In part 2 of this series we took a look at Creative Expression and Escapism, two significant motivators of the common gamer. The week before that, we covered Challenge and Competition. This week we have a look at Socialization and try to tie it all together.
Social interaction is a subject on which we gamers take a fair bit of static from our non-gaming peers. Sometimes this is because they mistake differing priorities for introversion. Wanting to talk about the relative merits of the Western Plaguelands against Winterspring as a post 55 grinding location isn't really any different from wanting to talk about the strength of the Bill's secondary, its just that one of them is relevant to a somewhat narrow audience (give it time.) Sometimes, however, the criticism is merited. We tend to be somewhat socially awkward folk, in part because the hobbies in which we invest a sizeable amount of our time have rigid rules governing most interactions, making them poor training for the free wheeling reality of human discourse. For some gamers, the Social Interaction found in the gaming experience is a primary motivator.
Social activity in gaming occurs on many levels. At a very low level, gaming can be a reinforcer for existing social groups. Think of a group of friends getting together to play a board game or some Half Life. The social activity found in modern online games can be much broader in scope. MMORPGs, to which discussion of the current state of gaming always seems to gravitate, are essentially groups of people that already share some primary common link. The friendships formed through online cooperation and friendly competition can be one of the biggest draws of such games. Anyone who has ever stayed up later than they should because their guild needed them or because someone asked them to has experienced this. These online relationships are no less real, no less significant than their offline analogues. They are, however, different.
The interaction that takes place within a game is structured and often, online gamers see only part of one another. It is difficult for a group formed around a particular activity to bond as deeply as a group of friends that exists solely for the purpose of supporting one another. To avoid turning to diatribe on not forgetting your real loved ones we'll stop following that chain of thought. The important thing is that some game players are purely Socially Motivated. Such individuals thrive online, where other players can be met and interacted with. For these people, the heavier the social component of the game, the better. Interestingly, many games with a high degree of social complexity also have a large amount of the mathematical complexity that may drive away socially motivated gamers. In pure form, this type of gamer is seeking an experience that blurs the line between games and chat environment.
Challenge. Competition. Creation. Escape. Socialization. Five different motivators, all of which combine to make up the motivation of a particular gamer. We could add more, certainly, but these will do for now. So where do we go with this? I'm having to physically restrain myself from drawing a pentagonal map and plotting individual gamers on the five motivational axes. While it would look neat and might be an interesting topic for an esoteric role-playing text, it wouldn't get us anywhere.
A more useful tack, perhaps, is to think about what motivates us individually. Knowing yourself and what drives you can help you figure out what sort of games you should be playing and, more importantly, which will never give you anything but frustration. Understanding the motivations of others can give us insight that will better help us relate. Many arguments over what to do in online games arise because the different party members are motivated differently. A Creative and a Challenger aren't likely to crave the same activities from a night of dungeon delving. Nor are an Escapist and a Competitive going to even speak the same way about a game. For one, a game may be a world waiting for his immersion. For the other, a game is a matrix of numbers waiting to be solved and conquered. We all have a little of each in us and if we can understand what drives us we can both better interact with one another and increase the joy we find in gaming.
Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts
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Games
Tips for playing action games online
The genre of the action game can be quite frustrating to play online. This is because most people feel like they should be able to play it. Action games are based off of some of the oldest of the genre. They follow the steps of Donkey Kong to make a linear level with enemies, traps, and puzzles standing in your path. Well, they'll actually be moving, hiding, or hunting you. You just have to keep some basic tips in mind to kill the monsters and save the princess.
The first thing that you have to remember is that you aren't invincible. Most games will not make you Rambo. Generally, if an enemy hits you, you die. So, you will need to keep your fingers limber and your eyes steady. Plan out your moves carefully and try to avoid fights when possible. Only attack when you can do so safely. Enemies in action games almost always have some weakness that you can exploit. Try to get below them, above them, behind them, etc. to get in a good position for the quick kill. You must also remember that retreat is an option. If you're in a bad spot, run away until you can get into a better position.
Second, you don't have to kill everything. It can be easy for you to forget, but you don't have to kill all of the enemies. A lot of action games just need you to get to the end of the level. It may be tempting to take out every little monster that gets in your way, but the points don't always justify the risks. Focus on finishing the level and only kill monsters when it doesn't risk a life.
Third, keep moving. Action games are meant to be full of action. You don't need to sit around and wait for an enemy for 5 minutes. Be careful, but seek them out when possible. Time bonuses are worth a lot of points, and losing a level because you ran out of time is a pretty rough experience. Don't be too much of a perfectionist. Just keep moving towards your goal and work out the problems on the way.
Fourth, don't forget the bonuses, but don't overvalue them. It may seem simple, but don't overvalue the flashing bonus sign. That jewel for 10,000 points might be nice, but don't kill yourself trying to get it. It is a bonus. It isn't worth losing the game. This is particularly true for extra lives. Don't waste two lives to get one back. If you go for an extra life and die, don't waste another life trying to get the one you lost back. You'll just end up in a pointless loop. It's just a quick way to get a game over.
Last but not least, watch your fingers. If you are using keyboard controls, then you are going to want to keep an eye on your hands. In the heat of the moment, you might lose track of your position and accidentally hit the wrong key. Flash games aren't forgiving either. You hit "jump" instead of "attack" and you're probably dead. Don't get obsessed with it, but do keep in mind that your character might be acting weird because you aren't lined up properly.
These tips are basic, but they should help greatly in your efforts to conquer the fantasy worlds of these online games. Just keep them in mind and have fun!
The first thing that you have to remember is that you aren't invincible. Most games will not make you Rambo. Generally, if an enemy hits you, you die. So, you will need to keep your fingers limber and your eyes steady. Plan out your moves carefully and try to avoid fights when possible. Only attack when you can do so safely. Enemies in action games almost always have some weakness that you can exploit. Try to get below them, above them, behind them, etc. to get in a good position for the quick kill. You must also remember that retreat is an option. If you're in a bad spot, run away until you can get into a better position.
Second, you don't have to kill everything. It can be easy for you to forget, but you don't have to kill all of the enemies. A lot of action games just need you to get to the end of the level. It may be tempting to take out every little monster that gets in your way, but the points don't always justify the risks. Focus on finishing the level and only kill monsters when it doesn't risk a life.
Third, keep moving. Action games are meant to be full of action. You don't need to sit around and wait for an enemy for 5 minutes. Be careful, but seek them out when possible. Time bonuses are worth a lot of points, and losing a level because you ran out of time is a pretty rough experience. Don't be too much of a perfectionist. Just keep moving towards your goal and work out the problems on the way.
Fourth, don't forget the bonuses, but don't overvalue them. It may seem simple, but don't overvalue the flashing bonus sign. That jewel for 10,000 points might be nice, but don't kill yourself trying to get it. It is a bonus. It isn't worth losing the game. This is particularly true for extra lives. Don't waste two lives to get one back. If you go for an extra life and die, don't waste another life trying to get the one you lost back. You'll just end up in a pointless loop. It's just a quick way to get a game over.
Last but not least, watch your fingers. If you are using keyboard controls, then you are going to want to keep an eye on your hands. In the heat of the moment, you might lose track of your position and accidentally hit the wrong key. Flash games aren't forgiving either. You hit "jump" instead of "attack" and you're probably dead. Don't get obsessed with it, but do keep in mind that your character might be acting weird because you aren't lined up properly.
These tips are basic, but they should help greatly in your efforts to conquer the fantasy worlds of these online games. Just keep them in mind and have fun!
Labels:
Games
The best game site recomended
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/underworldevolution/game/ The game is situated here and it is one of the best i have played . So I thought why not tell others about it .Please go to that site if u have a dsl higher than 256kbp/s
otherwise you will be wasting your time .It takes a little time in loading but ounce you are loaded you are ready to rock . There are 4 levels in this game . 1st lvl contains 3 primary attacks .2nd lvl 3 more attacks with increase in health .3rd you are one of the gods of the game 3 more attacks + more health .And the chatting side by side really rocks.But there is one problem when you abuse ++++ this covers the word so you have to put a dot in it .And i will not recommend you to use harsh words.
Now for the moves
1>to move your player you have to drag your player anywhere in the red area till the clock is shown on the top of the page.
2>to attack you have to hit the stars .when you will scroll on each star it will give you the attack are shown in red .
Hurry play this game. And be the part of it.
submitted by aman & the sycamore.in guys
plz do visit our site http://sycamore.in
otherwise you will be wasting your time .It takes a little time in loading but ounce you are loaded you are ready to rock . There are 4 levels in this game . 1st lvl contains 3 primary attacks .2nd lvl 3 more attacks with increase in health .3rd you are one of the gods of the game 3 more attacks + more health .And the chatting side by side really rocks.But there is one problem when you abuse ++++ this covers the word so you have to put a dot in it .And i will not recommend you to use harsh words.
Now for the moves
1>to move your player you have to drag your player anywhere in the red area till the clock is shown on the top of the page.
2>to attack you have to hit the stars .when you will scroll on each star it will give you the attack are shown in red .
Hurry play this game. And be the part of it.
submitted by aman & the sycamore.in guys
plz do visit our site http://sycamore.in
Labels:
Games
Playing Online Games Comfortably: Hands
One of the most important parts in having a good time online is making sure that you are comfortable. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is all too easy to forget to take a few basic precautions. If you really want to have a get time and set the new high score, then you should this.
The first thing you should take care of is your hands. Holding a mouse or hitting keys can cause a lot of persistent strain on your muscles. This is effectively what causes carpal tunnel syndrome as well, so you should definitely try and reduce the stress on your hands. Chances are that you'll probably have a gaming session at an online arcade so prepare your surrounding to help your hand. If you are getting ready to play a shooter than you should position your hand for the least strain possible. For example, it is difficult to play arcade games for any length of time if your wrist is at a significant angle. You should keep your hand level with the mouse if possible. This can be done through several means. You can buy a nice mouse pad that has a wrist rest built in at the base, or you can just grab a standard paperback book and place it between you and the mouse. This is usually enough to keep your wrist relatively level with the mouse.
This is the first step to happy hands. You should now be able to play your favorite arcade games without getting sore. There are a few other ways to extend your flash game session though. You need to get in the habit of checking your grip. It is all too easy to get into the "DIE ALIENS DIE!!!!!" mode and forget that you are now apparently trying to strangle your mouse. It's basic physics. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If you are playing arcade games while trying to crush your mouse, the mouse will be exerting an equal force out onto your fingers. This can lead to some painful cramping and discomfort that will make you quit your game early.
It may seem like I've forgotten the keyboard arcade games, but I didn't. The same basic rules apply to playing an arcade game with a keyboard. If you are racing are playing an online adventure game, then you'll want to keep your wrists straight and your fingers relaxed. There are classes to teach perfect typing methods, but you don't really need to type 70 words a minute to win an online race. Just keep your wrist out from your body and try not to rest them on anything. That really builds up stress while you're playing.
All of these may seem to be a little nit picky, but you shouldn't be quick to forget about them. Nothing is worse than your hand cramping up and costing you a win after you've spent 20 minutes getting to the last level. Just follow these basic tips and avoid 3 hour gaming sessions, and you should be fine. Now go get 'em!
The first thing you should take care of is your hands. Holding a mouse or hitting keys can cause a lot of persistent strain on your muscles. This is effectively what causes carpal tunnel syndrome as well, so you should definitely try and reduce the stress on your hands. Chances are that you'll probably have a gaming session at an online arcade so prepare your surrounding to help your hand. If you are getting ready to play a shooter than you should position your hand for the least strain possible. For example, it is difficult to play arcade games for any length of time if your wrist is at a significant angle. You should keep your hand level with the mouse if possible. This can be done through several means. You can buy a nice mouse pad that has a wrist rest built in at the base, or you can just grab a standard paperback book and place it between you and the mouse. This is usually enough to keep your wrist relatively level with the mouse.
This is the first step to happy hands. You should now be able to play your favorite arcade games without getting sore. There are a few other ways to extend your flash game session though. You need to get in the habit of checking your grip. It is all too easy to get into the "DIE ALIENS DIE!!!!!" mode and forget that you are now apparently trying to strangle your mouse. It's basic physics. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If you are playing arcade games while trying to crush your mouse, the mouse will be exerting an equal force out onto your fingers. This can lead to some painful cramping and discomfort that will make you quit your game early.
It may seem like I've forgotten the keyboard arcade games, but I didn't. The same basic rules apply to playing an arcade game with a keyboard. If you are racing are playing an online adventure game, then you'll want to keep your wrists straight and your fingers relaxed. There are classes to teach perfect typing methods, but you don't really need to type 70 words a minute to win an online race. Just keep your wrist out from your body and try not to rest them on anything. That really builds up stress while you're playing.
All of these may seem to be a little nit picky, but you shouldn't be quick to forget about them. Nothing is worse than your hand cramping up and costing you a win after you've spent 20 minutes getting to the last level. Just follow these basic tips and avoid 3 hour gaming sessions, and you should be fine. Now go get 'em!
Labels:
Games
Free Online Games For Microsoft Windows XP Users
When you play online games, you will be connecting to a website via the internet. Individuals who own a computer that runs on Microsoft Windows XP will have a variety of online games programmed into their software, including backgammon, checkers, hearts and more. When logging on, Microsoft users will need to be logged on to Windows as an administrator in order to install components or make changes to your computer system's settings necessary to run some of the online games.
Many people prefer backgammon as one of their favorite online games. The object of Backgammon is to move all your pieces, or stones, around the board counterclockwise into a home area. From the home area, the pieces must be removed from the game board by exact dice roll. The first person to bear off all their stones will be declared the winner. In Backgammon, you will connect over the internet with your opponent.
Checkers, which is a board game classic, is also one of the most popular online games in existence. The object of checkers is to defeat your opponent by jumping and removing his or her pieces. You can also win by positioning your checkers in such a way that results in blocking your opponent from moving. When playing Checkers online, you will connect over the internet with your opponent.
For the card fanatic, internet hearts is a popular choice among online games. Hearts is a card game with four players, each playing independently. The object of Hearts is to earn as few points as possible during the course of play. When any player reaches 100 points the game ends, at which time the player with the fewest points wins. While playing Hearts online, you will connect over the Internet with your opponents.
Reversi, another of the popular online games pre-installed into MS Windows XP, is a game played on an 8x8 board with black-and-white pieces, or stones. The object is to have more of your color of stones on the board than your opponent. Stones can be reversed from one color to another by surrounding the pieces. The game is over when neither player has any legal moves left. While playing Reversi online, you will connect over the Internet with your opponent.
Another of the popular online games for the card fanatic is known as Spades, which is a partnership card game with two teams of two players each. The object is for you and your partner to bid a contract, then skillfully play your cards in coordination with each other to make the contract. You win when you reach 500 points or force your opponents to drop to a negative 200 point score. As is the case with all other online games, you will connect with your opponents and partner over the internet while playing Spades online.
In order to access games that were pre-installed with your software, click on 'Start' and then 'Programs.' Next, click on 'Games' and then select from the online games that you see available. If you do not see online games listed, this means that none were installed with your software.
Many people prefer backgammon as one of their favorite online games. The object of Backgammon is to move all your pieces, or stones, around the board counterclockwise into a home area. From the home area, the pieces must be removed from the game board by exact dice roll. The first person to bear off all their stones will be declared the winner. In Backgammon, you will connect over the internet with your opponent.
Checkers, which is a board game classic, is also one of the most popular online games in existence. The object of checkers is to defeat your opponent by jumping and removing his or her pieces. You can also win by positioning your checkers in such a way that results in blocking your opponent from moving. When playing Checkers online, you will connect over the internet with your opponent.
For the card fanatic, internet hearts is a popular choice among online games. Hearts is a card game with four players, each playing independently. The object of Hearts is to earn as few points as possible during the course of play. When any player reaches 100 points the game ends, at which time the player with the fewest points wins. While playing Hearts online, you will connect over the Internet with your opponents.
Reversi, another of the popular online games pre-installed into MS Windows XP, is a game played on an 8x8 board with black-and-white pieces, or stones. The object is to have more of your color of stones on the board than your opponent. Stones can be reversed from one color to another by surrounding the pieces. The game is over when neither player has any legal moves left. While playing Reversi online, you will connect over the Internet with your opponent.
Another of the popular online games for the card fanatic is known as Spades, which is a partnership card game with two teams of two players each. The object is for you and your partner to bid a contract, then skillfully play your cards in coordination with each other to make the contract. You win when you reach 500 points or force your opponents to drop to a negative 200 point score. As is the case with all other online games, you will connect with your opponents and partner over the internet while playing Spades online.
In order to access games that were pre-installed with your software, click on 'Start' and then 'Programs.' Next, click on 'Games' and then select from the online games that you see available. If you do not see online games listed, this means that none were installed with your software.
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