I've found these:

http://ep.espacenet.com/?locale=EN_ep

http://patft.uspto.gov/

https://www.google.com/?tabm=pts&hl=en

http://www.patentarcade.com/p/patents.html

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/

http://www.patexia.com/ip-research

Any ways of tackling this different from these?:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4899582_patent-game-idea.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_10054413_game-patented.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5798493_patent-ideas-new-game-inventions.html

I'm going to my local patent office to file a provisional patent for the first time. Before I talk to a lawyer I'm going to use as much resources online and come prepared.

Do you have any tips?