Sunday, September 18, 2011

Relive the Past with Old Video Game Systems




In its early days, video games were really simple in terms of graphics technology and sound technology. Games were also relatively easy to play and the characters you play with are so simply made that you can never really imagine how it came from there to the stunning 3D graphics you see now with the latest gaming systems available in just a short period of time.

Thinking about the old video game systems, it is unavoidable that you will seek those iretro games again out of curiosity. If you played with these video game systems when you were a child, you know how fun it is to play with. Compared to the games that you see today, it is hard to imagine how those simple graphics amazed you when you were a kid.

Come to think of it, those crude and simple graphics were considered to be state-of-the-art in the video game industry during its time. In just a short period of time, you can see how well the technology in video game systems has evolved. Now, you see stunning 3D graphics technology and amazing storyline in some of the games, which you can easily mistake to watching a movie instead of playing a game. The quality of the 3D technology integrated in today's game are in fact so amazing that you will actually think that the characters you are controlling are real-life characters.

Compared to the old video game systems, graphic technology and sound technology were really simple. Some are only simple squares or circles that you control around.

If you are curious about the old game systems, here is a list of the old game systems that you can still buy over the internet or play their old games in the internet:
  •     Atari 2600  This game system is what most people consider to have paved the way to modern gaming technology. This is also the game system that took the world by storm in the late 70s and is one of the most popular game systems ever made. Atari 2600 also has popular game titles that many people love to play with. Today, this gaming system can still be brought in the internet through online stores or through auction websites. You can also find Atari games that are available online.
  •     Nintendo Entertainment System or NES  This game was developed in the mid 80s and is the best selling game systems in its time. Almost every household in the United States have this video game system and some people simply never get tired of the games by Nintendo. There is even a great chance that you have this game system stored in your attic or your basement. If you don't, there are still available units that you can purchase in the internet. You can also play with some of the games in Nintendo online.
  •     Sega Genesis  This game system is also one of the best selling game systems ever made. With graphics better than Nintendo Entertainment System or NES, this game system developed by Sega also became one of the most popular game systems ever made. There are still available Genesis game systems available in the internet that you can purchase. Some Genesis games are also available in the internet that you can play with for free.

These are some of the old game systems that you can still play with in the internet or right in your own home. If you do get tired of playing with the latest gaming systems in the market, you can easily go up to your attic or basement, get your old game systems, wipe of the dust that accumulated and hook it up with your entertainment system. There are so many old games that you can still play with your old game systems.

Today, some game system manufacturers are now integrating a backward compatibility feature that will enable you to play with old games that you used to play in your old game systems.

With this feature, you can now enjoy playing the different old games that you once enjoyed playing with the latest game systems available. Old games are simple and fun to play with and, if you have kids, they can also enjoy playing with the games that you also enjoyed with your old game systems when you were their age.

Electronics for you: Staying Out Of Trouble When Buying Mobile Phones

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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Video Game System for Kids




There are many choices in the games that kids can play. Some are educational, fun and extra entertaining for many kids to enjoy. Because of our new innovative technology and progress, even changes in the way children games have also transformed to a more realistic and virtual game playing with contents unacceptable for many kids to view.

Before, video games were invented for educational and entertainment purposes that kids have enjoyed playing even today. Most likely, parents did not have to worry about what their kids are playing because game content was safe and fairly protected from harmful contents. Like the Atari video game system, offering wholesome games such as Pac-Man or Space Invaders, kids are open to have a fun and be entertained without any explicit content and away from corruption that could influence the children's behavior. Unfortunately, changes in technology have altered the way video games are today. Games of today are more realistic and are in stilled with adult content that many game manufacturers have included in their games. Therefore, parents are now concerned on the typical game system that they want their kids to have. In fact, many parents are opting to find the best video game system that is best for their kids but away from adult contents and other threatening factors that could influence the kids.

Unlike before, Atari game system was the best video games made available to kids. Now, video game system has increased due to so many selections available to consumers especially to parents. Large selections of different types of game system such as Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo's GameCube, and Microsoftís Xbox and Xbox 360 video games from Microsoft are some of the selections that parents consider purchasing for their kids.

The best selling game console in the market is the Sony PlayStation 2 (or often referred to as PS2), it caters to all ages while providing about 600 different types of games. These games have been rated for every age bracket to enjoy and specifically for preference of age limitation allowed for each game and level usage. For example, games rated with E are allowed for ages from six and up. Other games at this rating, however, are complicated for younger children to play therefore, rating with E10+ are advisable for children above ten years old to play. Likewise, other games for younger children below 10 are rated with EC or in other words, Early Childhood.

A popular video game system that children basically love is the Nintendo GameCube console. This game system has about 263 games that are based on children's favorite titles like the Sega's Sonic GEMS Collections, Mario Party 6 and Mario Tennis from Nintendo, and other game titles particularly for GameCube console that are also rated E.

Another video game system rated E is the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game with a built-in parental control. The Xbox has about 270 available games while the Xbox 360 has about 12 games and increasing with other popular releases. Although, some of these games may not only be available on the Xbox but as well, be available to GameCube and PS2 or all three video game systems mentioned. In such, the Xbox games with E rating like Astropop and Feeding Frenzy can have crossover titles that many publishers have also released and made possible to other video game system. For instance, rated E games like Eidos InteractiveLEGO Star Wars are available to GameCube, PS2 and even Xbox whereas other rated E10+ are also available to other game systems, while other games like the rated EC Global Star Software's Dora the Explorer are solely for Xbox and PS2 only.

Choosing the best video game system for the kids is important especially if parents are very concerned in their kid's preference in video game playing. The abovementioned video game system can help parents understand the kinds of video game system available to kids while assisting parents in finding the best video game system to give to them. Parents should keep in mind that video game systems for their kids should have parental control options on the game system to lock functions or set limits to the kind of games or titles allowed for playing or viewing. From the abovementioned video game systems, the most advisable for parents to purchase is the Xbox and Xbox 360 because it comes with a built-in parental control.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Computer game system requirements

What does a Computer Game System Require?


Every system that exists on this planet needs a requirement. No matter how many or how big the requirement is, it is essential to comply with the requirements to full realize its potential or to just simply make it work. In science, a system may require any factor affecting it. For example, for a plant to complete its photosynthesis, it must collect carbon dioxide from its surrounding.

This idea is also true in computer gaming. In video games, the peripherals or the devices that you are going to use must meet the requirements set by the game. These requirements are primarily on the capacity of your device; say a console, to perform tasks and to read the game set for by the programmer.

Compatibility also has something to do with computer requirements. The idea behind this is the simple fact that a game can be played with compatible device which can play perfectly the said software. For instance, the video resolution of a program may differ according to the monitor that a gamer may use. With requirements, the user may know which monitor can possibly display good video.

Why set a minimum requirement for a certain console in line with the game? All game programs are innovated in the highest technology environments. When they are incompatible with the hardware devices, chances are that the operation of such game may be greatly affected. These minimum requirements are neither for the game producer nor for the console maker. These are actually for the consumer, in the case of computer video game, for the gamer to have the best possible output from a combination of right game the right system requirement.

Requirements are actually computer specifications that each device must possess. Basically, each game may require certain specifications to the device they must be played with. The game may require the following from the computer:

ï    Processorís Speed ñ the speed for the processor is one of the crucial system requirements a certain game may ask your computer to possess. This said speed will determine how fast your computer will act or execute a decision. Since, games are all executable programs, speed of the processor is very important. Processor speed has a unit of megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz). The unit megahertz are smaller unit than gigahertz. More precisely, a gigahertz is equal to a thousand megahertz. High-speed processors can run any game equal to its speed and lower but slower processors may not run games with higher speed requirements.

ï    Random Access Memory ñ this is commonly known as the internal memory or plainly memory of the computer. This memory helps store some data immediately needed by the processor. Most of the computer machines available in the market has preset RAM equivalent to 64MB. Most games may require RAM equal to this. However, there are game programs that require higher RAM like 126MB. This is not something to worry about because RAM can be upgraded with higher memory capacity.

ï    VRAM ñ this stands for Video Read Access Memory. The ability of your computer to display good resolution games depends on the VRAM. This memory works with the video card. Video cards are like processors however it is only focused on feeding the monitor with visual commands. The VRAM is a temporary memory that saves all graphical information that will be later on fed to the video card and the processor.

ï    Disc Capacity ñ refers to the capacity of the hard drive to store files and information. Disc space is also measured and uses the unit megabytes (MB) just like the VRAM and the RAM. The higher the disc space, the more games that you can store and play in your computer. Like the RAM, disc memory capacity may also be upgraded. One can even have higher memory that can be measured in gigabyte (GB).

ï    CD-ROM drive speed ñ not all the games that are installed in your pc may no longer require a disc. Most game companies upgrade computer game programs using discs. This are later added in the game specs by means of reinstalling it in the computer. The faster the CD-ROM is the faster the installation will be. Every now and then, you will use the CD-ROM not just in playing games but also in ensuring copyright protection and the like. Just like other requirements, the CD-ROM speed can perform its duty well to game programs that has equal speed requirement or slower.


Wednesday, July 13, 2011

First Video Game Systems to the Latest in Gaming Consoles

First Video Game Systems to the Latest in Gaming Consoles


The history of video games has come a long way. Today, you will see video game consoles integrated with state-of-the-art graphics technology and amazing sound quality that can rival your home entertainment systems. There are even gaming consoles that has different features that can rival your home PC.

For example, you will find that some gaming consoles available today have realistic graphics and Hollywood-like acting. Computer generated 3D characters even contains facial expressions and body movements almost similar to the real thing.

If you play with these consoles, you will see that the characters in it move very much like real people. But, in fact, these characters are the product of the latest 3D technology available. Not only that, characters in these games even have human like features. Some even have beards, different eye colors, and some even have hairs that moves just like the real thing.

Other integrated features that you will see in some gaming consoles available in the market today are the memory cards, where you can save your game progress, joysticks and steering wheels to add a little more realism to driving and flight simulation games, simulated guns to add realism to shooting games, and even vibration feedback to controls.

There are even gaming consoles available in the market today that can be connected to the internet. With these feature, you can join multiplayer games in the internet and play with other people from all over the world. So, if you get bored fighting AI (artificial intelligence) from regular games, you can buy a game that is available for massively multiplayer online role playing games or MMORPG.

However, before you go out and buy the real thing, you should know where all these games started. Just like any other invention, gaming consoles or gaming systems started out as having rough graphics, simple sounds and very simple game play.

In the early years of video game systems, you will find that it all started out in a simple game that was called ìTennis for Twoî. This particular video game was introduced back in 1958 and was consisted of two horizontal lines across the screen, and a short perpendicular line that represented the net.

This particular game was the root of all video games and from here, video game developers started competing and producing different games and came to the point of having great graphics and sound quality.

In the mid 70s, a company called Atari came out with a video game system that revolutionized the world of video games. It was called the Video Computer System or VCS. This system became one of the hottest selling gaming systems in its day. As you see todayís latest gaming system, you will find it hard to believe that people even bought these things.

However, you have to consider the fact that in the past, because of the early technology in graphics and sounds, and 3D graphics were virtually non existent, these video gaming systems were considered as state-of-the-art. And, many people enjoyed playing with it. If you were born in this era, and played with these video game systems, you know how much fun it is to play with.

Integrated with simple graphics, simple sound effects and simple game play, it was relatively easy to play with. The whole family can really spend hours on end to play with video game systems in the past. Everyone can play with these simple machines, even children.

Today, since game developers are taking games to another level, adding realistic graphics and realistic sounds, each game are now rated by the ESRB or the Entertainment Software Rating Board. You will see that each of the gaming title will contain letters, such as E, T, M, and AO. These letters represent on who can play the game. E represents Everyone, T represents Teens only, M for Mature gamers, and AO represents Adults Only.

More and more games today are integrated with realism of violence and gore where it can really affect your child's psychology. This is why it is important for you to check the ESRB rating before buying a particular game.

There are even games available today that can recreate the battlefield in World War II. You can even see bodies around the simulated Normandy beach that are either decapitated or a realistic person spurting blood calling out for a medic.

You can easily see how long video game systems have come in terms of graphics and sound quality.

The Evolution of Video Game Consoles

From First to the Latest Video Game Systems: The Evolution of Video Game Consoles


Playing with video game systems is one of the most popular forms of entertainment. With the advancement in graphics and sound technology, you will see that video games today can really take you inside the game itself and makes you feel as if you were actually the character you are playing.

However, before all the state-of-the-art and realistic graphics and sound effects that you see in todays latest video game systems, it all started out with simple graphics and sound that were in its time, state-of-the-art.

You should realize that the evolution of video game systems only took more or less 30 years to get where it is now. Thanks to the advancement in communications, graphics, and also sound technology, many video games today offers first class entertainment.

The very first video games system that appeared in the market was created by Nutting Associates. This video game is the first coin-operated arcade video game called Computer Space. This video game was invented in 1970 and is considered to be the beginning of the evolution of video games.

The next company to release a video game is Magnavox in 1972. The company named it Odyssey 100 video game systems. Unlike the Computer Space arcade video game, Odyssey 100 video game system is a video game that can be attached to a standard television. This feature allowed everyone to play video games right at the comforts of their own home. Because of this feature, almost 100,000 units of the system were sold for 100 dollars each.

During the same year that Magnavox released Odyssey 100 video game systems, Atari also released Pong coin-operated arcade video game system.

In 1976 Atari released the Breakout arcade video game. During its lifetime, 15,000 units of this arcade video game were sold. In this same year, Fairchild Camera and Instrument of California introduced Channel F home video game system. This is the very first system that used plug-in cartridges for games. Another feature of this game is that has color and sound through a TV connection.

In 1977, Atari releases the Atari Video Computer System (VCS) that was later named Atari 2600. This video game system developed by Atari uses plug-in cartridges, has color graphics and sound through a TV connection.

In 1978, Taito introduces the Space Invaders arcade video game in Japan. This arcade video game sold over 350,000 units world-wide throughout its lifetime.

In 1981 Nintendo released the Donkey Kong arcade video game in the US. And, in 1985 Nintendo released their version of home video game console called the Nintendo Entertainment System. This video game console is considered to be the best selling video game console of all time.

During this time, Nintendo slowly resurrected the video game industry and it produced a video game craze.

Between 1985 and 1995, a lot of video game systems were released. Between these years, Nintendo Game Boy video game systems, Sega Genesis, NEC Home Entertainment TurboGrafx, Lynx, Super Family Computer, Panasonic REAL 3DO, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo, and Sony PlayStation was released.

As you can see, the video game industry have evolved very fast and graphics technology were becoming more and more real that violence, blood and gore are integrated with some of the games. This is why the ESRB was created to rate the games that was being released.

Because of the competitioFrom the First to the Latest Video Game Systems: The Evolution of Video Game Consoles


Playing with video game systems is one of the most popular forms of entertainment. With the advancement in graphics and sound technology, you will see that video games today can really take you inside the game itself and make you feel as if you were actually the character you are playing.

However, before all the state-of-the-art and realistic graphics and sound effects that you see in todayís latest video game systems, it all started out with simple graphics and sound that were in its time, state-of-the-art.

You should realize that the evolution of video game systems only took more or less 30 years to get where it is now. Thanks to the advancement in communications, graphics, and also sound technology, many video games today offers first class entertainment.

The very first video games system that appeared in the market was created by Nutting Associates. This video game is the first coin-operated arcade video game called Computer Space. This video game was invented in 1970 and is considered to be the beginning of the evolution of video games.

The next company to release a video game is Magnavox in 1972. The company named it Odyssey 100 video game systems. Unlike the Computer Space arcade video game, Odyssey 100 video game system is a video game that can be attached to a standard television. This feature allowed everyone to play video games right at the comforts of their own home. Because of this feature, almost 100,000 units of the system were sold for 100 dollars each.

During the same year that Magnavox released Odyssey 100 video game systems, Atari also released Pong coin-operated arcade video game system.

In 1976 Atari released the Breakout arcade video game. During its lifetime, 15,000 units of this arcade video game were sold. In this same year, Fairchild Camera and Instrument of California introduced Channel F home video game system. This is the very first system that used plug-in cartridges for games. Another feature of this game is that has color and sound through a TV connection.

In 1977, Atari released the Atari Video Computer System (VCS) that was later named Atari 2600. This video game system developed by Atari used plug-in cartridges, has color graphics and sound through a TV connection.

In 1978, Taito introduces the Space Invaders arcade video game in Japan. This arcade video game sold over 350,000 units world-wide throughout its lifetime.

In 1981 Nintendo released the Donkey Kong arcade video game in the US. And, in 1985 Nintendo released their version of home video game console called the Nintendo Entertainment System. This video game console is considered to be the best selling video game console of all time.

During this time, Nintendo slowly resurrected the video game industry and it produced a video game craze.

Between 1985 and 1995, a lot of video game systems were released. Between these years, Nintendo Game Boy video game system, Sega Genesis, NEC Home Entertainment TurboGrafx, Lynx, Super Family Computer, Panasonic REAL 3DO, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo, and Sony PlayStation were released.

As you can see, the video game industry have evolved very fast and graphics technology were becoming more and more real that violence, blood and gore are integrated with some of the games. This is why the ESRB was created to rate the games that was being released.

Because of the competition, only 3 major video game companies have survived in the video game industry today. These were Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. These 3 companies are still developing the latest video game systems.

Starting out with crude and simple graphics and sounds, people have developed amazing video games in just a short period of time. If you try and imagine the future, you will see that the video game systems that you play with today will just even get better and better.

Video games today are even equipped with modems to let them connect to the internet and play with other people from all over the world. So, the next time you buy another latest video game system, try to imagine what it was like during the first release of the video game systems.

As you can see, what started out with crude and simple graphics and sounds, people have developed amazing video games for only a short period of time. If you try and imagine the future, you will see that the video game systems that you play with today will just even get better and better.

Video games today are even equipped with modems to let them connect to the internet and play with other people from all over the world. So, the next time you buy another latest video game system, try to imagine what it was like during the first release of the video game systems.