soulbands.freeservers.com

Gaming platforms

Today there are many different devices that games may be played on. Personal computers, consoles, handheld systems, and arcade machines are all common. There is a thin line between games played on the computer and those on the console in terms of genre.

Many games intended for computers are now just as prevalent on consoles, both of which have many of the same selections of titles. This is due to the fact that video game consoles have drastically increased in computing power and capabilities over the last few years to the point that they can handle games that were formerly only playable with computers. With the release of Microsoft's Xbox console, which was based on PC architecture, and which was developed with online gameplay in mind, most major computer game releases coincide with the release of console versions. However, popular titles initially developed for a single platform are often "ported" to another platform. Recent examples include id's Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Windows to Xbox) and Bungie's blockbuster first person shooter, Halo (Developed for the Mac, then bought to be released for Xbox and then (re)-ported to Mac and Windows). The Entertainment Software Association reported that console games outsold computer games in the US by about 380% in 2003 (do note that this number does not represent popularity, and that fees such as those for paid Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) are excluded).

[edit]
Personal computer games
Personal computer games are commonly referred to as "computer games" or "PC games". They are played on the personal computer with standard computer interface devices such as the keyboard and mouse. Video feedback is received by the user through the computer screen, sound through speakers or headphones. Computer games are often more powerful than console games because of early market releases of their external architecture and graphics cards.

Today, most PC games require the Windows operating system to be installed on the computer. There is, however, a continuing movement to get the most popular games to run under the Mac and Linux operating systems.

[edit]
Console games
Console games are more commonly referred to as "video games". They are played on a computer specially made for game play called a video game console. The player interacts with the game through a controller. Video and sound are delivered to the player via a television or, as with newer video game consoles, high-definition video monitors. Previous generations of personal computers, such as the Commodore 64, were commonly connected to televisions and even today share naming conventions and devices such as the Sony PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System, or the Sega Dreamcast's keyboard and mouse peripherals. There are also games on portable systems, such as the Nintendo Game Boy, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, and the common cellphone which have their own, built-in video display. Computer games are more commonly played on multi-purpose operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, or Linux.

[edit]
The near future of console gaming
The end of 2005 and beginning of 2006 will see the next generation of console gaming, thus bringing the line between movies and games to the closest point we've seen to date. The next generation includes the second generation Microsoft offering, the Xbox 360, which will be powered by a multi-core CPU. The PlayStation 3 will be powered by Cell processor technology, and the Nintendo Revolution that will have the ability to download previous generation games from the Nintendo 64 and prior.

A few of the tech demos were controversial at their release due to their realism, most of the crowd chalked them up as pre-rendered movies. However Sony has claimed that the trailer to Killzone 2 (one of the most impressive trailers at E3) is in fact gameplay footage, although this claim is commonly viewed with scepticism.

[edit]
Arcade games
Arcade games are coin-operated games played on a standalone device originally leased to commercial entertainment venues. These are programmed, equipped, and decorated for a specific game, consisting of a video display, a set of controls, and the coin slot. Controls range from the classic joystick and buttons, to light guns, to pads on the ground that sense pressure. Arcade games that are no longer profitable to lease can be purchased by private individuals, many of whom then explore the game dynamics by altering the programs.

[edit]
Internet games
Internet games are those which require a connection to the Internet to play. Internet gaming was originally an offshoot from personal computer games but may be considered a platform in itself due to its growing scope and the inclusion of internet capabilities in modern consoles. See Internet gaming.

Main Soul1 Soul2 game1 game2 game3 game4 game5

membrane filtration water distillers | yacht charter | oil painting reproductions | Safety Glasses | Night Vision | hawaiian music aloha shirts | Health Care | football shirts | oil paintings | Nashville Real Estate free credit report | Dental Care | caribbean yacht charter | south pacific yacht charter | Kit Car