Gaming Resources

Games running on a PC are often designed with end-user modifications in mind and this consequently allows modern computer games to be modified by gamers without much difficulty. These mods can add an extra dimension of replayability and interest. The Internet provides an inexpensive medium to promote and distribute mods, and they have become an increasingly important factor in the commercial success of some games. Developers such as id Software, Valve Software, Crytek, Epic Games and Blizzard Entertainment ship their games with the very development tools used to make the game in the first place, along with documentation to assist mod developers, which allows for the kind of success seen by popular mods such as the (previously) Half-Life mod Counter-Strike

Cheats:

Cheating in computer games may involve cheat codes implemented by the game developers, modification of game code by third parties or players exploiting a software glitch. Modifications are facilitated by either cheat cartridge hardware or a software trainer. Cheats usually make the game easier by providing an unlimited amount of some resource; for example lives, health, and/or ammunition. Other cheats might provide an unusual or amusing feature, like altered game colors or graphical appearances.

Platforms:


The term "platform" refers to the specific combination of electronic or computer hardware which, in conjunction with low-level software, allows a video game to operate.The term "system" is also commonly used. In common usage a "PC game" refers to a form of media that involves a player interacting with a personal computer connected to a high-resolution video monitor. A "console game" is played on a specialized electronic device that connects to a standard television set or composite video monitor. A "handheld" gaming device is a self contained electronic device that is portable and can be held in a user's hands. "Arcade game" generally refers to a game played on an even more specialized type of electronic device that is typically designed to play only one game and is encased in a special cabinet. These distinctions are not always clear and there may be games that bridge one or more platforms. There are also platforms that have non video game variations such as in the case of electro-mechanically based arcade machines. There are also devices with screens which have the ability to play games but are not dedicated video game machines. Examples are mobile phones, PDAs, graphing calculators, GPS receivers, MP3 players, digital cameras, and watches

Generations:

Magnavox OdysseyPhilips OdysseyPongColeco TelstarNintendo Color TV Game
Fairchild Channel FRCA Studio IIAtari 2600Interton VC 4000Odyssey²IntellivisionArcadia 2001Atari 5200ColecoVisionVectrexSG-1000
Nintendo Entertainment SystemSega Master SystemAtari 7800Amstrad GX4000
TurboGrafx-16Sega Genesis/Mega DriveNeo GeoSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemCD-i
3DOAmiga CD32Atari JaguarSega SaturnPlayStationNEC PC-FX Nintendo 64 • Apple Bandai PippinCasio LoopyBandai Playdia
DreamcastPlayStation 2Nintendo GameCubeXbox
PlayStation 3WiiXbox 360