Anyone who harbors the notion that video games are simple
distractions from the age of "Pong" has not seen the
latest statistics. One of the most popular games released last
year, "Call of Duty: Black Ops," generated $650 million
in the first five days of sales and exceeded $1 billion in record
time. The achievement put the game in the company of Michael
Jackson's album "Thriller" and James Cameron's
movie "Titanic." As a whole, the video game industry has
been valued at more than $100 billion. The massive size and scope
of the industry make the impact of a cyber attack all the more
devastating.
Like most games, video games are more fun to play with others.
Games like "Black Ops" are designed specifically with the
multiplayer experience in mind. Multiplayer games are made possible
by online networks, such as those hosted by Microsoft and Sony,
which enable gamers to connect with each other and play together in
real time. For example, Microsoft's Xbox Live service not
