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Q & A

Sponsored by

Have a computer or computer game related question but are struggling to find an answer?

Simply email your question to letstalk@frombumptogrump.co.uk and we will do our very best to find an answer.

The best question each month will win one of the latest releases from Avanquest Software Publishing Ltd

This month's title is AA Essential German £9.99

Learn everyday German with Confidence
If you have a basic knowledge of the German language, or want to improve on your current skills, AA Essential German will help you to read, write and speak everyday German with confidence. In this fun, interactive program you can have real conversations with people on screen and learn how to pronounce words correctly with state-of-the-art speech
recognition technology.
KEY FEATURES:

• 8 Lesson Choices
• 1,000+ Exercises
• 8,000 Word Glossary
• 3D Phonetic Animations
• Full-screen Cultural Videos
• State-of-the-art Speech Recognition
• Progress Chart and Diary

To buy, click here

Q: What was the first game for home computers?

A. Not that we'd remember of course, but it was 'Pong', as in 'Ping Pong'/Table Tennis. Imagine just lines and a mini square as a ball and you have it!

Q: What is the best selling PC game of all time?

A. After a bit of research, the most commonly published answer to this is "The Sims", including all of it's various expansions! Who'd have thought a game about day to day life would keep us all so gripped!

Q: I am unsure about backing up files. I have previously lost all my photos and wish to avoid this. Should I buy an External Hard Drive ?

A.It is very important to back up your files, as you've found out it can be devastating to lose all those memories when photos are gone. There are several options for backing up. An external hard drive or an extra internal drive is one. Your computer probably has a cd or a dvd drive so you could backup your files onto discs. This has the added advantage in that you can store a copy out of the house or office so should the worst happen and you have a house fire or are burgled your data will be safe. There are also online backup services where you upload your files to store a copy of them. Some of these services are free to use, searching for 'free online file storage' should find you some sites to look at.

Q. We buy our son a lot of educational games for the PC. he loves to play them but I'm worried that spending too long on the computer could be bad for him but it's hard to drag him away!
A. I think the key here is moderation. Perhaps give him a timer so he knows when 'computer time' is up, and try to encourage active play as well by suggesting a game of football in the garden etc, or other fun things like painting or cooking that you can do together.

Q. Computer games are so expensive, and it's hard to know if my child will like a particular game, what is the best way of finding out before we splash out?
A. Many film rental stores and libraries now rent games for a small fee, this is a good way to see if the game is suitable for your child and if it holds their attention. Buying games they have played and enjoyed at a friends house is a good idea, if you do buy a game that they don't like or have completed a lot of games shops will take second hand games in part exchange for new ones saving you a bit of money, and second hand games can also be bought at a reduced price, a good way to pick up older titles. Of course, you can also keep sending in your questions to us and you might win software absolutely free!

Q: How can I best ensure my child's safety online?

A: Always be aware when your child is on the computer and keep checking as to what they are doing. Whilst it is good to encourage their independence, a discreet glance can prevent them entering sites they would not want them to.

Internet providers have parental controls where you can filter the content so always make sure that is in place. You can also buy specific internet filters ('internet police') for added peace of mind.

Educate your child about spam and ask them to alert you before opening anything suspicious.

The NCH have written a good list of do's and dont's. Click here for further information.

Q: My Son is begging me to play an 18 rated game although he is only 13. Do you have any advice?

A: Every child is an individual and you know your child more than anybody. The ratings are there for a very good reason and to help you make a decision on content. Children grow up very quickly nowadays and there can be a lot of peer pressure on them to own a certain game. Stick to your values and instinct and if in doubt, consider hiring out the game first to assess it's content.

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