Author: admin

There once was a time when RTS games were archaic and simple, which was not that long ago to be quite frank, but things have changed quite dramatically in a very short time. Real time strategy video games for your PC are starting to move up in quality allowing the players to wage all out war on the web with large scale battlefields and impressive graphics. Of course, some games are better than others, but there is a new one called Supreme Commander that is a level above the rest.

When it was released on February 20th, 2007 by Gas Powered Games, Supreme Commander was received with great expectations. The long-awaited release has finally arrived and it has proven that this RTS video game is everything it was promised to be and more. Players can engage in multiple land, air and sea battles at the same time as they transport troops via large aircraft, send devastating air attacks with bombers, descend upon their enemies with tank divisions or even wipe out an enemy position with a nuclear weapon.

Just a decade ago RTS games were still in their infancy. The internet was something that could only be accessed via relatively slow telephone lines. Real time interaction was slow and primitive. Early games just did not have the benefit of advanced technology such as fast computers and broadband internet connections.

Although early RTS video games were fun, they were not very impressive in terms of style. Technology just could not keep up with the creative concepts of the designers of these games. The earnest players of these early games did not mind though, because they were just happy to step out of the pre-determined format of Playstation, Nintendo, and Xbox games.

In the beginning RTS games offered a new format where you could actually be part of the game as well as the process of the outcome. Gamers were just glad to be doing something new, different and challenging. After all, these were games that you could access on the internet and do battle with people from all over the world! That alone was impressive for the time.

Until recently, RTS video games were more about doing battle with economics and tactics than they were about using complex strategies to wage war on a large scale. Supreme Commander is a whole different story for it gives PC game players a game with incredibly large scale battlefields.

While it is set in the far-away future, Supreme Commander uses modern warfare tactics and strategies to wage war. There are three factions of humans left and they are all fighting for something different. The United Earth Federation believes in order and empire, the cybernetic Cybran group is fighting for independence and the alien-enlightened Aeon group is seeking to liberate the Universe.

In the past, bigger is better has not always been the idea in mind for the developers of RTS video games. But that has changed now that technology has improved greatly.

Supreme Commander embraces the idea of vastness like a Park Ranger in Alaska. There are large scale battlefields that average 20km x 20km in size, and some that are an incredibly large size of 81km x 81km!

This game does offer somewhat complex strategy possibilities, but it is first and foremost about scale. Players can devise plans that involve creating large armies that can fight simultaneously across huge areas. While it is mostly about size, the challenging gameplay has a variety of victory scenarios along with exhilarating multi-player action that plays out like a Monopoly game with lethal weapons.

With all the recent publicity that Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 have received regarding their impressive new technological advances, it is good to see that real time strategy video games on the web are keeping pace with them. While some games are better than others Supreme Commander is at the top of the list. The large scale battlefields this game offers is quite impressive as it allows the players to wage all out war with multiple armies at the same time.

Size is the most impressive aspect, but it also offers complex gameplay with multiple scenarios for victory. Also, the fast pace in which the action plays out will challenge even the most adept cyber warriors.

Many kids across the country are enthralled with their new video games that they received as Christmas presents from family and friends. These children need very little instruction to help them get started playing fun and exciting video games that focus on sports events, fantasy thrillers and cartoon characters to provide hours of uninterrupted entertainment opportunities.

Some of these video games can be used on home computer systems but for the most part, these video games are operated on handheld game consoles, multimedia consoles or multimedia platforms. There are a variety of handheld controllers that are attached to the gaming consoles using cords or are powered with wireless networking technologies that allow children to play a video game from anywhere in the room.

The Xbox 360 multimedia platform is one of the latest operating systems for playing video games on. It features a game playing environment that allows the user to rotate their viewpoint in a 360 degree radius, and the visual aspects in each video game is very realistic for even the most seasoned of video game players.

Some video games are compatible for use on other gaming systems. The Nintendo Wii game system will play single or double-layered optical discs or 8-centimeter Nintendo GameCube video games too. The Game Boy Micro will play all video games that are made for the Game Boy Advance SP models.

The Nintendo DS has the capability to allow up to 16 players to network together and enjoy the same video game action and chat with each other as they enjoy their video games. The Nintendo DS will also play all games currently used by the Game Boy Advance and those made specifically for the Nintendo DS game system.

The Sony PlayStation Portable is commonly called a PSP by video gamers all over the world. This handheld video game system serves double duty as a video game player and one that will serve as a portable video and photo viewer. MP3-encoded songs can also be played when they are stored on the Memory Stick Duo that comes with all game consoles.

The Xbox features unbelievable graphics and an amazingly powerful hard drive system that some people compare to the hard drives found in their own personal computer systems that they have at home. Many of the XBOX video games are suitably rated for Teen and Mature audiences, and some of them may contain very graphic violence and adult themes that are not suitable for viewing by children.

The Xbox can be used as a home entertainment system too. The Xbox is well equipped to play many musical compact disks that are sold at major retailers around the country with brilliant sound qualities that might be found in more expensive home entertainment systems. The family can enjoy DVDs of their favorite movies and build a home library that is second to none.

Many of these game systems are equipped with wireless technologies and feature USB 2.0 connectivity. Video games can be played with surround sound features or through built-in speakers on many of the video gaming consoles. These video games will be shown in vivid digital screen colors and in sizes that are perfect for traveling, or for use by many players when attached to a home television unit.

If you’re looking for some fun games to kill time with, then you should consider some of the following.

Sonic the Hedgehog is a classic game that almost all gamers have encountered at some point, in one of its many incarnations. It first appeared on the Mega Drive system, and has had dozens of installments. The games feature a speedy blue hedgehog named Sonic who runs through the complex levels, collecting rings along the way. The games provide fast-paced fun with some challenging levels, and it is a fond memory for many gamers.

Raiden X is a popular game in the shmup genre, which is short for shoot-em-up. You control a supersonic attack fighter, and face oncoming waves of enemy ships. Raiden X’s levels are notorious for becoming increasingly complex, and filling the screen with deadly ships and bullets that require fast reflexes and pattern memorization to avoid. It’s a game that rewards skill and perseverance, and this has earned it a lot of fans.

The Metal Gear Solid games are perfect examples of how video games can be just as epic and ambitious as movies, if not more so. They defined the now-popular stealth genre, encouraging you to sneak around and hide rather than blast away at your enemies. Besides incorporating these new strategies and tactics, Metal Gear Solid also offers cinematic plots with complex and intriguing storylines. It covers government plots, wars, conspiracies, genetic engineering, the supernatural, and everything in between.

It may not have the fancy graphics or the big-name publisher, but Cave Story will provide you with as much fun as any other game. It is a cult classic among indie gamers. It was made in Japan, then translated once it gained a huge following. You play as a robot exploring a floating island, protecting the indigenous creatures from an evil doctor. It is a brilliantly designed game, with 2-dimensional firearm battles that are a challenge to even the most experienced gamer.

Psychonauts is an oft-overlooked game that got extremely positive reviews, but failed to sell very well. You play as the child Rasputin who is naturally gifted with psychic abilities. He sneaks into a summer camp to hone his abilities, and discovers a sinister conspiracy. The levels take place inside of the minds of the characters in the game, and the art design is brilliantly crafted to reflect their mental state. You use psychic abilities to navigate through the levels, which bring together elements of platforming and puzzle solving.

If you’re a fan of video games, you may have thought about video game design as a career. What may surprise you is that this career requires a set of skills far beyond a love of games and a knack for using computers and video gaming systems.

Developing video games is a cost and time intensive process that draws on a variety of skills and talents that may surprise you. In fact, most developers with successful games under their belts are artistic and have good writing skills as well as a solid background in computer programming and design. If you are considering a career in video game design, consider the many aspects of game design and think about which area you would excel at:

Game Concept Design

This is an early phase of the process and is done primarily by writers and game concept specialists. These are the individuals who create the parameters for the game such as the overall goal or objective, what type of skills will be used in the game, etc. If you’ve ever thought you had an awesome game idea or felt that you could have improved on a game you’ve played, you might want to go into game concept design.

Game play and rules also fall under the concept area. No video game can be played without particular guidelines and rules. These can be quite complex; designers who are good at understanding and applying a variety of regulations as well as developing new ones are in high demand. Creativity is also needed so that rules can be both interesting and rational within the parameters of the game.

Layout and 3D Modeling

If you enjoy photo manipulation, Computer Aided Drafting and Design and artwork, you may like working on layout and design. Some companies hire individuals strictly to do backgrounds or characters for games in order to give a game a particular style or ensure realism. This aspect of video game design is what can give a stellar game a distinctive look and feel that inspires a great fan following.

Object placement is a part of layout that is primarily associated with the proper placement of significant objects that may have special powers, provide a key to the next level or a game or reveal a key secret to advancement. Some larger companies have individuals who focus on this sub-category of game layout.

Scripting and Plot Development

The dialogue and actions of characters in complex video games can make or break the success of the game. Scripting is the part of video game design that develops the actual dialogue for characters and keeps the action moving forward. Awkward or unrealistic scripting can be a death sentence, so scripters are central to the design of the game. This is similar to writing the script for a movie or play, so writing skills and an understanding of dialogue and character are essential.

Proper plotting moves the story forward and, like scripting, relies heavily on understanding human nature, motives and character. A plot in a video game may be incidental to the action. However, some games are becoming increasingly plot driven, but it must make sense and follow a recognizable and interesting thread that will keep gamers interested.

New Degrees Combine Skills

Because video game design has taken off in recent years and is now a billion dollar industry, the need for good designers is increasing. In the past, a game design team might have included writers with liberal arts degrees, artists and computer programmers who had to pull it all together. Today there are many colleges and universities that offer specialized video game design degrees. These degrees are valuable because they cover the many skill sets needed for success in the business. These skills include scripting, 3D art, story development, content development and animation by combining elements of several different disciplines into one comprehensive degree focusing on the needs of the video game design industry.