|
|
|
Indoor Games: A Leisure Activity
A game is often a recreational activity involving one or more players in which they have to achieve a goal. Games are played primarily for entertainment or enjoyment, but may also serve as an educational activity.
Games are broadly classified in two categories: outdoor and indoor.
Outdoor games are played in wide-open areas like playgrounds and require plenty of physical activity. Some of the most popular outdoor games are cricket, football, baseball, running, cycling, etc. Indoor games require less space and can be played inside the house. They are both educational and entertaining and require a lot of mental exercise, except for some games like table tennis which involve physical as well as mental activity. Usually people play table tennis at their homes by using a big table like the dining table.
Indoor games have always proved to be the best friend for those who want to spend their free time at home. And sometimes people who love to play outdoor games are left with no option except for staying at home and playing indoor games to pass the time such as during chilly winter evenings, curfew, etc. Therefore, indoor games are considered the most preferred leisure activity for everyone. Indoor games are further classified into a number of sub-categories. Check them out:
Alternate reality games
An alternate reality game is a cross-media game which is often used as a marketing tool for a product or service. These games are centred around online resources to bring the participants closer. The most common ways to enhance communication between players are email, phone calls, instant messages or land mail.
An interesting thing about alternate reality games is that they are not considered games. To be most effective, these games don't advertise themselves and the mystery of what's going on and who is behind it all is a major factor, as is the general thrill of discovery (one website leads to another, and another, etc.) for the players.
Board games
A board game is any game played on a board (that is, a premarked surface) with counters or pieces that are moved across the board. Simple board games are often seen as ideal "family entertainment" as they can provide entertainment for all ages. Some board games, such as chess, ludo, carom and go, have intense strategic value and have become lasting classics.
Many board games are now available as computer games, including the option to have the computer act as an opponent. With the Internet, many board games can now be played online against computer or other players in real time.
Computer or video games
A computer game is a computer-controlled game that players may interact with. A video game is a computer game where a video display device such as a monitor or television is the primary feedback device.
Computer games are played with standard computer interface devices such as the keyboard and mouse, or additional peripherals such as joysticks. Video feedback is received by the user through the computer screen, sound through speakers or headphones. Those who have an Internet connection available on their computers prefer online games. These games allow several people to play at the same time from their individual computers, creating a sense of sitting together.
Nowadays online games based on the Harry Potter series are very much admired by Potter fans. Harry Potter Trivia is one of the most interesting games. Another exciting game is Harry Potter Levitating Challenge in which a foam ball floats in mid-air and you must navigate it through a course of obstacles. Sounds like magic? Well, maybe it is. But that's really how you play this game — the ball truly does float in the air.
There are other Harry Potter games as well. If you are curious, just log on to any Harry Potter website and play the game of your choice.
Mobile phone games
Mobile phone games are an alternative form of computer games. Mobile games can be downloaded from different websites provided the handset is compatible for those games. Mobile games are designed using the same sort of softwares used for computer games. These games are handled through the keypad of the phone.
A counting-out games
Simple games intended to select a person to be "in", often for the purpose of playing another game. Many such games involve one person pointing at each participant in a circle of players while reciting a rhyme. A new person is pointed at as each word is said. The player who is selected at the conclusion of the rhyme is "in" or "out".
Game shows
A game show is a radio or television programme involving members of the public or celebrities playing a game, perhaps involving quiz questions, for points or prizes. In some shows, contestants compete against other players or another team while other shows involve contestants striving alone for a good result or high score. Game shows often reward players with prizes such as cash, or holidays and goods and services provided by the show's sponsors.
Guessing games
A guessing game is a game in which the player has to guess some kind of information, such as a word, a phrase, a title or the location of an object with the help of some clues provided during the game. Some of the guessing games are ‘mastermind’, ‘name that tune’, and ‘twenty questions’ and ‘guess who?’
Letter games
A letter game involves the exchange of written letters, or email, between two or more participants. The first player writes a letter in the voice of a newly created character; in this first letter, the writer should establish his or her own identity and that of the correspondent, set the scene, and explain why the two correspondents must communicate in writing.
In subsequent letters, plot and character can be developed, but the writers should not talk about plot outside of the letters and the characters should never meet. Letter games can be a writing exercise or a role playing game.
Paper and pencil games
These games are played with pencil and paper. Some of the games of this type are ‘join numbers in a sequence to reveal a picture’ and ‘connect four dots to form a home’. Some paper and pencil games are abstract strategy games, which are equally well suited to playing as a board game — in this case the defining characteristic will be that once played, a piece will not be moved on the board or removed from the board. Others are uniquely suitable for paper and pencil play.
Puzzles
A puzzle is a problem presented as entertainment. Many puzzles stem from serious mathematical or logistical problems, whereas others are devised for the sole purpose of being brain teasers. Some of the well known puzzles are ‘crossword’, ‘jigsaw’and ‘logic’ puzzle.
Singing games
Singing games are games in which multiple players or a single player has to sing songs according to a set standard. Objectives might include adherence to a theme, ability to mimic another performer, or singing a song by recognising its silent video display.
Wargaming
Wargaming is the play of simulated military operations in the form of games known as war games. Wargaming includes exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat.
Word games
A word game can be of several different types like ‘letter arrangement game’, where the goal is to form words out of given letters.
‘Anagram’ is a simple game of rearranging letters making new words from given set of letters, such as leap for peal.
So here is all you would want to know about indoor games. If you find some spare time after doing your school homework and helping your mom in her household chores, then don’t waste it just by sitting idle. Instead, make it interesting by playing any of the indoor games described above. These will definitely entertain you and will also help in developing your intellectual skills.
|
|
|
|
