Computer gaming is the use of a computer system to allow a player to interact with an animated character through the display of a digital screen. A computer game or video game is any video game that involves active interaction with a human user interface or input device, including a mouse, joystick, stick, keyboard, or pointing device. The primary objective in most computer games is to result in a particular response from the user, such as making the character jump, duck, run, throw a ball, or do other activities.
Video gaming first became popular in the early 1980s, when personal computers with memory and storage capacity started becoming commercially available. Gaming then began to become an Internet phenomenon, with the development of computer video games that allowed players to play interactive computer games in the form of console-based video games. These were largely console-based and required a game pad or other input device to play. In response to this growing need for video games, gaming peripheral companies quickly began to emerge.
Computer games companies quickly capitalized on the trend for computer games by creating a wide variety of computer games targeted at different types of users. These companies began to develop titles that could be played using a variety of devices. Initially, game pads were used to control the characters in these video games. As demand for gaming increased, game controllers were developed to enhance the experience. Computer games today often include keyboard controls as well as game pads, both of which are becoming more common with each passing year.
Video gaming also represents a significant business opportunity for those who have an interest in this industry. Major developers produce a large number of titles every year that are sold for a wide range of platforms, such as personal computers, personal laptops, gaming consoles, and the Internet. In the face of stiff competition from game companies and declining sales of traditional consoles, many people are now buying their own personal computers and using them to play video games. To achieve the level of quality that is required of a game, many professional coders now create their own proprietary titles for sale through specialty websites and computer retailers.
The rise of electronic gaming also represents another important development in these industries’ history. With the popularity of handheld electronics, portable gaming devices such as PSPs, the Nintendo DS, and the Wii have become popular. These handheld devices allow users to play video games on the go. Mobile phone manufacturers such as the Nokia and Samsung have introduced features that are designed to enhance the quality of gaming that consumers receive while they are on the move. With so many people now taking advantage of mobile phone technology, the future of gaming looks very bright.
While there has been a significant amount of technological change in the way that video and computer games are created and sold, there has also been quite a bit of evolution in the type of equipment that is required to enjoy these games. With the advent of downloadable games for the PC and the rapid growth of the online gaming world, the average computer user now requires very little equipment in order to participate in this highly competitive industry. Video and computer games are no longer large files that need to be installed on the hard drive. Today, they can be accessed via a simple broadband Internet connection.