Amazon.com Review
For those into the virtual nuts and bolts of cybertechnology, dealing with such issues as bandwidth, processing speeds, latency, and game service idiosyncrasies is half the enjoyment of online gaming. But for the rest of you, all that stuff just gets in the way of your fun. Kaufeld simplifies the issues so that you can focus on playing games and having a good time--and he does so in the honored Dummies series manner, with nontechnical language and lots of laughs. His four-part approach begins with an overview of the online gaming world. First he demystifies the technical matters that can't be avoided and then he explores the online game opportunities, examining gaming services, showing where to find playing tips, and sharing the rudiments of online play etiquette. In part 2, Kaufeld expounds on some of the best games you can log into, arranging games both alphabetically and by game type. Kaufeld devotes the third part to helping you make your computer the most entertaining gaming companion it can be. In simple terms, he discusses what's involved in upgrading components, video, sound, and connections and shows the payoffs. The fourth section continues the worthwhile Dummies tradition of "lists of tens," which includes 10 common game problems and solutions, 10 ways to make games play better, 10 family games, 10 top Internet sites for game information, and 10 gaming areas on America Online and CompuServe. The logical table of contents should be all you require to find information, but the clear and complete index also allows you to find facts in a snap.
From Library Journal
If you ever needed a reason to go out and upgrade your old 486, then here it is. No one needs a Pentium 2 for writing a letter in WordPerfect, but it sure makes playing multiplayer versions of Diablo or Quake 2 a lot more fun. Kaufeld begins with upgrading your machine and choosing a game provider, then looks at dealing with technical problems, family-oriented games, general game information, and tricks to staying alive online. Public libraries would do well to stock multiple copies.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
