Who knew that when the first “computer game” debuted as a Westinghouse display at the World’s Fair in 1940, that online gaming, as we know it today, would even exist? According to an industry report issued by Spil Games in 2013, approximately 1.2 billion people play video games, and an estimated 700 million people focus their play on online gaming. Jump ahead a couple of years, and it’s safe to say that these numbers have increased greatly, particularly as online gaming technology continues to evolve, impress, and improve.
What Draws Us In?
If you’ve ever wondered, “What’s so great about gaming?” think again, billions of people can’t be wrong, right? Granted, there will always be folks who love gaming and others that just don’t get it, but there’s more to online gaming than the ever-present stereotype of nerdy loners hanging out in the basement, cutting off all ties to the outside world. [pullquote]While gaming, like many things, may result in addiction, online gaming has numerous benefits from reducing stress at the end of a bad day at work and can even improve problem-solving skills and keep the brain sharp.[/pullquote]
If you’re an avid fan of gaming or about half of American adults, what draws you in and gets you to return day after day? Some people love online gaming for the social aspect and making connections with people, who have shared interests, all across the globe while others are attracted to the immersive and realistic graphics and/or storylines.
Realistic Graphics
If you’ve been into gaming for even just five short years, you’ve probably noticed a huge change in online gaming graphics. Today’s online gaming graphics are so realistic that it may evoke a visceral response. As your character walks through a breathtaking landscape, looking out for danger and on all sides, you may feel your pulse quicken, your heart race, and your senses heighten. Online gaming graphics are truly immersive, and it’s no wonder that we, as gamers, can get drawn into the game so easily and play for hours on end.
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VR Headsets
If you want to step up your immersive online gaming experience, try out a pair of virtual reality (VR) headsets if you haven’t already. They promise to (and do) offer a better experience than the VR pods in arcades during the 1980’s and early ‘90s, as well as Sega’s attempt at VR glasses in the early 1990’s (anyone remembers those?).
VR headsets, such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, designed to track your head movements in a 3D world, made the online gaming spotlight earlier this year. So now, instead of sitting in front of a screen and risk having peripheral distractions, VR allows the player to become one with the game and even walk around in real life, while navigating through the game. Consider all the opportunities with VR headsets. For instance, if you’re a fan of online casino games, you can feel like you’re standing right at the blackjack table and experience all the sights and sounds of an in-house casino.
What About The Future Of Online Gaming?
As we look ahead at the future of gaming, in general, online gaming is likely to have fewer challenges. As gamers continue to be more mobile and want to be able to experience the instant gratification of playing a game whenever they feel like it, online gaming is safe for the time being. As long as the graphics are immersive and realistic, players will keep playing.
VR headsets, on the other hand, will have to make some changes if they want to continue to be a “must-have” gaming accessory. Even though HTC reportedly sold 15,000 headsets in the first 10 minutes of pre-orders, it’s safe to assume that the average player won’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a headset when there are opportunities to have a similar experience in an arcade for just a fraction of the cost.
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