Just a couple of weeks ago, popular Facebook games maker Zynga trademarked the name PetVille, hinting at the theme for their next wildly popular casual game on the social network and other platforms (Myspace, iPhone, etc.). Today, Games.com reports that PetVille has launched.

Zynga is also the maker of FarmVille, which just yesterday was touted by a Facebook (Facebook) spokesperson as being bigger than Twitter in terms of an active userbase. The company followed up on the formula early last month with an aquatic-themed title dubbed FishVille, and now PetVille joins the ranks of of other popular pet simulation games like PlayFish’s Pet Society, which borrow mechanics from popular casual Nintendo titles like Nintendogs and Animal Crossing.

In PetVille, you create and customize your own sugary cute animals, feed and care for them, and earn through gameplay (or buy) the resources to decorate your home, buy better food, give gifts to other players and so on. In the tradition of other Zynga titles and other casual social games on Facebook, MySpace (MySpace) and elsewhere, the game mechanics are relatively simple to learn and the titles are easy to pick up and play for short stretches of time — leading to that addictive quality of reinforcement and reward that characterizes frequent revisitation of your virtual domain.

Check out a demo video of PetVille below and let us know your thoughts. Are you hopelessly drawn to any of these casual titles? It’s okay to admit it: You’re among friends here. Friends who may help you on your FarmVille farm.

I asked around some of the beer lovers(palahubogs) in Cebu, what gadget would you want this christmas? They have different answers and most of them just answered a Sony netbook, a Cannon or Nikkon D-SLR, Sony PS3,  Xbox 360, a LCD HDTV, and many other gadgets. Below I have compiled the top 10 of what most of them wanted.

1.)  Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi

Launched on 24 January 2008, in Amstelveen, The Netherlands. Released last year and almost 2 years already, this D-SLR is still a favorite for those who want to learn and practice photography. This entry level D-SLR can range from P28,000 – P 33,0oo.

The EOS 450D features:

• 12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor
• Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• 3.5 frames per second
• 3.0” LCD with Live View shooting
• 9-point wide-area AF system with f/2.8 cross-type centre point
• Picture Style image processing parameters
• DIGIC III image processor
• Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software1
• Compact and Lightweight body
• Fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

Canon EOS 450D

2.)  Sony PS3 Slim

The Sony PS3 Slim is a video game console. This video game gadget is very light in weight. It weights around 3.2 kg. This modern generation electronic console measures 290 mm in length by 290 mm in width by 65 mm deep in dimensions approximately. Furthermore, it comes with memory of one hundred and twenty gigabytes hard drive. So, an individual can store as much data as possible. Sometimes, the Sony PS3 Slim act as a digital media hub. In fact, these gaming devices are quite popular among every age group. It comes with USB connector and Bluetooth. Therefore, tons of videos, games etc., can be transferred from this console to any other compatible device without any hassle. Apart from all, this gadget is quite lightweight in size and so, easily portable. With the help of this console, one can anytime and anywhere play games and have fun. The best part of this video game device is that it comes with updated Blu-ray player. Price of this video game console may range from P14,000 – P 17,0oo.

Sony Playstation 3 slim

3.)  Sony Vaio W

Sony Vaio W is a netbook most prefer because of looks/style. The same reason why people go for the expensive Havaianas rather than the Islander brands. People just want to go out with this gadget to  coffee shops or even the office to expose the sleek design and elegance in style of this netbook. Prices may vary from different stores but it should be around P28,000 – P 35,0oo.

Intel® Atom Processor (1.66GHz)
Genuine Windows® 7 Starter Edition
Features: 10.1″ LED backlit LCD (1366×768), 1GB RAM, 250GB HDD, large capacity battery, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, webcam

Sony Vaio W netbook

4.) BFG GeForce GTX 295

The BFG GeForce GTX 295 Video Card is perhaps the single best video card out at the moment. This extremely powerful video card has two GPUs on-board, and when combined with a quality motherboard, you can’t create a better platform for gaming.

With a BFG GeForce GTX 295 in your PC, you will experience amazing frame rates in the latest games, realistic HD gaming, and picture-perfect Blu-ray and HD DVD movie capability. Upgrade your video card at the cost of P18,000 – P 20,0oo.

BFG GeForce GTX 295

5.)  Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Even though this was released on October 28, 2007, many still want to play this game. We palahubogs in Cebu may not be wishing to the very latest games, but we know what we want, we want to be rockstars! Yeah!

Game is available in many platforms and price may vary on the console you are using. You may play this game on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac OS X. Price may range from P800 – P1,500.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

6.) iPhone

Belive it or not, there are still many who wants to have an Iphone.  Since July of 2008. Globe Telecom has been the exclusive reseller of the Apple iPhone 3G.

Iphone has countless features that I can’t list them all. Here are just a few of the features listed below.

Landscape Keyboard
Messages
Spotlight Search
Voice Memos
Video
3-Megapixel Camera
Voice Control
Compass
Internet Tethering

Prices:

16GB1 in black or white — from P8,000-P-9,000
32GB1 in black or white — from  P11,000-P-14,000

Apple's Iphone 3G

7.) LG LH70

Well a wishlist is a wishlist. Most of the beer lovers(palahubogs) in Cebu just wanted an enormous HD LCD TV. They probably picked this to watch the next Manny Pacquiao fight on HD. This is what I picked for them.

LH70, the second-generation Scarlet is a full HD LCD TV that combines an ultra-slim form factor with incredible picture quality.

Behind the stylish, new TV’s rounded curves and the scarlet accents from where it gets its name is advanced technology that provides incredibly sharp full HD (1920 x 1080) image quality with LG’s TruMotion 120Hz technology and rich, clear sound.

Price should come around P80,000-P89,000 for this bad boy. Its not too expensive, and not to cheap for its features.

LG LH70 HD LCD TV

From the wishlist I just gathered, most of the beer lovers in Cebu wanted gadgets that were released 1-2 years back. I am not saying these gadget wishlist are old nor obsolete, this just shows that even through a wish, we are being realistic. We don’t want the new and expensive stuff, we are somewhat practical and only ask for what are possibly affordable with our salaries and lifestyle.

Nearly every seven-year-old computer game is considered a fossil. Some manage to keep a few loyal fans but most simply sink to the bottom of the bargain bin. Unlike any other game its age, Starcraft still has deservedly enormous popularity.Its premise is a pretty familiar one: Terran (human confederation), Zerg (bloodthirsty aliens with organic buildings) and Protoss (aliens with psionic abilities) battle each other for resources and galactic domination.

But underneath that familiar scenario is an engaging and complex plot, told through three intertwining campaigns, one for each race.No two races are even somewhat similar; going from Zerg to Terran or Terran to Protoss takes not only relearning units and structures — the player needs to learn entirely different strategies. For example, early attacks by even a couple Protoss Zealots, a basic foot unit, can cripple or even destroy and enemy base, while “Zergling rushes” are a standby for Zerg players. Terran Marines are not half as deadly as Zealots or Zerglings, even in equal or greater numbers, but can be housed in bunkers that give them a better chance for survival.

Terran vs Zerg

Much like other RTS titles, Starcraft starts the player with a base and some harvesting units. Players must gather minerals and Vespene gas to build structures, and from the structures, various combat and support units are produced. All development progresses in a flowchart; after building a Terran barracks, factories can be created. Once the factory is built, star ports become available, etc.The two-dimensional graphics are effective and fast, especially compared to games like Warcraft. Sprites are highly detailed and clean-looking, clearly superior to the 3D models of Starcraft‘s time. Naturally, deaths of organic units are very bloody; slain Terran Marines explode into a pool of blood. Mechanical units’ demises, by contrast, are simple explosions. Destroyed buildings leave rubble which slowly disappears. For the quality of the graphics and all that can occur in a game of Starcraft, the FPS rate stays surprisingly consistent.The only real complaint about graphics is the fixed camera, but there aren’t many ways units can be hidden, so it’s not an abusable flaw.

Terran attacking Zergs

Sound is especially well-executed. The score is a strange mix of rock and orchestral sounds. Voices are convincing; Terran units tend to have either American Southern or Russian accents, while Protoss forces are appropriately ethereal in their speech. Zerg units sound deservedly menacing, and when killed, emit chilling screams. Battles sound absolutely furious, with machine guns rattling, unnerving Zergling battle cries and anti-air missiles screaming through the air toward their targets.What distinguishes Starcraft from similar games, like Warcraft or Command and Conquer, is that the different races aren’t simply graphic variations of one basic building/unit tree; how each race constructs buildings or wages war is different from the other two. Humans can build anywhere and are balanced warriors; Zergs must transform the ground and use larvae to create structures and soldiers, who specialize in frenzied ground combat. Protoss build pylons to power their structures, while their forces are equally deadly in land or air.

Protoss attacking Terrans

Starcraft’s combat is complex and strategic. That’s hardly the case in other games with two groups that are only different in appearance and sound. Starcraft forces the player to weigh many options and strategies, as some plans will work well against one race, but not another. In the middle of a firefight, quick thinking and acting are needed to get the most use out of one’s forces; if Terran siege tanks come under attack by flying units, the tanks cannot defend themselves; Marines or Goliaths must be moved in to take out the aerial threat. Add to that a large number of unique unit types, building abilities, and strategies and it’s easy to see why Starcraft is played by gamers in the thousands on any given day.After playing a couple custom games against the AI, most players will probably crave real opponents. Computer-controlled units will often kill themselves faster than their opponents; slinging a small number of Marines against a horde of Zealots, for instance, and in the process using up precious resources.

Zergs attacking Protoss

Indeed, Starcraft’s multiplayer mode is almost a second highlight of the game, following the single-player campaigns. Friends and strangers can compete on pre-built or custom maps, in team or free-for-all battles with up to seven other human or computer players. Gamers hook up directly or meet through Battle.net, a free online server. Despite its age, Starcraft remains one of the greatest, most popular real-time strategy games ever created.