PC GAMESMedia Technologies

Theodoros Nikitopoulos Chamilothoris

Definition

PC games, also known as computer games, are video games played on a general-purpose personal computer rather than a dedicated video game console or arcade machine.

Their defining characteristics include a lack of any centralized controlling authority and greater capacity in input, processing, and output.

Early Growth

The first generation of computer games were often text adventures or interactive fiction, in which the player communicated with the computer by entering commands through a keyboard.

As with second-generation video game consoles at the time, early home computer game companies capitalized on successful arcade games. Ex; Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong etc. (1981)

Industry Crush

In 1983, consumer interest in console video games dwindled to historical lows, as interest in computer games rose.

Conversely, the home computer market boomed, as sales of low-cost color computers such as the Commodore 64 rose to record highs.

Increasing adoption of the computer mouse and high resolution bitmap displays allowed the industry to include increasingly high-quality graphical interfaces in new releases.

New Genres

By 1988 further improvements to game graphics and artwork led to the success of adventure games. Ex; King’s Quest

In 1992Wolfenstein 3D, an early first-person shooter was produced, which helped to popularize the genre, kick-starting a genre that would become one of the highest-selling in modern times.

The 1993 release of Doom on the PC was a breakthrough in 3D graphics, and was soon ported to various game consoles in a general shift toward greater realism.

Contemporary Gaming

The faster graphics accelerators and improving CPU technology resulted in increasing levels of realism in computer games.

Online multiplayer games have achieved popularity largely as a result of increasing broadband adoption among consumers.

Affordable high-bandwidth Internet connections allow large numbers of players to play together, and thus have found particular use in massively multiplayer online role-playing games.

Platform Characteristics

Fidelity Openness Reduced software cost Increased flexibility Increased innovation Increased complexity Increased hardware cost Reduced security

Top Selling PC Games of All Time

Title Total copies sold

Series Releasedate

Genre Developer

Publisher

The Sims 2

20 million

The Sims

14/9/2004 Simulation

Maxis Electronic Arts

The Sims 16 million

The Sims

4/2/2000 Simulation

Maxis Electronic Arts

Minecraft 12 million

Minecraft

17/5/2009 Sandbox/ Construction

Mojang Mojang

Diablo III 12 million

Diablo 15/5/2012 Action RPG

Blizzard Entertainment

Activision Blizzard

Half-Life 2 11 million

Half-Life 16/11/2004 First-person shooter

Valve corporation

Valve corporation

Battlefield 2

11 million

Battlefield

21/6/2005 Squad based FPS

Digitals IllusionsCE

EA Games

StarCraft 11 million

Starcraft

31/3/1998 Real-time strategy

Blizzard Entertainment

Blizzard Entertainment

Controversy

PC games have long been a source of controversy, particularly related to the violence that has become commonly associated with video gaming in general. The debate surrounds the influence of objectionable content on the social development of minors.

Video game addiction is another cultural aspect of gaming to draw criticism as it can have a negative influence on health and on social relations.

Percentage of Students Involved in Physical Fights

0%

20%

40%

60%

Percentage of students involved in physical fights

Average Daily Time Playing PC Games(Americans 15+ years)

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

MenWomen

Percentage of American Youth between 8 and 18 years old

8%11%

81%

Pathological gamerPeople who don’t play video games at allNon-pathological gamers

Brief History of PC Gaming

Brief History of PC Games (video) click me!

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