As little as five years ago multi-player games were the exception rather than the norm in the video game world. The thought of playing online with friends or against them was something only talked or read about in computer magazines. Today, virtually every new computer video game supports some sort of multiple player-ability. If it doesn't, watch out. Fans will be up in arms that their new game can't be played online with random people from the far off reaches of the globe.
The world of multi player games has exploded over the past couple years making sites such as Microsoft's The Zone widely popular with thousands of potential gamers ready and waiting to play the same game you want to.
It's tough to determine whether or not a new game that you buy will have the same, better, or worse play-ability between stand-alone and multi-player universes. A game such as Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings is excellent being played alone, but many times the AI is either too hard, or too easy, making the replay-ability of the game in very limited. Lets face it no one likes to get spanked every time they play a game, and in the same respect a game that is won too easy gets boring and dull. Taking this game and turning it loose on the Zone opens up a whole new world.
Before you know it it's 3:00am and you're on your 5th game trying to send your Persian War Elephants loose on the Turkish base while their janissaries and pike men are slowly picking apart your village. Playing a real person, whether it is, someone sitting next to you, or someone in Europe or Asia, makes the game more fun. Knowing that there is someone on the other end of your conquest (no matter how virtual and insignificant it may be) makes all the difference in the world.
Almost every major web portal features online gaming, from Yahoo to MSN, and the BBC to AOL. All these sites feature many games that are completely free of charge, just download a small file and you're playing checkers, chess, or some other puzzle game against some one.
For the really great multi player games like Age of Empires, Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds, Ashron's Call, or Ultima Online you will have to purchase the game and then you're able to play. Ashron's Call, however charges a monthly subscription fee to play online with thousands of other fantasy gamers.
Whether you want to play a quick game of checkers, a 2 hour game of Age of Empires, or a complete campaign that may take weeks to finish or reach your goal, online gaming is probably available for all of them. In any internet search engine just type in "online games or "multi-player games" and it's sure to come up with hundreds if not more matches. In the coming weeks make sure to check back for reviews, links, top picks, screenshots, and additional articles that feature action games that have multi-player capability.