All Computer Games

While the majority of press reports on who and how people play computer games focuses on the negative and addictive aspects of the hobby, a report has just been released called “Expanding the Games Market” that tells readers how more and more people are now viewing gaming as a pastime that is both accessible and fun. The report also argues that although some have suggested that playing computer games is an “isolating” activity, many gamers share this pastime with their friends and family and it can be used as a social focus.
The majority of people supporting and giving evidence for this report, through an online panel, said that they found computer games an enjoyable hobby that helps them to relax and de-stress and they recommended that people try it when they want to unwind. Much to the surprise of the gaming industry, the gamers who said it was a good stress relief method were some of the older game players ranging from the ages of 15 to 65 years old! It is clear that there is no such thing as a typical computer games player.
Over the past several years, the game industry have introduced the brand new genres and types of game that are attracting people of all ages with very different interests. Their challenge now is to satisfy customers who have other entertainment options, that are easily distracted and may be slowly switching off their computers and to keep them interested in the world of gaming. Nintendo is one company that is aware of the need to keep customers keen and interested. They are successful in growing their customer interest. Through the release of the incredibly successful Wii and the DS, they attracted an even larger and new first time audience of consumers.
The research and evidence tells us that a huge 63 percent of the United States population are enjoying playing computer games and a large increase of 30 percent more people are playing computer games than last year, it is apparently an immensely popular hobby. Now this data has been released, and the quality is rapidly improving with new technology and stunning special effects and features, retailers are now opening their eyes and clearing more space on their shelves to serve customers who are rapidly gaining interest in this hobby. It is definitely becoming a mainstream product and not a niche, youth thing.
With consumers of all different age groups and interests picking up their controllers and portable gaming systems, it has not yet come to the attention of the mainstream media that more promotion of playing computer games needs the be given to attract even more custom.

Popularity: 79%

Filed under: Other Computer Games | No Comments »

What is the difference between classic computer games and best-seller computer games? Classic computer games are a matter of personal choice and taste and are unlikely to be in any list of best selling games.
Computer gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry where over two billion video game titles have been sold. Below, we examine the top five best selling video games of all time including a title that sold over 20 million copies. Some of these games may surprise you.
1. Pokemon Red Blue and Green. A role-playing game.
2. Super Mario Brothers 3. A platform arcade style game.
3. The Sims. A life simulation game.
4. Nintendogs. A pet simulation game.
5. Pokemon Gold and Silver editions.

See what I mean? Are any of these money-spinners classics to you? Not to me as I can only call to mind three video games when asked to name ones that really got under my skin. Remember the very first ´Defender´ arcade game? Where rank upon rank of alien invader marched down the screen towards your defensive position and you had to shoot them down. Bonus points were earned if you could take out the occasional mother ship that flew across the top of the screen at random intervals. I tell you nothing could beat the satisfaction of getting your tag to top spot of the all time greats list of Defender players. Only to have to do it all again time and time because you were way down the ranks next time you returned to the arcade. I wish I had dime for every game I played back then instead of giving all my dimes to games company.
My second classic computer game was a little known platform game called ´Dig Dug´. I don’t know what it was about this game that kept my work colleagues and I going back to the keyboard time after time, trying for the next level and top spot. It was a PC based platform type game. In it a stunted crocodile called Dig Dug ate its way through various scenarios, gulping down sacks of gold and avoiding getting crunched by androgynous aliens. In terms of time wasted on pointless activities though this was definitely a classic computer game in my book. Then of course there was the first version of Halo. A testosterone fuelled, highly satisfying war game. And talking of testosterone I’ve just recalled a fourth classic computer game. How could I have forgotten Tomb Raider and the irresistible Lara Croft?
So you take my point that what makes a classic computer game is personal, is about the right time and the right place. Have lots to do with competition, good visuals and an addictive I’m not going to let this beat me hook. I’m left wondering who buys all those best sellers.

Popularity: 82%

Filed under: Other Computer Games | No Comments »

Puzzle games are another good choice for the growing mind. Every puzzle games has its unique way of teaching strategy, planning and just plain fun! After playing these games awhile the child will get much better.
Block Party is a game where the child must remove colored blocks under the rock band members so that they will fall to the stage to begin playing. If the blocks are not removed fast enough, then the rockers will reach the lights at the top of the stage and the show will be over pick. The child must choose the best stars and make sure no heavy metal rockers end up in their pop band, because they won’t be playing the right music!
There are several ways of removing blocks. The easiest way is to form a vertical or horizontal row of three or more blocks of one color. New blocks will come up from below and they move faster for each level. The child must fill all the slots to the left with pop stars to play the game at the next level! There are special blocks to aid the child. The blast blocks can be used in any combination of three or more blocks of the same color, and removes a column or a row, depending if it is included in a vertical or horizontal combination. The higher the child gets in levels the more difficult the game gets. Blocks come flying up and it is very challenging. Star blocks double the score for any combination they are part of, and if you combine a star block and a blast block in one combo, all blocks of that color will be removed. This game is for 7 years and up!
Chuzzles is a very popular puzzle game. In this game the Chuzzles are the child’s best friends. They don’t like to comingle with other colors, so the child must maneuver the Chuzzles around so that they are grouped by color. The larger the one color group becomes, the better the score. Match the Chuzzles by color and watch out for the Chuzzle Locks! Super Chuzzles and Giant Chuzzles add diversity to the skill version of this popular game! They don’t like being alone, so your mission is to group them together by color! Move lines of Chuzzles to create groups of 3 or more that are the same color. Note that the group can have any shape, as long as 3 or more Chuzzles touch, they do not need to be in lines.
Make a Super Chuzzles (they glow), and your child can create them when they make a match of at least 5 Chuzzles. When Super Chuzzles are used in a match, they explode. Creating a Super Chuzzle will give your child bonus points. Create a giant Chuzzle by making a square of four Chuzzles of one color (in later levels). Giant Chuzzles give a small score boost, but they also can be in the way, since the child can only move both the lines it occupies. Giant Chuzzles cannot leave the screen like regular Chuzzles can. No explosions here! Watch out for Chuzzle Locks as they will hinder one or more Chuzzles’ movement in the later levels. A locked Chuzzle cannot be moved. The only way to get rid of a locked Chuzzle is to use it in a match.
To play this game one must click and drag a line of Chuzzles with the mouse to move them. If the move creates a group of 3 or more Chuzzles of the same color, they will disappear. If it doesn’t, your move will be reversed.
Another puzzle game is “Who is the King of the Jungle”. The object is to clear all the bubbles hanging from the roof. This is accomplished by shooting up bubbles of the same color. Master the bounce shots and your steady aim and your child will rule this game.

Popularity: 83%

Filed under: Other Computer Games | No Comments »

The gaming industry is now a growing multi million dollar industry. The level to which the industry has grown since its conception is unimaginable. The credit for the industry booming could be very well handed over to our children. Computer and video games have been very popular among children and teenagers aged seven to sixteen.
The strategies used to build the games, the graphics, the quality of sound, the interactivity all make them quite irresistible among the younger generation. Gaming industries now have a new strategy to market their games – the medical benefits of playing games. Not only medical benefits but also educational. We cannot just ignore it as a cheap marketing strategy because they do have researchers and doctors to back them up.
Researchers have found that frequent game players score better at vision tests as compared to non players. It has also been found that playing these games could improve children’s logical thinking ability and problem solving skills. Games such as SimCity, Age of Mythology, etc where gamers have to build houses, cities and develop war strategies help them to develop their logical skills and also help in decision making. Educational games help to improve their communication and problem solving abilities, alertness, locating things easily without straining too much and so on. American teachers have also found improvement in their students’ mathematics, spelling and reading amongst children who play these games. The government is pondering and researching ways to integrate such games into the academic curriculum.
Where on one hand the games do prove to be beneficial to an extent, at the same time, its ill effects cannot be ignored. Doctors have found a possible threat to these frequent gamers, affecting their health. Common complaints found among children obsessed with games are eye strains, wrist, neck and back pains, etc. Photosensitive epilepsy, headaches, hallucinations, nerve and muscle damages etc. Speculation is going on about whether playing games can cause obesity in the long run.
Specialists have confirmed that children who spend too much time playing computer games not only are easily susceptible to long terms problems like bad posture and RSI (repetitive strain injury), but it also causes a disequilibrium in their daily routine. This stands true not only for children playing games but also for those who spend long hours on the computer. Dr Diana Macgregor of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital has highlighted the case of an 11-year-old boy who suffered from tendonitis following long periods on his Nintendo Game Boy, a condition that has come to be known as ‘Nintendonitis’. RSI is not as simple as it sounds. Its treatment is generally a long difficult process. It could be anything from simple relaxation exercises to Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Is this really something that parents would like their children to go through?
Spending many hours in front of the monitor and not going out enough could also cause social problems thus resulting in them becoming shy and introvert. Apart from that the games developed nowadays happen to be a lot more violent thus the gamers do have a tendency to lose control and become more aggressive.
A controversial new research has proved that excessive playing of games can actually stunt the growth of a human brain. Brain-mapping expert Professor Ryuta Kawashima and his team at Tohoku University in Japan measured the level of brain activity in teenagers playing a Nintendo game and compared it with those who played other arithmetic games. It was concluded that the Nintendo game stimulated activity only in the parts of the brain associated with vision and movement. While arithmetic games stimulated brain activity in both the left and right hemispheres of the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe of the brain is associated with learning, memory and emotion and continues to develop till the age of 20. Hence it is a matter of concern. Though the games do provide certain benefits, the question is how much and is it really worthwhile.
Parents need to keep track of how much time their children spend in front of the screen playing games and also as to what type of games they play. Every aspect has its advantages and disadvantages; so is the law of nature. What we can do is try to maintain a balance and get the best of what it has to offer, be it nature or technology.

Popularity: 82%

Filed under: Other Computer Games | No Comments »

Well with the hullabaloo over the increasing violence in computer games and the adverse effects that they can have on children, parents are getting very apprehensive about their children’s activities on the computer. However there is a wide variety of interesting, safe and educational computer games for children which can be provided to children right from their preschool days. The wide variety of educational computer games for children can actually assist your child’s development at preschool as he/she is introduced to the world of numbers, alphabets and shapes. Here is all the information you need to know about educational computer games for preschool children.

What are Educational Computer Games?
Simple computer games that can assist children with their development skills including introduction to numbers, alphabets, shapes and even color co-ordination. Educational computer games are a great way for parents or pre-school to pique children’s interest in the learning process since computers fascinate most of the kids.

What sort of Content should I expect in the Educational Computer Games for Preschool Children?
There are a number of educational computer games for preschool children that offer the kids an opportunity to indulge in various activities related to math, arts, music, language and many other skills. The kids can indulge in reading games, math games, puzzles, coloring, and even music. Also available are preschool educational software kits that include a number of games, and activities like reading, math, or even coloring pages. Such software kits are excellent for preschool owners as well as parents who want their kids to enjoy the benefits of these software at home.

Where Can I get Educational Computer Games for Preschool Children?
You can pick up good educational computer games for your preschool level children from a reputed kids store. In case you have difficulty in finding enough options in the near by store, just log on to the Internet and there are a number of educational games for preschool children that you can either download or purchase. There also exist a number of websites that offer free downloads or computer games that can be played online.

Would it be Safe to Introduce Children to Educational Computer Games at Preschool Level?
The answer is yes. There is no harm in introducing preschool kids to computer games as long as you ensure you are picking out non-violent, safe and simple computer games that will not only be fun for your children but also be a useful learning tool. The only thing to keep in mind is to restrict the usage time of these games and supervise the activity.

How do I Ensure my Child Does Not Get Addicted to these Computer Games?
You can ensure that your child doesn’t get addicted to the computer games by combining these games with wholesome time for other activities. Restrict the time your pre-school child spends on this game and most importantly sit with your child throughout the whole time. Combining the game with some other activity is also a great idea. Also the simplest way to avoid addiction of computer games is following the rule yourself, if the children see you glued to the computer every now and then it is natural for them to pick up after you.

Educational Computer Games for Preschool Children
Now that we have got your basic doubts cleared, lets move on to a more interesting portion in this topic. Yes, the actual games. There are fun games; there are reading games, coloring games and many other options to choose from. Here are some interesting computer games for preschool children:
Dragon Tales Learn & Fly with Dragons
Dr.Seuss Reading Games
Curious George Preschool Learning Games
Dally Dinosaur Teaches Numbers

Popularity: 100%

Filed under: Kids Computer Games | No Comments »