The world of gaming has gone through a seismic shift in the last decade. Smartphones have smashed their way into the gaming space and have become a portal for new gamers to join the action. New ways to play and new players have had a huge impact on video game design and delivery. Here’s how smartphones are changing the game industry, and games.
Gaming On The Go
Online games used to be strictly for PC players. Until only recently, to play games online you had to have serious hardware connected to a wall socket. Now, that level of power fits in the palm of your hand. The consumer demand for phones with powerful graphics and crisp, clear screens has brought gaming to the masses. More people are playing games than ever before, and they are playing them on mobile systems. This is having an impact on the industry and the types of gaming it offers.
High-quality streaming video has changed many aspects of the gaming industry. This South African casino streams live games of roulette and blackjack to gamers all over the world. Jackpot Casino has reacted to the advances in technology to give players new ways to play. As smartphones gain even more new features, this trend will continue. Different elements of the gaming industry are going to have to adapt quickly to keep up.
Tie-Ins And Companion Apps
Existing gamers are not immune to the effects of mobile gaming and smartphones. Many new triple-A games have a presence in the smartphone space. Companion apps are common for big titles. Some only add more depth to the story or offer behind-the-scenes information and video on the making of the game. The best apps add something to the gaming experience.
Role Playing Games (RPGs) often use apps as a way for gamers to develop their character and build up their stats while they are away from the game. Both Microsoft and Sony offer a streaming service on their gaming platforms too. Gamers can now stream a game to their phone from their PlayStation or Xbox. This is changing the way mainstream video games are being designed and played.
The Virtual And Augmented Future
The first mass-produced and mass-adopted home virtual reality systems relied on smartphone technology. Devices like the Oculus Go and even Google Cardboard made VR accessible and showcased the modern incarnation of the technology. By showing people what was possible, these devices paved the way for their more expensive and more powerful offspring like the Meta Quest 2 headset.
Virtual Reality is just the beginning. The real world and its virtual counterpart meet in augmented reality space. Projecting virtual elements into physical spaces creates an augmented version of the real world with countless possibilities for entertainment and adventure, as well as many practical applications. With the help of augmented reality glasses, you can be directed through a city by floating arrows or follow a trail of virtual breadcrumbs to your destination.
Whichever way you choose to game, smartphones have changed the way you play. Many of your new friends online will have been brought to gaming through their smartphones. It is thirteen years since Angry Birds was released. There are eighteen-year-olds today who remember this game as the first one they played. On a parent’s iPhone most probably. Smartphones have changed games and gamers.