Arcade Games – This is the very first platform ever developed for video games and it is what proved they could be profitable in a consumer culture. While they enjoyed a golden era during the Eighties, these games are no long as popular as they once were out side of specific settings such as malls, arcades, restaurants and cinema complexes. The fact that they are coin operated means that players must pay to play, but the experience is intended to dazzle since they come from a background of being amusement park attractions. In today’s worlds there are collectors who focus on these machines, but the average gamer does not have the space nor the funding to be able to own one of these machines.
Console Games - This is the most popular way to play video games today. These game systems are connected with TVs instead of having a built in monitor the way that computer or arcade machine would. This allows them to be sold for a far lower price and has done a lot to increase their spread around the world. These games are normally composed of a primary unit that plays the software from a disc or other storage medium and also a t least one controller which players use to control the on screen action. Using this type of gaming system results in increased hand eye coordination and with new fitness pads such as the Nintendo Wii offers, this form of gaming is rapidly becoming popular even outside of gamer culture.
Handheld Video Games – These types of games are well known for their portable nature and are generally made by the same companies that create console systems. This means they are able to play many of the same titles as console systems, too. There are many genres of games available on hand held systems and while some can connect to some version of online play, this is not their primary purpose as gaming units. Instead, they are generally more focused on go anywhere gaming. They do require some form of power which is generally a rechargeable set of batteries which can put a damper on things for certain gamers.
Massively Multiplayer Online Games – These games are often set in vast worlds, sometimes of the fantasy variety, and bring together huge numbers of players who may or may not live close together. This is a platform that is run by a remote server that offers up the game world for the players who create profiles and within those profiles, characters. These games are getting more popular despite the fact that most require the purchase of the game itself plus a subscription that is billed monthly. This platform allows for persistent virtual worlds such as World of Warcraft or Second Life.
Mobile Games - As one of the fastest growing segments of games in the world today, mobile games are popular for people who have a smart phone style of mobile phone. Due to the wide spread prevalence of the mobile phone, these games are now possible and usually they are offered as a free or very low cost download.
Online Games - This platform differs from the massively multiplayer one in that it is generally set up for more player versus player style of game play that is common in the board game world. With this type of game, many times it will be checkers or a card game. These are not necessarily more simple games, they are just networks that allow for head to head play.
Personal Computer Games – Playing games on the personal computer is a tradition that goes back as long as there were consumer models of computers. Today, gamers on the PC or Mac enjoy a superior gaming experience to console gamers if they have the latest technology. This type of gaming can be much more expensive, particularly if one purchases all of the high end gaming equipment as it comes out. These games are definitely more complex, as a general rule.
