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European Computer Games

The computer game industry may just be the next Hollywood and is one of the biggest growth industries out there, continually performing better and better each year with more cinematic graphics and bigger budgets and more family oriented games all becoming more possible as the technology improves. As such it’s highly beneficial for any country to get involved and thus it’s no surprise that there are some great European computer games out there and while Japan and America are arguably the industry leaders, there are enough European computer games to ensure that the continent has a strong presence in the market. Following are just a few of the best known European computer games.

Rayman: If European computer games had a mascot, Rayman would arguably be the man (?) for the job. With a highly European flavor that makes you feel a bit like you’re in an impressionist’s painting, and with a certain charm , this is also a highly popular free-roaming series that has persisted through various console generations. Originally the character’s lack of limbs was designed to make him easier to animate more fluidly, but today it is just a unique character trait that makes him instantly recognizable.

Fable: Fable is designed by Peter Molyneux, a well known British computer game designer who is also responsible for the games Dungeon Keeper, Populous and Black and White along with his current production company Lionhead Studios. Fable is one of the more ambitious European computer games providing a huge sandbox world in which you can get married, apply for jobs and do many of the things you would do in real life. Like other European computer games it also has a very distinctly European feel and is set in a fantasy world that takes heavy cues from European history.

Anarchy Online: Anarchy online is a MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) like World of Warcraft that was developed in Norway. In many ways it was a highly groundbreaking venture featuring some of the first in game advertising, a great science fiction setting and ‘dynamic quests’. A great step forward for European computer games.

Angry Birds: An example of how European computer games can have a truly global appeal and take the world by storm. Again featuring some quirky characters and kitsch situations, this game developed by Rovio in Finland, was calculated carefully to be a game with the broadest appeal possible and a highly addictive gameplay. The strategy was a success and the game quickly became a the top selling game on iTunes and Android demonstrating just how lucrative the European computer games market really can be – and what a powerful tool these mobile platforms are for developers.

European Video Games

USA vs Europe

Both the US and Europe have an awful lot going for them, and of course it’s impossible to say definitely who ‘wins’ in a competition between USA vs Europe – it’s a very subjective decision with far too many factors. That said, we can certainly compare the two and look at how they measure up.

The first thing you need to consider when looking at the USA vs Europe is that Europe is a continent with lots of different countries whereas the USA is a single country (though North America is also a continent). This then means that in terms of diversity, the US is going to lose out. There is just one government in the US and there is just one main language; this is opposed to Europe where there are many governments and regimes, many languages and generally huge differences depending on where you go. However that said, North America is still a highly racially and ethnically diverse region. In terms of climate and scenery both America and Europe have a lot of diverse views to offer up – compare Alaska to the Grand Canyon in the US. However it’s probably fair to say that Europe has just slightly more to offer in terms of variety of scenery and this is due to one simple fact: Europe is larger than North American. If it’s cities you’re interested in however then the US is the place to enjoy some of the largest cities and New York is considerably larger than Europe;s biggest city, London. And there’s nothing quite like Vegas in Europe either…

US vs Europe

The culture in Europe and the US is very different and hard to compare as a ‘USA vs Europe’ competition. The US is relatively young compared to Europe and so it has less to offer in terms of history – there is nothing comparable to the Colosseum in Rome for instance. However at the same time, US culture now dominates – partly thanks to its flourishing entertainment industry and partly due to the huge success of capitalism that ensures that even in the remotest areas of Europe you can find a Coca-Cola dispenser. The US has largely the most influential culture in the world.

Europe vs USA

In terms of economy it’s hard to say who wins out of USA Vs Europe. This is because reports vary and it also depends on precisely what you are measuring. While wealth has fallen across the world, it seems to have dropped fastest in the US and this has left Europe with the greater share of the wealth. This is to say that Europe wins USA vs Europe in terms of wealth distribution. The EU also has the highest GDP and the largest economy, as well as the most Fortune 500 companies. That said, the US has a higher GDP than any single European country, so it is really only the combined might of those European countries that is able to compete.

Indeed the Euro was partly formed in order to compete with the dollar and so US vs Europe has never been a hotter issue. However the strength of this ‘combined’ economy is also it’s weakness and the failure of a few poorer countries that use the Euro can very much affect the value of the Euro. Meanwhile opportunities in some areas of Europe are vastly different from those in other countries – while the same opportunities are offered all across the US (though that’s not to say that the wealth is evenly distributed).

Europe vs US

In terms of military might and political influence on a global stage, it is fair to say the US has the upper hand – and this is likely to continue as long as Europe consists of smaller countries. The EU military currently consists of the various national armed forces of the 27 member states rather than a single military.

It is impossible to view the USA vs Europe objectively as they are very different creatures that are inexorably different. That said, both are huge superpowers, culturally diverse, developed and proud regions and the great thing is that we don’t have to choose between them as the two go hand in hand quite nicely…

USA vs Europe

Euro Basket 2011

Europe Blog would like to congratulate Spain for winning Euro Basket 2011. Good job guys !

France and Macedonia, better luck next time.  Also, let us not forget Lithuania. Lithuanians were wonderful host and favorites of many. Thank you for the tournament.

Immigrating to Europe

If the idea of immigrating to Europe appeals to you then you are not alone. Europe for anyone offers a great opportunity to live somewhere new and beautiful and exciting while still getting the trappings of Western life. Depending on where you move there are often a wide range of career options, a safer environment to raise a family, a better climate or a more stable economy. Likewise you may find that somewhere like Southern France offers you a more laid back way of life and a slower pace of living and this too makes European immigration a highly attractive prospect for many.

The problem is that European immigration can be tricky for those living outside the continent and there are many laws in place designed to prevent too many people from getting a European visa. Here we will look at some steps you can take to make getting a European visa easier and to improve your chances of making it in.

Get help: The first tip is to get in touch with someone who can provide you with a wealth of advice and guidance regarding immigration. In other words find an immigration attorney who will be able to use their specialist knowledge to ensure you get into the country.

Find work: When the European immigration officials look at your credentials to decide whether to provide you with a European visa, they will base this on many factors but none will be weighted as highly as having a job lined up for you which will demonstrate that once you have your European visa you will be able to help boost the economy rather than claiming benefits and thereby drain it. Try to find work by looking online or otherwise if you work for an international company ask them if they will be able to provide you with work overseas. In some cases they will even handle your European immigration and European visa for you.

Get education: Failing actual work what will also help you to get over there and get a European visa is demonstrating the ability to *find* work. In other words if you’re highly qualified or educated then your chances of getting a European visa drastically improve. Multiple degrees will give you the best shot of getting in, as will particular skills in various fields such as medical skills or trades such s carpentry or plumbing. Alternatively expertise in areas such as IT which are up and coming and highly lucrative are also highly helpful in getting that European visa for obvious reasons.

Stay clean: Conversely though having a criminal record or even a very bad credit history can badly impact your chances of getting that European visa so try to stay clean. You can even find yourself being deported after getting into the country for something you did years prior to moving there.

How to Get a European Visa

Most Romantic Places In Europe - Venice

There are many reasons that people travel to Europe, but one of the more popular reasons is that Europe is known to be a highly romantic destination and a great place for couples and newly weds to visit whether it’s for a city break or somewhere more scenic. Here then we will look at some of the most romantic places in Europe for your consideration, and there is likely to be something here for everyone.

The first thing to bear in mind is that we all have different ideas of romantic, and almost any situation can become romantic with the right attitude. Thus the traditional view of romance need not necessarily apply and the most romantic places in Europe can sometimes be the least expected. For instance getting caught in the rain and huddling under an umbrella can be surprisingly romantic at the right time.

Some romantic holiday ideas in some of the most romantic places in Europe might be to rent out a log cabin together alone in the woods or in the mountains such as the Swiss Alps or the Tatra mountains, and then to snuggle together on the rug by the fire. Alternatively you might want to go for a sunny beach holiday and enjoy relaxing on the beach and looking at lush scenery. If this is your idea of romance then you might find somewhere like Turkey to be one of the most romantic places in Europe, or Greece (where you can find the Isle of Aphrodite no less!).

For most people though, the most romantic places in Europe will be associated with city breaks and there are plenty of cities in Europe that just love couples. Of course the most obvious one here is Paris which is often referred to as the city of love and is truly a charming and iconic city to spend time in together. At the same time though visiting Prague or even Amsterdam can be just as romantic and a little less stressful in some ways. York in England also has an incredibly quaint and attractive feel to it with cobbled streets, winding alleys and a hazy glow.

For romantic cities and towns though Italy has to be one of the most romantic places in Europe and has a lot to offer. Italian food is sensual and romantic while the gentle heat lets you both get some skin on show. Visit Rome to enjoy seeing the sun set behind the Colosseum, Venice to see water and boats replace roads, or Verona for the setting of the most famous love story of all time.

Most Romantic Places In Europe - Rome

Euroleague And Eurobasket

Following basketball in Europe can be complicated for an outsider with so many different titles, leagues and championships such as EuroCup, EuroLeague and EuroBasket. Many people confuse Euroleague and EuroBasket, but they are two different events. While Euroleague is the top league in Europe where the top teams from national leagues participating (and EuroCup providing a second tier), EuroBasket provides the European National Team championships. Here we will look at the distinction in more detail….

EuroBasket

EuroBasket is the primary basketball competition which is held bienially between the men’s national teams governed by FIBA Europe. This also serves as a qualifying for the Olympic Games and FIBA world championship.

24 teams take part in the final EuroBasket competition (previously 16). Throughout its lifespan (starting in 1939) the EuroBasket competition has used several different formats including round robin and knockout rounds. Today the 24 teams are first put in four groups of six for a preliminary round, before

EuroLeague

EuroLeage is the highest tier and most important basketball competition in Europe with teams from 18 different countries (all members of the FIBA Europe) able to compete and seen in 191 countries by a viewership of up to 245 million households (800 million counting satellite viewers).  Currently the EuroLeauge is using the name ‘Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’ following a sponsorship deal with the titular company.

The competition is run by ULEB which is a Europe wide consortium of professional basketball leagues. The teams will generally by the domestic champions from the leading countries. Placement in the competition is awarded on the basis of performance in the domestic league previously, performance over two or three of those seasons, contracts with the ULEB or winning the previous season’s EuroCup – though there is some variation. As of 2009 onwards placements have been awards as ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ licenses respectively.

The competition begins with first the qualifying rounds in which eight clubs compete in a knockout tournament of two-legged matches, and then a second qualifying round for the winners. Following this the second phase – ‘Top 16′ – commences with 16 survivors from the regular season drawn into groups of four teams. The third phase is the quarterfinal  followed by the EuroLeague Final Four.

Eurobasket And Euroleague

European Origin

Europe is an centuries old continent with a rich and diverse mix of countries and cultures. There is no single European origin, but rather it has evolved over the centuries and is still constantly changing as a result of climate, geography, politics and economics. However there have definitely been key points in the development of Europe, some of which have contributed greatly to the European origin as we know it today. Here we will look at the origin of the continent and its name.

Etymological European Origin

The origin of the word Europe comes from Greek Mythology and is taken from the Phoenician princess Europa who was said to be abducted by Zeus. Zeus took on the form of a white bull in order to dazzle her and then took her to the island of Crete. Here she gave birth to Rhadamanthus, Sarpedon and Minos. Homer subsequently used the name Europe and used this to describe a fictional queen of Crete. The name Europa was then later adapted to stand for central-northern Greece. In 500BC this name was then further extended to refer to everything to the North of Greece.

In some senses then this can be considered a European origin, as one of the first times that a cluster of land around Greece (which is of course in South Europe) was described as ‘Europe’ or ‘Europa’.

Prehistory and Early History

The European origin of man can be dated back to 1.8 million years ago to Homo Georgicus – the oldest known hominid to have lived in Europe and subsequent hominids have also been discovered there. Neanderthal Man was himself  named after ‘Neandertal Valley’ in Germany and was descrovered 150,000 years ago. Modern humans were found in Europe 40,000 years ago. The Neolithic period in 700BC was when the raising of livestock and planting of seeds etc began – believed to have been influenced by nearby Eastern cultures. This started in Greece and the Balkans. The Iron Age followed in 800BC and saw the birth of early Mediterranean cities Italy and Greece. A European origin for European cities. Ancient Greece would go on to have a large impact on Western civilization today as did the subsequent Roman Empire which would impact language, architecture and much more.

Following this was the Dark Ages or the ‘age of migrations’ which saw many migrations and invasions between the countries of Europe – the Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, Huns, Angles, Saxons, Slavs, Buglars, Vikings and others. Each time there is such disruption as war, the boundaries of certain countries and the political definitions of Europe change. The modern World Wars have contributed greatly to the current landscape of Europe and the European origin too, resulting in many of the boundaries and definitions we recognize today.

Politics and Definitions

It was following World War 1 and 2 however, that there was felt a greater need for unity and cooperation throughout Europe owing to the terrible loss of life and the development of new weapons. While empires such as the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the Nazis had attempted to unite the continent geographically by force, 1945 saw a movement towards organizations such as ‘Pan Europa’ which were a precursor to the European Union (which was officially formed and named in 1993).

While Europe was the term used by the Ancient Greeks in 500BC this European origin did not of course define the precise boundaries of the continent – much of which were still to be discovered. In fact, surprisingly the precise boundaries of Europe are still in contention and there is still no officially agreed ‘outline’ for the continent. Many parts of Asia can be described as European or Asian, and hence the term ‘Eurasia’ is often used to compensate for this. In this sense, the European origin is not yet complete, and probably never will be.

Europe Origin