Video Games & Gear

A PSP is a portable device that can be used to play games, surf the Internet and listen to music. Learn how to put music on your PSP in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

The Nintendo 3DS is a hand-held gaming device that incorporates 3-D graphics without requiring special glasses. We've taken apart one to show you what's inside this game system.

By Jonathan Strickland

Animation just keeps getting more and more realistic, as emerging technology MotionScan demonstrates quite nicely. What's the deal with digitizing faces? And how lifelike do we really want our animated figures to be?

By Nathan Chandler

The Nintendo 3DS portable video game system lets you play in 3-D without having to wear special glasses. What makes this possible, and why won't it play all your old games in three dimensions?  

By Jonathan Strickland

Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360 has revolutionized the gaming experience, but it's also had some unexpected side benefits. Here are five ingenious ways that hackers have taken the Kinect to a whole new level.

By Holly Frey

Gamification is rapidly changing the way we interact with our world. Education, business and health are all becoming more gamified every single day. Odds are, you're participating in gamified systems without even knowing it.

By Stephanie Crawford

As efforts to create artificial intelligence become more sophisticated, humans like to test computers to see whether they can beat people at games of skill and chance. Can a computer win without cheating?

By Jonathan Strickland

With the recent release of the PlayStation Move, gamers have been weighing in on the pros and cons of this new device and how it compares with the Nintendo Wii. Let's take a look at what makes the Move unique.

By Wesley Fenlon

People find violent movies and video games entertaining, but over the years more people have become concerned with the notion that watching violence makes people less sensitive to it. Is there reason for concern?

By Jonathan Strickland

The Wii Balance Board for Nintendo's innovative game console tracks a user's weight and movements, letting the board act as a game controller. What's behind the board's technology, and how did sumo wrestlers serve as its inspiration?

By Jeremy Jacquot

The venerable role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons now has a very popular -- and free -- online version. What makes the computer game different, and more importantly, is it fun?

By Jonathan Strickland

Emotiv has a leg up on an intuitive interface for video games. For anyone who's ever fantasized about having the Force of Jedi Knighthood, the EPOC is a dream come true.

By Jane McGrath

Video games have become an incredibly popular -- and diverse -- pastime since their introduction. Explore the history of video game systems, from the Atari to the Xbox 360.

Video game designers need to have analytical knowledge as well as strong creative skills. How do you become a video game designer?

By Tim Crosby

Playing a video game nowadays is like entering another world, one with its own unique sights, sounds and realities. Game playing is also growing in frequency -- users spend up to four hours a day playing games. But how many players stop and think abo

By Tim Crosby

Musicians may thumb their noses at the skill it takes to strum buttons on a plastic guitar. But some of that Guitar Hero dexterity could benefit a novice learning to play the real instrument.

By Cristen Conger

So you've got a pretty sweet piano melody, but no band. Upload that melody to a virtual band Web site and watch while other musicians round out your tune with drums, guitar -- maybe even an oboe.

By Cristen Conger

What part do you play in your rock star fantasy? Lead singer, bass guitar player, drummer? Pick an instrument, a hair style, your next big gig. This is more than a video game.

By Cristen Conger

Many people think that being a video game tester is a dream job, but it isn't as easy as you think. Learn more about the responsibilities of a video game tester in this article.

By Tim Crosby

Piano Wizard is a computer program that lets you have fun while you learn how to play the piano. Are you the next Ben Folds? Or Liberace?

By Dave Roos

All across the world, average couch potatoes are standing up, taking a plastic guitar and rockin' their hearts out. Find out how the video game Guitar Hero has gripped its maniacal following.

By Cristen Conger

Video gamers looking to work up a sweat swear Wii Sports games get their heart rate going. Find out how one Wii geek lost 9 pounds (4 kilograms) playing video tennis.

By Cristen Conger

A study suggests surgeons who play video games might have finer surgical skills than those who never play. So should med school students throw down the anatomy book and grab a joystick?

By Julia Layton

Entertainment media has always made a great scapegoat for bad behavior and violence. But is it legitimate? Do violent video games really lead to real-life violence?

By Julia Layton

For serious gamers, there's nothing worse than finding out an eagerly anticipated video game has been scrapped. Is your favorite game that never was on our list?

By Jonathan Strickland