Online Games - The Evolution

Now we see thousands of people playing online games such as tetris, ping pong, mario bros, super mario etc for free but despite its history dating back to 1970s, for most people online gaming began with the explosion of Internet in 1993 and with the advent of Doom and Warcraft sometime in 1994 or 1995. This got further boost with publishers starting to add Internet connectivity to computer games in 1994-95.

The media, in fact, have themselves been ignorant about online games history. As far as they are concerned, online gaming just coincidentally happened when their advertisers started producing Internet-capable games. But it isn't so...

Early Years of development

In early 1950's a college student created a game much like Tic-Tac-Toe for a class project to be played on dinosaur computers of those days complete with cathode ray tubes for the screen display. The 1960's had MIT students programming a game called "Space war" that could be played with two people over a primitive network. The late 1960's brought the first "real" video games like table tennis and shooter games.

The 70s - the game begins

Serious online gaming began with the first interactive online game called ADVENT. In fact networked gaming got conceptualized with ADVENT. Networked gaming had users playing against each other within an online fantasy world. The first networked game was called Mazewar, a game which involved networked players traveling through a maze and attempting to kill one another.
Next came the interpersonal interaction in a multi-player environment. The first such game was called DUNGEN. DUNGEN had players competing against one another to complete a series of quests. DUNGEN provided with new settings and players each time the user logged on.

The late 1970's saw the start of video game craze with more and more households getting computer savvy. As a natural corollary, people started writing their own games for the home computers. These programming hobbyists traded and sold these home-grown games in local markets.

Other changes in the 1970's were home gaming consoles which used game cartridges. That meant the people could collect games cartridges for one base unit instead of having bulky game console systems.

The 80s - some pause before the storm

1980's saw growing craze for the video and computer game craze, but online gaming wasn't on the horizon yet. New games with better sound and graphics were introduced and gained popularity. Pole Position and Pac-man were two that achieved big popularity. It was during 1980's when Nintendo introduced its first gaming system.

The 90s - revolution begins

The 1990's saw the phenomenal growth in both popularity and technology mostly because of the rise of 3-D and multimedia.

Myst, the intellectual adventure game introduced gaming on the CD-ROM format. Fancier 3-D graphics hardware made FPS (first person shooter) games such as Quake possible.

The late 1990's saw the exponential growth of the Internet, MUDs (multi-user dungeons) which made online games wildly popular. New and improved graphical interfaces had people all over the world playing against each other not only in FPS games but also in real time strategy games (RTS games) as well as third person games like Grand Theft Auto.

This was also the period when websites started offering online games such as tetris, ping pong, mario bros, super Mario, and other free online flash games and non-flash based games free for playing after registering with them. This really pushed online gaming into the popular psyche.

The 21st Century - world is just a playground

Early years of the 21st century were dominated by the DVD-CD-ROM. It has changed the way online games are played. The latest gaming systems such as Sony's play station and Microsoft's X-box have networking capabilities to enable people play with each other in real time from all over the world. Exponentially growing broadband internet services have made playing these online games possible in true sense of the word.

The only drawback to the constantly evolving technology for online games is that what you buy today might become obsolete by the next year. Luckily, for the serious gamers, the resale industry for these online games is huge. This resale industry is just another element to the ever-changing history of online game.

Susie is a game developer advocating to play online games free. Visit http://www.Play-Online-Games-Free.com to play tetris online for free.

Fun Free Online Games & Social Networking

Computer and video games have become very popular. In particular the interest in playing fun free online games over the internet is increasing strongly.

Despite the growing popularity of YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook, gaming remains the king of online entertainment, driven largely by casual gaming activities.

Sites like Yahoo Games and EA's Pogo.com offer users access to a wealth of advertisement supported free online games, where sponsors have options for branding opportunities, and display and banner ad placements.
Online games on the consoles could become a $10.5 billion business by 2011 from $981 million in 2007, according to market researcher IDC.

In 2007, online console revenue is at 2.5% of total global video game market revenue, including console and handheld hardware and software revenue. By 2011, revenue from connected consoles will represent 18.6% of total market revenue.

Although subscription revenue for premium online services and games will grow from $476 million in 2007 to over $2.4 billion in 2011, its share of online console revenue will decline from 48.5% in 2007 (already down from a high of 86.5% in 2006) to 23.2% by 2011.

Downloadable content (DLC) consisting of games and game-related items, which at $35 million in 2006 represented a 13.5% market share of online console revenue, will become connected consoles' primary revenue source in 2007, growing from $493 million in 2007 to $7.2 billion in 2011. In 2011, game-centric DLC will make up 68.6% of online revenue.

Advertising revenue from sponsored services, in-game ads, and product placement in connected consoles will reach $12 million in 2007, posting the first significant online console ad spend. Advertising revenue will grow to $858 million in 2011, with an 8.2% market share of online revenue.

Video game growth will be strongest in the Asia Pacific region, its largest market, with a 10% annual growth rate through 2011, but will increase in the Europe/Middle East/Africa region (10.2%), the U.S. (6.7%), Canada (9.4%), and Latin America (8.2%) as well.

Certain trends hold steady across most regions: For instance, driven by increased penetration of broadband access, online gaming is surging. In the U.S. and Europe/Middle East/Africa, online gaming represents the fastest-growing consumer segment (19.3% and 24.6%, respectively); in Asia Pacific and Canada, online growth came in second only to wireless (at 16.1% and 13.9%, respectively). Other trends are more regional. The in-game advertising market is expected to increase 64% in the U.S. And in China it is expected to rise at a compound annual rate of 14.3% to $2 billion in 2011, most all of that growth will come in online games.
Spurred by the new generation of consoles and handhelds, and by increased penetration of broadband and wireless technologies, the video game industry is ripe with opportunity. "Growth in platforms allows you to hit new demographics," says Stefanie Kane, a partner with PwC's entertainment and media practice, noting that handheld game devices have brought more women into the market, and that the entrance of cable and on-demand TV channels will further widen the base. "There is a lot of unlocked potential."
You might think the face of one of the hottest areas in gaming right now is a young male in his 20s who owns the latest supercharged gaming system from Microsoft or Sony - or both.
But you'd be wrong.

Instead, the epitome of the new-era gamer is a woman in her late 30s or early 40s who plays on an average PC.

Yes, the video game industry seems to have been turned on its head.

For years, the dominant themes have been faster game machines, increasingly realistic graphics, more immersive play, as well as the old standbys - blood, guts and blowin' stuff up.

But that picture has begun to look increasingly outdated. While young men dominate the gaming industry as a whole, casual games are one of the fastest-growing parts of the industry and attracting a whole new demographic.

You can find signs of the revolution everywhere. One of the fastest-growing parts of the game industry is centred on so-called casual fun free online games, PC-based titles that users can generally start playing in minutes and usually don't require the mastery of some combination of multiple buttons to enjoy.

The upheaval has spread to the console market, as sales of Nintendo's Wii console and DS handheld, both of which stress fun-to-play games over powerful processors or realistic graphics, are far outstripping their supercharged competitors from Microsoft and Sony.

Revenue streams enabled by active online consoles in this cycle show the strongest growth in the sector and will not only determine the future success of the console vendors but also be crucial to the success of many third-party publishers.

Further information on fun free online games and business opportunities combining Online Games and Online Social Networking can be found at my blog.

Noel I Crowe
Skype: noel.crowe1

Noel Crowe is based in Sydney Australia and has full time interests in online home based businesses which include social networking sites involving online gaming and entertainment activities in new generation 3-D spatial virtual worlds.

Angry Birds Are Everywhere

Mobile games are everywhere. One of the most popular among them is the best-selling puzzle game, Angry Birds. If you're looking for a way to stretch your brain and pass the times, this game has it all. Your computer, or smart phone can be used to access the game in a flash. Angry Birds is not for the faint of heart though, as it will have you plotting revenge, attacking castles and enduring level after level of thrilling, mentally challenging action-packed fun.

First developed by Rovio Mobile Ltd in December 2009, the game became an instant favorite among gamers and casual players alike. Originally created and published as an application for the Apple iPhone, it wasn't long before the game's instant popularity demanded expansion into other smartphone devices, like Android. Since it was first created, the game has sold more than 12 million Apple apps alone, making it one of the highest selling mobile apps ever. Followers of the game have created social media pages, websites, and other groups all dedicated to spreading tips, strategies and Angry Bird frenzy. As a result, it can be found everywhere.

The Angry Birds game however, is not just another mindless, or violence driven form of entertainment. This game requires strategy, logic and intense concentration. Players must engage in 120 levels of of battle, wits and carefully planned revenge in order to take on the angry bird foes. If clicking a mouse as cards flyby is your idea of a good time then this game could be too involved for you. In addition to spatial reasoning, and brute force, the game also requires players to use challenging physic-based strategy to defeat the angry birds' enemies. If you want to be entertained and mentally challenged, this game can be an excellent way to spend your free time, or even improve some of your long-neglected gaming skills.

Like the name suggests, these birds are seriously angry. Their enemies the green pigs have stolen their precious eggs with the intention of eating them! This has clearly made the birds less than happy. Now they are on a mission to enact revenge, kick some green pig butt, and get all of their unborn offspring back in one piece. Acting as the angry birds, players must use cunning, skill and military-like strategy to defeat the green pigs. The birds can do this by using their one-of-a-kind powers of destruction, to destroy the pig's fortified castles. However, the pigs will not give up the eggs easily or quickly, as there are 120 different levels of revenges. Players must be committed to their mission in order to succeed. Of course, pausing and or saving your place in the game is also a good option, since even angry birds need to take a break every now and then.

Whether playing Angry Birds Online, or on your smartphone, it can be a great way to pass the time. It can also help you improve your manual dexterity, spatial skills, and brush up on long-forgotten physics. To start your game now, go to http://www.angrybirdsriogame.com/play/angry-birds-online.

Welcome to our website to get more information about Angry Birds Online.

Finding Friends by Playing Online Games

There are tens of thousands of websites offering free online games for those who want to have some fun online or find friends online. Don't believe me? Make a simple search through your favorite search engine and you'll see the vast amount of websites offering free online games. Finding friends through online games is easy and simple because you get to understand each other while playing games and connect with each other through the website's chat or communicate function available right there in the website.

Although not all online games website requires you to sign up in order to play their online games, some websites do require a simple sign-up. The information that you input into the online games website will become your member's profile. Other members will be able to view your profile. Your likes, dislikes, favorite games, favorite movies, location (not address, please. Never enter your complete address online, anywhere), and personal characteristics will help you find friends through online games.

Engaged in a competitive battle with each other, you are in a better position to gauge the kind of person that your opponent is, for instance, is he/she an aggressive person? Is he/she a strategically-minded person who is capable of planning everything from scratch? What is his/her favorite character and how does he/she use that online game character to his/her benefit?

The reason why finding friends through online games is easy is because there are forums and chat rooms that online game fans can use to connect, share tips, communicate, make alliance, and chat with online. They share a common interest, a common goal...and the online games that they like become the foundation for their friendship. Not only do they battle it out playing online games but they essentially turn into friends after chatting and communicating with each other.

It's also safer finding friends through online games. Because the common interest is online games, basically, they just want to have some fun online and not lurk around endangering the lives of others. Although we should still be careful about revealing too much of ourselves online, we generally feel safer when we make friends through online games.

You not only make new friends through online games, you can also connect with and play online games with your friends without having to visit an internet café. Even if your friends have gone to college or are working elsewhere in the world, you can still log on at the same time and enjoy a couple of hours of fun, unbridled fun through online games.

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of [http://www.toy-fun.net] on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Solve the Enigma of Bubble Breaker Game

Among the numerous games available on the computer the one that has caught everyone's frenzy is bubble breaker game. It is one of the most demotic games and game lovers just can't stop themselves from solving the enigma of this mysterious fun loving game. The uniqueness of this game lies in the fact that you need to select identical colored bubbles on the grid provided and destroy them with a single click. The more bubbles destroyed by a single click more will the points be earned. Unlike other games involving fast paced action this game entails a lot of human brain and deep analysis. This game is an exclusive form of entertainment and works as an efficient mental exercise too.
It must be kept in mind that you are not legitimate to destroy a single bubble in case of playing bubble breaker game. An array of like colored bubbles must be first selected and then can you think of destroying them. The points earned vary on the number of same colored bubbles destroyed with a single click. The bubble group which needs to be destroyed may be a group of two like colored bubbles or more either horizontally or vertically. Although at times you may witness a cluster of same colored bubbles diagonally too but you cannot destroy them or even if you do so it will not be counted. This will definitely not fetch any point for you and may just be a waste of time. Hence you entirely need to focus only those bubbles of the same colors that form a cluster either vertically or horizontally.
The goal of this bubble breaker game is to achieve highest score which solely depends on how well you can select the sequence of the groups of bubbles that finally lead to topmost score. When a group is picked by you the bubbles instantly disappear and the holes are filled by shifting them to the right. Although experts have revised various algorithms to solve the enigma behind this game yet they are of little help to a novice.
Some intelligent lot may find these algorithms often handy while playing bubble breaker game and develop a keen interest in this puzzle game. The first algorithm used is aptly called exhaustive recursive algorithm. According to this one needs to diligently go across all rows and columns on the board one by one selecting those with the same color. Once you are done with selecting the bubbles you ought to create a new board and try solving that board but in a fashion that recursively descends downwards.

-Syed Amaan Ahmad

Farming Gold in Cataclysm - An Excellent Solution For Casual Players

If you're like me, you probably don't find the time to play World of Warcraft that you would really like. Maybe your job, girlfriend or boyfriend, or just a busy schedule keep you from logging in. However, even though I do have a busy week and weekend, I still log in a few times a day, to complete one or two Auction House transactions. And yes, although other friends of mine have quit the game a long time ago, I still keep playing, because, and I'm not ashamed to say it, I love this game.

Anyway, the reason I'm writing this article, is to share a few bits of information about farming gold in Cataclysm involving only the Auction House. In fact, I want to say here, that the best solution for casual players to farm gold without spending too much time, is to make profits from AH trading.

Farming Gold in Cataclysm - About Auction House Trading

First of all, I want to clarify on thing. Many players consider "gold farming" only the actions that involve killing a creature somewhere in World of Warcraft, collecting the loot and selling to the Auction House. Well, in my opinion, whatever you do in this game that brings you gold profits, is gold farming. This being said, the AH method is purely focused on making gold, you don't have to farm anything, craft anything or complete daily quests.

So, why it's AH trading indicated for casual players?

Well, if you know the market on your server, you're completely aware of the supply and demand, with a maximum of 15 minutes per day, spent in the Auction House, you can make a profit higher than a couple of thousand gold. If you know exactly what and when to buy, and for what price and what quantities to sell it back, farming gold in Cataclysm, exclusively at AH shouldn't take long.

Are there any risks for this method of farming gold in Cataclysm?

Of course there are. In fact, it's the gold farming method with the highest risk of losing gold. To start an AH trading business, you need a certain amount of gold and if you buy the wrong merchandise, at the wrong time, the prices might decrease literally over night, so you will lose a part of your investment.

However, the risks can be minimized. There are plenty of addons that allow you to perform elaborate market research and tell you exactly what to buy and what to sell at a certain moment during the day, or during the week. In fact, I've been working with a WoW gold guide that is based on this method and I have to say, in a very short time, I've become an expert in AH trading, getting only profits, with almost zero loss.

Final word: If you don't have time to play WoW, this is an excellent method for farming gold in Cataclysm. But, you need to polish your broker skills a little bit. So, it's best to work with a helper, like a WoW gold guide.

Therefore, if you're a casual player, you want to gear up exclusively from Auction House, or to have enough gold to afford even expensive arena boosts, this is the most rewarding method for farming gold in Cataclysm.

Also, the best helper that will assure a high rate of profit from Auction House trading is only a click away. Click here: Cataclysm Gold Guide.

Playing Tips For Skating Games Explained

For those who have a strong passion towards skating, skating games are the best thing they have. Interestingly, most of the modern-day skating games are created in such a way that they feel very identical to the real-life situations. This is why people find it very difficult to play online games. However, adapting these simple gaming techniques will help you to get your control over the game really fast.

· Master Your Movements - Getting a control over your motion is the most important thing. When you start playing a new skating game, spend a lot of time on developing proper motion. This is a very difficult task but if you do not pay enough attention to motion from the beginning it's very difficult to improve your gaming skills when you reach higher levels. Work from the root level to ensure better professionalism.

· Accuracy - Make sure to park on your accuracy because a lot of tricks depend heavily on accurate emotions. If you can't develop accuracy while playing a skating game, it's really difficult to score maximum points and this is why you should work on your accuracy level.

· Timing - Like accuracy, speed also has a major role to play in bringing a first-class experience while playing a game. This is why you need to work on your speed as well. When you work on your speed make sure that you are not missing out your accuracy as well.

· In most games, a lot of tricks are featured so that players can enjoy each moment of their game. However, most of these threats are not very handy for those who are not very experienced in playing a skating video game. It's not a bad idea to stay away from too many tricks but focused more on your accuracy because in the long run, this is a very rewarding strategy.

· Using a mouse is better than the touchpad of a laptop because the latter will not give you the same amount of accuracy. Those who are really accustomed to touchpad may find it different but for most people, a computer mouse is the best tool.

With these gaming tricks, playing a game can be a very fruitful experience. A lot of people played skating games with much better accuracy after learning more about these simple yet highly effective gaming techniques. The best thing about these gaming techniques is that you can use them in almost every version of skating.

Are you looking for a first class gaming experience with skating games? If you are, our website is a great place where you can find skating games. You can play the game for free and there are many more titles for you to choose from. Make sure to visit our website and enjoy your stay!