If you have played any sort of online social game on Facebook,or through any other gaming site, you have most likely fell victim to a glitch or two. Seasoned gamers have figured out how to sidestep these roadblocks to game play through trial and error, but what do you do if you are new to the social gaming set? First of all, don't panic. It does happen to everyone. It may be hard not to get frustrated, and most of us have considered throwing our monitors out the window when they occur, but it is not the end of the world. And, it is usually not reason enough to give up the game. Just remember that browser based applications (BBA) are prone to glitches.

If you have not already done so, you might consider downloading Firefox. A lot of gamers swear by Mozilla's browser, as it responds a bit quicker than Explorer, and seems a bit less prone to errors. It will not eliminate problems, but once you start using it for games you might find yourself using it for all of your internet activities.

Once you have the new browser installed, you will most likely see an immediate difference in the way your game reacts. Mozilla's browser is a smart browser and it will notify you if you need different plug ins to play the game. In most cases it will automatically locate, download, and install the necessary plug in with just a few confirmation clicks of your mouse.

Keep in mind that not all problems with games are attributed to glitches. For example, when playing Farm Town, players used to experience severe lag times that would result the game relaunching them back to their home farm. This was not so much a glitch as it was the result of the popularity of the massively multi player online game (MMO). So many players were playing, and so much data was flying back and forth, that the servers just simply could not accommodate the traffic. One of the best ways to combat problems associated with lag is simply to slow down and play your game more deliberately. Let things like experience, and coinage, register before you move onto the next task. Zynga has since remedied the issue, but lag related issues can occur with any game.

Users of the role playing game (RPG,) Mafia Wars are no stranger to the dreaded glitch. They often find themselves clicking uncontrollably just trying to get their game to do something.... ANYTHING. Little blue and white boxes pop up notifying them of a "minor issue," and then suddenly they are informed that they don't have enough energy to complete the task as every click of the mouse is registered simultaneously. Again, this issue is most likely related to lag, and their best defense would have been to stop clicking, and wait it out. But, what do you do if things just seem to be suspended without hope of an end? Try hitting the refresh button in your browser tool bar. Let things reload, and see if you are back on track.

Most problems with glitches can simply be corrected by hitting the refresh or recycle arrow. If that doesn't work, go back to the home page, and relaunch the program. Sometimes the simplest maneuver can make the biggest difference in correcting problems. Other times you may have to go the next step and clear the cache on your browser. Problems with games are not always related to the game itself. Sometimes the player's own computer is the culprit, and a quick clearing the cache can speed things up with a game. Player's should also realize that having other tabs, on their browser, open while they are playing can have an adverse effect on the speed of a game. Furthermore, if you have scheduled maintenance, like a virus scan or hard drive defragmentation, that can cause issues as well. If you don't do virus scans (try AVG's free program)or hard drive defragmentation... then you probably should consider doing one NOW! They are simple functions, and can improve the performance of your computer, and they might fix the problem with your game.

Sometimes a game application will simply refuse to load. The browser will display an error message stating that the address does not exist. When this happens, try the refresh button first, then if that does not work try restarting your computer. A fresh boot of the operating system, and the browser, might give you access to the application. If your computer is connected through a wireless router, then you might consider powering down your router, for a minute, and letting it reset.

If these quick fixes do not work then you might try talking to other players who may know how to deal with the issue through personal experience. Check Facebook for user forums, or fan clubs. A quick search engine inquiry might lead you to places like Farm Towns unoffiicial fan club, or the Mafia Wars Forum where people congregate to pool their knowledge of the game. Chances are someone has encountered the same problem, and has figured out a way around it.

When all else fails, contact the game's developer, and report the issue. Especially if it is something you have never encountered before, and when other avenues have not yielded any results. In the case of Playdom a "help" button is included in the application. With other developers such as Slashkey, and Zynga a vist to their websites will give you access to technical support, as well as user forums, that can walk you through the issue.

The most important thing to remember about glitches is that they are a fact of life, in any computer application, and not to let them get you down. Relax, sit back, and remember... it is only a game.