Treon's Realm Launches Invader Zim: Voot of Doom

Invader Zim: Voot Of Doom

Treon's Realm is proud to bring you its very first game, Voot of Doom.  I have wanted to design games for a very long time and a variety of factors have always stopped me from completing this task.  This year, I bit the bullet and got my first title done.  This is a soft launch so while I work on getting a host site for the game, I will be offering the game for free via e-mail.  Simply contact me: dave@treonsrealm.com and I will e-mail you a copy of the game, it is a small 8 megabyte file.  Any feedback about the game is welcome.

Treon's Game of the Week - Quake Live

First Person Shooters are one of of the greatest gaming experiences when gaming on a computer.  The mouse and keyboard control offers sublime control with the Nintendo Wii offering the next best option for FPS's.  When it comes to first person shooter's, few are as legendary as Quake.  In a brilliant move, Quake III Arena is now available to play online anywhere via your web browser for free in the form of Quake Live.  It's lightning fast and hella fun!  It's playable on Windows, Linux and Mac OS in almost all of the major Web Browsers.  To get started, head over to QuakeLive.com and sign up for a free account then get fragging!

Play Quake Live Now!

Treon's Game of the Week - Synopsis Quest Deluxe

Synopsis Quest is best described as a Role Playing Game for people with ADD.  Your objectives are simple, use the clue at the beginning of each stage to solve the quests which earns you a crown.  The controls use the arrow keys and space bar which keeps things simple and to the point.   The stages are able to be completed in a few seconds but you will often have to retry multiple times because the obvious choice is not always the right choice.  It's a great throwback for people who grew up on classic RPG's like Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy.   My only real complaint would be the lag when using the arrow keys but it's a small complaint for such a fun and unique game.  Nintendo would be wise to license this for the next Warioware game and turn it into a full fledged Nintendo DS title.  Enjoy!

Play Synopsis Quest Deluxe Now!

Free Software You Can't Live Without Vol. 6 - Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox

When it comes to surfing the web, Firefox is king.  Each of the major internet browsers on the market have a hook and mange to fill a niche but none of them manage to have the combination of features that Firefox does.  The one thing that Firefox does better than any other browser is customization, you can literally make this program do ANYTHING you want because of the slick plug-ins available.  These plug-ins cover just about anything you could possibly need from a web browser and keeps it very simple to use regardless of your operating system which makes this an excellent program for making the switch from Windows to Linux.  The only real issue I've seen is some occasional issues when using some of the plug-ins in conjunction with Facebook games.  A minor quibble and I find that Google's Chrome browser is a fine companion to Firefox if you ever run into an issue such as this.  A final note to the true nerds out there, you can tweak the code of Firefox to maximize its performance which is just plain awesome.  Simply put, if you have a computer and surf the web, you NEED to have this installed on your machine as your default browser.  Especially since it's free.

Download Firefox Now! - 100% Free!!

Treon's Game of the Week - Pac-Match Party

What do you get when you mix a classic gaming icon with one of the most addicting puzzle games ever created?  Pac-Match Party!  A blend of Pac-man and Bejeweled officially produced by Namco, released for free to play on the web, Pac-Match Party is an addictive little puzzle game for the iPhone (For Purchase) and online browser (Free to play).  This is one aspect of game development for the iPhone that I really enjoy because the games are often free to play online through your computer and then pull in a profit for the development team through Apple's download service for their portable machines.  As a fan of video games, I am excited to see how new content evolves and is delivered to the broadest audience while still offering the developers a valid avenue for earning the money they deserve.  But I digress, please play and as always, Enjoy!

Play Pac-Match Party Now!

Guild Wars Takes Out Cheaters With Style

Guild Wars is one of the better MMO's out there and has managed to beat the odds stacked against most other MMO's.  It has a certain style that sets it apart from the likes of World of Warcraft in both its gameplay as well as its community.  The team over at ArenaNet has decided to take out cheater's and bots in the game in a very entertaining way for the rest of the legit player's.  Instead of simply banning the 3,700+ accounts in the background like most MMO's, Guild Wars shows its style by unleashing an absolutely bad-ass Grimm Reaper (Pictured to the left) into the game to officially kill the player.  Say what you will but considering that Guild Wars is over 5 years old and the developers continue to insert these small touches for free is a testament to the passion and drive of the ArenaNet team.  Thank you ArenaNet and we look forward to Guild Wars 2.

Treon's Game of the Week - CANABALT

This week's game is CANABALT, a very addictive game for both the PC and iPhone.  The PC version has a typing tutor edition that will allow you to bone up on your typing skills.  Control options include Keyboard, Mouse and Typing Tutor Edition.  The levels are randomly generated which gives this simple running game near infinite replay value.  Your objective is to simply hall ass through the levels and try to stay alive as long as possible.  Your character runs automatically leaving you free to focus on jumping and dodging obstacles.  The presentation is simplistic but oddly cinematic  with its widescreen presentation and backgrounds that seem to be telling a story during your escape.  Enjoy this addictive title and be sure to check out Bit. Trip Runner on the Nintendo's Wiiware service.

Play CANABALT Now!

Free Gold N' Fly (Goldeneye N64) Soundtrack!

When you think of the N64 classic Goldeneye, rap music is not the first thing that springs to mind but your in for a surprise when you listen to Gold N' Fly.  Hip-hop music producer Alex Kresovich has taken the soundtrack from Goldeneye for the N64 and mixed them with a variety of famous rap songs from artists such as T.I., Wu-Tang Clan and Busta Rymes.  It's impressive and serves to introduce gamers to a form of music they may not be familiar with.  I would highly recommend a download and I'm sure you'll find at least a couple songs to enjoy.

Download Gold N' Fly Now!

Treon's Game of the Week - Obechi

A couple weeks ago I posted about a fun little game called Boomshine.  From the creators of that gem comes Obechi.  Obechi works on a similar level as Boomshine but takes the challenge up a notch or two.  Once again, keeping things simple works in Obechi's favor making it a blast for quick, simple play sessions.  Enjoy and share!

Play Obechi Now! 

Films That Will Change Your Life - The Cove

There's a reason The Cove won the Academy Award for Best Documentary, it has a powerful and lasting impression without being too preachy.  Until this film came along, I had no idea how much mercury is in our seafood.  I  also had no idea how brutal a human being could be to a species that is most likely more evolved and intelligent than us.  With the current man made disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, this film holds even more relevance when talking about man's brutality on the environment.  This is a must watch and must share.

The Cove Official Website

Treon's Game of the Week - Space Paranoids

If you're a gamer, Tron no doubt holds a place in your heart and with good reason.  Decades ahead of its time, Tron was a telling look at how people would literally be consumed by video games.  It may have that classic 80's touch but you can't deny its relevance when you look at things such as World of Warcraft and the life sucking Facebook and it's many games.  With the impending release of Tron Legacy later this year, the website Flynn Lives has brought us the excellent Space Paranoids from the first film in web browser form.  After a quick install of the Unity Player for your web browser, you can play this for free.  The game, while simple in concept, shows a remarkable layer of strategy for a game design close to 30 years old.

Play Space Paranoids Now!

Free Game Music! (Tommy Tallarico Albums)

Whether you know the name Tommy Tallarico or not, his impact on video game music can be felt everywhere.  He is a game music composer with titles such as Maximo, Earthworm Jim and Advent Rising under his belt but one of his most important contributions is Video Games Live.  VGL is a concert presentation of some of the most amazing game music ever produced and best of all, it's performed by a full symphony orchestra. If you enjoy video games at all, this music will resonate with you on a very core level, it's that good.  Head on over to his site and check out some free downloads Tommy has posted of his older albums.  Enjoy!

Tommy Tallarico Albums

Treon's Game of the Week - Boomshine

Relaxing, calm and addictive as hell!  Boomshine takes the minimalist approach but succeeds on many levels.  Much like Tetris, this game is perfectly suited for introducing your mom to video games due to its simple, non threatening gameplay.  You can easily pop this on for minutes at a time and have a blast.  Here's the concept in a nutshell: aim your mouse cursor, click to detonate as many of the floating balls as possible.  Enjoy and be sure to share with your friends and family.

PLAY BOOMSHINE!

Remain Patient and Learn Your Baby

Newborns cry, it’s a simple fact of life but very often this crying can be traced to a few select sources.  As a new father, it is very easy to get frustrated with your newborn baby because of how helpless they are.  Women generally have a sixth sense about these things but there are times when mom is busy and you have to take charge of the situation.  With this in mind, I have created a super quick checklist that you can reference when the baby starts wailing.

• Check the diaper (Newborns pee and crap all the time and will often not give any indication)
• The need to feed (Babies need/want to feed roughly every 1.5-3 hours)
• Check for gas (Burping and farting are very common in newborns and it causes them a great deal of discomfort until it is expelled)
• The need for contact (Babies are accustomed to warmth, motion and sound so expect them to crave this same stimuli once born)

When your faced with a crying baby, take a moment to collect yourself and run down this list eliminating each possibility.  It is true that other factors such as colic can be an issue but under normal circumstances, this list will work like a charm.  Commit this to memory and always remain calm, a baby can sense your frustration and will negatively react to it.

Making A Change For You And Your Family

I was 26 before I met my wife and I lived in a typical bachelor manner.  My diet consisted of Hot Pockets, Pizza and cereal which is pretty typical for a single guy.  I avoided the doctor (I still do but for an entirely different reason).  My roommates consisted of friends from school and college and I was comfortable with this setup.  My relationship was very different from the “typical relationship” and allowed me to maintain this lifestyle for a couple more years with few changes.

As time went on, I began to think about what I wanted to change in my life and taking better care of myself was pretty high on the list.  My wife never pushed or “trained” me to make this change, it was something I wanted to start so I could be around longer for her.  Changing for someone else and not yourself rarely works and if it does take, it’s usually doomed to fail.

Examples of change:
New/Altered Diet: This is one of the best options for trying out change but you have to really be willing to go for it to see any success.  Try small things like switching to less meat or more greens and slowly transition new, healthier foods into your diet while removing ones that are worse for you.

Less Television: TV is a black hole that will make time disappear quicker than anything. Sitting down to watch a show or movie with the family is fine but try to avoid mindless channel surfing on days off or after work.  Try to substitute TV with music or a more active type of video game (The Nintendo Wii was designed for this exact situation).  Music will allow you to get other things done and active video games help get you off the couch and get the body moving.

Splitting the workload: The idea that the woman is “supposed” to take care of housework is an old and dated concept that got planted into the male brain through family and pop culture.  Wipe this from your mind and start splitting the workload.  Try these:

• If she normally cooks dinner, why don’t you clean the dishes.  She will appreciate the help and it will give her a chance to relax.

• If she is specific about how the laundry is done, try separating the dark & light loads and moving them into the laundry room for her.

These are all very basic changes but they can go a long way in positively affecting you and your family.  Many men will hit a groove and avoid making changes because we like our “comfort zones” and don’t want change. This will probably be the biggest challenge when attempting most changes so keep it simple and small. Decide on one thing to change and stick with it for a month. Odds are, it will become habit and allow you to try another change. QUICK TIP: If you find it difficult to remember what you want to change, leave notes in frequently viewed areas (such as your computer desktop or wallet) to remind yourself on a constant basis. This has helped me immensely.

Treon's Game of the Week - One Button Bob

It doesn't get much more basic than this.  One Button Bob is a game controlled entirely with the left mouse button.  If you've played a Warioware game, then you'll be familiar with this style of game where the controls are super simple but it's a blast to play.  Featuring charming Atari retro graphics with a catchy background tune, One Button Bob challenges you to make it through increasingly difficult challenges with as few button clicks as possible.  You have unlimited lives which only serves to push you onto the next screen.  Give it a try, it's perfect for a quick fix.

Play One Button Bob Now!

Films That Will Change Your Life - Food, Inc.

Food, Inc. is a documentary that is so powerful, it will change the way you look at what you eat.  You may think you have a good beat on what's good for you but you'll find that you're way off.  The film does a great job of covering a lot of important issues ranging from corn subsidies to genetically modified crops to issues with meat production.  I can't recommend this film enough and I urge everyone to view it and then share it with everyone they can.

Become a fan of Food, Inc. on Facebook
Watch "The Truth about Food, Inc."

Free Software You Can't Live Without Vol. 5 - Audacity

Audacity

Audio editing can be expensive and confusing.  Many people have wasted lots of time and money when it comes to editing audio files on computer when they don't need to.  Audacity has stepped up to offer a free and powerful solution that works on Windows, Linux and Mac.  While it may not offer all of the tools and options of the expensive professional programs, it will take care of the average audio users needs.  Need to make a Podcast?  How about cutting down a song for a YouTube video?  Audacity has got your back and its versatility makes it a must have program on your desktop.  Head over to the site and download and if you find that you use it for all of your major audio needs, don't forget the donate.

Download Audacity Now!

Treon's Game of the Week - Mario Paint Composer

Mario Paint was a fun little mini program/game for the Super Nintendo back in the 90's but it was too limited to really stand the test of time.  The team over at unFun Games took the music creation portion of Mario Paint and built Mario Paint Composer which could be considered both a game and a utility.  You can now create full length songs with a deeper palette of sounds with the ability to save your creations.  The program works for Mac as well as Windows and it's 100% free.  Click on the link below and check out this freebie.

Download Mario Paint Composer

How To Save Money When Having A Child

There’s a LOT of extra unnecessary costs associated with having a child.  Many people think they are bad parents if they don’t spend a ton of money on every class, book and device to help with having a child.  Truth is, billions of people for thousands of years have been having children and guess what, the human race is still here.  All sarcasm aside though, America’s capitalism shines through when it comes to baby spending.  You really don’t need to spend that much when having a baby.  Here are some quick tips on saving money when having a child:

• Goodwill - Goodwill stores are one of the greatest inventions of all time.  When it comes to books, clothes and even baby furniture, you can find it all a goodwill and often in excellent condition.  A lot of people turn their nose at Goodwill because the merchandise is second hand but if you can be mature and realize that this is no different than family giving you their old baby stuff, your all set.

• Avoid Childbirth Classes - Unless you plan to give birth all natural with no drugs, just about anything they can teach you can be learned from the internet or as advise from other recent mothers.  These classes are expensive and offer you information on something your body is already designed to do naturally.

• The Internet - The Internet is quite possibly the greatest invention of the last century and it has revolutionized the way the planet communicates.  Within that vast sea of information is just about everything you could want to know about having a child and best of all, IT’S FREE!!!

Remember to shop smart and save money!  Your child will be perfectly happy without being spoiled and you'll have more money to use for more important things.

Free Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack

Donkey Kong Country 2 may not have had the same impact as the first game but it was still everything you could want in a sequel.  More levels, better graphics and amazing music combined to make a very memorable package.  Rare also managed to crank up the difficulty a few notches to make this a hardcore gamers dream.  While it's debatable which game had the superior soundtrack, you can't deny that DKC2 had some truly excellent tunes.  Like the Kong In Concert soundtrack, the fans have once again mixed together a free download album complete with original artwork.  Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD DKC2 SERIOUS MONKEY BUSINESS NOW!

Treon's Game of the Week - Meat Boy

Meat Boy is a juicy mess of meat who has to rescue his girl, Bandage Girl. It's simple and fun as hell, the way a classic game should be. The game is all about quick reflexes and classic platforming action. You will die a LOT but that's all part of the fun and charm of this game which is why you are equipped with infinite lives. MB will test your old school gaming skills and keep you coming back begging for more. Featured here is the PC Flash version for free and it will be making its way to X-Box 360 and Wii in a few months as Super Meat Boy.

PLAY WITH YOUR MEAT NOW!

Films That Will Change Your Life - The Union

The last couple of years has seen some amazing documentaries but one of the most important is The Union:  The Business Behind Getting High.  The Union is one of the most eye opening documentary's ever committed to film and you have to see it as soon as possible.  You will soon learn that everything you think you know about Marijuana is completely wrong.  This little weed has the ability to change the the destiny of the entire human race.  Everything from industrial production to medicine to the entire economy would be positively affected by Marijuana.  After viewing The Union, I urge you to do everything in your power to share this life altering film with as many people as you can.

Become a fan of The Union on Facebook
Subscribe to The Union on YouTube

Free Donkey Kong Country Soundtrack

Donkey Kong Country was a turning point for graphics in video games marking a major shift from 2D pixel art into 3D rendered graphics.  It was also a turning point for game music showcasing an amazing soundtrack that is still a legend today.  Gone are the bleeps and bloops normally associated with older video games and we are instead given a aural buffet for the ears.  For anyone who has heard it, the underwater theme is one of the most memorable tracks ever committed to a video game.  Kong In Concert is a remixed album of the Donkey Kong Country soundtrack and what a treat it is.  It features 22 tracks which covers a wide variety of different styles so there's something for everyone.  I highly recommend giving it a download and I'd be surprised if at least one track doesn't find it's way onto your playlist.

Donkey Kong Country: Kong in Concert

Free Software You Can't Live Without Vol. 4 - DVD Shrink 3.2

DVD Shrink 3.2

DVD backup is a questionable activity that balances a fine line of legality but for a father with a young son (15 months) and a DVD collection, this software is great.  You see, kids DVD's are expensive and they rarely get marked down unlike most regular DVD movies.  My kid LOVES his Yo Gabba Gabba and Wow Wow Wubzy but when I purchase him a disc, I don't want to worry if he pops open the DVD player and yanks out the disc to play with it.  He also loves to dig through his collection and open the DVD cases.  This creates a problem when you can't afford to just repurchase these expensive shows over and over.  DVD Shrink solves my problem, allowing me to make a quick backup on my computer and then burn a copy on a dirt cheap blank DVD.  If the kid gets to the disc, no sweat because I've got the original in a safe spot ready to be copied again if the need arises.  This is the purpose of this kind of program and I'm very thankful for its existence.  Combine DVD Shrink with ImgBurn and you've got a quick, easy and powerful solution to backing up your personal library.  Unfortunately, the law has forced this program off the market making it hard to get but if you know how to use Google, you can find it quickly and easily.  Just make sure you are downloading DVD Shrink 3.2.0.15 English (2004) which is the latest official version.

Treon's Game of the Week - Tremerz

This week's game takes its inspiration from a movie series that started 20 years ago, Tremors.  A horror/comedy classic starring Kevin Bacon that has spawned 3 sequels and a TV series with movie #5 long rumored.  Of course, any fan of the series knows that Michael Gross of Family Ties fame is the true star of this franchise.  Tremerz is a simple but fun flash game where your main objective is to keep the characters from the movie alive while dodging the Graboids coming up from the ground.  It's perfect for short rounds of gameplay and is a fun treat for series fans.

Play Tremerz Now!

Free Chrono Trigger Soundtrack

When it comes to RPG's, few games have the legacy and universal acclaim that Chrono Trigger has.  It's a finely tuned experience that holds up even today in an industry that grows at an exponential rate.  It is also home to one of the most memorable game soundtracks of all time.  Fortunately for us, a group of game music remix artists have stepped up with the help of Overclocked Remix to give us Chrono Symphonic.  This is a free Chrono Trigger Remix album that honor's its source material with some truly excellent tracks of music that no fan should be without.  Only with the Internet could a project of this quality get done and it is a labor of love that deserves your attention.  Head over to the website and bask in the aural delight.

Chrono Symphonic: Chrono Trigger Remix Project

Dead or Alive Drinking Game

My wife and I just finished the movie for D.O.A. (Dead Or Alive) which is based on the video game of the same name.  We did this as part of our bad movie night where we try and find bad movies and make fun of them together which is a blast.  As expected, the movie was laughably bad but we came up with a drinking game that will make it even more enjoyable.  Here ya go:

1. Rent the movie (Buy it if you can get it dirt cheap)
2. Prep your drink of choice
3. Every time the logo "DOA" shows up in the movie, take a shot

We figure you'll be pretty wasted within the first 15 minutes so my wife suggests going with half shots because that logo is EVERYWHERE! (Clothing, computer screens, weapons, hot tubs, doors, etc.)  Honestly, if you actually catch them all on your first run, you deserve a drink.  There's plenty of action and fighting to go along with the bad acting and horrible effects so enjoy and please drink responsibly.

How Will New Healthcare REALLY Affect You?

How will the new healthcare bill really affect you?  Ask the Right and they'll most likely tell you it's the "End of America!" but if you take the time to rationally look at what this historic step is all about, you'll soon realize how much is changed for the better.  While I don't think it's perfect, it's a step forward and at least gets the ball rolling which is more important than sitting around with our thumbs up our collective asses which has been the approach America has taken for over 3 decades.  Yahoo! has a great article titled 10 Ways the New Healthcare Bill May Affect You which breaks down some of the major points and shows that everything is not all doom and gloom as certain people who have you believe.  In the years to come, things will be refined and improved but the most important thing to remember is that we finally have a starting point.

Important Stuff With Annie Leonard

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Annie Leonard
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

The Story of Stuff is a breakdown of how obsessed our culture is with the acquisition of disposable junk and in turn, how unhappy we are.  Annie Leonard has created a brilliantly simple website that is a real eye opener to anyone who's willing to actually watch her video, "The Story of Stuff" which already boasts more than 10 million views.  She takes things further and explains needlessly complex subjects like Cap & Trade which is nothing more than corporate sleight of hand.  I urge EVERYONE to check this out and pass it on to as many people as possible. 

The Story of Stuff

Treon's Game of the Week - The Legend of Princess

The Legend of Princess is a slick single level freeware game that clearly takes its inspiration from the classic Zelda series, specifically Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.  You can set up the difficulty by changing the weapon selection before playing which makes this a very simple but fun experience.  Nintendo should take a look at this game and hire the developer to create a simple Zelda spin-off game for WiiWare or DS.  In the meantime, click on the link blow and have some fun seeing what a new side scrolling Zelda might be like.

Download The Legend of Princess

Free Software You Can't Live Without Vol. 3 - VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player

Video formats are a dime a dozen and with video having become such a major part of the computer scene, I'm thrilled to finally be able to throw off the bonds of running multiple video players for my viewing needs.  Having grown up with computers, nothing irritated me more than have to deal with multiple video players to watch videos on my computer.  Granted, with the advent of Youtube and the integration of video and web, this has become less of an issue but when you want to watch video directly from your machine, nothing beats VLC Media Player from VideoLAN.  Quicktime, Windows Media Player and all the other players can go to hell, VLC plays everything and does it better than any of those proprietary players.  Best of all, it's FREE! 

Run over to VideoLAN and download this now and if you like it, please donate to the developer so they can continue to upgrade and expand this wonderful software.

Free LIT Soundtrack

LIT is one of the better, more unique offerings on WiiWare and I urge everyone to try it.  It's a mix of horror and puzzle with a slick art style all its own.  Wayforward has created an excellent game and has taken things a step further by offering a free download of the creepy game soundtrack on its official website.  Lit has successfully taken the puzzle aspect of survival horror and created a compelling and fun adventure for the excellent price of $8 (800 Nintendo Points).  Play the game and enjoy the free music!

LIT Official Website

Amazing One Man Legend Of Zelda Medley!

The Legend of Zelda series has some of the most memorable and recognizable music to ever grace a video game but this is just amazing.  This phenomenal medley of music from Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was created by one man, Diwa de Leon.  The whole piece showcases some real talent but his violin work is what really stands out.  You can download the song in MP3 format and I urge you to check out his website featured on his You Tube posting where you can sample some of his other music which is quite good.

Treon's Game of the Week - Cave Story

CAVE STORY

Cave Story is an excellent independent game that comes to WiiWare today.  It originally came to PC in 2004 and has gathered a large fan-base as well as critical praise.  Although it sports a retro look and feel, Cave Story has the same scale and depth as the Metroid and Castlevania series.  The WiiWare version features updated graphics and soundtrack as well as all new modes such as time attack and boss rush.  To celebrate the launch of this classic indie game on the WiiWare, here is the site for the PC original.  I urge you to experience this classic and support the creator, Pixel, by purchasing the WiiWare version for 1200 Wii Points.  Click on the link below to experience the original PC version for free.


Cave Story for PC

Free Software You Can't Live Without Vol. 2 - Gimp

Gimp

When you think of professional image editing programs, everyone immediately thinks Photoshop.  It's a great piece of software but it's not very cost effective for the average user.  Lucky for us, the world of Linux has brought us a wonderful alternative that runs on Windows and best of all, it's FREE.  Developed for Linux users as a powerful alternative to Photoshop, Gimp is the image editing software of choice for people on a budget.  Taking things a step further, Gimphoto is a customized version of the original Gimp made to look and act just like Photoshop in order to make the transition easy and painless.  It supports everything from layers to filter effects and can even use a variety of Photoshop plugins if you need them. 

If your looking to make the jump to Linux and want to immerse yourself in software built for the system, check you the original form of Gimp

If your like me and want the power of Gimp in a familiar package, check out the modified version known as GimPhoto

Free Software You Can't Live Without Vol. 1 - ImgBurn 2.5

ImgBurn 2.5

DVD burning has always been a problem for me.  Trying to find a quality burning programs caused me countless headaches and created more coasters than I know what to do with.  After trying almost every commercial level piece of software (Nero sucks big time), I stumbled upon one of the finest and most complete burning programs ever conceived.  ImgBurn allowed me to burn disk images, video discs and even has the ability to burn Blu-Ray Discs which is great for people into that sort of thing.  The software has an impressive list of features for freeware (version 2.5 and earlier).  Recently, the software has gone Adware for version 2.5.1 but it's still a small price to pay for such a powerful piece of software.  I personally reccomend sticking with version 2.5 to avoid the Adware.  It supports every version of Windows and even has Wine support for the Linux fans.

Supported environments: Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, 7 and 2008 R2 (including all the 64-bit versions). It also officially supports Wine for Linux.

ImgBurn Official Website:
http://www.imgburn.com/

Free World of Goo Soundtrack Download

World of Goo is one of the greatest indie games ever produced earning many well deserved awards and ending up as one of the best games of 2008.  The guys at 2D Boy have shown their appreciation of the fans by offering the World of Goo soundtrack as a free download.  The soundtrack was created by the game's composer, Kyle Gabler who has crafted a deeply original soundtrack that's as charming as the Goo Balls who inhabit the game world.  The soundtrack features 27 tracks clocking in around 50 minutes.

For those of you  who have yet to experience this game, you can download World of Goo on WiiWare for 1500 Nintendo Points which is a steal.  It is also available for PC, Mac and Linux through 2D Boy's website and yes, this game is good enough to buy it twice.  I personally have it on my Wii, Desktop PC and Linux Laptop.

World of Goo Soundtrack Download