Games have changed a lot over the years. Many things in history have changed, which is one of the best reasons to study history and get a degree in it. From arcade games to the first Nintendo, video games changed slowly. We used to play games on consoles, but now we play on our phones. Even the new consoles are fancier than ever, with graphics that are more detailed than ever before.
The first arcade game, Pong, came out in 1972, and the first gaming console, the Atari 2600, which sold more than 27,600,000 units, came out only five years later. Asteroids, which came out in 1979, was the most popular game for the console. In the 1980s, the famous video game Pac-Man came out, which made more than $2 billion in sales. Donkey Kong, the Nintendo Entertainment System, and John Madden’s Football for the PC all came out in the 1980s.
During the 1990s, there were a lot of changes to video games, but nothing extraordinary. We get the Super Nintendo, Mortal Kombat, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans for PC, the first Sony PlayStation, and the Nintendo 64. Most gamers will agree that the Sony PlayStation changed the whole gaming industry, even though we didn’t know it at the time.
Over the past ten years, many game consoles have come out, including the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and handheld consoles like the Nintendo 3DS. Even though console sales have gone down, more gamers are now than ever.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: The Future of Video Games Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are two new technologies that could change the way games are made. AR devices add fake things to the real world, while VR devices create a fake environment or a new reality. Both technologies can be used to make games more immersive on modern phones, tablets, and VR headsets. AR games like Pokémon and Minecraft Earth can be played by gamers right now.
Imagine being able to play your favourite video game on a VR or AR device without needing too many other gaming devices to make it work. Since VR and AR gaming already exists, players should expect that the newer gaming technologies and those that will come in the future will make the gaming experience better.
Facts Girl power- Chun-Li was one of the first female video game characters that you could play, in the game Street Fighter II. In the 1985 Taito arcade game Typhoon Gal, you could play as the first human female video game character you could control.
Sony makes the PlayStation- Sony and Nintendo worked together to make a new console that would be one of the first video game systems to play CDs. The electronics, CD player, and other parts would have been made by Sony, but Nintendo killed the project. Sony decided to keep working on the technology and turn it into the first PlayStation, which is now known all over the world.
Steam bought 50% of the games- Even though it might seem strange, only 25% of the companies that make games prefer to sell their products directly to the players (via their sites or brand stores). Some games were sold through stores owned by the publisher (like Battle.net) and retailers. But Steam was where half of all games were sold. Valve studio got 30% of the sales money, which was interesting. According to the Steam game statistics for 2019, about 25 games were added to the platform every day.
Player’s age- 32% of gamers are between the ages of 18 and 35,
The future of gaming is looking more exciting than ever, with new technologies and trends emerging every year. One of the biggest trends in recent years has been the rise of mobile gaming. With smartphones becoming more powerful and affordable, and with games like Candy Crush and Pokémon Go taking the world by storm, mobile gaming has become a huge industry. In fact, according to a report by Newzoo, mobile gaming accounts for 51% of the global gaming market, with revenues of $77.2 billion in 2020.
Another trend that is changing the gaming industry is the rise of esports. Esports, or competitive video gaming, has grown in popularity in recent years, with millions of people tuning in to watch tournaments and matches online. The biggest esports events, such as the League of Legends World Championship and The International Dota 2 Championship, offer huge prize pools and attract top players from around the world. Esports has also become a viable career path for professional gamers, with many teams and organizations offering salaries, sponsorships, and other benefits to their players.
One technology that has the potential to revolutionize gaming is virtual reality (VR). VR headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive offer immersive experiences that can transport players to new worlds and environments. Although VR has yet to go mainstream, it has already shown promise in gaming and other fields, such as education, healthcare, and military training.
Another technology that is poised to change gaming is cloud gaming. Cloud gaming allows players to stream games over the internet, without the need for powerful hardware or consoles. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have all launched cloud gaming services in recent years, and the technology has the potential to make gaming more accessible and affordable for millions of people around the world.
In conclusion, gaming has come a long way since the days of Pong and the Atari 2600. From the rise of arcade games and consoles in the 1970s and 80s, to the emergence of mobile gaming, esports, VR, and cloud gaming in recent years, the gaming industry has continued to evolve and innovate. As technology advances and new trends emerge, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for gaming and how it will continue to shape our culture and entertainment landscape.
