| *Thirty Five Years Ago | | | | publicity. Celebrities are starting to notice that the |
| The fledgling video game business was struggling | | | | spotlight on Hollywood is being shared by a |
| to make a name for itself as it competed with | | | | newcomer to the world of entertainment, and |
| toys, playing cards and board games for | | | | they are following the light, as they do naturally. It |
| customers. The early games like Pong, Pac Man | | | | is an inevitable natural progression, much like the |
| and Donkey Kong were very basic in terms of | | | | relationship between a whale and a pilot fish. Big |
| technology, and they had very little creativity | | | | celebrity names are starting to integrate into the |
| involved with their designs and functions. Today, | | | | computer game industry, and as this happens it |
| the computer online game industry is a multi billion | | | | only means more publicity for both parties |
| dollar extravaganza that has progressed | | | | involved. This is ultimately good for gamers too, |
| increasingly, and it is starting to steal some of the | | | | for as the industry gets bigger and bigger, the |
| spotlight from the glamorous motion picture | | | | games and the consoles will only get better and |
| industry. | | | | better. |
| With technological advances like the next | | | | Recently, many new online gaming services have |
| generation motion capture systems, high definition | | | | been introduced. The world is having a visible |
| graphics, Dolby Sound and Motion Sensor Remote | | | | affect on the online gaming industry, as more and |
| controls that enable the players to actually get up | | | | more people turned towards playing and enjoying |
| off their chairs and get some exercise as they | | | | online games. Games on the Internet were once |
| kick, punch, jump, fish, swing, golf and dance their | | | | an imaginary phrase, but since the introduction of |
| way through sessions, video games have become | | | | thousands of user friendly and easy operating |
| more than just toys. They are an escape that | | | | games on the Internet, people are finding that |
| offers a whole new reality. Kids and adults alike | | | | fiction has become reality. |
| are playing Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo | | | | *Chill out and Play Games |
| Wii games more than ever before and the | | | | One of the best ways the majority of us relax, |
| industry itself is getting bigger and bigger every | | | | stay engaged, stave off boredom, or even burn |
| day. | | | | away hours at work is to play games video |
| But there is one great advantage that video | | | | games, online computer games (if you dont know |
| games have over movies, and that is that they | | | | there are probably a few addictive games in your |
| offer interaction. You can actually be involved with | | | | word program, right?), or online games. |
| what is happening on the screen, instead of just | | | | While we now know, too, that when you play |
| watching it like you do at a theater. This gives | | | | games (of any mode and of certain types), those |
| you the feeling of empowerment that you just | | | | games help to sharpen some of our mental |
| do not get from watching movies. These games | | | | faculties, Alzheimers, and, in my coo-coo world, |
| offer more than an escape, they offer a journey | | | | the insanity of such needful mental aberrations as |
| into another world where your actions have no | | | | ADD, ADHD, and OCDthough this last benefit is |
| real negative consequences on yourself. | | | | not necessarily empirically proven. There has been |
| Video games have come a long way since the | | | | quite a bit of research done on this topic and you |
| days of Pong, Pac Man and Donkey Kong. While | | | | can bet there will be a whole lot more to come. |
| the Video Game Awards are not quite the Oscars | | | | So lets sit back, kick our shoes off, and relax |
| yet, they are certainly on a pace to give them a | | | | playing your favorit games. |
| run for their money in the future in terms of | | | | |