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