A video game (or videogame) is a game that typically involves user/player interaction with a controller interface to generate visual feedback on a video screen. It generally has some system of reward presented to the user in return for meeting certain accomplishments within the framework of a given ruleset.
The various types of electronic devices that video games are played on are known as platforms. Examples of these are personal computers and video game consoles. Video games also exist across a full range of technology ranging from large computers such as mainframes down to smaller hand-held devices (like cell phones and PDAs). There are very specialized video games such as arcade games, which while extremely common at one point have seen their use decline over the years. Many players identify their platform of choice as a distinct form of video gaming apart from the rest. The main separations between the many platforms within a generation are interface options, and the level of social interaction inherent to the majority of games found them. The quantitative value of these separations has shifted over the years.
Video games are generally manipulated by a control interface of some sort, and these vary across all platforms. For instance, a dedicated console controller might consist of only a button and a joystick or a dozen buttons and one or more joysticks all on the same controller. Early computer based games historically relied on the availability of a keyboard for gameplay, or more commonly expected the user to purchase a separate joystick with at least one button to play. Many modern PC games allow the player to use a keyboard and mouse simultaneously.
Beyond the common element of video based feedback, video games have also utilized many other systems to provide interaction and information to a player. Chief examples of these include various audio playback devices (speakers) and an array of interactive peripherals (i.e., vibration or force feedback).
