Work

Play Old DOS Floppy Disk Games On Your Android Tablet

Most retro gamers use emulators to play old school games on their Android device, but if you still have your old floppy disk games and a USB floppy drive ($US11 at Amazon) you can play them on your Android tablet directly using an Android app port of DOSbox.


February 22, 2012
Work

Lifehacker Tests The PlayStation Vita

Lifehacker AU

Sony held the Australian launch event for the PlayStation Vita on a wobbly barge on Sydney Harbour last night. After wolfing down burgers and a little wine, I had a quick play with Sony’s second attempt to win a decent slice of the handheld gaming market. How did it stack up?


February 10, 2012
Fix

Hacked Xbox Live Account? That’s A Big Problem

Lifehacker AU

What happens if your Xbox Live account gets hacked? Tracey over at Kotaku has investigated and found that Microsoft’s processes can sometimes take months to resolve the issue if it gets resolved at all, despite recent changes meant to speed up the restoration of hacked accounts. A good read (and a precautionary tale about online services which have access to your credit card details). [Kotaku]


February 9, 2012
Work

How I Improved My Life With A PS3 Controller

Picture this: After hours of web browsing, your body is contorted in various unnatural positions over time. Your legs up on the table, or you’re lying on the bed sideways with the laptop rotated sideways as well. Does that sound familiar?


February 6, 2012
Work

WanderPlayer Turns Your Phone Into A Controller For Flash Games

Android/iPhone and Windows/Mac: Many Flash-based games work better with a retro controller than a keyboard and mouse. The free app WanderPlayer turns your iPhone or Android phone into a controller that already works with 100 popular web games right now with more on the way.


February 2, 2012
Work

In Defence Of Video Games: More Than Just An Entertaining Time Sink

Many of us at Lifehacker are big fans of video games. Our esteemed Editor-in-Chief, however, is sceptical that gaming offers any value beyond simple entertainment. More often than not, he argues, games are a dangerous time sink. In this post, I hope to convince him — and any of you who may feel the same way about video games — otherwise, arguing that aside from being a great form of entertainment, video games can also relieve anxiety, teach new skills and help you stay motivated. And I’ve got science to back me up.


January 31, 2012
Communicate

Steam’s Mobile App Is A Great Game Assistant

iOS and Android: Steam’s desktop apps for Mac and PC are fantastic not just for playing games, but communicating via chat, organising via Steam Groups and even reading news on upcoming titles. The new iPhone and Android apps let you do all this on your phone.


January 27, 2012
Fix

Fix A Worn-Out Video Game Controller

If you have a video game controller that’s worn down so much that the buttons barely work, you can give it new life with a few small pieces of aluminium foil. All you need to pull this off is a torx scredriver (something every techie should have on hand), a hole puncher, and a bit of glue or tape.


January 16, 2012
Work

Boxer Is A Free DOS Game Emulator For Mac

Mac: Computer games have come a long way since the days of Doom, Zork, Tie Fighter and Castle Wolfenstein, but many of us who grew up with those games would like to replay them. Boxer is a free app that will let you play any DOS game on your Mac.


December 24, 2011
Fix

Ease Mates Into Better Board And Card Games

Lifehacker AU

It’s Christmas. You’re friends and family are together for that special time of the year to give, receive and eat. Once all the presents have been passed around and the food consumed, someone recommends you pull out Monopoly or Scrabble to pass the time. You sigh, knowing there’s a whole other world of board and card games your relatives are oblivious to. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to gently introduce them to this fabulous alternate universe?