Online Games

Can you imagine what it must have been like to have lived in the 1800’s? I don’t think I can. I mean, I try to… But then a sickening feeling begins to push at the back of my skull and I’m immediately forced back into 2008. Ah yes—modern times! The times of Britney Spears, Fast Food, Eddie Izzard, Gears of War, Spongebob Squarepants, and George W. Bush. Now that’s living!

But people had things in the 1800’s as well right? Sure they did! -Lots of things! Like… Butter churns, and... Funny hats… And, uh, those really neat sticks that have a head of a horse on them. Know what I mean? Those horse-head sticks that you could put between your legs and shout “Giddie up!” as you stomped about back yard. They had those things! Those were fun right?

Let’s face it. People back then didn’t have anything. They didn’t even have electricity. How sad is that? Even if you were to go back in time, and hand them a brand new Playstation 3… They couldn’t play the damn thing. They would have had to use it as a display base for their paper dolls or something. Did they have paper dolls? Did they have paper? Or did they have to cut their paper dolls out of leaves? I can’t think about it anymore. I’m getting that sickening feeling again.

But think about what we have. I mean, not just in terms of basic things like indoor plumbing. But really cool, important things like ipods and HBO. Who could really live without an ipod and HBO? Well, perhaps some savages in Borneo or something, but not anyone of any real breading. Television, microwaves, Hot Pockets, and The Allman Brothers, -just a few of the many things that technology has brought to us.

But do you know what the best thing is? I’ll give you a hint. It’s not the heart-lung machine. (But that’s good too I suppose.)

The best thing in the history of the planet is online games.

Oh yeah, I said it. Online games baby. Just think about it. Technology goes along, and makes this thing called paper, which allows for the sum of all knowledge to be recorded for future generations. And people like you and I come along and say- "Yeah, that’s nice, but can we play games on it?" And POOF, just like that, Tic Tac Toe is born. But then along comes the Television. –A devise that brings information across the nation in an instant! And people like you and I say “Yeah, but can we play games on it?” And BANG, just like that, Video game systems are born.

And now… we have the computer. -The ultimate piece of machinery to increase the productivity of workers for generations to come. But guess what. Oh yeah baby… You can play games on it! And not just "Hey-I-gotta-sell-my-kidney-to-affored-this-damn-thing" kinda games. But real, honest to god, gaming masterpieces which can be downloaded to your work computer for FREE! (That’s not a typo. Many of these games are FREE.)

Take a look at a site like Jenkatgames dot com. Now here is a site that is filled with free downloadable games. Games that are so good, that I guarantee you’ll miss out on that big promotion from playing them so much. Take a look at the game "Finder's Keepers". This is, without a doubt, one of the best games I’ve ever played. I’ve never said the phrase "Just one more game". more times, than when I’m playing Finder’s Keepers.

And other games like "Go-Go Gourmet" or "Great Secrets: Da Vinci" are just as compelling. And I think that people owe it to themselves to avail themselves to the greatest accomplishment of our generation. Online games. It’s not a horse-stick or a heart-lung machine or anything. –But it’s probably a close second.

Lance Hemenway has been writing about games like Fresh Air Solitaire for major web publications since 1997. Click here for more downloadable games and free online games.