Computers

Computer Technology from Space

March 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

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During the early years of the US Space Program, NASA doctors and scientists developed a variety of computer programs to ready astronaut candidates for space flight. These computer programs mimicked computer video games of today.

NASA engineers simulated test flights using computer programs. Astronauts practiced liftoff, reentry, orbital maneuvers, and lunar landings. The simulations imitated malfunctions in the spacecraft that would force the astronauts to make emergency landings.

Controlling the spacecraft was an important exercise to prepare the astronauts for tumbling about in space. Computer programs imitated three types of turning motions; up and down; left to right; and front to back. At times, the astronauts practiced all three turning motions at once.

NASA engineers also designed computer programs to stimulate the harsh conditions of space. These conditions would test an astronaut’s capabilities. They would also expose an astronaut to the absence of atmosphere, to radiation, weightlessness, and extreme temperatures. The programs simulated every hazardous condition of space to gain a better understanding of how astronauts would hold up while in space.

The computer programs gauged the astronaut’s responses to various simulated conditions of space. These conditions included low barometric pressure, high-energy noise, thermal stress, and accelerative forces high-energy noise, low barometric pressure, and thermal stress.

Using these computer programs, NASA’s medical team tested the astronauts’ fatigue levels, personalities, and stress levels. The computers checked their blood pressure, respiration, and pulse during these activities.

The medical field is now using many of the same computer programs to research a number of disorders. For example, doctors are conducting research on the brain waves of children with Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD.

Medical professionals use computer games and biofeedback as treatment for ADD. Doctors attempt to encourage the children to modify their brain activity to help them concentrate better and for longer periods. This research on children with ADD is effective and popular, because children enjoy playing video games.

Filed Under: Computers, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Astronaut, International Space Station, NASA

The Appeal of Text-Based Computer Games

February 23, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

There is a seemingly limitless array of potential for newly released computer games these days. With the vast advancements that have been made in technology, as well as the innovation of the designers and developers that utilize this technology; video games have exponentially become more visually appealing and more interactive since their inception. However, while in fact all of these wonderful changes are happening in the world of computer gaming, the utmost basic type of game is still remaining popular; the text-based role-playing game.

The text-based role-playing game consists of an interface with various buttons and of course, text, in which the player makes decisions based off specific information. Generally, these types of games revolve around a single player kingdom that the player must manage, grow, and of course, protect. Additionally, there is usually the option to go on the offensive and attack other kingdoms that might pose a threat.

The reason why these games continue to be somewhat popular is due to the fact they enact the imagination that modern games do not. Additionally, while in fact they are text-based, they do have a lot of intricacies and details in which the player must keep track of. Among some of these details include: various types of races and classes, weapons, armor, items, spells, and general abilities. All of these different aspects must be called upon in a specific type of order depending on the situation. For some people, the strategy in conjunction with the imaginative aspect of these games are what make them a viable choice of time spent gaming.

So the next time you embark on your next gaming adventure, and you are a role-playing fan, try finding a text-based game to try your luck at. You may find it is more entertaining than you would have assumed so.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: Role-playing game, Text-based game, Video game

The Evolution of Massive Multi-Player Role-Playing Games

February 10, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Video games as a single combined entity have been an extremely popular aspect of many peoples lives. As a result of this, the industry has experienced massive growth in all forms. When the transition from console gaming to computer gaming became more prevalent, developers put more of an emphasis on providing a unique player experience that was innovative to the industry and had not been accomplished prior. With this idea came the opportunity to present a new type of role-playing game. These types of games would primarily be set for computers that had access to the Internet, and would open a vast world of characters, creatures, items, spells, and abilities to the average player to explore and utilize. The MMO RPG craze began in the late 90s with a game called Everquest, and helped pave the way for the legacy to follow.

Everquest provided a new gaming experience (with a monthly fee at that), where players could pick from a vast array of player races and classes that all exhibited unique skill sets. These players would then enter a world with the intention of leveling up, increasing skills and abilities, as well as finding treasure and defeating bosses. The general premise was for people of different classes to combine their specific abilities to create an efficient group that could accomplish larger tasks while simultaneously fulfilling the goals of each individual involved within the group.

After Everquest, a slew of different MMOs surfaced, up until the popular world of Warcraft MMO came to realization in 2004. This game blew the pants off everyone who got to experience it, particularly those who played Everquest. The developers at Blizzard took many of the components from past MMOs and removed all of the aspects that people disliked about them. Additionally, they added in a slew of popular story-lines and a seemingly endless supply of quests that characters could accomplish with group members. As a result of this, World of Warcraft is still an extremely popular MMO and continues to stay at the top of the genre seven years later.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: Everquest, Role-playing game, World of Warcraft

How Gaming Computers Have Evolved

February 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Since the inception of video games in the various arcades drastically began gaining popularity in the 1970s, the video game industry has virtually exploded. Now, it is uncommon to know somebody who has not participated in playing some form of a video game. The drastic changes began with the release of the various console gaming systems throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. The Atari, Nintendo Entertainment System, Genesis, and Super Nintendo all paved the way for modern gaming. As these console systems began getting more popular, computers were beginning to become a more prevalent site in households. As a result of this, developers began pushing towards releasing games for not only console systems, but for the computer as well. There were also releases that were unique to the computer.

First person shooters and role-playing games tested the capabilities of the traditional computer, and pushed the hardware to its limits. As developers began releasing more intense and graphically enhanced material, the computers themselves were beginning to evolve. In the mid 1990s, a viable gaming computer consisted of a 20 gigabyte hard drive with a 56k Internet connection and 128 megabytes of RAM. Fast forward a decade and a computer like that would not even be able to run the latest operating systems. Gaming computers have begun evolving more quickly than the games in which they are manufactured for, with capabilities that are seemingly boundless.

Gaming has continued to be an extremely popular pass-time for people of all ages and from all walks of life. As the popularity continues to grow, so does the emphasis in which manufacturers put on the graphics as well as the intense user experience. In conjunction with gaming improvements, the hardware of computers is seemingly increasing at an exponential rate, with computers released a year prior to current models being a great deal weaker in comparison. The gaming computer still holds a coveted position in the eyes of many avid players, and will continue to impress as long as the games that are meant to be played on them are manufactured with the intention of pushing the limits.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: Gaming computer, Video game, Video game console

The Popularity of First Person Shooters on The Computer

February 3, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

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Video games have evolved a great deal over the past few decades. Moving from semi-cheesy arcade games that captivated a generation, to console gaming systems like the Atari and Nintendo Entertainment System. As gaming became more popular moving into the 1990s, developers began placing more of an emphasis on graphics and general interface changes. As a result of this, newer 16-bit systems were introduced that drastically beefed up the graphics of these popular video game consoles in conjunction with providing longer lasting gaming experiences.

Around the same time the inception of the 16-bit systems took place, personal computers were making their way into the marketplace alongside these newly released console gaming systems. With computers, developers were able to provide a different type of experience that was unique to the PC due to the difference in hardware capabilities that were presented. With these new capabilities came the concept of first person shooters, commonly referred to as FPS games. These types of games give the player a first person view of the character in which they are playing with the ability to aim a weapon that is at their disposal toward enemies for termination. Among one of the more popular and widely accepted pioneers of the FPS movement was the DOOM series. In conjunction with DOOM came Wolfenstein and numerous other titles that also included some role-playing formats.

In the mid to late 90s, the first person scene was booming with titles like Quake. Quake was among one of the first FPS games to be brought into the online world, allowing multi-player action. Players could join servers hosting games with up to 32 players in which they could participate in free-for-all matches, or co-op capture the flag matches. As the popularity of first person shooters persisted into the 21st century, more titles were being released than ever before, including continuations of old favorites. Currently, in conjunction with massive multi-player role-playing games, first person shooters are among the most widely played online games currently, and continue to gain popularity.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: First-person shooter, Nintendo Entertainment System, Video game

The Rise of Multi-Player Online Gaming

February 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Video games have been around for decades; from the popular pinball and pacman units sporadically sprinkled throughout bars and makeshift video game arcades to the inception of console gaming with Atari and Nintendo. For many, playing video games is a hobby and a way to unwind, providing hours of entertainment on a regular basis. Over the years, gaming has drastically evolved, and become a multi-billion dollar industry that stretches across the world. As gaming has continued to evolve, so has the the ever widening range of audiences in which it appeals to. There are games of all kinds that appeal to a wide range of people; from childrens learning platforms, to intense role-playing adventures for die-hard fans. Currently, multi-player online gaming is among one of the most popular forms of gaming, but how did it come to be such a sensation?

In the early 1990′s, gaming was quickly rising in popularity with the widespread appreciation for the Nintendo Entertainment System. This system introduced a vast array of popular titles that still exist today in one form or another. From role-playing games to popular side-scrolling strategic titles, the Nintendo set the stage of things to come.

As technology began getting more efficient and in tune with the gaming industry, new systems were introduced that put an emphasis on improved graphics. The 16-bit Genesis and Super Nintendo were among the most popular, and held their own through a good portion of the 1990s. As the increase in graphical intelligence began to become more prevalent, players were looking for additional ways to push the limits. Right around the time the demand began for multi-player network gaming, the computer was becoming more of a player in the video game industry, and the internet blew open the door for the potential in this new genre. As more people began connecting to the internet, developers began releasing multi-player first person shooters such as Quake, eventually moving into massive multi-player role-playing games. Currently, MMO RPGs are among one of the most widely played games in existence with games like World of Warcraft.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: Multiplayer game, Video game, Video game console

Need Help In Completing Your Video Game? Check Out Game Guides & Walkthroughs Online

December 27, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Do you find yourself playing video games but stopping halfway? Do you feel jealous when you discover that your friends have successfully completed many games while you have not completed even a single game yet? If you feel that video games are waste of time, then perhaps your sense of despondence may not bother you.

However, if you do like playing video games but just cannot match the skill and experience of your friends, then perhaps you need to take the easy way out. Why don’t you log on to the internet and go through the walkthroughs and guides provided for each and every popular game on the internet? What do these guides tell you?

The walkthrough is nothing but a pictorial story of the entire game that teaches you on a step by step basis, everything that you have to do in the game. For a person who prefers playing the game, such a guide may be a very boring thing indeed. However, for a person who needs a bit of help to get used to the idea of playing games, these guides can provide invaluable assistance.

If you know that you will be meeting the enemy in a short span of time, then you can automatically focus on saving your health and improving your ammunition. Of course, you cannot clear the enemy unless you improve your skills or go in for cheats. Hence, knowing the script and the screenplay of the game well in advance can make a huge difference to your confidence.

Once you start playing games with prior knowledge of what to expect, you will find that you enjoy the game more. Over a span of time, you will find that you are in a position to understand the logic and the concept of the game and anticipate twists and turns in the script without any difficulty. Later, you can skip guides and play with skill and experience alone.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: Games, IPhone, Video game, Walkthrough

Doom – The Game That Set The FPS Revolution Rolling

December 23, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Those who love playing modern first person shooter games should take time out to check out the big daddy of all first person shooter games – Doom. Doom is one of the most popular first person shooter games and was, for a long period, a coming of age game for all individuals who started enjoying first person shooter games.

Many persons who go back in time and play the game are surprised to discover how similar it is to the modern games. Of course, the rendering engine that is used to create the graphics and image is completely different. However, a very important similarity between the game that was created in 1992 and modern games is that both are three dimensional.

You, the player, assume the role of the hero of the game. It is you who will have to fight your way out of all problems. It is you who will have to jump, acquire weapons, unlock hidden passages and kill all the enemies. It was the first sincere attempt at three dimensional first person shooter and was a huge success because it placed the player right where the action was.

The second major similarity between this game and all other future games was the large number of weapons that the individual could use. Even today, there are many games which help the player acquire weapons as he or she proceeds. From Half Life to Lara Croft: Tomb Raider game, you can always acquire new weapons provided you are good enough in the game. The first game to introduce this concept was Doom.

When the game begins, the individual starts out with bare fists and has a pistol with limited number of ammunition. In such a scenario, acquiring new weapons and ammunition is not just a sport but is the very resource of the individual’s survival. Failure to acquire weapons would leave the individual incapable of defending himself. These characteristics are still present in modern games.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: Doom, First-person shooter, Shooter game

Effect Of Computer Games-The Video Game Industry Changed Beyond Recognition.

December 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by nexthttp via Flickr

Release of games like Quake and Doom changed the gaming industry permanently. Suddenly, playing games on the computer was not just about shuffling a few cards. Rather, it was about using the power of the computer and the monitor to the fullest.

Unlike standard video game console, computers offered more functionality to the average user. Secondly, it offered more power. It is not possible for a simple video game console to provide performance at par with a powerful computer with a 100 GB hard disk.

The biggest impact of computer gaming was felt in the video game industry. The gaming industry quickly realized that it would either have to incorporate features that computer game players were enjoying or it would become obsolete. Thankfully, the industry chose the former option.

Thus began the development of gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. When one compares such gaming console with other consoles available in the late 80′s and early 90′s, one can see the huge difference in design and features.

For starters, even the most advanced gaming console of the late 80′s cannot hold a candle to even the most inferior gaming console manufactured today. Such consoles come with a heart that is as powerful as a small computer. Most consoles come with its own graphic card, hard disk, RAM card and chip.

If you remove the heart of the gaming console and install the same in a computer, you can easily enjoy good performance. Hence, in terms of power, there is absolutely no comparison between the gaming console available today and those available in the past.

Secondly, no longer is required to make use of cartridges and other odd shaped objects to play games. Today, it is possible to burn games on CDs and DVDs and play the same in the gaming console. All these developments took place primarily because of the advent of computer gaming.

Filed Under: Computers, Gaming Tagged With: PlayStation, Video game, Video game console

Game Publishers And Gaming Console Makers-Two Sides Of The Same Coin.

December 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

For a very long time, video game manufacturers used to focus on the most popular gaming console and used to make new games in a suitable format. When Nintendo was ruling the market, the video game makers often turned out their games playable in Nintendo format.

This set of a vicious cycle where the popularity of Nintendo was used to further the popularity of the gaming console. However, as a video gaming became a high stakes industry, the makers of gaming consoles realized that they could not rely on the perception of game manufacturers who was most popular in the industry.

That is the reason why the gaming consoles started entering into prerelease agreements with different game publishers. Xbox scored over many other gaming consoles in this regard.

Not only was the Xbox sold with specific games offered for free, the buyers of the Xbox had access to a large number of game CD’s. Since the format between Xbox, PlayStation and Wii is different, you cannot play the same game burned on the same CD or DVD on all the consoles at once.

In such a scenario, the gaming console that ties up with the maximum number of game publishers and identifies popular games before others stands to increase its sales. Of course, this is a very dangerous gamble to make.

Xbox gambled on Halo and succeeded in converting it into an Xbox only game. The public loved the game and this naturally contributed to the sales of the Xbox. However, there have been instances where such games have failed and the expected increase in sales did not occur.

Game publishers also have to worry about the success of their own game. Failure on the part of the gaming console manufacturer to market the tie up properly can lead to low sales for the publishers as well. The worst part is that they’re not at fault at all.

Filed Under: Computers, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Nintendo, Video game, Wii, Xbox