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The Internet has changed the way people communicate and play and nowhere is this truth more evident than with Internet gaming. What started as the pastime of hardcore gamers has quickly become a worldwide phenomenon as broadband connections became more affordable. Today there are literally millions of people worldwide playing a plethora of different games over the Internet.

Almost anyone can get in on Internet gaming. The basic requirements are a computer and a connection to the Internet. For the top of the line games users require a powerful computer with an advanced graphics card and a stable broadband connection. Requirements differ from game to game but there is no shortage of games available.

Web-based games are the simplest form of Internet gaming around and some don’t even require a broadband connection to play. These are simple games that can be played in your web browser like board games or puzzle games. Other games are stand alone software that connects to the Internet to allow players to compete or play together. Many single player games, for example, offer a multiplayer element online. First person shooters, role-playing games and real-time strategy games are some of the major genres that are part of the Internet gaming community. While many of these games are free to play online, a broadband connection is still required for many of them.

The monsters of Internet gaming are the Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG) that have literally hundreds of thousands of players. One of the largest MMOG’s out there is World of Warcraft. With over ten million players worldwide, it is considered to be one of the largest and most successful online games available. Other well-known games in this category are games like EVE, Everquest and Lord of the Rings Online. All these MMOG’s require a broadband connection and a monthly subscription fee to play.

Internet gaming has become such a huge phenomenon that an entire culture has evolved around it. Newcomers to Internet gaming are often overwhelmed by the language that players use to speak to another. A combination of Internet acronyms, game-specific jargon and shorthand has created a gamer’s language that is often referred to as ‘leet speak’ (short for elite in reference to experienced players). In addition new players (newbies or noobs are they are sometimes referred to) need to come to grips with the complex social systems that have evolved in many online games and find learn how to play the game at the same time!

Despite all this, more and more players are joining the Internet gaming community on a daily basis. As broadband becomes more affordable, more people are able to join this massive online community. For many the attraction of Internet gaming lies in connecting with like-minded people from all over the world. For others it is the thrill of testing their skills against players from another country.

No matter what the kicks, with a good broadband connection and decent computer, Internet gaming has something to offer everyone.

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