How much do you love gaming? Would you say that you are a casual gamer or are you so hardcore that you eat, live, and breathe gaming?
If you are interested in the where the gaming industry is headed, keep reading for information about ten new innovations that gamers can expect to see in the near future:
** Parents advocating gaming
The parents who played Atari, Nintendo and video games while they were growing up are passing that knowledge and enthusiasm on to their kids. In fact, in a recent survey on families in the UK, it was found that 75% of the parents who participated in the survey play with their children, It's also important to note that youngsters 10 and under get the vast majority of their gaming suggestions from their parents or guardians.
** 360 degrees of opportunity
A study done by Nickelodeon found that 34% of kids under the age of 11 have a tablet and have their first cell phones by the time they enter secondary school. Thus, this 'swipe generation' is growing up with the innate ability to navigate seamlessly between both the real and digital world. These highly intelligent, tech-savvy kids expect 360 play, where each individual platforms add a different element to the experience.
** Indies get moving
More than likely, it won't be long before we see other companies, besides Disney and Activision, makings toys that that tie in or interface with games. Because 3D printing is getting less expensive, it's also becoming easier to make action figures i.e. it's simpler than ever for developers to .make and circulate models based on their titles. It's also important to note that Amazon has opened a 3D printing store for its clientele.
** Blurred lines between social media and games
Currently, there are tons of virtual worlds, like Club Penguin and Moshi Monsters, that pull double duty as both games and places to socialize And while some may think that their popularity is just beginning, it's important to note that this next generation type of gaming is already here, with titles taking advantage of improvements in network features and broadband connectivity to make a more comprehensive and dynamic social experiences. In fact, co-op titles, like Minecraft, are expected to build on the idea that multiplayer games are becoming more social.
** The onlooker experience
In the time of celebrity YouTubers and Twitch (the sites gets as many as 120 million viewers a month), it's becoming critical for engineers to consider not just how their titles are played but how they are viewed as well. Statistics shows that people are spending more time watching their games versus playing, so now developers must create something that players want to watch.
** Transparent game design is coming into its own
In the past couple of years, more developers have been relying on crowd-funding sites like Kickstarter to both fund new ventures and increase their viewership. Besides that, ventures like the new Xbox Preview program and Steam Early Access permit fans to purchase their favorite titles before they're finished as well as provide input in how the development process pans out. This is likely to become more common as small studios break out of the conventional publishing model and look for financial backing before dedicating themselves to major new ventures.
** Players as developers
Gamers won't simply be watching development take place anymore. In fact, it seems that in the in the near future, they'll be providing their own input as well. An increasing number of Kickstarter campaigns are offering sponsors creative roles in their new ventures, sometimes as voice actors or even composers. We're also seeing the return of easy to use map editors, with titles like Hotline Miami 2 and Mario Maker, that give gamers the chance to tinker with powerful tools and build their own levels, which they can even post them on the web.
** Cooperating creatives
Developers are sharing workspaces with other engineers now more than ever, as an expanding number of small studios are being formed, but without the funds to lease their own workplaces. To meet this growing need, there are a ton of dedicated workspaces that offer inexpensive workspaces to designers and other entrepreneurs, who are also sharing resources and ideas.
** Small indies pulling major weight
We've already seen how inexpensive tools and digital distributional has spawned a new generation of autonomous designers. But, this new generation is evolving at a faster pace than anticipated. So much so that, rather than delivering niche titles for indie teams, these creative groups are currently sharing their ideas with Steam communities and console platform holders to create honest to goodness hybrid hits.
** Mainstream gaming evolve into platforms and services
We've also seen how cell phone developers like SuperCell, Zynga, and Rovio have transformed their titles into platforms by responding to metrics data, tweaking issues, and adding downloadable options to their huge brands – as opposed to bringing out normal sequels. This sensibility is presently seeping into mainstream PC and console development. You can even see the prevalence of mobile and downloadable options with many of casinos who offer top online gambling Canada. |