Video games have accomplished a lot since they were first invented over half a century ago. In this day and age, many of the games that we play blur the lines between reality and the fictional world of gaming. They come with immersive technologies that none of us ever thought that we would ever experience in our lifetime. Take an example of the thrill that you’ll experience when you play free slots at Slotozilla. In the 70s no one would have believed that it would ever be possible to play slot machine online, without spending a single cent!
Throughout history, there have been different markers that paved the way for the evolution of gaming as we know it. Over the past two decades, there are a handful of technological innovations that led to a radical change in how players interact with games. To pay homage to the astute innovators who moved mountains in the gaming world let’s take a look at some of the most outstanding technological advancements that revolutionized gaming.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI, short for Artificial Intelligence, has been introduced in gaming over the past couple of years slowly but surely and it’s getting better. Although the first computer games such as Pong enjoyed a basic form of AI technology, what has revolutionized gaming the most is how the modern-day AIs can imitate human players. The accuracy with which AI can mimic our movements and decisions in games is getting more realistic and thus, games are also getting more immersive.
Online Gaming
These days nearly all games are mainly meant for online gaming, or they come with an element of online gaming built-in. Basic games like Candy Crush, for instance, don’t require you to go online, but you can log on to the platform to enjoy additional features such as playing with friends. On the other hand, an excellent example of online-only games is the new riveting genre of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG) such as Fortnite and PUBG.
Thanks to gaming over the internet, gone are the days when you could only play multiplayer games while having your friends physically next to the console of the computer. These days, you can link up with millions of other gamers around the world anytime.
Better yet, online is one of the best advancements for the industry as it eliminated the need for players to go to arcades or casinos for the case of gamblers. Today, you can enjoy your favorite game right where you are as long as you are connected to the internet.
Smartphones and Gaming Apps
Before smartphones came, most cellphones featured games such as Tetris or Snake, but that was just but a shadow of what coming. As smartphones gained massive popularity worldwide, a new era of gaming was ushered in. Most gamers today prefer gaming on mobile devices via dedicated applications as it is easy to carry your favorite game with you whenever you are.
The Rise of 3D
Given that practically all modern-day games feature 3D rendered characters and environments, it’s difficult to think about how gaming was without 3D. While the first 3D games started showing up on the map in the ‘70s and ‘80s, it was not until the ‘90s s that 3D games went mainstream. And even then, most of the early 3D games didn’t have the best appearance, and in certain instances, it was very difficult or awkward to play them. Compared to today when technology has gotten better in every way, games such as NFS Shift, Call of Duty: Black Ops and Quake transformed gaming by taking games to dimensions that no one would imagine possible.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Might Be the Next Big Thing
The next big step forward in the gaming industry might be becoming. As technology continues to evolve, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) become is getting more accessible. Right now, we require more powerful devices and some extra gadgets to experience VR and AR but just like 3D in the next decade or so, the two technologies will be part of our everyday life.
According to IDC, both the augmented reality and virtual reality might market will radically shoot up to $215 billion by 2021, a positive deviation of $206 billion compared to 2018. Such an unbelievable growth rate would make VR and AR the fastest growing industries in the world. Aren’t you excited about the future? Let’s all cross our fingers and hope that a mature VR and AR market will match all the hype!
