Tag Archives: Free

Microsoft Security Essentials

Did you get your notice that Microsoft Secruity Essentials is now free? Back on Sept 29, 2009 Microsoft released their upgrade to the OneCare virus protection program that you paid a subscription fee to use. The new program boasting the label Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is Free and you can download it from http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

The amazing thing I have noticed in discussions in chat rooms and forums is that it seems no one was aware of this and it has now been over a year and a quarter since its release.

Well fear not, just use the link I provided above. Its as good as any other free virus protection coupled with windows defenders firewall service, but there still is no substitute for a fully paid for virus and internet security program such as that of Trend Micro’s Internet Security Suite.

If you are the type of person that believes in using the same brand name for your stereo components or audio/video center matched to the same brand for speakers, then it wouldn’t hurt to install MSE on your windows machine. Sorry it’s only for XP and above, but it has a 32bit and 64bit version.

Now for a fair warning for all those people that have a pirated copy of windows on their machines, “Your PC must run genuine Windows to install Microsoft Security Essentials.”

Happy 2011!!

Evony: Age I – Browser Based Portable Plundering

Evony Game Screen in your browser

Evony Game Screen in your browser

Evony fills your medieval need to divide and conquer from any computer and any browser.

Are you at work on break and need an outlet for your frustration? Are you at home needing an outlet for your competitive and strategic spirit? Evony: Age I is for you.

Since the transition from beta to full release in May, 2009, Evony has millions of players taming the beast of competition and strategy. Some of the key features of the game:

  • Free to play
  • No installation program or software
  • Play from any computer and any browser (that supports flash)
  • Challenging Quests (over 220) with hundreds of items and techs.

Evony, with it’s clean interface layout and appealing graphics, make this game of intrigue perfect for kids and adults alike. (click images for detailed views) The style of game is Sim based in that you are responsible for the growth, health, and well being of your castle style city/cities and it’s inhabitants. Take care not to over tax your villagers lest they begin leaving, grieving and rioting in the village streets.

Evony game screen at map level

Evony game screen at map level

With so many villagers and army troops to feed you will need to gather resources from the surrounding valleys. Different types of valleys provide different resources such as lumber from forests, stone from deserts, iron from the hills, and food from lakes and swamps. Flat lands are for building another castle/city for the necessary expansion of your domain. Of course these valleys are not free for your taking, as you must defeat any rogue troops that have taken up camp and defend these resources.

Along with the surrounding available resources, you are provided with fields within your castle domain for farming, lumber and iron milling, and quarries for stone production. You decide how many of each and at what level they produce for you. Villagers are required for operating these fields as seen in the town level graphic above.

City level view

City level view

Each castle/city will have a need for basic types of construction such as a Town Hall to control the tax rate of your citizens, comforting them when they grieve or riot, levying them for food and gold when production is too low, etc. The level of your town hall and other buildings determine other aspects of the game such as the number of resource fields for production, the size and type of your armies, the number of hero’s you can employ and many other aspects. It is your job to keep all safe by defending your castle/cities and valleys from attackers and starvation while growing in size and strength for domain expansion and success. As your domain grows you will gain prestige, rank and titles. You will also be given the opportunity to either create an alliance or join an existing one which will give you strength and power among other players.

Your Inventory and achievments

Your Inventory and achievements

You will have a very nice display of your inventory, well organized, at your fingertips. Your achievements, items and awards are all conveniently in one place. If you find you are in need of certain items you have two options. Acquire items from conquering valleys and barbarian cities or purchase what you need from the shop.

Other aspects of the game include reports on your status, your plundering, your attacks on other players, troop movement, scouting efforts and transportation of resources. Chat is convenient and available on all screen views regardless of where you are in the game so that you can talk to your alliance members, chat with friends and other players in world chat and communicate privately for those times you are scheming.

This game is easy to use and easy to learn. You do not have to have experience playing online games or strategy games as Evony comes complete with in game information and help as well as forums.

Your quests and instruction for advancing

Your quests and instruction for advancing

The Quest guide is only a click away to get all the detailed information about your progress and next quest accomplishments as well as information regarding your next move up in the conquest for extreme ruler of the land.

Not just a game, there is a vast amount of educational information and history of medieval times incorporated into the game. Hovering your mouse over icons and graphics produce snippets of facts and history as well as background on strategizing and control of your resources. You are given detailed information as to what items, technology, rank, titles, and awards you will need to move up through your quests.

Game play is real time and continues to function 24 hours a day even when you are not playing. Your resources continue to grow (or diminish), your armies continue to march, your wealth continues to grow (or deplete) so that you are not required to be at the keys just to become supreme ruler.

This game is truly enjoyable and easy to play as well as satisfying, challenging and rewarding. Come play with us at http://one20.evony.com

I am WolfSong of the Templars alliance on server 26.