| In a recent article on CNET, William Moss observes | | | | games. |
| that in an Internet cafe in China, of the couple of | | | | Why do people play online games?a. Firstly, the appeal |
| hundred people using the cafe when he visited it, with | | | | of anonymity. After all you can create a personality for |
| the exception of two people, everyone else was seen | | | | yourself and can be what ever you want to be. This is |
| using them to play computer games. | | | | a very powerful reason for people to hang out at |
| People paying money just to play online games on | | | | these social sites.b. Internet is a wonderful medium that |
| hourly basis show the pull and popularity of the online | | | | enables you to be part of a society where all are |
| games. | | | | equal. Absolutely no discrimination of any variety.c. The |
| Here is an attempt to understand why online games | | | | games are becoming increasingly easy to setup. Most |
| are so popular these days? | | | | of the times you just don't need a native installation on |
| An online game literally refers to the type of game, | | | | your PC. A web browser is all you need to play a |
| which is played on your computer while you are | | | | multiplayer game. This has taken away the operating |
| connected to the Internet. These can be single player | | | | system related hurdles that one would otherwise have |
| games that you play with a remote server or | | | | encountered. These games are mostly free and on |
| multiplayer games where many users like you are | | | | top of that you don't have to install anything to enable |
| playing with each other. | | | | you to play these games. You just heard of game, |
| There was a time when computer games were for | | | | perhaps from a friend or through an email or a |
| the so-called nerds or geeks who were basically | | | | newsletter. You just go to the gaming website and |
| solitary beings. With the rise in popularity of the Internet | | | | you are ready to play. No setup related hassles at all. |
| and with broadband access becoming increasingly | | | | This definitely is a very big contributor to the success |
| affordable, the quality of free online games being | | | | and popularity of online games.d. Online games are |
| offered has increased dramatically. Playing games | | | | popular because they give people who are bored |
| online is no longer a solitary activity. Studies show that | | | | playing with their computer a chance to interact with |
| it is a social experience that more and more | | | | real opponents. As a player you can chat with other |
| extroverts and out-going people are becoming part of. | | | | players, you can join hands a few players and scheme |
| Free gaming sites have become the places for | | | | against the others, just the way you do in real world, |
| players to meet and have social interactions. Popular | | | | but with the advantage of anonymity. |
| regulars at gaming sites are a common phenomenon | | | | I am sure there are more reasons. This in itself can be |
| that we all are aware of. These gaming sites typically | | | | a topic of research for social scientists. Internet is |
| offer games that range from a quick, casual game | | | | changing the way we live. It is changing the way we |
| during your coffee break to engaging multi-player | | | | play for sure. |