The Growth of the Gaming Industry
Gaming is the general term for many individual board games, computer games, online games, and video games. A computer game or video game is any electronic game that entails interaction with a user interface (the device that provides control) via input devices including a mouse, keyboard, touch screen, or even more sophisticated motion sensitive devices. Video games are typically played on personal computers, laptops, game consoles, and other portable media players. Online gaming involves game platforms that are available from a web browser over the Internet.
PC gaming refers to using a personal computer connected to a personal network to play games or perform other tasks. PC gaming experiences tend to be extremely popular among hardcore PC users. Console gaming (for handheld devices like the PSP) generally falls into the category of more casual and social uses. Video game consoles that can be hooked up to a home television usually offer both electronic games and video-based activities that can be played over the Internet or through specialized consoles.
Arcade gaming, as its name suggests, is the more active type of game playing. In most cases, this involves ” arcade” style mechanics and equipment. In fact, when you think about it, video arcade games and other similar types of modern electronic games are a type of digital real-world activity that is very similar to traditional arcades. Arcade gaming involves a variety of specialized devices that are used to create a highly lifelike setting. For example, one type of modern console that simulates video arcade game equipment is called the Wii.
What really set gaming events apart at that time was the presence of a new breed of “rogrammers and hackers”. Hackers and programmers are individuals that explore new possibilities in gaming by discovering bugs or by finding ways to bypass some of the functionality limitations of earlier consoles and games. These individuals also frequently contribute to the growth of the market for online gaming. With each new generation of consoles, the industry for online gaming grows larger as thousands of new baby boomers join the global aging population.
As the years pass, advancements in chip technology allow for even greater graphical detail in electronic games. Video-game hardware is continually getting better with each generation of consoles that are introduced to the market. Although gaming devices may have increased in size and complexity from their humble beginnings over the decades, the simple design of most console models continues to provide consumers with an incredible experience when playing video games.
One thing that continues to fuel the growth of this industry is the continued interest of younger generations in playing video games. This is primarily due to the fact that younger gamers tend to enjoy the fact that playing video games gives them the opportunity to interact with others while playing the console. With all of the available options for consumers today, it is easy to see why the gaming industry continues to grow. In the last decade, the addition of CD-based racing games to the Nintendo Wii platform has proven to be a great boon for the gaming industry. These types of additions give younger generations a chance to escape into another world beyond the monitor when playing video games.