How Technology Affected the Gaming Industry
The gaming industry consists of two main branches; or sub-categories. One is video games, and the other one is casino games. Both of these categories have been heavily influenced by developments in the technological or hardware department. Not only that but the way these games are designed has also been affected. Today we have video games with lots of RNG or luck-based elements, and casino games that require players to rely on their skills.
Even payment technologies have an impact on the design, or overall monetization of this content. Nowadays, you can easily get a refund for a digital copy of the game you don’t like, or simply try it out before you buy it. As for casinos, players have access to no deposit bonus promotions, and cashback offers, and can even play the games for free before they bet money. So, let’s see just how much of an impact the tech industry had on the gaming industry.
Improved Graphics in Video and Casino Games
In an excellent article on how Nvidia GPUs have evolved through the ages, the Nvidia graphic card is charted from its humble beginning in 1995 as the NV1 or Diamond Edge 3D for which a number of Sega Saturn games were ported to the PC with the favorites at the time; Panzer Dragoon and Virtua Fighter Remix - to the state of the art Nvidia GeForce 3090 Ti series we’re all keen to get our hands on but can’t because of chip shortages.
Nowadays, online games don’t just have to look even better, they have to be optimized for mobile devices as well. The goal is to make content more accessible rather than make it look amazing and demanding. When it comes to triple-A titles the hardware capabilities give developers more freedom. Today they use motion capture technology to make in-game characters feel more real, and you really feel like you are playing in an interactive movie or TV series.
More Indie Developers
You would think that competing in this market is more difficult than ever, and wouldn’t exactly be wrong. However, there is also a mobile gaming market, and you will find that most indie studios are focused on developing content for mobile users. Over 80% of the world’s population owns a smartphone, which is over 6 billion users. So, it makes more sense to focus on this demographic than to develop content exclusively for people who own the latest console or top-notch PC.
Additionally, graphics aren’t the only important element when it comes to games. Gamers are primarily interested in having fun, testing their skills, or having a good laugh. You don’t need graphics to achieve this. Engaging mechanics, thought-provoking puzzles, and witty dialog can go a long way in this industry.
More Immersive Content VR
For some time now, developers have been focused on revolutionizing the way we play games. Even in the past 2 decades, we had games that required players to be more physically active rather than sit on their couch. However, these were mostly dancing experiences, which are in all honesty still fun today. But now we have access to VR technology, and that can be massive going forward. The current VR experiences are still fun, but they are not living up to the hype. Players imagine more immersive worlds and expect developers to mimic The Matrix or Ready Player One movies.
Admittedly we are not there yet, but it’s not something that won’t become a reality at one point. Even now we have extremely responsive and engaging VR titles that require players to be more agile and precise with their movement. Moreover, there are even a few VR casinos, which can be a nice upgrade for those looking to get a more authentic experience. Up until this point, the most innovative content online casinos could offer was live dealer games.
Monetization
Finally, we should talk about how games are now monetized thanks to advancements in technology. You can see that many titles are free to play and they rely on selling in-game cosmetics or items in order to generate revenue. Additionally, there are titles that rely on a subscription model, and also regular games that are monetized through purchasing updates or DLCs. Given the higher production costs, these models make a lot of sense.
The problem that the industry faces due to this monetization model is franchise fatigue. Payers love to have a big community and invest their time playing something that will be relevant for years to come. However, sooner or later you get bored and player numbers start to dwindle. So, abandoning the project feels like betraying the existing player base, but continuous investment in the same game also starts to feel counterproductive.