Topic: Weird Wire™

Last summer, Bernice Gallego came across a collectible in her antique store she though may be worth a few dollars at auction. What she didn't know was that the item she had stumbled upon was more rare and valuable than she could have ever imagined.

The card she found that day was made in 1869 and featured the “Red Stocking B.B. Club of Cincinnati,” the sport’s first professional team. It’s considered one of the first baseball cards ever produced. Had it not been for a intervening friend at the time, Bernice would have sold the card online at eBay for just $10. Read the whole story here...

Topic: Best Pets
This week's Best Pet comes to us from Gamesviller Luvbug37 of Soulsbyville, CA. Meet her friend Sierra!

Distinguishing Personality Traits

Luvbug37 says, "This is our dog Sierra, a three-year-old Queensland Healer/Cattle dog who goes camping with us and absolutely loves playing in the water by the lake. Like most dogs she loves her ball--even when you mention that word 'ball' she gets so excited. Sierra is a wonderful dog who we rescued from going to the pound. She is so smart, friendly and very loving. She is a special dog and we are so lucky to have her in our home and hearts."

Want to share photos of your own favorite pet with the Gamesville community?

Send photos to: members@gamesville.com

In addition to your pet's picture, please be sure to include:

• Your Gamesville member name
• Your pet's most distinguishing personality trait

If we publish your pet as a "Best Pet," we'll give you 5,000 GV Rewards. Submit your pet today!

Topic: Hollywood

With the eighth season of American Idol just one week away, the team at Gamesville had the opportunity to sit down with the very opinionated judge of FOX's hit reality series, Simon Cowell. He joined us to answer some questions about the upcoming season and shared some insight into the previous success stories from the show.

Gamesville: Let's jump right into it. How is the talent pool this year compared to last year?

Simon: Having done the Hollywood round, which we completed about a month ago,  I feel that we have an interesting bunch.  Where I think we got a little bit stuck last year, it was kind of like battle of the blondes and they all looked the same.  I couldn’t differentiate one from the other.  This year there seems to be more personality.

In the early years of Idol, the show was primarily based in pop music. Have you been surprised by how successful Idol contestants have done in the country and rock genres?

I think the rock thing, particularly Chris Daughtry, made a huge difference. Contestants like Chris have brought a different type of edge to the show and have been incredibly successful. I do like is the fact that we’re open minded enough to now encourage all different types of artists, which is a good thing for the show.

I did this show in the first place because I’ve always been a big fan of American singing talent. You have to hope and assume with a show as big as ours that through the process that we are going to find stars.  I’m not really that surprised.

You’ve said already that you think a guy will win this year. Is that because the male talent pool is so overwhelming or do you have someone specific in mind?

Not anyone specific.  When you do the Hollywood week, which we did about a month ago, you get to see all the contestants for a second time.  My memory of that was that the guys overall were just stronger and they stood out more than the girls.  Still, anything can happen.

What’s your take on the changes to the shows format this year, such as bringing back the wild card and focusing less on the train wreck auditions?

I think the wild card is a good idea.  I wasn’t crazy about the process we went through the last couple of years where we were given a small group of contestants who you actually got bored with once you hit about show five of the live shows.  This way this is a bit more jeopardy and hopefully a bit more fun in the middle stages.

I think it’s important that we have all types of singers, all types of people because I have to say, I think personality is as important as talent on a show like this.  What you hope you end up with is somebody like Fantasia, who’s not only extremely talented, she’s an incredible person, has a great vibe and makes the show interesting.  We tried, where we can with what we had, just to get a more interesting group of people.

It was announced that Kara DioGuardi will be joining the panel as a fourth judge this year. Given that she’s worked with Idol contestants in the past, do you think that helps or hinders her as a judge?

I’d think it’s probably a good thing.  At least she knows what the end process is and what you have to do to turn somebody into a recording artist.  She’s obviously not snobby about this kind of music, which some people can be, with this kind of process.  At least she’s not going to look down on the process, which is a good thing.

She also has tons of experience--she’s written hit songs, she has an opinion, and she talks a lot. I think she’s probably well qualified.

A number of idol’s were nominated for Grammy’s this year--Jennifer Hudson, Carrie, Fantasia. Obviously, you must be proud of the level of success they have achieved.

I absolutely love it when that happens because they deserve it and there’s so much snobbery in the music business about what we do on these shows and I know how upset they all get, so I think it’s fantastic.

The eight season of American Idol premiers on January 13th and January 14th on FOX.

Topic: Members

Congratulations are in order to not just 1, 2, 3 or even 4 Gamesvillers, but FIVE lucky members who all are taking home cash.  First, to our big winner Pavpeg of Pavilion, NY who hit the jackpot in CatchUp CoverAll and took home home $378 cash yesterday!

But that's not all, because being in the right place at the right time paid off for four other lucky Gamesvillers playing with Pavpeg! When our lucky winner hit the jackpot on Monday it automatically triggered a 1,000 GV reward bonus for everyone in the room who selected the same Lucky Ball. PLUS four random members with the same Lucky Ball choice as Pavpeg each won $25 cash! Just like that! Congratulations to all our Lucky Ball winners:

Topic: Bingo Life

Topic: Holiday Flare

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and happy New Years!

If you need a break from celebrating in real life, join a game of Magic 21 or the new CatchUp CoverAll and say 'Happy New Years!' to all your GV friends.

Topic: Best Pets
This week's Best Pet comes to us from Gamesviller Carabara32 of Olyphant, PA. Meet her friend JoLee!

Distinguishing Personality Traits

Carabara32 says, "Meet JoLee, our 3-year-old American Kennel Club Brindle Boxer. Just one look into her caring, loving eyes and she'll have you at hello. JoLee loves to run around the huge field we have behind our house and will go out twice a day for 30 to 45 minutes, she just cant get enough! She is also quite the love bug--she loves cuddling with us watching TV or laying in bed. She also gives us those wonderful sloppy kisses in the morning when the alarm goes off to get up for school and work. She has added so much love to our family and that is why I think she is the greatest pet ever!"

Want to share photos of your own favorite pet with the Gamesville community?

Send photos to: members@gamesville.com

In addition to your pet's picture, please be sure to include:

• Your Gamesville member name
• Your pet's most distinguishing personality trait

If we publish your pet as a "Best Pet," we'll give you 5,000 GV Rewards. Submit your pet today!

Topic: Members

Gamesviller Curley5363 of Brooksville, FL, recently won our $200 weekly GV Rewards Sweepstakes, and took a few minutes out of her schedule to talk with us about her win.

What will she be spending her winnings on? What was the thrill of the win like for her? Find out below...

Gamesville: Congratulations! What was it like when you realized you won?
I was amazed that I won and since it happened on my birthday it was a great gift!  My husband was here with me when I discovered I won.  He said, "Wow! After a million hours of playing games it finally paid off." LOL

What will you spend your winnings on?
The winnings will be added to our savings for future purchases. We will either be spending it on a new car for me or a new travel trailer for the family that we will be living in full time.

What do you do for a living?
I am a bookkeeper. I enjoy the numbers part of my job and always hate being a penny off from the bank.

If you were an animal in the wild, what would you be?
If I were an animal in the wild I would be a lioness.

What is your most treasured possession and why?
Right now my most treasured possession is a Leon Russell vinyl record. I was given this record about three years ago in a box of albums and my husband discovered it the other day when cleaning up the storage area.

What does your Gamesville member name mean?
My member name originated as a nickname some years ago when I shaved my head, so friends started calling me Curly as in character from the Three Stooges.

Thanks, Curley5363 - Happy birthday and congratulations again on your win!

Topic: Holiday Flare

Wishing you and yours all of the joys of the season!

Sincerely,
Chris Cummings
Manager, Gamesville.com

PS: Frantic Fish: Holiday Edition is back--for a limited time only. Play today!

Topic: Members