Article 15 - Games on Computers

Games on Computers

Games often require more computing power than other applications, and also have more stringent requirements, in the form of a graphics card in particular. As a result, a computer which will be used to play games needs to be more powerful than the average machine. Before buying a game, it is as well to read the (often very) small print on the box which specifies the requirements for the game in question.

It is also the case that the computer nerds who develop the games are some of the real techies in the industry, and they get a thrill from extracting the maximum out of the machine and using sometimes little known facilities in the basic hardware and software. Sometimes, they use undocumented "features" which turn out to be "bugs" which are later corrected, with the result that the game no longer works!

I have had a few cases recently where a computer has frozen while playing a game. In all cases the problem was with the game rather than with the computer, and the problem was solved by downloading updates (sometimes large updates) for the game. Should you get such a problem, it is worth checking the web site for the maker of the game to see if there are similar reported problems.

I know of people who do not allow games on their computers – using a separate piece of equipment (not always a PC) for games. For those who do not have this possibility:

If a game fails / hangs, then check the website of the manufacturer of the game.
If the game does not install properly, of does not run, then check the system requirements for the game. If this does not help, then try the website of the manufacturer of the game.

There is a growing trend toward buying laptop computers rather than the bulkier desktops. Laptops are still primarily designed as business computers, able to do word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, NOT to play computer games. Laptops will always lag behind desktops in graphics capability and sound quality because of space limitations, and as a result will be far less capable for using to play computer games.

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