Video games have come a long way. Most game testers will attest to the rapid pace at which games evolve and every time you think a technology can’t be improved, some genius somewhere comes up with something new and exciting. If you look at how games have evolved over the last decade, it’s safe to say that gaming technology is one of the driving forces behind the evolution of computer technology.
The first pinball machines and then arcade games laid the foundation for what would become our modern game consoles. When Atari brought the thrill and excitement of arcade games into our living rooms, the evolution of gaming took on a whole new dimension. Apple soon followed up with the first home PC that could play games through a TV, but it was the PC that soon became the #1 gaming platform.
With Microsoft and the Windows operating system it opened up a whole new world for potential game developers. The PC was the king of gaming, and games with color screens and 32-bit sound were more exciting than ever.
Meanwhile, in the dungeons of its secret laboratories, Sony began to develop what would be Atari’s nemesis. The PlayStation was born and, against all odds, toppled the PC’s reign as king of gaming. With the obvious restrictions of a PC, the PlayStation again brought gaming into the living room, and as a dedicated gaming platform, it was capable of many things that the PC couldn’t.
With this market growing at a phenomenal rate, Microsoft had to get in on the action and soon their Xbox was launched as a direct competitor to PlayStation. Once again, they managed to steal massive market share and with more powerful machines, better graphics, and (some will say) superior games, they became a force to be reckoned with.
As if the competition between these 2 wasn’t enough throughout the game, another veteran, Nintendo and against all expectations, the Wii became one of the most popular gaming platforms. The Wii redefined gaming and with its technology created an entirely new genre of gaming, one that transcends gamers’ age and stereotypes.
One thing is for sure, games and the gaming industry are here to stay. It’s exciting; is growing and there are practically no limits. If you see how far we’ve come in the last 10 years, then the next 10 years are sure to bring some awesome games!
