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How Games have changed, and how they are going to change in the future

By: Rena Malhotra

Videogames have integrated themselves into our lives, whether you have a friend who plays, or you yourself play, almost everyone has heard of video games. Famous companies like Blizzard, Sega, Epic Games, and Nintendo have skyrocketed in the gaming world, and smaller indie game companies are slowly rising to the top. With so many different views, it’s hard to keep track of what everyone is thinking, and what ideas they have. So, let’s break it down - what is everyone thinking? And what do they see in the light at the end of the tunnel?

What’s the Standard?

Videogames are a marriage of coding and visuals. Without a good art team, the game won’t be visually appealing to look at. Without a good storyline, the game can be boring to play, and without well written code the mechanics won’t work and will limit the experience. Games are expensive to make. According to Vickie Smith, a video game designer at Saint Monica studios. “a triple A game is usually more expensive than making a blockbuster movie. We’re talking about $200-$300 million.” That’s a lot of money, especially if companies are willing to gamble by making a new storyline or concept that may not be well received by audiences. Gamer extraordinaire Jesus Zamora says: “I lean towards the game with more depth or lore even if it comes at a loss for graphics.” Everyone’s preferences are different, but players tend to prefer games with an immersive storyline, rather than some animated pictures with very little plot. The “perfect game” is a tangled web of lines, all blurred together, but graphics and plot require a very clear balancing act

Is New Really Better?

With so many new players entering everyday, companies are rushing to create games that will make a big impact in a short amount of time.. However, it seems that this approach may be jeopardizing the quality of the gameplay. Many recent games have become“pay to play,” where you have to make ingame purchases to have the skill and equipment to be successful in the game. This strategy has recently become popular amongst many gaming companies.

However, it’s not like we can blame the companies. “Video games take a lot of money to make,” says puzzle developer Vickie Smith, “Companies have to make that money back somehow”. The solution to this? Charge your players money! Unfortunate- appealing more. We could feel the passion in the game. So, it felt like everything was kind of made by a gamer or gamer.” In other words, a game made by a gamer for a gamer. Older games can still hold a strong sense of nostalgia throughout the community, and games that took time and love to create were the building blocks of big immersive communities where many people could share their passions. ly, these games tend to lose sight of a good storyline in favor of a money maker. They use pretty visuals to lure an audience in, but don’t follow up with fun gameplay or an engaging plot. Chase Eldwolth feels that older games had a lot more personality to them “I felt like most games that I played, Minecraft is a great example, felt like they were

Some of the most iconic games in history that have a large fanbase stem from a giant franchise that companies build off of. Sometimes, people will play games from franchises that they enjoyed as a kid. It gives players a nostalgic feeling to play these games, but also progresses the storyline so that it’s engaging for newer generations.

What’s to come, and whats set in stone?

It’s no secret that technology has made big strides in the past few years, and now with expanding screens, games are also set on a path to discover the unknown. With new platforms like Augmented reality and Virtual reality allowing a user to immerse themselves in the world of the game. Virtual Reality, although not perfect, has opened up a new way to share games with others. Already, companies are jumping at the opportunity to make a name for themselves in this new domain, but it’s not like the new wave of VR will eradicate traditional games forever.

Gaming platforms are iconic, and will always bring the user a sense of nostalgia. Some people just prefer those consols, as they are easier for that person to use. VR Offers a new approach to games, but it won’t be replacing our favorite games any time soon.

“it’s very difficult sometimes for people, even if they’ve made a good game mechanic and a good story, to get it out there and get it selling unless you have really flashy graphics or some hook to get people.”

The Closing

Veteran gamers may prefer the old clunky machines in the dark corners of your local arcade, but people just being introduced to gaming may like the new flashy visuals. The community will always hold games dear to their hearts. With companies rushing to make cash grabs to sustain themselves, its easy to overshadow the hidden gems that make gaming worthwhile. While some may argue this approach ruins gaming, “Games are always going to be evolving.” says Vickie Smith, and we’ve just barely scratched the surface of what’s to come..