We live in times when we all have multiple large screens in our homes as well as always carry one in our pockets. Whether you’re bored at home on a rainy autumn evening or need to pass time on a long haul flight, entertainment is available at your fingertips whenever you want it. It wasn’t always so easy, though. So, today, let’s take a brief trip in history and explore the evolution of digital entertainment.
Arcades and early consoles
One of the first examples of digital gaming, as we know it today, was in the arcades and the 1970s were known as the golden age for them. After the introduction of the very first video game, Computer Space, these venues quickly became buzzing social hubs.
Soon after, however, the first at-home console was introduced to the world – the Magnavox Odyssey by Ralph Baer. In 1973, this invention became available to the American public, who were able to plug it into their own TVs.
However, Magnavox Odyssey was quickly overshadowed by other industry giants, such as Atari and Nintendo, who were originally leading the arcade industry. Although big and clunky, their gaming consoles allowed friends and family to enjoy video games from the comfort of their own home.
The internet revolution
Although originally invented in the 1960s, it wasn’t until the late 80s that the internet became commercially accessible. But, once it did, it took the gaming industry by storm. Suddenly, any physical boundaries of the living room disappeared – the internet connected players from across the globe, introducing the concept of MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games).
One of the first popular MMORPGs included Island of Kesmai and Neverwinter Nights, which were still quite primitive and text-based. However, they created new communities, making gaming a global socialising activity. With years, they developed into more advanced versions, with the likes of Runescape gaining huge popularity (they have more than 300 million registered player accounts worldwide).
Today’s digital playground
Today, online gaming is more diverse than ever. As huge global hits like Counter Strike and Fortnite continue to grow in popularity, gaming has evolved from just a hobby. We now have professional players competing in packed arenas over massive prize pools. The tournaments are so big and competitive that they have spectators placing bets on their favourite teams on Olybet.
In fact, watching live streams of professional gamers has recently become a common form of entertainment. Some gamers prefer watching over playing, spending a lot more of their time on streaming platforms like Twitch. The most popular streamer in the world, Ninja, has a whopping 19.2M followers on the platform.
It’s safe to say that online gaming is no longer attached to a few popular devices. A digital entertainment platform can be anything, from an online game to a streaming platform, where you can watch and support other players.
What’s next?
So, what does the future of gaming look like? One of the biggest trends we see is innovative technologies like AI and VR, which are shaking up the industry with even more accessible and immersive games. And, with continuous expansion in possibilities, we can be sure that there will be unexpected surprises along the way!