The ‘Then & Now’ Journey Of Gaming Tech

Evolving over the decades and everytime giving a new definition of interactive element, gaming & its technology peers are on a journey to provide advanced ‘therapeutic’ experience. Here, we take on a nostalgic trip from the1st video game to gaming on cloud, taking tech pitstops in the journey.

By Donna Amo

rom being a casual form of

Fentertainment to a booming industry, gaming has come a long way. As of 2020, the global gaming market was valued at $173.7 billion and is projected to reach $314.4 billion by 2026 (Mordor Intelligence). While the popularity of video and mobile games has fueled this growth, technology played an important role as well. Until the 1930s, the majority of people played board or card games. However, the advancements in computer technology paved the way for improvements we see today in the gaming sector.

In 1958, the first video game called ‘Tennis for Two’ was created by Physicist William Higinbotham. While the concept was simple, it opened the door to more complex video games that we now play and love. As technology progressed even further, the world of gaming started to evolve as well. From bulky arcade-style games in the 1970s to introducing the more portable Nintendo console in the 1980s, it was clear that as time progressed, gaming technology was adapting quicker and more efficiently to the change.

The entries of companies like Nintendo, Sega, Atari into the gaming market resulted in exciting new video games like Pong, Tetris, PacMan, Donkey Kong, Mario, etc. This brought along the equally thrilling tech like the Game Boy, Sega Mega Drive Console, Atari VCS, and the PLATO network system, which were among the first technological steps towards online multiplayer gaming.

While home consoles and arcades dominated most of the gaming market during the late 20th century, it was nothing compared to the internet’s impact. As the 90s rolled in, computer games were becoming increasingly better. Sony’s PlayStation or PS One, released in 1994, was among the new generation of video game consoles and quickly put Sony on the top of the list.

With personal computers gradually making their way into every home, innovations in console gaming, the introduction of mobile phones, and the fast pace rise of the internet, the world of gaming was entering a new era. According to the IIST World Forum, the dawn of the 21st century saw a boom in the global gaming market, which had estimated revenue of $36.17 billion ($48.23 billion with inflation).

Microsoft, already a leader in manufacturing personal computers and software development, soon focused its attention on the gaming market. The year 2001 marked the company’s first venture into the gaming space with the Xbox, an electronic gaming console. Soon the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One followed, and Microsoft established itself in the gaming industry. Offering freemium services and a monthly subscription fee to play on the Xbox Live online gaming platform, Microsoft gave players a gaming experience that allowed them to connect.

Once mobile phones entered the market, the concept of portable gaming slowly changed. Among the first instances was the inclusion of

the Snake game in Nokia phones. While many companies were trying to tap into the promising mobile gaming market, it wasn’t until Apple released its iPhone in 2007 that the market possibility opened up. The App Store in Apple’s smartphones and Google’s Play Store for Android users was the key that helped bring gaming into the mobile space.

Countless free mobile game apps with in-app purchases soon began to dominate the market. A handheld device was now a doorway into a world of gaming that many thought would only be accessible via a gaming console. Fast-forward to the present, and the mobile gaming industry is already estimated to reach the $102.8 billion mark by 2023 (Statista). It is predicted to remain the fastest-growing segment in the gaming industry.

The smartphone, coupled with the internet, revolutionised the way humans communicated and interacted with each other while also opening up avenues in gaming. With the rising popularity of casual mobile games like Angry Birds, Candy Crush, Flappy Birds, etc., mobile gaming was very much an opportunity just waiting to be explored. Soon, video game titles made solely for consoles and PC gaming were adapted for a mobile gaming experience.

By the second decade of the 21st century, it was evident that instead of technology driving innovation in gaming, gaming was driving innovations in technology. Gaming-specific smartphones were designed by phones brands like ASUS, Lenovo, Samsung, and even Apple. The ASUS ROG (Republic of Gamers) is the gaming branch of ASUS founded in 2006 dedicated to designing and developing gaming technology. The company has built everything from gaming smartphones to graphic cards and headsets. The ASUS ROG Phone 5 is considered one of the best gaming smartphones available in the market.

Even laptops and personal computers were designed to fit the need of the gaming market. As more people started gaming, companies like Alienware, a subsidiary of Dell, began to focus on developing gaming laptops and desktops. The M17x laptop was one of the first products of Alienware after Dell acquired it in 2006. Since then, the company has established itself as one of the driving innovators in gaming technology.

When the popular game Pokémon Go was released in 2016, it introduced us to Augmented Reality (AR) as a tool that can be used for gaming. The mesh of virtual and real-world that AR brought to the table opened the doors for gaming to be included in a more nuanced way in everyday life. Social media is one place where AR gaming seems to be used the most. Instagram and Snapchat have now included various types of AR games in their filters. It was also reported that 35 percent of non-gamers were more likely to take an interest in AR gaming (Ericsson).

On the other side, Virtual Reality (VR) gaming offers users a completely immersive gaming experience. Although the first VR gaming headsets were designed by Sega back in 1991, it wasn’t until Facebook acquired the Oculus VR for $2 billion in 2014, that VR started gaining popularity. That same year, Sony announced Project Morpheus, which was a VR headset for its PlayStation 4. Soon, more gaming companies like Nintendo with its Labo: VR kit for Nintendo Switch followed suit. Facebook’s VR headset, the Oculus Quest, generated around $5 million worth of sales in 2019 (VirtualSpeech).

Some of the biggest gaming tech giants are now looking into making cloud gaming a reality. Currently, to play any video or computer game, one must either use a gaming disc or download the files to play it. Through cloud gaming, gamers will stream games like how they stream shows on Netflix or Amazon Prime. While the concept is not new, the technology surrounding it is still being developed. However, there are front runners in this area as well. Google launched its cloud streaming service called Stadia in 2019; Microsoft joined the bandwagon with xCloud and Sony with its PlayStation Now services.

While there is still a long journey ahead to truly bring to life the full cloud gaming experience, the journey of gaming technology in just half a century is truly a thing to wonder about. The rapid pace of technological development is just an assurance that for gaming, the future is innovation.