For those who have grown up with technology, it can be hard to believe that there was life before the internet. Even for those who were in business long before the advent of the email, our pre-digital lives seem almost impossibly slow and disjointed.
The rapid advancement of technology has made almost everything faster and easier, from storing data to communicating between offices, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a sector that hasn’t been completely revolutionised. With technology at its core, gaming has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment worldwide.
While there were plenty of people willing to risk RSI by playing early console games, the evolution of gaming technology has contributed hugely to its increasing popularity. One of the key factors in the number of gamers is the availability and quality of devices on which to play games.
Room-sized machines to the processor in your pocket
Anyone who has listened to the sound of a tape loading and watched a picture build line by line will appreciate that early gamers needed patience and plenty of free time. Gaming in the late 20th century could be quite an ordeal, but dedicated fans have always embraced the latest technology.
When mobile phone technology reached the stage where it could support games, even those as basic as snake made instant waves. The popularity of these simple mobile games created a market for an industry that is worth billions today and players have benefitted from every new advancement.
It wasn’t long before the concept of smartphones took hold and the development of apps wasn’t far behind. People could organise all aspects of their lives from their phones, but they were also embracing the idea of being able to maximise their leisure time by gaming on the go.
As the internet proliferated and smartphones became more popular, the mobile gaming industry boomed. Phone manufacturers began considering the gaming community in their designs and there are now a wide range of gaming phones to choose from.
The appeal of immersive technology
Anyone who has played a game for so long they have ended up dreaming about it will appreciate the huge strides in immersive technology and the massive difference it has made to the gaming space. Virtual reality has gone from being a fanciful idea, to becoming an awesome reality with more and more players buying headsets and more and more games being made.
There have also been dramatic changes to the quality of all the sensory input gamers get when they are playing. Better graphics make any game more exciting, and the massive improvements in sound-quality have turned gaming themes into stand-alone creative achievements.
Using technology to make gaming safer
Games developers never missed an opportunity to be at the forefront of the latest and most impressive leaps in tech, and not just in terms of graphics and gameplay. While players certainly appreciate the in-game advancements, they are even more happy to know that they aren’t about to have their bank accounts drained, or their identity stolen.
As the market for games grew, so did the need for advanced security systems to ensure that players and providers were protected. Some of the most popular games, such as traditional casino games and online gambling rely on secure online payments, and players wanted to be sure that their personal data would be handled appropriately.
The casino industry has always been quick to adopt new technology that serves its members, and the improvements in security that have been possible over the last few years are no exception. The majority of casino sites including top online slot sites are keen to earn players’ trust and many regulators insist that their licensees make use of the most cutting-edge systems to protect everyone involved.
Artificial Intelligence
As a branch of technology in and of itself, AI has been used in almost every area of the gaming sector, to the benefit of players and providers. As a tool to enhance gameplay, AI can be used to create an ever-changing and completely unique playing experience for every player, allowing entirely new worlds to be generated in less time that it would normally take to code a single scene.
AI has also been used in fraud prevention, as a tool to spot unusual betting patterns and other suspicious activity. This not only costs providers money, it also has a negative impact on the playing experience for real gamers, so the use of AI is benefiting everyone involved in the industry.
With research uncovering more opportunities and breakthroughs being made seemingly every day, it’s hard to imagine what fantastical technologies will seem commonplace to the next generation of gamers. The world of virtual reality esports is already taking off, and when the limits of reality are no longer a barrier, there really is no end to how inventive games can get.
