It wasn’t too many years ago – well, it seems that way to me – that we were playing Pong and Space Invaders. At that time, you needed an awesome imagination to see anything other than dots and blocks moving across the computer screen. Now…the graphics are so detailed and engaging, you’ll find yourself ducking out of the way of on-screen adversaries.

　　One of the most powerful and increasingly popular games is Far Cry. This game features Jack Carver as an ex-Marine trying to rescue Val (an FBI agent) from a crazed scientist who is creating mutant monkey-men to attack the world. OK, the plot sounds far-fetched, but the scenes are challenging, and the graphics are phenomenal. On this island paradise, you can even see tropical fish swimming about in their ocean home. And once you’ve disposed of the mercenaries, you can kick back on the beach and watch the clouds and seagulls while listening to the surf. Be warned though, you need to take occasional breaks to let your heart rate slow down.

　　Another popular game is Counter Strike (CS). I’ve seen pirated versions in many cyber-cafes in China. Quite often, it’s young men who spend hours competing against others in different parts of the country. Unlike Far Cry, which also allows you to play against the computer, CS requires that you connect to a game server and play with many other people in a war-like setting. The player with the fastest reflexes stays in the game the longest and maybe even sees his team win. This one is very intense and not recommended for those who enjoy solitaire!

　　Since most gamers are men; and men like action; I expect that the most popular games will continue to include guns….