Free Online Multiplayer Games - Articles & News

(NBC) - A lot of children received video games for Christmas, and what games your kids play could affect the way he or she approaches school work or other tasks.

In a lab at Wheaton College, it may seem like fun and games, but in reality, playing popular video games is being done in the name of science.

"What I'm showing here is more short-term effects, after you play a video game for an hour or so what happens immediately afterwards," researcher Rolf Nelson said.

For his research, psychology professor Rolf Nelson recruited 40 students. Half played a fast-paced video game like Medal of Honor for an hour.

"Just going around and avoiding getting killed, shoot as many people as you can," Nelson said. (a>)

No, it isn't Ms. Manners to the rescue, nor is it Polite Polly knocking at your noggin. We just know how easy it is to get frustrated or even angry while playing online multiplayer games, but if we're not careful, that anger and frustration could lead to some butt-ugly moments during a time that's supposed to be amusing. The following is offered in an effort to keep everything fun and entertaining during a session of group play.

1. Encourage each other. Even if you're competing with each other in a boxing match or car race, take time out to congratulate another player for making a smooth or cunning move. There's no need to be a kiss-up, but when tensions are high, and the desire to impress is high, you can help relax any stress just by throwing out a few compliments here and there.

2. Be patient. Your gaming comrades may not be as fast, as coordinated, or as smart as you. So when you notice your regular game pace slowing down, don't criticize. You could quietly plan your next move or you could offer to help if you notice that your buddies seem lost. This will encourage cooperation and relive some of the stress involved with playing a difficult game.

3. Take some breaks. Permitting that your group finds appropriate places in a game to pause, take advantage and get up to stretch, snack, use the john, talk about school, or catch a few silly commercials on television. A long stretch of game play is tiring and stressful at the same time.

4. Play an inclusive game. By that we mean to make efforts to ensure everyone in the group contributes to the game's completion. You never want to make another person feel left out or just hanging around to fill the space. Create opportunities for everyone involved to participate and help when playing online multiplayer games.

5. Listen to others. You may think that you know all the answers about a game or game system, but listen to what others in the group have to say. You just might learn something new.

6. Invite the "weird guy." This bit of advice of course comes after the horrid Virginia Tech massacre. Tales circulating this news event indicate that the young man responsible was a loner and the victim of bullying during his teenage years as well. Sometimes, all it takes to prevent things like this is a simple effort to reach out to someone. We're not suggesting that an invitation to a gaming party would have saved the lives of 33+ college students, but we are suggesting that making an effort to make others feel welcome and wanted is a huge step towards eliminating the isolation known to cause these kinds of senseless acts.

7. Vow to keep the voice level and cursing to a minimum. That almost goes without saying, but to prevent arguments, agree beforehand to not cross the line when it comes to debating about a particular strategy or selecting a game to play. Some of the most serious fights stem from the silliest arguments. But you can prevent a flare up within your group just by maintaining a cool composure during the entire session.

Now see? That's not too bad a list. All the things that we suggested are certainly 'do-able" and they really do work to create a calm and enjoyable environment while playing online multiplayer games.

Copyright: Adrian Michael

The video game industry last month saw its usual holiday bounty replaced with a lump of coal.

Sales of video games and consoles fell 7.6% in November from the same month in 2008, despite the blockbuster release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which sold a whopping 6 million copies in the U.S. alone, according to figures released Thursday by NPD Group Inc.

The game industry sold $2.7 billion of consoles and games in the U.S. last month, down from $2.9 billion a year earlier, according to NPD estimates. From January through November, sales of $14.1 billion were down 12% from the same period last year.

For the industry sales to equal last year's, December sales would have to rise 36%, a feat experts consider unlikely.

Doing so "seems even more out of reach," said Anita Frazier, NPD's toys and games analyst.

The picture would have looked much worse last month were it not for Modern Warfare 2, which accounted for roughly $360 million in U.S. sales, or more than 25% of all game sales. (More...)

With more than 1,500 video games released each year, it can be tough to know which ones are worth buying. And so every year at this time, as we head into the holiday gift-giving season, we list our top picks of the year.
The following extraordinary games, each of which cost $59.99 unless otherwise specified, are divided by genre for your convenience. If you're buying a game as a gift, also be sure to read the recommended age rating in the corner of the box, provided by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

These are the best games of the year rated "T" for Teen (13 and older) and "M" for Mature (17 and older). (More...)

Amazon has released its lists of the most wished-for video games in the USA, United Kingdom, France and Germany as Christmas shopping begins in earnest. Among them, New Super Mario Bros Wii, Wii Fit Plus, Wii Sports Resort, and Modern Warfare 2 featured in all territories' lists.

Top of the pile are Wii Fit Plus and Modern Warfare 2. Wii Fit Plus appears on each list in its "game only" format, and the version bundled with a balance board accessory (available since the release of the first Wii Fit) also charts in each country bar Germany.

The allure of Modern Warfare 2 tells a similar tale, charting at least once in all territories, and being most wanted on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the UK, Germany, and the USA.

Other games doing well are Assassin's Creed II for 360 and PS3, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Professor Layton and Pandora's Box on Nintendo DS, and both Wii Sports Resort and Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games for Nintendo Wii.

In terms of hardware, the Nintendo Wii charted in both its black and white iterations in France and Germany, and with the original white version in the USA, whilst the PlayStation 3 also made a showing in Germany and the USA.

Presumably most people who want an Xbox 360 already have one - it was released a year before the PlayStation 3 and Wii, and has managed to remain lower priced than its two competitors for most of its life cycle, though the PlayStation 3 has enjoyed increased interest since a recent re-design and price cut, whilst Nintendo's Wii has also had hardware and design tweaks in the last few months. (More...)

The video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is blasting its way into entertainment history. After hauling in the biggest-ever first-day sales total last week, the game continues to break records.

Activision Blizzard Inc., which released the game on November 10, said the latest game in its Call of Duty franchise made $US550 million ($591.2 million) in worldwide sales during its first five days.

That would put it over the $US500 million ($537.5 million) record set last year by Grand Theft Auto IV, from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (more...)

ORLANDO -- People who play active video games such as Wii Sports or Wii Fit may actually be breaking a sweat: researchers here say some provide the equivalent of a moderate-intensity workout.

Gamers expended energy equal to walking on a treadmill at three miles an hour or more (3 metabolic equivalents, or METs) during a third of the games tested in a Nintendo-funded study led by Motohiko Miyachi, PhD, of the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Tokyo.

Nintendo makes the Wii game system, which became a surprise hit on the strength of its simple but active sport simulations and exercise programs. The results of the study were unveiled at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association.
(More...)

By SETH SCHIESEL
Published: November 15, 2009

Here's a warning that I hope will prevent a lot of frustration: Unless you are a serious console gamer with skills honed over years of play, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is probably not the game you think it is.

Despite the adorable, world-famous Mario and Luigi, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is nothing close to a casual party game. Despite its cartoony presentation, it will drive many children into a tantrum or a sulk.

Instead it is an extremely demanding, well-honed test of reflexes and coordination. Like the arcade and hard-core console games of the 1980s and '90s New Super Mario Bros. Wii does not coddle the player. Like those games of yore it is best played alone in intense concentration. It can feel diabolical and punishing at times. Much of the game requires meticulous practice. As you complete each segment, you will feel as if you have truly earned your bragging rights. (More...)

Online multiplayer games are very appealing to people of all ages. One of the biggest considerations though when buying a gaming console and games for it is the cost. The various gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Wii, Xbox-360 Elite and Sony Playstation can cost hundreds of dollars. In addition, you will have to invest about $50 per game if you buy new video games.

With online video gaming though you don't have to pay for any of that initially. A lot of the games can be accessed online and most sites will let you play them free of charge for about one hour. This way, you get to experience the game first hand before deciding on purchasing it. Of course to get the most enjoyment out of this option you need to have a high speed internet connection. You also need to have a good graphics card and speakers so you can hear the sound.

You have several different options when it comes to online video gaming. You can play against the computer, play against a friend, and even play against other people that you have never met with online multiplayer games. Today, the quality of online video game graphics is superb and getting better each day. To appreciate the quality of graphics and the execution of the game you will need a fast connection or you will find it to be very disappointing.

Some people find it annoying to use the keyboard and mouse for playing video games though. This can easily be resolved though by getting various accessories. There are controllers, joysticks and other accessories which you can attach to your computer in order to enjoy the various online video games. They can be purchased anywhere you find video games or online.

Some manufacturers of gaming consoles and video games don't always offer the newest games for free online though. They want people to go out and buy them due to the cost involved in researching the concepts and creating them. If you must try out the newest video games when they come out you will find online video gaming to be disappointing.

For those that are willing to accept what is offered though you will find plenty of selection to choose from. There are old favorites to be found from decades ago that you may remember. There are also newer ones that you may not be familiar with. You can easily access the rules for these games though so you will be able to play them with no trouble at all.

So, go ahead and experience the world of free online multiplayer games. You might even become good at it.

Author: A. Michael

With video game technology advancing so fast and so far from where it started, one can't help but to entertain the idea of where it's going to go from here. After all, that is part of a larger creative process and we'd like to think that our writings contribute even in some small way. One of the earliest video games that we can remember is Commodore's "Pong." But never did we think the industry would have reached the point where it is today. One thing is for sure however, and that's the gaming is pushing full force ahead.

Today we did a little fantasizing to see where our imagination and desires would take us. The following offers some suggestions of what could be done short of a little thing called, "impossible."

We're a little intrigued with the "Sun Game Glasses" idea. Wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and using the technology implemented by Nintendo's "Wii" system, we could literally watch a game take place right before our eyes and then interact with it using a device that's about the size of a pen. Since this isn't exactly a new idea, we're curious to watch what develops from University of South Australia's 'ARQuake' project1 - a springboard for this kind of gaming to develop in the near future for sure.

Another cool idea we'd like to see erupt within the gaming industry is the ability to talk to the characters inside a game. Some games allow players to textually speak to game characters already, but we'd like to see this pushed a little further. We'd like to be able to orally interact with characters: ask questions, joke around, warn and speak to them as if we were speaking to another human being. And we'd like to hear these characters talk back! It's the ultimate artificial intelligence opportunity and although it would probably be years before this technology would be available on a wide scale, we're sure it would be a hit.

Will we ever get to the point where we can play inside a simulated environment the way the characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation could play? Virtual reality is getting close, but the reality of the simulation is gone the moment we put on the silly-looking goggles and gloves. In order for simulation of this sort to work, there has to be as little a barrier between gamers and the game as possible. We don't what to just think we're inside a game, we want to feel that we're inside a game and to be honest, we don't want to have to go somewhere outside our home to do so.

The television or computer screen will suffice for now, but in the future, we're going to want to be surrounded with the elements that make gaming the wonder that it is today. We're going to want to transform our dens or bedrooms into a virtual alien ship or simulated jungle. In short, we want a new world.

One possible obstacle to bringing this fantasy into our living rooms is public acceptance. Would the public be ready for such a high level of entertainment? And could the public handle it? Immediately following Nintendo's Wii release, customers were ready to complain that they wanted their old controller back! So as with any new development, there will surely be unintended consequences and although we're gung-ho for these types of advances, we also share concerns about the impact it would have on an audience that isn't 'virtually ready." As a result, we can certainly envision a few laws introduced that restricted the use of our fantasy gaming.

Author: David Aitken

Who would have ever thought that a form of entertainment - video games - could improve the minds of those that play them.

Today, in existence there are thousands of free online multiplayer games that one can download and/or play with new ones being added each day. The truth is that amid all the cool graphics, the fantastic music, and the intriguing plots, educational opportunities are abound - and to find them, one only needs to look at them a little closer.

Video games improve problem solving. Although the same could be said about any game, video games have proven in study after study to improve problem-solving skills. This is because most (if not all) games are centered around a problem and then challenge the player to solve it. In just one game, a player may solve anywhere from three to a hundred or more different problems.

They also improve strategic thinking. Rare is the video game that doesn't require its player to make a decision two or three steps ahead of a current situation. With constant play, players quickly learn the advantage of strategic thinking and they start to apply it to actual world opportunities.

They improve hand and eye coordination. If you find this hard to believe, pick up a game controller and try to maneuver around the game. Manipulating a game controller demands the same skills that it takes to maneuver a mouse around a computer screen. And, there isn't a lack of challenging video games.

Video games feed the imagination. The imagery in video games only fuels the imagination and gives it a spring board to form new possibilities that might not have occurred otherwise.

They promote quick decision-making. One quality of video games that lends to quick decision making is its impromptu situations. The element of surprise is always around the corner and it's what makes games exciting to play. To win however, players must be able to make smart decisions within a very short amount of time.

Video games encourage exploration. In role-playing games, players must venture off the beaten path and explore the unknown. They have to open doors without knowing what's behind them. They have to enter areas of the game without knowing the consequence. And they have to interact with characters that they've never met before. Inside these particular kinds of games, the opportunity to gather up the courage to explorer unknown territory isn't just available, it's required.

They also enforce memorization. Another feature of video games is the strong influence on memorization. The terrain portrayed inside some of these games is huge, yet accessing the maps can be cumbersome and disruptive to the game. To compensate, gamers will not only memorize a large portion of the terrain, they'll remember the tasks required to get to specific areas.

Video games can also teach consequence. All computer and video games operate off of an "action - reaction" principle. Do something, and the game will react. This is a great opportunity to learn about consequence - whether this opportunity is experienced from a gamer's point of view or a programmer's point of view.

Many of these games teach patience, dedication, and endurance. No great game can be conquered in a day. In fact, some of the best and most popular games take weeks or months to finish.

These are just some of the educational opportunities hidden inside video and computer games. While these opportunities may exist, they should not be a substitute for other forms of entertainment and physical activity. Sure you can find fun and amazement with free online multiplayer games as long as good judgment and supervision are exercised where applicable.

2009 Copyright - David Aitken

(CBS) The Saw film series just released its sixth film in the franchise and what self respecting franchise wouldn't cash in on a video game tie in. While I thought the first movie was good the following sequels got progressively worse. So when I popped in the Saw video game I wasn't sure what to expect; the originality of the first one or the graphic mess the series has turned in to.

Saw follows detective David Tapp (Danny Glover's character) from the first Saw movie. He is still in a mad hunt to find "the Jigsaw Killer" since his partner Detective Steven Sing had half his head (More...)

One of KC Phillips's favorite video games is the Xbox shoot-'em-up Halo, because, he says, his dad taught him how to play it when he was younger.

"Now every single time I play video games, I really think about how the designers built it and what mechanics went into it," he said.

KC is one of a growing number of children who are playing educational video games as part of their school curriculum, in after-school programs or via the Web from home. After years of watching technology transform the way children play, socialize and learn, a range of academics, foundations and now start-ups are working on games that will put the passion children have for the genre to good use. (More...)

Rule of game design No. 5: Loot is a powerful motivator.

You doubt? Leaping up the loot ladder is the prime motivator of World of Warcraft, gamedom's reigning MMO (massively multiplayer online) king, and it also drives the Diablo series, a role-playing click fest people are still tooling around with more than a decade after its release.

And the quest for better loot - as in bigger guns, powerful shields and things that go boom and light enemies afire - is also the engine that drives the action in Borderlands, a first-person shooter/role-playing game set in one of the worst places you'd ever want to visit. (More...)

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Xfire, the leading online gamer
community with 14.5M users, today announced the launch of the Xfire Game Store
-- the first social-shopping game store. Social interactions on the Xfire
network serve not only to empower gamers to discover, share, and play games
but also to influence them to buy games their friends play.

For the first time, gamers will discover and purchase games based on various
forms of social interactions with their friends on the Xfire site, such as:

-- Reading in the Activity Report about new games their friends have recently purchased and are playing for the first time,
-- Visiting Xfire Communities and Forums to see who among their peers have purchased and played new games,
-- Watching Live Video Broadcasts of gameplay by friends, gamer celebrities and game developers, and
-- Viewing gamer profiles, including game hours and purchases, on the Xfire application and website. (More...)

The backing is a victory for the Japanese company and the rest of the video games industry, which has been frequently attacked by the Government for encouraging a sedentary lifestyle, and accused of playing a role in the obesity epidemic.

However, the endorsement will raise eyebrows among critics of the Department for Health, as Nintendo has agreed to use its own money to promote the NHS Change4Life programme.

The Daily Telegraph understands that the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus, which goes on sale this Friday, has won permission to use the NHS's Change4Life logo in its advertising on television and in shops. From next year, it is possible that the logo will be used on the product itself, an unprecedented partnership between a video game and the Government. (More...)

Wii Fit attracted millions of new players to the world of video games. Now Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements to help players reinvigorate their workouts, along with exercises and balance games designed to keep them fun. Players will find a new dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized workout routines or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available. Users will also be able to choose from specialized workout routines that focus on an individual's personal fitness goals or certain target areas. And with the addition of activities like Skateboarding and Rhythm Kung Fu, players will be using the Wii Balance Board%u2122 accessory in a variety of new and fun ways. Get Your Nintendo Wii Console with Wii Fit Bundle...

AMES, Iowa, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- High-volume action video game players -- those who play about 40 hours a week -- had more difficulty keeping focused on longer tasks, U.S. researchers say.

The study, published online in the journal Psychophysiology, also supports research published within the last year linking video game-playing addiction to attention deficit disorder.

Rob West, an associate professor of psychology Iowa State University, and Kira Bailey, psychology graduate student, recorded the electrical activity in the brains of 51 Iowa State undergraduate men ages 18-33 while they took completed an attention-measuring task (more...)

If you happen to be a metalhead and/or a huge Jack Black fan, and you own an Xbox 360 or PS3, you should probably already have played Brütal Legend. Seriously, if any of that applies to you, just stop reading, go out and rent it. Nothing I say from here on will really matter. If you're like me and you think Jack Black is pretty ok, and you're down with metal (when it's played at a bar, randomly) let me tell you how much you need to play this (more)

PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe (from Sony Computer Entertainment America, reviewed for the PlayStation Portable, $19.99) - A fantastic tower defense game has been upgraded from its PlayStation 3 roots to become the ultimate downloadable edition for Sony's handheld system.

The highly addictive challenge includes the two previous PixelJunk games and another map that is broken up within three islands and almost 50 levels.

The action requires a player direct a tiki-style doll figure to build defensive structures along paths to automatically shoot and destroy enemies that pass by. (more...)

By Dan Gallagher

Sales of video-game software have been on the decline for six consecutive months, but analysts expect a return to positive growth when sales data for September are reported Thursday afternoon.

U.S. game sales in the month of September will be released late in the day Thursday by the NPD Group. On average, analysts are expecting software sales to grow about 15% compared with the same period last year, according to a tally of forecasts by MarketWatch.

Game sales have been showing declines for the last six months, as the slumping economy and tough comparisons have made the current year a difficult one for the industry.

By the end of August, total industry sales were (more...)

Money. The stuff that makes the world go round. Every day we earn it, spend it, exchange it and lose it. But you won't find any Linden dollars, Eve ISK or Facebook credits down the back of the couch.

Massively multiplayer online games have long featured complex virtual economies where players can purchase items and skills for their avatars. In Second Life, US dollars can be converted into Linden dollars and vice versa through channels in the virtual environment. Eve Online, however, operates a closed system: ISK brought by the player can only be used in the virtual environment, and conversion into real-world currency is prohibited. (more...)

The November 2005 launch of the Xbox 360 marked not only the beginning of a new cycle of video game hardware, it also launched a new era in video game pricing.

Titles, which before had been firmly locked at a $50 price point, jumped to $60. And despite some initial grumbling by consumers, they sold faster than ever. Publishers were thrilled - and their investors were even happier.

Fast-forward four years: The effects of the recession continue to be felt and sales have been trending negatively for the past six months. And some industry observers are beginning to wonder if the time has come to rethink software pricing. (more)

Nintendo of America's president and chief operating officer, Reggie Fils-Aime, says that when he talks to groups, he tries to make a habit of asking one question: How many of you have played a video game?

When he started at Nintendo, years ago, only about a third of adults raised their hands. Now that ratio has flipped in the other direction. In Washington last week, Fils-Aime said that only about a fifth of the people he encounters these days say they've never picked up a game controller. (more)

The video game industry is poised to make a rebound, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. The analyst also predicted that it will be Sony's PlayStation 3, and not the Nintendo Wii, that will lead console sales for the month, when NPD releases figures next week.

The PlayStation 3 Slim is helping spur console sales.

(Credit: Sony "After six consecutive months of double-digit declines, we expect a return to double-digit sales growth (on video game software)," Pachter wrote to clients. "We forecast sales of $750 million, up 21 percent, compared to last year's $618 million."

It's a good sign that after months of decline, the video game industry is finally rebounding. That said, overall sales are still far behind 2008 figures. (More...)