Computer Game Revolution

The Internet has been filled with video games for its entire existence, but with the advent of Flash, games are a Google search away and can be played in your favorite web browser in a matter of seconds. Virtual arcades like Newgrounds and Kongregate provide thousands of free games for players of all ages. Recently, even Facebook has integrated games into its social network, and explosively popular games like Cow Clicker, Mafia Wars, and Farmville have created overnight succeses as startling as Facebook itself. Just as many people were startled by how popular Facebook became, so are people now startled by how much time people of all ages are throwing into games like Farmville. Are games not just for kids anymore?

In the 90s, video games were under fierce scrutiny for their alleged connection to real world violence. Even as recently as 2011, Fox News was pointing to Epic Game's new shooter Bulletstorm as a cause of violence. While violent and crude, there have been no conclusive studies on whether or not games do cause violence. After fact checking by other media outlets, it was revealed that the experts Fox News quoted were taken wildly out of context, or had no evidence whatsoever to back up their claims.

While Americans worry about violence, in Greece the fears revolve around gambling. The 2010 Western-themed game Red Dead Redemption included many casino mini-games like poker and blackjack, but Greece's strict laws on online casino gambling threatened the game with a ban, despite the fact that it did not use real money nor did it function like an online casino.

However, worries over virtual casinos aren't limited to Europe. Facebook games like Club Penguin, Farmville and Smurf Village all apear to be free at first, but many have special incentives that can only be acquired by spending real money. These so-called "freemium" games can have items ranging from a few cents to $99 dollars. The FCC has recently begun an investigation into these games as parents are learning the hard way how expensive the supposedly free games are. The well known gaming review magazine and site Gamespot has not yet commented on this issue.

Of course, these games aren't limited to kids. In fact, adults seeking the thrills of online casinos without violating state or federal laws are drawn to the dozens of casino Facebook games, including the most popular, Zynga Poker. These games are currently played with play money, but you can buy chips with real cash. They're the closest you can get to an online canadian casino without actually being in one. This is also where you apparently can play in Canadian dollars at Mummy's.

No discussion of all-ages entertainment would be complete without mentioning iPhone games, like the explosively popular Angry Birds. It's the Mario of this generation, harkening back to the golden age of games.

Sometimes, though the worlds of online gaming collide with the offline casinos, as has been the case with a certain new card counting iPhone app. It's even able to operate in a touch-sensitive stealth mode, but it's also a surefire way to be ejected from a casino. That's one way online casinos clearly shine.

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