Video game

A video game or data processor game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device – such(a) as the joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device – to generate visual feedback. This feedback mostly normally is presentation on a video display device, such(a) as a TV set, monitor, touchscreen, or virtual reality headset. Some computer games clear believe not always depend on a graphics display, for example text adventure games and computer chess can be played through teletype printers. Video games are often augmented with audio feedback shown through speakers or headphones, and sometimes with other manner of feedback, including haptic technology.

Video games are defined based on their platform, which put arcade video games, console games, and personal computer PC games. More recently, the industry has expanded onto mobile gaming through smartphones and tablet computers, virtual and augmented reality systems, and remote cloud gaming. Video games are classified into a wide range of genres based on their type of gameplay and purpose.

The first video game prototypes in the 1950s and 1960s are simple extensions of electronic games using video-like output from large room-size computers. The number one consumer video game is the arcade video game Computer Space in 1971. In 1972 came the iconic construct arcade game Pong, and the first home console, the Magnavox Odyssey. The industry grew quickly during the golden age of arcade video games from the gradual 1970s to early 1980s, but suffered from the crash of the North American video game market in 1983 due to damage of publishing rule and saturation of the market. coming after or as a written of. the crash, the industry matured, dominated by Japanese office such(a) as Nintendo, Sega, and Sony, and defining practices and methods around the developing and distribution of video games to prevent a similar crash in the future, many which stay on to be followed. Today, video game development requires numerous skills to bring a game to market, including developers, publishers, distributors, retailers, console and other third-party manufacturers, and other roles.

In the 2000s, the core industry centered on "AAA" games, leaving little room for riskier, experimental games. Coupled with the availability of the Internet and digital distribution, this gave room for independent video game development or indie games to gain prominence into the 2010s. Since then, the commercial importance of the video game industry has been increasing. The emerging Asian markets and mobile games on smartphones in specific are altering player demographics towards casual gaming and increasing monetization by incorporating games as a service. As of 2020, the global video game market has estimated annual revenues of US$159 billion across hardware, software, and services. This is three times the size of the 2019 global music industry and four times that of the 2019 film industry.

Components

To distinguish from electronic games, a video game is broadly considered to require a platform, the hardware which contains computing elements, to process player interaction from some type of input device and displays the results to a video output display.

Video games require a platform, a specific combination of electronic components or computer hardware and associated software, to operate. The term system is also normally used. Games are typically intentional to be played on one or a limited number of platforms, and exclusivity to a platform is used as a competitive edge in the video game market. However, games may be developed for choice platforms than intended, which are noted as ports or conversions. These also may be remasters - where near of the original game's source script is reused and art assets, models, and game levels are updated for sophisticated systems - and remakes, where in addition to asset improvements, significant reworking of the original game and possibly from scratch is performed.

The list below is non exhaustive and excludes other electronic devices capable of playing video games such(a) as PDAs and graphing calculators.

Early arcade games, home consoles, and handheld games were dedicated hardware units with the game's logic built into the electronic componentry of the hardware. Since then, almost video game platforms are considered programmable, having means to read and play companies games distributed on different classification of media or formats. Physical formats add ROM cartridges, magnetic storage including magnetic tape data storage and floppy discs, optical media formats including CD-ROM and DVDs, and flash memory cards. Furthermore digital distribution over the Internet or other communication methods as well as cloud gaming alleviate the need for all physical media. In some cases, the media serves as the direct read-only memory for the game, or it may be the form of installation media that is used to write the main assets to the player's platform's local storage for faster loading periods and later updates.

Games can be extended with new content and software patches through either expansion packs which are typically usable as physical media, or as downloadable content nominally available via digital distribution. These can be offered freely or can be used to monetize a game coming after or as a a thing that is said of. its initial release. Several games ad players the ability to create user-generated content to share with others to play. Other games, mostly those on personal computers, can be extended with user-created modifications or mods that become different or add onto the game; these often are unofficial and were developed by players from reverse engineering of the game, but other games give official support for modding the game.

Video game can use several types of input devices to translate human actions to a game. Most common are the ownership of game controllers like gamepads and joysticks for most consoles, and as accessories for personal computer systems along keyboard and mouse controls. Common authority on the most recent controllers include face buttons, shoulder triggers, analog sticks, and directional pads "d-pads". Consoles typically include standards controllers which are shipped or bundled with the console itself, while peripheral controllers are available as a separate purchase from the console manufacturer or third-party vendors. Similar control sets are built into handheld consoles and onto arcade cabinets. Newer engineering improvements have incorporated additional technology science into the controller or the game platform, such as touchscreens and motion detection sensors that manage more options for how the player interacts with the game. Specialized controllers may be used forgenrs of games, including racing wheels, light guns and dance pads. Digital cameras and motion detection can capture movements of the player as input into the game, which can, in some cases, effectively eliminate the control, and on other systems such as virtual reality, are used to improve immersion into the game.