It has been suggested that Multiplayer game be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Namco's Pac-Man was a hit, and became a cultural phenomenon. The game spawned merchandise, a cartoon series and pop songs, and was one of the most heavily cloned video games of all-time.

For the magazine, see Computer and Video Games (magazine).

A computer game is a computer-controlled game where players interact with objects displayed on a screen for the sake of entertainment. A video game is essentially the same form of entertainment, but refers not only to games played on a personal computer, but also to games run by a console or arcade machine. The term "computer game" also includes games which display only text (and which can therefore theoretically be played on a teletypewriter) or which use other methods, such as sound or vibration, as their primary feedback device, or a controller (console games), or a combination of any of the above. Also, more esoteric devices have been used for input (see also Game controller). Usually there are rules and goals, but in more open-ended games the player may be free to do whatever they like within the confines of the virtual universe. Image File history File links Pac-man. ... Image File history File links Pac-man. ... Namco is a company based in Japan, best known for developing video games. ... Pac-Man is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution by Midway Games in 1979. ... An animated series or cartoon series is a television series produced by means of animation. ... Popular music is music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more of the mass media. ... A song is a relatively short musical composition for the human voice (commonly accompanied by other musical instruments), which features words (lyrics). ... This article is about a British magazine covering computer and video games. ... A BlueGene cabinet. ... The Atari 2600, Sony PSOne, Nintendo Gamecube, and Xbox 360 A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer. ... This arcade cabinet, containing Centipede, is an upright. ... Teletype machines in World War II A teleprinter (teletypewriter, teletype or TTY) is a now largely obsolete electro-mechanical typewriter which can be used to communicate typed messages from point to point through a simple electrical communications channel, often just a pair of wires. ... It has been suggested that Gamepad be merged into this article or section. ... The Atari 2600, Sony PSOne, Nintendo Gamecube, and Xbox 360 A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer. ... It has been suggested that Gamepad be merged into this article or section. ...

The phrase interactive entertainment is the formal reference to computer and video games. To avoid ambiguity, game software is referred to as "computer and video games" throughout this article, which explores properties common to both types of game.

In common usage, a "computer game" or a "PC game" refers to a game that is played on a personal computer. "Console game" refers to one that is played on a device specifically designed for the use of such, while interfacing with a standard television set. "Video game" (or "videogame"), in places where the term is used, has evolved into a catchall phrase that encompasses the aforementioned along with any game made for any other device, including, but not limited to, mobile phones, PDAs, advanced calculators, etc. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A console game is a form of interactive multimedia used for entertainment. ... palmOne Tungsten T5 (CDAs) are handheld devices that were originally designed as personal organizers, but became much more versatile over the years. ... For other uses, see Calculator (disambiguation). ...

Gameplay

Main article: Gameplay

In computer and video gaming, gameplay is a general term that describes player interaction with a game. It includes direct interaction, such as controls and interface, but also design aspects of the game, such as levels and graphics, it also has various game difficulties in which the game gets harder or easier. Gameplay includes all player experiences during the interaction with game systems, especially formal games. ... The user interface is the part of a system exposed to users. ... Game design is the process of designing the content and rules of a game. ... In computer and video games, a level (sometimes called a stage, course, episode, round, world, map, wave, board, phase, or landscape) is a separate area in a games virtual world, in modern games typically representing a specific location such as a building or a city. ...

Although the use of this term is often disputed, as it is considered too vague for the range of concepts it describes, it is currently the most commonly used and accepted term for this purpose when describing video games.

Genres

Main article: Computer and video game genres

Games, like most other forms of media, may be categorized into genres based on gameplay, atmosphere, and various other factors. In fact, games are often much easier to classify by genre than films, music, or books. Due to gaming's relatively short history, technical limitations, and the commercial pressures currently affecting the North American and Japanese markets, electronic games are ensconced in a period of extreme formalism. Recently, video games have begun to explode in popularity, a rise which coincides with an increase in production value, and thus, development cost. As gamers come to expect talented voice acting, enormous, meticulously-constructed worlds and Hollywood-quality sound effects, production costs rise, and owing to the tremendous investment required by publishers (who want to maximize profits), most choose to make games based upon "tried-and-true" ideas, borrowing heavily from previous games and concepts. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The term formalism describes an emphasis on form over content or meaning in the arts, literature, or philosophy. ...

This is most evident in the fact that publishers' tend to establish "franchises", which often recycle the same characters, situations, conflicts, gameplay mechanics, and themes for any number of sequels. Therefore, though many games may combine genres, very few exist outside the paradigm of previously established genres, with notable exceptions.

The most common genres in use today include:

• Platformer
• Adventure
• Role-playing game (RPG)
  • MMORPG
  • MMOSG
  • MMOFPS
• Sports
• Racing
• Action
  • Fighting
  • Shooting
    • First person shooter (FPS)
    • Third person shooter
• Puzzle
• Simulation
• Strategy game
  • Turn-based
  • Real-time (RTS)
• Stealth-based game

Many games today are a combination of two or more genres; an action role-playing game, for example. There are also number of genres, which are mostly unpopular today, that were hybrid forms of other media, such as books or movies; the most familiar being interactive fiction and interactive movies. Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms. ... Adventure is a genre of video game typified by exploration, puzzle-solving, interaction with game characters, and a focus on narrative rather than reflex-based challenges. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A massive(ly) multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG is a multiplayer computer role-playing game that enables thousands of players to play in an evolving virtual world at the same time over the Internet. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Massively multiplayer online game. ... It has been suggested that XORG be merged into this article or section. ... A racing game is any game that involves competing in races through a surrogate playing piece or vehicle, either getting it from one point to another or completing a number of circuits in the shortest time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Screenshot of Kung Fu Master (1984, Irem). ... Galaga, a famous shoot-em-up from 1981. ... A first-person shooter (FPS) is a computer or video game where the players on-screen view of the game world simulates that of the character, and there is some element of shooting involved. ... A third-person shooter is a computer game in 3-D where the camera view is outside and usually behind the main player character. ... A puzzle is a problem or enigma presented as entertainment; that is written down, acted out, etc. ... A simulation game, or sim game, (also known as a game of status or mixed game) is a game that contains a mixture of skill, a chance and strategy to simulate an aspect of reality, such as a stock exchange. ... It has been suggested that Game of strategy be merged into this article or section. ... The Battle for Wesnoth, an example of a turn-based tactics game. ... Starcraft and its expansion Brood War, released in 1998, are still played competitively today. ... Solid Snake hides behind a tank in Metal Gear Solid, a popular stealth video game. ... An Action-RPG, or action role-playing game is a type of computer role-playing game which requires quick action or reflexes from the player. ... Zork, an early work of interactive fiction, running on a modern interpreter Interactive fiction, often abbreviated IF, describes software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment. ... One of the first laserdisc games, Dragons Lair, was developed during the Golden Age of Arcade Games An interactive movie is a video game genre composed entirely of full-motion video of either animated or live-action footage. ...

The increase in the popularity of online gaming has also resulted in sub-genres being formed, such as massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Internet games (also known as online games) are games that are played online via the Internet. ... Players interacting in Ultima Online. ...

Multiplayer video games

Video gaming has traditionally been a social experience. Most video games are playable by more than a single player. Multiplayer video games are those that can be played either competitively or cooperatively online, by using multiple input devices, or by hotseating. Tennis for Two, arguably the first video game, was a two-player game as was its successor, PONG. The first commerically available console game system, the Magnavox Oddysey, had two controller inputs. Since that time, most console systems have been shipped with two or four controller inputs. Some had the ability to expand to four or eight inputs with an additional adapter, such as the Multitap. Coin-op games usually featured hotseat play for at least two players. Public business establishments which catered to coin-op game players were frequently known as arcades, and were widely popular during their golden age. Computer games started out with a lower availability of multiplayer options, largely due to technical reasons. Home computers tended to have only a single gaming port (if any) available, and network options were limited. However, with the advent of widespread local area network and online capability, the number of players in modern games can be 32 or higher, sometimes featuring integrated text and /or voice chat. MMOs can offer extremely high numbers of simultaneous players; EVE Online set a record with just under 33,000 players on a single server in 2006.^[1] It has been suggested that Multiplayer Video Games be merged into this article or section. ... Online means being connected to the Internet or another similar electronic network, like a bulletin board system. ... Hotseat or hot seat is a multiplayer mode provided by some computer games (usually turn-based games), which allows two or more players to play on the same computer using the same single set of input devices (e. ... Tennis for Two was a game developed in 1958 on an oscilloscope which simulated a game of tennis or ping pong. ... Pong helped bring computerized video games into everyday life. ... PlayStation 2 Multitap Hudson Soft released a Super Famicom Multitap in the shape of Bombermans face. ... Centipede by Atari is a typical example of a 1980s era arcade game. ... A video arcade is a place where people play arcade video games. ... In Space Invaders, the player controls the firing and horizontal position of the green cannon at the bottom, fending off constant attack by echelons of eponymous enemies. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Local area network scheme A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a local area, like a home, office, or group of buildings[1]. Current LANs are most likely to be based on switched IEEE 802. ... The abbreviation MMO can stand for any of several things: Main Mechanical Outfitting Maintenance Management Officer Maintenance Manual Organization Level (TMINS) Man-made object Marine Mammal Observer Marketing Mix Optimization Massively multiplayer online (gaming) Materials and Manufacturing Ontario Maximum Operating Mach Number Means, Motive and Opportunity Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter Minimum... EVE Online is a persistent world multiplayer online game set in space. ...

Popularity

The popularity of computer and video games, as a whole, has been increasing steadily ever since the 1984-1987 drop-off caused by the video game crash of 1983, and the popularity appears to be continuing to increase. The average age of the video game player is now 33,^[2] belying the myth that video games are largely a diversion for teenagers. E.T. for the Atari 2600. ... A separate article is about the punk band called The Adolescents. ...

Sales

A typical retail display (in Geneva, Switzerland) with a large selection of games for several major consoles

The three largest markets for computer and video games are the United States (largest), Japan (2nd largest) and the United Kingdom (3rd) also in that order as the largest producers of video games [1]. Other significant markets include Australia, Canada, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Mexico, France and Italy. Both India and the China are considered emerging markets in the video game industry and sales are expected to rise significantly in the coming years. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x750, 336 KB)A retail display of video games at a Manor department store in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x750, 336 KB)A retail display of video games at a Manor department store in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German:   //, Italian: Ginevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ...

Sales of different types of games vary widely between these markets due to local preferences. Japanese consumers avoid computer games and instead buy console games, with a strong preference for games catering to local tastes. In South Korea, computer games are preferred, especially MMORPG games and real-time strategy games; there are over 20,000 PC bang Internet cafes where computer games can be played for an hourly charge. Players interacting in Ultima Online. ... Starcraft and its expansion Brood War, released in 1998, are still played competitively today. ... A PC bang is an Internet cafe in South Korea. ...

The NPD Group tracks computer and video game sales in the United States. It reported that as of 2004: The NPD Group, Inc. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Console and portable software sales: $6.2 billion, up 8% from 2003^[3]
• Console and portable hardware and accessory sales: $3.7 billion, down 35% from 2003^[3]
• PC game sales: $1.1 billion, down 15% from 2006^[4]

These figures are sales in dollars, not units; unit shipments for each category were higher than the dollar sales numbers indicate, as more software and hardware was sold at reduced prices compared to 2003.

Retail PC game sales have been declining slightly each year since about 1998, but this fact should be taken with a grain of salt: the retail sales numbers from NPD do not include sales from online downloads, nor subscription revenue for games like MMORPGs. Players interacting in Ultima Online. ...

The game and film industries are also becoming increasingly intertwined, with companies like Sony having significant stakes in both. A large number of summer blockbuster films spawn a companion game, often launching at the same time in order to share the marketing costs. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Benefits of video gaming

Perhaps the most visible values of computer and video gaming are simply its artistic and entertainment values. As a form of multimedia entertainment, modern video games contain a highly unique fusion of 3D art, CG effects, architecture, artificial intelligence, sound effects, dramatic performances, music, storytelling, and, most importantly, interactivity. This interactivity enables the player to explore what amounts to a stylized, artistic depiction and simulation of some three-dimensional environment (something no other form of entertainment can allow) with the actions of the player operating as a single, irreducible variable. In this respect, every game scenario will play out a slightly different way every time. Even if the game is highly scripted, this can still feel like a large amount of freedom to the person who is playing the game. Consider, for example, a game such as Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, where the objective is often to eliminate Nazi squads by commanding a group of soldiers from a first-person perspective. Many aspects of the game are highly controlled — the number of Nazis and the places they originate from do not vary, nor does the strength and armament of friendly or enemy troops. The maps are meticulously designed in such a way as to provide clear paths and cover at key locations. And still, the overall strategy, the tactics, and the execution will vary every time. Within the rather broad boundaries of the game, the player is able to exercise far more freedom and control than in traditional forms of entertainment or art. Look up Multimedia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

A related property is that of emergent behavior. While many games including card games and sports rely on emergent principles, games are able to create simulated story worlds where emergent behavior occurs within the context of this world. This also is very appealing to players. In discussing the issue, game designer Warren Spector has used the term "emergent narrative" to describe how, in a simulated environment, storyline can be created simply by "what happens to the player." [2] A termite cathedral mound produced by a termite colony: a classic example of emergence in nature. ... Warren Spector, 1999 Warren Spector is a respected game designer, having worked to merge elements of RPGs and first-person shooters. ...

In Steven Johnson's book, "Everything Bad Is Good For You," he argues that video games in fact demand far more from a player than traditional games like Monopoly. In order to experience the game, the player must first determine the objectives, as well as how to complete them. They must then learn the game controls and how the human-machine interface works, including menus and HUDs. Beyond such skills, which after some time become quite fundamental and are taken for granted by many gamers, video games are based upon the player navigating (and eventually mastering) a highly complex system with many variables. This requires a strong analytical ability, as well as flexibility and adaptability. To emphasize the point, Johnson notes that the strategy guide for Grand Theft Auto III is 53,000 words long. He argues that the process of learning the boundaries, goals, and controls of a given game is often a highly demanding one that calls on many different areas of cognitive function. Indeed, most games require a great deal of patience and focus from the player, and, contrary to the popular perception that games provide instant gratification, games actually delay gratification far longer than other forms of entertainment such as film or even many books. [3] Some research^[5] suggests video games may even increase player's attention capacities. Steven Berlin Johnson Steven Berlin Johnson (born June 6, 1968) is an American popular science author. ... Everything Bad is Good for You: How Todays Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter is a book by Steven Berlin Johnson in which he claims that popular culture in general, and tv shows and computer games in particular, have grown more complex and demanding over time and are... Screenshot of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. ... Grand Theft Auto III (GTA III) is an action computer and video game developed by DMA Design (now Rockstar North), published by Rockstar Games in October 2001 (see 2001 in video gaming) for the PlayStation 2 video game console, May 2002 for Windows-based personal computers (PCs), and in November...

Multiplayer games, which take advantage of the fact that computer games can use the internet, provide players with the opportunity to compete with other players from across the globe, something that is also unique to electronic gaming. MMORPG's take the concept much further with the establishment of vast, online communities existing in persistent, virtual worlds. Millions of players around the globe are attracted to video gaming simply because it offers such unprecedented ability to interact with large numbers of people engaged simultaneously in a structured environment where they are all involved in the same activity (playing the game). Players interacting in Ultima Online. ...

Even simple games offer potential benefits to the player. Games like Tetris and Pac-man are well-designed games that are easy to pick up but difficult to master, much like chess or even poker. Despite their simplicity, simple games may also feature online capabilities or powerful AI. Depending on the game, players can develop and test their techniques against an advanced computer player or online against other human players. Tetris (Тетрис) is a very popular falling blocks puzzle game, released on a large spectrum of platforms. ... Pac-Man is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution by Midway Games in 1979. ... Chess is an abstract strategy board game and mind sport for two players. ... Poker Room at the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey Poker is a card game, the most popular of a class of games called vying games, in which players with fully or partially concealed cards make wagers into a central pot, which is awarded to the player or players...

More obvious benefits to the player can come in the form education on the game's subject matter. For example, a RTS set during the American Civil War may feature the use of period armies engaging in historical battles, and outwitting an opponent such as Robert E. Lee. Dune 2 (1992), an early RTS A real-time strategy (RTS) game is a type of computer strategy game which does not have turns like conventional turn-based strategy video or board games. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Lincoln, President Ulysses S. Grant, General Jefferson Davis, President Robert E. Lee, General Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action... Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a career U.S. Army officer and the most celebrated general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ...

Controversy

Main article: Video game controversy

Like related forms of media, computer and video games have been the subject of frequent controversy and censorship, due to the depiction of graphic violence, sexual themes, advertising, consumption of illegal drugs, consumption of alcohol or tobacco, propaganda, or profanity in some games. Among others, critics of video games sometimes include parents' groups, politicians, organized religion groups, and other special interest groups, even though all of these can be found in all forms of entertainment and media. Various games have been accused of causing addiction to such and even violent behavior. Computer and video games have been the subject of frequent controversy and censorship, due to the depiction of graphic violence, sexual themes, racism, advertising, eavesdropping, consumption of illegal drugs, consumption of alcohol or tobacco, propaganda or profanity in some games. ... Censorship is the editing, removing, or otherwise changing speech and other forms of human expression. ... Violence is any act of aggression and abuse which causes or intends to cause injury, in some cases criminal, or harm to persons, and (to a lesser extent) animals or property. ... Look up Sex in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Marketing Billboards and street advertising in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, (2005) Advertising is paid communication through a non-personal medium in which the sponsor is identified and the message is controlled. ... Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. ... Bottles of cachaça, a Brazilian alcoholic beverage. ... Species Nicotiana acuminata Nicotiana alata Nicotiana attenuata Nicotiana benthamiana Nicotiana clevelandii Nicotiana excelsior Nicotiana forgetiana Nicotiana glauca Nicotiana glutinosa Nicotiana langsdorffii Nicotiana longiflora Nicotiana obtusifolia Nicotiana paniculata Nicotiana plumbagifolia Nicotiana quadrivalvis Nicotiana repanda Nicotiana rustica Nicotianasuaveolens Nicotiana sylvestris Nicotiana tabacum Nicotiana tomentosa Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005... An Australian anti-conscription propaganda poster from World War One Propaganda is a certain type of message presentation directly aimed at manipulating the opinions or behavior of people, rather than impartially providing information. ... Look up Profanity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A special interest is a person or political organization established to influence governmental policy or legislators in a specific area of policy. ... Addiction is a mental or physical disorder proposed to be precipitated by a combination of genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors. ... Violence is any act of aggression and abuse which causes or intends to cause injury, in some cases criminal, or harm to persons, and (to a lesser extent) animals or property. ...

Video game censorship is defined as the use of state or group power to control the playing, distribution, purchase, or sale of video games or computer games. Video game controversy comes in many forms, and censorship is a controversial subject, as well as a popular topic of debate. Proponents and opponents of censorship are often very passionate about their individual views.

Historically, this type of controversy and criticism is not unique to video games. The same situation has been applied to Comic books, motion pictures and to some extent music. Moreover, it appears to be a question of age. Since these art forms have been around longer, the backlash against them occurred farther in the past, beyond the remembrance of today's youth. In both cases, the attempts at censorship in the United States were struck down as a violation of First Amendment rights, and they have gone on to become fully integrated facets of society. A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... The Production Code (also known as the Hays Code) was a set of industry guidelines governing the production of American motion pictures. ... The Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) was a committee formed in 1985 by the wives of several congressmen. ... The first ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. ... For the direction right, see left and right or starboard. ...

Games that have sparked notable national controversy in the United States include Mortal Kombat, Night Trap, Doom, the Grand Theft Auto series and, most notably, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' infamous Hot Coffee mod fiasco which boosted the game's ESRB rating from M (Mature) to AO (Adults Only)^[6]. Mortal Kombat has multiple meanings. ... Night Trap is a video game released on October 15, 1992. ... Doom (or DOOM)[1] is a 1993 computer game by id Software that is among the landmark titles in the first-person shooter genre. ... The current design of the Grand Theft Auto logo. ... Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the fifth video game in the Grand Theft Auto series. ... Wikinews has news related to: Video games secret sex scenes spark outrage The Hot Coffee mod is a mod created for the 2005 personal computer port of the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas by Rockstar North. ... The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games in the United States. ...

Demographics

The November 2005 Nielsen Active Gamer study, taking a survey of 2,000 regular gamers, found that the U.S. games market is diversifying. The age group among male players is expanding significantly, into the 25-45 age group. For casual online puzzle-style and simple mobile cell phone games, the gender divide is more or less equal between males and females. Females are being significantly attracted to playing certain online multi-user video games that offer a more communal experience, and a small hardcore group of young females are playing aggressive games that are usually thought of as being 'traditionally male' games. The most loyal fan-base is reported to be for large role-playing games. Motorola T2288 mobile phone A mobile phone is a portable electronic device which behaves as a normal telephone whilst being able to move over a wide area (compare cordless phone which acts as a telephone only within a limited range). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Development

Main article: Game development

Video games are made by developers, who used to do this as individuals or small teams in the 80's. Now, development commonly requires a large team consisting of designers, graphic designers and other artists, programmers, sound designers, musicians, and other technicians; all of which are managed by producers. The visionary for any game may come from any of the roles outlined. Development by committee rarely works. Game development is the process by which a game is produced. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates computer or video games. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Saul Basss poster for the film The Man with the Golden Arm - a highly regarded work of graphic design. ... Look up artist in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A game programmer is a software engineer who primarily develops computer or video games or related software (such as game development tools). ... Sound design is a technical/conceptually creative field. ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... A game producer is the person in charge of overseeing development of a video or computer game. ...

With the start of the 21st century we can see a major boom in the numbers of game developing teams and studios. This business, although tough and risky, proves to be a goldmine for the determined groups. Previous industry giants like EA Games, Valve, and Rockstar are slowly being displaced by newer studios with smaller budgets yet more determined and younger members who have developed a passion for video gaming throughout their whole lives. Most of these studios are modding existing engines and games until they get enough media attention and sponsors to start a new project from scratch. Prime examples of such teams are Dimension Studios and Turtle Rock Studios. Both of these provide content for already existing games and are making a fortune out of it. An older team, Gearbox Software, started out in a similar fashion by modding the original Half-Life engine; now it is one of the major video game developers.

Video games are developing fast in all areas, but the problem is of cost, and how developers intend to keep the costs low enough to attract publisher investment. Most video game console development teams number anywhere from 20 to 50 people, with some teams exceeding 100. The average team size as well as the average development time of a game have grown along with the size of the industry and the technology involved in creating games. This has led to regular occurrences of missed deadlines and unfinished products; Duke Nukem Forever is the quintessential example of these problems. Duke Nukem Forever (DNF) is a yet-to-be-released first-person shooter video game being developed by 3D Realms, and is the next game in the popular Duke Nukem series. ...

See also: Video game industry practices

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Computer and video game industry. ...

Game modifications

Main article: Mod (computer gaming)

Games running on a PC are often designed with end-user modifications in mind, and this consequently allows modern computer games to be modified by gamers without much difficulty. These mods can add an extra dimension of replayability and interest. The Internet provides an inexpensive medium to promote and distribute mods, and they have become an increasingly important factor in the commercial success of some games. Developers such as id, Valve, Crytek, Epic and especially Blizzard Entertainment ship their games with the very development tools used to make the game in the first place, along with documentation to assist mod developers, which allows for the kind of success seen by popular mods such as Counter-Strike. 2004 Banshee car modification for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - replacement of original Banshee. ... 2004 Banshee car modification for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - replacement of original Banshee. ... id Software (IPA: officially, though commonly mispronounced /ay di: soft. ... Valve Software is a Bellevue, Washington-based video game developer made famous by its first product, Half-Life, which was released in November 1998. ... Crytek is a video game development company founded by Cevat, Avni and Faruk Yerli in 1999 and is located in Frankfurt, Germany. ... Epic Games, also known as Epic and formerly as Epic MegaGames, is a computer game development company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. ... Blizzard Entertainment is an American PC game developer and publisher. ... Counter-Strike (CS) is a popular team-based mod of Valves first-person shooter (FPS) Half-Life. ...

Naming

Non-gamers use several umbrella terms for console, PC, arcade, handheld, and similar games since they do not agree on the best name. For many, either "computer game" or "video game" describes these games as a whole. Other commonly used terms include "entertainment software," "interactive entertainment media," "electronic interactive entertainment," "electronic game," "software game," and "videogame" (as one word). Gamers are quite happy to use the vague term "games", or "videogame/video game" to distinguish them from board games and card games when necessary. In the past, it was common for parents and/or elderly people, who were unfamiliar with video games, to refer to all of them as "Nintendo games" due to Nintendo's overwhelming popularity in the late 80s and 90s (this is an example of a genericized trademark). Computer and video games are a subset of interactive media, which includes virtual reality, flight and engineering simulation, multimedia and the World Wide Web. The expression umbrella term means a word that provides a superset or grouping of related concepts. ... A board game is any game played with a premarked surface, with counters or pieces that are moved across the board. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Nintendo Company, Limited (任天堂 or ニンテンドー Nintendō; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 usually referred to as simply Nintendo, or Big N ) is a multinational corporation founded on September 23, 1889[1] in Kyoto, Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards. ... A genericized trademark (Commonwealth English genericised trade mark), sometimes known as a generic trade mark, generic descriptor or proprietary eponym, is a trademark or brand name which is often used as the colloquial description for a particular type of product or service as a result of widespread popular or cultural... New media usually refers to a group of relatively recent mass media based on new information technology. ... Virtual reality (VR) is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment, be it a real or imagined one. ... A flight simulator is a system that tries to replicate, or simulate, the experience of flying an airplane as closely and realistically as possible. ... Engineering is the application of scientific or mathematical principles with due reference to economics, society and environment to develop solutions to technical problems, creating products, facilities, and structures that are useful to people. ... Look up Multimedia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... WWWs historical logo designed by Robert Cailliau The World Wide Web (WWW or simply the Web) is a system of interlinked, hypertext documents that runs over the Internet. ...

Notes

February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• Lieu, Tina (August 1997). Where have all the PC games gone?". Computing Japan.
• Costikyan, Greg (1994). I Have No Words & I Must Design.
• Crawford, Chris (1982). The Art of Computer Game Design.
• Smuts, Aaron (2005). Are Video Games Art?.
• Blodget, Henry (April 12, 2005). How to Solve China's Piracy Problem. Slate.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2006.
• Winegarner, Beth (January 28, 2005). Game sales hit record highs. Gamespot. Retrieved on February 12, 2006.
• John Wills (2002-10-01). "Digital Dinosaurs and Artificial Life: Exploring the Culture of Nature in Computer and Video Games". Cultural Values (Journal for Cultural Research) 6 (4): 395–417. DOI:10.1080/1362517022000047334.

February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a permanent identifier (permalink) given to a World Wide Web file or other Internet document so that if its Internet address changes, users will be redirected to its new address. ...

See also

Computer and video games Portal

• List of gaming topics
• List of computer and video games
• Category:Computer and video games
• Computer and video game industry
• List of cancelled video games
• List of vaporwares
• List of commercial failures in computer and video gaming
• Artistic computer game modification
• Category:Video Game Universities
• Personal computer game
• Games for Windows
• Unlockable games
• Gaming computers

Image File history File links Portal. ... This is a hierarchical list linking to all articles related to computer and video games. ... This is a list of computer games and video games. ... Pac-Man is one of the most recognizable video games ever created. ... This is a list of cancelled video games, organized by system. ... This page is an incomplete list of known example of vaporware, in alphabetical order by product name: Action Gamemaster - a handheld device designed by Active Enterprises The Analytical engine - a computer designed by Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace Cairo - an operating system developed by Microsoft Cobalt (pda OS) - The much... The computer and video games industry has seen several commercial failures since its birth in the late 1970s, some of which have drastically changed the video game market. ... Artistic computer game modification involves the use of a computer game for the creation of a digital artwork. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Games for Windows is a marketing campaign by Microsoft that dates back at least to 2005, and has been revised in 2006, seemingly aimed at officially categorizing computer games that will work (possibly exclusively) with their Microsoft Windows products. ... The term unlockable games refers to full videogames that can be unlocked within another videogame. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

External links

• Video game consoles through the ages