A video game is a well-designed form of interactive play, normally undertaken for fun or entertainment, and at times used as an education tool. Games are quite different from work, which is usually carried out primarily for remuneration, or for art, that is more often an expression of personal or aesthetic themes. Games are usually designed for the purpose of entertainment, or to entertain, such that they need minimal interactivity.
Video games are a highly competitive activity, involving both the players and the devices that support their use, such as computers, television sets and other media with screens. As in any form of competitive competition, the winning player achieves most points and receives prize money and other types of rewards. Video games also can include other players, either locally or online. The object of the game may be to become the leader of the pack by overcoming challenges, or to retrieve a particular item, or to reach a specific destination. Some video games are based on traditional competitive board games, where the object is to eliminate all the opponents. Other video games combine elements of action and adventure in the quest for a goal or to complete a series of missions.
Most modern players of video games would describe them as a form of gambling, since winning requires skill and strategy. The basic devices used in video games include joysticks (for controllers, video games typically provide joysticks as well), trackballs (for non-joystick controls), buttons and other devices (joysticks, trackballs, etc. ), where the success of the player depends on his knowledge of the device, its capabilities, its speed, placement on the screen, and many other factors. Video games can be multiplayer (players compete with each other over the Internet), single player, or a mixture of the two. Modern players of video games take part in social networks that allow them to chat with other players from around the world; some even compete in popular virtual war games.