How has PC gaming evolved ?

Each and every year video game manufacturers introduce new PC games that are bigger and better. These games encompass every genre of video gaming and sometimes even create feature in new trends, such as the recent introduction of MMO gaming, or Massively Multiplayer Online games. With so many games to choose from and prices ranging up to a few hundred dollars, how can you decide which games to buy? Fortunately, there are numerous PC game reviews that help educate and guide you through the selection process.

What is PC Gaming?

Early Gaming

PC Gaming refers to a video game that is played on a personal computer. These games can be very simplistic text only games or can have elaborate storylines and intense graphics. The first PC game, a missile simulator, was created in 1947, however it would take years before games and video game systems would be mass produced and available to the public. Computer gaming began increasing in popularity in the late 1970s to early '80s. Programmers published books with their codes for their video game programs. Later, programmers began selling disks, ROMs, and cassettes as a means to distribute their games. The Commodore 64 was the first popular and highest selling computer that had advanced graphic and sound capabilities, which was great for gaming at the time. However, all the commands ere entered as text. The first game to utilize point and click technology was Maniac Mansion in 1987.

Modern Gaming

The gaming industry underwent a major change in the early '90s. Game manufacturers began consolidating and merging leaving many small game publishers in the lurch in the wake of these newly formed conglomerates. The amount and variety of games available changed, as did the emphasis on marketing and risk. Publishers began marketing games using free shareware and demo disks available in stores and gaming magazines. Computer manufacturers began creating personal computers customized for computer gaming. The games themselves started becoming much more realistic due to intense graphics. With the advent of the internet, gamers could now share free full version pc games, pc game walkthroughs, successes and reviews, as well as download pc games, filling each other in on the dos and don'ts of gaming. Additionally, MMO games were introduced. The Massively Multiplayer Online games, like World of Warcraft and EverQuest allow a large number of players to participate in the same game at the same time. The game continues to evolve even while any given player is away. These games have become extremely popular with some game manufacturers reporting over 1 million subscribers. With the popularity of computer gaming at an all time high; recent technological advances, can only be a figment of imagination. The future of pc gaming is something that only fiction can portray.

What are the hardware requirements for gaming?

For games to function properly there are many minimum hardware requirements that must be met. These requirements vary from game to game and some are relatively common, such as a specified amount of RAM or memory. The best pc games, which have rich, intense graphics and high sound quality require substantially higher requirements to be met, otherwise even if it functions the game play suffers. Some of these requirements include high speed internet connections, PCs that are DirectX 9.0 compatible, Pentium 4 2.0 GHz PCUs and high end graphics cards.

How are computer games developed and distributed?Development

The devel opment and distribution of new pc games is an expansive project that takes a significant amount of time, monetary investment and involves numerous people and departments, including artists, game designers, level designers and programmers. The game development process begins with a single concept or storyline, which has been submitted to a game developer, either internally or externally, similar to the process that occurs in the film industry.

Once a concept has been selected, it is then given to a manager or development department that oversees the development process. They work with each department or team to ensure that the project is progressing accordingly. What types of technologies will be used and what's the best way to use them are just a few of the choices that need to be made. The art team develops the 3d models, the sound engineers produce the audio and sound effects that accompany the game and the programmers provide the source code. All the while, the designer is incorporating the different elements together to produce the actual game itself. This process can take months to upwards of a few years depending on the complexities of the game, likewise the vision of the game itself can change drastically in the beginning stages of production.

Upon completion the game is given to testers who then offer reviews of the program. This is a critical part of the production process, because it ensures that the finished product will function properly and is fun to play. Once the production process is complete, generally 1 to 3 years, it is ready to be published and distributed. Very few games actually see this process through, as it is common for games to be held back or passed on, even when they are completed.

Distribution

Once the game has been chosen for distribution, marketers begin promoting the game. They may use pc game reviews of the game to enhance its publicity, as well as offering demo versions of the game to the general public. Though the process is very tedious and involves a lot of hard work and cooperation, creating the best pc games can be a very rewarding feat.