The Versatility of Computer Gaming

Since the first personal computer was sold, PC gaming has come a long way. From the two-dimensional lines and squares of PONG, the PC gaming industry has developed into a multi-billion dollar enterprise of virtual reality and digital worlds. People across the globe are able to team up, build, fight, and compete.

One relatively new phenomenon in PC gaming is a game called Minecraft. This game is all about planning and creativity. In the standard "survival" mode, the player must collect resources, including food and minerals, and avoid enemies by relying on safety structure and preparation.

Minecraft can also be played in "creative" mode, where the player uses mineral resources to develop structures of any type. In creative mode, there is no goal. There are no enemies to face, and the player cannot win or lose. It is all about creativity and building.

One of the major milestones in PC gaming that Minecraft realized was the lack of state-of-the-art graphics. Minecraft uses primitive shapes for player and object design, and intentionally uses low-res, dated looking textures. The developers have proven that it does not take cutting-edge technology to create a fun and immersive game.

Another good series of games that have led to huge innovations in the industry is the Call of Duty series. These games are, essentially, the polar opposite of Minecraft. The Call of Duty series is a first-person shooter, combat simulation, focused on high-quality graphics and hyper-realism.

Throughout the Call of Duty series, many measures have been taken to make the game as real as possible. Unlike first person shooters of the past, where your avatar can run headlong into a wall of gunfire, slinging rockets and grenades around like a 1980's action hero, your player character in Call of Duty is quite like a regular person. Instead of a large health and armor bar, you can only take a couple of hits, max, before your character is killed. Movements are more realistic, and slower. It takes your guy a second to crouch down, or switch weapons, and you can't run, jump, and shoot all at the same time.

PC gaming offers a wide variety of immersive experiences. There are many different types of games to choose from, and there really is something that will interest everyone. With the advent of the Internet, and the ability to play head to head with multiple people around the world, computer gaming opens even more doors of infinite possibility.