Gaming has become insanely popular over the years. More people than ever are playing games — whether that’s video games, online casino games or arcade games. And more often these days, they’re not you’re stereotypical ‘gamer’. Almost every type of person, from across age groups, are getting into gaming; in fact, so much so that the global gaming industry reached over $125 billion in 2018 — a number that’s been growing ever since. That’s due, in large part, to the impact that technology has had on gaming.
So, what exactly has technology’s influence been on gaming? And why are so many people playing games? Here are the most exciting advancements in the industry that’s got the world talking about (and playing) games.
The importance of mobile
Mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, have absolutely changed the way we live our day-to-day lives. This includes everything from working — which has become increasingly remote — to connecting with friends and family through social media channels. It’s also transformed the way we enjoy our entertainment. Now more than ever, people are getting their entertainment experiences on the go, or accessing it from the comforts of home via their mobile devices. This includes of course, film and television programmes but also gaming experiences.
The accessibility of gaming through mobile has encouraged more people — of different backgrounds — to play games. This is because it’s so much easier to play a game on the go; indeed, mobile gaming has even changed the age-old stereotype of a gamer sitting at a massive desktop set up. Anyone can now enjoy a game from the palm of their hand. More games now are made with mobile in mind — whether that’s the versions of the original console or PC games being given a second version, or that the games are only available to play on mobile in their entirety. The evolution of technology in smartphones — including graphics, video and sound have continued to fuel this trend.
Bringing the casino experience home
Casino games, in one format or another, have been around for hundreds of years. And while the casino experience itself only became popularised in the latter half of the twentieth century, they’ve certainly become a cultural institution. Many people are fans of the casino experience and all the gaming (and hospitality) opportunities they have on offer around the world.
Technology has had a huge impact on casino games in two different ways. First off, the games at the land-based casinos themselves have improved dramatically, with exciting options like video slots and more interactive gaming experiences. The other influence it’s had on casinos, is the move to online slots and casinos. Now, people who enjoy casino games can enjoy their favourites at any time of day or night, any day of the week, from their mobile phone or electronic device. Remote gambling now accounts for a huge percentage of gambling revenue, and online casinos are constantly competing with incredible bonuses and offers to attract new customers. It’s certainly an exciting time for casino game lovers, whether you’re enjoying the land-based or online variations.
Internet Gaming
The widespread adoption of the internet gave rise to what many people now associate with gaming: multiplayer games. Online multiplayer games are some of the most popular with gamers as they can connect and play with both friends and strangers from across the globe, making it a truly interactive and dynamic experience. It’s become a social norm to play games like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty and Fortnite with others in the gaming community — and the release of big titles continue to attract new players all the time.
Home internet connections are constantly improving, meaning that the games are faster, better visually and in terms of sound, and more enjoyable to play.
3D Gaming
The rise of three dimensional experiences have had their own impact on games. While 3D games have existed since the late eighties, as the technology around 3D has improved so has the quality of games. 3D really enhances a player’s ability to immerse themselves in the gaming world, and it’s likely this technology will continue to grow into the future.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
Another type of technology that has the ability to make games more immersive for players are augmented and virtual reality. The difference between the two is simple, but often confused: augmented reality allows you to change and add to the world around you, whereas virtual reality takes you into a different one. Augmented reality is most often experienced these days through our devices. The popularity of mobile game Pokemon Go is a great example.
With virtual reality, users must wear a device on their heads and view through the screen with headphones in. There are hundreds of VR and AR games being created, with the aim to make the experiences more immersive than ever before.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is one of those areas that’s continuing to have a widespread affect on all things tech-related, but also when it comes to games. Widely used throughout games, AI plans game movement, engages players and helps bring characters to life. AI can be a set of rules that are used to govern behaviour of characters in the game. And advancements to the AI tech mean that these characters are becoming almost as real as if they were another player. It’s certainly exciting to think of the potential for AI and all that it offers the tech and gaming communities.