Trends in the Gaming Industry
Video gaming has become more sophisticated, from playing virtual tabletop games on a personal computer to playing games on a console such as the Xbox. A video game is simply an electronic game which involves interaction with an external user interface or device, such as a handheld controller, joystick, gun, or video display device, to produce visual output. The more complex a game is, the more intricate its user interface may be. Video gaming is increasingly becoming an international phenomenon, with players from all walks of life participating in competitive gaming tournaments around the world.
In most countries, the majority of people who regularly play video games spend time online rather than playing at arcades. With the popularity and wide variety of e consoles available to consumers, online gaming has been revolutionized by the emergence of esport, which refers to professional computer or online game playing. Professional gamers have achieved near celebrity status in recent years, with many media outlets reporting that they receive six or more hours of game play every single day. As a result of this surge in interest in competitive gaming and the evolution of new technologies, new e sports have emerged. One of these is League of Legends, a multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) whose popular online phase began in 2021 with the release of the game World of Warcraft.
While the success of World of Warcraft has fuelled the growth of e-sports, another upcoming e sport that has the potential to revolutionize the gaming market is Cloud Gaming. Cloud gaming revolves around using internet connections to allow players to “rent” or purchase gaming computers, network resources, and software on the World Wide Web. The idea is that you rent your own gaming hardware and software and access them through the internet. In theory, this opens the door for players to rent equipment whenever they feel the need for it. The idea is very similar to what subscription services for video games use, where customers require a certain amount of game time each month in order to keep the service and buy new stuff.
Another major trend in the field of gaming technology is the incorporation of mobile devices into the average user’s gaming experience. Smart phones have proven to be very handy while playing computer games, as they allow users to view game interfaces on the go. In addition, most smart phones have high-speed wireless networks which allow the connection of streaming media such as video games to television sets. Even though this technology seems fairly new, it has been very well received by the gaming industry, as it presents new avenues for players to enjoy gaming to the fullest while saving money on expensive gaming devices. Furthermore, with more people turning to smartphones and cloud computing for their everyday computing needs, this type of gaming is here to stay.
As online gaming devices continue to evolve, companies producing these devices will find new ways to exploit the growing importance of gamers. Just as mobile devices are able to streamline gaming experiences to fit the user’s lifestyle, so too will companies find new ways to make gaming convenient. For example, some companies may offer downloadable content for a monthly fee or offer premium membership websites where players pay a fee in order to access special items and gaming modes. These special items, such as exclusive downloadable games, virtual currency, and other such privileges can encourage long-term investments in gaming time and allow gamers to develop a loyalty to gaming. Furthermore, some companies may develop tie-ins with social networking sites, such as Facebook, which allows users to chat with friends while playing their favorite games.
The rapid expansion of online gaming sites and the consistent growth of gaming devices is only going to continue to boost the profits of this industry. However, companies will have to work hard to keep customers happy as gaming device and company content expand both in scope and popularity. In order to succeed, companies will need to provide an experience that surpasses traditional entertainment and social interaction. In the end, gaming will continue to be a fixture of the modern world.