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Armed factions shooting each other down with heavy assault weapons and getting paid for it may sound like a story about a corrupt foreign state, but thankfully it's only the latest phase in the ongoing development of online gaming.
The slaughter is all happening within the virtual worlds of games such as Counterstrike, which has become so popular that it helped to bring about the formation of the World Cyber Games tournament and launched the careers of several professional gamers. In 2004 the World Cyber Games gave away impressive prize money totalling $400,000 to the best virtual warriors.
Action games like Counterstrike may attract all the attention but you don't have to be interested in blowing people's heads off - in a virtual sense - to enjoy online gaming. In fact, you can now play everything from popular card games such as Bridge to massive multiplayer games such as Runescape online.
Even if you're simply an avid gamer and don't want to play games against real-life opponents, the internet still has plenty to offer. There is a wealth of information online that can help you unlock hidden features or just get past that ridiculously tough character at the end of level four.
Hone your skills
In the old days, if you hit an obstacle to your progress in a game and simply couldn't get any further you would usually just have to give up in frustration. Those days are largely gone thanks to the huge range of websites that offer advice on strategy and techniques for today's games.
If you've run into trouble then we'd recommend GameFAQs as your first port of call. This site contains an enormous amount of information on a huge number of games. Most of it is provided as game FAQs (frequently asked questions) or walkthroughs that provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete a game. There are already full guides available for the likes of Half-Life 2, Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault and Sid Meier's Pirates.
Another invaluable resource for those wanting to hone their skills is GameSpy. As well as providing news and reviews of upcoming games, GameSpy also serves as a great resource for help and tips on games you may already own.
A useful offshoot of the GameSpy site is Fileplanet. Here you can download patches to fix problems with current games, find add-ons to popular titles giving extra features and even get your mitts on beta (pre-release) versions of upcoming games.
For example, at present the site is offering the Substance modification (or 'mod' as it is known in gaming lingo) for Half-Life 2 and patches for the various editions of Splinter Cell to fix bugs and add various features.
GameSpy also acts as a springboard for several specialist micro sites such as RPGplanet that covers the latest role-playing games, and StrategyPlanet that caters for more cerebral gamers.
Don't forget to look out for fan sites dedicated to individual games. Some games attract a devout following and many of these fans go on to develop their own independent websites devoted to their favourite game.
For example, www.halflife2.net keeps track of mods for Half-Life 2, www.farcryhq.com has mods and patches for Far Cry and www.thesimszone.co.uk provides the latest info and tips for the Sims games. You'll also pick up great tips and cheats from other gamers in online forums (see below).
Games such as Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Train Simulator also have very active user bases that come up with their own add-ons for the software. To keep track of these you should have a look at sites such as www.simviation.com and www.train-sim.com.
If you're looking for free add-on planes for Flight Simulator, check out sites such as www.fsdome.com or flyawaysimulation.com. For Train Simulator extras have a look at www.uktrainsim.com and www.virtual-rail.co.uk.
Play with others online
While the web may be great for finding tips and game add-ons, the real action lies in playing against human opponents. Online gaming works best if you have a fast PC to ensure smooth running, and a broadband connection to ensure limited delay during play. However, less graphically demanding titles or older games can be played online using older hardware and a dial-up connection.
The latest titles generally have built-in online features that allow you to find and join in games taking place on the internet. If a game has built-in online features then check the manual to find out how to use them.
For example, in Doom 3 all you have to do is make sure your internet connection is active, run the game and then select the Multiplayer option from the main menu. To start playing online, simply choose a game and click on the Join Game button.
Ahead of the game
Some games, especially older ones, may not have these types of features built in so you'll need to use a dedicated gaming website such as GameSpy Arcade to get hooked up with other players. In fact, hardcore gamers tend to use these services even with the latest games because they often offer links to faster servers that suffer less from delays in the action.
During the installation process, untick the box for upgrading to GameSpy Tools as this is a paid-for service. Once the program starts it will scan your PC for any installed games that are supported. You then choose a nickname and a password for your account.
Once logged in you'll find a list of your installed games on the left-hand side of the screen. To join an online game all you have to do is click on the game you want to play and then double-click on a server from the list that appears in the middle of the screen. The game will then automatically be launched.
Of course there is another type of game that is designed to be played exclusively through its own gaming service. These games are often referred to as MMORPGs (or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games). To play these games you generally have to pay a monthly subscription to a role-playing website. Titles such as Star Wars Galaxies and the hugely popular Ultima Online are leading examples.
If you fancy having a go at an MMORPG try playing Runescape at www.runescape.com. The free game runs in an internet browser and uses the same graphics technology used on many website animations. Essentially it's a Dungeons and Dragons-type game but there is always a massive number of players online at any time. You can access extra game features by paying a subscription fee of $5 (about £3) a month.
Old school
Playing computer games online doesn't have to be all about high-octane thrills. There are also many more traditional games that can be played on the web. Obviously online poker tournaments have been a big success story for gambling websites such as www.paradisepoker.com and www.888.com, but you must sign up with a credit card and, if you lose your stash, you pay up for real.
There are less risky card games to play. Despite its relatively low profile, Bridge is very popular and sites such as www.bridgeclublive.com allow players to hook up with others who share their hobby.
Some of the games built into Windows XP can also be played online, including Spades, Checkers and Backgammon. For other online versions of more traditional games such as Scrabble and Mahjong, try the Games.com site, which is backed by Hasbro, or Zone.com, which has been set up by Microsoft.
Friendly fire
If you hit an impasse in a game there's no need to keep banging your head against a brick wall; get some help instead. Your first port of call should always be the FAQs and walkthroughs provided on the gaming sites, but if you can't find the answer in these then you should turn your attention to forums.
Most of the major gaming sites run forums. Essentially they are digital notice boards that allow you to read through different questions that other users have posted and the replies that more experienced gamers have left to help them out. Naturally you can also post your own questions if you can't find the answer to your query in the posts that are already on the forum.
Forums are a handy way of finding help when you're stuck in a particular part of a game. Check out the forums at sites such as Gamefaqs, Gamespy, Gamespot, Planethalflife and others. And don't forget to help other gamers if you know the answer to a question they have posted.
Play time
As kids we learned that playing games with others is much more fun than playing by yourself and so it is in today's online world. However, sometimes the standard of the players online can initially be a bit intimidating for the casual gamer.
But if you use gaming websites and online forums to pick up tips, you'll soon be able to join in with the best of them. So whether you're into simulators, strategy games or all-out blasters, you'll find there are people across the globe who are only too keen to test their might against you in a friendly online battle.
Hard man hardware
Before you test your mettle against other players online you'll need some top-notch add-ons to help you tame your favourite games. Here are some of the best and quirkiest controllers on the market at the moment.
Logitech Extreme PC Gaming Headset
www.logitech.com
Many games offer players the ability to talk to one another while they play. This headset is just the ticket for taunting gamers as it's got a noise-cancelling microphone and a remote with volume control and mute functions. Price: £25
Ideazon Zboard
www.zboard.com
Fed up with trying to learn complicated keyboard shortcuts for the latest games? The Zboard has a layout that is designed specifically for use in games and you can even use removable keyboard surfaces that are tailored specifically to individual titles. Price: £50
Saitek X52 Flight Control System
www.saitek.com
If you're serious about flight simulators you'll need a serious controller. They don't come much more imposing than the X52 Flight Control System. It's a flight stick and throttle unit that's even got its own LCD display. Price: £100
Belkin Nostromo N52 Speedpad
www.belkin.co.uk
Designed specifically for first-person shooter fans, this weird contraption combines keyboard and gamepad functions into a single device, giving you quick access to the most important buttons. Price: £32
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