In the past, gaming was primarily used by men and boys. However, in the last two decades, with the increased popularity of consoles such as the Xbox and Play station, the number of females has been increasing. In fact, according to research by IDC, a recent survey shows that twenty-nine percent of gamers are women. Similarly, gaming has also become popular with younger people, with children and teens playing various types of games. One trend that is continuing with the younger generations is the use of video and computer games as a social activity.
A computer game or video game is an interactive computer game that involves interaction with a human player through a display device or user interface, for example a keyboard, mouse, or joystick to generate virtual feedback from different aspects of a computer system such as graphics, sounds, user input, or machine movements. There is a large amount of crossover between PC gaming and console gaming. This means that the game is designed with the PC in mind and so often uses similar technical skills and features. Video games created for consoles can be called PC games with a controller that fits the specifications of the console and can be played through the console itself. The result is a crossover of technology that creates a unique experience for the player.
While games consoles from Sony and Microsoft have largely kept the focus on gaming alone, PCs are increasingly becoming a player in the realm of online gaming. Online role playing games (ORPGs) such as World of Warcraft have a strong community following. Some high end computers include processors capable of supporting advanced graphics, with the ability to create high resolution images, as well as complex texture manipulation, all via the keyboard and mouse.
Many PC gamers find that the requirement for fast internet connection, and a memory for storing the large numbers of saved games, push the need for dedicated graphics card and processor speed. Furthermore, there is the need for better disk space for streaming large numbers of media such as videos. Many PC gamers are able to set up their gaming pcs to record their own live actions, so that they can watch them back at a later date. Others are recording the actions of other players while playing online games. These actions can then be viewed at any time through special “dedicated” gaming servers.
There are also several game genres that have become popular only in certain regions of the world. For example, the Halo games tend to be only available on Xbox 360s, which is not the case for several of the newest game genres such as the Sims. Similarly, it seems likely that the Wii is unlikely to support many gaming genres if Nintendo Resort is to ever take off in the United States. It is also worth remembering that the success of EA Sports Active has much to do with the success of EA Sports Boxing.
Finally, it should be noted that teens and children are equally likely to play this type of game. The only notable difference is that it is more likely that gaming for teens will cause problems with the more delicate neurological systems of the young child. It is not clear why this is, but the result is usually disastrous. In summary, we believe that this is the case, but it is difficult to say for sure. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, we’d love to hear them!