Although it is labeled as an introduction to PC game programming, the tutorials given on Atrevida additionally cover many aspects of mathematics and general computer science. A modest background in the C language is suggested, but many of the sections involve more theory than actual programming. There are nearly twenty topics that explain basic computer operation, graphics programming, and the...

This is the first in a series of articles that considers the ongoing struggle between humans and computers for chess dominance. The author is a statistician who has been analyzing this relationship for several years, and he argues that computers may never surpass humans. In addition to supporting his argument with empirical evidence, he provides a link to his Web site that includes much more data...

This educational game produced by the Yale Center for Computational Ecology offers a highly interactive and engaging way to get a feel for the complex interrelationships of food webs. In Foodweb Kerplunk, the user plays the part of a town council member in suburban California, trying to protect native chaparral wildlife against the pressures of urban sprawl. Although Foodweb Kerplunk is designed...

Children make up a large part of the market for computer and video games. This topic in depth explores some of the perceived negative and positive facets of games and their impact on children. A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation (1) finds that "children age zero to six spend as much time with TV, computers and video games as playing outside." Current discussions not only focus on perceived...

There aren't many free online resources for learning about the world of video game design, so it was nice to come across this insightful podcast series on that very subject. Designed by a team based in Finland, the site contains over twenty podcasts and vodcasts that visitors can view directly from the site, or they can download them for use at another time. The two creators of this site are Janne...

Multiflyer is an interactive game "for anyone who is trying to learn or 'brush up on' their multiplication." The user is in a virtual space ship and is faced with several missions on the moon, Mars, the asteroid belt, and more. To advance to each subsequent mission, the correct coordinates need to be calculated. This is where multiplication is necessary, and the user is provided with an excellent...

The holidays are here so why not treat yourself to some computer-based procrastination? Nevermind is a new, slick-looking game for Mac OS 8-X and Windows 95 and above. With rules the same as the board game Mastermind, Nevermind is kindly created and provided for free by Scandinavian programmer Simon Fransson.

Online communities have existed since the inception of the World Wide Web, and before that, in the form of bulletin board systems. New technologies are making them much more advanced than the original text interfaces, creating virtual meeting places where users can congregate in a more personal atmosphere. These developments are popularizing online multi-user environments for business,...

Although the Tetris video game may not seem like a normal topic of study for three MIT researchers, it served as the basis for an interesting paper that the group submitted to two conferences, as well as attracting the attention of news publications like Science News and Scientific American. The paper, which mathematically proves the computational complexity of the game, can be downloaded from...

Some may wonder: "What exactly is gamification?" That's a good question and in a nutshell it is using game design techniques and mechanics for non-game ends. Gamification is "interactive online design that plays on people's competitive instincts and often incorporates the use of rewards to drive action." These rewards are often virtual points, payments, badges, discounts, "free" gifts or status...