Video Games

Video games are electronic and include interaction with a user interface to generate a visual feedback thru a video application.

Traditionally the word video in video games referred to a raster display device or use of raster graphics image or bitmap which is a data structure of a rectangular grid of pixels viewable with a display medium.

Because of its popularity the term, video games, today now refers to any type of display gadget.

Platforms or electronic systems that are used to play video games are personal computers and video game consoles.

These electronic systems can range in size from a large mainframe computer to devices that are small and are handheld.

Video games are manipulated by an input device that is called a game controller that is designed differently across various platforms.

The controls vary and may consist of a joystick or two and a mixture of control buttons and many modern video games require the use of a keyboard and mouse simultaneously.

Interaction and information is provided in other ways to the player by way of sound, thru speakers or headphones and vibration or force feedback.

Early video games used interactive electronic devices with several different display formats with the earliest example from 1947 that was inspired by a radar display tech that allowed a user to control a vector-drawn dot on a screen to copy a missile being fired at a targets that where drawings fixed to a screen.

Video games are categorized by genres based on their game play interaction rather than thru visual or narrative differences.

The genres of video games are based on many factors such as art style, types of goals, and the method of game play etc.

Video games are classified into several different groups such as, core games, casual games, serious games, and educational games.

The intensity, scale of production or depth of play is used to define core video games.

Casual games are defined because their ease of accessibility and easy to understand gameplay and rules that are quick to master.

Serious video games are developed to convey a learning experience or information with an example being the Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Educational video games are used to educate in many different fields such as, technology, mathematics, scientific areas, and engineering. There are many uses for educational games for children and adults.