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Problem statement: The study presented a design that converted connect 4 game into a real-time game by incorporating time restraints. Approach: The design used Artificial Intelligence (AI) in implementing the connect 4 game. The AI for this game was based on influence mapping. Results: A waterfall-based AI software was developed for a Connect 4 game. Conclusion: A real time connect 4 game was successfully designed and implanted with GUI using C++ programming language. Key words: Real-time system, connect 4 game, search techniques, AI techniques, influence mapping, INTRODUCTION Connect 4 was first published by Milton (1). The waterfall model was used in the creation of the software (2). The concept of the Connect 4 game is to [...]

The question/answer-based computer game Age of Computers was introduced to replace traditional weekly paper exercises in a course in Computer Fundamentals in 2003. Questionnaire evaluations and observation of student behavior have indicated that the students found the game more motivating than paper exercises and that a majority of the students also perceived the game to have a higher learning effect than paper exercises or textbook reading. This paper reports on a controlled experiment to compare the learning effectiveness of game play with traditional paper exercises, as well as with textbook reading. The results indicated that with equal time being spent on the various learning activities, the effect of game play was only equal to that of the other activities,' not better. Yet this result is promising enough, as the increased motivation means that students work harder in the course. Also, the results indicate that the game has potential for improvement, in particular with respect to its feedback on the more complicated questions. Index Terms--Computer fundamentals, computer game, computer science education, edutainment.

The manner in which the American West was represented in computer and video games from the late 1970s till 2006 is investigated. Several games used typical 19th century western themes with associated representations, thus providing established notions of the 'Wild West' to a 20th century global audience.

The article analyzes video and computer game culture from the perspective of the relationship between the media commons and commodities regimes.

Recently the Centre for Program Evaluation (CPE) at the University of Melbourne was approached by a mental health agency to undertake the unique and challenging task of evaluating a prototype [...]

'THE BEST WAY to get rid of fear is to face the fear itself', remarks one Weibo user A in an online discussion regarding the mobile game now banned in [...]

The networking aspects of multiplayer computer games are examined. Security, resources and distribution issues are evaluated.

The game KingMaker was originally a 1974 board game, but a computer version of it was designed in 1994. It is a strategy game designed to help the player understand how complex historical events are, appreciate the 1400s European intelligence and recognize the limitations of plans and forecasts. It also offers the player a chance to humiliate opponents and control the king. The software requires an IBM-compatible computer with 600 kb of base memory and 286 processor, DOS 5.0, or better, and VGA graphics. A mouse is a necessity. The computer version lacks the human dimension of the board game.

The Recreational Software Advocacy Council has devised a voluntary rating system for nudity/sex, violence, and language content of their computer games. The goal is to warn consumers about potentially offensive material or language in these products. Free speech issues in cyberspace are a source of ongoing debate. For example, the author of an article about rape in cyberspace believes that crimes against the social body can be committed in a virtual world. Transmitting sexually abusive language or spamming the network with advertisements also might be protected forms of speech. Free speech restrictions in cyberspace should be carefully considered before implementation.

The author examines three of Microsoft's Age of Empires II computer games: The Age of Kings, Pharaoh, and Nightfall.

Computer strategy games such as Sid Meier's Civilization II from Microprose, Age of Empires from Microsoft and Caesars III from Sierra Online, reflect varying degrees of historical sophistication of their creators. They can thus indicate something about how history would play out according to various approaches. Civilization II is engrossing but is based on rather outmoded ideas of cultural evolution. Age of Empires reflects a completely male perspective. Caesars III has some historical anomalies, but is challenging and educational.

Investigations of the Prisoner's Dilemma expose the differences between synchronous and asynchronous simulations to demonstrate that the findings of digital simulations related to territoriality and cooperation vary significantly, when time is not continuous, but discrete. The differences between digital simulations and real experiments may be large enough to make the relevance of cellular automata-type simulations, to the analysis of cooperation in social systems, doubtful. The capacity of this simulation to reflect the real world may be attenuated if it imposes space-time granularity.

An investigation of the ways in which games establish and encourage embodied feelings through the combination of cinematic style and identification with the increased interactivity of digital media is presented.

Boredom is considered as an aesthetic term that refers to the absence of entertainment. Considering the examples of the Civilization, which was created by Sid Meier for MicroProse in 1990, is a game that tried to turn boredom into a recreational activity, and the new Civilization III is a game that is slow, open-ended and process based game.

Two computer games 'Civilization' and 'Civilization III' are analyzed. While playing Civilization, it gives the feeling of an interaction with an intelligent map and requires instigation of scientific inquiry, building social infrastructure and initiating trade and diplomatic relations, whereas Civilization III is too up-date and concentrates on the materialistic, deistic, multiculturalist and subtly imperialist characteristics.

The different ways, in which the idea of culture is shown in Civilization and Civilization III, separates the two games. The Civilization III, which is a game about history and science has its main belief system entrenched in religion.

The strategic thinking between the experts and the novices of computer games is investigated. The relationship between the operating time and the steps of the novice group were more scattered than the expert group.

The high level of aggression faced after playing computer games is explained. This aggression faced by computer gamers was a concern for social commentators and media researchers to reduce this violence through humanization of computer opponents.

Westwood studio's Blade Runner is a computer game that offers a unique opportunity to speculate on a major element of new media forms. Blade Runner is compared to a movie called Blade Runner, by Ridley Scott, on which the game is based.

An error that was found in the solitaire game, called the square of cards in the book Mathematical Games, is analyzed using a simple computer program. This game allows the player to arrange the Ace (one) through the 10 of a suit of cards around the perimeter of a square so that each of the four side sum is the same value.

Adventures in Danger! is a computer game software which requires the player to go through simulated dangerous situations. The game demands critical thinking and problem-solving strategies and allows the student to apply familiar skills in unfamiliar situations in obtaining a goal. The software is helpful in strengthening critical thinking skills in terms of organization, visual-memory, directionality and logical planning.

In last month's column, I talked about things to consider when selecting a game for your computer: what kind of input device, manual dexterity, and copyright porotection are involved. The [...]

When I ask people which software programs they use the most, the conversation almost always gets around to their favorite games. The computer is a great recreational tool--willing to play [...]