“Every age has its storytelling form, and video gaming is a huge part of our culture. You can ignore or embrace video games and imbue them with the best artistic quality. People are enthralled with video games in the same way as other people love the cinema or theatre.” ~ Andy Serkis
You probably arrived on this page because you’re either:
- The parent of a young gaming enthusiast, wanting to know what it’s all about, OR
- A current gamer seeking more info about his hobby, or finding out the best gaming hardware and hottest game software available
Either way, you’ve come to the right place! We’re going to share some of the must-have video gaming tools out there.
Table of Content
A few quick Q&As about gaming tools and video games
If you want to know more about mobile gaming, smartphone gaming, PC/computer gaming, and consoles (Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox), and Virtual reality, skip right to our page about “Gaming Gear“. We also reveal 58 of the most popular video games!
Want to see some other fun stuff? check these out!
- Life Is Fun! Don’t wear it out. 🙂
- Fun with your cell phone & 50+ amazing things you can do with it
- Fun Gadget Gifts
- Fake Gift Boxes(You gotta see these!)
1. Should I let my children play video games?
Well, why not? If you totally forbid it, you might be costing your young ‘teen or ‘tween some important social interaction. If all his buds are playing and he’s not allowed, he may well lose out on some important social learning experiences.
Gaming is part of their culture; I say don’t lock them out of it.
Video gaming can actually be a fun and beneficial pastime for kids (and adults). Did you know that research has shown gaming can help:
- decrease stress
- improve coordination and manual dexterity
- enhance decision-making skills and increase social interaction for otherwise shy children
- And it can be more FUN than you might imagine!
The (well-publicized) danger of “video game addiction” only comes about when the adult in charge fails to exercise control over the situation.
So the solution is really quite simple: you must use common sense and only allow your child to use his beloved gaming tools IN MODERATION.
Then turn the darn thing off and go outside in the fresh air for some roundball.
Question: Would you allow your daughter to watch TV for an hour or two in the evening?
Sure! Then why not video games?
Would you let her watch TV from 3 pm to midnight each day? Of course not!
Then don’t let her go crazy with her gaming, either…
Get it? Got it? Good!
2. Should I play video games?
Tee Hee… but of course!
Instead of watching that mind-numbing wasteland known as network television, or spending hours chasing social network gossip sites in the evening, why not enter the enchanting world of video gaming?
Your children might not like you invading their realm, but tough! You have earned a little “magic time” for yourself, too.
But be forewarned… once you see the huge array of awesome adult-oriented games, you may become addicted yourself! So you have been warned! MODERATION, Grasshopper…
3. What Gaming Tools do I Need?
- A Smartphone or Tablet OR
- A Laptop OR
- Desktop computer (PC tower) OR a
- Dedicated gaming console (like Nintendo, Xbox, or PlayStation)
Smartphone or tablet
If you already own a smartphone or tablet, then you’re in. And this would be the best way to test the gaming waters without spending a bundle and to see if you like it.
Lots of folks already use game apps on their mobile devices to pass the time, and each year brings more and more cool gaming tools in those small packages.
You access the games by clicking on the “Online App Store” or “Google Play” icon on your smartphone or tablet home page.
Smartphones and tablets provide a colorful and fun experience; yet not quite as impressive as the PC and Console systems. You might say smartphones and tablets are fine gaming tools for lightweight “casual” video game use.
But stay tuned to this issue! Smartphone manufacturers are coming out with more and more “beefed up” smartphone models that are getting much closer to “console quality”.
- Find out which smartphones are the best for gaming.
- Play the latest hot games on your tablet or laptop.
PC – (desktop tower & monitor)
It takes a PC with a pretty fast processor, sufficient RAM, and a decent graphics card to get the most out of the latest game titles. They really suck up the space resources of your computer, and a PC that’s too weak will not support the awesome visuals and action of the super new “hot games”.
There are three options if you go the PC gaming hardware option:
Cyberpower gaming computer
- Go with what ya got But we recommend as a minimum:
Processor: Intel Core i3 or AMD’s A-series, or better
RAM: Minimum of 8GB RAM
Graphics card: AMD Radeon R5 or Nvidia GTX-1060, or better - Buy a standard gaming computer, out of the box (Cyberpower is a reasonably-priced, decent brand).
- Have a custom gaming PC built just for you (there are several online PC “builders”).
For an in-depth discussion of PC gaming, including more recommended cutting-edge options, see you at Desktop Gaming Computers.
Gaming boxes (consoles)
Playstation Classic Console with 20 Classic Playstation Games Pre-Installed Holiday Bundle, Includes Final Fantasy VII, Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil Director’s Cut and More
Hyperkin RetroN Sq: HD Gaming Console for Game Boy/Color/ Game Boy Advance (Blackgold) – Game Boy AdvanceHaoun Mini TV Video Games Console 3.5 Inches Retro Wireless TV Game Console with 2 Wired Gamepad & Remote Controller, Built-in Android 7.1 System Support Download Games
Don’t want to clog up your home office desktop with gaming software? The answer might be to buy a dedicated console box instead (like Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or PlayStation4).
Keep in mind you will need a display screen (HD TV at 1,920 by 1,080 resolution is best) in order to play video games with a console box. Get a flatscreen TV as big as you have room for, but make sure it has at least one HDMI port.
Gaming consoles are simple to use, right out of the box. Easy Peasy.
These gaming tools do not need to be hooked up to your desktop computer, and you can play most of the games without an internet connection (however, some games do require it).
Also, some games allow you to play against your friends in real-time, so you will have to be online if you go that route. You may also need access to the internet occasionally to download required game updates and patches (fixes).
The gaming consoles currently available all have built-in Wi-Fi capability; however, you may have to pay a fee to connect.
As we said earlier, you will need a television display screen in order to play video games with a console box.
For best gaming, we recommend a flatscreen High Definition TV (HDTV) as big as you have room for. But, go with a smaller TV if you are going to be playing less than 6 feet from it.
TV Resolution: Games will play okay on a 720p resolution, but 1080p is much better for gaming. Also, make sure it has an HDMI port in the back.
This would be a great choice for a living room gaming system:
Sony 32-inch 720p Smart LED TV (KDL32W600D, 2016 Model)Samsung UN65RU7100FXZA Flat 65-Inch 4K UHD 7 Series Ultra HD Smart TV with HDR and Alexa Compatibility (2019 Model)
But what about this 4K TV I’ve been hearing about?
- Learn all about XBox Gaming Consoles here.
- Playstation is also a very popular gaming system.
- Nintendo is in with the pack with a very entertaining gaming system.
- Go first class with a Bluetooth gaming headset.
What about the games (software)?
There’s now an incredible number of video games available for play on gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. There’s such a variety in subjects that you are sure to find a game you enjoy among the superabundance of titles.
According to sales stats, women tend to prefer:
- puzzle games
- strategy
- casual/social
- action
- card games.
Men like
- strategy
- action
- sports
- puzzle and role-playing games
Join us as we explore fun, almost addicting games, what’s hot and what’s not (with honest reviews), and introduce you to the fascinating world of Virtual Reality.