I work for game twitch and I am about to explain to the reader of this article the game platform types and the limitations and good features of the games and the hardware technologies for the game platforms explained with relative ease for those who do not know what the technology means at the time.
Different types of game play
Firstly we will begin with the different types of game play and these can change and make a difference to the buyer as everyone has different tastes in games and gaming and it is best to know which one would suit you and your lifestyle. The first to explain is the console gameplay now game consoles are all different with very different understandings on how to complete the game so we will start off with an easy game play such as the puzzle gameplay as these agmes are usually games that are involved in real life. Good examples of these genre of games are games such as mah jong tiles which has been a game for over 100 years as shown on http://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Mah-Jong.htm showing the history of mah jong but it is said that mah jong and similar games to it have been with us within the 11th century. As the puzzle genre goes withing game platforms they are usually based of old games that were made before the games consoles or electronics appeared within gaming. http://www.mahjongcraving.com/images/rules1.jpg this is the picture of the game showing the similarity to the game itself when played off a computer.
on computerhttp://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/481114/481114,1266333011,2/stock-photo-mahjong-tiles-three-circles-46803871.jpg
off computerAs you can see the detail is barely any difference to the game however the idea of having the game on screen saves time with the movements of tilers every time the game was completed. These sort of games can be played on the home pc or on mobiles. Game play on consoles can vary due to the different consoles available with different graphics, graphics been the detail of the game and how appealing it is. arcade game play is a old classic way of playing games by going to the arcade or buying a arcade machine yourself. These gameplays are very limited with graphics and cost a lot for the machine themselves but as time has progressed their graphics have improved a bit with the bonus that some of them have specific models or controls on them such ass racing games allowing you to actually ride on a bike or car or a dance arcade game having a dance step mat. http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content07/americas-army-arcade-game.
Example of a shooter arcade game displaying the guns for added entertainment.http://uncrate.com/p/2006/12/ford-arcade-game.jpg
Racing arcade game full with steering wheels and pedals for added entertainment.As the examples show above they give the player a feel and sort of idea of how the controls of a car would be in reality or how a gun would be used so it gives a sense of virtual reality however arcade machines can be very costly due to the technology inside of them and the sense of virtual reality.
Portable game play
Mobile phone games are cheap games however they are limited in graphics and their game play due to the phones been specifically designed to take phone calls and not to play games. http://freelicensegames.com/Free-cell-phone-games.jpg
Example of a mobile phone game they are downloaded from the internet on the mobile phone or installed onto the game already when you are given the phone.as the example shows the graphics are not too great and with mobile phone games its either good graphics with a small option/ story or bad graphics with a lot of options. http://static.mobilerated.com/scripts/image.php?x=0&y=0&id=159620
This game shows that there is not many options available to the mobile phone games.Portable game consoles such as the Game boy and play station portable are very detailed in graphics and they can use batteries or be charged by the plug meaning that it can be played anywhere hence the portable but the issue with the portable games is that they are not as detailed or as optional as the games if they were on main consoles due to the issues with memory for the games console and the battery power can sometimes run out too fast however with some consoles such as the ds and gameboy advance they are given memory for their games within the game that is bought which means that they have their own save files within the game.
This means that the games probably lose a bit of detail compared to the playstation portable, however they will always have a safe file or more than one save file however the playstation portable (PsP) has a lot better graphics and a bigger menu but they have limited memory when it comes to saving games and as the psp is a bit more expensive than the nintendo ds and a lot cheaper than the nintendo 3ds however the 3ds has only just been released so prices would be expected to be high.
http://www.product-reviews.net/wp-content/userimages/2008/02/assassins-creed-for-the-nintendo-ds-battle-and-dungeon-gameplay.jpg
This is a example of a ds gameplay it uses game cartridges.http://www.tradenote.net/images/users/000/450/792/products_images/698805.jpg
This is a example of a psp gameplay they use umd diskshttp://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Dead_Or_Alive_Dimensions.jpg
This is a example of a 3ds game play it uses game cartridges.The examples show the different details in graphics for the consoles that are handheld and modern however with the psp detail there is a upcoming new version which will have better graphics and it is said to be available near Christmas however the price would be very expensive as it is very new and with lack of game choices since it is very new it is best to buy one of the other 3 chosen since they will have a large variety of games to choose from before Christmas.
Television games and game play
Television game play can vary due to detail the TV has such as h.d (high definition) which allows better detail when watching TV or playing games on TV to the standard non HD TV however there are games on TV on channel providers such as sky but their games are mainly used if the children are very young and are waiting for their show to start or to be entertained. television games on consoles are detailed depending on the console it is played on however TV games are usually low detailed sometimes free sometimes not free but they are not a major influence on young children but are mainly used to skip adverts or sometimes some let you watch a show while u play a game. http://strategy.thetazzone.com/wp-content/screenshot232.jpg
Here is a good example of a tv game, it has low graphics however it can be from a game show on television. e.g catch phrase.PC game play
With PC game play the computers graphics makes the difference between what games it can play and which games it cannot since it will need a graphics card installed into the computer( the better the graphics the more games it can play). The issue with installing a very high graphics card onto a old computer can make the system have over heat issues and sometimes can ruin the computer all together so it is best to get a computer that is designed to endure the graphics that way there will be hardly any computer issues however these computers can be expensive unless you know how to make computers yourself.
http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2007/08/bioshock_gameplay_graphics_and_performance/1l.jpg
This example how much good detail the graphics are now.Differences of the types of home game play consoles
There are different types of consoles with different types of game play for starters there is the home consoles such as the Playstation 3 Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii and their differences. The Playstation 3 is a good console for playing games on since it has a variety of games and games specific to it like little big planet however most of the major games are not played on this game console and due to it being slightly more expensive than the Xbox 360 and a lot more expensive than the Nintendo Wii it is not bought as much however they are very reliable regardless to online play since their graphics are very detailed and the online is free anyways.
The PlayStation3 has a blue ray supported feature which means it can hold and use disks that can store 4 times or maybe more memory onto the disk compared to the normal disks, this allows the games to be stored onto a single disk where as in other consoles the disks may have to be multiples in order to continue with the story and can support blue ray DVD disks which means it can play very detailed films. The Xbox 360 is the major game console machine where most of the majority play so it is good for online play however the online play is payments every month or year or so. Another thing about the Xbox 360 is that it is cheaper than the Playstation3 however it is more unreliable as they seem to have a famous red ring of death record shown on http://gizmodo.com/5015483/microsofts-1-billion-xbox-360-recall-problems-caused-by-chip-cheapness
Microsoft's red ring Xbox 360 problems have cost the company about a billion dollars in warranty repairs, but the research vice president and chief analyst at Gartner said that the hardware problems were caused because Microsoft wanted to be cheap
As the quote says it is due to them being cheap but hopefully they have fixed the issue but their cheap issue cost them about 1 billion so it was not as cheap as they thought. the Xbox 360 console is still a good console to have if you own one it just needs multiple disks for some games that are on the same console as the play station 3.
The Nintendo Wii is a simple and cheap console of the 3 major consoles. Its good points is that it has motion sensors unlike the other 2 consoles which have a similar motion sensor but not as good or as modern as the Nintendo Wii. The majority of the Nintendo Wii games are party or for young children however some are more adult and some need add ons to get a full experience of the game you are playing e.g house of the dead needing gun add ons for your controller and num chuck.
The disadvantages of the Nintendo Wii is it has the worst graphics card of the 3 and after a while the nintendo wii can get boring if its always motion sensor controlled rather than a controller since you will get tired more often. The low graphics isn't always bad because some games on the Wii have very good detail however on other games it makes them look very child like and to older people it may not look as good and some of the games are very gimmicky which means that the games are very similar to each other which would ruin most of the games in the market of the nintedo wii so it would be hard to find games that are very unique such as monster hunter or super smash brothers brawl on the game console.
The next game play is PC game play and with this game play it has the unique online and offline game play since the computer was designed for online and internet. However depending on how old and how updated your computer is the online play can vary. offline pc game play can be very good depending on the games the player likes and sometimes the story if it is not the detail of the game.
Multiplayer online is very good with pc gaming as it is usually very detailed and very adept to the movement of the game unless the computer itself is low on graphics. The other advantage of the gameplay on the Pc is that it has more available options to use that the consoles do not have such as world builder on command and conquer generals zero hour to allow the creation of maps to your liking. http://www.cnclabs.com/maps/generals/worldbuilder/faq.aspx
This website explains how to use the world builder in the game itself.
The limitations of the pc gameplay is that it can lagg very easily if there is a overuse of a certain unit or the graphics of the computer is not very good. Other disadvantages of pc game play is the players on the game that ruin the games for others by causing arguements and thinking they can get away with it since the fights are abroad which can cause arguements to people the players are in the same house with. PC gameplay is used by cd's
Advantages of pc gameplay is that there are a vareity of amount of graphics that you could change unless the pc has built in graphic cards which cannot change therefore making the difference in the graphics a huge variety. Buying a games computer with a built in graphics card whilst it is modern is reccomended because if there is a change within the modern technologies and your computer cannot pay the new games it is possible to buy new cards and have them installed into the computer system giving them an advantage within gameplay whilst the game consolses are built with a specific amount of graphics. The similarity with the computer and the games console is whilst the game console can be connected to a tv a pc can be connected to a monitor or a tv and have sound however with pc gameplay the sounds card has to have speakers or headphones connected in order to hear the sound within the computer.
Mobile game play
This will discuss the mobile gameplay. With the mobile game play it has various features but some are not related to the game as mobiles are used for phoning and for the communication mainly which lowers their detail in graphics for the game play themselves. The options in the genres of games are very low however they are handheld and hence the word mobile so they can be played anywhere making them very versatile. The personal data assistant is a cpu for a mobile phone which allows artificial intelligence on the games on the consoles and the mobile devices to interact with the player.
The gsm system in the mobilres allows the user of the mobile to communicate with another person owning a specific phone hence why G.S.M means Global System for Mobile communication. 3GPP allows the user of the mobile to use wireless technologies within the phone itself hence why it is called the 3rd generation partnership project. The limitations with the mobiles are that they are very badly detailed and they are mainly a weaker version of the games that are on the major consoles. Mobile phones however have a good enough detail with the card to play arcade games and some games created for the mobile. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LIPRWvyK5XY/Tj-ihlGcRrI/AAAAAAAAAUE/2JlsGP_Qe1I/s1600/96707-free-games-for-my-mobile-phone-2.jpg
This example shows a basic phone game with nice looking graphics however the game play is the same as a old arcade game such as beehive bedlam as this link and picture will show.http://teamcooper.co.uk/wordpress-content/uploads/2010/08/beehive_3.png
The picture shows the similarity to the game play of the mobile game and the TV game only showing the graphics to be a major difference.The limitation with mobile game play is that it lacks when it is playing first person shooters or real time strategies as they are very fast passed and the mobiles graphics and command buttons are not very responsive to the fast passed games.
TV game play is usually related to TV box sets or TV channels that have a specific button on the remote control in order to play the game. The TV game play is not accessible to online or it has online however it is not very good due to the lack of graphics within the games to save space for the TV channels that are within the TV channel provider. The TV has a public service broadcast which allows the creator and publisher of the product to broadcast television shows and to allow specific channels depending on what sort of channels the customer has demanded. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ is a good example of a public service broadcast since it shows you the time of when each program starts. The TV uses cable as well in order to sell tv shows to the audience and sometimes games included with the cable. http://www.digitalchoices.co.uk/article.asp?id=cable-tv-packages&kt=44344&gclid=COyZxZvC0asCFQUNfAodYz2zWw here is a good example of a seller of cable. As the cable offers show thye provide different amount of channels depending on the cost of the channels available. Satellite is another option you could choose when buying a television assatellite has alot more variety of channels than cable and has alot more game also however it is more expensive as the packages offer show n this link: http://www.sky.com/shop/bundles-offers/featured/tv/?DCMP=KNC-
As the link shows it provides a lot more channels for a lot more costly prices.
TV is also able to get MHP which means multimedia home platform. MHP can give many options such as watching channels on TV and also voting, playing games, information services and email and another part of MHP is that they include many file types such as jpeg, HTML and Javascript and possibly many more with possible options such as rewind and record TV shows. A good example of this is sky plus http://www.sky.com/shop/boxes/sky-plus-box/?DCMP=KNC-
The limitations of TV game play is that the graphics are very low unless accompanied by a console. other limitations are such as power cuts and their variety of other choices makes the stories on TV games very short or none at all which can make games very boring unless they are made for arcade play. other limitations with TV game play is that the TV itself does not contain any games however TV channel boxes possibly could contain games however they would usually cost every time you play it which is not recommended when the family is low on credit and after a while it would have been easier to buy a game with the money that has been spent on the TV games.
Controllers of game consoles
Major importance's when buying a console is the controller that is given with the game console as each one has different commands and styles compared to another and another part of the game consoles is that each one has a analog or a potentiometer which allows easier free roam on a computer controller. it can act as a joy stick however it uses resistance in order to signify when it is in order to allow the computer or console to understand and depict the same command as the joystick is giving http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Potentiometer.jpg
As the picture shows it looks and is designed to look like a joy stick in order to make complex movement look very simple and helps give the idea of a 3d movement rather than a d pad which is just the buttons up down left and right which is shown by the d pad below http://nesp.tighelory.com/images/2006-04-03/dpad.jpg
As the detail of the picture shows it is not very versatile at 3d movement but allows easier access to commands that involves the x and y axis on a game or a menu for example as they will not be sensitive to human or other motion movement on a potentiometer allowing easier access to modes on games. previous game consoles did not have a potentiometer on their controller making 3d feel difficult unless the game console was given arcade game play. A good example of a controller that was classic that did not have a potentiometer or a analog stick is a Nintendo SNES controller http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Snes_control.jpg
as the design of the controller shows there is no analog stick however compared to the previous game controllers before it it has been provided a much more rounded and hand designed so it is less likely to cause injury when playing the game console compared to the previous game controller as shown buy this Nintendo controller. http://www.instructables.com/image/FDKWUZP8ICEP27UJBW/Nintendo-controller-into-a-PC-card-reader.jpg
The picture shows a clear design and shows also that the game console had limited commands as there was only a d pad and 2 major buttons when playing the game giving limitations to the game and with its rectangular shape it is not a nice controller to hold as some people would just leave it on the ground and use the command buttons by using their fingers instead.With portable consoles the controller is on the game itself so they are very easy to use as they can be used anywhere. http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/3/32/Gameboy.jpg
The usage of the game boy controls is very way to see the screen and the controls are relatively easy to use the command onto the controller and be able to play the game however not many portable consoles include a analog stick or as modern graphics as the bigger non portable consoles are provided with. more modern portable consoles are provided with more commands and sometimes touch screen is also included within the console to help with the lack of a potentiometer to give a more easier feel for 3d or virtual reality.http://www.nintendods-r4.com/media/catalog/category/nintendo_ds.jpg
As the picture displays it displays a touch screen for interactivity as well as the use of buttons for easier menu interactivity if you lose the touch screen pen however the touch screen can be used in some games but in others it is not as much needed.Sound
The sound is important within game consoles as most consoles use the sound from a audio device as they are usually given an external sound card which is connected when the console is connected to the screen which has sound provided onto the screen or TV however the portable game consoles have sound chips built into them as they must be able to produce sound inside the console whilst on the move.
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/29-156-001-02.JPG
This is a sound card from a non portable device and as the description shows it has a output but no built in sound in order for the console to provide sound on its own other than the fan from the computer showing that it is working. http://www.dvdbargainalerts.co.uk/images/dsi_info.jpg
As the picture shows it is provided with a sound memory slot and has speakers within the game consoles itself giving the portable consoles a advantage when it comes to supplying sound as they are given sound with themselves.Power supply
Every console has different ways of supplying power to the console and knowing this is important if you want the console to work. Main consoles that are reasonably large are consoles that need internal power supply as they need power from a plug or a mains in order to fully operate. a good example of these consoles are consoles such as the PS Xbox 360 and PC as they need power supply from a mains in order to operate.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/06/ps3_open4_engadget_howto.jpg
As the picture displays it shows that there is a power supply inside a PS3 however it cannot power the whole console by itself which makes it a internal power supply in order to fully operate. This is different to the Nintendo DS as the Nintendo DS can use battery power in order to store electricity onto it allowing it to be played anywhere as long as it has the power to work. The Nintendo DS gets the power charged by the mains like the PS and the other internal power supplies however the Nintendo DS is able to keep the power within the hand held console itself as it is similar with the battery on the phone. http://richimage.carphonewarehouse.com/image/media/DSI-NINTENDO-POWER-SUPPLY__FRONT_MEDIUM.jpg
The picture displays a charger that the Nintendo DS uses and how it is used for the Nintendo DS. With external power supplies they are powered by plugs however the power supply maybe used for multiple consoles such as a the wires used ion Xbox and PS2 plugs which can be used in multiple TVs and mobile phones that can be charged by similar chargers due to the external charger been exactly the same. although its not advisable since the consoles and mobiles and TV's are given specific remotes chargers and wires it is possible to use some within others. This could help with losing specific wires for one console and replacing it with another of a compatible type.Display for games
Display for a games console is very important as it is what shows and gives the game the visual prospect to it. The main consoles for house hold living are usually needed by a external monitor however some game consoles such as the portable consoles e.g PSP and Nintendo DS are bought with a built in display on a screen removing the need of a portable screen as it is built in one. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/XBox_and_TV_setup_with_linux_running.JPG
An example of a home console requiring a TV in order to display the games.http://www.playstationdirect.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Psp1000.jpg
This is a example of a hand held console displaying a game on the console itself making the display being built in.The quality of the display of the games depends on the consoles themselves as times have past the quality of the games display has improved compared to the graphics of lets say the 1990's consoles.
http://www.emuparadise.me/fup/up/52800-Spyro_the_Dragon_(E)-2.jpg
A picture displaying the gameplay from a 1990's consolehttp://www.ps3informer.com/playstation-3/images/un-t.jpg
Display from a more modern console and as you can tell by the difference in graphics that the new much modern console has had a bigger leap into detail and display of the game.The final part to include in the display is if the game has hd compatability or not as HD means high definition it also shows a bigger difference to the game play compared to the normal TV detail. http://www.gamersyde.com/news_stranger_s_wrath_s_enhanced_graphics-10349.jpg
The object on the left is the image of a creature without HD detail however the one on the right is the detail of the creature with a HD on and available showing much better pictures and detail to the creatures and the characters with HD capabilities.Processor
Each game platform has a different processor so that they can allow different tasks. Processors allow the user to do specific codes on a program such as copy and paste on word or create and delete text which allows letters or work to be created as for gaming it is used so that commands can be entered so that the character the player is controlling can respond to those commands.http://www.baycongroup.com/word2007/images/01_Word2007Screen.gif
This picture shows the different types of commands that word gives to the user.Graphics processors are very important in game consoles and especially computers as their are either built in or can be changed. there are many different types of graphics processors been 2D or 3D such as the Xbox 360 using a 3d graphics processor whilst a game boy would use a 2D graphics processor. http://benchmarkreviews.com/images/reviews/games/Overlord/2007-07-08-21-11-59-34.jpg
This is a example of a 3d game play which would be used by a 3d graphics processor.http://videogamecritic.net/images/gba/castlevania__aria_of_sorrow.jpg
This shows a 2D game that would be used using a 2D graphics processor.Memory
Memory is needed on a games console to be used in order to cope with the game consoles graphics, sound , connectivity and processors. memory is also used in order to save the games on which you have the consoles on however some games consoles have a built in memory card to save games whilst others will need a memory card to be bought for them. http://uk.playstation.com/media/252644/Main_PS3_Image_345w.png
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/PS2-Versions.png/250px-PS2-Versions.png
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/PS2_Memory_Card.png
This shows the PS3 with no sign of a memory card slot whilst the PS2 has a small slot where this memory card is sued in order to save games and settings for the PS2 onto the console so there is no need for restarting all the time.Sound part 2
Sound is crucially needed for game play as it is used for hearing events or adding entertainment to the game to help emerge into the environment the character is in. Sound can be used in many different ways as the console has different ways of inputting and outputting sound and if they are built in or monitored or even stereo sounds. a good example of a games console with a built in sound device would be the hand held consoles such as the Nintendo DS as they need to emerge the player into the environment whilst moving elsewhere. http://www.consolesandgadgets.co.uk/catalog/images/DS_Lite_Console_Repair_2.jpg
This is a Nintendo ds which uses built in sound which is displayed on the top screen by the small holes in the console to output the sound.Stereo sound is where the game is played however the sound is outputted by a monitor/tv or a speaker of some sort. A good example of this would be a Xbox 360 as they cannot produce any game sounds on its own http://images.esellerpro.com/2347/I/135/45/401006b.jpg
Here is a Xbox 360 plugged into a surround sound on which the sound output could be placed anywhere in order to give the player a better feel of the game.Connectivity
Connectivity is important with the games consoles if you wish to go online on the game or connecting the console up together so it is playable. This is important because if the console is not easy to connect it can mean you pay for the console and not use it since u wont be able to connect it together. some consoles have manuals to help connect the console together however others such as the PC do not have one and prefer a more colour coordinated approach to connecting the console together. http://jontrosky.com/images/back_of_pc.jpg
This is the back of a PC notice how there is a colour coordination on some of the plugs. http://reviews.cnet.com/sc/31355103-2-440-back-4.gif
The back of a ps3 as it shows few plugs to connect at the front to help the user have less confusion when setting up the play station 3.Internet/online play
Another use of connectivity is the internet and how it is connected to the internet. With the Nintendo Wii it has built in wireless for connection to the internet whilst the Xbox 360 has a internet cable for free and you must pay £60 for the wireless adapter. This can also be a bad idea if you want free internet as the Xbox 360 has a fee on using the internet. The Playstation 3 has free internet and wireless connection however it is also able to use Ethernet cables for the connection to the internet if the internet contains no wireless and the free internet making it a good choice if you want a games console for internet gaming and although the Xbox 360 has better speed it does cost to have the speed of the gaming on that console. The PC has the best connectivity for the games as the PC was built for internet purposes and also using applications however the graphics card on the PC will determine the full play ability of the games on the PC itself whilst games consoles have built in graphics that cannot be changed but will be good.http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/116NAQ8M3ZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Here is a picture of a Xbox 360 wireless adapter that would be used in order to play online if you had to sue wireless connections.Arcade machine dance step remix machines
Dance step machines allow the player to merge themselves into an environment where they dance using the arrow buttons below in order to complete the dance to the song allowing motion of the player into a way of dancing to a song.
Advantages
Allows the player to emerge themselves into a dance environment by clearly showing the controls and the commands on the arcade machine. You can use your feet hitting the buttons rather than a controller as a real dancer would dance using their feet as well.
Very strong and sturdy since people would be standing on the mat and reacting to the game plays fast speed. Allows the players within the same arcade to compete against each other and display your best score on that machine.
The recording of the game shows that you will have a score board on the machine in order to show that you are skilled enough to be in the top ten on that machine.
Disadvantages
Very expensive to buy. Has to be very sturdy otherwise it will break easily and they are not easy to repair. If the arcade shuts you cannot save your progress on your game and will have to stop. The record of your score is limited to the leader board on the game so if u doesn’t hit the leader board your score won’t show there and if the memory is reset your score is lost.
If you run out of money it is game over and you are not able to play the game until you get more money and also if you are going to have to change a lot of options within the game as well as the price on the dance machine label. You cannot take an arcade machine home and even if you could they will take up a lot of space and is very noisy.
Issue is that if there are multiple people wanting to play that specific arcade game you will have to queue up in order to play the arcade game which could take a lot of time depending on the people playing the arcade game especially in shooter arcades as they will want to finish the game or get game over before they allow another to play on it unless they are playing with another.
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