Television and film better watch their backs. There is a new sheriff in town and passive entertainment is in big trouble. The active entertainment era of online games is upon us and if you have any doubts, do a Google search for "Casual Games" and see what you get back. Each of those millions of sites offers a different set of gaming options to sink your teeth into. Even the most avid video gamer could spend a lifetime playing and never half of those web sites.

Video games have been around for a long time, why would television and film suddenly be in trouble? Games have even been in our homes for decades and people did not watch any less TV. What is different this time around? There are three reasons that this time is different.

The Writers Strike
If you have not heard about this on the news you have likely noticed the complete lack of programming on television. The first shows to feel the pinch have been late night talk shows and comedies. From the very first days of the strike programs like The Daily Show and Late Night started showing reruns. If you are a fan of those shows you know that what makes them work is their fresh take on current events. Reruns get boring very quickly. Primetime shows are close behind, running out of episodes that were written before the strike. The strike will take a few more months to impact film but as the content runs out people are going to looking for entertainment options to fill the void. Online games are the perfect substitute. They are widely available, can be played on a machine you already have in your house (your computer) and offer a little something for everyone. Online games a clear winner in the writers strike.

Online Gaming is Better than Ever
Recent improvements in the games themselves as well as the wide spread acceptance of broadband has make online games more interesting than ever. With a huge range of games to choose from everyone in the house can find one to enjoy. The game graphics are excellent. The games are challenging without being impossible and the whole experience is better than ever.

People are More Demanding
People want flexibility in their entertainment options and television and movies are not equipped to offer that. Most of us want something we can take with us and enjoy in small or large increments. TV rarely offers anything shorter than 30 minutes and films are usually two hours long. Online games can be played anytime for any amount of time. If you have ten minutes until your next appointment you can complete a level or two of your favorite game. Are you really going to watch 10 minutes of television in that time?

If you thought you would never get into video games, guess again. The era of online gaming is upon us and games will continue to gain in popularity. Try some of the card games as an entry point. You might be surprised at how much fun you have. From there you can move on to search or match games. Once you have mastered those games, the options are limitless.