To most people playing games means sitting down in front of a PC and using the mouse to aim and fire at enemies. To other people it means playing on a console, sitting down in front of a TV, or playing on a mobile device. It means driving games, activity based games, first person shooters, racing games, fighting games, etc. No matter what kind of game you are playing, it is important to understand that gaming has a variety of sub-genres. These sub-genres include PC gaming, console gaming, handheld gaming devices (such as X-Box, Play Station, iPhone), online gaming, and “social” gaming. Each sub-genre is designed for a specific type of gaming experience.
PC gaming is the most common form of gaming that is played today. There are many computer manufacturers that have developed PCs that offer the best possible gaming experience. For those that want to get hardcore, there are specialized rigs that are built for gaming, which can be found in many homes. To be even more extreme, there are many PC’s that are so powerful that they can be used for professional gaming. For example, a professional gamer could play the latest Call of Duty games on his PC and not only be able to connect with his friends in real time, but also be able to design his own game plan and use cheat codes.
Console gaming involves playing games that are played on a regular television set, as well as video games that are played online through consoles such as the Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and many others. Consoles allow for many interactive options, such as playing online or sharing data between players. If a player wants to play a racing game, he can do so online without having to worry about losing any progress he has made. Most consoles allow for some degree of user customization, which includes various graphics settings, health and safety settings, and sound settings.
For the most part, playing video games online requires the use of security and protection software to help protect the user from the invasion of people who may be in a legitimate capacity as game testers or producers. The use of spyware and adware is often used to try to gather personal information from the computer in which a person is playing. This information is taken without the knowledge of the user, which means that it may be used against that person in some legal situations.
The rise of social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace has created an entirely new gaming demographic. These new players are known as “rageous gamers,” who play games that tend to be highly competitive and whose interaction is often highly hostile. These gamers do not necessarily use sophisticated technology to play their games, but instead rely on their ability to communicate by posting comments and other interactions within the online gaming world. For these gamers, the security settings on their computers are very important, since they may be communicating with other gamers around the world and putting their lives at risk if their security settings are compromised.
It is important for anyone with concerns about their own gaming behaviors to speak up and ask questions. There is support available both within and outside of gaming communities, and those who suffer from video game addiction may find it necessary to seek help from professionals to combat their destructive gaming behaviors. Those who have become deeply involved in gaming activities and gaming culture should be aware that, no matter how safe they feel online, there is always a chance that they could be harassed or the confidentiality of their gaming activities could be compromised. Those who are willing to speak up about issues they feel are worthy of being addressed may be able to prevent a problem before it becomes one.