A better understanding of the arcade and flash games

[sushma12]

A short overview of the history of arcade games and flash games will show that there is a huge connection between these two

types of games. Arcade games have a long history and, even though the arcade games were not in the past what we know them to

be today, the same concept is the main ingredient for the new ones as well. The arcade games are usually simple, have iconic

characters, a certain number of levels with increasing difficulty and they do not require high skills or much learning time.

In addition, they do not have deep storylines as most console games have in our days. Today's PC or console games with the

same qualities can be considered arcade games.

Starting from the early 1920's with the use of old 'arcade games' in the amusement parks (such as ball toss games,

coin-operated machines or pinball) this whole 'industry' has evolved immensely. This passion for arcade games motivated their

producers to always search for something better and more entertaining. They have outdone themselves every time something new

appeared on the market. From wood made machines and mechanical or electronic scoring readouts to the playing of games online,

all games have conquered the hearts of the ageless children. Because people enjoy these arcade games so much they want to

play them all the time. This is why they have not even completely left aside the coin-operated arcade games. They resort to

them in restaurants, shopping malls, bars or pubs. However, they are only a substitute to the computer versions because

playing games online is much better.

When speaking of flash games, we must take into consideration the fact that they are a more complex, more modern, even if

their ancestors are definitely arcade games. Flash games take their name from the platform used for their building - 'Flash',

a program made by Macromedia. This modern interactive platform named 'Flash' has three major components: the player, the file

format and the authoring tool. The main advantage of this program is that of being very easy to use. Because of this fact,

the games built with the help of the platform have more options than others do. For example, a house the player destroys will

burn down with different effects. In order to be more convinced of the high importance that this platform has for us when

playing a flash game we should know that it is usually necessary to download a free version of Macromedia Flash Player each

time one feels like playing free games online. Generally, you can download the latest version of 'Flash' from Macromedia.

That is if your browser gets errors relating to Flash.

If you simply like to play good games online without knowing the whole technique that stands behind graphics, too many

details about the designing of flash games are unnecessary. Flash games are all the games you play at home on your computer

and have the ending '.exe' (meaning 'executable'). As long as they make you enjoy the spare time spent at home, the flash

games will be your best friend. A favorite application can turn into a real sport because playing flash games stimulates

competition and trains reflexes. Web sites that host these kinds of activities and offer you free games give you the

opportunity of joining teams of players and of participating to mass championships online.

Today, flash games have come to incorporate the qualities of arcade games. Flash games have levels, characters and certain

plots, just as the old games did, only they are more advanced. Built on the same basic concept that stands behind the old

arcade games, flash games now present a bigger potential.  Therefore, a wider public uses them. At least one can be found in

any home and on any computer. They are short, usually easy to play and they have evolved the same way as arcade games - from

shorter to longer, from simple plots to more complex and contemporary ones. When playing flash games you will have to

accomplish a certain task. For arcade games, the idea is pretty much the same, meaning that you will have to solve a certain

problem.

Many of today's Internet web sites offer a large amount of games, which are very popular thanks to their interesting and

exciting plots, but also because of the fact that they are free games. Playing games online offers the player the chance to

meet and confront new people or people they already know. Several surveys have shown that people enjoy sites that have a

large offer of free games and that they would rather play flash games than do other things, considered more attractive in

general. Another conclusion was that adults are more likely to play flash games than teenagers are. This goes to show that

playing has no age and as long as the activity relaxes and makes people have fun it will always create an addiction. There is

a child in everyone expecting to have his share of free games online.

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[Ioshyriku]

+1 for all the info, and oh I miss the Arcade I was this summer