Rethink your views on Computer Gaming
Most people who own a PC, when they have finished doing work on it, have played a game on it. To a larger number of us, it can be as casual as playing minesweeper or solitaire, maybe even a Facebook game once in a while, while some enjoy something more in-depth, perhaps more often. Most often though, if I were to mention that I play games or ask if someone else enjoys them, I may hear comments like “games are for kids or I’m too old for that” or “consoles are better”.
According to a large scale research and report in 2012 by iGEA, the average age of the Australian gamer is 32, and is nearly split evenly between genders. The average age has actually increased since the previous report. Gamers are getting older. And it’s not just research agencies noticing. Companies who manufacture games are changing to market and cater for adults. While TV and movies are good entertainment, many seek something more interactive, that they can take part of, like a game.
Quite a lot of the ideas for more interactive gaming on a console stem from ideas on a PC. For a long time, users could create their own content for PC games and share it with others. That’s just starting to show on consoles. A new initiative which is soon to be released for PC’s is called Oculus Rift, which is an affordable “virtual reality” headset. It provides a 3D experience through a pair of goggles. When you turn your head, so does the person inside the game.
Games don’t have to be that “full-on” though. Many game manufacturers also know that most of us don’t have hours to spend on a game. So there are also a wide variety of casual games, in which a ‘round’ may last 10-15 minutes, and are made either for social or just a fun experience, rather than an incredible immersive world. These games don’t require an incredible amount of PC power either.
Perhaps you have avoided playing games because you felt they were better suited to someone else or that you needed some kind of special computer to play them. But maybe all you need to do is have a look. Quite a lot would run on a standard desktop or notebook PC. Many games offer demo’s which you can try out before you buy. You never know, you might also enjoy playing games on your PC once in a while.
Remember to speak to your local IT specialists about any issues you may be having. Your computing experience is supposed to be an enjoyable whether working or playing games.