Computer and video games

:This article is about computer and video games For the magazine see Computer and Video Games (magazine).

Gaming platforms

Today there are many different devices that games may be played on. Personal computers, consoles, handheld systems, and arcade machines are all common. There is a thin line between games played on the computer and those on the console in terms of genre.

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Many games intended for computer are now just as prevalent on consoles, both of which have many of the same selections of titles. This is due to the fact that video game consoles have drastically increased in computing power and capabilities over the last few years to the point that they can handle games that were formerly only playable with computers. With the release of Microsoft's Xbox console, which was based on PC architecture, and which was developed with online gameplay in mind, most major computer game releases coincide with the release of console versions. However, popular titles initially developed for a single platform are often "ported" to another platform. Recent examples include id's Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Windows to Xbox) and Bungie's blockbuster first person shooter, Halo (Developed for the Mac, then bought to be released for Xbox and then (re)-ported to Mac and Windows). The Entertainment Software Association reported that console games outsold computer games in the US by about 380% in 2003 (do note that this number does not represent popularity, and that fees such as those for paid Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) are excluded).

Related Topics:
Microsoft - Xbox - Id's - Return to Castle Wolfenstein - Windows - Bungie - Halo - Entertainment Software Association - 2003 - Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games

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Personal computer games

Personal computer games are commonly referred to as "computer games" or "PC games". They are played on the personal computer with standard computer interface devices such as the keyboard and mouse. Video feedback is received by the user through the computer screen, sound through speakers or headphones. Computer games are often more powerful than console games because of early market releases of their external architecture and graphics cards.

Related Topics:
Personal computer games - Personal computer - Computer interface device - Keyboard - Mouse - Speakers - Headphones

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The most popular genres of Computer games are First-Person Shooters, Real-Time Strategys, Simulations, and MOMMMGs, given the long-standing nature of internet access and online play. First Person Shooters benefit highly from using the keyboard and mouse to give an amazing sense of accuracy and realism that is still not matched on the consoles, along with much larger "deathmatches" (of upwards to 64 independent human-controlled fighters).

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Today, most PC games require the Windows operating system to be installed on the computer. There is, however, a continuing movement to get the most popular games to run under the Mac and Linux operating systems.

Related Topics:
Windows - Mac - Linux

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Console games

Console games are more commonly referred to as "video games". They are played on a computer specially made for game play called a video game console. The player interacts with the game through a controller. Video and sound are delivered to the player via a television or, as with newer video game consoles, high-definition video monitors. Previous generations of personal computers, such as the Commodore 64, were commonly connected to televisions and even today share naming conventions and devices such as the Sony PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System, or the Sega Dreamcast's keyboard and mouse peripherals. There are also games on portable systems, such as the Nintendo Game Boy, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, and the common cellphone which have their own, built-in video display. Computer games are more commonly played on multi-purpose operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, or Linux. Although local plugins like Macromedia Flash are becoming increasingly popular.

Related Topics:
Console game - Video game console - Controller - Television - Commodore 64 - Sony - PlayStation 2 - Sega - Dreamcast - Nintendo - Game Boy - Nintendo DS - Sony PSP - Cellphone - Microsoft Windows - Mac OS - Linux - Macromedia Flash

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The near future of console gaming

The end of 2005 and beginning of 2006 will see the next generation of console gaming, including the second generation Microsoft offering, the Xbox 360, which will be powered by a multi-core CPU. The PlayStation 3 will be powered by Cell processor technology, and the Nintendo Revolution that will allow the gamer to interact with the game via a wireless motion sensing controller resembling a television remote control.

Related Topics:
2005 - 2006 - Xbox 360 - CPU - PlayStation 3 - Cell processor - Nintendo Revolution - Television - Remote control

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Arcade games

Arcade games are coin-operated games played on a standalone device originally leased to commercial entertainment venues. These are programmed, equipped, and decorated for a specific game, consisting of a video display, a set of controls, and the coin slot. Controls range from the classic joystick and buttons, to light guns, to pads on the ground that sense pressure. Arcade games that are no longer profitable to lease can be purchased by private individuals, many of whom then explore the game dynamics by altering the programs.

Related Topics:
Arcade game - Video display - Joystick - Light gun

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Internet games

Internet games are those which require a connection to the Internet to play. Internet gaming was originally an offshoot from personal computer games but may be considered a platform in itself due to its growing scope and the inclusion of internet capabilities in modern consoles, such as the PlayStation 2, the Gamecube, and the Xbox. Popular games in this field are Final Fantasy XI, Halo 2, and Phantasy Star Online. Also, Online video games on the PC range from RTS (real time strategy) games like Age Of Empires, and Warcraft III, to RPGs (or games in which you choose your actions off of a pre-set list) like World of Warcraft, and Guild Wars. However, there is one more genre of games that is little known to most adults: Flash Games. These tend to be short and usually of lower quality than games on consols, but are a quickly growing field. The flash game Alien Hominid is of particular note. Alien Hominid is a game in which you play as an alien trying to escape earth and battling the CIA. This game has become so popular that it has become the first flash game ever to be transfered to a console. See Internet gaming.

Related Topics:
Internet - Internet gaming

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