Welcome to the World of Tomorrow!
Have you ever stop to think about how we got where we are today? I mean, as in a gaming context. Seriously, it's really quite incredible to sit down and ponder on the evolution of video games. And I'm not just talking super pretty graphics, though they are definitely not to be excluded.
Think about it. No other entertainment medium has changed so much over such a short period of time. Music has a huge variety of sounds and styles to offer, but it's literally been around for thousands upon thousands of years in one form or another. The way it's played and how we are able to hear it have changed a bit, but it still pretty much just comes down to the performer and the listener. Books are still books. You read them. There are a variety of styles and genres, but you still read them. I could go on, but you get the picture.
However, in the scant few decades that video games have existed, massive sweeping changes have occurred over and over again. It's not just what they look like that has changed. It's how we play them, who we play them with, when and where we can enjoy them, what kind of games they are, and why we play them. Back when you were playing some PacMan at a bar or arcade, or when you were sitting on your living room floor, stomping on Goombas, did you really have any inkling at all at how much was possible for the future of video games? I'm sure some of you did, because you're making those games right now.
We may not have flying cars, but we're living in the friggin' future here, people.
Why do we play video games?
We still play some video games just to have fun, but it's more than just a passing entertainment any more. It's not just an amusing diversion. We play games play video games that allow us to participate in deep, rich stories, sometimes allowing us to even decide how the main protagonist acts and develops. We play video games to share time with friends, to include several people in a fun activity. We play video games to simulate experiences that we might not ever get around to or may even be impossible otherwise. We play video games to learn. We play video games to be artistic. We play video games to compete and earn money. We even play video games to get in shape. Who would have ever thought that a such sedentary activity would evolve into a way to exercise?
What kind of games do we play?
We play all sorts of games. Games can cover any and all genres that movies, books, and tv cover, and then some. We started out playing little challenges with dots or asteroids or turtles or gorillas, simply trying to beat the game or get the high score. Now we do so much more. We play sports games that cover everything from football to racing, ice hockey to track and field. Short scrimmages and contests can be played, or full seasons including roster changes and player trades. We play simple games that can be enjoyed when you've got a few minutes to kill. We play deep, complicated games that have huge learning curves and incredible challenges. We play constructive games, managing a business or building a civilization. We play violent games, allowing us to have a cathartic release, like screaming into a pillow or smacking a punching bag. We play unique games that allow us to have experiences that are unavailable outside the world of video games. We play musical games; either dancing to, participating in, or even creating wonderful music. We play games with deep, intricate stories that can cover fantasy settings, sci-fi worlds, class struggle, or political intrigue. We play games that test our thinking skills, our endurance, or our reflexes. We play games that let us do what we want, regardless of the intended goals. We play games without goals at all and games that have no end.
Where and when can we play video games?
Quite simply, we can play them anywhere and at any time. Starting out in computer labs and then evolving into arcade cabinets and simple home consoles. Video games were mostly relegated to arcades, some bars, and living rooms of well-to-do families. As the personal computer became more popular and prolific, so did the games on them. They found their way into schools and offices. When future console heavy hitters first stepped up to the plate, video games started appearing in more and more homes, not as just the newest novelty toy or fad. More companies started making games, more companies started making ways to play those games. Then we started to see handheld systems. Crude, but effective at first, slowly becoming a whole market in their own right. The handheld systems got more powerful and shrunk as well, providing richer experiences that could easily fit in your pocket or purse. Power go out and there are no lights for books or televisions to watch shows? Just whip out your GameBoy or your PSP and you're good to go. Video games are on cell phones, music players, hell, even watches at one point. They're everywhere and every when. They're not going away. Everyone in this country has played them, unless you're Amish, or a politician/lawyer trying to make laws and regulations about video games.
Who do we play games with?
We play games by ourselves. We play games against an artificial competitor. We play games with our friends. At arcades, we play with people we have never met and will never see again. Online, we play with people we will most likely never meet or even see, but that doesn't mean we can't. Sometimes, we play with people we don't even like that much. We play games with girls and guys. We play with our parents. We are becoming parents and playing with our children. We are even starting to play with our grandparents.
How do we play games?
We started out with the keyboard or a joystick. We added a mouse. We added buttons. We shrank the joystick into d-pad. We added more buttons. We added more controllers. We put the joystick on, but smaller and with more levels of control, but still kept the d-pad. We added more buttons and another little sensitive joystick.
We put a mat on the ground to run in place and jump on. We use a gun. We use a steering wheel and pedals. We use a little robot. We use a bigger gun. We use a stationary bike. We use a stationary skateboard. We use stationary skis. We use a stationary horse. We use a fire hose. We pulled the mat back out and dance around on it. We disconnected the controller from the machine entirely. We beat drums. We sing, shout, and blow into a microphone. We strum a guitar. We draw with a little stick. We shake and twist a portable game device. We wave in front of a camera. We twist and turn, push and pull, shake and waggle. And though limited, we can even hook up sensors to our brains.
Seriously, who saw all this coming? And where will the next few decades take us in the world of gaming? What do you think?
