Notes

Video Games Come Of Age

Video games are in the air. As the most recent type of entertainment that is mainstream games have finally reached the level of acceptance film has been afforded for years.



It's a natural side effect of commercial success. In the first 24 hours after its release this month, Modern Warfare 3, the most recent release within the Call of Duty franchise, set sales records, making more than $US400 million in the US and Britain in the United Kingdom alone.



Gaming is now officially in the air and it is growing fast. Cinema has a long track record of improvement and innovation, but that has slowed down in recent years. Gaming however, is always innovating.



Every year, expectations are met and new standards are established. It's a thrilling time to be an avid gamer.



Although the gaming landscape is complex, three companies are driving it: Microsoft with its Xbox 360, Sony with the PlayStation 3, and Nintendo with the Wii/DS.



In their efforts to tap into the same market there has been a raging battle between Sony and Microsoft. One game / day You can see the other major publishers scramble to catch up when an innovative idea is announced.



The best example of this was Nintendo's Wii motion-control-based console. Nintendo hit an untapped nerve with Wii.



It sacrificed the processing power of other consoles in favor of a more refined motion control system and a stunning design. It was designed for casual gamers.



Microsoft and Sony soon followed suit with Kinect and PlayStation Move respectively. Both were well-loved by consumers however neither could surpass the Wii's massive success.



Standing apart from the battle for gaming Goliaths, but not in any way less important, is the indie developer. Although there was no market for small self-published games in the past, the internet and digital downloads services like Steam have allowed indie games to flourish.



Indie games are a boon for an industry that is tempted to rehash sequels and take a break from its success.



With the newfound creativity and funds that allow for experimentation, innovative downloadable games such as Minecraft (which recently sold more than 4 million units) finally have a platform that can support them.



With Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network now selling these games, developers of the future have a an opportunity to showcase their ideas to a wider audience and to encourage creativity in the industry.



The future is uncertain. Virtual reality has been a goal since the beginning of time and 3D gaming headsets, although not as commercially popular as the 2D TV, do exist.



The rise of the indie developer might signal a back-to-basics approach, and the emergence of social network games such as FarmVille continues unabated. It's safe to say that Microsoft and Sony are developing sequels for their popular consoles and who knows what it could bring?



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


My Website: https://1gameday.com/