How to Play Games Online

• by Seth Loy

Introduction

• Welcome to the world of online gaming! You're about to join the millions of gamers who enjoy hours of fun on the web every day. The Internet is an exciting space to play your favorite games, discover new ones, and make friends while doing it. This page will guide you through the process of choosing the right game for you and getting set up and ready to play.

Choosing a Game

Lots of people spend time playing games online. (Creative Commons photo by Marcin Wichary)

Types of Games

• There are countless online games to choose from. Learning what's out there can save you time and help you find a game you really want to play.

1. Action & Arcade Games:
   • Your classic video game, usually a side-scrolling adventure.
   • Examples: Pac-Man, Galaga.
   • Tend to attract a younger male audience, according to the International Game Developers Association.
   • This category may include Adventure, Shooting, Sports, and Strategy games.
2. Board & Card Games:
   • A popular genre, along with Puzzle and Word.
   • Examples: Blackjack, Checkers, Chess, Go, Poker, Scrabble, Solitaire, and Spades.
   • Multiplayer—sometimes you can chat with your opponent.
   • Skew toward an older, gender-equal audience.
3. Puzzle Games:
   • A one-person game where you play against yourself or the computer.
   • Examples: Jigsaws, Memory or Mix & Match, Photo manipulation, "Where's Waldo?"
   • In "Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate," published by Big Fish Games, you're hired to save a fortune teller who has forseen her own demise. Named "Hidden Object Game of 2007," it's an interesting twist on the classic puzzle genre.
4. Word Games:
   • Have fun while expanding your vocabulary.
   • Examples: Anagrams, Cryptograms, Crosswords, Trivia, and Brainteasers.
   • In "Bookworm," published by PopCap Games, you help Lex the worm "spell words and save the library."
   • Some overlap with Scrabble variants.
5. MMORPGs:
   • "Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games."
   • Example: World of Warcraft.
   • These games are extremely popular these days, but are a topic unto themselves. This page will focus on the first four types mentioned.

Types of Gamers

• When choosing a game, think about what kind of person you are. If you enjoy betting games like Poker and Blackjack, then online casino games may be right for you, where you can try your hand at classic games of chance without going to Vegas. Do you enjoy board games like Scrabble and chess, which have large online followings? Some sites cater to just these players. To see where you fit in, check out the sample player profiles below.

1. Eve: Ultra-Casual Gamer
   • 68-year-old retired homemaker.
   • In the minority as a female gamer (42 percent), yet a primary consumer of casual games.
   • In 2005, 25% of all gamers were over 50.
   • Enjoys Scrabble, Casino games, and Cards.
   • Ideas: Scrabulous, Social Networking Sites.
2. Susan: Casual Gamer
   • At 37, a typical gamer parent.
   • Plays computer and video games, as do a third of her peers.
   • Enjoys Puzzle and Arcade games.
   • Wants a family-friendly site where she and her two daughters can play.
   • Ideas: Uproar.com, Pogo.com, AOL Games, Yahoo! Games and MSN Games. These well-designed sites have friendly atmospheres and large game catalogs.
3. John: Moderate Gamer
   • At 38, slightly older than the average video gamer.
   • Likes playing Board and Word games.
   • Ideas: Bejeweled 2, Chess, Internet Scrabble Club, the Free Rice game (for every word you get right, the site donates 20 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program to help end hunger).
   • Google has a game gadget where you can add classic Arcade games (Tetris, Pac-Man or Bejeweled), to your iGoogle homepage. This is a great idea for moderate gamers with limited free time.
4. Tom: Heavy Gamer
   • A 23-year-old college student, in the fastest-growing segment (ages 15 to 25) of male gamers.
   • Hardcore gamers play 16+ hours a week and spend more time online than most (24 days per month vs. 17) according to one study.
   • Enjoys Arcade games & cult classics. Also interested in the latest movie previews, new music and other site offerings.
   • Ideas: Miniclip.com, Online Games Zone, Yahoo! Games, AOL Games, PopCap Games, Big Fish Games.

Picking a Gaming Portal

• Once you know what kind of gamer you are, find a site that matches your interests and needs. The most popular gamer portals are AOL Games, MSN Games, Pogo.com, and Yahoo! Games, according to PC World.

Social Networking Sites

Social networks are a popular destination for online gaming.

• Social networks offer a nice way to catch up with your friends while you play games.

1. Facebook - The popular social networking site Facebook has a nifty application where you can challenge your friends and family to a quick game of chess or Scrabulous.
   • Facebook is free to join. It allows you to share news, post pictures, join groups and causes—and, of course, have fun in your spare time. There are few ads on this membership site.
   1. Go to Facebook.com.
   2. Enter your Name, Email, Password, and Birthday.
   3. Click Sign Up.
   4. Start searching through applications for fun games!
2. MySpace - There are dozens of games to choose from on this site with over 100 million users: Multiplayer, Action, Arcade, Puzzle, Word, Cards & Strategy. To play multiplayer games, you must open a free account. Once you join, you can start a personal blog, listen to and download music, watch films and join groups.
   1. Go to MySpace.com.
   2. Click Sign Up.
   3. Enter Name, Email address and Password.
   4. Click Sign Up.
   5. Verify Account by typing security code.
   6. Continue to My Account.
   7. Upload photo.
   8. Invite Your Friends.
   9. Start playing at games.myspace.com.
   • To play Texas Hold 'Em:
   1. At MySpace Games, click Play.
   2. Left click yellow bar at top of browser to install ActiveX Control, choose Install ActiveX, and continue.
   3. When "Do you want to install this software?" appears, click Yes.
   4. Install Oberon Game Software.
3. Friendster - This networking site has 60 million members. Friendster is popular in southeast Asia and is winning people over worldwide. Once you join, you can start a blog, add photos, join groups, and invite your friends to play Texas Hold 'Em Poker.
   1. Go to Friendster.
   2. Click Sign Up.
   3. Create your Account.
      1. Enter your Name, Email address, and Password.
      2. Verify registration code.
      3. Click Register.
   4. See Who's On: find friends using your address book.
   5. Upload a photo and caption.
   6. Click Get Started.
   • To play a game:
   1. Under Explore, select Applications.
   2. Click Games.
   3. Add to Profile.
   4. Under Terms of Service, click Add App.

Web Providers

1. AOL games - America Online's gaming site hosts over 250,000 gamers at any time. You'll find a well-organized site with Puzzle, Word, Card & Board, Casino, Arcade and Sports categories, cash competitions, and a section for full-fledged video games. Play a game online or download its full version for more levels and better graphics.
   1. Go to AOL games.
   2. Click Sign In.
   3. Sign in using your AOL Screen Name, if you have one, or create an account:
      1. Select Create Free Screen Name.
      2. Choose a Screen Name, Password and Security Question.
      3. Type the Security Key.
      4. Click Submit.
2. MSN Games - A gamer's paradise with over 123 free online games: Puzzle, Word & Trivia, Card & Board, Action & Arcade, Poker & Casino, and Pop Culture. One unique feature is the ability to earn badges—"a collectable digital award"—showing your proficiency in a game.
   1. Go to MSN Games.
   2. Click Sign In.
   3. Click Register Now.
   4. Select Yes, use my e-mail address or No, sign me up for a free MSN Hotmail e-mail address, then Continue.
   5. If using a current email address:
      1. Enter email address and password.
      2. Choose password reset option.
      3. Type characters in security picture.
      4. Select Continue.
      • Create an MSN account:
      1. Enter personal information.
      2. Enter home location.
      3. Select Continue.
      4. Review and accept the agreements.
      5. Choose I Accept.
      6. Press Continue.
   6. Or, for a free MSN Hotmail email address:
      1. Create email address.
      2. Create password.
      3. Choose password reset option.
      4. Enter account information.
      5. Type the characters in security picture.
      6. Review and accept the agreements.
   7. To start playing, confirm your account, sign in, and create a nickname.
3. Yahoo! Games - It's easy to register a user name and start playing your favorite games on this site. You'll find Arcade, Card, Board, Puzzle and Word games as well as multiplayer games, Web downloads and the latest movie previews.
   1. Go to Yahoo! Games.
   2. Select Sign Up for a Yahoo! ID.
   3. Enter your name, create an ID and password, and select a security question.
   4. Type the passcode, and check Agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
   5. Click Create My Account.

Gaming Hubs

Screen shot of Big Fish Games, one of many hubs to choose from.

1. Big Fish Games - A great site for online and downloadable games, featuring "A new game every day." Choose from Action & Arcade, Puzzle, Card & Board, and Word games. Join and play online or download trial Web games (playable for 30-60 minutes before purchase is necessary). Members can play all online games free, chat and earn tokens, create a personalized Game Space, and write reviews.
   1. Go to Big Fish Games.
   2. Click Game Community.
   3. Click Sign Up, Free!
   4. Choose Create Account.
   5. Enter email and password.
   6. Click Create Account.
      • Here's a simple game to get started. The object of "Burger Shop" is to serve your customers as best and as fast as you can.
      1. Click Online Games.
      2. Choose Burger Shop.
      3. Pick a sponsor and play (or press No, Thanks).
      4. Click Career & Start.
2. Pogo - With over 250,000 players online, the chance to win daily cash prizes, and over 80 free games, including "freebie" Casino, Puzzle, Word, Card, Board and Arcade & Sports offerings, Pogo.com is the place to get your gaming fix. The site is 100% free and features game nights, socials, polls and a player spotlight.
   1. Go to Pogo.
   2. Click Sign Up Now.
   3. Create Your Free Account - enter your name, password and the security tag.
   4. Click Accept to the Terms & Conditions.
   5. Start playing.
3. Shockwave - "Where you're free to play." Shockwave has an assortment of games: Action & Arcade, Adventure, Kids, Sports, Strategy, Word, and a unique category where Music & Photos are key to the game. The site offers helpful reviews and Play/Download Now options. Members receive a unique profile, can save their favorite games, share games with friends, submit high scores and write reviews.
   1. Go to Shockwave.
   2. Click Register.
   3. Create your account.
   4. Click Sign Up Today!
   5. Create your Look and Edit Profile.
4. Your Fun Games - This is a great site with literally hundreds of Web games to choose from and few pop-up ads. The best part: No download or sign-up is required. Each game, such as Rocket Man, appears in your Web browser, in a small applet window.

Playing Bejeweled 2, Scrabble or Chess

• Now that you know where to play, here are three popular online games to help get you started!

Bejeweled 2

• This may be the most addictive online game ever created. It's easy to learn, tremendously fun, and the gameplay is fast yet forgiving. The goal is to arrange colored gems into rows of three as you unlock combos and set off chain-reactions.

1. Go to PopCap Games and click Play Online.
2. On the next page, download the PopCap Games Plugin Installer.
3. Double-click the icon that appears on your desktop.
4. At Welcome! Would you like to install the PopCap Games Browser Plug-in? click Install.
5. Once Bejeweled 2 is installed, return to the PopCap Games Web site and start playing.

• The full version has beautiful sci-fi backdrops, an awesome soundtrack and hidden levels. To download it:

1. Above the player window online, select Download the full version for FREE!
2. Once downloaded, double-click the Installer icon (Bejeweled2Setup.exe) on your desktop.
3. In the Bejeweled 2 Deluxe 1.1 Installer window, click Next.
4. In the License Agreement window, click I Agree.
5. View the Readme File or select Done to start playing.

• Additional Bejeweled 2 sites:

1. MSN Games: Bejeweled 2
2. Yahoo! Games: Bejeweled 2

Scrabble

Put the board games away and play Scrabble right on your PC. (Creative Commons photo by Mark Ordonez)

• The Internet Scrabble Club has a clean design and easy-to-use interface. The rules are the same as regular Scrabble. You start with seven tiles and must form higher-scoring words than your opponent. Extra points are awarded for using the colored squares, with double- and triple-letter/word bonuses possible.

1. Go to the Internet Scrabble Club.
2. Register a Name and choose a Password.
3. Click Install on the homepage.
4. On the next page, download WordBiz 1.8 for Windows and double-click the icon once it appears on your desktop. This is the Scrabble console for the Internet Scrabble Club server.
5. Read the Intro.
6. To start a game, click Seek a Game or select the command from the menu bar. To chat, click in the chat bar and type "Tell (insert player's name) hello."

• You can also play Scrabulous on Facebook:

1. From your Facebook page, click Application and go to gaming, or click here.
2. In Gaming, click Scrabulous.
3. Add Application.
4. Add Scrabulous (choose options).
5. Jambo! (A Swahili greeting.) Each time you play Scrabulous, you are greeted in a different language.
6. Click on Click Here to start a new game.
   1. Who do you wish to play with? (No friends on Facebook yet? Simply join a table.)
   2. Select dictionary.
   3. Select game type.
   4. Click to start game.
   5. Play the first move.
   • You will be notified through your Facebook page or by email when it's your turn.

• Additional Scrabble sites:

1. Games.com: Scrabble Blast
2. Scrabulous.com: Scrabulous
3. The Pixie Pit: Scrabble

Chess

• With 39 to 45 million players in the United States alone, perhaps no game has a more devoted following than chess. Yahoo! Games offers one of the best chess—and casual gaming—sites on the Net, with colorful graphics, customizable avatars, and friendly players.

1. Once you have a Yahoo! ID, click here.
2. Select Chess and Go Now.
3. Enter your Yahoo! ID and password and click Sign In.
4. Click where it says Click Here to Continue to go past advertisement.
5. Choose Play Now.
6. Start playing!

• The Yahoo! Chess console is easy to navigate. For a quick game, choose Quickplay or enter a room and Join a table. For chess rules and strategy, read Mahalo's guide to How to Play Chess.

• Additional chess sites:

1. Chess.com
2. FreeChess.org
3. InstantChess.com
4. PlayChess.com

Exploring New Games

• Once you've blasted your way through Bejeweled 2, worn out your Scrabble dictionary, and mastered chess, check out these popular sites for more fun games.

1. Coffeebreakarcade   - A compilation of popular games from the major portals. Good game instructions and descriptions; few ads.
2. Wrigley's Candystand - Wrigley's advergaming Web site, where most games are candy and gum-related (Lifesavers, Stride, Doublemint). Great animation.
3. MiniClip - Hundreds of free games, including 3D, Learning and Platformers.
4. PopCap - One of the well-known gamer portals. Publisher of such popular games as Bejeweled and Bookworm.
5. RealArcade - Over 550 online and downloadable games: Puzzle, Word, Mah Jongg, Cash, Arcade, Sports and Casino.
6. Runescape - A free, massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) playable through your Web browser in a Java applet window.
7. Uproar Network - Well-organized site with game and portal reviews. Helpful breakdown by game category, compatibility, challenge type and difficulty level.

Resources for How to Play Games Online

• International Game Developers Association: 2006 Casual Games White Paper | PDF Version
• GameSpot: A History of Real-Time Strategy Games
• About.com: How to Play Checkers 
• Gamasutra.com: "From Casual to Core" (June 5, 2002)
• American Medical Association: Emotional and Behavioral Effects of Video Games and Internet Overuse
• comScore: Study Reveals Gamers Are an Attractive Online Advertising Segment (May 16, 2006)
• Stanford University Honors Thesis by Jack Chung: Beyond Geeks: Effects of Increased Casual Gamer Demand in the Videogame industry... (May 7, 2005) | PDF Version
• Entertainment Software Association: 2006 Sales, Demographic and Usage Data | PDF Version
• PC World: 15 Great Free Game Sites (October 31, 2007)
• Gamezarena.com: Types of Online Players
• Google Answers: Chess Player Demographics
• IT Drive: Exploring Online Gaming Types
• Mashable: Social Networking News - MySpace Hits 100 Million Accounts (August 9, 2006)

Online Gaming Sites

• Adventure Games Coalition
• Candystand
• Coffee Break Arcade  
• Crossword.org
• Facebook: Scrabulous | Texas Hold 'Em | Chess
• FreeChess.org
• FreeRice.com
• Friendster
• Fun Trivia.com
• The House of Cards
• Instant Chess
• Internet Scrabble Club
• JigZone
• MiniClip
• MSN Games  : Bejeweled 2
• MySpace Games
• Online Games Zone
• Play Chess.com
• Pogo
• PopCap Games: Bejeweled 2 | Bookworm
• RealArcade
• Runescape
• Scrabulous
• Shockwave
• Uproar Network
• Yahoo! Games
• Your Fun Games