Are you a fan of games like Need for Speed (Underground, Carbon, Most Wanted) or fast-paced games like Burnout? Do you drive? If you answered "YES!" for both, then better read on... (Of course, if you didn't answer Yes, still read on to know the 4-1-1.)

German researchers discovered that people who play racing-themed computer and video games tend to drive more aggressively, take greater risks on the road and get into accidents.

A few entries back, I mentioned that video games are 'addictive.'

Maybe it is, maybe it's not. But the bottom line is, videogames are starting to destroy lives, one level up at a time. However, Koreans might have just found a way to kick the videogame habit...

It MIGHT be possible with the use of subliminal audio techniques...

Ever dreamed of having a set of pearly whites but can't afford the treatments your friendly neighborhood dentist offers?

Whitening toothpaste can't seem to work?

Then why not do it like other people do? Photoshop it.

The steps are simple:

- Use Quick Mask and slowly highlight your yellow teeth.

- Adjust Feather setting

- Adjust the Hue and Saturation Levels

- AND, adjust the Levels

It's as easy as pie really.

If you really want to see it for yourself, then better watch the video.

If your folks have a couple of machine guns lying around in their secret compartment, then why not do as the Mexicans do?

Trade your real gun for a PC or a Microsoft Xbox.

Let's see just how much you can handle until your arm gets numb...

Defend Your Castle

And see just how much nomads you can take. I just got to Level 20 until my fortress gave in...

Play Defend Your Castle

The game is quite simple. Here's the description from the website...

Defend Your Castle takes place on a grassy plain surrounded by invaders. You are the commander of your castle, and at your disposal is an invisible hand for picking up the enemy and flinging them mercilessly to their death. It is a good thing you've got that, at least, for the invaders you face are crafty and employ many different types of soldiers in their quest for your castle.

Attacks come at dawn. The Barbarian invaders arrive in relentless waves until nightfall, when they return to their camp... or sleep in your castle, if you are not capable of defending it. Luckily, however, the game provides a few other tricks up your invisible sleeve. For instance, the capability to convert enemy troops into soldiers to help you defend your walls. You can also purchase upgrades and repairs for your castle, and miraculously, they can be administered overnight, while the barbarian hordes are snoring in their camps!

So assemble your troops, plan your strategy, and defend your castle. It's about time you do.

Tired of those games that have steep requirements? Then better prep yourself, as Hardwarezone now brings to you the Desktop Tower Defense!

Here is the description of the game:

A live action puzzle game written for fun in flash. You have to stop your enemies, or 'creeps', from travelling all the way across the screen. Tower pieces can be purchased and placed on the map to kill the creeps before they make it across. Inspired by a Warcraft 3 tower defense map called Autumn Crossing and a few other TD Warcraft III maps.

If you want to luck your luck, then by my guest. :) Here's the link to the game. Enjoy and tell us your score!

Research show that exercising one's brain may lead to sharper and better memory. Things like sudoku, chess, and even the simple act of reading is a sure fire way to give your brain some exercise.

But those activities are so old school. Isn't there any other way to make my brain healthier? Good thing some people feel the same way and decided to come up with a product that is state of the art!

I still remember the days when my brother and I were so addicted to MMORPGs. In fact, during our "peak," we played for 18 - 20 hours straight, ate, and played again until we couldn't stand it anymore. This went on for days and to tell you the truth, it was not a pretty sight.

I remember looking like a zombie then.... Our eyes having bags so big, owls were no match for it. We also kept 350 pesos a month just to play online and be part of the thousands who play at night (since we attended school during the day). This was the life of an online MMORPG gamer...

Fast forward to 2007 -> My brother is quite busy studying (as he is going to be a doctor soon) and I am now working (for Hardwarezone, of course) with MMOs at the bottom of my things to do.

But what if I told you gamers out there that some scientists are comparing MMORPG Addiction to... Gambling?

I recently attended the "Beyond Freedom in Boracay" Event of Toshiba on behalf of Hardwarezone Philippines last March 19 - March 21, 2007. While it was tiring, I really had fun and I was able to find out what's new from Toshiba.

Allow me to share to you what transpired during those three days...

Day 1 (March 19, 2007)

I arrived in Boracay around 8 in the morning and this sandcastle made by some locals welcomed us...

I've had this experiment in High School before wherein I had to catch a ruler that was dropped by my laboratory groupmate.

Of course, I really had a very bad reaction time then. But now I think it is time to get back and prove that I have a fast reaction time...

How come? Well, if you want to win fabulous prices just by playing your favorite games (like DOTA and Counter-Strike), better head to Market! Market! two weeks from now (March 30, 2007).

This is because Gigabyte will be hosting a LAN event over there and they are giving away a LOT of prizes...

The event will start at 10:00am and will end at 8:00pm. Here's just a list of what's going to happen during that day:

- A Whole Showcase of Bands

- Gigabyte DIY Contest

- Cosplay Contest

- Audition Dance Contest

- Counter-Strike Game Tournament

- Warcraft III: DOTA Game Tournament

- E-Games Free Play

And much. much more! So if you do not have anything else to do on March 30, 2007 (mark it in your calendars folks!), then head to the Market! Market! Activity Center. We will be there to cover the event and we do hope to see you guys there as well!

Are you an Atari boy? IF the answer is yes, then I am sure you know the game called Pong. Its a simple game actually... All you have to do is to try to "hit" the ball, return it to your opponent, and hope that he won't be able to return it back.

Yes, it is quite similar to a game called Table Tennis but not quite. Anyway, if you want to relive your Atari days, then here's just the shirt for you...

How clean is your keyboard? Here's a short but effective experiment...

Lift your keyboard from your table and give it a tap. Better yet, hit it against your table...

Now, tell me what you see...

I did it once on my office keyboard and found skin flakes, bread crumbs, and other disgusting things. Of course, I tapped it again and again just to remove all the dirt stuck in the middle of the keys. Time consuming, yes. But clean? Probably not.

Just today, Hardwarezone Philippines has received yet another unit from our friends at Samsung. It is called the X510, a champagne colored mobile phone that is designed to tickle your senses.

Details on this phone (and our quick take) after the jump!

While there are a lot of mobile phone mock-ups in various malls today, I think that this one SHOULD be the furniture to get people talking.

It's called the MegaPhone, a mobile phone that you can display just about anywhere...

This thing has a width of 45cm, depth of 19cm, height of 123cm, and stands a whopping 170cm when placed on a podium. In order for you to have a clearer idea, its size when placed in a podium reaches 67".

Unlike any other mock-up phone displays that I've seen all over the Metro, the thing about the MegaPhone is that it is a fully functional mobile phone. You can use this to call and even text the people that you know. Moreover, it also has these features to boot:

- Large colour display, touch screen for pen-based phones

- Touch buttons with keyboard encoder

- Fully embedded standard phone with real functionality

- Personal computer as a control centre

- Bluetooth and USB connections

- All needed cables and chargers

- Delivered with an impact resistance box for the safe transport

- Easy to transport podium equipped with wheels

It will probably cost you an arm and a leg, but it would be nice to have a fully functional phone that you can show off and display. If you want to know more, better click this link right here. As for me, I'll just stick to my handy mobile phone thank you. :)