Category Archives: Gaming PCs
Why Do People Play Online Games
Why Do People Play Online Games
In a recent article on CNET, William Moss observes that in an Internet cafe in China, of the couple of hundred people using the cafe when he visited it, with the exception of two people, everyone else was seen using them to play computer games.
People paying money just to play online games on hourly basis show the pull and popularity of the online games.
Here is an attempt to understand why online games are so popular these days?
An online game literally refers to the type of game, which is played on your computer while you are connected to the Internet. These can be single player games that you play with a remote server or multiplayer games where many users like you are playing with each other.
There was a time when computer games were for the so-called nerds or geeks who were basically solitary beings. With the rise in popularity of the Internet and with broadband access becoming increasingly affordable, the quality of free online games being offered has increased dramatically. Playing games online is no longer a solitary activity. Studies show that it is a social experience that more and more extroverts and out-going people are becoming part of.
Free gaming sites have become the places for players to meet and have social interactions. Popular regulars at gaming sites are a common phenomenon that we all are aware of. These gaming sites typically offer games that range from a quick, casual game during your coffee break to engaging multi-player games.
Why do people play online games?
a. Firstly, the appeal of anonymity. After all you can create a personality for yourself and can be what ever you want to be. This is a very powerful reason for people to hang out at these social sites.
b. Internet is a wonderful medium that enables you to be part of a society where all are equal. Absolutely no discrimination of any variety.
c. The games are becoming increasingly easy to setup. Most of the times you just don’t need a native installation on your PC. A web browser is all you need to play a multiplayer game. This has taken away the operating system related hurdles that one would otherwise have encountered. These games are mostly free and on top of that you don’t have to install anything to enable you to play these games. You just heard of game, perhaps from a friend or through an email or a newsletter. You just go to the gaming website and you are ready to play. No setup related hassles at all. This definitely is a very big contributor to the success and popularity of online games.
d. Online games are popular because they give people who are bored playing with their computer a chance to interact with real opponents. As a player you can chat with other players, you can join hands a few players and scheme against the others, just the way you do in real world, but with the advantage of anonymity.
I am sure there are more reasons. This in itself can be a topic of research for social scientists. Internet is changing the way we live. It is changing the way we play for sure.
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Got Dial Up?
Got Dial Up?
Forget Online Gaming
Computer games have come a long way since electronic checkers and the like. Today, we’ve got computer games that would put some 21st century movies to shame and interest in online gaming is catching on like some kind of crazy fever. Once dominated by males aged 25 and older, today’s gaming generation includes mom, sis, aunt, even grandma and grandpa! If you think you’ve caught the online gaming bug, and you’re thinking about becoming a participant, don’t even think you can join in on this online fun using a dial up Internet connection!
Part of the fascination with online gaming lies in its speed. During play, online gaming becomes a virtual world and in order to project a sense of reality into the mix, its games are fast, its movements are smooth, and its sounds are as realistic as we hear them in the natural world. Sitting in front of an online game, and actively participating in one puts the player in another world – a world that’s so different, so cool, and so real.
No, we’re not talking about a super-fancy version of checkers or backgammon. We’re not talking about a visually rich game of tic-tac-toe. We’re talking about full-fledged networked or multiplayer gaming that allows anyone to entertain themselves and hoards of others across the world at the same time. Multiplayer games play over online but trust us when we say any old Internet connection won’t do.
If you want to get in on this craze, you’re going to have to ditch the old dial up connection that you might have and get into broad band. A broadband Internet connection will give you the ability to send and receive highly detailed and realistic imagery at an appropriate speed. It will give you the means to watch videos in real time, and it will allow you to experience speech as if each and every other player were speaking to you directly.
A dial up Internet connection just can’t handle this kind of fun, but you can get a broad band connection just as easily. For the techies out there, broadband is a type of data transmission in which a single medium (wire) can carry several channels at once. 1 For the rest of us, broadband is an Internet connection that allows several people to send and receive data at the same time. A dial up connection doesn’t do that. A dial up connection can either send or receive – but it certainly can’t do both. Let’s talk about Broadband ISDN for a minute.
ISDN stands for integrated services digital network and it can transmit transmitting voice, video and data over fiber optic telephone lines at about 64 Kbps (64,000 bits per second).
Most ISDN lines offered by telephone companies give you two lines at once, called B channels. You can use one line for voice and the other for data, or you can use both lines for data to give you data rates of 128 Kbps, three times the data rate provided by today’s fastest modems.2
Broadband ISDN – a combination of regular broadband and ISDN can transmit voice, video and data over fiber optic telephone lines at about 1.5 million bits per second (bps). It’s a much faster connection than either broadband or ISDN alone! If your ISP offers Broadband ISDN, ask for it – your online gaming adventure will be the better for it.
1 Source: Mecklermedia Corp.
2 Source: Mecklermedia Corp.
Computer Software From Microsoft
Computer Software From Microsoft
There are various different items for computer software from Microsoft. The famous computing company has various different types of software products. This includes operating systems like the famous Windows programs and productivity programs like the Microsoft Office series. There are informative programs from Microsoft and even gaming software programs. Here is a look into some of the many types of computer software that are available from Microsoft.
The Windows series operating systems are the most recognizable of all computer software from Microsoft. Windows Vista is the most recent product in the Windows product line. Windows XP is also used, but some people still use older Windows systems like Windows 2000 and 98.
Windows products are unique in that they are operating systems that work to make things easier for computer users to handle. This includes finding files and programs with ease through simple navigation menus on the system, but it also makes it so that more experienced users will be able to access all parts of the computer. Separate versions of Windows operating systems include home editions that are used for simplicity and business editions that work to help with improving small business productivity.
The Windows Office series is another of the top products of computer software from Microsoft. These programs in the Office series work to help increase productivity for both businesses and the home. There are basic editions of the Office series products but there are also editions available for small businesses and for students. These packages all contain different programs that will be useful for different groups of people, so not all Office programs will be on each of them.
The Windows Office programs include Word, which is a word processing program, and Excel, which is a spreadsheet production program. Outlook works to help make email easier to receive and read, and PowerPoint works to create presentations for business or the home. There are various other Office programs, including Publisher, Access, InfoPath, OneNote and Groove, but not all Office program packages will include all of them.
A good vacation can be something that anyone can use, and with computer software from Microsoft, it can help with preparing a vacation. MapPoint and Streets and Trips are among the parts of computer software from Microsoft that is popular. MapPoint creates stronger data mapping and analysis for the Office series of programs. Streets and Trips can produce trip-planning solutions that can make it easier to travel and find information on businesses and hotels on the way. AutoRoute, meanwhile, is used for travels throughout Europe.
Internet programs can be used as one of the many forms of products from Microsoft. MSN Messenger, which is a Microsoft Network program, can be used to create text or video communications with other people who are online. Connection software is also great for people who are looking for Microsoft programs. Internet Explorer is an especially popular online surfing browser that is easy to use and maintain.
The Windows Media Player is a popular product offered by the company. This works to help play audio and video files on a computer, and various different formats are supported by it. Media library organization and CD-R editing technology is also available.
The last of the different types of computer software from Microsoft are the many games. Various computer games are available from Microsoft. The Flight Simulator and Age of Empires series are highly popular games from the company. Some games that have been incredibly successful on the Xbox gaming system, including the Halo series and Shadowrun, are also available.
The world of computer software from Microsoft is indeed great with all different sorts of products. From major programs like operating systems to productivity programs and ones for entertainment and gaming there are many products that can make a computer better and more enjoyable. These programs can all be found at a store that sells computer software.
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Online Games: Fun For Literally Everyone!
Online Games: Fun For Literally Everyone!
Online games have become very popular because people all over the world are using their computer for leisure activities. There are many old fashioned games that can be played online in addition to the new video games. Many people like them because the have wonderful graphics and sounds. They can also be played anywhere with an internet connection including the car, the airport, and at a hotel.
Online games can be played against a computer. This is a great way to pick up the skills needed to play the game well. Many people enjoy playing against the computer when they want to learn new games to play. This allows you to play at your own speed. You can also access the rules of the game as you go if you have any questions. Most online games have different levels of difficulty so that you can make the game more challenging as your skills improve.
The opportunity to play online games against other plays has lead to the number of people playing online games exploding. Imagine playing your favorite video game at home against an opponent who is in China or another state in the United States. It is a great experience.
There are online games for anyone to play, depending on your interests. Online checkers, chess, and backgammon are common for older people as are solitaire, bridge, and hearts. The younger generations prefer the action packed video games that are made by Playstation, Ninetendo, and GameCube.
For those who enjoy gambling, you can experience online games for fun or real wagers. These games include Texas Hold ‘Em, Black Jack, and slot machines. There are online Casinos where you can wager and win real money.
Regardless of the type of games you like to play, online gaming offers you many great choices. You will love the graphics and the various game choices. Choose from classic games or the newest releases. You can also choose to play against the computer or other real people.
Most games are available at no cost. Some websites require you to become a member by creating a login ID and password before you can access the games. There are gaming sites that require you to pay per game or a monthly membership fee. Of course, the online casinos cost whatever amount of money you are willing to wager during your gaming activities.
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