| Remember your old Commodore Vic 20? You were | | | | optimistic side. |
| free to spend a Saturday afternoon doing nothing but | | | | Choosing which computer games to play is a personal |
| playing video games--as soon as you found the game | | | | choice affected by a number of factors. Taste and |
| cartridge and typed in that lengthy run code. But man, it | | | | preference of the player are the biggest determining |
| was fun! | | | | factors. When choosing a computer game, consider |
| Computer game plays have come a long way since | | | | these factors to find the style that suits you: |
| those days in the 1980's. From pinging a white dot from | | | | * Challenge: What are your strong points? Logic, |
| paddle to paddle, to simple static non-scrolling games, | | | | speed, verbalizing or coordination? Find a game that |
| to today's mind blowing sound and graphics, computer | | | | challenges you and builds your skills. |
| games have evolved into game categories that are | | | | * Number of Players: Do you play well with others? |
| played on super consoles. | | | | Team play or opposition involves organization, |
| Playing computer games is part of our everyday | | | | multi-player strategies and building coalitions. |
| popular culture. The entertainment genre that was | | | | * Luck: If you're just plain lucky, try cards or games of |
| once reserved for idle teenagers has grown to be the | | | | chance. |
| favorite pastime of the average thirty year-old. The | | | | * Strategies: Strategic games are great for your brain. |
| computer games marketed today are so varied in | | | | Choose titles with deeply strategic game play. |
| style; anyone choosing from a selection of computer | | | | * Ease of use: Some games are so complicated |
| game software can easily be overwhelmed by the | | | | they're just not fun to play. Kids, especially, should |
| available choices. | | | | choose games appropriate to their age and skill. |
| The latest development to boost computer game | | | | * Reality: Does the game attempt to simulate real life, |
| playing was the development of broadband. With this | | | | or is it an abstract game designed purely for |
| technology, two players can play games from | | | | entertainment. |
| different parts of the world. As long as the broadband | | | | * Objectives: What is the objective of the game? Do |
| connection is good, the game is played simultaneously | | | | players get eliminated, or can everyone stay to the |
| in real time, with no lag. Because of the universal | | | | end? |
| appeal, computer games have made it possible to | | | | * Style: There is an incredible range of themes and |
| interact with other players anywhere, despite the | | | | styles of computer games, from comical to downright |
| cultural, time or language barriers. Even toddlers can | | | | violent. |
| now enjoy software with games and software | | | | Depending on your interests, you can shoot, race, fight |
| designed for their education and amusement. | | | | or role-play on your computer. There are real time |
| Computer game playing has enjoyed such worldwide | | | | games, and simulation games. |
| popularity with people of all ages, studies are now | | | | Computer games have come a long, long way since |
| being conducted on the effects it has on players. The | | | | those early blips and bleeps of the 1980's. Our screens |
| seemingly innocent invention has created so much | | | | are now graced with full-colour 3D graphics (although |
| attention that international assessments are underway | | | | many still prefer two-dimensional games). Anytime |
| to track the impact of these products on user's | | | | you're ready to take a break, you can just turn on |
| behavior and thinking. Initial studies hint that computer | | | | your computer and instantly disappear with the |
| game "bestsellers" tend to be violent or ugly game | | | | computer game of your choice. |
| styles, but the results may be leaning to a more | | | | |