Monday 29 December 2014

Old video games vs todays video games.

In 1990s, I was a big fan of playing video games. Games were on 8 bit consoles with replaceable cartridge containing games. Playing games in those days were very different than what we are playing on tablets, phones, gaming consoles today.

Option to save game is common in todays games, but in 8 bit consoles, we needed to start from initial state of the game every time we lose or restart the game. Now a days, we can save multiple stages of the game.

We have 5.1 surround sound system in new games. In old days audio quality was poor due to lack of capable hardware.

Graphics quality in todays games is far more improved than old games. Old games, due to hardware limitation was not able to have gradient colours, realtime reflections- refractions and thus realistic look and feel.

The biggest difference is availability of internet. Today we can download games anytime we want or we can play online games. In old days, if we wanted to play new games, we used to wait for new games to come to the market. Then some day we used to get information about new games from friends and then go to market, buy the cartridge(s), come home and play.

Multiplayer gaming, especially (Massively Multiplayer Online Games - MMOG) is no more wonder today. People can play with each other from anywhere in the world were Internet is available.
Today, lots of people can take part in a single game and perform various task in realtime. Strategy games in which many players build their empires and fights with each other is best example. In old days we only had two player option and that also limits by sitting side by side and playing mostly fighting games. I never thought that one day I will be able to play game from INDIA with a person sitting in America.

Todays games are socially connected. I can tell my friend about my game stats right from my game menu options. Old games had not any communication option because of lack of Internet connectivity.

Today there are huge number (almost countless number) of games available in the market. In old days there were very limited games available and only few of them we used to play most.

Also, there are lots of categories of games and different types of games available to choose. In old days games were not such categorised.

But, no matter how todays games are transforming, old games will always remain best in its class because of the quality of game play they had. After all OLD is GOLD always.

I am an indie game developer. I have published my first android game on PlayStore,
Chips Factory









Android app on Google Play

Sunday 28 December 2014

Categories of Video Games

How important is the category of a game you are playing?

But, what are different categories of games as of 2014?

Major categories of games:
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Arcade
  • Board
  • Card
  • Casino
  • Casual
  • Educational
  • Family
  • Music
  • Puzzle
  • Racing
  • Role Playing
  • Simulation
  • Sports
  • Strategy
  • Trivia
  • Word
There are gamers (may be you), who downloads games by category. Some gamers likes to play only action games and do not like word games. For me I don't like to play Card and Casino categories games. You may like only Strategy games or may be Sports games.

Mostly multiple categories games are chosen, given the condition that a game must have a good game play.

Some of you may not know all above categories or may be one or two. For new comers, we will see each category in short.

Action:
These type of games includes battles, military wars, shooting games, fightings. Endless runner pattern games which are popular these days can be categoriesed into action-adventure games.

Adventure:
2D-Scrolling platform games like Super-Mario, Claw, Rayman, Jungle Book. These types of games generally have a story and player needs to complete this story by exploring the 2d world in the game.
3D-Games with epic storyline is also available now a days.

Arcade:
In terms of Video games these games typically have short gameplay time, quick action, minimal controls.

Board:
The best example is Chess. The games which are played on a square or rectangular area are board games. Other examples are Snakes and Ladder, Tic Tac Toe, Ludo.

Card:
As the name suggest these games are based on cards e.g. Poker, Solitaire. I have not seen any different type of cards (not regular playing cards but cards with different signs) games. If you know such different card game, please specify in comments.

Casino:
No need to explain. Slot Machines, Roulette etc. are examples of casino games.

Casual:
These are easy to play but interesting games. People of any age love to play these kind of games.

Educational:
As name suggest these games are meant for learning purpose. Education through games is really an effective way. It will always have a bright future. Today there are lots of games for kids education available on Android and iOS.

Family:
These games are based on real life activities like house-works, dressing, farming, social activities etc.

Music:
These are sound based or rhythm games. e.g. a game based on piano keys as tile. But there are more of applications than games.

Puzzle:
Here you are supposed to solve complex logic to achieve correct solution. This is a very popular category in games.

Racing:
No need for introduction. But these games are not necessarily based on vehicles only. Skating, riding, water surfing, in-short any activity having competition with others is a racing game.

Role Playing:
In these games, player is one character which has specific role. He makes decisions and interact with other characters to complete given tasks. These games are also very popular since more people can interact in a single game.

Simulation:
These are not a complete game types. e.g. Aeroplane Flight simulator, Tank simulator. In these type of games, players operates or controls some machine, device or equipment. These are more of a type of training games through which a common man can also experience for example Train controls by playing Train Simulator game.

Sports:
As name suggests these games involves all possible games typically played on the ground. e.g. Football, Tennis, Cricket.

Strategy:
Strategy means planning, thinking. Any games which involves various activities to perform with a proper planning, thinking and observing the situation and making decisions accordingly.

Trivia:
These games are based on quizzes and/or questions on general topics. These games highly improves you general knowledge.

Word:
As name says, these are word based games. The most popular example is CROSSWORDS. These games improves our knowledge about words and their meanings. It's a best way of improving general knowledge with fun.

So, which one or two is your favourite? I think all games having good game play are best choices. But having specific category sometime helps. Also, sticking only with one category can make you an expert gamer in that game category. So, choice is always yours.

I am an indie game developer. I have published my first android game on PlayStore,
Chips Factory









Android app on Google Play

Friday 26 December 2014

Video Game platforms are transforming

The way video games are revolutionised is mind boggling.

Initially video games were available on handheld devices. But they were not much popular among mass public.

Video games became popular when they were on 8 bit gaming consoles.

Super Mario, Tetris, Arknoid, etc were very popular games. I have played lots of games on these consoles and I think 8 bit games still rocks. Even today some games are purposefully made 8 bits by look and feel.




Then, Games became available on Computers. The new era of games was began. Game developers now had advanced processors. Later, dedicated graphics cards were designed which brought a revolution in 3D awesome games .

I still remember Road Rash, VCop, House of Dead like 2.5D (not full 3d games) games were there on almost every computer in those days.
From here, countless series of 2D and 3D games made available right on your desk.



Games started acquiring small screens again but on smartphones. In 2003, Nokia introduced
N-Gage classic smartphone with gaming controls. I have used this device and I will tell you that, the experience was awesome. Sound quality was extremely good especially bass. Only the problem was with the battery life. It used to drain very fast.


In 2004, advance version N-Gage-QD was introduced with better battery support. I played lots of games on this device. I still blame my self on selling this device to my friend. I am missing you so much N-Gage QD.


In 2004 Sony introduced PSP - handheld gaming console and brought another gaming platform. This was revolution in gaming industry. Now number of gamers were tremendously increased around the world. Later, similar play stations were brought into the market by other companies.



Gaming consoles as of 2014 are real advanced with dedicated high end graphic processors, motion detection technology, surround sound, wi-fi enabled, etc. Take a look at Sony Play Station, Microsoft X-Box if they are available anywhere near you.

Some games on these gaming consoles are way beyond realistic than what we played in 1995 gaming consoles.



Alienware (1996), now acquired by Dell, also brought innovation in gaming industry by developing and designing Computers and Laptops specially made for gamers. The look and feel adds much more drama to your desk while playing.

As of 2014, they are also bringing gaming consoles like Play Station and Xbox.



In near future, yet another platform giving the realtime experience is coming. It is based on Virtual Reality. The OculusRift is bringing wearable headset which will give a realtime experience like 3D movies.

You will not just play but you will live into games.

God knows, what is coming ahead because humans are never going to stay satisfied.


I am an indie game developer. I have released my first game on PlayStore, Chips Factory









Android app on Google Play



Wednesday 24 December 2014

What type of Video Games do you like?

Who invented a video game? Well as far as I know, that, video games didn't came suddenly. Actually there were lots of revolutions for what we see todays video games on high resolution displays and high end processors of Computers, Handheld devices and Gaming Consoles like PlayStation, Xbox etc.

Games concepts started from the days when turing machine was invented. The time when not even monitors were invented.

But it is really amazing that today we are seeing lots of varieties of games. This shows that how people around the world are loving video games even more than movies they love. Thats fantastic.

Since, there are varieties of games, it is also equally important that what kind of games are mostly played around the world. Before that let us see what kind of games are there available in the market.

Today there are following major formats of games,
  • Point and click games. The best example is Day of Tentacles introduced in 1992. Today, especially on mobile handset, there are lots of points and click games to play. It is really hard to pick one good game. But to specify, Machinarium and Botanicula by Amanita Design both are best games today not only by means of art but also for a good game play.
  • Pocket games like Tetris, Snake, Packman, Bomber Man, etc from classic era and Fruit Ninja, Cut The Rope, 1024 from modern era.
  • 2D scrolling games like Super Mario, Contra, Elevator Action, Jungle Book, etc from early 1990s game consoles. In Computer 2D scrolling games, mostly played game was The Claw game. In mobile games around 2002 or 03 Splinter Cell, Rayman, Spiderman, etc were popular. Unfortunately as of today 2014, I found only one game LIMBO with excellent combination of art and game play. Otherwise there are very few best 2D scrolling games available like listed above. If you know such game please mention in the comments.
  • 2D Isometric games like Age of Empire, Commando - Behind Enemy Lines. Today there are lots and lots of games like Age of Empire. To list them the whole page will required and may be more pages because more and more games of this kind will keep coming until the universe is alive.
  • 3D Games. Most popular and many a times more expensive games. But the game play is almost realtime especially on high end gaming consoles and computers. Best examples of 3D games are like Project IGI, Recoil, Tom Clancy's Rainbow SixDesert Storm, Splinter Cell, Far Cry. One name to put specially is Max Payne game based on Havok physics engine. It introduced a slow motion action in computer games and a realistic cloth effects. As of today, Dec 2014, there are countless 3D games in the market.
Further, all these game are categorised in Action, Puzzle, Casual, etc. It will required separate page to discuss.

So, What is your choice of games? I personally like 2D scrolling games. They are like a story which is controlled by us.

I am an indie game developer and this is my first game Chips Factory on PlayStore.
Get it on Google Play


Wednesday 17 December 2014

Games Are Good or Bad?

Have you ever asked your self that playing digital games is bad or good?

Well, the answer to this question is person dependent. Some might think games are good and some might say games are bad.

Choose anything good or bad, reasons are different from different persons.

Those who think games are bad might say because of reasons like so,
  • Games are time wasting and/or money wasting.
  • Games isolates you from the family and society.
  • Games can make you violent.
  • Games can make you over aggressive.
  • Games are distracting.
  • Games can make you annoyed or anxious.
  • Games can make you over confident if you are habitual winner.
  • and so on..

Those who think games are good because,
  • Games are good for time pass. When you are travelling, when you are waiting or you are at home with all your work done or if you simply want to get some refreshment, then playing games is good (best) option.
  • Games are good to improve your knowledge. Yes, good games can improve your knowledge. Even action games based on military missions can improve yourself in terms of toughness, patience. A chess game can improve your intelligence by playing against computer (or electronic device). A number game can polish your brain for handling numbers efficiently.
  • Games can teach you to be stable on defeat and be calm on victory.
  • Games can give you a joy of achievement.
Finally, the choice is yours. Games are like movies. They are entertaining. Some, you may like and some you may not.

Those who are game lovers, try this game free on Play Store ChipsFactory.