5 Ways Technology and AI Are Changing The Gaming Industry
The gaming industry is currently experiencing a boom, putting out bigger, better, more immersive games to wide acclaim. Much of this growth is fueled by technological advances that take games to places never seen. This is true regardless of your platform of choice or the size of your screen. While acknowledge that the gaming industry owes its existence to technological advances is a bit of an understatement, the rapidity with which new technologies are created and then implemented into games is what makes this technological boom special. These advances boost game capabilities and make them more creative, engaging and visually stunning. Here are 5 ways that new technologies are transforming the gaming industry.
Mobile Games – Many years ago, games on mobile were limited to games like Snake II played on the backlit monochrome graphic LCD display of phones like the Nokia 3310. However, now games have come so far. Because of advances in mobile phone technology, playing a high-quality game on your phone is normal and doesn’t require an expensive device. When Android and OSX were created, it allowed game developers to create games more like console and PC games. Now, mobile games number in the thousands and a game exists for each interest.
Cryptocurrencies – When cryptocurrencies were invented there was no indication how much of a revolution it would kick off. Instead of a financial institution verifying financial transactions, decentralized currency allows everyone to play a part. The finance world has never seen a decentralized currency and its debut has sent ripple effects across to other industries. Crypto casinos utilize these decentralized currencies in their games. Users who play these games have a chance to win prizes while having fun.
Augmented Reality – Augmented reality (AR) is technology that is finding increasing applicability in gaming. Anyone familiar with the highly popular Pokémon Go would have already been exposed to some form of augmented reality game. Augmented extends gaming into real life by enhancing the environment around us. AR tends to add game elements to the surroundings, in so doing, making our entire surroundings part of the game tapestry. However, AR is mostly found on games played on the small screen.
Virtual Reality – Virtual Reality (VR) is a widely used technology that increases the immersivity of games. With the aid of wearable technology such as sensor-equipped gloves, headsets and hand controllers VR helps users submerge themselves in a virtual game environment while simulating real life. Although VR is often confused with AR, the two are quite different technologies. Whereas AR overlays game elements to real life, VR immerses the user into an entire virtual world. VR also excludes the outside world from the players perception whereas AR embraces the outside world through the use of graphic overlays.
Streaming – If you’re not a gamer, watching as someone else plays a game doesn’t sound at all interesting. However, streaming gameplay is now a massive and inextricable component of playing and enjoying games. Streamers use a variety of platforms on which to broadcast their own gameplay. Currently, the two major platforms that attract the most streamers and viewers are YouTube and Twitch. Streaming is a major pastime for gamers and the top streamers have followers that number in the millions. Their earnings also compare to that of professional athletes. What makes streaming valuable, is its ability to create a sense of community and also to expose users to new games they may one day consider purchasing.
With new technological advancements being revealed each day, games will continue to become funner, more immersive and display an increasing brilliance. Technology and innovation go hand-in-hand and there is no telling what the next generation of games will look like.