Stars sizes

1. How would you rank the following according to their size (starting with the smallest): A galaxy, a planet, a star, solar system, a galaxy cluster. Share where you found your information.
2. Which of the objects in #1, if any, are within a 1 light-year radius from Earth? More than 1 light-year, but within 100 light-years?
3. Share one interesting fact or explanation from your readings this week that illustrates the vast size of the universe. Explain why this strikes you as interesting.

(smallest to largest) Diameter
1.) Planet (Earth) Earth's Circumference at the Equator: 24,901.55 miles (40,075.16 km); Earth's Diameter at the Poles: 7,899.80 miles (12,713.5 km); Earth's Circumference Between the North and South Poles: 24,859.82 miles (40,008 km) [1]

2.) Star (Sun) 1,392,000 KM (865,000 MI.) [1]

3.) Solar System Sun to Pluto (dwarf planet) 78.88 AU; Sun to end of Oort Cloud 100,000 AU [1] Oort cloud starts at 50,000 AU AU stands for Earth-Sun distance.
4.) Galaxy 4 billion, 8 thousand, 3 hundred, and 29 miles big or 100,000 lightyears diameter [1][2][3]

5.) local group cluster 3,000 kiloparsecs (10 million light years) diameter [1]

6.) Virgo Cluster (galaxy supercluster) 15 million light years diameter [1]


2.) All the planets or dwarf planets that don’t pass Pluto, and the Sun are all within a light year. I read the true distance of the solar system is 2 light years in distance that includes the comets that orbit the Sun. Other stars within 100 light years include Barnard’s Star, Alpha Centauri, Sirius, Procyon, Tau Ceti, Epsiton Eridani, and Tau Ceti, and 93 other stars. [Universe and Beyond, pg 13, 2004] [1: Greater Distances]

3.) It took until 2002 to upgrade Hubble’s camera to get a blurry glimpse of the first galaxies. The book says that 99% of the universe is invisible (gas and dust) full of dark matter (23%) and dark energy (73%) and 3.4% of other elements. The book also says that the distance between stars is 20 times the Pluto orbit so that’s really far apart. Stars can be as close as 10 AU each other. [Universe and Beyond, pg 99, 110, 2004] This is interesting, because when I think of light years; it took 3-4 minutes for to travel to new star systems in various Star Trek episodes going five or six times light speed per second. Also Alpha Centauri seems very close at 4.4 light years when the average distance between stars is 20 light years. [Universe and Beyond, pg 74, 2004]

Scientists use the Hubble Deep Space Field to see the Andromeda Galaxy. Astronomers reduce the size of space objects to walnuts, cherries, oranges, and peas. If Earth was a dime sized and every other space object was relevant to Earth; it would take minutes to travel to new star systems, and more than a lifetime to travel to new galaxies. The reading also says that the speed of light is 674,533,030 mph and is 5,908,909,342,800 miles total in length. I can see why traveling to other solar systems take that long, because there are billions of star systems in the Milky Way Galaxy. A billion seconds is roughly 31 years, 8 months, 8 days according to my graphical calculator so I won't have seen most of the galaxy before I die even if fictionally I travel to a new star systems every few minutes. The second example I've chosen is a rotating neutron star, also known as a pulsar. Pulsars blink at you, and are easy to discover with a telescope. Stars expel gas and radiation and astronomers can tell the composition by how fast these evaporate. (Universe and Beyond, pg 16 – 18, 2004) (Gino, 2010)
I asked myself when reading the first chapter why scientists scale down the distances to fit in the palm of your hand and using atoms, peas, ping-pong balls to visualize scaled down objects seems crude and my brain refuses to melt. I also like the conversions of light-years and Astronomical Unit (AU) into more recognizable measurements such as miles. Overall, I like the technical jargon explanations over the scaled down references. However, I have found crossing star systems every couple of minutes until traveling to another galaxy in my life time impossible.
This paper explained how astronomers read the cosmos and my personal opinion on the reasons behind it.
References
Dickinson, T. (Ed.). (2004). "A Journey Through Time and Space"
The Universe and Beyond, 4th Edition. (pg 11-19) Canada: Firefly Book, Inc.
Gino, C. (2010). Week 01 - The Universe as We Know It
Retrieved April 9, 2010, from Rasmussen website
http://rasmussen.learntoday.info/section/default.asp?id=SPR10-G239-10

Structure and Function of the Human Body week 10

Answer each of the questions below using information gathered from your readings, lectures, and outside research. You should provide at least a paragraph response for each of the questions.
1. Describe the role of the following organs within the digestive system: stomach, liver, salivary glands, small intestine and gallbladder. Also, describe what complications could occur within the functions of the digestive system if each listed organ was damaged or dysfunctional.

Our digestive system provides the body a means to transfer nutrition from the external environment into the cellular level in order to sustain life.

Salivary glands, controlled by the autonomic nervous system, is located in the oral cavity. It's main role is to secrete saliva in the oral cavity. There are three pairs of salivary glands. Parotoid savary gland lies under the skin on each side of the mandible. These glands secrete amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starches. The parotoid duct implies empties into the vestibile at the level of the second upper molar. The sublingual duct is (located under the tongue) between the mucus membrane of the floor of the mouth and the submandibular duct is located in the floor of the mouth. Both the sublingual and submandibular glands secrete saliva that contains more buffers and mucus. (p. 539-40)

Saliva (mucus) consists of 99.4% water, mucins and an assortments ions, buffers, and waste products and enzymes. The mucines absorbs water and form the mucus. During meal time, the saliva lubricates the mouth along with dissolved chemicals that stimulates the taste buds. The mucus coats the food, and reduces friction making swallowing easier. The continuous flow of saliva also flushes and cleans the oral surfaces while controlling oral bacteria through salivary antibodies (IgA and lysozyme). The pH of saliva during meal time raises from slightly acidic (pH 6.7) to more alkaline (pH 7.5).

Radiation and emotional distress can cause a reduction of salivary secretions. This then can create an unhealthy oral cavity environment due to increased bacteria population. Over time, the complications caused by the decreased salivary secretions are infection and erosion of the teeth and gums. (p.540)


The stomach is another component of the digestive system which is located within the left upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity. It is a muscular J-shaped organ that is positioned inferior of the esophagus and superior to the small intestines. There are four primary functions the stomach has to offer. First, it becomes a temporary storage for ingested food. Food is stored in the stomach while it is physically broken down for chemical digestion. Second, it provides a mechanical means to break down ingested food. The stomach is an area where there is a lot of mixing of the food, so added strength to the muscularis external layer is needed. Instead of two layers in the muscular external, the stomach's has three layers, a longitudinal layer, a circular layer, and an inner oblique layer. Thirdly, it provides an acidic environment that causes a break down of the chemical bonds in food through the actions of acids and enzymes. The pH of 2.0 in the stomach makes the environment acidic. The ingested foods, mixed with stomach's secretion, produces an acidic soupy mixture of partially digested food called chyme. Lastly, the stomach is responsible for the production of the intrinsic factor, a compound necessary for the absorption of vitamin B-12. (p.544)

Gastric ulcers is one complication that can occur in the stomach. Ulcers are caused either bacterium Helicobacter pylori or by medication such as aspirin that irritates the mucus membrane. This irritation causes erosion of the mucus membrane; which either creates an excessive production of acid or an inadequate production of alkaline mucus that defends the epithelium against the acid. Treatment can lean toward a medication such as cimetidine, a drug that inhibits acidity in the stomach, or it can be treated with antibiotics for bacterial infection depending on the cause. Meal time still would include a complete diet, but staying away from high fat, high acidic foods like tomatoes, and spicy foods. In atropic gastritis, there is chronic inflammation in the stomach which produces a lower acid production capability. When this happens, the intrinsic factor is affected , trapping vitamin B12 within the food. People in this case would need to take a vitamin B12 supplement.

The small intestines main function is in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Ninety percent of nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine. The duodenum is the segment in the small intestine that receives chyme from the stomach and digestion secretions from the pancreas. It also contains duodenal glands which secrete alkaline mucus that helps buffer acids in the chyme. The bulk of chemical digestion and nutrient absorption occurs in the jejunum. The small intestines receives and raises the pH of the materials arriving from the stomach. Most of the important digestive processes are completed in the small intestine where the final products of digestion (simple sugars, fatty acids, amino acids) are absorb along with most of the water contents. (p. 548)

Crohn's disease is one complication found in the small intestine. It is a chronic auto-immune inflammatory disorder that occurs in intervals active (flares) disease altering in periods of remission . Treatment varies from special diets, medication like Cortisone and surgery (possible ileostomy). Crohn's disease is not curable. Treatment only covers the symptoms caused by the disease progression. Over time, the inflammation of the small intestine can result in scaring and thickening of the walls of the affected structure. With this disease, absorption of nutrition can lead to difficulties. The inflammation causes damages to the lining of the intestine so that it cannot absorb nutrients, water, and fats from the food eatened. This can result in malnutrition, dehydration, vitamin and mineral deficiencies. (emedicinehealth, 2011)

The liver is an essential part to the digestive process. The liver has three functional roles: metabolic regulation, hematological, and bile production. The basic functional unit of the liver is its 100,00 lobules. Within each lobule there are liver cells called hepatocytes .
In metabolic regulation, the liver's main goal is to regulate the composition of the circulating blood. It does this through the hepatocytes. The hepatocytes extract and absorbed nutrients or toxins from the blood prior to reaching the general circulation. Hepatocytes also monitors/adjusts the circulating levels of organic nutrients. Excesses are removed and stored; while deficiencies are corrected by utilizing stored reserves or synthesizing the necessary compounds. Toxin and metabolic wastes are removes for later inactivation and excretion. Fat-cell vitamins such as A,D,K, and E are absorbed and stored. ( p.555-6)

With hematological regulation, the liver becomes the blood reservoir. As the blood passes through the liver, phagocytes (kupffer ) cells remove spent/or damaged RBCs, debris, and pathogens from the circulation. The hepatocytes synthesizes plasma proteins ( which determines blood's osmotic concentration), transports nutrients, and makeup the clotting and complement systems. ( p.556)

The bile production is derived from the hepatocyte secretions. Bile may either flow into the common bile duct, which empties into the duodenum, or enters into the cystic duct, which leads into the gallbladder. Bile consist of water, ions, bilirubin (pigment from hemoglobin), cholesterol, and bile salts (an assortment of lipids). The bile's water and ions dilute and buffer acids in chyme as it enter the small intestine. The bile salts (synthesized from cholesterol) are required for normal digestion and absorption of fats. Bile breaks down large lipid droplets into smaller lipid particles in order for the digestive enzymes to become more effective. ( p.556)



After revealing the main functions the liver provides, any condition that can damage or make the liver dysfunctional can be life threating to the body. One example is hepatitis which is an inflammation of the liver producing swelling in the liver. There are many virus that can cause hepatitis depending in how it is transmitted, but the main ones are A, B, and C. If left untreated, in some cases hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis which is a progressive degenerate disease that results in the loss of organ/tissue function due to scar tissue. Further progression of the disease could eventually lead to liver failure. Unlike a healthy liver, the liver would not be able fight infection, clean the blood and help digest food and store energy; thus, leaving the body, toxic.

The gallbladder is a hollow pear-shape organ that stores and concentrates bile made in the liver. Bile is secreted continuously (approx1 liter/day); however, it is only release into the common duct to the duodenum when fatty foods enters the digestive tract and through the stimulation of a duodenum's hormone CCK (cholecystokinin). The CCK stimulates contractions in the walls of the gallbladder, releasing the bile into the small intestine. In the absence of CCK, bile leaving the liver through the common duct is redirected into the cystic duct delivering bile into the gallbladder for storage.
The concentration of bile changes its composition while in the gallbladder's storage. Water is absorbed and the bile salts along with other bile components become increasing concentrated. Sometimes bile salts become too concentrated through stasis (due to no-fat diet) or infection which alters the ratio of bile salts and water content, forming gallstones. ( pg.550, 556-7)

Gallstones can be a complication of the gallbladder. Gallstones can develop when bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts, or when the gallbladder does not completely empty or emptied enough. Most people are unaware they have a problem. If a person is asymptomatic, no treatment necessary. Only those with sever discomfort or repeated attacks from gallstones receive treatment. This usually requires surgery for removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). People can live without their gallbladder because bile is made continuously and the gallbladder is just a reservoir for bile. If any change in life style it would be in diet (low-fat) and frequently of meals. (mayoclinic.com, ) ( p.557)


Explain how the small intestine’s anatomy is geared to increase surface area. Why is increased surface area important in the small intestine?

The length of the small intestine is approximately 20 feet long. The intestinal lining consist of transverse folds (plicae circulares) composed of multitude of finger like projections called villi.
These structures are covered with simple columnar epithelium that are covered with microvilli, in other words the epithelium looks like bristles on a hair brush. If the small intestine was smooth and simple , the total absorption area would be about 3.6 feet long. Instead, the small intestine is composed of multiple arrangement of the intestinal wall, which consist of plicae circulares layered with villi; villi is layered with epithelium; epithelium that is layered with microvilli; thus makes the total increase absorption area approximately 2,200 feet.


3. Describe the role of each of the four layers in the stomach including the mucus cells and parietal cells of the mucosa layer.

The four layers of the stomach are the mucosa layer, submucosa layer, muscularis externa, and serosa layer.
The mucosa layer of the stomach is the inner lining consisting of mucosal (glandular secreted) membrane that is composed of simple columnar epithelium dominated by mucus cells. The role of these mucus cells this is to secrete alkaline mucus that covers and protects epithelial cells from acids, enzymes, and abrasive material. Gastric pits are shallow depressions open onto the gastric surface. The mucus cells at the base of each gastric pit divide and replace the superficial cells of the mucus epithelium which is then shed into the chyme. The gastric pit corresponds with the gastric glands which secrete the gastric juice. The cells that produce the components of the gastric juice as the parietal cells. The parietal cells secrete the intrinsic factor and hydrochloric acid. The intrinsic factor is needed to facilitate the absorption of Vitamin B-12 across the intestinal lining. The hydrochloric acid lowers the pH of the gastric juices which keeps the stomach pH contents at approximately 2. The acidity of the stomach kills micro organisms, helps break down plant cell walls, and connective tissues in meat and also activates the enzyme secretions of the chief cells. The main purpose of chief cells is the production of the enzyme pepin (a protein digesting enzyme) Within both the mucosa and sub-mucus are distinct ridges or folds called rugae. The folds increase the surface area for absorption and permits expansion (flattens out) for food. Ducts between the rugae opens onto the epithelial surface and carries the gastric glands that secrete digestive juices.

The sub-mucosa layer is the second layer that is composed loose connecting tissue which contain large blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerve fibers( sensory neurons and parasympathetic motor neurons). Its main role is in controlling and coordinating contraction of the smooth muscle layers and in regulating secretion.
Muscularis externa makes up the third layer of the stomach. This layer consist of bands of smooth muscle cells which contains a longitudinal layer, a circular layer, and an inner oblique layer. These three portions of the muscularis externa provides strength and assists in the mixing and churning essential to forming chyme.

The serosa layer (visceral peritoneum) covers the outer surface of the stomach. It has no role except to stabilize the stomach in the peritoneal cavity.

4. We discussed the endocrine role of the pancreas when we studied the endocrine system but it has an exocrine role within the digestive system. Please explain what type of dysfunction would occur if the pancreas didn’t secrete its pancreatic juices. What type of dysfunction would occur if someone had to have their gallbladder removed?

The pancreas is primary an exocrine organ that produces digestive buffers and enzymes. The four enzymes: carbohydrases (digest surgars and starches), lipases (break down lipids), nucleases (break down nucleic acids), and proteases (break protein apart). Specific enzymes are the pancreatic amylase (breaks down carbohydrates), pancreatic lipase (group of nucleases and several proteases), and trypsin and chymotrypsin are all part of the proteases enzymes Proteases accounts for 70% of the enzyme production. The main buffer is sodium bicarbonate which increases the pH of the chyme. (pg 552-553)

If the pancreas becomes dysfunctional, these pancreatic and enzymes would be missing in the duodemum. Inadequate digestion would take place. Your sugars, starches, fats, and proteins would be incompletely digested, because of the missing enzymes. In pancreatitis, inflammation occurs from blockage of excretory ducts, bacterial infection, or drug reaction (alcohol), This can cause injury in the exocrine cells. The lysosomes within the damaged cells then activated the pancreatic enzyme which attack the normal pancreatic cells and there is a chain reaction which produces destruction. In most cases, with treatment, this can be reversed/stopped. However, there are a few cases where this auto-digestion continues and destroys the organ. In that case, two conditions result: diabetes mellitus that requires insulin and nutrient malabsorption where oral pancreatic enzymes need to be taken. (pg 563)

In the case of the gallbladder, people can live without their gallbladder, because the only function of the gallbladder is a reservoir for bile from the liver. Bile will continue the flow into the small intestines without a problem. It might be a little more or less depending on the food quantity and substance.


5. What is the importance of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)? Carbohydrate metabolism is our body’s main source of ATP production. Explain where carbohydrate metabolism occurs in the cell, what additional “ingredient” is needed and what waste product is produced in this process.
The primary function of ATP is the transfer energy from one location to another, not the long term storage of energy. The energy a cell produces in the form of ATP supports cell growth division, contraction, secretion, and all functions that vary from cell to cell and tissue to tissue. Cells in the body generate most ATP through aerobic (oxygen-required) metabolism in the mitochondria ;however,the initial steps occur through glycolysis (anaerobic -with out oxygen) in the cystosol of the cytoplasm. Oxygen is the key ingredient needed in mitochondria energy production. Aerobic (oxygen) metabolism in the mitochondria provide most (95%) of the energy needed to keep cells alive. Most of the energy deriving from carbohydrates are produced in the mitochondria. Energy is stored and transferred in a high energy bond of ATP in order to move from place to place. The by-product of areobic metabolism is carbon dioxide. Glycolysis involves enzymatic steps that breakdown glucose to pyruvic acid molecules. These molecules are then absorbed by the mitochondria. Glycolysis (anarobic) can also continue to provide ATP when the oxygen availability is limited for mitochondrial production. This usually occurs during the body's peak activity, such in the case of a long distance runner. The body cannot provide enough O2 to maintain the metabolism in the metochondria. This the time where glycolysis becomes the prime source for ATP. (p.77, 210, 577)
References
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/crohn_disease/article_em.htm#Crohn%27s%20Disease%20Overview
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gallstones/DS00165/DSECTION=causeshttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gallstones/DS00165/DSECTION=causes

Resonance of Fate review

 

Resonance of Fate takes you deep into the distant future. The climate appears more than once and failed so the earth as good as dead. All that remains is a huge complex. This complex, also known as Basel, purifies the toxic heavy air. This is the only place on Earth where there is clean air, everyone living in and around this big pile shaped building. The air is the purest gut oven, so the class is re-inserted. The richest living above in the "candlestick", while the poorest live close to the drill. The air there is still moderately toxic, so the people are a kind of mutants. Cover this with a steampunk sauce and you have a picture of life in Resonance of Fate.

You'll be in the shoes of a group of bounty hunters creep. Vasheron, Zephyr and Leanne are residents of the fourth floor of Basel and is known as bounty hunters, but actually put them mainly in Basel and to save mankind. They all have their strengths and complement each other well. They can also quite funny, because during the story you will enjoy a joke more than once heard coming from their mouths. The game will also focus only on these three characters, so you will not during the game to unlock other characters. This in itself is good, because if you see the characters grow throughout the game. You also get a stronger bond with the characters, which is good.

During the game you will be mainly concerned with the main missions. This will be quite some time-consuming, allowing the playing of the game is very high. You can also always some zijmissies that make the play more inflating. Besides missions will still be busy with other things. For example, your game world from some kind of board. The majority is inaccessible and there than you can build paths through hexes, a kind of tiles. This is very funny and also forces you to occasionally zijgevechten what to enter in order to unlock hexes. Furthermore you will also need to upgrade your weapons. This is done by parts to make or buy your own gun and place. This is nice, but visually you notice little or nothing.

The combat system is rather unique. Most RPGs focus on swords and the like. This does not Resonance of Fate. You only can use guns. There is a distinction between small arms and machine guns. Machine guns do because "scratch damage '. This means that no direct damage is done. It weakened as it were the opponent, because if you it with a handgun hits, it takes more remarkable damage to endure. The battle itself is not really turn based. You can control a character and his time is up or move is done, then you immediately with the next character to work. The enemies do not wait, so it may be that you're in the middle of your action strikes your very move which failed.

This is not the only special thing about the combat system. So you can still Hero moves and execute a Tri-Attack. If you run a Hero move, your character will walk to a certain point. While he is doing this, you can shoot and much, much more you can barely hit the enemy. This move is very essential if you want to win. You can not just execute him. Every time you move out or a Hero when you hit, you lose a Bezel Shard. If it on, then you might as well pack up. Your characters will indeed be very gepanikeerd get and can barely fight. You have to see that you always keep a Bezel Shard. This earn back through monsters to hit very good or killing them.

The Tri-Attack is the most powerful attack in the game. If you run it correctly, then all characters a certain area which attacks the enemy that there is a lot of damage. It sounds much easier than it is. You have had a sufficient resonance point. This gives you a Hero by which you move the file between your two other characters run. Then you see all the characters stand around in a triangle on the enemy. If all else fails, you can perform the move. However, this is very difficult, making it long before you move through it. You do not get tutorial or similar. You need to figure out where the manual is and we encourage you to thoroughly through it, because as you note, the combat system is very entertaining but also very complex.

Graphically the game performs moderately. The environment is very original and the steampunk atmosphere is really good. This captures the mediocre quality part, but it could have done much better. During the fighting seems slightly better graphics quality, especially during a move or a Hero Tri-Attack. Yet we regularly disturbed graphic weaknesses and the quality of the cut scenes or the hair of some characters that looked like a cheap wig. The emotions of the characters are usually lost, which harms the atmosphere. Yet the quality is not bad, but the current graphics quality of games like God of War III or Uncharted 2 will soon feel your frustrations arise.

The audio is not perfect. Fortunately, you can also choose to put voices in Japanese, but the voice acting is not really credible. So your character will occasionally evident in panic, while the tone of voice suggests that he is bored with it. On the soundtrack and background we were again very satisfied. These fit very well in each case relating to the situation and may well reinforce any sense. It will not prevent you a lot of quiet time to come, because there will always be a cog turning a pipe or steam jet.

Resonance of Fate combines a fun and original story with a great combat system. The fact that you always play with guns is something different. The learning curve is long and difficult, so many gamers will be discouraged to play this game. If you finally battle system under your belt, you will find that resonance of Fate very entertaining and addictive. The game takes the top level, but you can reassure him a very good sub-topper call!

Assassin's Creed II review

 One after another came out and hit the PlayStation 3 games of poor remained fairly limited. The end of the year is approaching and at the last minute are always a few super hits from. Similarly, Assassin's Creed II, the highly anticipated sequel to the successful Ubisoft game from two years ago. Assassin's Creed II, we can also credited to the list of toppers of 2009? Something tells me so!

In Assassin's Creed II we make a leap in time to the fifteenth century we see Ezio Auditore born. Ezio is a new character gives way to Altair and after we have seen that he was born, we make a leap in time where Ezio a mature guy. His father holds an important role in Florence and Ezio is the man who many chores for his father. Until one day an important change takes place and Ezio sees his family die. This brings a turning point in his life and he changed into a gentleman assassin to avenge his grief. It is however different and as the story progresses and you're in the game longer, you grow into one of the most feared assassin of Italy match.

As you probably already knew, this time playing the game takes off in Italy during the Renaissance, and this provides many beautiful locations. Thus begins your adventure in Florence, but soon you'll proceed to get to Italy and Tuscany, Venice and many more places. The reason you'll go visit some cities is its great story, because Ezio is not just a willekeurig character, his life in a changed repeatedly. No, he is a descendant of none other than Altair and all through the genes of Desmond Miles led. The story in this game, we will not reveal too much about, is one of the key elements.

The previous section contained a strong story and part two is on very strong way involved in the story from the previous section and also in a future section. While you play with him and Ezio you next mission for the story too many other things. Eventually you come to the conclusion that all this belongs to a much larger, overall story, and you do not play Altair, but Ezio makes it only more exciting than it already is. The whole story is therefore only really understand if you've played out all the previous part. If you have not, then you may have several questions.

The way the story is presented and how to get from one situation to another landed all feels so natural and realistic that it will interest almost everyone. Nice extra detail than that during your ride all kinds of famous and infamous buildings come from the Middle Ages. Your history to brush we recommend you also to all information to read, informative addition to what's also a fun way to doing so. In some buildings you come next to the appropriate historical facts too many things at once that back in proportion with the characters in the game and the story.

Ubisoft has in terms of filling the whole setting very much work and thus comes with a very deep whole. First, the story is obviously very interesting, besides you get a good idea about the background of Ezio and his family, and a person known as Leonardo da Vinci. Then there are the cities which all have their own style. The cities look great and are elaborated in detail, also feels very alive to. On the streets everywhere guards around and between the guards you'll find a lot of people. One is a box to the drag, the other resting on a bench, another is talking to a bunch more. Then there are the whores you see on almost every street corner, find, and thieves.

We can go on with various components that make up the vibrant whole. All in all, you will not be obvious that Ubisoft has spared no effort to each city, which is unique in itself, its own identity. This continues the design, structure and atmosphere in each city noticeable presence. The cities are next to a solid design and great liveliness even is interesting enough hours to wander around. An example is Venice. Everyone knows the San Marco Square, this is a location where nearly everyone has ever been or still want to go. On top of the tower climbing is in reality impossible, but then you do that anyway in the game?

It's all so well replicated that as a player being a good idea of how everything looked and looks. Venice is over the years in terms of structure is not particularly changed. In addition to many different cities, you can also visit famous sites a lot of other things. As you progress you unlock more and more different things for each city to play. So you can go to work as assassins, but on behalf of a citizen. A race and do this the best time of the Challenger crash during a free-running session hang or courier. Everything is possible and these are solid side-quests, which diehard player surely all want to do.

Also, the things to look back. Scattered throughout the city you come from springs, it can collect. On all 100 cities are scattered feathers, and if you find them all, this has a positive effect on your income. In addition, the famous lookouts back, which is usually located on high towers and from there you can jump the dead run, we all know from the original. In terms of additional jobs and things to do in the cities there is enough entertainment. You are therefore quickly ten hours trying to complete everything that stands apart from all the missions for the story, whatever you soon one hour or three p.m. to eight p.m. costs.

The game, as you can read a lot of different things which contribute to a very solid play. You'll undoubtedly the game dozens of hours continue playing because of the many things to do, what we also like to bring the big question, which constantly hovered around this title. The original terms of gameplay was pretty repetitive and Ubisoft Montreal, the developer, realized that things had to. Several times they gave it to listen to the public and the great fear of the fans was that big words were. We can hereby say that Ubisoft has been able to develop a varied game.

Of course there are always things back, but nowhere have we really had the feeling that we are constantly doing the same and that will only benefit the game. The gameplay is next to all the main missions during missions also good ranging and extremely entertaining. Of course you complete the many missions primarily through free-run and fight, but the goals of the missions are all different and sometimes you have to take a lot of preparation for one of the major opponents to lay, this is all translated into missions and this is the game quite as good.

Also on long missions, we can keep on talking, but it seems pretty clear. The story, the missions and the different cities, it's all put together with love and the greatest weakness of the previous part we have also managed to work another way. You would expect this game in every way superior to the previous section. Now this is in many cases not true. However, there are in this game a few elements that I did while playing pretty disturbing. Climbing and scrambling. Yes, that is back in the game as "free running" and part two is quite sophisticated. Ezio climbs without too much trouble and it is especially pretty smoothly.

Besides the standard climbing and clambering work learn at some point a new move, which you just can reach higher places and that is very useful. But here is a disturbing moment and that is that the game very often not quite do what I wanted. Now of course the person behind the console that the controller down, and in fact totally in control. That is certainly so in this game, but it is unfortunately often the case that you just sends the wrong here which means you can do again climbed piece. Additionally, the game itself sometimes Ezio send the wrong direction. This can be pretty frustrating at times, especially when extensive climbing puzzles.

Fortunately, this problem does overshadowed by many factors strongly stabbing each other or very good improvement compared to the previous section. Another important element is the fight. Now the fighting never really very thorough and in part two has not changed much crazy. It mainly comes down to is that you're blocking it at the right moment to perform a counter attack. The weapons used are quite varied, but much different effect does not stop there. The challenge you to do and usually goes on just fine, nevertheless it is not too deep and various weapons might eventually do something nog be further explored.

Spoken about weapons: with more depth, we mean mainly that some weapons far more effective than these eyes are actually in the game. The fights are thus somewhat monotonous and just more depth to various weapons to the battle system was also able to go deeper. The game has many weapons and a number of these are new. So you can now work with a gun, which was invented by Leonardo da Vinci, also is the hidden blade further upgraded. Unlike the previous section has two Ezio hidden blade, both of which sit on his wrists. This can eliminate two enemies at a time. This extension is very great and is ideal for stealth kills. The gun is very nice, but is limited and primitive. It will not replace the swords and knives in the game, but is a good addition.

Broadly includes Assassin's Creed II are still some points of attention to be paid, but this is all in the proper shade of the huge amount of positive elements. Looking at the game here is generally quite short, we can see are: Assassin's Creed II is one of the best games of 2009. So yes, we can credited to our list of best sellers! This is mainly due to the very extensive and entertaining gameplay. Additionally, the game is visually very strong, only the cut scenes are pretty poor quality and graphical glitches are a bit of a waste. The audio is also called sublime. All the characters talk with an Italian accent and the music is wonderful to mention. Is there anything negative about Assassin's Creed II to notice? No. Time to conclude so.

Assassin's Creed II is a game in almost every way much better if the previous section. The repetitive gameplay from the original as snow before the sun disappeared and the main missions you will have to play one after the other. This yields a running time of fifteen to twenty hours. There is also plenty to people to do so, Assassin's Creed II yields more than thirty hours of gameplay. The audio is very good to call and visually it looks very respectable. It's a shame the cut scenes, but when we look at the cities that are all so lively and charming eyes, then you will have some flaws quickly behind you. Assassin's Creed II was a successful follow-up and everyone was great the previous section, this finding even more fun. This game we can really recommend!

Graphics 9
Sound 9.5
Gameplay 9.0
Replay value 9.0

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing review

 Any self-respecting gamer would really need to know the history of SEGA. In 1952 moved from America to Japan in 1983 as a console on the market. Almost twenty years later would learn that Sega unfortunately they have no place in hardware. Yet it is precisely this period of extreme importance for SEGA, for it gave them the opportunity to develop their own games and a large number of game characters to create. Anno 2010 SEGA used many characters from that period for games like Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

SEGA character known as the longstanding Sonic The Hedgehog, but this speed demon is the pace a bit. The latest Sonic games were not successful and Sonic seems to be beneficial to profiling on the part of Nintendo's Mario. SEGA was that something had to change and a new 2D Sonic game has been in the making. The Japanese publisher had also understood that the Sonic on the side of popular game characters doing very well. The portfolio of popular game characters enough houses SEGA and Sonic & Sega All-Stars are almost all together. ... In a simple kart game.

The average twenty overs has previously managed to entertain with Mario Kart and the younger generation (plus grandparents) can now do on the Nintendo Wii. The concept of a kart game is quite simple. A lot of funny characters against each other to race on circuits and they are often too short to fight while racing with useful power-ups. We can already tell you that Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing the basic concept of a kart game has performed well. In order to make child-friendly game is chosen for an intense and bright color pattern and there is nothing wrong with that. That is why we are not too long on the graphics, because with a child-friendly stamp everyone understands how the game looks.

Graphically, the game is really okay, but the game must have other factors such as gameplay, high function and last stop should be enough supply. Since the game for younger gamers interested should remain there for an easy drive selected. With the momentum we bring R2 and L2 it is possible to drift cornering. Somehow it is also possible to brake, but that is not needed in Sonic & All-Star Racing. You just fast enough to go around the track and drives fills your boost meter, so with a push to increase the speed significantly knows. The fun factor comes into the picture in the form of power-ups.

As a kart game actually supposed to do, there are powerups to be found on the tracks. When you do a power up to get it is to hope you get a good because you get this fact randomly assigned. Boxing gloves and firing of rockets into traffic cones and a power up so you can totally disorient an opponent. After a few races you know what power-ups are most useful and you get to know the best power-ups you can use in certain situations. In second position you hope to missiles, so you still have a chance to be first in first position you hope to one beschermingsbal, so you're safe from attacks.

In the field of graphics, gameplay and fun factor cross SEGA & Sonic All-Stars Racing very solid together, but scored the game quite a lot of points in range. The fun of this game is that it does nothing special, but above the offer has managed to perfect. The single-player modes, four houses, which the Grand Prix mode. This is then subdivided into three difficulty levels and each level of difficulty has six competitions in four races. That you're just as sweet, but you might also like Missions mode. It contains varying challenges and we see this more often in games. Sonic & SEGA Racing All-Stars are, however, sixty-four challenges waiting for you and that will take some time to complete all.

Time Trails we see often in racing games, but in this game they do it just right. On each track you can drop a lap time and lap times will then go to online leaderboards. It is also possible to race against the developers, as they have in advance on all tracks put down a time and gives great satisfaction to a faster time to put down. Not that faster times to be difficult, because it must be child-friendly stay. The single player has plenty to offer, but while we can still add to the multiplayer options. Four players split screen? Check. Eight players online? Check.

It's all pretty much, but you get something in return. Every race you've driven or challenge that you've managed to achieve makes you SEGA Miles. It looks a bit like road pricing, but without it going to cost you anything, because you get very much money (points) assigned. SEGA Miles have to spend in the store-specific and this makes us very different to Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing to go look. In the beginning there are already quite a few games playable characters such as Sonic, Tails, Billy Hatcher, Amigo and Dr.. Eggman. With SEGA Miles will get the option of eight playable characters to twenty. You simply can include Knuckles, Ulala, Alex Kidd and Ryo Hazuki buy.

Twenty classic SEGA characters we feel very nice and they also all have different cars to race. Yet they are also not all car because Tails and Shadow fly rides a motorcycle. In any case, well balanced and it will depend more on personal preference which character you choose. The differences can sit him in Speed, Acceleration, Handling, and Turbo Boost. Sonic have scheurijzer example is not even really fast but his Turbo Boost is damn good. Sonic is therefore possible to be good instincts and thus increased use of turbochargers. Amigo his car has been fairly slow, but the controls it is a lot easier.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing to keep the graphics and gameplay area is very child friendly, but knows how to score a lot of the significant range. A large part (12 characters, 16 tracks and 32 songs), however, you obtain through the exchange of SEGA Miles. This keeps the game for a very long time have a purpose, because everything is worth it to unlock. If you stand on your own no more than is possible with three friends to share your screen or else there are seven other gamers online waiting for you. Sonic & SEGA Racing All-Stars did well to entertain us and this calls for half and part with more than SEGA game characters!

Graphics 8
Gameplay 8
Sound 8
Replay value 8