Electronic games are interactive application software played for entertainment or educational purposes. Video games differ in design but can include vibrant color and sound, realistic movement, visual effects; some even employ human actors. There are two broad classes of electronic games: (1) video games, which are played on specially designed coin-operated arcade machine, handheld devices, or video-game systems that are plugged to television screens; and (2) computer games, which are played on personal computers.
Electronic games are a popular pastime for both children and adults. Categories include strategy games, sports games, adventure games, card and board games, puzzle games, fast-action arcade games, and flying simulations. Software programs that employ game-play elements to teach reading, writing, problem solving, and other basic skills combine fun with education and are sometimes called edutainment.
Video and computer games grew in popularity in the late 20th century, as the power of computers increased. Since their invention in the late 1950s and 1960s, electronic games have become a multibillion-dollar industry that uses the latest computer technology to produce ever-more realistic games. Electronic game sales were estimated at $9.4 billion in the United States in 2005. In the same year, several studies showed that the majority of video-game players were aged 18 or older.