weight loss tools or free weight loss sites do you use to plan and track your diet progress? Let us know in the comments.

Image Credit : jmacphoto.com

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• SparkPeople – Free Online Health & Weight-loss Community (13)
• Lose Weight For Free With The Daily Plate (9)
• OneHundredPushups – A Geeky Pushup Workout Program to Get In Shape (19)
• MedHelp- A Mental & Physical Fitness Log to Monitor your Health (15)
• Lose It! – A Calorie Intake Calculator for the iPhone (6)

Hit that curve with all you’ve got and show that pitcher what you’re made of. Hit it out of the park, and sprint your way to all the bases, adrenaline pumping in your ears.

This is baseball – when you forget for a time that you’re just playing a computer game.

MLB Dugout Heroes

MLB Dugout Heroes is a MMO baseball game, created by Wisecat and published by Gamescampus. Although developed in Korea, the game completely focuses on the American baseball scene. Earlier this year, they signed a licensing deal with Major League Baseball, allowing them to use the real-life baseball parks and players ingame. All existing MLB teams are now represented in the game, and more stadiums are in the making.

One way to describe this game would be accessible. The basic gameplay system has a pretty low learning curve so even the youngest can enjoy it, while the leveling, upgrading and the strategic aspects of the game keep it interesting for the more advanced gamer.

All this is presented in a cartoony package. The characters seem very similar to the Mii guys of Nintendo – here representing major league baseball players – and although the graphics aren’t exactly high-end, the great animations make up for a lot.

Players can take on the role of batter, pitcher and fielder. As a batter, players not only have to time their swing right, but need to guess on curves and fastballs. This might seem strange at first, but similar to the real game, you’ll soon start noticing the subtle differences in the pitch and get used to spotting the right throws.

Batting and pitching is controlled with the mouse, where fielding and base running is done with the keyboard. Controls are simple to grasp, and winning is a tasty mix of tactics and mastering the different positions.

And then there’s the difference between NUTs and Campus Credits. NUTs can be earned in-game, while playing the game. Campus Credits, on the other hand, are bought with real-money deposits.

The problem is that – while you can buy some pretty useful stuff with your NUTs – too much depends on Campus Credits. Not only can the major items only be obtained through Campus Credits, they recently started giving insane sums of NUTs every time you make a purchase, giving the paying gamers a huge advantage over the rest.

However, save these capitalist gents, the people in-game are tons of fun, and even without spending a dime, you can have the time of your life.

What do you think? Have you played this game before, or do you prefer other baseball games? Let us know which ones you think are best in the comments section below!

More technicalities can be found here, on the client download page.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Xiah Rebirth – Martial Arts Themed MMORPG (5)
• Top 3 Ways for Kids To Make Money Online (45)
• The Top 3 Online Multiplayer Games (MMO) For Youngsters (29)
• Quake Live – Free Online Shooting Game in Your Browser (22)
• Project Powder – Online Multiplayer Snowboarding Game (7)

For anyone who has struggled through trying to get tickets for a popular show, it becomes apparent very quickly that the odds are stacked against you.

You may be under the illusion that if you sit online, or on the phone, with Ticketmaster the very moment that tickets go on sale, that you have an equal and fair chance of getting tickets as everyone else. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.

That’s why I’ve listed 4 sites to serve as alternatives if you’re desperately looking for that concert ticket which is unavailable anywhere else!

How to Get Tickets Despite the Ticketmaster Monopoly

The truth is, the event ticket market is stacked higher against you than a Vegas casino. A venue that accomodates 20,000 wild fans can sell out in about the time it takes for you to log into your computer. While Ticketmaster has the appearance of fairness in that ticket sales start at exactly a certain time (usually on Saturday), sales take place through so many outlets that available seats can disappear in minutes.

To make matters worse, while you may think that the moment the clock strikes 9 a.m. on Saturday that you have a chance to get the best seat, think again. Before the tickets even go on sale, entire batches are claimed by the artist’s own organization, corporate sponsors, season pass holders and others. At least 20% of available seats are already gone by the time the doors open for sales. Even worse, professional “scalpers” who have contacts within organizations such as the National Associate of Ticket Brokers, are somehow able to grab up the best seats in the house long before you ever pick up the phone to make that call.

However, never fear – just because Ticketmaster says that all seats are sold, you still have options. We’ve already covered a few cool applications like Roosterfly, which lets you compare event ticket prices, or FanSnap, an app that lets you search for available event tickets. However, I wanted to review 4 of the best websites to get awesome seats at popular, hard-to-get-into shows.

TicketCity – If You Can’t Beat Em, Join Em

Because of the fact that so many groups and organizations have access to the best seats before you do and you really want to get good seats for the show (especially after Ticketmaster has sold out), your best bet is to track down and purchase tickets on the secondary market — since that’s really where all the best seats are. It’s a dog-eat-dog market even involving corruption and bribery, in some cases.

Brokers (essentially scalpers) use inside connections to garnish huge blocks of tickets for sale on the secondary market. Case in point is TicketCity. Randy Cohen, CEO of TicketCity, told BNET in an interview:

We have relationships and contracts with people and venues. Through our relationships, we’re able to get tickets.

TicketCity covers just about any sort of event you’d probably be interested in including sports, theatre and concerts. There’s even a large button to click if you’re interested in selling your own tickets to TicketCity! There are also ticket specials in select locations and a 200% money-back guarantee. This is obviously one of the “big dogs” of ticket brokerages.

RazorGator – For Hard-to-Get Tickets

Another major broker of event tickets is the very popular site RazorGator. It even touts itself as the place to go when you’re dying to get popular tickets and can’t find them anywhere else. How does RazorGator get these rare tickets? Wouldn’t you like to know?

RazorGator is a pretty cool site, and it covers more event types compared to many other sites. Where else could you get tickets for a rodeo, Cirque du Soleil, and a Nickelback concert all in one place? You get a 100% money-back guarantee and there’s even another section of the site called “Fan2Fan Exchange” where fans can either exchange or sell tickets. Sort of like a third market for ticket sales.

Fox World Travel Tickets – Travel & Tickets Go Hand in Hand

Fox World Travel is a travel agency based out of Wisconsin that eventually realized that a large majority of what their clients wanted to do when traveling included obtaining tickets for shows, games or other events. The agency entered the world of ticket brockerage at their site, where you can find tickets for just about any kind of show.

This is only one example, there are lots of other travel sites out there that offer access to tickets, so make sure to hunt them down. In fact, ask a local travel agent in your area - they likely have access to blocks of popular even tickets as well.

TicketsToGo – Small Can Be a Good Thing

Were you ever in a situation where you were dating a girl you really wanted to impress, and she said something along the lines of, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to go see the Lion King on Broadway but they’re sold out for months!” Now, how cool would it be to have a buddy who you could call on your cellphone and say, “Hey, dude… could you hook me up with a couple of tickets to the Lion King?” Well, at TicketsToGo, you’ve got that dude to call.

At TicketsToGo, you place an order for a show and even if it’s officially sold out, this independent broker will access a “a large network of professional suppliers” to locate an available ticket for you. You’re surely going to pay a lot more for it – but at this point, when you’re dying to see the your favorite band or singer, and completely bummed out that there aren’t any seats left, does it really matter, if it means you can get in the door? Definitely use TicketsToGo as the last option, but at least it’s an option that you have.

Have you ever had any success getting hard-to-get tickets? What resources do you use? Share your insight in the comments section below.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Keeping Track of Live Music In Your City (4)
• How To Broaden Your Musical Horizons Online (8)
• Find Out Where Your Favorite Artists Are Playing With Jambase (0)
• 4 Better Alternatives To eBay’s Smart Search Tool (9)
• 3 Web Apps For Staying On Top Of The Music Scene (15)

Some people say that golf isn’t a real “sport” because it doesn’t involve large, muscular and sweaty men running into each other. Let me just say one thing: golf is both mentally and physically demanding. I have played golf for many years now, and if I hit a 200 yard shot that lands in the woods, I will have to walk 200 yards to reach my golf ball, which by now is probably being gnawed on by some squirrel. For these 200 yards, I will also have to think about how much I regret snapping my wrist while hitting my shot, effectively ruining my score. Even so, playing golf is a very calming experience – it may be a chance for you to reorganize your thoughts in your mind on the quiet golf course, or you may just want to smack something as hard as you can (the driver makes a very satisfying noise when you hit the ball correctly).

Now that everyone is so eager to learn about golf, including some of the basic principles as simple as how to hit a golf ball, here are 3 sites that will definitely help you pick up the game.

Golf.com

Simple site, simple interface, loads of information. One would naturally think that a website with such a demanded URL should have all of the info about golf. Since the main purpose of this article is to inform the masses about where to find tips on how to learn golf, let’s get straight down to business.

Golf.com has a section called “Lesson Finder”:

Once here, you can click on a variety of different topics to choose from, including “basics”:

Inside, there is a plentiful selection of videos and articles to learn about how to swing a golf club, get the shot you want, and learn more about the game. These videos and articles are all certified and submitted by GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 golf teachers.

Learnaboutgolf.com

Another great site that offers plenty of tips on how to improve your golf game. At the top of the site, there is a navigation bar. Click “Golf Lessons” to get to this screen:

There are more than 50 of these articles, but you get the point. Each is a simple article about 1 page in length that provides tips and tricks on how to improve your golfing game. You can also click on the “Video Golf Lessons” link next to the image in the above screenshot, and it will bring you to a new page with a bunch of short video lessons by some guy named Bobby Eldridge:

Here’s an example of one of his videos in Youtube:

Golf.about.com

Believe it or not, About.com has a very detailed and rich database of beginner golf guides. There are 4 tabs at the top – click on the one labeled “Instruction,” and you will be brought to this page:

There really isn’t anything else to elaborate on. Any link you click is chock-full of information and tips. There’s also a golf video section, although the number of instructional videos are comparatively smaller than the other sites:

There are a lot of information floating around the internet on how to play golf or techniques on how to hit a golf ball, but these 3 websites are very concise, organized, and easy to follow; all house some form of video lessons paired with articles and tips. This helps the golfer gain a better understanding about what is trying to be conveyed, both conceptually and visually. The bottom line is that golf is a hands-on sport – you cannot just read about it and learn to play. So grab a set of clubs, any clubs, and get on the green and practice!

P.S. If you are a left-handed golfer, it may be extremely hard to find instructions on how to play left-handed golf. The most consolidated database of videos I have found is located at eHow’s Left Handed Golf Tips: Video Series. Note that a lot of left-handed golfers still play with the same stance and swing as right-handed ones, save for the fact that they grip the clubs and swing a bit differently. This is probably because learning left-handed golf doesn’t really give you an advantage in the sport like it sometimes does (tennis for instance), and it’s really hard to find reverse clubs and an instructor who can teach you to learn opposites.

Even so, there are golfers who play left-handed golf exceptionally well at the higher levels (most notably Phil Mickelson), so if you really feel that you want to play left-handed golf, then by all means, go for it. Utilize symmetries in establishing foundations around your golf game, and the above sites should be able to provide great tips that you can use as well (just flip everything)!

If you haven’t left the house in days and your computer is your sanctuary, then check out Simon’s article on PangYa, an online golf game.

Would you really consider golf a sport? Did you find the resources helpful? Do you have any pro tips for beginner golfers? Shoot away in the comments!

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Fun Online Multiplayer Golf Gaming with PangYa (6)
• Use Memoriser to Memorize Information Fast During Work Day (3)
• Top 8 Things For Bored Teenagers To Do Online (25)
• Top 3 Tips To Motivate Yourself While Learning A Second Language (33)
• Top 3 Sites To Make Flash Cards For Your Kids (16)

One group of games that is still missing from our passive sportive arsenal here are pro billiards and snooker games.

And that is a real shame because those sports might just be some the geekiest sports known to man. Every single shot in those games is based on an insight or ‘feeling’ for the fundamentals of geometry and physics. Ergo, not to be discluded on a site like this.

Today, we try to make it up to you. Reader, meet Cue Online. I’m sure you’ll get along really well.

Cue Online

Cue Online was released earlier this year by GameCampus.com, the guys behind soul mate MMORPG Asda Story, and is without any doubt, one of the best pool games out there. Since then, it has received several nominations — amongst which, one for “Best Game of the Month” by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Cue Online allows you to enjoy games of eightball, nineball and snooker, accompanied by astonishing 3D graphics — but great graphics isn’t even the trump card of Cue Online. The game is based on one of the most realistic engines on the market, the physics of which allows you to manipulate every detail of the game, even pull off pro billiards trick shots.

Ultimate Pro Billiards Realism and Manipulation

As would be expected, the player can control aim and power but in Cue Online, you can also adjust the angle of your shots and the exact place to hit the ball, to give it a spin or to make it jump.

Apart from how the shot is exercised, the movement of the ball gets influenced by a few other factors like the realistic cloth friction. Make the sum of all this, and you’ve got a first class realistic pool game that will satisfy even the most critical of minds.

Playing Skills

During gameplay, the player can improve upon five different skills; power, spin, push, pull and masse. Unlike most skill-based games (mostly MMORPGs), you don’t get better only by using them often, but also by really learning how to use them well.

It is to be expected that skill would play a major role in a precision pro billiards sports game like Cue Online, but the game’s system provides various possibilities of gameplay. You’ll notice that each player is unique, with different strengths, weaknesses and a defining playing style, just like in real life.

If you’re up for a great game of eightball, nineball, or snooker, you must download this game.

Let us know what you think about it, or which of the 3 games you enjoy playing. Also, let us know about the other sources of billiard games. Don’t be shy, the comments section is below.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• The 2 Best Free Online Soccer Games (12)
• Play Baseball Like a Pro with MLB Dugout Heroes (4)
• How to Get Started In Second Life in 10 Easy Steps (14)
• Fun Online Multiplayer Golf Gaming with PangYa (6)
• Yo Frankie! – Free Open Source Platform Game (16)

And then there’s the rest of us. The ones who know the feeling of landing a perfect shot, adrenaline running through your veins and the joy of ultimate exhaustion.

Save the exhaustion, these are the things we’re looking at today. The joy of football – without even leaving your comfy seat!

Some time ago, we talked about the 2 best, free online soccer games. That list, although still very enjoyable, is now sadly outdated.

We’ve got a new football game for you today, and it’s called Football Superstars.

Football Superstars

Football Superstars is the first ever truly virtual football world. You can not only play football over the net with other people, but also enjoy life as famous football players do – go to bars and restaurants, and even give interviews to aspiring journalists.

This game doesn’t stop after the match is played, but is an extending virtual superstar experience that will only stop when you see fit.

Play as an Individual

In most on- or offline football games, you play with the whole team. You flick between your different Ronaldo’s and give passes to yourself. Until now, multiplayer football games often just meant that you were playing against the team of another player.

Not in Football Superstars, though. In this game, you play as an individual player, or superstar, if you’re lucky. This means that when playing a proper match, you’ll be playing with ten and against eleven other players from all over the world. The word ‘team’ gets its meaning back and the game has just gotten an awful lot bigger.

In Football Superstars, you can also join ‘real teams’, similar to the guilds of the MMO world. You’ll have your own emblem and a fixed player composition, so you’ll be more familiar and better adjusted to the people you’re playing with. That, and you can make a name for yourself.

Of course, if you can’t find 22 (decent) players to set up a match, you don’t need to box up. Games can be played with a minimum of 3 versus 3 players.

Live the Life

But playing (and of course, winning) in football matches is only half of the deal in Football Superstars. A ‘virtual football world’, in this game, means you get to live the life as well.

The game hosts plenty of commodities to entertain you while you aren’t doing the foot-to-ball thing. Team up with your fellow players after ‘work’ and go have a drink at the pub, or a bite at the nearby restaurant. The world covers plenty of places to keep you entertained.

By participating in these events, you can work on your fame level. A higher fame level will get you better football positions, a better paycheck, and so on.

And a famous football player, of course, can’t head out without the right equipment. Throughout the map, there are a number of shops, including a virtual Puma shop. Here you can buy new sporting equipment, like shoes and training vests.

There are also other shops where you can buy regular clothing (male and female), to style your character the comfy style.

All these things are bought with the ingame FSD or FSB currency. They can be earned by playing games for your football team. The size of your paycheck depends on a number of factors, like fame, skill and position.

Managing a Team

Managing, coaching and Captain positions are also available for premium members.

These allow the player to experience a football management game, but on a whole new level. Buy in real players, and do play them out against each other. When managing in Football Superstars, you get to look past the numbers and have a live example of your team.

What do you think? Best game ever, or only mediocre quality? Do you know of any other similar games? Do tell us all about it in the comments below.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Play Baseball Like a Pro with MLB Dugout Heroes (4)
• Xiah Rebirth – Martial Arts Themed MMORPG (5)
• Top 3 Ways for Kids To Make Money Online (45)
• The Top 3 Online Multiplayer Games (MMO) For Youngsters (29)
• The 2 Best Free Online Soccer Games (12)

It’s a ton of fun. Just standing in front of the TV and swinging your butt with the WiiMote in hand, like the real professionals do.

Of course, like with most sports, there are plenty of games to go around. Unfortunately, few of them are free and of really good quality.

OGPlanet’s Albatross 18 was one of the more popular and most fun golfing games available. Sadly, due to circumstances, it was forced offline. However, the project has been picked back up by Ntreev and has made a big comeback under the name of PangYa.

PangYa

With its kiddie anime graphics and playful atmosphere, one shouldn’t expect a serious game of golfing from PangYa. Instead, the game aims for the online multiplayer market with a more casual approach. Anyone can enjoy this game, without being limited by age or experience.

It’s a crazy world out there, with fantastic vulcanic landscapes and physically impossible golfing shots, and everyone can have a go.

Those of you that played Albatros 18, the American part of what is now called Pangya, can transfer over their accounts to Ntreev here.

Gameplay

PangYa uses the same basic gameplay system like most other (mini) golf or pool games: aim, power and accuracy. Instead, the real originality lies in the incredible surroundings and impossible challenges.

Versus Mode is like most golf games. The objective of this turn-based mode is to get the ball into the cup in as few swings as possible. Challenge your friends and play a game of 3, 6, 9 or 18 holes.

Family Mode is essentially the same as the versus mode, only it lets you play with up to four different characters on a single user name. This is a great way to play against family or friends without them needing to sign up.

Tournament Mode puts thirty people in one game. Instead of the turn-based gameplay in the Versus Mode, everybody gets to play at the same time. You must complete all 9 or 18 holes (depending on the game) within the time limit.

Pang Battle Mode is stroke play with a betting system. You can wager Pang on each hole, and the winner takes all. This gets even more exciting when nobody manages to claim a win, and the wages are pushed to the pot in the next hole.

Approach Shot Mode challenges you to get your ball as close to the cup as possible, without claiming it. It’s like boules with golf balls and a cup in your playground.

Often with these games, the initial gameplay is free, although some of the additional items – like extra clothes and new equipment – cost a little bit of money. However, to avoid favouratism of the money users, the impact of these extra items is kept as low as possible by Ntreev. An alternative currency, Pang, can be earned while playing the game, which can also be used to upgrade characters or purchase special items.

Minimum System Requirements
OS: Windows 98 / 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP
CPU: Pentium III 800Mhz or higher
Memory: 256 MB or higher
Video Card: Geforce 2 MX or higher
Direct X version 8.1 or higher

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Play Baseball Like a Pro with MLB Dugout Heroes (4)
• Xiah Rebirth – Martial Arts Themed MMORPG (5)
• Top 3 Ways for Kids To Make Money Online (45)
• The Top 3 Online Multiplayer Games (MMO) For Youngsters (29)
• The Casual Collective – Fun Online Multiplayer Flash Games (16)

But why do something so mundane when we’ve got all this great technology! A very straightforward yet robust tool I’ve found is Gmaps Pedometer. It’s an interface to Gmaps that allows you to plan walking routes in pretty much any town in the world! You can create your own walking routes, have them autmatically done, count calories, or throw in mile markers for interval training. By the way, interval training is sometimes known as Fartlek training. I just love saying that. “Hey honey, whaddya got your shoes on for?” “I’m doing some Fartlekking.” Tee hee, I’m so juvenile.

Anyway, here’s how to set a route with Gmaps Pedometer.

Step 1 – Go to the Site

Gmaps Pedometer

Seriously, I’ve known people that would miss that step.

Step 2 -Start Planning the Walking Route

At the top of the screen, enter the town of place that you will be walking. Great idea for travelers – plan your walk before you go. I’m going to use Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C. Canada You should go. There’s a world class aquarium, beautiful botanical garden, right on the ocean. Very nice!

Using the slider on the left of the map, or the drop down box next to the Go button, zoom down a level that focuses just on the area you want to walk.

Step 3 – Create the Walking Route

Click the Start Recording Button to, well, start recording. Now double click on the map the place you wish to start. Look down the road and double click a little further.

Aha! Now you see the red line and you know what the program is doing. It’s creating your route and measuring it at the same time.

Step 4 – Check the Effect

I’ve mapped out a route that is about 2.2 Km. Just fine for my bumpy buttocks. But what sort of damage will that do? To find out, I’ve entered my weight in the Weight field and it automagically approximates how many calories I’ll burn. The calculation isn’t terribly accurate, but it certainly gives you a good idea.

Step 5 – Save the Route

If you are subject to a poor short term memory like I am, you can print the map, save it and put in on your GPS or simple bookmark it by clicking on the Save Route link, or any combination of the three. Then, If you are subject to a poor short term memory…I typed that already didn’t I? Well, now you’ve got your marching orders and there’s only one more step to go.

Step 6 – Get to Stepping

Map in hand, repaced tunes on the iPod, get out that front door and take care of business. And when your fitness level is up and the route is too easy, come on back to Gmaps Pedometer and make a new route, or several. The problem for a lot of people is that exercise becomes boring and routine. Change it up!

If you want to connect with other walkers, check out Walker Tracker. It’s a fun community of like-minded walkers to encourage each other and track progress.

How do you plan your walking routes? Know of any good ways to add routes to your GPS? Got a success story to share? I need all the motivation I can get. This is a lot of inertia to overcome. Let me know in the comments.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• SparkPeople – Free Online Health & Weight-loss Community (13)
• The only TV and Movie Websites you Need (28)
• The 2 Best Free Online Soccer Games (12)
• Play Baseball Like a Pro with MLB Dugout Heroes (4)
• OneHundredPushups – A Geeky Pushup Workout Program to Get In Shape (19)

However, these people forget the real reason of sports – not keeping fit, but having fun. Sports should be enjoyed before anything else, showing off your skill and competing with others.

Another great advantage is that there’s no need for any clothes to play a game on your computer.

There are many great free video games available (i.e. racing games, fps games, online shooters etc.), amongst them more than a few sports games. We’ll be looking at the best of those today. More precisely, best online socer games.

I hope you’ll discover something new for you today, something fun to play, something worth remembering.

Soccer

Soccer, or football to some, is one of the most popular sports in the world, so it’s no wonder that there are tons of games to go by – when we are looking at the all time classics like FIFA and PES, we’re really just scraping at the top of the mountain – but how about their free counterparts?

There are two online soccer games that we’ll look into, both astray from the traditional.

Goal Or No Goal!

Goal Or No Goal! – GONG! for friends – is an online cartoony soccer game. The game sets a very light tone and offers a lot of online fun with friends or strangers alike.

The game is played on a wide variety of maps, all of them based on real-life places. The maps include both realistic football courts as more fantasy-themed environments. Each place goes with its own specific rules for the match, which keep things fresh and interesting.

Your chibi-avatar is fully customizable, ranging from physical characteristics to clothes. Additional items can also be earned while playing the game.

In short, this cartoony soccer game, can offer you tons of fun online. The wide array of maps, varying moves and character customisation possibilities makes that you won’t lose interest soon.

KICKS Street Football

This game is, just like GONG, a Massive Multiplayer Online soccer game – however, not quite the same.

This game, which has built a fanbase of over 300,000 players in the past three years, focuses on street football.

In general, street football is thought of as a more supple game of soccer, which doesn’t require all the rules and standard conditions of a real soccer game. However, that isn’t always true. To win a game of street soccer, there are a few things that need to be heavily extorted if you want to win the game.

Tactics, for one, play a huge role. Only through proper coordination and cooperation – action and reaction – a match can be won. Hence, there’s also more than heavy accent on strong, solid teamwork.

KICKS is a very detailed game, which might take some time to master, but has enough depth to make it worth the while.

If you know of any other free online soccer games, let us know about them in the comments.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• The 5 Hardest Games in the Online World (54)
• Quake Live – Free Online Shooting Game in Your Browser (22)
• Play Baseball Like a Pro with MLB Dugout Heroes (4)
• Online Alternatives To Popular Board Games (14)
• How To Download and Play Kongregate Games Offline (22)

Hulu

Hulu is an excellent 100% legal source for TV shows and movies. If you were looking for a website where you could freely watch your favorite movies and shows online this is it. Most of the content come in pretty good quality. No ‘camrips’ here. There is also an option to watch videos in full screen mode. Plus it’s completely free, you don’t have to pay anything.

The site has a rich choice of content including popular TV shows (The Office, The Simspons, Family Guy etc.) and hundreds of popular movies. You won’t be able to watch latest movies here, but there are lots of cool stuff to choose from. You can browse content by network or genre (Comedy, Crime, NBA etc.). If you’re not sure where to start you can also check what’s most popular among Hulu users. One really cool feature is that you can subscribe to your favorite shows or channels and get notified whenever the new videos are added.

At the moment the service is available only within the United States. However there is a way to access it from outside the United States as well. You will need to install a program called Hotspot Shield for that.

SurfTheChannel

We have profiled SurfTheChannel several times before, here and here. It’s been my favorite TV show website for some time now. SurfTheChannel basically aggregates video links (movies, tv shows, anime, etc.) from dozens of video websites, sorts them into different categories and lets you stream them via their branded video player.

The website went through a massive redesign recently and got a lot prettier. Most of the shows and movie pages have multiple links. In case one doesn’t work, you can try one of the others. Although it falls a bit short on quality it makes up by it’s huge database. You will find lots of stuff here. And as I have mentioned earleir it’s also a good source for watching documentary movies.

Livestation

This is what I use to keep up with news. Livestation brings news channels to your desktop. There are only 8 channels at the moment: Aljazeera, BBC World, Bloomberg, Euro News, France 24, iTele, RT, and BBC World Service. What makes it so attractive is the picture quality, it’s just as good as on a regular television set. The audio quality is pretty good as well. For more details see Mark’s Livestation review.

At the moment Livestation is available only for Windows PC’s, though Linux and Mac versions are coming soon. If you’re a Mac or Linux user or simply would like to have more TV channels to choose from then head on to TVChannelsFree (original article) or Inner-Live (original article). Both of the websites lets you stream TV channels online with plenty of channels to choose from.

MyP2P

Here is something for avid sport fans. Using MyP2P you can watch almost any sport game live for free. Whether it is a Football, MLB, NHL, NBA, Tennis etc. usually you are able to watch it live on MyP2P. Sometimes the game can be streamed directly from the browser, in other cases you might need to install one of the listed desktop clients. Usually games are available in different video quality. That is to say, folks with a faster connection can choose a stream with a better picture quality.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Best Sites To Watch TV On Your Computer Over The Internet (75)
• Watch Free TV Channels On The Go With KitePlayer (18)
• ProgDVB – Watch FREE Satellite TV On Your PC (29)
• INTERVIEW with Top 5 Free Movie & TV Shows sites (14)
• i.TV iPhone App Turns Your iPhone into the Ultimate TV Companion (7)