When HighWay Gamers was created, many people turned their backs on it, people from WGN, and WWG were very skeptical about our future as a community.

Yet we as a community have proven time and time again our continued strength and friendship despite whatever problems have been thrown our way.

We have celebrated births, and birthdays, we have morned losses of family and friends, we listen, we talk, we play and we laugh.

Today we as a community celebrate our 2nd birthday, and although the number “2″ may not seem big, or impressive, considering how we came to be, its an incredible milestone!

In 14 months we achieved 3 very successful “meets”, including a road trip,  summer camping, and a winter weekender.  This is one accompishment not many other online communitys can boast about, and next month our community will come together again.

We continue to play a variety of games, and join in the fun on our teamspeak server. Fireblade continues to be an ass, and I continue to keep him in line (well…try).

So to everyone who plays a part in HighWay Gamers, we say THANKYOU, and that we couldnt be more proud of you, our friends.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HWG!!!!!!

Highway Gamers has had its 3rd successful meet in 3 years, this January. Which considering the different countries and areas of America that people travel from to come is itself quite astonishing.

Photos will hopefully be uploaded soon to our Gallery where you can already find our previous trips photos.

In the community we have also celebrated many birthday in February so Happy Birthday to everyone

BF2 has been our headline game currently with between 5 and 8 players generally on at any one time, making for great team playing opportunities! Our aim is to continue to get people on our Teamspeak server and when possible set up a BF2 server of our own.

Our next meet will be in June, when Fireblade and PepsiChic will be getting married in Missouri, USA. An invitation will be posted on the forums inviting all members of HWG to come to celebrate and then relax in Lost Valley Lake where we spent last summer camping. Dates and times will be included.

Till then, see you on TS and in game!

Windows 7

watch the new microsoft operating system be tested (and crash) plus info on why its different to Vista

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“Firm Adds Smell To Video Games”

Researchers in Birmingham, UK have been developing new technology to add smells to the virtual world of video games.

To read more and watch news video go HERE

Source BBC NEWS

“My best friend Larry Coker just graduated from USAF Boot Camp as an Airman 1st Class (E-3) and is on his way to 3 months of Tech School where he will learn how to program missions and objectives into the avionics of bombers and support aircraft. His initial deployment will be to Kuwait for an undecided amount of time. Good luck to you Larry, and I’m glad I got to come see you at your graduation!” - [HWG]Copperbelt Jack

Everyone at HighWay Gamers wishes the very best, for a strong and successful career for you Larry.  Good luck for the future!

(images supplied from Copperbelt Jack)

The average price of gas surged nearly 6 cents nationwide as Hurricane Ike hits Gulf Coast and analysts fear more increases, especially in Texas.

Shortages are predicted because of the large number of refineries shut down on the Gulf Coast ahead of the storm. In a brief televised statement, Bush said the Environmental Protection Agency waivers on certain reformulated gasolines were suspended Friday night to make it easier for imports to get into U.S. markets.

Read more and have your say HERE

Thousands of people are fleeing coastal Texas or planning to evacuate as Ike churns toward them across the Gulf of Mexico.

Whether you are staying or going, you should gather emergency supplies and keep them by the door. The emergency box or bag should include a first-aid kit, an NOAA radio, flashlight, extra batteries, copies of birth certificates, prescriptions and health, auto and house insurance documents. Also, have cash, non-perishable foods and bottled water. A fuller list of what to have can be found on the Red Cross Web site.
If you have time, the Texas Department of Insurance also suggests taking steps to protect your home such as turning off all gas and water lines and securing structurally unstable building materials. The agency also offers this fact sheet.

Preparation for staying
Make sure you have at hand all essential medications and at least five gallons of water per person and 3 to 5 day supply of non-perishable food, eating utensils, cleaning supplies and a can opener. The Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management Web site offers more tips on what you will need
Know the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning, and listen for mandatory evacuation orders from the government.

Evacuation
Most important is to have an evacuation plan – know when and where you are going to go. Texas has posted emergency evacuation routes on the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management Web site.
Current road conditions and closures can be found on this Texas Department of Transportation Web site. It would be smart to check it before you leave. Traffic will probably be slow-moving, so make sure your gas tank is full, you have cash to buy more gas and you have plenty of food and water.
If you have pets, you can use this Web site to check out which hotels take animals.
If you need shelter information in Texas call 1-512-424-2208. You can continually check the hurricane’s status at the National Weather Services’ Southern Region Headquarters’ Web site.

Important numbers
Probably the biggest cause of confusion in an emergency is a lack of communication. Keep a list of all emergency numbers or program them into your cell phone’s address book. The federal Web site EcoWatch provides a list of local and state government numbers.
Also, designate one friend or family member out of the storm’s path to coordinate communication. Everyone can contact that person to report their location, condition and new contact information.
If you are not in the region being hit by Hurricane Ike, but would like to help out, CNN.com has a list of agencies that are dedicated to helping hurricane devastated regions and victims.

Source CNN.com

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About 200,000 residents have fled low-lying areas of metro Houston as the powerful storm approaches.

Authorities in Harris County, which contains Houston, asked residents in low-lying areas of the county to leave, and about 80 percent to 90 percent have complied, County Executive Ed Emmett said Friday morning.
Residents in safer parts of Houston were instructed to stay inside.

“We’ve asked people to hunker down,” Emmett said.
Most law enforcement and rescue officials will start to leave Friday night, Emmett said, so residents will be on their own after that.
The military has 42 search-and-rescue helicopters on standby, one official said.

Floodwaters surged into Galveston Island neighborhoods Friday morning.
Waves washed for blocks inland, the beginning of a storm surge that forecasters warned could reach up to 22 feet and bring “certain death” to anyone who remained in Galveston Bay homes.

More than half of the community of Surfside Beach was inundated by 8 a.m. Friday, and rescuers drove a dump truck through the streets in a final bid to get people out before the storm hits, the Houston Chronicle reported.

 Read More

Everyone at Highway Gamers, sends thoughts and prayers of love, and support to those who died, lost their lives trying to save others, and those who continue to live with the painful memories.

RIP 9/11

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Spore is an “attack on Christian values”
Anti-Spore site “can not allow the gaming industry to poison the minds of our children”

“This entire game is propaganda aimed directly at our children to teach them evolution instead of creationism, or ‘intelligent design’ if you go for stupid PC terms.

Read More and have your say HERE