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Are you getting the most out of your games? There are some killer apps out there that can dramatically increase the amount of fun, skill, and capabilities you get out of your gaming experience. I got a list of my favorites together, and best of all they're all free! In no particular order:

1) Ventrilo - Ventrilo is a VoIP communications software used heavily in gaming communities thanks to its superior sound quality and minimal CPU usage. It's easy enough to use, but has a pretty powerful customizable feature set. I simply cannot overestimate the usefulness of voice chat for online gaming. Chocolate milk fueled brats aside, being able to communicate in real time with your teammates (or a well timed "pwned", for those of a more abrasive persuasion) without having to waste precious digit-dexterity resources on your keyboard is simply invaluable. Not only is it a strategic advantage, but it can add a level of fun and intimacy that often gets lost in gaming communities. You'd be surprised how much less griefing you're subjected to. I guess "OMFG 1 p@wn3d jo0 n00bzOrZ" and "your mom is a slut" are a little harder to say than type. Available for Mac and PC.

2) Xfire - If you're involved in a lot of online gaming communities, you need Xfire. Xfire lists all your gaming buddies, keeping tabs on their online status and what they're playing. You can browse servers from the Xfire client, filtering by map/game type/ping etc., then track your favorites. Perhaps most useful is the in-game IM client - no more alt-tab window bouncing just to talk with your friends. Add in a stat-tracker and the ability to download mods and patches through their P2P network and you've got one killer little app! For PC only. Mac users try XBlaze.

3) Media Streamers - Alright console lovers, this one's for you:

- PS3 Media Center X - multimedia server developed by Red Kawa that allows you to stream pictures, music, videos and files from your computer to the PS3. Compatible with PC and Mac.

- Wii Media Center X - multimedia server developed by Red Kawa that allows you to stream pictures, music, videos and files from your computer to the Wii. Compatible with PC and Mac.

- Connect 360 - Stream your iLife to your Xbox 360. Haven't used this myself, but I have been assured by our resident Mac/360 user it works like a dream (thanks Geoff!)

- Oddly enough, PC users kind of get the screw when it comes to streaming media to the 360. If you are lucky enough to have a Windows Media Center version of your OS, then I'd recommend picking up Transcode 360 - it's a real-time streamer that allows you to on-the-fly transcode a wide range of video formats to your 360. If you (like this unfortunate blogger) do not have Windows Media Center, the next best thing is Windows Media Connect, though I've found it's functionality to be dubious at best. For a great tutorial on how to re-encode just about any file format to the 360 compatible (and, surprise-surprise, Microsoft proprietary) WMV format, check this out.

4) Fraps - Document your exploits! Fraps lets you take static screen caps with a single key press, auto naming and timestamping them for easy perusal. Even better, capture real-time video and audio in fantastic quality for bragging rights and tactics review. And my favorite feature, check to see how many frames per second you are getting - can be really useful for benchmarking your system's performance to keep track of deterioration or background programs bogging your rig down. For PC only, Mac users might want to try iShowU.

5) Last but not least, a web browser (I like Firefox, but any will do)! I realize this one is a bit of a cop-out, since you are probably aware that the internet exists, and it is manipulated with a program refered to as a "browser" (you may even be using one right now!), but generally I find gamers grossly underutilize the awesome power of their web browser. Your browser can play games, connect gamers, offer tips and walkthroughs, show you cheats, and provide technical support (can't tell you how many times this site has kept me from pulling my hair out when trying to manhandle my router).

That's it, now get gaming!

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