Humans are always known to always be on the lookout for various leisure activities to utilize their time when bored. The gaming industry is one of those areas that have attracted such people for many years. It even got better when online gaming was introduced, as it meant that gamers did not have to leave the house as remote gaming became the order of the day.
However, the online gaming platforms that we had twenty years ago are not the same as today. We were lucky to interact with Martim Nabeiro, an expert in this area who highlighted the following four observations in the modern online gaming sector:
Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence
When the internet was introduced in the 1960s, game developers saw a new opportunity with hundreds of opportunities. However, it was not until the 1980s when the foundation of gaming online was laid down. Different industries started embracing the concept, and the first-ever online casino was launched in 1996.
However, even the most sophisticated games in that era had some predetermined outcomes. It was thus limiting for players who wanted to have their best on such platforms. Some of these early games utilized AI to some extent, but there were still some limitations to its full application.
The 21st century has revolutionized the entire industry, where players can enjoy seemingly unlimited possibilities. A simple look at casino Portugal will highlight hundreds of casinos that offer gamers such opportunities. A simple game such as a football match can have more than 50 outcomes. Gamers can also now enjoy a myriad of possibilities when they are playing against machines.
Gamers can tailor a game according to their needs. The responses that gamers get are human-like and unpredictable. The experience is thus personal and immersive, unlike in the past where it felt robotic. The machine can ‘learn’ how the player is responding and act accordingly.
This technology makes it easy to interact with the person in charge of a casino gaming table through live dealing. Live dealing also employs several other technologies that will be discussed later in this article.
Blockchain
Most people cannot tell the difference between Blockchain and Bitcoin. The latter is just a single application of blockchain technology. We now have thousands of cryptocurrencies that are promising to change the financial sector. The good news is that blockchain is more than cryptocurrencies. We have hundreds of applications for blockchain technology, and the gaming sector has so far been the greatest beneficiary. You can visit this site for the best play to earn games based on the blockchain technology, such as monsta infinite, illuvium and guild of guardians.
Some of the features that make blockchain perfect for this sector include transparency and security. The online world has threats such as cyber-attacks and manipulation, where gamers end up losing their hard-earned money. Blockchain provides a safe environment where gamers can transact and follow the steps on a public ledger. The blockchain ledgers’ immutability makes it hard to change entries, which assures gamers that they are in a transparent environment.
Gamers now have some say in the development of various games. Blockchain allows open communication between players and game developers. A developer or a player can come up with a great idea to improve a certain game. The blockchain network can vote to improve or implement the new idea through the platform. We thus have games that are gamers-oriented, rather than the developer deciding on what suits players.
Payment options have been one of the biggest on-boarding challenges that casino users face in the modern era. The good news is that some casinos also allow players to stake using cryptocurrencies. This approach’s beauty is that the players do not have to deal with currency fluctuations, limitations or other challenges associated with international money transfers.
Virtual reality
A typical gaming experience involves a player sitting in a gaming arcade or the couch while playing the game projected on a screen. Such a set up tunes the player’s mind that he or she is competing against a machine. Screens, over the years, have become larger and clearer. Despite these advancements, the players are still aware of the gaming environment.
Virtual reality is now allowing players to be immersed in the gaming world. The VR headsets present a feeling that the players are part of the game instead of being aware they are sitting on the gaming chair or their couch. Thus, players can feel like they are ‘swinging the sword’, ‘scoring a goal’, or even in the ‘car racing track’ where they can change gears using VR headsets.
Gaming arcades are also investing in VR headsets where players can enjoy the ‘feeling’. Gone are the days that the headsets were a preserve of the wealthy as they are now affordable. Developers of VR headsets have also created some for home use. Players can thus purchase such devices and enjoy gaming in the comfort of their homes.
Mobile gaming is taking over
When IBM created the first smartphone in 1994, no one thought it could transform as many industries as it has done today. Mobile technology has been one of the biggest contributors to the growth of the gaming industry. The market is yet to be fully utilized in a world where more than 4 billion people have access to smartphones.
However, mobile gaming is not a new concept. There were games such as Snake (first played on Nokia) that are now classified as iconic. This game was famous long before the smartphone wave came around. Nokia made a few changes to this game and later re-released it on its later mobile phone series, such as N80.
Some games that were only available on consoles in the past can now be played on mobile devices and computers. We can now see game developers focusing on creating mobile versions for console games. The fact that the number of people who own smartphones is higher than those who are willing to spend on a console game is enough to prove that mobile gaming still has many potentials.
Conclusion
As you can see, machine learning & artificial intelligence, virtual reality, mobile gaming, and blockchain are some of the technologies revolutionizing the online gaming sector. Technology in games is something that we cannot ignore. Game developers who fail to observe the above trends are likely to be faced out.
