Fun ActivitiesGaming

Being able to play high-quality video games in the privacy of your own home is a marvel of the modern era. While those of us who have reached a certain age wax nostalgic for the days of going to the arcade to play Pac Man* and Galaga*, we also like the fact that we don't need a pocketful of quarters anymore to play. And let's face it-the games you can buy for both computers and game consoles are far better than the old arcade standbys.

Playing Games on Your Computer

Buying games for your computer has one obvious advantage over a game console-you don't need to buy a new machine. For those of us who often travel with laptop computers, playing games is often a great way to spend the boring hours stuck in an airport. Check out our article Playing Games on Your PC to learn how to make sure your computer will play the games you want. Here are a few other things to consider:

• Computer games are a Windows* world. The majority of computer games are made for the Microsoft Windows* operating system . That means that if you have a Macintosh* computer, you may want to consider a game console instead, or consider running Windows on your Mac* using the Boot Camp feature of Mac OS X*. The Apple Web site has details at Boot Camp.
• Get the controllers you need. All right, maybe you don't need them, strictly speaking, but they're cool, so if you think controllers might enhance your games it's worth seeing what's available at your favorite electronics store. You'll find everything from musical instruments to steering wheel controllers.
• Most computer games aren't made for multiple players in the same room. Multiplayer computer games are typically made to be played with multiple computers over the Internet or a network. See our article Getting Started with Multiplayer Online Gaming for more information about Internet-based computer gaming.

Choosing Specialized Game Consoles

Game consoles accommodate usually up to four people for gaming together on the same television screen. Wikipedia's list of video game consoles gives a pretty complete reckoning of the game consoles that are available today, as well as an interesting history of how they have changed over the years. Here are a few other things to consider:

• Different games are available for consoles than computers. Most game companies make games for either computers or consoles, but not both, so there's not much crossover between the two. While many games are available for several different consoles, others are limited to certain ones. Popular examples include the Halo* series for the Microsoft Xbox* and the Mario* games for Nintendo consoles.
• Console games are widely available for rental. Unlike computer games, most video-rental stores and by-mail services have a selection of console games available for rental. This is a low-cost way to try a game before you buy it or to get more variety in your games. Note that trial versions of many computer games are available from the company's Web site, and many game shops also provide trade-in services for both console and computer games.
• Consoles don't do most other computer tasks. Game consoles are specialized for games, and they can't do most of the things a computer can, like word processing, e-mail, and so on (although some now come with built-in Web browsers). Many people find that if they have a console, they will still want a computer for other purposes. On the other hand, a game console traditionally costs less than the average computer.

Handheld Game Machines

Another choice for gaming, handheld game consoles are made by many of the same companies that make the regular game consoles we just talked about. The difference is that handheld game machines are self-contained and designed to be taken with you. Their small size makes them well suited for kids to use on long trips or while their parents linger over dinner at a nice restaurant. Wikipedia offers a comprehensive comparison of handheld game consoles.