Video Games & Gear

Video games are amazing creations, but the fact remains that if you input you can't play. Take a look inside the quintessential game controller and see how it has evolved over the years.

By Tom Harris

Billiards, also known as pool, is played all over the world. But there's a lot more to it than just putting a ball in a pocket. Find out how pool tables are made, and learn about the games that are played on them.

By Jeff Tyson

The pinball machine is an arcade standard that most enjoy having a game or two on. There are also those who have truly mastered its secrets. Find out about the vagaries and nuances of tilt sensors, replays, matches, combination shots and more.

By Shel Brannan

If you've ever gotten immersed in your game character's story and movements, you've probably wondered how these creations can move so fluidly. Here's your chance to find out!

Nintendo’s handheld gaming systems have dominated the market for years. Find out what made the Game Boy Advance such a major success.

By Kevin Bonsor

It's not the best-selling console ... or the one with the best buzz... or the one with the most bells and whistles. But it's still one heck of a cool machine. Check out what the GameCube has under the hood.

By Kevin Bonsor

3DO is one of the top video game companies in the U.S. with dozens of popular titles. Go behind the scenes and learn exactly how 3DO creates a new game!

By Jeff Tyson

Microsoft's Xbox was one of the top game systems in its day, and with Xbox Live you can even use it to play on the Web. Take a look inside the Xbox.

By Kevin Bonsor

Just like film and television, the video game industry maintains a level of age-related ratings. Find out how the ESRB system works.

On a coin-operated pool table, if you hit one of the numbered balls into a pocket, the ball goes into a locked storage compartment. If you hit the cue ball into a pocket, the table returns it. How does the pool table tell the difference?

The PlayStation 2 was one of the most anticipated game systems ever developed. Take a look inside and see what the PS2 had to offer.

By Jeff Tyson

It may be a relic now, but in 1999, Popular Science magazine recognized the Sega Dreamcast as one of the most important and innovative products of the year. Find out what made it so amazing.

By Jeff Tyson

The Nintendo 64 was an extremely popular video game system, with millions of users around the world. Learn where it all started and what's inside.

By Jeff Tyson

The PlayStation is one of the most popular video game systems of all time. Learn how PlayStation started and what's inside this video game console.

By Jeff Tyson

From Pong to PS3, take an inside look at computer consoles and how they work their magic to keep you entertained for hours (or days …) on end.

By Jeff Tyson

If you look at the description of some 3-D video games, you'll see references to Gouraud shading or texture mapping. What does that mean?

How does a video-game light gun work? How does the game know where the gun is aiming? See the technology behind this popular video game accessory.

Have you ever wondered how a $30 program can consistently beat you at chess? Computer chess programs calculate their game plan based on formulas -- algorithms that determine whether a position is "good" or "bad," taking the whole board into account.

By Marshall Brain