The gaming industry has come a long way since the 1970s, when it was regarded as a niche hobby for nerdy computer enthusiasts locked in their bedrooms. Today, gaming is a global phenomenon that attracts not only millions of players, but spectators too, with elite gamers playing to packed out arenas and achieving worldwide fame.
Gaming is now an activity that appeals to all age groups and walks of life, turning it into a multi-billion-dollar industry that surpasses film and music in terms of revenue. It is also a driving force for innovation and creativity, pushing the boundaries of technology, art, storytelling, and culture.
Since the emergence of the home console in the 1970’s and the introduction of iconic titles such as Pong, Space Invaders, and Pac-Man, gaming has undergone both a revolution and an evolution. But what are the key technological advances that helped create this cultural shift, and what are the new technologies that will shape the future of gaming?
Internet:
There is no denying that the internet has been a game-changer for the gaming industry, allowing online gaming, multiplayer gaming, cloud gaming, and live streaming. Now players can access games from anywhere and at any time, by using devices such as computers, consoles, smartphones, and tablets.
Nowhere has online gaming proven more successful than online casinos, with gamers able to access all the classic casino action from the comfort of their own homes. Physical casinos are restricted by opening hours, geographical location, and size, whereas online casinos are accessible to players whenever and wherever they are, provided they have an internet connection.
Smart Phones:
Today, a huge part of the global population has a smartphone which means access to a world of gaming is only a touch of a button away for many of us. From casual players looking to pass the time, to those wanting a more immersive and interactive experience, there’s a mobile game experience out there to suit everyone.
The advent of the smart phone has made gaming more flexible than ever before, and not just through their access to gaming. Gamers wanting to try their hand at the casino, can even use pay by phone casino, a simple payment method that allows gamers to easily play online slots and casino games on their smart phones.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Although AI has been used in gaming for decades, often to create realistic and challenging opponents for players, it has never quite lived up to its billing. However, as the technology has improved, today’s incarnation of AI has opened up multiple possibilities, such as:
- Procedural generation
- Adaptive difficulty
- Dynamic storytelling
- Personalized content
AI can also enhance the social aspect of gaming, by creating lifelike characters, realistic facial expressions, and natural language interactions. The advance of AI has allowed games developers to
provide players with console-like experiences across multiple device types, making games accessible to a wider audience, not just those in possession of high-end graphics consoles.
Virtual Reality (VR)
VR can make players feel like they are fully immersed inside the game world by using headsets, controllers, and motion sensors, providing a gaming experience unlike any other. That could mean enjoying the thrill space travel, or simply visiting a casino for a game of Blackjack – all from the comfort of your own home.
By using high-resolution graphics, spatial audio, haptic feedback, 3D and more, VR has been used to create amazing gaming experiences across a wide variety of genres, such as action, adventure, horror, and sport.
Online casinos have utilised this technology to allow players to enjoy hyper realistic and social casino games from the comfort of their homes, allowing players to interact with each other as well as the croupier.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Considered by many to be the future of gaming, AR is an exciting development that combines the real and virtual worlds, creating a unique and immersive playing experience. It does this by overlaying digital images onto the user’s real-world view, integrating virtual objects into their surroundings.
While the costs and technology have not yet combined to fully utilise the capabilities of this technology, it has already been used to great effect in the blockbuster game Pokémon Go. That success only highlighted the potential for revolutionizing gaming that Augmented Reality possesses.
The Next Frontier
As the gaming industry and its revenues continue to grow, so too does competition in the sector as more entrants seek a piece of the lucrative gaming pie. That competition drives innovation in technology, as competitors seek to gain an advantage.
The winners in all of this are the players, who get to play ever more entertaining, technologically advanced games. And with so many great games out there to choose from, there’s never been a more exciting time to be a gamer.
