Notes

Video Games Come Of Age

Video games are here to stay. Video games are the latest type of entertainment that is popular and have finally achieved the same level of acceptance as films.



It's an inevitable side effect of commercial success. Within the first 24 hours following its release in the month of March, Modern Warfare 3, the most recent release within the Call of Duty franchise, broke records in sales, netting more than $US400 million in the US and Britain in the United Kingdom alone.



Gaming is here and is growing quickly. The cinema has a long tradition however, it has been slow in recent years. Gaming however is always evolving.



Every year, expectations are met and new standards are set. It's an exciting time to be a gamer.



The gaming landscape is a mess but three companies dictate the direction of the game: Microsoft, with its Xbox 360; Sony, with the PlayStation 3; and Nintendo with the Wii and DS.



There has always been a competition particularly between Microsoft and Sony in their efforts to compete in the same market. Watch the other major publishers scramble to catch up when a lucrative idea is revealed.



This is best illustrated by Nintendo's Wii motion-control-based console. Nintendo hit an untapped nerve with Wii.



Sacrificing the processing power of other consoles in exchange for more advanced motion controls and an appealing design, it aimed squarely at casual gamers.



Microsoft and Sony soon followed suit with the Kinect and PlayStation Move respectively. Both peripherals were sold well however neither could compete with the Wii's incredible success.



Away from the battle for gaming Goliaths, but by no means less important, is the indie developer. Although there was no market for small self-published games in years past, the internet and digital download services like Steam have allowed indie games to gain momentum.



Indie games are a boon for an industry that is easily enticed into rehashing sequels or taking pride in its achievements.



With the newfound creativity and budgets that allow for exploration, innovative games like Minecraft (which recently sold more than 4 million units) finally have a platform to support them.
Premiumcontent


Newer developers now have the opportunity to showcase their projects to a wider audience via Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. This will help to encourage innovation in the field.



For the future, who knows what it will bring? Virtual reality is a goal since years. 3D gaming headsets are available, though they are not as popular as a 2D TV.



The growth of independent developers may signal a return to basics and the emergence of games that are social media-based like FarmVille seems to be unabated. It's safe to say that Microsoft and Sony at the very least are working on sequels to their popular consoles , and who knows what that might entail?



What's certain is that gaming is here to stay. Gaming is no longer the domain of greasy shut ins. It will only improve.


Website: https://premiumcontent.io/