Years ago, society saw technology making its life easier, and it was good. Still, great minds pondered "What will people do with all the extra time technology will afford them?" As the new century plods along, it appears technology itself has solved the problem. Internet sites offer thousands of free games for people needing to wile away the hours. This article will tell you about these online gaming sites, and the societies they create. It will also give you ideas of some new games for both single- and multiple-users, as well as some of the potential pitfalls of free online games.

Hold on to Your Cash

First of all, let it be known that this article is in regards to "free" Internet games. We have heard on the grapevine that there are hundreds of Web sites out there - based in places like Tonga, Peru, Bora-Bora, etc. - that offer gaming especially for gamblers. Needless to say, this article is not about those types of sites or games. Nor is it about multi-player role-player games (RPGs). With some of the info-laden RPGs available today, one would need extra bandwidth, along with an on-call anthropologist and sociologist to figure out the complicated dynamics of such games. No, this article is about the freebies - those simple, easily available online games that can get any of us addicted.

Where are the Free Games?

A recent study showed that the world economy loses more than 7 trillion man-hours of work per month due to people playing games in the office. OK, that's not true, though serious gamers likely looked at that number and thought, "That sounds about right." The reason for this is the easy availability of free online games. Type the word "games" into any search engine and you will come up with nearly a half-billion hits (that one is true). The free game sites run from the massive - Yahoo offers nearly 200 free games and can have as many as 200,000 people playing at any given time - to smaller sites that have just a handful of games and a small cadre of loyal players. Check around and you should be able to find a game site that seems suited just for you.

What Games are Offered: Single-Player

Remember the thrill you got as a child when you were taught how to play solitaire? Well, at Internet gaming sites you can take that feeling to the nth degree. There are literally thousands of variations of the game solitaire at game sites, with varying rules and gimmicks, all based on the popular card game. Tetris is another game that has received countless re-makings on game sites, tough we can't promise players they won't be connecting and assorting blocks in their sleep. Other single-player options include word games (crossword puzzlers have found their Mecca on the Internet), board, sports and arcade games. As an added plus, many sites keep track of high-scores and rankings on single-user games, giving the player a competitive push.

What Games are Offered: Multi-Player

So competing against yourself is great and all, but you're the type of person that needs to beat another person at a game to get that competitive rush that you need? No problem, friend, you are not alone. There are virtual hectares of games awaiting you with gaggles of opponents sitting in front of their computers awaiting battle. With poker having a recent surge in popularity, there are numerous tables with a spot for you to place your bets (in pretend, cyber money, that is). There are also word games, including many variations of the game Scrabble, virtual billiard and other types of sporting games, and old favorites like chess, checkers and dominoes. To spice up the competition, many sites will keep track of a player's overall ranking against other active players.

It Takes a Community

Many games will also come with a chat feature. With many of the games held in a main "room" (usually with a witty name like "Card Sharks" for a gin or cribbage game, etc.), people can become regulars in a room and meat interesting people. Of course, there will be disinteresting people, as well, and the opportunity to shut off the chat feature will usually exist. Still, the chat room makes for a good place to get some kudos for your latest high score. Also, some of the larger Web sites with games have also bred an entirely new type of site: Gaming community sites. Here, you can often find tournaments with others that share your gaming passion.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

The vast majority of games rooms will need a member to sign-up, which is normally free. Always, however, remember to check the rules and requirements of a site before joining. Many games are run using Java or Shockwave, which, if not already installed on your computer, are easily available for download on the Internet. Also, many sites will require the use of cookies on your computer. This is generally not a problem, however, be prepared to check your computer regularly for viruses and spyware, though neither should be labeled a great threat to your computer for the most part.

And while the earlier line about 7-trillion man-hours being lost was in jest, but make no mistake, there are plenty of us who have snuck in some gaming while on the clock. Like with any addictive substance (OK, I can't prove some of these games are addictive, but those of you that have felt a game's grip should understand), be careful to know your limits. Then you'll be able to really enjoy those times when there's nothing else or better to do than to jump into a game of trivia with friends from all over the globe.