From the very earliest computer games, one of the most popular aspects that helped to make them so popular was that they could support multiple players, meaning that more than one person could play the game at the same time. This meant that people could play against each other in competition, so that it was not wholly a player versus computer environment. Most people enjoy competing against friends and family, and reveling in success. Most of the highly popular computer and video games available today are multiplayer games.

The idea of multiplayer has three different meanings or interpretations, however. The first, and original, multiplayer games were simply those in which you took turns. The first player would attempt a level, or complete a race, or carry out some other task which would be measured in some way – perhaps with a high score or time. Once they had either succeeded, completed the race or failed at whatever task they were challenged with doing, the next player would take over and have a go. In this way, each person was able to have a go at the same task, and try to beat each other by either getting a higher score, a faster time, or by using whatever other measurement of success.

The second type of multiplayer game to come along, and which is still around today, are the split screen games. These work best for races, where the screen can be wide but fairly short – good for racing when you need to see a wide viewpoint to prepare for corner and obstacles, but there is no need for a tall screen as you’re racing on the flat.  Read more... (594 words, 1 image, estimated 2:23 mins reading time)

When I think of the online games market, I picture pale, spotty school boys sat mesmerized in front of their computer monitors for hours on end playing the latest game releases. I’m sure this preconception does ring true in many cases, especially within the hardcore, console based gaming sector.

However, there have been some noticeable changes taking place in the online gaming arena over the past few years that have certainly surprised me some what. Whereas the games console market is dominated by a majority of young males, the skill games market finds the lion share of its business coming from the 35-65 year age range, with a slight skew towards women.

Skill gaming, which often involves the playing of multiplayer games online, was once a niche sector but is now quickly gaining mass market appeal. This is mainly due to the fact that internet access, especially broadband, has now made the seeking out of online entertainment no longer an exclusively Western pastime. In addition to this, skill games are not considered to be gambling and they therefore fall outside of countries’ anti-gambling statutes; These games can therefore be enjoyed is most countries around the globe.

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