Video Games & Gear

Video games have come of age as an entertainment medium and the technology continues to mature. Learn about how your favorite video game consoles work, and see what's on the gaming horizon.

Learn More / Page 5

World of Warcraft uses simple concepts to build a complex game system. The game itself teaches people how to play, and there are lots of resources, both inside the game and out, for finding answers to questions.

By Tracy V. Wilson

World of Warcraft is one of the most popular PC video games on the market. Find out why World of Warcraft is so popular and learn how World of Warcraft works.

By Tracy V. Wilson

MMORPGs, or massively multiplayer online games, allow many people to compete in an online environment. In this article, we'll look at what it takes to create an immersive virtual world that allows people to move around and play within it.

By Tracy V. Wilson

Advertisement

The U.S. military has spent millions of dollars and thousands of man-hours on ... a video game. "America's Army" has people hooked. It's free and it has amazing features. So why are people getting so worked up about it?

By Josh Clark

The next chapter in the Halo saga greeted millions of eager gamers around the world with promises of new features and a much-anticipated close to the storyline, the heart of the Halo series. Does it live up to the hype?

By Rick Mayda

Nintendo dramatically changed the interface for video games with the Nintendo Wii. Learn what sets the Wii apart from other next-generation consoles.

By Marshall Brain

For the Xbox 360, Microsoft rebuilt the system and console from the ground up. From the name to the look to hardware and features, the Xbox 360 is a radically different and more powerful machine than its predecessor.

By Robert Valdes

Advertisement

Playstation 3 owners can donate their consoles' processing power to scientific research. What is this research focused on achieving? Find out the answer to that question in this article.

By Tracy V. Wilson

With built-in surround-sound speakers, amps and subwoofers, media chairs just might be the next big thing in home theater and gaming systems. What makes a chair a media chair?

By Ed Grabianowski

Combining people's love for taking care of fictional critters with the enjoyment of puzzle games, Neopets is a hit. Peek behind the scenes at the creators and owners of Neopets and explore the controversies that surround the site.

By Ed Grabianowski

The Xbox Live network gives players the opportunity to connect with thousands of other gaming enthusiasts online. What do users get out of the experience?

By Ed Grabianowski & Chris Pollette

Advertisement

The Gizmondo is a handheld gaming console -- but it's also an MP3 player, a camera, a movie player, and a GPS reciever. Learn what else the Gizmondo can do and what sets it apart from other portable gaming units.

By Ed Grabianowski

With sales topping $7 billion last year the focus on game ratings will only intensify. Find out how the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rates games how the ratings are enforced and how ratings affect game sales.

By Ed Grabianowski

The PS3 boasts an incredible microprocessor, a brand-new graphics processor and what may be some of the most phenomenal on-screen images ever. Learn all about PlayStation 3 and check out the new controller.

By Robert Valdes

Getting Halo 2 ready for play on X-Box Live was no easy task. Read what it akes to get all of these X-boxes to play together nicely in an interview with Bungie's Chris Butcher.

By Robert Valdes

Advertisement

Are you tired of getting whipped by the Covenant? Learn how they think from the man who created the artificial intelligence for "Halo 2." In this exclusive HowStuffWorks interview, Chris Butcher of Bungie Studios enlightens us.

By Robert Valdes

With its widescreen display, powerful graphics and ability to do more than play games, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) stands out in the crowd. Find out what else Sony has packed into the PSP and see how it measures up.

By Ed Grabianowski

With Sony's new portable on its tail, Nintendo's chose not to create a bigger, faster processor, but the Nintendo DS, which stands for either "dual screen" or "developer's system," depending on who you ask.

By Jason Wright

The Phantom was supposed to be launched in 2005, but it never made it to production. Learn about the specs and features of the Phantom game system.

By Tom Harris

Advertisement

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!

Advertisement

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

How do developers get such realistic environments in video games? Learn about the game-creation process and how it's getting more advanced every year.