Video Gaming

GAMING SOFTWARE

First commercial computerised game

Pong, which is a tennis sport video game, was played on a television screen.  It was only a two dimensional game, so the graphics were extremely limited.  The aim of the game is to try to defeat your opponent by earning a higher score.  It was released in 1972, by Atari Inc.  It was originally created as a training exercise. The only graphics on the screen are each opponents score, a white dot (ball) and two straight lines that each opponent could move up and down to hit the ball and pass to each other.  Pong has far less graphics and intricate gaming compared to today’s games, yet it kept people entertained for many hours.

Above image - http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.yoyogames.com/extras/image/name/san2/630/391630/original/pong.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.yoyogames.com/games/152849-online-pong&usg=__ODYBKKA5RdfUpwPZNmT90Hhr4uM=&h=504&w=641&sz=21&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=pR9SV50xgODrmM:&tbnh=153&tbnw=195&ei=PnbzTc_GBonMhAfjmYzWBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpong%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1C1SVEE_enGB428GB428%26biw%3D1599%26bih%3D809%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=615&vpy=135&dur=347&hovh=186&hovw=236&tx=93&ty=124&page=1&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&biw=1599&bih=809

Most popular games throughout decades – 1960s-present

Space Invaders – Was released in 1978, by Taito in Japan.  It became popular in Arcades across the world, as not every home had a video game console.  The idea of the game was to shoot ‘aliens’ that would form in horizontal lines at the top of the screen. 

Above image - http://alto.to.free.fr/arcade_room/images/spaceinvaders.jpg

Pacman – was released in 1980. The player would have to move round a maze on the screen, avoiding aliens while trying to gain high points.  It became an instant phenomenon and was turned into a television series, which resulted in lots of merchandise for children.

Above image - http://www.thedirectorfiles.com/assets/photos/downloads/pacman.gif

Mario – Was first released in 1981 but is still being updated today as his popularity continues to grow throughout the years. He was a fiction computer character and is still globally popular with people of all ages.  It was the start of the new computer gaming, with graphics, puzzles and fighting.  Its a fast pace game that was easily addictive. 

Above image - http://www.softendo.com/public/gallery/screenshot/427.jpg

Tetris – I would say, is by far one the most addictive games in the years of video gaming.  It’s a simple game that displayed various shapes, which would fall to the bottom of the video screen.  The player would have to get the shapes to insert into each other and form lines for you to gain points.  With each line that was complete, the line would then be erased and you would start again.  The game would be over when the shapes hit the top of the screen.

Above image - http://www.terminalstudio.com/screens/challtetris/big1.jpg

My Favourite Game

Although I am not a big video game player, my favourite game would have to be Mario.  Easy to understand, great puzzles and activities and people of all ages could play.  As it keeps getting updated, it is great to see how much video gaming has transformed over the years.

Above image - http://www.nintendodschristmas.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/new-super-mario-bros-200603060113052301.jpg

Virtual worlds

Nowadays, virtual world gaming has taken over.  People can go online and interact with each other across the world.  Players can talk and guide each other through different levels of the game.  The graphics in today’s gaming is three dimensional and you can turn a full 360 degrees, without getting cut-off from any graphics.

MODERN WARFARE 2

Above image - http://oliverhughes.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/modernwarfare2-article-pic-11.jpg

What is an avatar and how it can be used –

There are 2 avatars.  One is a three-dimensional form used in virtual worlds or games or the second is used as in icon as an image or used in internet forum images.

An avatar is used in online gaming by the user, to make a character referred to the user.  It is a graphical representation, almost cartoon like.

Above image - http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2746/4039096436_808049a0e1_z.jpg

Avatars can be changed whenever the user wants.  You can change skin colour, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, clothes, gender or any accessories that the game allows.

Orkut

Was created by, Orkut Buyukkokten, hence the title ‘Orkut’.  It’s a social networking site that is operated by Google Inc.  It is not as popular as Facebook or My Space but has the same idea, by trying to get users to meet new friends and keep contact with friends and family.  It is more popular in India and Brazil but only a very small portion, (under 3%), of Americans use it.