Before we begin discussing the health benefits of gaming (if there are any), we need to issue this statement: doing anything, to excess, has negative effects. If you are looking for this article to provide justification for you playing games fifteen hours per day, forget it. Excess is excess no matter what the topic i.e. alcohol, drugs, hobbies, or gaming. Always play in moderation or the supposed benefits can easily turn into harmful detriments.

With that out of the way, here is just a partial list of possible benefits derived from gaming:

1. Cognitive benefits: Video games can improve mental focus, spatial awareness, and estimation accuracy.
2. Social interaction: Multiplayer games promote sociability.
3. Life skills: Games can teach valuable skills.
4. Mental health: Video games have been linked to improved moods and mental health.
5. Eye health: Some games can improve eyesight.
6. Empathy: Certain games can make young people more empathetic and helpful.

Breaking it all down

Please note, every single one of those benefits listed above could have a negative connotation if explained differently. Example? Eye health . . . some games can improve eyesight. That is true with specific games and specific eye conditions. However, playing games for too long can easily have the opposite effect and actually harms eyes.

Another? Empany . . . certain games can make young people more empathetic and helpful. However, it is also true that some games can increase aggression in children and make it more difficult for them to interact with other children in person.

Why would we tell you this?

After all, we are game developers. Why in the world would we essentially argue against our product?

Simply because some of us are parents, too, and the responsible thing to do is inform you truthfully and then allow you the freedom to parent as you see fit, armed with ALL the news, good and bad.

Do we believe our own combat simulator, Aces High, has benefits? Of course we do, but that does not prevent us from telling you that any combat flight simulator, played in excess, will have negative effects on a child. This is where responsible parenting comes in. We fully support limiting a child’s game playing time. Send them outside and have them play baseball or football when they have used their allotted time gaming. It’s the right thing to do.

A final word about HiTech Creations and Aces High

Aces High is a flight simulator, otherwise known as a flight sim game. It is a multi-player online game which has combat and war simulations. Is it bloody? No! Is it gory? No! Is it violent? That depends on your definition of violence. It does depict battle, but we believe it depicts battle in as sanitized a way as possible. If people want gore, they can find it in other games. Our goal, in developing Aces High back in 1999, was to make the best action flight sim game on the market, and we believe we have done that.

Strap on your helmet and fly the skies with Aces High. We offer a free two-week download of Aces High, a way for you to determine if it is the right game for you.

We will begin this article by telling you what exactly a combat simulator game is. We will then tell you what you can expect to pay for a PC flight sim game, like our own Aces High, and a console game. The choice, then, will be in your hands regarding which one is the best deal for your situation.

We are HiTech Creations, creators of Aces High, one of the leading flight simulators since 2000. Check us out and find out what flying in combat must really feel like while being attacked by the enemy.

What is a combat simulator game?

A combat simulator game, or combat flight simulator game, not only shows you what it feels like to fly a jet aircraft into combat, but it also tests your abilities in simulated combat situations. You can go solo or fly as part of a squadron. You can play against the game or you can play, real time, against other games online. You can fly in competitions and/or fly in designed scenarios.

These are often confused with flight simulators the type which are used to train pilots. Although the concept is the same, the training simulators are much more detail-oriented, and it should be noted that learning how to play a flight simulator game in no way trains you to fly an actual aircraft.

What does a PC game cost?

A PC game cost can vary by quite a bit from game to game. Our own Aces High costs $14.95 per month after the free two week download trial. Ours is a competitive price and in line with the prices charged by many of the other gaming companies. The maximum price you might pay would be in the $20 per month range.

Having said that, you also need to consider the cost of accessories you might want to enhance your playing. A good joystick is highly recommended, and a possible upgrade on your processor and your memory would help immensely. Those items can be pricey, and they vary greatly, but we wanted you to be aware.

What does a console game cost?

You can pay as little as $15 for a console game, and as much as $120. This is a one-time cost. Now for the fine print. You will obviously need to purchase a console, which will cost several hundred dollars. And when a new version of the game is released, and it will happen, you will be looking at purchasing that game once again. And then, of course, you will need that joystick we mentioned earlier.

In the end, it really just comes down to personal preferences. There is no “correct” decision in this debate. Either approach will provide you with challenges and enjoyment.

A final word about HiTech Creations and Aces High.

Aces High was first released in 2000. Since then, literally dozens of other flight simulator games have been released, online and console. It is a very competitive field of gaming, and those games which are not challenging will be found in the sales bin sooner rather than later. Aces High is not one of those games. For twenty-four years we have flown above the competition and we plan on continuing with that flight path for years to come.

The popularity of online gaming, which it is safe to say far exceeded expectations when gaming first started, is attributable to several factors, and in today’s article we will delve into those factors.

We are HiTech Creations, developers of the wildly popular Aces High, the combat simulator which has led the way in flight sim gaming since 2000. Check us out and try our free two-week download. Make up your own mind, through a two week experience, whether Aces High is for you.

We are betting it will be.

Reasons for online gaming popularity

Let’s list several reasons why we believe online gaming is so popular, then delve into each of them a bit further:

1. Improved technologyenabling rich, immersive worlds and multiplayer connectivity.
2. Accessibilitythrough mobile devices and free-to-play titles.
3. Extensive varietyof games available.
4. Affordabilityof online games.
5. Socialization opportunitiesand the chance to build relationships.

Let’s begin with improved technology.

We’ve come a long way since Pong. Processors are bigger and more powerful. PCs have more RAM memory. We have found ways to pack a whole lot more things onto a screen than we once could, and it is all because of improved technology which, in turn, makes the games that much more realistic. It’s like being inside the game at times, and it will only get better.

Gaming is accessible to anyone with a gaming console or a PC, and that probably accounts for close to 75% of Americans. This is not a rich man’s game. This is a game practically everyone can play.

Extensive variety . . . you name the genre and there is a good chance there is a game associated with that genre. We do this for a living and we couldn’t possibly name all of the sub-categories of game types.

Affordable? Evidently it is based upon the popularity of gaming. The numbers don’t lie, and the numbers are increasing each year.

Finally, a reason not often mentioned, and that is socialization. Through forums it is possible to become an active member of a gaming community which will welcome and embrace you. Even loners and social outcasts can find a place where “everybody knows your name,” to borrow from the old tv comedy Cheers.

Reasons for Aces High popularity.

Which brings us to Aces High. Long before it was cool to be a gamer, Aces High burst onto the gaming scene with a game genre few had played. We took our players into combat, and we based that combat on actual World War 2 battles scenes, and the buying public was hooked and very satisfied.

Today we have grown, our technology has improved, and our forums are the location of some great community. It all adds up to twenty-four years of great gaming.

A final word about Aces High.

Aces High has led the way for longer than some of you reading this have been alive. We have spent twenty-four years improving our game, and that partially explains how we have been able to remain relevant for so long in this very competitive market. Strap on your flight helmet and fly the skies with Aces High.

Why gaming forums?

Gaming forums bring together people across the globe who want to talk about video games. Some of them encompass all games, while others focus on a specific genre or company, like flight sim gaming.

In today’s online world, it is not difficult to find forums related to practically every game made and sold, but specifically, a specific game website should have a forum section easily accessed on that website. With that in mind, we turn your attention to our own Aces High website, which we will use for an example going forward with this article.

The Aces High forums

On our website Home page, players can click on the “community” tab, where they will find the “forums” tab. Clicking on that opens up the our flight simulator forum page, where these options are found:

• News, announcements, general information
• Special events announcements
• Help and support forums
• General information forums
• Special events forums
• Squadron forums

In each of those forums you will find specific forums. For example, in our “general forums”, you will find combat simulator forums on all aspects of our combat flight simulator game, including general operation of the flight controls, the different arenas available, and so forth. Suffice it to say that every single aspect of playing our flight simulator is covered and, if by chance, a topic is not covered, you simply log into a general discussion forum and ask your question. There are players on those forums 24/7, experienced players who know the ins and outs of Aces High, and help is only a question away.

If you are a beginner, and you feel shy or awkward about asking questions, rest assured that we have all been there, and we all become better players when the level of skill is increased.

The best forum of them all.

Something you will not find on all gaming websites is one-on-one instruction, which we offer on Aces High. Request some personal training and our team of volunteers will take it from there.

Or go it alone

Still, we recognize that there are some players who simply do not want to take part in forums and would rather go it alone, and that is perfectly fine. We have many players who have figured it all out on their own and become very skilled. That is one of the main advantages of our very generous free two-week download; it means you have the chance to learn much of our flight sim game for free. It won’t cost you a cent to experiment with the controls and different arenas. We are confident in saying that if you put in the time during those two weeks, you can become a fairly accomplished and confident player after two weeks, at which time you can pay the subscription fee o $14.95 and become a full-timer.

A final word about Aces High

Our forums are there for your convenience. Use them, don’t use them; choose the best path for you so you can become an active member of the Aces High community. Strap on your flight helmet and fly the skies with Aces High. Since 2000 we have been the gold standard of combat flight simulators.