Perhaps one of the most popular uses for computers, games have provided millions of people around the world with entertainment for decades. Almost everybody has played, or at least heard of, computer games. There are simple game, like Solitaire, Tetris, and Minesweeper; there are more advanced and complex games, like Doom, Sim City, and Myst.
All computer games have three basic components. First, there must be some sort of competition. This competition could be between a player and a machine, between two or more players, or even between a player and him or herself.
Games all must have a goal that the player is trying to reach. This goal could be a high score, an understanding of complex topics (in the instance of games like flight simulators), or the successful creation of a character, a building, or even a city (a good example of this would be The Sims or Sim City).
Games must also have some sort of obstacle to hinder the player's trek to reach the goal. They could be enemies, lack of money (like in the Sims), natural disasters (like in Sim City), etc.
Finally, there must be some means by which the obstacles can be avoided and the goal reached. Sometimes, this might be good hand-eye-controller coordination, which would let the player deftly control his character in the game. Sometimes, it might be having good organization and being a good planner. For example, in Sim City, you need to plan your city well, or else it will not survive natural disasters and other problems. Furthermore, it might also be deductive reasoning, which would help you to solve puzzle-based games.
There are thousands of computer games found throughout the world. They have been a prime source of entertainment for years, ever since the first game was introduced in 1962.
Evolution of Computer Games<:
1962
1967
1970
Life: first artificial intelligence simulation game
1972:
Adventure/Colossal Cove: first adventure game
Hunt the Wumpers: first role-playing game (RPG). Role-playing games are where players pretend to be different characters. These characters all have their own strengths and weaknesses, and then they can go on different adventures, etc.
1973:
1978:
Starfleet Orion: first tactical combat strategy game
Empire: first war game
1979:
1980:
Pacman: This famous game was developed in 1980 by a company called Namco.
1981:
1982:
1984:
1985:
1987:
1989:
1992:
1994:
1996:
2000:
Continue on to the next section:
Video Software
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