A video game is simply a structured type of interactive play, normally undertaken for fun or entertainment, and in some cases used as an educational tool as well. Games are very different from work, which most commonly are carried out for recreation, and from fine art, that are more typically an expression of artistic or aesthetic thoughts. A game is intended to have minimal educational component, but to provide significant entertainment, and most games require the active participation of the participant. Most people are familiar with video games like Super Mario Brothers, Tetris, and others.
Computer games, also called computer games, are those which are played on personal computers and do not require the involvement of a human player. A large variety of computer games have been developed over the years, in a very great variety of genres, all of which are available from several different vendors. These computer games can be used leisurely by a single player, or in groups with several players taking turns. In many cases, computer games require knowledge of certain aspects of the theory of games, such as strategy, logic, etc., in order to effectively play the game.
Computer games are increasingly being used in educational situations. Games such as Pictionary, Scrabble, Sudoku, word search, crossword puzzles, and others, can be used in classrooms to help students practice writing and reading, as well as memory improvement and problem solving skills. The discovery of the game mechanics by the visiting team at the World Games in Melbourne, Australia in 1995, led to the development of computer-based games, in which players interact only through moving and clicking on their computer screen. Computer games have become the new “time-wasters,” allowing people to leisurely spend time in front of the television, rather than having to sit down and do the assignments required by their courses. As technology improves, we will likely see more educational applications of computer games, such as college-level courses, with students playing through a computer interface, or through a player interface, where they manipulate a game to work through assignments and learn the concepts and rules of the game.