The entertainment world, specifically that part of it devoted to gaming, has been part of our lives for many years now. In the past, people played straightforward card and board games, whereas now the modern day sophisticated consoles and mobile devices have changed the face of the industry. It seems clear that further technological advancement represents the future of gaming, but what forms might it take?
One of the big debates concerns whether consoles or mobile devices represent the future of gaming. Gaming on a mobile platform has the huge advantage of being something you can do virtually anywhere, with many viewing that as the point that tips the balance in favour of this form. There is no question that many developers are focusing a lot of their attentions on mobile gamers, including the likes of Konami, but that doesn’t mean console gaming is dead. After all, while mobile games such as Candy Crush have introduced games to a larger range of people – notably a wider female demographic – a fair number of those follow that up by purchasing games consoles for AAA titles like Grand Theft Auto. Furthermore, the traditional gamer – typically young men – still opt for console gaming as a way of combining this with socialising. We are likely to see both console and mobile gaming increasing in popularity, with the result that games themselves reach a more varied demographic.
Certainly, the availability of mobile casino games has seen the numbers of consumers choosing to play these increasing steadily. Online casino started this process, by attracting those who were not the typical users of traditional land-based casinos. This could develop further in the future with the potential integration of persistent virtual casino worlds in 100 years’ time. The move by online casino sites to adapt by providing mobile-friendly versions of these sites has furthered it by ensuring that playing slots and blackjack can now be incorporated into a busy working day.
Constantly evolving technology in gaming is key to the future, and another major point of contention is the battle between the Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) platforms for supremacy. The main difference is that VR is totally artificial, whereas AR is a blend of games-world and real-world elements. Both have their supporters – with Microsoft backing the AR HoloLens, while Facebook has supported the VR Oculus – but the differences may mean there is room for both. AR may find its niche as more of a social gaming phenomenon, with VR offering a more solitary alternative in a fictional environment.
One thing is for sure, gaming is something that is very much part of the future – with one predicted trend being the rise of older gaming fans moving forward. Through a combination of people discovering this activity at a later age, or simply reaching retirement age as a long-time gamer, this will see more games being created to suit older audience – in the same way that we are now seeing games created for a specifically female audience.
What all this makes clear is that gaming is developing in more than one direction, with endless exciting possibilities for the future of this activity.
