Flower: Video

Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts

Friday, June 24, 2011

The Online Goldmine - Buying Used Video Games Online

You Have a Great Idea For a Video Game - What Should You Do?

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

How to Become a Video Game Tester

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Online Hunting Games - Early Age Video Game History

Even though personal computers have been around for a very long time, they really became popular in the 1980's and have evolved into almost a necessity of life for many people. However, video games really began with the invention of the Atari video game system which would eventually evolve into more in-depth and more powerful game systems. One of the earliest hunting games developed was Duck Hunt which was made for the Nintendo game system.

Duck Hunt required the use of a special Nintendo Zapper light gun that plugged directly into the system. Players would then wait for ducks to show up on the screen which looked like a field. When the ducks came along, they would point and shoot. They were accompanied by a faithful hunting dog who would laugh if the duck was missed and congratulate on a successful shooting. The game also allowed players to shoot clay pigeons if they chose.

There was really no ending in the Duck Hunt game, however there were playing levels. Depending on how good the player got, he or she would advance up to 99 levels at which point, the game would go to level 00. At that level, no ducks would appear, but you would hear wings flapping. After three times of no ducks appearing, the game would be "over".

After Duck Hunt, there were many other hunting video games that would begin to emerge on the market including Deer Hunter, Big Game Hunter, and Dangerous Hunts. Most of these games began for video game consoles like Nintendo, but the computer industry would soon become more and more involved as these games began to rise in popularity. While opinions vary as to which hunting video game was the first one developed for the home computer, many think that it was called "The Hunting Game" and was made by Oquirrh Productions. The Hunting Game allowed players to hunt for mule, deer, elk, and white tail deer from 48 separate locations. You were allowed to use a rifle, a bow, or a muzzle loader to hunt your prey. You also could hunt for turkey or water fowl from 18 separate locations.

When The Hunting Game first came onto the market, it caused quite a stir among hunting enthusiasts as well as animal rights activists. In fact, in many circles, the emergence of hunting video games brought about much debate and controversy.

Those who enjoyed hunting in the "real world" found these new games exciting and a great way to get some entertainment without leaving the comfort of their own home. They saw the games as a great way to be able to hunt animals they might never be able to do in real life such as bears and moose.

After all, the average Midwestern hunter sees plenty of deer on hunting expeditions, but their chances of hunting bear or elk is limited without a trip someplace.

On the other hand, animal rights activists threw a fit over these games because they perceived them as just another way to harm the animal population and promote violence against our furry friends. Even though the animals were just a bunch of coding made up by a software programmer somewhere, they still felt that video games promoting hunting only added to the real hunting of animals which they perceived as wrong.

At any rate, the fact remained that hunting video games took the market by storm and soon became some of the most popular selling games and software around. Software developers began to make these games much more challenging offering up different options for players that would make the games more enjoyable.

Today, there are hundreds of hunting video games for enthusiasts to choose from that have evolved into truly challenging games. Some may think that a point and click game where you can "down" a virtual deer might be a bit boring, but those who love these games disagree wholeheartedly.

They provide not only entertainment, but also a way to hone their hunting skills at any time of the day or night. When you spend a certain amount of time honing your tracking skills on the computer, chances are pretty good that you'll be able to use those skills while hunting for real.

A fan of hunting games? Learn the techniques, cheat codes, and the best places to find free hunting games online, go to Online Hunting Games

Video Games for Kids

Many of the most popular video games may be a bad choice for kids. When parents are deciding which video game to buy for their children, make sure to check the rating for the game. There are an incredible amount of choices for parents and kids to choose from when it comes time to buy a game. Unfortunately, many video games out there can be a bad influence for kids who don't understand the images that they are seeing.

While video games can be an excellent outlet for stress for kids and an excellent way to hone their motor skills, there is a real risk that children can get completely addicted to violent games or even the most mundane strategy game. There have been many cases around the world of kids who are unwilling to leave their room for days, who go without food and water in their quest to finish the next stage of the game or defeat their enemy.

When kids lose themselves in video games, that is when parents need to step in and help them modify their habits. Kids playing violent games for hours during the day can often be negatively affected by the images they see. The question is whether parents can help them understand the real consequences of violence in the world. They need to know the difference between the fake world of a video game and the real world. Unfortunately, video games are becoming even more realistic looking and time consuming.

Parents can also rent video games and try them out for themselves before buying them for their kids. This gives parents the chance to decide for themselves which games are bad for their kids. Parents can also play games with their kids. It can be a great way to bond with kids and learn a little more about their world. Children should be limited in the amount of time they can spend on video games. Kids need to get out and enjoy the outside world instead of being locked away inside for hours on end.

There are many excellent video games out there, so why waste your hard-earned money on bad games for your kids. Strategy games, non-violent role playing video games, and sports games are all popular choices for children. Video games can have a very positive effect on children's minds if used properly. Video games help kids work on their motor skills, decision-making skills, and concentration. Many games are also very educational.

One great tool to help you is the ESRB ratings, which are an industry-standard requirement on all video games. They are very similar to movie ratings and easy to learn how to spot and read. EC for Early Childhood or E for Everyone are games that contain no offensive, violent, or sexual content and are generally the best for kids. T for Teen might be a bit more violent, have a heavier or darker plot, or contain some stronger language, but generally in a way that isn't excessive and would be appropriate for most teenagers. M for Mature games should be avoided unless you are aware of and familiar with the game and deem it appropriate for your child, as those are the games that are the "R rated" games of the gaming world and should be treated as such. Any game retail store has signs and brochures with more information, so feel free to ask the clerks for more information. It's becoming increasingly standard, and in some areas the law, that anyone purchasing an M-rated game must show an ID card to prove their age, much like many theaters do for R-rated movies.

If you take the time to discover what is out there in the gaming world, you will be able to help your kids by choosing the right video games for them. Don't miss out on this opportunity to mold your kids' future. Video games are becoming an increasingly important part of the way kids grow up, and parents must take an active role in determining the way kids experience this type of entertainment.

For more on video gaming, visit http://gamer-revolution.net to read about the latest such as X Box System and games or go retro with the Turbo Grafx-16 or read about PC and Nintendo games, and much more!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Video Game Rentals

With the introduction of new gaming consoles like Xbox 360, PS3, and Nintendo Wii, video game rental industry has really reached new heights. People can now rent favorite games from the comfort of their homes. Gone are the days when we had to spend a lot of time to find the game of our choice from store to store. We can now sit at our homes, look at the details of the games. If the game meets our interest, we can order it online and get it delivered at our doorstep.

It is really not possible for all of us to purchase every game that's released. We can enjoy the game at a fraction of the real price. When we get bored with the game we can return it back. The best part is we do not have to pay any late fee and keep it as long as we want.

Why are video game rentals becoming famous?

There are few titles that are over hyped. However, when you get it, you end of finishing the game in few hours or in few days. Imagine you could have spent few hundred dollars for this game. This is why video game rentals are becoming more and more famous. It saves your money and time. You can get unlimited games shipped at your doorstep, that too only for a fraction of real cost of a game.

The charges of video game rental service vary from $5.00 and more depending on the number of games you want to rent in a month. It also depends on the time period you want to keep them. There might be some games that you want to keep longer so that you can really get acquainted to all the features. When you are done, you can simply put the game back in the return package and drop it in mailbox.

You can also order the games in the sequence you want. As soon as the video game rental company receives the game back, they will ship you the new one.

Why rent video games online?

There are many reasons to rent games online. It's very convenient; you now can sit at your home and order the games online. The game will be shipped directly to your doorstep. You no longer have to spend whole day in search of a game from one store to another. They come with a return package. When you are done with a game, you can simply put the game back in the return package and send it back.

You can keep the game as long as you want. There is no late fee. This gives you ample time to get acquainted with all the features of the game.

It is very pocket friendly. If you go to a store to purchase a game, you can easily spend $50 or more. You will pay $50 for a game which you are not sure will satisfy your gaming needs. However, you can rent the same game online for very less.

They also provide free trial. So, if you are a new gamer and would like to test the services, go ahead and grab it.

All in all video game rental services are pocket friendly, very convenient and a dream come true for a game addict.

Ajeet is an owner of the website [http://www.moviegamerental.info] which provides more information about video game rental services. He recommends Blockbuster. Visit them at [http://www.moviegamerental.info/freetrial.html]

How to Pick Video Games Both Parents and Their Kids Will Love

Counting Down the Top Ten Video Games Ever Made - EVER!

Who Else Wants To Play Games For Money And Earn $120 An Hour Playing Video Games?

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Who Else Wants To Get Paid To Test Games And Earn $120 An Hour Playing Video Games?

Professional Video Game Testing - What Games Will I Test as A Paid Game Tester?

If you're interested in pursuing a career as a video game tester, but still have some doubts about it, then you will want to read this article. In it, I will answer the questions of most aspiring young game testers and talk about the different games that are tested.

The games you will test as a video game tester largely depend upon the developing company you are working for. The simple fact is that no matter what company you're working for, you'll be testing games that have yet to be released to the public and are nearing the final stages of development. Typically, you will test games in a variety of different genres, which means you should have some level of expertise in all the different types of video games (FPS, MMORPG, RTS, RPG, Racing, Sports, Etc).

If you are a specialist in only one particular game type, such as role-playing games or racing games, and nothing else, then you won't likely make for a good professional video game tester. That's not to say you won't get any game testing jobs. It's just that you won't have as large of a "job field" as most other game testers. Generally speaking, if you're going to make it as a professional video game tester, then you simply must be skilled with different video game genres. There is really no other way to look at it.

Why must you be an "expert" in a multitude of different video game types? Simply because the game company that hires you will determine what type of video games you will be testing. You can't pick and choose what game you want to test; it doesn't work that way, unfortunately. On a side note, many video game tester jobs will involve testing computer games. This is due to the fact that PC video games are prone to having many glitches and bugs. Don't worry about being a PC game tester though, as there are plenty of companies that focus purely on console gaming systems. However, it wouldn't hurt to get some PC gaming experience.

When you're done testing a game, it is yours to keep with no strings attached. This is a great way to amass a library of awesome video games for free. It's true these videos games won't be technically "complete", but that's just a technicality. After all, a free video game is still a free video game.

Generally, the games you will test will be sent via snail-mail, along with a "Glitch/Bug" report form that you will fill out after you've completed the game testing. And, just in case you haven't caught on yet, this means you will be getting paid to play video games from the comfort of your own home!

Video game testers really do have it made. They get paid to play the coolest and most technologically advanced video games, and they get to do it from their very own home. Honestly, what more could any gamer ask for?

Sean Saunders Spends Most of His Time Playing Video Games And He Now Has A Very Successful Career as a Professional Video Game Tester. If You Too Would Like To Get Started With Paid Video Game Testing, Visit Gamer-Testing-Ground.com, The Number One Resource For Video Game Testers Everywhere.

If You're Not In A Big Rush To Get Your Testing Career Started and Would Just Like More Information on Video Game Testing, Go To... http://www.squidoo.com/BeAVideoGameTester/

How To Become a Video Game Tester - A Few Very Powerful Tips

Being a professional video game tester is a dream job. Most gamers would love the chance to be able to play great video games and get paid for it. Unfortunately though, most gamers think that paid video game testing is too far out of reach and will remain a dream forever. Well luckily, it's not a "dream" and anybody can be a paid video game tester with the right amount of experience and guidance.

The following tips should help you get started with a career in professional video game testing.

Tip 1: Don't Wait For Jobs to Find You, Get Out There and Find Them.

Video game tester jobs are not going to fall from the sky, so you can't expect to find them with a few glances at the Sunday newspaper. Therefore, instead of just sitting around and waiting, be proactive and actually chase those high paying testing jobs.

Make a beeline straight toward the game developers and present your case, no matter how poor or excellent it might be. Let them know who you are, what you do (game tester), and why you would make a great addition to their team/project.

It's important to remember that developers aren't going to hire you on the spot; so, don't let rejection get you down. They have lots of video game testers applying for projects and jobs, which means they can literally be as picky as they want to be. With that being said, be as confident as you can and be sure to let them know of all your gaming accomplishments and deeds. They should know about what games you play frequently, what consoles you own, what communities you are apart of, and any websites/blogs you own or help operate. No matter what the gaming accomplishment, big or small, it will help with landing you a job.

Tip 2: Don't Think "Hobby with Pay", Think "Career With Benefits!"

You have to keep in mind that developers pay video game testers as part of a job. They are not paying testers to merely enjoy video games at their own expense. Therefore, when you land a testing job, don't simply play it to have fun; play it like you are earning a paycheck. Does that mean you can't have any fun? No; it simply means you shouldn't make "fun" your top priority while testing video games.

If you take each and every testing job seriously and give it your all, you should have a much more successful game testing career.

Tip 3: Know What To Expect

The biggest part of being a professional video game tester is knowing the golden rule; which is "You are paid to test games, not to play them." There may be a fine line between the two, but any real game tester will tell you that the difference is definitely there.

The subtle difference between testing and playing is, well, work. A game tester will have to do actual work, such as filing reports & filling out questionnaires; as opposed to a regular game player, who will just relax and play the game at a leisurely pace. Admittedly, the work isn't back breaking, but it is work nonetheless.

The questionnaires are the easier part of game testing, as all the video game tester has to do is answer some general questions about the game and give his/her honest opinion. The reports, on the other hand, are a bit more difficult to do. These reports need to be filed on every bug/glitch that the tester comes across, and they have to be remarkably accurate. In each report, the video game tester has to describe what happened, where it happened, and how it happened. With this detailed information in hand, the developers & programmers will then fix the problem and find out why it happened in the first place. Every video game goes through this basic cycle, which is precisely why video game testers are so vital to the gaming industry.

As you can see, there really isn't all that much work involved with video game testing, but that doesn't mean it isn't a serious profession.

Tip 4: Build up a Network of Reliable Contacts.

Networking is a crucial part of professional video game testing. Although it is quite possible to have a prosperous career without a reliable network, having one just makes things easier.

A network of contacts can actually help your career in many different ways. The biggest thing it can do is give you heads up about new job openings and testing assignments that have been announced. Also, some of your contacts can even act as valuable references when applying for testing jobs. And, as if those two things weren't enough, your network can give you the inside scoop about what's going on behind closed doors.

Much like a video game tester job, a reliable network is not going to just jump out at you. Therefore, you will have to build it up all on your own. The best way to do that is by getting to know the industry and the people who work in it. Anyone that spends time around video games (professionally, of course) can be included in your network; game testers, developers, programmers, concept artists, art designers, graphics designers, technical support specialists, audio specialists, etc. Basically, if they know video games and work with video games, you want them in your network.

Tip 5: Don't Give Up. Keep Trying!

The unfortunate fact is that you are not going to land a video game tester job whenever you want one. As a matter of fact, it may be weeks or even months before you land your first testing job. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have what it takes; it just means you have to keep trying & giving it your best. Not many newcomers start off at the top of their game, which means you likely won't either. Hence, just give it time. After a few months and a few jobs, you should be able to get your footing and begin advancing in your career as a professional video game tester.

Do You Think You Are Ready For a Career as a Video Game Tester? Are You Prepared To Make Up To $120 an Hour Testing Video Games? If You Are, Click Here To Find Out How To Get Started With Your Very Own Game Testing Career.

To Get More Information on Video Game Testing & a Free "Quick Start" Game Tester E-book, Visit This Website... www.GameTestingParadise.com

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Video Games, Harmless Entertainment or Brewing Addiction?

My boy doesn't want one video game or one video game console, he wants the Nintendo, the Sony and the Xbox and he wants all the games that go with it. He also wants access to the computer so that he can play games on the computer as well. It is as if he is plugged into these games all the time, at least he would like to be if allowed. Video games are big business, with over $13 billion spent each year on video and computer games. This suggests that an awful lot of playing is going on. New releases of games are eagerly anticipated by players and many are willing to stand in line for a day or two to get hold of a new system or spend hours hunting down a new release. Unquestionably, video games are attractive toys, particularly to boys.

Undoubtedly, parents have been concerned for a long time about the consuming nature of video games. Hours spent in front of a screen, in the dark if possible "can't be healthy" for a child. The encouragement to play or more traditional board game or to even go outside and play is something any boy of the electronic age has heard in response to his desire to play his electronic games. But is there any danger in video games? It is possible to overdo any activity, even good ones. One can sleep too much, exercise excessively and certainly we can eat too much hence it is without question possible to play video games in excess. But defining excess can be difficult. Clearly, three to four hours a day every day would be viewed as excessive by most, but what about three to four hours on the weekend? Should we count it only if they are played straight through or even if there are sizable chunks of time in between sessions? Is it excessive if there is no real demonstrative impact on the child and his behavior, attitudes and performance? There is also the variability within children to consider, some will be affected more easily by gaming than others.

There is growing evidence that video games can be both good and bad. Video games can teach certain skills such as cooperation, strategy and team building as well as some exposure to the technology that is ubiquitous in today's world. The new Wii is showing some benefits in terms of physical activity and is being used by some physical therapists. Do a Google search on the benefits of video games and you will find reputable articles discussing the benefits of video games. But the dangers are there as well. It is beyond doubt and well documented that TV violence influences violence in children. While there is little research into the connection between video games and violence, can the link be weaker than it is in television viewing? A game in which your character engages in violence has to be as influential as TV. But the dangers seem to go beyond the potential influence these games may have on character.

A recent study at Stanford University demonstrated that the brains of males responded to video game playing more than the brains of females, and that the increased brain activity was in the pleasure center of the brain. While the number of participants were small (less than 25), this type of research demonstrates that games do effect the brain. Other researchers are suggesting that games influence brain development for the negative and the too much time in front of a screen makes children more easily distracting and increases the difficulty they have in remaining still. The ever increasing diagnosis of disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may suggest that the number of hours in front of highly stimulating objects may be compromising our children's ability to be attentive and to occupy themselves quietly. Computer and video games will only add to this problem. And there is the issue of video game addiction.

While the American Medical Association has decided that there is insufficient evidence to declare excessive video gaming an addiction, it is only because of a lack of sufficient research. There are many that believe in time, excessive video gaming will be a recognized disorder. There are clinics that are beginning to offer treatment for gaming addiction and there are support groups beginning to form to deal with the issue. Addiction seems to present itself most often with games associated with on line communities.

These games usually involve the development of characters. These characters can develop abilities and skills as well as accumulate weapons and other assets that are valuable in the game world. The development of these characters takes many hours to develop and make the game very engrossing. Combined with the possibility of interacting with others, these online games form a type of alternate world into which many escape. There have been recent stories of divorces, health problems, child neglects and even death associated with these games in particular. Is your child addicted? Ask yourself the following questions -

Does your child:

o play almost every day?

o often play for long periods (over 3-4 hours a time)?

o play for excitement?

o get restless and irritable if they can't play?

o sacrifice social and sporting activities?

o play instead of doing their homework?

o Try to cut down their playing but can't?

o Playing for increasing amounts of time?

o Thinking about gaming during other activities?

o Gaming to escape from real-life problems, anxiety, or depression?

o Lying to friends and family to conceal gaming?

o Feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming?

Answering yes to four or more of these questions suggests that there may be a problem. If there is a problem what can you do about it? Here are some resources to get your started on dealing with your loved one's potential problem.

1. Tips for Getting Video Gaming Under Control

National Institute on Media and the Family

Taming the Video Game Tiger

2. Computer Addiction Services

McLean Hospital

115 Mill Street

Belmont, MA 02478

Phone: 617-855-2908

Call or write for a local referral

3. Center for Internet Addiction Recovery

(Go to:www.netaddiction.com)

Lists of resources and helps for a variety of online addictive behaviors

4. Talk to your family doctor about your concern.

Troy L Parrish MA LCPC is a therapist in private practice in Columbia, MD. As the owner and editor of Boys Behavior, he is interested in fostering the appreciation of boys as unique, different from girls. As such they should be encouraged in the development of their masculinity rather than have that trained out of them. You can read more about video game addiction as well as other issues associated specifically with boys, from behavior and parenting to encouraging reading and spirituality. Visit http://Boysbehavior.com we are always giving away something for free, and we would love to hear from you.

Monday, June 13, 2011

The New Age of Video Game Rentals

Ever spent your hard earned cash on a game that just didn't perform and entertain you as much as it should? Did you get caught up in the hype of a popular new release, and it just failed to deliver the quality you were looking for? In the world of gaming, the new reigning consoles Xbox 360, PS3, and Nintendo Wii have captured the attention of video gamers across the world. The fame of these new consoles has formed a new trend in video game rentals across our nation.

There are some titles that you end up finishing within a few hours to a few days worth of play and never receive any true sense of enjoyment or accomplishment from the game. For this reason alone, video game rental is becoming an increasingly popular way for gamers to test out their most sought after game before shelling out hundreds of dollars on a game that doesn't make it past its first few hours.

To rent a video game, some major rental chains like Blockbuster allow users to rent titles for a few days with charges that are usually $5 and more depending on if you need to keep the game longer. But nowadays, there are many different places that provide cheaper rentals offering a vast array of games within their selection for just $1 per customer.

The best part is that you can keep the game as long as you want. So, if you need a little more time to get acquainted with certain levels, accomplish different goals, or just don't have the time to hammer away at a particular game for too long, you now have more options.

Why Rent Video Games Online?

Being a gamer can be expensive at times if you are paying full price for multiple games a month. Some games cost more than $50 and if it is a highly anticipated release, some will pay inflated amounts of money just to be part of the first to play this specific title. The biggest disappointment is when the game is a complete flop. You can always resell it for a few dollars, but you never recoup the loss of the first purchase.

Online video game rentals allow you to spend the least amount of money on a game without giving a full commitment of cash upfront. Plus, you can always return the title the next day if it ends up being a dud.

When it seems like you've found a great game that allows you to be entertained for hours on end, you end up spending less than a few dollars to find it. If the thrill of a game has gone once you've defeated all levels, then online video game rentals are the best approach to take.

With the new release of the PS3 console and Xbox 360 games, there will be plenty of gamers out there looking for their new release titles for these great video game consoles. Another great aspect of online video game rentals is that you pay the same price for newer video games rentals compared to older video game rentals. It's all the same price across the board.

With the new consoles being released almost every other year, you may also compare the graphics and presentation of your favorite games on a wide-range of consoles for the low membership costs of $5.95 on up to $14.99 per month. Rent as many games and portable video games for Nintendo DS and PSP as well. Portable games are just as popular on the rental scene as their counterpart console games.

With so many video game consoles and portable games on the rise every year, its hard to stay away from some playing your favorite games. Nowadays, with online video game rental companies like GameFly and Gottaplay, you can maintain your video game habit without it effecting your wallet.

For detailed reviews of the latest online video game rental clubs on the net, plus cash back rebates for signing up, come visit us at Game Rental Guide.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

History of Video Games - The First Video Game Ever Made?

As an avid retro-gamer, for quite a long time I've been particularly interested in the history of video games. To be more specific, a subject that I am very passionate about is "Which was the first video game ever made?"... So, I started an exhaustive investigation on this subject (and making this article the first one in a series of articles that will cover in detail all video gaming history).

The question was: Which was the first video game ever made?

The answer: Well, as a lot of things in life, there is no easy answer to that question. It depends on your own definition of the term "video game". For example: When you talk about "the first video game", do you mean the first video game that was commercially-made, or the first console game, or maybe the first digitally programmed game? Because of this, I made a list of 4-5 video games that in one way or another were the beginners of the video gaming industry. You will notice that the first video games were not created with the idea of getting any profit from them (back in those decades there was no Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Sega, Atari, or any other video game company around). In fact, the sole idea of a "video game" or an electronic device which was only made for "playing games and having fun" was above the imagination of over 99% of the population back in those days. But thanks to this small group of geniuses who walked the first steps into the video gaming revolution, we are able to enjoy many hours of fun and entertainment today (keeping aside the creation of millions of jobs during the past 4 or 5 decades). Without further ado, here I present the "first video game nominees":

1940s: Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device

This is considered (with official documentation) as the first electronic game device ever made. It was created by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann. The game was assembled in the 1940s and submitted for an US Patent in January 1947. The patent was granted December 1948, which also makes it the first electronic game device to ever receive a patent (US Patent 2,455,992). As described in the patent, it was an analog circuit device with an array of knobs used to move a dot that appeared in the cathode ray tube display. This game was inspired by how missiles appeared in WWII radars, and the object of the game was simply controlling a "missile" in order to hit a target. In the 1940s it was extremely difficult (for not saying impossible) to show graphics in a Cathode Ray Tube display. Because of this, only the actual "missile" appeared on the display. The target and any other graphics were showed on screen overlays manually placed on the display screen. It's been said by many that Atari's famous video game "Missile Command" was created after this gaming device.

1951: NIMROD

NIMROD was the name of a digital computer device from the 50s decade. The creators of this computer were the engineers of an UK-based company under the name Ferranti, with the idea of displaying the device at the 1951 Festival of Britain (and later it was also showed in Berlin).

NIM is a two-player numerical game of strategy, which is believed to come originally from the ancient China. The rules of NIM are easy: There are a certain number of groups (or "heaps"), and each group contains a certain number of objects (a common starting array of NIM is 3 heaps containing 3, 4, and 5 objects respectively). Each player take turns removing objects from the heaps, but all removed objects must be from a single heap and at least one object is removed. The player to take the last object from the last heap loses, however there is a variation of the game where the player to take the last object of the last heap wins.

NIMROD used a lights panel as a display and was planned and made with the unique purpose of playing the game of NIM, which makes it the first digital computer device to be specifically created for playing a game (however the main idea was showing and illustrating how a digital computer works, rather than to entertain and have fun with it). Because it doesn't have "raster video equipment" as a display (a TV set, monitor, etc.) it is not considered by many people as a real "video game" (an electronic game, yes... a video game, no...). But once again, it really depends on your point of view when you talk about a "video game".

1952: OXO ("Noughts and Crosses")

This was a digital version of "Tic-Tac-Toe", created for an EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator) computer. It was designed by Alexander S. Douglas from the University of Cambridge, and one more time it was not made for entertainment, it was part of his PhD Thesis on "Interactions between human and computer".

The rules of the game are those of a regular Tic-Tac-Toe game, player against the computer (no 2-player option was available). The input method was a rotary dial (like the ones in old telephones). The output was showed in a 35x16-pixel cathode-ray tube display. This game was never very popular because the EDSAC computer was only available at the University of Cambridge, so there was no way to install it and play it anywhere else (until many years later when an EDSAC emulator was created available, and by that time many other excellent video games where available as well...).

1958: Tennis for Two

"Tennis for Two" was created by William Higinbotham, a physicist working at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. This game was made as a way of entertainment, so laboratory visitors had something funny to do during their wait on "visitors day" (finally!... a video game that was created "just for fun"...) . The game was pretty well designed for its era: the ball behavior was modified by several factors like gravity, wind velocity, position and angle of contact, etc.; you had to avoid the net as in real tennis, and many other things. The video game hardware included two "joysticks" (two controllers with a rotational knob and a push button each) connected to an analog console, and an oscilloscope as a display.

"Tennis for Two" is considered by many the first video game ever created. But once again, many others differ from that idea stating that "it was a computer game, not a video game" or "the output display was an oscilloscope, not a "raster" video display... so it does not qualify as a video game". But well... you can't please everyone...

It is also rumored that "Tennis for Two" was the inspiration for Atari's mega hit "Pong", but this rumor has always been strongly denied... for obvious reasons.

1961: Spacewar!

"Spacewar!" video game was created by Stephen Russell, with the help of J. Martin Graetz, Peter Samson, Alan Kotok, Wayne Witanen and Dan Edwards from MIT. By the 1960s, MIT was "the right choice" if you wanted to do computer research and development. So this half a dozen of innovative guys took advantage of a brand-new computer was ordered and expected to arrive campus very soon (a DEC PDP-1) and started thinking about what kind of hardware testing programs would be made. When they found out that a "Precision CRT Display" would be installed to the system, they instantly decided that "some sort of visual/interactive game" would be the demonstration software of choice for the PDP-1. And after some discussion, it was soon decided to be a space battle game or something similar. After this decision, all other ideas came out pretty quick: like rules of the game, designing concepts, programming ideas, and so forth.

So after about 200 man/hours of work, the first version of the game was at last ready to be tested. The game consisted of two spaceships (affectively named by players "pencil" and "wedge") shooting missiles at each other with a star in the middle of the display (which "pulls" both spaceships because of its gravitational force). A set of control switches was used to control each spaceship (for rotation, speed, missiles, and "hyperspace"). Each spaceship have a limited amount of fuel and weapons, and the hyperspace option was like a "panic button", in case there is no other way out (it could either "save you or break you").

The computer game was an instant success between MIT students and programmers, and soon they started making their own changes to the game program (like real star charts for background, star/no star option, background disable option, angular momentum option, among others). The game code was ported to many other computer platforms (since the game required a video display, a hard to find option in 1960s systems, it was mostly ported to newer/cheaper DEC systems like the PDP-10 and PDP-11).

Spacewar! is not only considered by many as the first "real" video game (since this game does have a video display), but it also have been proved to be the true predecessor of the original arcade game, as well as being the inspiration of many other video games, consoles, and even video gaming companies (can you say "Atari"?...). But that's another story, arcade games as well as console video games were written in a different page of the history of video games (so stay tuned for future articles on these subjects).

So here they are, the "First Video Game" nominees. Which one do you think is the first video game ever made?... If you ask me, I think all these games were revolutionary for its era, and should be credited as a whole as the beginners of the video gaming revolution. Instead of looking for which one was the first video game, what is really important is that they were created, period. As the creator of "Spacewar!", Stephen Rusell, once said: "If I hadn't done it, someone would have done something equally exciting or even better in the next six months. I just happened to get there first".

Ian Blake is a freelance writer/blogger from Planet Earth, Solar System. You may read similar articles at his History of Video Games Blog at --> http://www.retro-videogames.com

Violent Video Games: Do They Lead to Aggressive Behavior or Not?

Video games for children, teens and young adults bring in $10 billion a year in the United States. Certainly some of the games offer harmless entertainment and maybe even some educational value. But the games that seem to be the most eagerly anticipated, the games that major retailer Zany Brainy says "the industry is focusing on," and the games that fly off the shelves as soon as they're released are those rated "M" for mature and "AO" for adults only.

To garner an "M" rating, the content is intended for people aged 17 and older, and may contain sexual themes and intense violence or language. An "AO"-rated game is suitable only for adults 18 and over, and may include graphic depictions of sex and/or violence.

The popularity of the games is astounding. According to a 2004 report by the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, a 2001 review found that 49 percent of the 70 top-selling video games contained serious violence. Out of all games, 41 percent required violence for the protagonists to achieve their goals. And in 17 percent of the games, violence was the primary focus of the game itself.

The violence is often brutal and degrading to women. In the game "Duke Nukem," for instance, a player can enter a room with naked women saying "Kill me," while tied to posts. In the Grand Theft Auto series, one of the most popular and also most violent and controversial of the games, a player is rewarded if he has sex with a prostitute and then murders her (the most recent of the series, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, was the best-selling title in 2004).

Whether or not these games contribute to violent "real-life" behavior among their primary users (pre-teen and teen boys) has spurred major controversy. And, as with most hot-button issues, there are strong proponents and opponents on either side.

Yes, Video Games Cause Violence

Much attention was brought to video game violence after it was realized that the two teenagers behind the Columbine High School shootings played (and even created their own levels of) DOOM, one of the first "first-person shooter" video games (attesting to its popularity, a movie version of DOOM was just released on October 21).

The most recent study on the topic, to be published in the January 2006 edition of Media Psychology, found that playing violent video games does indeed cause violent thought patterns in the brain.

A team of international researchers observed 13 males, aged 18 to 26, for the study. It was found that, after playing a mature-rated game, 11 out of the 13 participants showed significant effects from the games.

"There is a causal link between playing the first-person shooting game in our experiment and brain-activity pattern that are considered as characteristic for aggressive cognitions and affects," said René Weber, assistant professor of communication and telecommunication at Michigan State University (MSU) and a researcher on the project. "There is a neurological link and there is a short-term causal relationship.

"Violent video games frequently have been criticized for enhancing aggressive reactions such as aggressive cognitions, aggressive affects or aggressive behavior. On a neurobiological level we have shown the link exists," he says.

Previous studies have also found such links. Said psychologist Craig A. Anderson, Ph.D.:

"Violent video games provide a forum for learning and practicing aggressive solutions to conflict situations. In the short run, playing a violent video game appears to affect aggression by priming aggressive thoughts. Longer-term effects are likely to be longer lasting as well, as the player learns and practices new aggression-related scripts that can become more and more accessible for use when real-life conflict situations arise."

Some researchers say that violent video games are worse than watching similarly violent TV programs or movies because the interactive nature of the game makes the player become involved and learn to identify with the aggressive game character.

No, Video Games and Violence are Not Related

On the other side of the coin are those who argue that no such link exists. One recent study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign supports this case. After playing a violent video game called Asheron's Call 2 (AC2) for an average of 56 hours in a month, no link between the game and real-world aggression was found in the 75 players (average age 28).

Said lead author Dmitri Williams, "Players were not statistically different from the non-playing control group in their beliefs on aggression after playing the game than they were before playing. Nor was game play a predictor of aggressive behaviors. Compared with the control group, the players neither increased their argumentative behaviors after game play nor were significantly more likely to argue with their friends and partners."

Another study of 35 8- to 12-year olds, in which the children played a non-violent and a violent video game for 15 minutes each, found the game playing did not alter the children's previous tendencies toward aggressiveness or empathy.

Are the Game Ratings Enough?

Just as controversial as the violence issue is whether or not the game ratings go far enough. While some contend that it's up to parents to monitor the game ratings and their children's exposure to them, a study found that many parents, though aware of the ratings and of their meanings, do not take them seriously.

"Most parents think their child is mature enough so that these games will not influence them," said Jurgen Freund, chief executive with the Swiss research firm Modulum.

According to the study of over 1,000 UK adults, parents were more concerned with the number of hours their children were playing video games than with what game they were playing.

"Parents perceive age ratings as a guide but not as a definite prohibition," said Freund. "Some may have not liked the content but they did not prohibit the game."

And while the debate is likely to continue on a large scale in years to come (California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed into law Assembly Bill 1179, which prohibits selling or renting violent video games to Californians under 18), one thing's for sure -- kids will continue to be drawn to them, if for no other reason than because they're not supposed to have them.

"We called it Magic 18," said Freund. "The 18+ label was seen as promoting the content, promising adult content rather than saying 'my parents will stop me playing this.'"

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Video Game Violence - What Do You Think About It?

Ever since video game designers were able to put red pixels on their imaginary characters that had recently deceased, there have been people crusading against their subversive ways. The outrage at video games seems to be cyclic, fading very briefly before exploding into the public eye once more with renewed frenzy. The controversy seems to have sparked up again in recent times, with numerous crimes being blamed on the corruptive influence of video games. There have also been various "controversies" surrounding recent video games and their content in the areas of both violence and sexuality.

The first game to receive widespread criticism and media attention was the martial art fighting game "Mortal Kombat". This game included large spurts of blood emitted from attacks and also "Fatalities" that could be performed on stunned opponents after their defeat. These Fatalities were gruesome animation sequences showing the victorious player killing their defeated opponent in a vast variety of ways. Gamers revelled in this new experience and the controversy surrounding the violence caused mass hype that informed the less informed gamers that the game was out there. Consequently gamers played the new game just to find out what all the talk was about, thereby greatly increasing revenue.

One of the largest sparks of controversy has been the recent "Hot Coffee" modification for "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA:SA)". This involved unlocking a sexually oriented mini-game that had been removed from the game before release, although evidently not from the source code. The creators of the game, Rockstar Entertainment, obviously realised that this particular part of the game was not appropriate for the video gaming public and removed access to it. An enterprising fan of the game found out and modified the original code to give access to the content once again. Lawsuits were brought against Rockstar for including such content in their game, although the validity of the lawsuit has to be questioned. If the game is simply purchased and played as intended by the developers, this admittedly tasteless and inappropriate mini game would never be encountered. It is not until the user-made modification is downloaded and installed that the player is able to access the content.

Regardless of who's to blame, "GTA: SA" was re-rated in America and banned from sale in Australia. Oddly enough the gratuitous and encouraged violence in the game went largely unnoticed in the wake of the "scandalous" sex scenes involving clothed, cartoonesque people.

When examined objectively almost all games contain a certain amount of violent content. The kid-friendly bright and colourful "Mario" games by Nintendo feature a character stomping on animated creature's heads. In fact the majority of games, even children's games, involve the protagonist crusading against an enemy horde of some sort and generally "disposing" of them in some manner, whether it be striking them with a weapon or body part (feet, hands, possibly a tail depending on the nature of the character). The only real stand out difference is that in a children's game the 'bad' characters will generally bounce backwards in a cute manner and explode with a humorous puff sound (or simply disappear) whereas in a game oriented towards older mature players, the characters are more likely to be (somewhat) realistic, spraying a gusher of red upon their demise.

Whenever some young person somewhere commits a violent crime these days it seems to get blamed on a video game, from "Duke Nukem" and "Quake" being accused for the Columbine High massacre, to a more recent incident involving a group of minors attributing their violent actions to the "Mortal Kombat" video games. Without any solid evidence either way it's hard to say whether or not video game violence actually has much of an influence on players. To really be sure you'd probably have to have a control group of isolated children that have never seen a violent movie or played a bloodthirsty video game. History does however show that brutal crimes were committed long before video games or even movies came into existence.

Children are quite easily influenced by something that they're excited about and I've seen this happen a lot. Playing a wrestling video game with a group of eight year olds often leads to the eight year olds screaming raucously and trying to pin each other down on the ground. Pre-teens will often punch and kick their way out of a cinema in terrible combat stances after having viewed a martial arts movie. The current content rating system in place is not geared towards consumer restriction; it is largely aimed at simply informing the public about what they are going to experience. Legal restrictions are not actually put in place until the higher, more severe ratings like in x-rated films. Parents, guardians, and society in general need to start taking an interest in who is viewing certain types of content. Instead of complaining about the entertainment a child is enjoying, the parent could be there at the beginning looking at the rating that is printed clearly on the packaging of all entertainment. A simple "I don't think that's suitable, how about this game? It has a lizard!" distracts the child a surprising number of times. In my experience, children genuinely just want people to take an interest in what they're interested in, not just murmuring indistinctly, "Yes dear, that's nice." as the child installs the newest violent game.

What about the children that are playing the games in the restricted ratings categories? The only way that they can even get the game into their possession is if a parent (or someone of legal age) purchases the game for the child, or if the store disregards the rating guidelines in place and sells it to them regardless. Either way the fact that a game's content has fallen into a minor's hands is not the fault of the game developer.

I'm not out to defend the integrity of artistic vision presented in video games as many other gamers are. Frankly there seems to me to be little artistic integrity in rendering blood that is ever more liquid in appearance. I do however enjoy playing some games that are quite violent in nature and in many cases the violent nature of the game increases my enjoyment. Video games are escapism, there's (arguably) no point in playing a video game that simulates something you can just walk outside and do (and yet sports games somehow consistently sell in large numbers... curious...). Interestingly I have never yet felt the overwhelming desire to break down into a kung fu stance and commit murder. Perhaps more important than simply banning questionable content in video games would be studying why this content is so appealing to today's society?

About The Author
Daniel Punch
M6.Net Web Helpers
http://www.m6.net

Saturday, June 11, 2011

How to Save Money On Video Games

If you are a keen video game player like myself you will know the fun and excitement that can come from buying a new game for you game system. However there is a catch, these games are really expensive! It does not matter which games console you own, new games for Xbox, Playstation and Gamecube are all highly priced.

We understand that some games do have high development costs, the programmers, sound engineers, animators and testers all have to be paid. But once a game is finished it can sell all over the world and some titles sell in really large quantities. The game development houses must make a serious amount of profit, most customers pay the full retail price for their new games.

One way of saving money on video games is to buy from wholesalers. Now I know that in general wholesalers only sell in bulk quantities. It's not much use to you in having 100 copies of the latest game, you can only play 1! But now there are some wholesalers who sell in single units. The thing to do is search on line for wholesalers which sell the games you are interested in that also sell single units. Using this method you can save up to 60% off the retail price for your brand new video game.

Another option is buying and selling second hand video games, it is not as difficult as you might think. Once you have finished playing a game you can take it to your local game exchange store where you can swap it for a new game or cash. This is a great way to save money on video games, how many old games do you own which you know you will never play again? You might as well sell them when you have finished playing with them and use that money to buy your next new title.

You can also sell your used video games on eBay, there is a good market for games on the auction site and you can often get a better deal than if you take your old games to a game exchange shop. If you do this it is worth noting that games drop in price as they get older. If you try to sell your games as soon as you are done with them you will get a better price.

Now this method is better than saving money on video games - you can actually get them free! Games developers require game testers to check out their new titles before they go on general release. You may not know this but you do not need any special skills or qualifications in order to test games. If you know the right people to contact and you go about it in the correct way you could become a video game tester. They send you a copy of the game they want tested along with how they want you to report on the game. You play the game, fill in the report and send it back to them. You can get paid anything from $8 - $80 per hour to test games, you just sit back and wait for the cheques to come in. A great perk of the job is that you get to keep the games you test, if you become a game tester you may never have to buy a new game again!

Rich Heaney is the web master at Game Testing Guide [http://rjheaney.com/gametesterguide/]. Find out how to become a video game tester [http://rjheaney.com/gametesterguide/video_game_tester_jobs.html] right now at rjheaney.com/gametesterguide [http://rjheaney.com/gametesterguide/]

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