The video game industry, from the development side of things, has a long way to go since it started. Starting from basic, a simple design that included the usage of 8-bit graphics and basic gameplay mechanisms that have gone a long way to develop into complex and detailed environments as can be seen today. The evolution from primitive images on the screen to expansive landscapes in games has been driven by technological growth, innovative concepts, and an increasing number of players. Being aware of this evolution also reveals the benefits of the progress of the gaming industry and at the same time shows the potential of interactional entertainment. Read the complete details of the evolution of game development from here.
The Evolution of Game Development: From 8-bit to Virtual Reality
In this article, we will look at the history of game development and try to understand key moments in the development of the industry.
The Rise of Arcade Games
The first arcade game was Pong launched in 1972; the game gained much attention within a short time. It was a tennis-based game and very simple yet provided the basics from where the games could further be developed.
During the 1980s, video games took Precedence in society especially from arcades with games like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Donkey Kong for instance. These games were characterized by easy controls and low-resolution graphics or in this case, pixellated graphics.
The Era of 8-bit Gaming
Home gaming consoles such as the Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) were introduced in the last quarter of the 1970s and first half of the 1980s respectively from when video gaming started to enter the homes of people across the globe. This started what can be referred to as the 8-bit revolution.
Games at this time were experiential with better storylines and levels as opposed to those seen in the arcade games. However, because of the limitations of the technical advancement, the graphics were comparatively more modest and pixelated.
The Introduction of 3D Graphics
The mid-1990s was a major turning point in the evolution of games primarily with technology was graphic 3D. In this era, the development of this industry was evident with the release of a Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64.
Titles that came out for N64 like Super Mario 64, Tomb Raider, and Metal Gear Solid stepped up the bar when it came to the gameplay move as well as the visuals. This period also saw the appearance of the genre of games such as First Person Shooters and the Role Playing genre of games.
The Rise of Online Gaming
The process of online gaming started with the use of the internet which was fully embraced in the late 1990s. PlayStation 2 and Xbox were other props that enabled individuals to connect online to play with people of their choice from different parts of the world.
This introduced people to new opportunities and stirred wild growth for massively multiplayer online games like World of Warcraft and EverQuest.
The Emergence of Mobile Gaming
The mobile gaming was introduced in the 2000s with the popular use of Smartphones. Prequels such as Snake and Tetris on NOKIA phones made way for other developed games on iPhone and later on the android platforms.
Nowadays, mobile gaming is a business that generates revenues in multiple billions, with people’s favorites like Candy Crush and Pokémon Go being both record-setters and multi-million players’ magnets.
The Future of Gaming
The current advancement of gaming is virtual reality and has proven to be a remarkable advancement in the industry. Due to the steadily improving technology of VR headsets and controllers, players can feel as if they are part of a game.
Games like Beat Saber, and Half-Life: The future of VR gaming has been well demonstrated by Alyx and Resident Evil 7 and the companies invested in this kind of technology are expected to expand in the future years.
The Impact of Game Development on Society
As video games are now considered as a means of entertainment, they also impact society in a way. Gaming is now a global experience that brings players of different cultures and/or beliefs together, through the use of online games.
In addition, video games in some aspects have been applied for instructional methods in enhancing players’ learning abilities as well as critical thinking skills. It has also been incorporated into the rehabilitation programs for disabled persons.
However, the escalation of late of addictive gaming and concerns about the effect on mental health have also created debates and discussions within society.
Conclusion
The evolution of game development can be analyzed from the traditional low-end graphics technology in the form of 8 bits to advanced experience in the form of virtual reality. And with such innovations in the technological realm, we can only wait to see the shape of things to come in this ever-changing sector. When it comes to future predictions like augmented reality, cloud gaming and everything in between, one certain thing is that the world of gaming continues to remain fascinating. Therefore, how about keeping our controllers charged and ready to take on the next big thing?
