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Strictly, a computer game (also commonly video game) is an electronic game composed of a virtual universe rendered by a computer that contains some way for players to interact with the universe or setting. In general usage, however, "computer game" refers to computer games played on a personal computer or Macintosh, while "video game" refers to games played on a video game console. Both "computer games" and "video games" are also frequently used as an umbrella term for the medium. To avoid potential ambiguity, computer and console games may be referred to collectively as "computer and video games".

For more specific articles concerning only the umbrella term, see:

Game mechanics

A computer game is composed of both a virtual universe, be it simple or complex, particular instances (occurances) of which are controlled and enforced by a computer, and a way for a player to interact with a given instance, such as through screens and controls. Typically, a new instance of a game's universe is created by selection of a "new game" option, while previous instances and player states are retrieved with "load game".

Several variations of ways to control or interact with a game exist. Generally, video game consoles utilize a input device called a controller, which usually contains a number of buttons as well as one or several accompanying analog sticks. Pressing the buttons or moving the analog stick will cause a reaction within the virtual universe which will be visible onscreen. Alternatively, games played upon home computers usually utilize a keyboard, mouse, or joystick, which, when manipulated, will trigger a reaction within the game.

The effects of manipulating whatever is used as a function input for the game are then recognized on a visual output device, usually a television or computer moniter.

The term game may refer to either the virtual universe and all of it's governing rules ("Nethack is a game"), or a particular instance of that game ("my game ended in yet another annoying death", "game over").

Gameplay

Main article: Gameplay

Genres

Main article: Computer and video game genres

Gaming platforms

*Grand Theft Auto 3* is an example of a game that is popular as a video game as well as a computer game.

Today there is a thin line between computer games and video games in terms of genre.

Personal computer games

Personal computer games are most commonly referred to as "computer games". They are played on the personal computer with standard computer interface devices such as the keyboard and mouse. Video feedback is recieved by the user through the computer screen, sound through speakers or headphones.

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, a hand-held device with buttons. Video and sound are recieved by the user though a television.

Arcade games

Arcade games are games played on a device composed externally of a coin slot, a television set, and a set of controls. Controls range from a the classic joystick and buttons, to light guns, to pads on the ground that sense pressure.

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 (Xbox to Windows). The Entertainment Software Association reported that console games outsold computer games in the US by about 380% in 2003.

Trends and attitudes towards gaming

In the early 1990s, games as we know them today were not as widely popular. Computer games were hard to get into for the common folk. Arcades and consoles were for kids, usually males. This view is gradually changing as it is revealed that these games are reaching a wider audience. According to the Entertainment Software Association, the average age of gamers is 29 and 39% of game players are women.

Popularity

One way to judge the popularity of computer and video games is by looking at sales figures. The three biggest markets for these games in 2003 were the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom [1] and each indicated that dedicated video game hardware made up the bulk of the industry.

According to the NPD Group, sales of computer games in the US have been declining since the late 1990s and are only a fraction of market. This is despite the findings that the US entertainment software industry as a whole is growing. Computer game sales were strong as recently as the mid 1990s and appeared to be growing at that time.

Looking at computer game sales alone can be a misleading, because there are many free computer games and ones that make money through other means, such as subscription-based MMOGs and shareware games. DFC estimated that global MMOG revenues in 2003 would be over $1 billion USD. Sales of games distributed by download are often not tracked by traditional methods. According to the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), Half-Life 2 debuted at #3 in UK sales, which some commentators said was below forecasts and attributed the discrepancy to unknown sales made through Valve Software's Steam distribution system.

Computer games are still big business in South Korea. Developers there boast MMORPGs such as Lineage and Ragnarok Online with millions of subscribers and a third of the world's MMOG revenue. StarCraft gosi (expert players) are celebrities in a game that some have dared to call the country's national sport. The success of computer and online gaming there is usually credited to South Korea's push for broadband Internet connections in the home and earlier bans on Japanese products (these restrictions were removed by the late 1990s).

Development

Video games are made by developers, who can be individuals, but are almost always a team consisting of designers, graphic designers and other artists, programmers, sound designers, musicians, and other technicians. Most video game console development teams number anywhere from 20 to 50 people, with some teams exceeding 100. The average team size as well as the average development time of a game have grown along with the size of the industry and the technology involved in creating games. This has led to regular occurrences of missed deadlines and unfinished products, such as Duke Nukem Forever. See video game industry practices for more information.

Game modifications

Main article: Mod (computer gaming)

Games running on a PC are designed with change in mind, and this consequently allows modern computer games to be modified by gamers without much difficulty. These mods (short for "modifications") can add an extra dimension of replayability and interest. The Internet provided an inexpensive medium to promote and distribute mods, and they became an increasingly important factor in the commercial success of some games. Developers such as id, Valve, and Epic provide extensive tools and documentation to assist mod makers, leveraging the potential success brought in by a popular mod like Counter-Strike.

Recently, computer games have also been used as a digital-art medium. See artistic computer game modification.

Terms

From time to time the term interactive is used to describe a video game. This term is often used by people in the movie and television industries who are not comfortable with the idea that they are involved in making video games, due to the video game industry's persistent stereotype of making products targeted solely towards children. A line heard from an executive in such an industry might sound something like, "We're a movie production company, and now we're getting into interactive."

Gamers use several umbrella terms for console, PC, arcade, handheld, and similar games since they do not agree on the best name. For many, either "computer game" or "video game" describes these games as a whole. Other commonly used terms include "entertainment software", "electronic game", "software game", and "videogame" (as one word).

References

Lieu, Tina (August 1997). "Where have all the PC games gone?". Computing Japan.
Costikyan, Greg (1994) "I Have No Words & I Must Design"
Crawford, Chris (1982) "The Art of Computer Game Design"

External links

GameSpot: gaming reviews, news, downloads, and forums
GameRankings: a site with game rankings based on the average mark from indexed reviews
www.MobyGames.com: MobyGames is a computer and video game documentation and review site

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 {{game-cleanup}}
-Strictly, a '''computer game''' is a [[game]] composed of a [[virtual universe]] controlled by a [[computer]] and a way for [[player]]s to [[interact]] with the universe; a '''video game''' is a computer game where some of the interaction is carried out via a [[video display]]. In general usage, however, "computer game" refers to computer games played on the [[personal computer]], while "video game" refers to games played on a [[video game console]]. Both "computer games" and "video games" are also frequently used as an [[umbrella term]] for the medium. To avoid potential ambiguity, personal computer and console games may be referred to collectively as "'''computer and video games'''".
+Strictly, a '''computer game''' (also commonly '''video game''') is an electronic [[game]] composed of a [[virtual universe]] rendered by a [[computer]] that contains some way for [[player]]s to [[interact]] with the universe or setting. In general usage, however, "computer game" refers to computer games played on a [[personal computer]] or [[Macintosh]], while "video game" refers to games played on a [[video game console]]. Both "computer games" and "video games" are also frequently used as an [[umbrella term]] for the medium. To avoid potential ambiguity, computer and console games may be referred to collectively as "'''computer and video games'''".
+For more specific articles concerning only the umbrella term, see:
+* [[Console game]]
+* [[Personal computer game]]
 ==Game mechanics==
 A computer game is composed of both a [[virtual universe]], be it simple or complex, particular instances (occurances) of which are controlled and enforced by a [[computer]], and a way for a player to interact with a given instance, such as through screens and controls. Typically, a new instance of a game's universe is created by selection of a "new game" option, while previous instances and player states are retrieved with "load game".
+Several variations of ways to control or interact with a game exist. Generally, video game consoles utilize  a input device called a '''controller''', which usually contains a number of buttons as well as one or several accompanying [[analog]] sticks. Pressing the buttons or moving the analog stick will cause a reaction within the virtual universe which will be visible onscreen. Alternatively, games played upon home computers usually utilize a [[keyboard]], [[mouse]], or [[joystick]], which, when manipulated, will trigger a reaction within the game.
+The effects of manipulating whatever is used as a function input for the game are then recognized on a visual output device, usually a [[television]] or computer moniter.
 The term ''game'' may refer to either the virtual universe and all of it's governing rules ("[[Nethack]] is a ''game''"), or a particular instance of that game ("my ''game'' ended in yet another annoying death", "[[game over|''game'' over]]").