Editorial Review
Nintendo first dabbled in video games during the industry’s early years of the mid-’70s. Generations of successful gaming console releases through the years led to the much-hyped 1996 launch of Nintendo 64, a system that represented a giant evolutionary leap in video game technology. Within the first three days of launch, hundreds of thousands of gamers hunkered down with Mario 64, considered by many to be one of the greatest video games ever created. Even today, the system’s excellent design continues to host an ever-expanding library of breakthrough games. Nintendo 64′s popularity among younger gamers is no surprise. Well-respected games featuring such long-lived and much-loved personalities as Mario (of arcade classic Donkey Kong fame), Zelda, and Banjo-Kazooie are simple to learn and offer enormous replay value. But times are a’ changin’ and the system’s ever-growing library of titles has expanded into every genre of games imaginable, including games be (more…)

Before we get into game emulation, it’s important to realize that most if not all of the classic video games are available onlineat many of the game websites that litter the Internet, so the game emulation engines are really not that vital anymore, but they are still useful. Primarily, many of the games available at these onlinegame sites have been converted to little screens that makes it virtually impossible to enjoy, and that’s where game emulators come in.

Emulators let you play your favorite classic games  including games made for Atari, Commodore,  and Nintendo just to name a few.  Emulation refers to the ability of a program or device to imitate another program or device.  Basically, software written for one type of hardware can bee fooled into working under hardware that it was not designed for, using emulation.

Often, you can download emulators from the Internet for free.  Whether you are looking for Amiga, Commodore, Atari or Super Nintendo emulators, you usually download the games called (ROMs) to play as well.

Emulators often come with extensive help files and walk you through the process of setting up a copy on your own PC.  But you often need, at the very least,  a 486  processor or higher, at least 14 MB of RAM, a VGA card, and a Sound Blaster or 100% compatible sound card, which means that anybody can easily buy an old PC and turn it into a gaming console, easily.

There are literally thousands of games that you can download, but be aware that downloading these games may be illegal where you live, so please understand the consequences before you delve into game emulators. Often, laws stipulate that you must own the game on a cartridge in order to download these games, but do not let this give you a false hope, becuase more often than not, downloading any game that you have not paid for may be illegal, be educated andThink about yourself forwarned. But for those of you who use game emulators, I’m sure you’re having a lot of fun with your games right about now.

1. Arcade Games:Arcade Games are possibly the easiest games to enjoyimmediately with very Littlelearning involved. The term Arcade Games is derived from the games that were popular at the local Arcade, like PacMan, Donkey Kong, Galaga and so on. These games were very easy to learn butvery difficult to master, and soon became an addiction that took the world by storm. The term Arcade Games transcended the physical Arcade and made its way into the Virtual Arcade, the Online Arcade. In keeping within the same scope, Online Arcade Games are very simple to learn but usually hard to master and can involve shoot ‘em ups, mazes, and an assortment of other sub-genres.
2. Board Games: Board Games have been popular for hundreds if not thousands of years, and usually involve a physical playing area (The Board) and a number of items (Pieces) that you manipulate within a predetermined set of rules. Board Games like Chess and Checkers are probably the most famous, but there are literally hundreds if not thousands of board games that you can play. Theon the webboard games are no different, often traditional board games have been programmed foron the internet play. Often, traditional games are given a totallynew spin which can offer a verypleasingtime for all.
3. Strategy Games: These are the games, which take considerable time to play and complete. The player has to apply his mindcompletelyto devise strategies to play and win. Most people who enjoy Strategy Games find them very addicting because these games may are difficult to master.
4. Card Games: Online Card Games are simply traditional card games that have been programmed foron the webplay. Possibly the most famous is Online Poker, but you’ve also got hundreds of Solitaire games and thousands of other card games to waste away the day. Online Card Games often develop quite a following and tend to be popular with all age groups.
5. RPG Games: RPG is an Acronym for Role Playing Games, and like the name suggests, this type of game is designed on the premise that all playersselect anone-of-a-kindcharacter (Role) that they either create or choose to complete specific tasks or challenges that are laid out in the sequence of the game. Characters have become incredibly complex and can include traditional beings like Sorcerers and Knights to more modern Aliens and Unnamed creatures. RPG Games have developed aBig following due in part to the popularity of games like Dungeons & Dragons, which are popular bothon the weband physical group play.
6. Casino Games: Casino Games are virtual Casinos playedon the internet and often for real money. Just like the real world Casinos,on the internet Casino Games are extremely addictive and have been responsible for creating a new era of  gambling addicts. Casino Games can also be played for virtual money and credits and can often be sponsored by real world Casinos (No surprise here).
7. Puzzle and Brain Games: The Puzzle and Brain Games are intended to sharpen your wits. Often, you’re challenged to solve easy puzzles, with the option of setting your skills on ever increasingly tougher puzzles. Puzzle Games can include Crossword Puzzles as well as Maze Challenges, and can include a plethora of other ingenious games. The Brain Games can include math challenges, Logical Sequence challenges and so on.  Puzzle and Brain Games have definitely carved out a solid Niche for itself and is enjoyed by all age groups.
8. Sports Games: Sports Games are virtual versions of a real or invented sport. Possibly the first Sports Games was Pong, which was a virtual Ping Pong Game, todaythere are lots of versions of Ping Pong as well as Tennis, Soccer, Hockey, Football, Baseball and so on.   You do not have to be a sports fanto care aboutsports games since the games themselves offerone-of-a-kindchallenges that are a source of great entertainment for all ages.

All of these game genres can often be interchangeable, and smart game programmers have done excellent jobs blurring the lines between them. That said, most onlinegame communities have concisely marked out each genre for your convenience. Free Online Games are fun, challenging and often frustratingly addictive, enjoy anon the webgame today.